Good morning! I find it utterly amazing that this is the last Saturday in April! My oldest daughter is going to turn 23 in a little over a week! I think someone sped up the rotation of the Earth, as time seems to just fly by these days. Gone are the days wishing time away like I did when I was younger. Every moment is precious now, and I want to use them all wisely.
Jeff had to work very early today, so we stayed the night at my mother's house last night. This has a two-fold blessing: one, I am available to help my sister with my parents or the house, and two, Jeff is only 10-15 minutes from work instead of 45. We have some errands to run when he gets off work, including a Lowe's run for some sealant for our greenhouse roof. As often is the case, we may stop for a wee date while we are out. We do cherish our time together. He is a hard-working man, and he deserves a wife who gives him undivided attention and care.
Our goals for the weekend once we get home are to get some more of the garden hand-tilled and planted. I did manage to get a few tomato plants in before it rained a couple of days ago. I am determined to make do with what we have started from seed this year, not spending any extra on store bought plants. Hopefully this will show us any adjustments we need to make in our seed starting next year.
We have 21 two-week-old chicks that we incubated and hatched ourselves. They are cute little fluff balls, but I am ready for them to be out of my living room. We have 25 meat chickens in the extra part of our chicken coop, and this along with the still-cool nights have kept the chicks in the house for now. It is a means to an end, so I tolerate it for now. Jessie does a superb job taking care of them, which helps.
Once I have the greenhouse completely painted and caulked (I may have been avoiding it for the last week or so because of all the bees), we are going to tackle our cellar. It has a dirt floor, a partial wall of shelves, and not much else but a bunch of junk. My goal is to clean it all out, have Josh haul gravel to cover the floor, install shop lighting, and eventually put an access stair into the house. That part will have to come later when we have more time. I am looking forward to it being more clean and organized and less creepy.
I have some pictures of my garden to post, but my laptop is not cooperating for some reason. I guess I will share them another time.
We plan on having a family-filled, hard-working weekend, and I hope you all do too!
Blessings,
Debbie
Life as the mother of four children and four grandchildren. Homeschooling the two still at home. Things that interest me - reading, herbs and essential oils, gardening, natural chemical-free living, and continually learning how to be a better wife.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Practical and frugal uses for two common "weeds"
In my quest to become more natural and at the same time more frugal, I have been making a homemade plantain tincture for a facial astringent for several years now. This is the first year to try and make enough to last until next spring. Other than the apple cider vinegar to steep the plantain leaves in, the cleaner is free! Not only free, but extraordinarily effective and just as importantly, TOXIN FREE!
If you want to save money and also become more natural and eliminate some poisons from your lifestyle, you can make this too. It isn't difficult at all. It is best to use raw apple cider vinegar, like the Bragg's brand from the organic section at Kroger, but I have used and still use regular store bought ACV as well. If you make your own ACV, it is best not to use it for tinctures because the acidity isn't stable or guaranteed with each batch.
This is what plantain looks like:
I use a quart jar, wash and cut the leaves at least in half before putting them in the jar so the medicinal properties can be released more readily. Then cover with apple cider vinegar. This time, I actually added a little tincture grade vodka to top the jars off, which just aids in getting all of the good stuff out of the leaves. Most commercial astringents also have alcohol in them.
Shake daily, and let sit at least a few weeks, up to about 6 weeks. Strain, and store in a bottle or jar of your choice. It can be kind of strong, so last year I started diluting it with water by half. We use with both cotton balls and homemade facial cloths.
The second tincture I have been making this spring, inspired by my daughter, is soaking dandelion flowers and leaves in vinegar, along with dried basil, for our salads. We switched from commercial salad dressings to using olive oil and vinegar most of the time, along with homemade healthy ranch.
I have three jars of dandelions soaking so far, but I wish I had remembered to start sooner, so I would have gotten more flowers before they seeded out. Our vinegar will have even more healthy benefits with the added nutrients from the dandelions! No man made supplement or product can compare to using what you can find in nature provided by God.
Other the being healthier, one of the best things about these two tinctures are that they are practically free to make. The money saved can be put towards something else that we need that I can't or don't yet make myself.
Try it! You can do it too!!
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs (facebook)
If you want to save money and also become more natural and eliminate some poisons from your lifestyle, you can make this too. It isn't difficult at all. It is best to use raw apple cider vinegar, like the Bragg's brand from the organic section at Kroger, but I have used and still use regular store bought ACV as well. If you make your own ACV, it is best not to use it for tinctures because the acidity isn't stable or guaranteed with each batch.
This is what plantain looks like:
I use a quart jar, wash and cut the leaves at least in half before putting them in the jar so the medicinal properties can be released more readily. Then cover with apple cider vinegar. This time, I actually added a little tincture grade vodka to top the jars off, which just aids in getting all of the good stuff out of the leaves. Most commercial astringents also have alcohol in them.
Shake daily, and let sit at least a few weeks, up to about 6 weeks. Strain, and store in a bottle or jar of your choice. It can be kind of strong, so last year I started diluting it with water by half. We use with both cotton balls and homemade facial cloths.
The second tincture I have been making this spring, inspired by my daughter, is soaking dandelion flowers and leaves in vinegar, along with dried basil, for our salads. We switched from commercial salad dressings to using olive oil and vinegar most of the time, along with homemade healthy ranch.
I have three jars of dandelions soaking so far, but I wish I had remembered to start sooner, so I would have gotten more flowers before they seeded out. Our vinegar will have even more healthy benefits with the added nutrients from the dandelions! No man made supplement or product can compare to using what you can find in nature provided by God.
