This post contains affiliate links.

The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // I have to laugh at the difference between the front grass and the back.  Our broilers are moved daily to fresh pasture out front and man, chicken poo is the best fertilizer!  The grass is growing back so green and lush!  The back on the other hand…it’s looking a little more crispy.  I definitely think we need to swing the chickens around that way next year.

As I look around the house // I can see how much the 1,000 Item Declutter Challenge has changed our home for the better and I’m tinkering with the idea of another go around.  I don’t think it will necessarily be number driven this time…maybe more focused on making specific homes for various things?  Still brainstorming.

In the garden // my watermelons are taking over!  I’m having such a weird growing season: my tomatoes are limping along and the peppers still haven’t produced anything.  On the plus side, my second round of peas are thriving, so there’s that.

On this week’s to-do list //

– have a happy, productive first week of school!
– look at bulbs for fall planting
– focus on the fall garden
– clean up the unruly weeds in the front flower beds
– deep clean all of the chicken raising “stuff” and pack away for next year
– bake a blueberry peach cobbler
– start prep work for the property fencing project
– find new sneakers for J

Currently reading // 

• Fiction: The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare by G.K. Chesterton
• Nonfiction: Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
• Religious: Saint Monica: Model of Christian Mothers by F.A. Forbes

On the menu this week //
Monday: pulled pork tostadas (with leftover pork)
Tuesday: pasta and bolognese sauce with garlic bread
Wednesday: beans and rice kielbasa skillet
Thursday: chicken pot pie
Friday: meatless frittata and fruit

This post contains affiliate links.

The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // I see the hens are out looking for bugs.  They are so fun to watch.

As I look around the house // I am happy to see a few small home projects completed.  Last week, I turned one little corner into a computer desk area and I think it will be perfect for homeschooling as well.

In the garden // I’m feeling frustrated.  This is the month where my garden should be full to bursting and it’s not.  My squash and zucchini fell to disease right before they started producing and my tomatoes are taking forever to grow.  My cherry tomatoes are more like marbles!  I only have a handful of healthy looking corn.  On the plus side: my watermelon and pumpkin plants are doing great!  (Ironic since those are two of my family’s least favorite from the garden.)

On this week’s to-do list //

– surprise the kids with sundaes for National Ice Cream Day (today!)
– continue adding a few more small business favorites to my new Shop tab
– freeze corn donuts for the hens
– browse around for a desk lamp
– gather materials to sew a grocery bag holder
– decide on a high school Spanish curriculum
– complete this week’s challenge from A Working Pantry (I’m thinking beans?)

Currently reading // 

• Fiction: Hinds’ Feet in High Places by Hannah Hurnard and a new book from Netgalley
• Religious: The Devotion to the Sacred Heart by Fr. John Croiset, SJ (almost done!) and The Catholic Guide to Miracles by Adam Blai

Thinking about // this post about recovering the lost art of analog living.  Her entire “Recovering the Lost Art” series is great and I loved what she wrote about “old-fashioned” blogging too: “In the good ‘ole days of blogging, people read blogs the way they did a favourite print magazine. We savoured them–enjoyed them–rather than just skimming for a quick tip before bouncing off…Blogging back then was genuine, non-salesy, thought-provoking, down-to-earth, artful if sometimes unpolished.”  This inspires me to create a cozy, homey reading experience here at the BWF.  I also need to comment more on the blogs I read!  I’ve become a lazy lurker and I need to change that.

On the menu this week //
Monday: Refrigerator Cleanout Night
Tuesday: chicken shawarma fries with Mediterranean salsa and garlic sauce
Wednesday: hot dogs and brats on the grill
Thursday: one skillet cheesy chili mac
Friday: bean and cheese burritos

This post contains affiliate links.

The weather outside is //

Another hot week!  Ice cream is definitely on the menu sometime this week.  

On this week’s to-do list //

– weed the in-ground garden beds (I’ve been majorly procrastinating on this!)
– work on homeschool intent/testing packet
– start making lists for the 2021-2022 school year (book lists, to-buy lists, all the lists)
– vacuum out the cars
– make blueberry peach cobbler
– declutter 25 things

Seeing // some results after three weeks of intentionally reducing my sugar intake!  After listening to a naturopath suggest a link between high blood pressure and insulin resistance, I knew I wanted to try a long-term experiment with my own diet.  (I’ve been struggling with elevated blood pressure levels since my last pregnancy 4+ years ago when I was put on watch for preeclampsia.)  I quit white sugar cold turkey and it was rough!  Headaches, fatigue, bloating…it was horrible!  Thankfully, I’m coming out of the fog and my blood pressure numbers are starting to decline.  I’ve lost a few pounds too, which is a happy bonus.  I’m encouraged to keep going.

