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The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // Spring has arrived!  I was talking to one of my kids and we both agreed that green is one of our favorite colors.  Is there anything more beautiful than new life sprouting everywhere you look?  The grass is growing, the leaves on the trees are filling in and the birds are singing louder each morning.  Now if we could stop with these sporadic hard frosts, I could really start planting with abandon!  Soon…

As I look around the house // Oh homemaking…I’ll come back to you someday soon.  In some ways, I miss the days of just puttering around!

Reflecting // on how there are seasons of hustle and seasons of rest.  The season we are in right now feels a little intense, but it’s not forever and I know a slower pace is coming…in June.  Only 64 days to go, ha!  And even though this homesteading gig is never-ending and exhausting, it sure is satisfying.  We have accomplished so much this month.  (You’ll see the full extent in my post tomorrow.)

On this week’s to-do list //

– finish up Easter basket gifts
– determine what week works best for standardized testing and order
– work on farm marketing
– keep working on the food forest
– start collecting trees/twigs to make wood chips
– edge around the “cottage garden” beds
– decide how I want to grow potatoes (in towers? in the ground? in hay?  so many choices…)

Currently reading // 

• Fiction: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• Nonfiction: Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture by Gabe Brown and We Have Been Harmonized: Life in China’s Surveillance State by Kai Strittmatter
• Religious: The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life by Fr. Charles Arminjon and A Memory for Wonders by Mother Veronica Namoyo Le Goulard, PCC
• Read Aloud: Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

On the menu this week // Who am I kidding?  I’m sure it will be a hodgepodge of breakfast for dinner, random things from the fridge and chicken on the grill.  My mantra: it’s only for a season.

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My brain feels overstuffed these days – so much going on in the world and so much to do here at home.  My days are full from dawn to dusk, homestead and homemaking tasks tucked into the pockets of time before and after schooling with the kids.  My lengthy to-do list simultaneously excites and overwhelms me; for every task I check off the list, I seem to add four more in its place.  I scan the news headlines and worry about what the future may look like, how we’ll make it all work as the vise gets tighter and tighter.  It all seems so darn hard (I mean can’t we get a break?!), but I remind myself that I’m living the full width of this life.  The good, the bad and the ugly, just like my grandmothers and great-grandmothers did before me.  I hope to bear it with as much grace as they did.

The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // The forecast above cracks me up as we just had a snow storm come through on Saturday!  Nothing to see here, we return to your normal mid-March weather…

As I look around the house // My husband surprised the kids with a few new games, including Connect Four and Risk.  The games have quickly found a permanent spot on our dining room table.  Did you know that Connect Four is a strategic game on the level of 4D chess?  Did you know that world domination brings out the best and worst in a person?  We may be just a little competitive around here.

On this week’s to-do list //

– plant peas, beets and spinach
– prep potato bed
– keep working on chicken tractors
– start my very first batch of kombucha
– figure out a Plan B for getting rid of the old oven
– start planning what the rest of the school year will look like and what needs to be accomplished before summer break
– try to finish one more blog post

Currently reading // 

• Fiction: Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger
• Nonfiction: Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture by Gabe Brown and We Have Been Harmonized: Life in China’s Surveillance State by Kai Strittmatter
• Religious: The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life by Fr. Charles Arminjon and A Memory for Wonders by Mother Veronica Namoyo Le Goulard, PCC
• Read Aloud: Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

On the menu this week //
Monday: slow cooker beef stew
Tuesday: chicken fried rice
Wednesday: breakfast for dinner! bacon, potato and egg casserole with fruit
Thursday: shepherd’s pie
Friday: tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

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The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // The temperatures are inching warmer and warmer and I’m anxious to get going with this growing season.  You should see my list of projects to complete…insanity, ha!  A few on the list for this week include finishing up our chicken tractors, amending the garden soil and working on the construction of a new wood shed.  The forecast doesn’t look promising, but I’m praying for a few little pockets of sunshine.

As I look around the house // It still looks quite haphazard with projects in progress everywhere too!  We managed to install the new oven ourselves, but now have the old one waiting in the foyer to be taken to the dump.  I’m still working on the walls in the laundry room (almost done!) but that also means that I have detergent and laundry baskets hanging out in the kitchen.  It’s a hot mess over here right now.

Adjusting // to my Lenten sacrifice of less noise; I gave up listening to the news, Youtube videos, podcasts, etc.  I’m embarrassed to admit that it’s been harder than I expected!  I didn’t realize how much of my day is filled with this auditory information overload.  My newfound silence is a little deafening.  Ultimately, I know this will be good for me and will allow more space for me to hear God’s still, small voice.