Other the being healthier, one of the best things about these two tinctures are that they are practically free to make. The money saved can be put towards something else that we need that I can't or don't yet make myself.
Try it! You can do it too!!
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs (facebook)
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Saturday on the Homestead: April 19, 2014
Jeff and I have had a bit of a long, difficult week. He has been fighting cough and illness all week, and I have been contending with a corresponding lack of sleep. I normally don't ever wish time away, but both of us were so thankful when Friday got here.
I have planted a few new things today from seeds I have been soaking: crimson clover, thyme, white yarrow, sweet williams, and some more rhubarb. Some I planted in my tires, some in a long outside pot, and the rest in my garden.
I am disappointed that the 10 tomatoes I planted last week all look dead. We worked hard cultivating those guys from seed. Success and failure are part of every gardener's life, but it sure is a bummer! Fortunately, we have more tomatoes almost ready to put in the ground, so I will just try again soon.
One of the things I am not liking about spring are the huge bumblebees dive-bombing our heads whenever we are near the greenhouse. We have a badminton racket to swat them if they bother us too much. If they would just peacefully do their thing, I could ignore them more easily, but they are quite aggressive. I am not afraid of too much, but my husband (and brother-in-law) have been deriving great pleasure from my girly squeals when the bees are pestering me. They get these manly amused smiles on their faces and I am just glad I can help make their day....
Jessie served us breakfast in bed this morning, which was a wonderful surprise. She made healthy pancakes with homemade banana whipped cream, turkey bacon, and eggs. Yummy!!
I am almost done painting the inside of the greenhouse, and the outside needs one more coat, but here is a picture of the "almost" finished project. I am SO proud of my husband for designing and building it. You can barely see our 2 lemon trees inside.
And there is the most beautiful granddaughter in the world, Hadassah Haven Miracle and her dog Willow (she says Lillow). We went to look at land with Mark, Alix and the kids this morning before we started working.
Jeff and I are running a load of trash off to town today, and we may indulge in a wee date while we are out. I know I have said this before, but it is so important to actively cultivate your relationship with your spouse by spending quality and quantity alone time with them when possible. Jeff and I have worked hard over the years to get where we are, and it hasn't always been good or easy. But I am thankful we have hung in there and are where we are today: best friends!
I hope you all have a fun, blessed weekend. We are looking forward to eating dinner with family tomorrow and spending time with them.
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs (facebook)
I have planted a few new things today from seeds I have been soaking: crimson clover, thyme, white yarrow, sweet williams, and some more rhubarb. Some I planted in my tires, some in a long outside pot, and the rest in my garden.
I am disappointed that the 10 tomatoes I planted last week all look dead. We worked hard cultivating those guys from seed. Success and failure are part of every gardener's life, but it sure is a bummer! Fortunately, we have more tomatoes almost ready to put in the ground, so I will just try again soon.
One of the things I am not liking about spring are the huge bumblebees dive-bombing our heads whenever we are near the greenhouse. We have a badminton racket to swat them if they bother us too much. If they would just peacefully do their thing, I could ignore them more easily, but they are quite aggressive. I am not afraid of too much, but my husband (and brother-in-law) have been deriving great pleasure from my girly squeals when the bees are pestering me. They get these manly amused smiles on their faces and I am just glad I can help make their day....
Jessie served us breakfast in bed this morning, which was a wonderful surprise. She made healthy pancakes with homemade banana whipped cream, turkey bacon, and eggs. Yummy!!
I am almost done painting the inside of the greenhouse, and the outside needs one more coat, but here is a picture of the "almost" finished project. I am SO proud of my husband for designing and building it. You can barely see our 2 lemon trees inside.
Jeff and I are running a load of trash off to town today, and we may indulge in a wee date while we are out. I know I have said this before, but it is so important to actively cultivate your relationship with your spouse by spending quality and quantity alone time with them when possible. Jeff and I have worked hard over the years to get where we are, and it hasn't always been good or easy. But I am thankful we have hung in there and are where we are today: best friends!
I hope you all have a fun, blessed weekend. We are looking forward to eating dinner with family tomorrow and spending time with them.
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs (facebook)
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Do you major in the minors? Offering grace to those around us.
I will never be one who minimizes or condones sin in those who call themselves followers of Jesus. Having said that, there are many people in the Christian faith that have adopted guidelines for themselves and their families and have subsequently turned them into man-made rules that everyone in the faith must follow or we look down upon them as less obedient than us. To truly be a mature believer, we have to allow others room to set standards for themselves and their families in those things that are not forbidden by God in the Bible.
There are things that are preferences, but are absolutely not salvation issues. (For by GRACE are you saved through FAITH, and that NOT of YOURSELVES. It is the GIFT of GOD, not of WORKS, lest any man should BOAST. Ephesians 2:8-9) This is important, because everything that we do as an act of obedience is a WORK. These things don't save us, and because we put on Christ's righteousness when we are saved, they also don't make us any more holy.
There are things in every believer's life that are matters of obedience that we haven't allowed God to work on in our lives yet. And there are things in other people's lives that are important to them that God may NEVER convict us of, even if we are willing to hear the message and change.
Just because God has convicted us of something doesn't mean that every believer we know will be convicted of it, or perhaps it is not the right time in their walk of faith for them to work on that particular thing. We all have progress to make to be more like Jesus, and everybody can't work on everything at the same time. Also, it takes some people much longer to work through issues than others. Look how stubborn and resistant the Israelites were to change.