Currently reading // 

• Fiction: Ashes of Fiery Weather
• Non-Fiction: Days on the Road and Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story (spine for my online course)
• Religious: The Devotion to the Sacred Heart

On the menu this week //
Monday: skillet beans and rice with kielbasa
Tuesday: steak fajitas
Wednesday: breakfast for dinner! cheesy sausage quiche
Thursday: one skillet bruschetta chicken
Friday: homemade cheese pizza

This post contains affiliate links.

The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  I liked this quote from Pope Saint John Paul II back in 1999:

Dear brothers and sisters, let us contemplate the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is the source of life, since by means of it victory over death was achieved. It is also the source of holiness, since in it sin the enemy of man’s holiness, the enemy of his spiritual development is defeated. The Heart of the Lord Jesus is the starting-point of the holiness of each one of us. From the Heart of the Lord Jesus let us learn the love of God and understanding of the mystery of sin mysterium iniquitatis.

With the upheaval of the past year and a half, I have felt great consolation from Our Lord’s Sacred Heart, so I’m really jumping into this devotion this month!  I’ve been trying to pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus daily (here‘s a beautiful Youtube version) and I hope to start this book (recommended by my priest) soon.

The weather outside is //

It’s going to be a hot one!

As I look outside my window // everything is green, green, green.  I love this time of year.

As I look around the house // I’m starting to make a list of projects.  Every June, I turn off my “teacher brain” and almost always turn to home improvement, ha!  Since we’re still focused on our financial goals (Baby Steps #3 and #6), anything we do will have to be accomplished inexpensively.  I’ll report back.

Asking // myself the question: “What can you do to be a maker and not just a passive consumer today?”

Reviewing // this year’s 100 Little Things list.  I’ve completed 38 items and only have two months left to go!  Some tasks will definitely not be completed in time and some interests/priorities have changed, but I do hope to cross off a few more things in the time I have left.

On this week’s to-do list //

– deep clean the dishwasher (following this post)
– make a new flavor of homemade ice cream (100LT #8)
– start browsing for a new pair of “grownup” summer pajamas (100LT #80)
– plant chives

Currently reading // Per usual, I am in the middle of a ton of books!

• Fiction: The Art of Loading Brush by Wendell Berry (just two short stories to go!) and The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
• Non-Fiction: The Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalan (really interesting so far) and Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story (I’m taking a free online course and this is the spine)
• Religious: Dear and Glorious Physician by Taylor Caldwell (I just joined a group on Goodreads and this is their choice for June)

On the menu this week //
Monday: baked chicken leg quarters with mixed vegetables
Tuesday: pasta with bolognese sauce and homemade garlic knots
Wednesday: teriyaki turkey rice bowls
Thursday: Refrigerator Clean-Out Night
Friday: homemade pizza

Happy Easter!  We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!  We are on Spring Break this week and I’m looking forward to a healthy mix of relaxation and getting caught up on life.

The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // Spring has arrived!  The grass seems to have turned green overnight.  I’m anxious to get out in the garden.

As I look around the house // it could use a little spring cleaning, ha!  We have been so busy with projects and the chickens and schooling and something has to give.  I’m planning to get all caught up this week.

On this week’s to-do list //

– do the finishing touches on the chicken tractors
– drop off books at the ReStore
– bake applesauce muffins
– buy a few more pots for the garden
– list a bunch of clothes and books on ebay

Beginning // a new health “regimen” to strengthen my immune system and get me as healthy as I can for whatever may come my way.  The plan is: no dairy (due to my intolerance), no sugar, daily walks for a dose of Vitamin D (on top of the gardening/homestead work that I’m already doing outside), less caffeine and way more water. We don’t eat a lot of processed food, but I want to get back in the routine of making most things from scratch. Nothing too crazy, but definitely beneficial for my health as a whole.  (And give me a little wiggle room in my jeans too.)

Considering // going on a spending freeze after a very expensive few weeks.  We’ve been frequent shoppers at Tractor Supply for the chicks as we figure out what and how much we need for them.  We had to buy a new refrigerator after our old one refused to keep a constant temperature.  And then we have scheduled tree removal on a ginormous dead poplar (that has been dropping huge branches at random and I’m terrified will hit one of the kids) and one that is leaning precariously over the road.  Yeesh…money’s just flying away at this point.

Currently reading // After a month of a bunch of “meh” reads, I feel like I’m in a little slump!