On this week’s to-do list //

– finish last minute tasks for baby chick arrival – they come on Thursday!
– take the old oven to the dump
– look into a new provider for emailing my posts to subscribers (I’ve been having trouble with my current plugin – apologies to anyone who hasn’t been receiving emails!)
– start more seeds under grow lights
– pick a paint color for the laundry room
– get a chunk stitched on my cross-stitch project

Thinking // about a book I read last year called The Wives of Los Alamos.  The story described how WWII was raging and the husbands were squirreled away working on secret, scary things…but the women had to live their ordinary lives the best they could.  Kids still needed to be fed, jobs still needed to be completed, houses still need to be tended to.  Such a weird dichotomy of normal, everyday life in the midst of abnormal turmoil and upheaval.  In some ways, we’ve all felt this a little bit the last two years.

Currently reading // 

• Fiction: Three Sisters by Heather Morris
• Nonfiction: Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture by Gabe Brown and We Have Been Harmonized: Life in China’s Surveillance State by Kai Strittmatter
• Religious: The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life by Fr. Charles Arminjon
• Read Aloud: Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

On the menu this week //
Monday: chicken alfredo baked ziti and salad
Tuesday: beef stroganoff
Wednesday: breakfast enchiladas (for dinner!)
Thursday: Refrigerator Cleanout Night
Friday: creamy tomato tortellini soup

Pictures from a little 40th birthday celebration for our favorite guy!  This post also contains affiliate links.

The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // I can see bare ground again!  We’ve had a handful of sunny days (in a row!) and even though the temperatures are still chilly outside, I’m so happy to get out there and feel that sun on my face.  This upcoming week looks promising too!

As I look around the house // I removed the last of the more “wintery” Christmas decorations on Candlemas and now my house looks both bigger and a little bit bare.  It’s the perfect time for a home improvement project: we’re finally getting to the laundry room and along with adding cabinets, I’ll also be experimenting with skim coating the walls.  (We have textured walls everywhere on the first floor and I hate them.)  If I can achieve the smooth look I want, I’m going to be a crazy lady this spring/summer and will be doing the whole house, ha!

Healing // from a gnarly neck strain.  I’m pretty sure I tweaked my neck when feeding the pigs (I “farmer’s carry” the feed and water buckets into the pasture) last Monday and whew…SO painful.  The pain radiated from the side of my neck down my shoulder, which made normal movement practically impossible.  I’ve been walking around like a robot!  Thankfully, the pain has moved from excruciating to more of a dull ache, so yay for improvement.  (Also: as I researched ideas for some relief, I stumbled upon a tip about magnesium supplementation.  Thankfully, I still had a free sample of this and it was the best night of sleep I had all week!  Coincidence?  Maybe, but I’m a believer!)

On this week’s to-do list //

– finish up our taxes
– order chick feed in bulk
– test the soil for deficiencies
– buy all the supplies needed for skim coating
– start emptying the laundry room
– make a batch of granola

Currently reading // 

• Fiction: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (for book club) and a book for Netgalley
• Nonfiction: Communism and the Conscience of the West by Fulton J. Sheen
• Religious: The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life by Fr. Charles Arminjon
• Read Aloud: Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

On the menu this week //
Monday: fajita beef skillet with homemade tortillas
Tuesday: cornbread casserole (I’ll make homemade cornbread for the topping instead of a box mix)
Wednesday: breakfast for dinner
Thursday: chicken diane with mashed potatoes and a green vegetable
Friday: tomato basil parmesan soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

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The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // our winter wonderland is looking a little rough!  We are in that weird phase where there are random patches of mud and footprints and sled prints everywhere.  Not nearly as beautiful as those first few days.

As I look around the house // I took down most of the Christmas decorations after Epiphany, but I left a few “wintery” things (like twinkly lights and my orange garland) because they bring me so much joy.  Since springtime is going to be incredibly busy for us, I’ve been rolling around the idea of doing some “spring cleaning”, but in January and February.  I think Future Me will appreciate one less task to accomplish while I’m juggling chickens/pigs/planting/homeschooling/etc etc etc.

On this week’s to-do list //

– get into a groove with school again (all of the snow last week derailed most of our plans!)
– buy glass canister for homemade kombucha
– order water troughs for the pigs
– deep clean the refrigerator
– organize the little boys’ closet
– find 10 items to donate/sell

Needing // some frugal inspiration.  I’d like to start the new year strong (making wise purchases and using up what we already have), but it feels like my creative juices for this area have run dry!  Thankfuly, this post from A Working Pantry got my wheels turning…maybe I’ll pull out the dehydrator this week.