That doesn't mean we can't encourage others to think about certain issues or beliefs that we hold. It DOES mean we should not engage them to the point of arguments and anger that will put a wall between us and them. Not only is this counter-productive to relationships, people never change their minds on issues when forced or coerced.
We are friends with people from many different doctrinal viewpoints, some who never go to church but I am almost certain they are saved (this statement will show some of you one of your legalistic points). Alternately, we know people who are mainstream Christians who go to church every time the door is opened, who are involved in committees, studies, and other various church activities. We have friends who love Jesus with all their hearts and feel led to keep the Jewish feasts and days. We know believers who worship and have "church" in homes. We know those who meet outside under a portico, unless it is too cold, and then they all gather in a small upper room above the portico.
We know others who never cut their hair, and/or only wear skirts for anything including climbing trees and swimming. Christians who do and some who do not drink alcohol in moderation (This one will definitely snag some. I know the arguments and scriptures; not overindulging to the point of drunkenness is the most clear instruction given. Freedom to let people decide where to go from there is needed to avoid legalism.) I don't think there is going to be a "He never drank anything", and a "She occasionally had a glass of wine" section in Heaven.
Some believers see nothing wrong with tattoos, while others can make a strong case against them; same thing with body piercings. We know people who believe you have to be baptized in order to be saved. People who eat certain things, and people who don't have the freedom to eat certain things.
Believers who only use certain versions of the Bible, and those who don't care what version they use as long as it is a Bible. Those who do and those who don't celebrate Christmas, some with and some without Santa Claus.
We have friends who are as modest as the day is long, and others who let it all hang out without any apparent conviction. Those who feel led to only take the gospel to certain people groups, and those who want to take it to the whole world.
My family and I have strong convictions on all of the above mentioned areas of life, as I am sure most believers do. It becomes dangerous when our convictions rule our lives to the point that we begin to shut others out or disdain them because their beliefs on these non-salvation issues don't match ours. I have seen others suffer this disdain for not living up to someone's beliefs, have experienced it myself from others, and have been tempted to disdain others for not being convicted as I am as well. This is not a Godly attribute, and we will never fully display God's grace if we act this way.
I completely understand and agree that in our inner circles we will normally have those who are most like us. There are other issues to sometimes consider as well. For example, you have the freedom to be less than perfectly modest, but I may not allow you around my hormonal, pubescent son very much; however, I am not going to completely unfriend you because of it.
We can get so dogmatic in our beliefs (again, regarding those things that are not specifically addressed in scripture, or those that are addressed, but specific guidelines not given. Modesty is addressed in scripture, but the actual level of modesty required is not) that we are more concerned with others following our beliefs than we are about telling others about the great salvation that God the Father offers us through Jesus. In the end, these small things may affect our level of reward in Heaven, but they are not going to keep us from getting there. We need to preach the gospel, and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting and changing of a person's life and heart.
We can forget that we aren't the Holy Spirit, who convicts us of sin and gives us the power to overcome and change. There is nothing wrong with telling others of our beliefs on these minor (by minor, I mean non-salvation) issues. However, we need to understand that not everyone has to believe the same way that we do (gasp) on every issue, and that some people who have actually prayerfully considered those same subjects have reached different conclusions than we have, and that is okay.
God is a very big, complex God, and I don't think He wants every single believer to be a carbon copy of each other. He can use these varying beliefs on minor issues to accomplish His purposes. He will use you to do one thing, while He may use me to do another, even though we don't agree on anything but how to be saved (!!!)
We don't have the market wrapped up on what is right on every issue. Great theologians have pondered more serious issues than these, and have come up with vastly differing opinions that they can each support with scripture. Daily we need to remember that outwardly the gospel is the goal, and within our own lives letting Christ make us more like Him.
One thing Christians can be sure of: there is salvation only through faith in Jesus Christ and the blood that he shed for us on the cross, and His resurrection. This is the one and only way to eternal life. This is a non-negotiable for us because the Bible is absolutely clear on this subject.
There are other issues that scripture address clearly about what is sin: lying, cheating, stealing, lusting, adultery, homosexuality, murdering, gossiping, slander, and fornication. We can try to tiptoe around these subjects and convince ourselves that they are okay. As Christians, we have to accept what is clearly stated in Scripture as sin. These are the things that we can lovingly address in other believer's lives if we see them stumble.
For those things that are not clearly stated, as those mentioned in the first half of this post, we can grant freedom to the believers around us to prayerfully consider them and reach their own conclusions about them. Others may not feel convicted about things we feel very strongly about. They may change their minds someday about those things, or it is possible that we may change our minds about certain things that we now feel strongly about.
Instead of anger and rejection towards others who don't feel convicted about all of the same things that we do, let us offer grace, realizing that we are not always right, and also realizing that even if we are right, that it isn't our job to change them. We can pray for them, but we can't do the changing.
Let us walk through life humbly living out our beliefs, speaking of them humbly when given the chance, without the expectation that everyone must follow and agree on these minor issues, even if those "minor issues" seem very large and important to us.
Stand firm on Christ as the way to salvation; stand firm on those things God has clearly stated as sin; offer GRACE for everything else.
As always, please SHARE this post with others.
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs (Facebook page)
There are things that are preferences, but are absolutely not salvation issues. (For by GRACE are you saved through FAITH, and that NOT of YOURSELVES. It is the GIFT of GOD, not of WORKS, lest any man should BOAST. Ephesians 2:8-9) This is important, because everything that we do as an act of obedience is a WORK. These things don't save us, and because we put on Christ's righteousness when we are saved, they also don't make us any more holy.
