The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

No.617: What I Read in January 2022

This post contains affiliate links.

#1. GUESS WHO by Chris McGeorge // ★★☆☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
I was really excited to start the new year with this locked room themed psychological thriller, but man.  This might have been the most boring thriller I’ve ever read!  I kept going just in case there was a huge twist at the end, but it was ridiculous all the way through.

#2. MEET ME AT THE MUSEUM by Anne Youngson // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
This book had 84, Charing Cross Road vibes: a lonely English woman and a widowed Danish professor begin a correspondence because of their mutual fascination with the Tollund Man.  (BTW, I had no idea who the Tollund Man was and had to look him up.)  The fictional story is told entirely in letters and it was good.  Not sure how I felt about the end, but good.

#3. RECLAIMING OUR ROMAN CATHOLIC BIRTHRIGHT: THE GENIUS AND TIMELIENESS OF THE TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS by Peter Kwasniewski // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
I’ve been chipping away at this book since last fall!  Incredibly informative and thought-provoking.  I learned so much.

#4. DAMNATION SPRING by Ash Davidson // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
This book is a quiet novel about a logging community in the 1970s. The issue explored throughout is between the Pacific Northwest loggers using toxic herbicides for brush removal and environmental activists concerned about the mass removal of old trees and the harmful impacts of those toxic chemicals.  This book was really thought-provoking and I could place myself in both sets of shoes.  Unfortunately, it took quite a few pages to really get to the meat of the book and I sometimes felt bogged down with the detailed logging descriptions.  Still a solid three star read.  I think it would make for interesting discussion in a book club setting.  (And thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.)

#5. THE VIOLENT BEAR IT AWAY by Flannery O’Connor // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
This was my first Flannery O’Connor book and after I finished the last page, I said, “What in the world did I just read?!”  Thankfully, the ladies at my book club helped to flesh out O’Connor’s writing style and the themes/symbols used throughout.  I’m still not sure I loved it, but I definitely have a deeper appreciation for this book now.

#6. CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG by Ian Fleming // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
Our school read aloud for January.  We all enjoyed it.  (P.S. We ordered the 1960s movie of the same name and spoiler!  It’s nothing like the book.  My kids were disappointed.)

#7. ALL MANNER OF THINGS by Susie Finkbeiner // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)
I picked this Christian fiction novel up on a whim from Book Outlet sometime last year.  It’s a story about a family during the Vietnam era and delicately deals with a whole host of issues, including war, PTSD, and even interracial relationships.  Honestly, I found the writing to be a little hokey, but the ending…whew.  I cried.

No.616: Homestead Diaries // January 2022

This post contains affiliate links.

I went into January assuming that I would have a month “off” from most homestead tasks. Turns out that if you’re not actively working on the farm, you’re still thinking about the farm, ha!  Here’s what we accomplished around the homestead during the first few weeks of 2022:

+ Lots of ordering occurred this month!  We will have 165 baby chicks (150 broilers and 15 hens) arriving in mid-March.  I also ordered onion bunches, potato tubers, a few more seed packets for early spring crops and even preordered my tomato starts for May arrival.  We also stocked up on hen feed and straw for the pigs.  So happy to have all of that off of the to-do list, even though it was $$$.

+ I started planning what we’re going to plant and where.  The new plan includes making at least two or three more in-ground beds and ramping up the amount we hope to yield.  I would love to be able to grow enough to feed my family, have extra to put a little back and be able to supplement my animals, but that’s a huge goal.

+ After two growing seasons, I knew I needed to really get a good understanding of my soil.  I ordered this soil test kit and need to brave the freezing temperatures (with snow on the ground!) to get my soil samples.  Next month!

+ I watched a talk by Joel Salatin called “100s of Farm Animals and No Vet Bills” about homestead sanitation and how that helps healthy livestock.  I was happy to see that we already implement many of his tips and tricks.

+ Our chickens are desperate for anything green (so much snow!  so much mud!), so I tried growing fodder for the first time.  I am following these instructions and my first batch should be ready next Monday.  I have wheat seeds from True Leaf Market and I used their grow trays too.  The process was a little fussy, but generally easy.  I think it will be easier once I have more experience and confidence.

+ I dewormed the animals with an herbal formula recommended by Justin Rhodes.  While we don’t have any active issues right now, I’d like to keep them on a maintenance schedule and January seemed like the right time to start.  I love that I can use it with the chickens, the pigs and even our dog, Lucy!

No.615: The Wednesday Five #24

This post contains affiliate links.

Happy Wednesday!

A QUOTE

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.
― Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART

“Devotion” by François-Louis Lanfant de Metz (found here)

AN UPDATE ON MY 2022 GOALS

+ Get serious about nutrition. // I’m generally back to intermittent fasting (not strictly 10-6, but close), have survived three weeks without sugar and I’m feeling good!  I’ve been buying all the things to start making my own kombucha and have even ordered probiotics to further heal my gut.
+ Read more nonfiction. // I’m in the middle of two right now: Communism and the Conscience of the West and Let Them Eat Dirt.  Both are fascinating and I’m learning so much.
+ Make something beautiful with my own hands. // I have lots of ideas, but nothing completed yet.
+ Expand the homestead. // Planning is in full swing!  Lots of ordering and prep work has already begun.
+ Aggressively work toward the goal of paying off our mortgage early. // I’m easing back into a decluttering/reselling routine (like I did back in the fall) and having decent success.  Best two sales so far: as I was putting away my Christmas decorations, I found two Hallmark ornaments that we’ve never hung up.  I decided on a whim to list them on ebay and they sold within three days for more than their retail price – in January!
+ Improve my self-protection skills. // I found my DVDs but haven’t started them yet.