Currently reading // 

• Fiction: The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O’Connor
• Nonfiction: Communism and the Conscience of the West by Fulton J. Sheen and Let Them Eat Dirt by B. Brett Finlay, PhD & Marie-Claire Arrieta, PhD
• Religious: The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life by Fr. Charles Arminjon
• Read Aloud: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming

On the menu this week //
Monday: creamy chicken tortilla soup
Tuesday: 30 minute one pan beef penne, salad
Wednesday: pork fried rice and egg rolls
Thursday: Refrigerator Cleanout Night
Friday: bean and cheese burritos

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The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // It’s starting to get chilly out there, especially with the wind!  We still have a few homestead projects to finish, but it’s getting harder to get excited about them.  We’re just going to have to pile on the layers and get ‘er done.  I was just telling my husband that once we get to January, I’m going to collapse by the fire and not move for an entire month!  I am so proud of all we’ve accomplished in 2021, but whew!  It’s hard work.

As I look around the house // My 30 day super mega declutter/reselling challenge is officially over, but I’ve still got my eyes peeled for more things to go.

So excited about // the new 2022 planner I just purchased!  I have loved using The Saintmaker the past few months, but I’ve ultimately decided that the daily pages are really unnecessary at this point in my life.  I was looking for new options when I found The Home Planner from Passionate Penny Pincher and it is perfect!  I love all of the checklists, there’s enough space in the daily boxes and it even has a section for budgeting.  I can’t wait to start using it in January!  (P.S. I have a referral link so you can get $5 off your purchase if you’re in the market for a planner too!)

On this week’s to-do list //

– order chocolate coins for the Feast of Saint Nicholas
– bake a blueberry pie
– deep clean the kitchen, top to bottom!
– start reflecting on 2021 and brainstorm new goals for 2022

Currently reading // 

• Fiction: A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro and Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson
• Nonfiction: Communism and the Conscience of the West by Fulton J. Sheen and The Tightwad Gazette II: Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle by Amy Dacyczyn
• Religious: Reclaiming our Roman Catholic Birthright by Peter Kwasniewski (still chipping away at this one…)

On the menu this week //
Monday: enchiladas
Tuesday: shepherd’s pie baked potatoes
Wednesday: breakfast for dinner
Thursday: Thanksgiving!
Friday: Our 16th Anniversary!

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The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // I see fallen leaves everywhere!  I’m thankful that this week looks to be mild because I’m hoping to work on my garden soil and I’m going to need those leaves for mulch.  Further off on the property, my pigs are cozied up in their little house.  My chickens will be out braving the chilly morning soon.

As I look around the house // I’m in the middle of a decluttering mission (again) and nothing is safe, ha!  I recently heard the phrase “rage purge” and I had to laugh because it’s so true for me right now.  Life has been really heavy and stressful lately and I’m taking all of those feelings out on my stuff.

On this week’s to-do list //

– research how to grow fodder
– buy more tree wraps
– start the book for book club
– celebrate the USMC birthday
– order Advent candles 

Currently reading // 

• Fiction: The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor and Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson
• Nonfiction: Beneath the Tamarind Tree: A Story of Courage, Family, and the Lost Schoolgirls of Boko Haram by Isha Sesay
• Religious: Reclaiming our Roman Catholic Birthright by Peter Kwasniewski

On the menu this week //
Monday: chili 
Tuesday: creamy beef and shells, salad
Wednesday: Refrigerator Cleanout Night
Thursday:  biscuit chicken pot pie
Friday: pinto beans and cornbread

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The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // I can see our newest additions to the homestead: four sweet little Berkshire/Tamworth pigs!  They are so darn cute and are slowly warming up to us.  We’ll be keeping two to breed and bringing two to processing late next spring.

As I look around the house // I’m feeling a little overwhelmed – everything seems to be breaking or suddenly falling apart!  Financially, it’s not a great time (is it ever??) but that’s home ownership, I guess.  Hopefully I’ll be able to DIY/Youtube video my way into fixing most of the problems.

On this week’s to-do list //

– call Miss Utility
– bake pretzel rolls
– give the little boys’ haircuts
– find a good shower glass soap scum remover DIY recipe
– wrap birthday presents
– try to figure out what’s going on with the vacuum cleaner
– figure out the dishwasher issue

Currently reading // 

• Fiction: Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
• Nonfiction: Get Your Life Back: Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad by John Eldredge
• Religious: Reclaiming our Roman Catholic Birthright by Peter Kwasniewski

On the menu this week //
Monday: homemade nacho burgers and chips
Tuesday: Sicilian chicken soup
Wednesday: Refrigerator Cleanout Night
Thursday: chicken leg quarters and a side vegetable (TBD)
Friday: bean and cheese burritos