There are things in every believer's life that are matters of obedience that we haven't allowed God to work on in our lives yet. And there are things in other people's lives that are important to them that God may NEVER convict us of, even if we are willing to hear the message and change.
Just because God has convicted us of something doesn't mean that every believer we know will be convicted of it, or perhaps it is not the right time in their walk of faith for them to work on that particular thing. We all have progress to make to be more like Jesus, and everybody can't work on everything at the same time. Also, it takes some people much longer to work through issues than others. Look how stubborn and resistant the Israelites were to change.
That doesn't mean we can't encourage others to think about certain issues or beliefs that we hold. It DOES mean we should not engage them to the point of arguments and anger that will put a wall between us and them. Not only is this counter-productive to relationships, people never change their minds on issues when forced or coerced.
We are friends with people from many different doctrinal viewpoints, some who never go to church but I am almost certain they are saved (this statement will show some of you one of your legalistic points). Alternately, we know people who are mainstream Christians who go to church every time the door is opened, who are involved in committees, studies, and other various church activities. We have friends who love Jesus with all their hearts and feel led to keep the Jewish feasts and days. We know believers who worship and have "church" in homes. We know those who meet outside under a portico, unless it is too cold, and then they all gather in a small upper room above the portico.
We know others who never cut their hair, and/or only wear skirts for anything including climbing trees and swimming. Christians who do and some who do not drink alcohol in moderation (This one will definitely snag some. I know the arguments and scriptures; not overindulging to the point of drunkenness is the most clear instruction given. Freedom to let people decide where to go from there is needed to avoid legalism.) I don't think there is going to be a "He never drank anything", and a "She occasionally had a glass of wine" section in Heaven.
Some believers see nothing wrong with tattoos, while others can make a strong case against them; same thing with body piercings. We know people who believe you have to be baptized in order to be saved. People who eat certain things, and people who don't have the freedom to eat certain things.
Believers who only use certain versions of the Bible, and those who don't care what version they use as long as it is a Bible. Those who do and those who don't celebrate Christmas, some with and some without Santa Claus.
We have friends who are as modest as the day is long, and others who let it all hang out without any apparent conviction. Those who feel led to only take the gospel to certain people groups, and those who want to take it to the whole world.
My family and I have strong convictions on all of the above mentioned areas of life, as I am sure most believers do. It becomes dangerous when our convictions rule our lives to the point that we begin to shut others out or disdain them because their beliefs on these non-salvation issues don't match ours. I have seen others suffer this disdain for not living up to someone's beliefs, have experienced it myself from others, and have been tempted to disdain others for not being convicted as I am as well. This is not a Godly attribute, and we will never fully display God's grace if we act this way.
I completely understand and agree that in our inner circles we will normally have those who are most like us. There are other issues to sometimes consider as well. For example, you have the freedom to be less than perfectly modest, but I may not allow you around my hormonal, pubescent son very much; however, I am not going to completely unfriend you because of it.
We can get so dogmatic in our beliefs (again, regarding those things that are not specifically addressed in scripture, or those that are addressed, but specific guidelines not given. Modesty is addressed in scripture, but the actual level of modesty required is not) that we are more concerned with others following our beliefs than we are about telling others about the great salvation that God the Father offers us through Jesus. In the end, these small things may affect our level of reward in Heaven, but they are not going to keep us from getting there. We need to preach the gospel, and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting and changing of a person's life and heart.
We can forget that we aren't the Holy Spirit, who convicts us of sin and gives us the power to overcome and change. There is nothing wrong with telling others of our beliefs on these minor (by minor, I mean non-salvation) issues. However, we need to understand that not everyone has to believe the same way that we do (gasp) on every issue, and that some people who have actually prayerfully considered those same subjects have reached different conclusions than we have, and that is okay.
God is a very big, complex God, and I don't think He wants every single believer to be a carbon copy of each other. He can use these varying beliefs on minor issues to accomplish His purposes. He will use you to do one thing, while He may use me to do another, even though we don't agree on anything but how to be saved (!!!)
We don't have the market wrapped up on what is right on every issue. Great theologians have pondered more serious issues than these, and have come up with vastly differing opinions that they can each support with scripture. Daily we need to remember that outwardly the gospel is the goal, and within our own lives letting Christ make us more like Him.
One thing Christians can be sure of: there is salvation only through faith in Jesus Christ and the blood that he shed for us on the cross, and His resurrection. This is the one and only way to eternal life. This is a non-negotiable for us because the Bible is absolutely clear on this subject.
There are other issues that scripture address clearly about what is sin: lying, cheating, stealing, lusting, adultery, homosexuality, murdering, gossiping, slander, and fornication. We can try to tiptoe around these subjects and convince ourselves that they are okay. As Christians, we have to accept what is clearly stated in Scripture as sin. These are the things that we can lovingly address in other believer's lives if we see them stumble.
For those things that are not clearly stated, as those mentioned in the first half of this post, we can grant freedom to the believers around us to prayerfully consider them and reach their own conclusions about them. Others may not feel convicted about things we feel very strongly about. They may change their minds someday about those things, or it is possible that we may change our minds about certain things that we now feel strongly about.
Instead of anger and rejection towards others who don't feel convicted about all of the same things that we do, let us offer grace, realizing that we are not always right, and also realizing that even if we are right, that it isn't our job to change them. We can pray for them, but we can't do the changing.
Let us walk through life humbly living out our beliefs, speaking of them humbly when given the chance, without the expectation that everyone must follow and agree on these minor issues, even if those "minor issues" seem very large and important to us.