• Fiction: Sawbones by Melissa Lenhardt // unless something drastic happens, this will probably be another 2-star read
• Non-Fiction: All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward // this is about the Watergate scandal and despite the barrage of names that are hard to keep straight, really interesting so far
• Religious: Diaries of the Chinese Martyrs // going back to this one since I finished my Lent book

On the menu this week //
Monday: leftovers from Easter
Tuesday: sheet pan roasted chicken with veggies and rice
Wednesday: D’s famous homemade pizza
Thursday: chili and cornbread
Friday: creamy tomato tortellini soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

The weather outside is //Last week was such a tease with beautiful spring-like weather!  Looks like this will be a week to get a bunch of indoor tasks accomplished.

As I look outside my window // The trees are still bare and brown, but the grass has just a tad more green to it.  My daffodils have burst through the ground, but still haven’t bloomed.  The birds are coming back and I’m starting to wake up to their calls.  All signs that spring is on its way!

As I look around the house // I can’t find half of my kids, so I assume they are in the garage with the chickens.  One of them said to me yesterday, “Chicks are like fireplaces.  You can just stare at them for hours.”

On this week’s to-do list //

– paint touchups on the garden fence
– go through P’s clothes and pull out everything he’s outgrown
– list a few books on ebay
– begin looking for a First Communion dress (!!)
– start some flower seeds under the grow light

Reflecting on // the idea of legacy. I recently stumbled on a homesteading blog where she mentioned that they were creating an “agricultural legacy” for their children and grandchildren.  I’ve pondered that phrase ever since.

Laughing about // the crazy way the kids seem to outgrow everything all at the same time.  I’ve been buying new sneakers, new undies and socks.  Filling in holes in their spring/summer wardrobe will be coming next!

Currently reading // I’m behind on my Lenten reading plan for The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and have been reading in fits and spurts.  It’s beautiful and interesting, but also so incredibly heartbreaking (as the story of the Passion should be.)  My fiction book for bedtime is American Royals by Katharine McGee.  Completely out of my comfort zone and not something I would typically read, but I was craving something light and silly.  I also picked up The Art of Loading Brush by Wendell Berry again after stalling during a slow section. If I can push through this boring essay, I’ll get to a few of his short stories at the end!

On the menu this week //
Monday: Refrigerator Clean-Out Night
Tuesday: slow cooker beef stew
Wednesday: Feast of Saint Patrick! takeout from the local volunteer fire department’s fundraiser dinner
Thursday: homemade pizza
Friday: Feast of Saint Joseph! TBD: something festive but still Lent appropriate

{linking up with Rosie}

The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // Good morning from our winter wonderland…kinda!  Yesterday, we woke up to really heavy snow fall, which didn’t let up until around noon.  It was perfect snowball consistency!  Then, the snow stopped, the sun came out and promptly melted about half of it!  So weird.

As I look around the house // I’m mentally making a to-do list for projects to start in the next few months.  Most of our tax return this year will be going toward our financial goals, but I’m hoping to squirrel a little away for a laundry room revamp.  For the amount of time I spend in there, I definitely need more storage and a better flow.

On this week’s to-do list //

– finalize early spring planting schedule
– deep clean the laundry room
– mail Valentine’s Day cards to my favorite little people (nephews and cousins)
– finish taxes 
– finalize plans for Lent

Reflecting on // how much I can get accomplished when I’m not chained to my phone.  This is a goal I’ve been intentionally working on since the beginning of the year and I’m making progress!

Currently reading // a bunch of books, per usual!  My non-fiction book is Wendell Berry’s The Art of Loading Brush.  I just started Diaries of the Chinese Martyrs: Stories of Heroic Catholics Living in Mao’s China.  I’m also reading The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows for Historathon. (affiliate links)

On the menu this week //
Monday: garlic-parmesan veggies and sausage with rice
Tuesday: turkey taco rice skillet
Wednesday: pasta with Bolognese sauce and garlic bread
Thursday: Sicilian chicken soup
Friday: meatless six layer dip and chips

This post contains affiliate links.

• get a good start on the Fall Cleaning Checklist
• make leaf “mulch” for the garden beds
• list five things on eBay
• deep clean the kitchen
• choose clothes so we can take family pictures (ourselves)

On the menu this week //

This post contains affiliate links.

Hot!  This is the part of summer in Virginia when we tend to hibernate: we complete our outdoor chores/projects/exercise first thing in the morning and then stay inside until after dinner.

• reorganize the refrigerator (it’s a wreck in there)
• order light bulbs for the dining room
• list at least 10 things on eBay
• take donations to Goodwill and the ReStore
• drop off return at UPS
• bake oatmeal raisin cookies

On the menu this week //