A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF MUSIC

Acapella in a stairwell!  So amazing.
A HOMEMAKER CHECK-IN

How are you tackling these crazy inflationary days?  We got a notice last week from our electric company that our rates will be increasing in the next bill.  This is the third one this month – our Internet provider and trash service are going up too!  In order to stave off anxiety, I keep telling myself that simplicity is the name of the game this year: hearty homemade meals, reducing our excess costs, reselling our unneeded items, and piling on those warm sweaters.  I’m determined to get through this time smiling!

No.614: I Tried to Read 1,000 Pages in One Week

This post contains affiliate links.

Last week, I tried to read 1,000 pages in seven days!  (Around this time last year, I tried to read 24 out of 48 hours, so this has become an unofficial winter tradition.)   1,000 pages equals about 143 pages a day, which is a lot!  I knew going in that I probably wouldn’t be completely successful due to all of my other commitments, but still figured it would be a fun way to spend a chilly winter week.  Here’s how it went:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14

Day One and a strong start to the challenge!  I started out the day reading two chapters of our school read aloud for January, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming.  Really cute so far.

Later in the afternoon, with school finished and everyone off doing their own thing, I focused on a book I promised to read and review for Netgalley called Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson.  I’ve been reading it off and on since October and have had such a hard time getting into it.  Today was the day that I pushed through and finished!  Thankfully, it started to pick up some speed at about halfway through.  It was a decent story and had some thought provoking moments.  I’m sure I’ll have more thoughts with my end of month wrap up.

Before bed, I chose The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life by Father Charles Arminjon.  How about that for a bedtime pick me up, ha!  St. Therese of Lisieux, my Confirmation saint, is quoted as saying that this book was one of the greatest graces of her life, so I’m happy to finally read it for myself.

Total pages read: 214

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15

A big storm was in the forecast for Sunday, so I spent the morning in preparation mode: getting the animals warm and ready, moving fencing, loading up on firewood, and doing all of the laundry in case we lose power.  I finally sat down with a cup of coffee in the afternoon and read a chapter from Let Them Eat Dirt: Saving Your Child from an Oversanitized World by B. Brett Finlay, PhD and Marie-Claire Arriera, PhD.  I can already tell that this one is going to be a catalyst for further research.

At bedtime, I tried to keep reading but promptly fell asleep after five pages.  Oops!

Total pages read: 39

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16

After debating the odds of getting to Mass and back before the snow, we ultimately decided to play it safe and stay home.  That turned out to be the right decision since the snow started thick and heavy and didn’t let up all afternoon!  In the morning, I pulled out The End of the Present World again so I could finish the second chapter.  This one was all about the Antichrist – whew!

Later, I picked up my book club book for January, The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O’Connor.  (I need to get moving on this one; our meeting is next week!)  I read off and on all afternoon into bedtime and got a significant chunk finished.

Total pages read: 108

MONDAY, JANUARY 17

A day off of school and work for our family!  I spent the morning keeping busy inside while everyone else shoveled the driveway or played in the snow.  (This snowfall wasn’t quite as fun as last time – very icy and crunchy.)  I was able to read a bit more from Let Them Eat Dirt and I’m learning so much about the pros and cons of antibiotic use and the importance of probiotics.

At bedtime, I went back to The Violent Bear It Away.  I wanted to finish the last half, but my eyes were drooping with forty pages to go.  Tomorrow!

Total pages read: 116

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18

Day five!  With just three days to go, I calculated that I would now need to read 174 pages a day to get back on track.  A tall order!  I started the day with two more chapters of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for read aloud.  The kids beg for more, but my voice can only hold out for so many pages.

When the kids went out to sled in the afternoon, I finished the last few chapters of The Violent Bear It Away.  I closed the book and my first thought was, “What in the world did I just read?!”  I know there are many Catholic themes and imagery throughout, but I think I need someone to fully flesh it all out for me.  Really looking forward to book club next week.

Later, I cozied up in bed early and started All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner.  This is a historical fiction novel about a family during the Vietnam War era.  I read about 90 pages before falling asleep.  Solid three stars so far.

Total pages read: 166

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19

For school, I finished reading the last two chapters of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with the kids.  We really liked it!  I ordered the 1960s movie of the same title (with Dick Van Dyke) and we look forward to seeing how accurately it follows the story.

The rest of Wednesday was a blur.  So much going on and no time to sit down and read!  Such is life… I feel like this week is a pretty accurate representation of how I fit my reading in those little pockets of free time.  Sometimes there’s a big stretch, sometimes there are only a few minutes, sometimes I don’t pick up a single book until bedtime.  Every day is a little different.

At bedtime, I read about half of a chapter from Let Them Eat Dirt and then returned to All Manner of Things.

Total pages read: 128

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20

A cold, overcast winter day seemed like the right kind of day to wrap up this challenge.  We picked a new read aloud for school, Ben and Me by Robert Lawson.  The book is about Benjamin Franklin and a mouse named Amos and it has a bit of a Ratatouille feel!  While the kids did their math, I was also able to read a few more pages in Let Them Eat Dirt.  I’m learning so much!

I had high hopes of getting into bed early and hitting that 1,000 page goal by finishing All Manner of Things.  Ahh, you know what they say about best-laid plans…

Total pages read: 110

FINAL THOUGHTS AND STATS

With a little bit of planning and a blind eye to chores, I definitely think I could accomplish this 1,000 pages in a week goal someday.  I think the key is finding another small pocket of time in the afternoon, since I often fall asleep quickly while reading at bedtime.  Maybe next year!

Total pages read: 881
Books finished: 3

Amazon Disclosure Policy

The Big White Farmhouse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Archives

Copyright © 2025 The Big White Farmhouse · Theme by 17th Avenue