Stand firm on Christ as the way to salvation; stand firm on those things God has clearly stated as sin; offer GRACE for everything else.
As always, please SHARE this post with others.
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs (Facebook page)
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Saturday on the Homestead: April 12, 2014
I am spending the day at my mother's house in town, helping my sister out wherever I can. It's a beautiful day, and I am so thankful for the sunshine and warm weather, as I am sure many are. We have been quite busy around the homestead, with some spring planting, painting the greenhouse, weeding beds, and starting a little spring cleaning in the house.
We ordered two small (up to 10 feet) lemon trees and an avocado tree that can be grown in pots in our greenhouse. I am excited to try something new, as we have never grown these before. I can't wait for our first harvest from them! The lemon trees we got are supposed to be slightly less acidic with a hint of orange taste. I will post pictures of them soon.
Last week, I got our sunflowers planted, some radishes, toothache plant seeds, and 10 tomato plants. I have several seedlings of different things ready to transplant, but just haven't gotten to them yet. My love of gardening is growing, and I find it a serene and relaxing thing to do.
I can't wait to finish our greenhouse so I can show everyone our before and after pictures. We are almost there after a lot of hard work. It will be interesting this fall when it cools off again to see what we can grow in it. I am hoping to at least grow salad greens in it all winter.
Jeff had to work today, which is always a mixed blessing. Jessie, Amber and Josh are working today making higher than average wages to spread 500 bags of topsoil at a friend's house. Those kids are hard workers, and I am so thankful for that.
While certainly not perfect, I do delight in them more often than not. We have a lot of fun together. Sometimes we get distracted in the morning after breakfast just chatting away together, and before we know it, over an hour has gone by. We call it the "Newman distraction." At times we'll be doing our Bible study, and we may stop to look up some information to answer a question in our reading, and that will lead to something totally unrelated. We don't even consciously realize we are majorly off topic because we get so wrapped up in what we are talking about. It amuses me greatly.
We are still in auto-repair mode with our Nissan truck as it still isn't running properly. Today when Jeff gets off work, we have to go buy a valve cover gasket. Hopefully that will finish up repairs for that vehicle for awhile. All of our vehicles are used and could use some work of one kind or another, but nothing too major except for our green Dodge truck, which I think needs some engine work.
I'm working on a design for a wood sign for our homestead, and will get someone local to make it for me to use as my new logo. If you have any ideas for my design, let me know in the comments, as I haven't landed on anything solid yet. Something homestead-y.
I tried to download a picture of my fiery red-headed mama on here, but this computer won't upload my most recent photos for some reason. So instead, here is a picture of our spoiled Aussie and Border Collie, Ellie and Sahara. This is their, "Excuse me, we are INSIDE dogs, so let us back in", faces.
Until next time and God Bless,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
We ordered two small (up to 10 feet) lemon trees and an avocado tree that can be grown in pots in our greenhouse. I am excited to try something new, as we have never grown these before. I can't wait for our first harvest from them! The lemon trees we got are supposed to be slightly less acidic with a hint of orange taste. I will post pictures of them soon.
Last week, I got our sunflowers planted, some radishes, toothache plant seeds, and 10 tomato plants. I have several seedlings of different things ready to transplant, but just haven't gotten to them yet. My love of gardening is growing, and I find it a serene and relaxing thing to do.
I can't wait to finish our greenhouse so I can show everyone our before and after pictures. We are almost there after a lot of hard work. It will be interesting this fall when it cools off again to see what we can grow in it. I am hoping to at least grow salad greens in it all winter.
Jeff had to work today, which is always a mixed blessing. Jessie, Amber and Josh are working today making higher than average wages to spread 500 bags of topsoil at a friend's house. Those kids are hard workers, and I am so thankful for that.
While certainly not perfect, I do delight in them more often than not. We have a lot of fun together. Sometimes we get distracted in the morning after breakfast just chatting away together, and before we know it, over an hour has gone by. We call it the "Newman distraction." At times we'll be doing our Bible study, and we may stop to look up some information to answer a question in our reading, and that will lead to something totally unrelated. We don't even consciously realize we are majorly off topic because we get so wrapped up in what we are talking about. It amuses me greatly.
We are still in auto-repair mode with our Nissan truck as it still isn't running properly. Today when Jeff gets off work, we have to go buy a valve cover gasket. Hopefully that will finish up repairs for that vehicle for awhile. All of our vehicles are used and could use some work of one kind or another, but nothing too major except for our green Dodge truck, which I think needs some engine work.
I'm working on a design for a wood sign for our homestead, and will get someone local to make it for me to use as my new logo. If you have any ideas for my design, let me know in the comments, as I haven't landed on anything solid yet. Something homestead-y.
I tried to download a picture of my fiery red-headed mama on here, but this computer won't upload my most recent photos for some reason. So instead, here is a picture of our spoiled Aussie and Border Collie, Ellie and Sahara. This is their, "Excuse me, we are INSIDE dogs, so let us back in", faces.
Until next time and God Bless,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Why I still read aloud to my half-grown kids
We don't like the terms "teens" or "teenagers" in our family because of the connotated immaturity and rebellion they imply, so we usually say young men and young women. We still have 2 children that we homeschool; Amber is 15 and Joshua is 14.
I have read to all four of my children well into their childhoods, and am still reading to the two still at home. Jessie (19) will sometimes even listen in when she isn't busy with something else. We cover a variety of genres when we read together.
Some may wonder why a parent would still feel the need to read aloud when her children are practically grown and can certainly read for themselves. Some may even feel that it is babyish or immature. I obviously disagree.
I LOVE this time with my children no matter their age. When they were young, the stories stimulated their imaginations and helped their brains develop. We would snuggle while we read, and they would ask endless questions like kids do.
The older they get, the more in-depth we can get with our discussions. By listening to and watching their mother read, they are drawing close to me and I to them. This has always been so precious to me.
It is at times a labor of love. I don't always feel like it, but my heart always desires the closeness. I love them enough not to let them escape each school day into individual obscurity. I love them enough to require them to sit through a shared story together even when they don't feel like it. This seldom applies to Amber, who absolutely adores being read to, but Joshua IS a boy, and has been historically fidgety at times.
My time with them is waning. I can feel it persistently fading away. I simultaneously want them to grow up and be Godly, successful individuals following God's plan and also desiring them to be my babies forever. I am sure most parents experience this dilemma.
I would encourage all parents with children at home of any age to read to them. If they are older, it could be news articles or an in-depth biblical study book. Anything that gets their noses out of electronics and television and actually focused on other family members.
I don't and never will regret the time devoted to reading to my children. They are worth it. Amber told me it makes her feel special, and Joshua said that he wants to continue the tradition when he has kids.
It truly is never to late to start a good habit. Reading to our children is a habit worth establishing. The benefits will last long into their lives. They are absolutely worth our time and undivided attention.
As always, feel free to share this post with your friends!
Here is a valuable resource for those who are interested - What to Read When:The Books and Stories to Read with your Child
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs (Click here and come like my Facebook page)
I have read to all four of my children well into their childhoods, and am still reading to the two still at home. Jessie (19) will sometimes even listen in when she isn't busy with something else. We cover a variety of genres when we read together.
Some may wonder why a parent would still feel the need to read aloud when her children are practically grown and can certainly read for themselves. Some may even feel that it is babyish or immature. I obviously disagree.
I LOVE this time with my children no matter their age. When they were young, the stories stimulated their imaginations and helped their brains develop. We would snuggle while we read, and they would ask endless questions like kids do.
The older they get, the more in-depth we can get with our discussions. By listening to and watching their mother read, they are drawing close to me and I to them. This has always been so precious to me.
It is at times a labor of love. I don't always feel like it, but my heart always desires the closeness. I love them enough not to let them escape each school day into individual obscurity. I love them enough to require them to sit through a shared story together even when they don't feel like it. This seldom applies to Amber, who absolutely adores being read to, but Joshua IS a boy, and has been historically fidgety at times.
My time with them is waning. I can feel it persistently fading away. I simultaneously want them to grow up and be Godly, successful individuals following God's plan and also desiring them to be my babies forever. I am sure most parents experience this dilemma.
I would encourage all parents with children at home of any age to read to them. If they are older, it could be news articles or an in-depth biblical study book. Anything that gets their noses out of electronics and television and actually focused on other family members.
I don't and never will regret the time devoted to reading to my children. They are worth it. Amber told me it makes her feel special, and Joshua said that he wants to continue the tradition when he has kids.
It truly is never to late to start a good habit. Reading to our children is a habit worth establishing. The benefits will last long into their lives. They are absolutely worth our time and undivided attention.
As always, feel free to share this post with your friends!
Here is a valuable resource for those who are interested - What to Read When:The Books and Stories to Read with your Child
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs (Click here and come like my Facebook page)
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
5 things you can (!) live without that will save you money
Are you trying to save money? Do you search for ways to reduce, things or services to do away with, or changes that will lessen your budget? There are more and more people trying to save money wherever they can these days. I know that we try to pinch pennies, but our grocery budget has just about doubled in the last two or three years, most of it due to increased prices at the store (and a teenage boy that is never full).
It can be even more challenging when you are trying to eat healthier, because healthier is almost always more expensive than buying what is cheap, like Ramen Noodles (which we did for YEARS). An increasing number of people now care about preservatives, dyes, and the lack of nutrition in most pre-packaged foods and are trying to leave them out of their lifestyle, which almost guarantees an increase in what you spend on groceries.
However, there are things that most people buy regularly which don't improve our quality of health that could technically be done without. We have made these changes over the last years, some gradually, and some not so gradually.
If you are absolutely aghast at the thought of giving these things up, I would suggest picking the one that is the least abhorrent and trying it for at least a few months to see if a new habit can be established. You could always go back to it if you still hate it after those few months, but for most people the odds are good that you will have enjoyed not buying those items for a change. You can add in some or all of the other things as you create new habits.
Even if it never occurred to you before to be more frugal in these areas, at least give it some thought. I think I read information on some of them several times before I took the plunge. Some things that I regularly do now I would have promised I would never do. These things truly do save money, and that is more money in your pocket. You might even estimate what you are saving, and put it aside each week/month as a small nest egg.
That being said, here is my list:
1. Paper towels and napkins- This is one of those things that I never would have pictured doing without. I finally made the switch to household rags for paper towels, and cloth napkins (which both wash easily) that my mother-in-law made for us. If you don't sew or know someone that does, you can purchase them one time online or in the household section of your favorite store. They will last virtually forever.
Old towels and washcloths can be saved for big spills as well. Disposable paper towels and paper napkins can be quite expensive, and this has saved our family quite a bit of money over the last few years.
2. Toxic household cleaners (Bleach, Mr. Clean, Lysol, FeBreeze, Scrubbing Bubbles, etc) - We have replaced just about every single expensive, toxic cleaner that we used to buy with vinegar. This is such a versatile, germ-killing, inexpensive cleaner. You can even soak orange rinds and lemon peels in it to have a citrus cleaner or add essential oils to if you prefer.
The only other thing that we use besides vinegar is what we use for laundry. We use washing powder (which is baked baking soda) and occasionally Borax (which isn't quite as healthy). Personally, I think this is one of the things that helps keeps us healthy, because there truly are a boatload of poisons in store-bought cleaners and laundry detergents.
Read the warnings and the ingredients of what you use; they are there for a reason, but people just ignore them.
If you have a Sam's Club membership, vinegar can be purchased in a two-pack box quite inexpensively. Your health and your budget will thank you if you make this change.
3. Pre-packaged foods and frozen dinners- Yes, I know they are convenient. Really convenient. However, not only do you pay a high unit price for them, but you pay later in poor health, because they are loaded with preservatives, chemicals (literally), and fake colorings. There are some cheaper frozen foods and prepackaged items, but the cheaper they are, the more junk they have in them.
Start checking the labels on your grocery items. If you can't pronounce it, odds are it is harmful to your long-term health.
There are a couple of things you can do to replace these convenient foods. One is to set aside one or two days a month, and cook up a few meals specifically to freeze them. Chili, spaghetti, lasagna, mac and cheese, casseroles, soups, ground meat for tacos or burritos, biscuits, beans, rice, cookies, cakes, and pies are some starter suggestions for things that freeze well. This will save you oodles of money, and you will have things ready to reheat for meals when you are in a hurry.
The other option is to just commit to cook from real, whole, fresh foods as much as you possibly can. If you are a family that doesn't mind leftovers like us, you can purposely make extra to have for a few meals later in the week. The time you think you save by buying prepackaged items and frozen meals are spent in a doctor's office later in life because your body has finally rebelled against all of the toxins. Try spending a little time meal planning each week. The effort put into thinking a little ahead can reap big rewards for your budget and health.
4. Expensive coffee drinks from restuarants or stores: This one can be fairly simple to remedy for anyone with a blender. There are tons of healthy (and non-healthy) recipes for coffee drinks online. They can be made up for a whole week and kept in the fridge in grab and go cups.
If you put the money you save by making your own coffee drinks in an envelope, I honestly think most people could almost take a mini-vacation after a year. This change results in BIG savings with really not that much effort. It is worth developing a new habit for sure.
5. New clothing and shoes every week/month: This change will come more easily with a changed mindset about what we actually NEED to be in our wardrobe. Most, if not all of us have entirely TOO many clothes and shoes in our wardrobes. Some people couldn't wear everything even if they wore something different every day for a year. If we realize that buying clothes we don't need is truly a waste of money, we can open up a lot of room in our budget for debt, for saving for emergencies, or for saving for things we truly DO need.
I can't express the freedom and joy I have experienced as I have organized and narrowed down our possessions, including clothes and shoes. I still think I have too many, but I don't have as many as most people I know, and I am constantly going through them to see what I actually want and like.
Don't be afraid to drastically narrow down your wardrobe. You can always fill in the gaps later when you see what you need. Most people don't even like a good portion of the clothing they keep. Try wearing something different every day, and see what clothes you are avoiding. Get RID of those items!
I have been trying to keep just one of each type of shoes. One pair of black boots, one pair of brown, one pair of snow boots. One pair of black heels, one white, and one pink pair of leather flats that my mother gave me a long time ago. Two or three leathery summer pairs for warm weather and a pair for swimming in the creek or walking on the beach. I LOVE not having a hundred pairs of shoes to wade through every time I get dressed. Simplicity really is freeing.
Also, try not to even go shopping if you don't actually have a need. This will reduce spur of the moment purchases of things you don't really need. Window shopping can be dangerous to the budget. Try to develop an attitude of evaluating need versus want, and give in less to the wants. It makes it more special when we do buy something we want just for a treat if we don't do it all the time.
Making these few simple changes in our lifestyles can put quite a bit of extra money in your weekly/monthly budget. If you have debt, this would be a good way to squeeze some extra funds to start paying it off. We should be good stewards of all that we do and have, and should try to reduce waste/extravagance wherever we can.
The spiritual peace and freedom that comes along with it is a wonderful additional blessing to saving money. New habits CAN be created. I have done it and continue to try to do it. It's not always easy, and it's not always fun. But the result of saving money is real nonetheless!
What things have you changed or modified to save money? Feel free to share this post with your friends.
Here are some books on de-cluttering, simplifying and saving money:
7: An experimental mutiny against excess
The joy of less: A minimalist living guide
The gift of simplicity: discover the rewards of simplifying
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs (Find us on Facebook here)
It can be even more challenging when you are trying to eat healthier, because healthier is almost always more expensive than buying what is cheap, like Ramen Noodles (which we did for YEARS). An increasing number of people now care about preservatives, dyes, and the lack of nutrition in most pre-packaged foods and are trying to leave them out of their lifestyle, which almost guarantees an increase in what you spend on groceries.
However, there are things that most people buy regularly which don't improve our quality of health that could technically be done without. We have made these changes over the last years, some gradually, and some not so gradually.
If you are absolutely aghast at the thought of giving these things up, I would suggest picking the one that is the least abhorrent and trying it for at least a few months to see if a new habit can be established. You could always go back to it if you still hate it after those few months, but for most people the odds are good that you will have enjoyed not buying those items for a change. You can add in some or all of the other things as you create new habits.
Even if it never occurred to you before to be more frugal in these areas, at least give it some thought. I think I read information on some of them several times before I took the plunge. Some things that I regularly do now I would have promised I would never do. These things truly do save money, and that is more money in your pocket. You might even estimate what you are saving, and put it aside each week/month as a small nest egg.
That being said, here is my list:
1. Paper towels and napkins- This is one of those things that I never would have pictured doing without. I finally made the switch to household rags for paper towels, and cloth napkins (which both wash easily) that my mother-in-law made for us. If you don't sew or know someone that does, you can purchase them one time online or in the household section of your favorite store. They will last virtually forever.
Old towels and washcloths can be saved for big spills as well. Disposable paper towels and paper napkins can be quite expensive, and this has saved our family quite a bit of money over the last few years.
2. Toxic household cleaners (Bleach, Mr. Clean, Lysol, FeBreeze, Scrubbing Bubbles, etc) - We have replaced just about every single expensive, toxic cleaner that we used to buy with vinegar. This is such a versatile, germ-killing, inexpensive cleaner. You can even soak orange rinds and lemon peels in it to have a citrus cleaner or add essential oils to if you prefer.
The only other thing that we use besides vinegar is what we use for laundry. We use washing powder (which is baked baking soda) and occasionally Borax (which isn't quite as healthy). Personally, I think this is one of the things that helps keeps us healthy, because there truly are a boatload of poisons in store-bought cleaners and laundry detergents.
Read the warnings and the ingredients of what you use; they are there for a reason, but people just ignore them.
If you have a Sam's Club membership, vinegar can be purchased in a two-pack box quite inexpensively. Your health and your budget will thank you if you make this change.
3. Pre-packaged foods and frozen dinners- Yes, I know they are convenient. Really convenient. However, not only do you pay a high unit price for them, but you pay later in poor health, because they are loaded with preservatives, chemicals (literally), and fake colorings. There are some cheaper frozen foods and prepackaged items, but the cheaper they are, the more junk they have in them.
Start checking the labels on your grocery items. If you can't pronounce it, odds are it is harmful to your long-term health.
There are a couple of things you can do to replace these convenient foods. One is to set aside one or two days a month, and cook up a few meals specifically to freeze them. Chili, spaghetti, lasagna, mac and cheese, casseroles, soups, ground meat for tacos or burritos, biscuits, beans, rice, cookies, cakes, and pies are some starter suggestions for things that freeze well. This will save you oodles of money, and you will have things ready to reheat for meals when you are in a hurry.
The other option is to just commit to cook from real, whole, fresh foods as much as you possibly can. If you are a family that doesn't mind leftovers like us, you can purposely make extra to have for a few meals later in the week. The time you think you save by buying prepackaged items and frozen meals are spent in a doctor's office later in life because your body has finally rebelled against all of the toxins. Try spending a little time meal planning each week. The effort put into thinking a little ahead can reap big rewards for your budget and health.
4. Expensive coffee drinks from restuarants or stores: This one can be fairly simple to remedy for anyone with a blender. There are tons of healthy (and non-healthy) recipes for coffee drinks online. They can be made up for a whole week and kept in the fridge in grab and go cups.
If you put the money you save by making your own coffee drinks in an envelope, I honestly think most people could almost take a mini-vacation after a year. This change results in BIG savings with really not that much effort. It is worth developing a new habit for sure.
5. New clothing and shoes every week/month: This change will come more easily with a changed mindset about what we actually NEED to be in our wardrobe. Most, if not all of us have entirely TOO many clothes and shoes in our wardrobes. Some people couldn't wear everything even if they wore something different every day for a year. If we realize that buying clothes we don't need is truly a waste of money, we can open up a lot of room in our budget for debt, for saving for emergencies, or for saving for things we truly DO need.
I can't express the freedom and joy I have experienced as I have organized and narrowed down our possessions, including clothes and shoes. I still think I have too many, but I don't have as many as most people I know, and I am constantly going through them to see what I actually want and like.
Don't be afraid to drastically narrow down your wardrobe. You can always fill in the gaps later when you see what you need. Most people don't even like a good portion of the clothing they keep. Try wearing something different every day, and see what clothes you are avoiding. Get RID of those items!
I have been trying to keep just one of each type of shoes. One pair of black boots, one pair of brown, one pair of snow boots. One pair of black heels, one white, and one pink pair of leather flats that my mother gave me a long time ago. Two or three leathery summer pairs for warm weather and a pair for swimming in the creek or walking on the beach. I LOVE not having a hundred pairs of shoes to wade through every time I get dressed. Simplicity really is freeing.
Also, try not to even go shopping if you don't actually have a need. This will reduce spur of the moment purchases of things you don't really need. Window shopping can be dangerous to the budget. Try to develop an attitude of evaluating need versus want, and give in less to the wants. It makes it more special when we do buy something we want just for a treat if we don't do it all the time.
Making these few simple changes in our lifestyles can put quite a bit of extra money in your weekly/monthly budget. If you have debt, this would be a good way to squeeze some extra funds to start paying it off. We should be good stewards of all that we do and have, and should try to reduce waste/extravagance wherever we can.
The spiritual peace and freedom that comes along with it is a wonderful additional blessing to saving money. New habits CAN be created. I have done it and continue to try to do it. It's not always easy, and it's not always fun. But the result of saving money is real nonetheless!
What things have you changed or modified to save money? Feel free to share this post with your friends.
Here are some books on de-cluttering, simplifying and saving money:
7: An experimental mutiny against excess
The joy of less: A minimalist living guide
The gift of simplicity: discover the rewards of simplifying
Blessings,
Debbie, Home at Serenity Springs (Find us on Facebook here)
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