How Sweet!

Shannon at Homeschooling Their Hearts just gave me a Sunshine Blog Award. The Sunshine Award is gifted from one blogger to another that she feels "inspires others and shows positivity and creativity." Isn't that sweet?!

Now, one of the guidelines for the award states I must pass the award on to 10 fellow bloggers.  So, here are 10 of my FAVORITES!

~Dove's Rest
~Feminine Farmgirl
~Haigh Happenings
~Joyful in Hope
~Regan Family Farm
~Gracefilled Oaks
~Generation Cedar
~Joyfully at Home
~I am but a vessel
~Home Living

Here are the rules to the award:

1. Put the Sunshine Award logo on your blog and/or in a new post;
2. Pass the award onto 10 fellow bloggers;
3. Link the nominees within your post;
4. Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blogs;
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Free Homemaking Lessons

This wonderful (and very useful) handbook used to be available only in hard copy, but the lessons are now also online FREE of charge. What a blessing. Thank you Laurie Latour of Future Christian Homemakers.

Field Trip!

Today we spent a beautiful day with a few other homeschooling families at Deanna Rose Farmstead.  We enjoyed looking at flowers, walking on nature trails, feeding animals, and fishin' for perch. 

Get ready to laugh...

Yesterday Allan and I purchased a new lawnmower at our local Sears store.  When we got it home, I was reading through the manual outloud and noted to Allan that we would need to change the oil after every 25 hours.  At this time Allie got a very strange look on her face and said, "Wow!  Do you really think it is necessary to change the oil everyday?".  After we stopped rolling on the floor with laughter, we kindly explained that it meant after 25 mowing hours.  I'm not much for "blonde jokes", but this could be a classic.  YEP, we're homeschooled :O)

Cookin' for Allyson's Hope

Today Allie and I cooked and seasoned 30 pounds of ground beef to help make burritos for our friend (and piano teacher) Allyson's fundraiser.

She has a rare condition called Neurofibromatosis Type II or NF 2 for short.

We will get together with several others from our church to make over 4800!!! burritos on Saturday. The money raised will help pay for an innovative treatment that is not covered by insurance.

Thrifty Tip

One thing that I have longed to be more intentional about is sending cards to the special people in my life. Not just for birthdays, but for encouragement, getting well, and just because. I truly struggle with this. I never seem to be thinking about greeting cards when I am at the store and when I do think about them, the cost is a BIG deterrent. Well, I think I found the solution to my problem. I'll admit I am a late bloomer to the idea of thriftiness, but WOW!!! boxed cards are a lifesaver! Now I have cards on hand for all kinds of occasions and they are way more economical than buying one at a time. To make it even better, I ordered mine from CBD at a huge discount. I ordered eight boxes of cards with twelve cards in each box for only $30.96 INCLUDING SHIPPING! That makes each card only $.31. Now I have no excuses.....better check my calendar :O)

Caleb learns to drive a tractor

He may be only 8, but Caleb was moving some dirt today. Too bad the tractor is borrowed....I know what's on his wishlist now.

A new quilt for Ashlyn

A four year old girl's room sometimes needs a little boost. I made this fun floral quilt from a bag of scraps I bought from the nice girls over at Marie-Madeline Studio. I backed the quilt with an old sheet, so the total cost on this project was about $25 and it only took one rainy Friday to complete. Not bad!

Fun FREE Phonics Website

Did I mention FREE?  You can check it out for yourself here.

The pigs have names!

Just in case you have been wondering, our pigs are now officially Churchill and Knightley. If any of you know about my oldest daughter's obsession with Jane Austen, this won't surprise you :O)

School on the farm

Some days are just too nice to be indoors.  We did all of our family work outdoors this morning.  Allie and Caleb did their personal readings among the animals.  Allie seems to have found the new piglets more interesting than her books :O)

Our farm family grows

Two little boy piglets join the mix. No names yet, but I'll post soon. We are waiting to see their personalities.

Washin' Day

Allie has been enjoying a few Tasha Tudor books.

However, I think she may be taking the ideas she is gleaning a little too far.  :O)
Hand washing her skirts in a washtub outside is not required by me.....but it's cute anyway.

Praise for my Allie

Today I enjoyed a nice lunch out with friends. I left the kids at home, with Allie in charge. When I came home, the kitchen sparkled, the dishwasher was humming, and fresh baked bread was *in process*.

What a delight it is to leave for a few hours of refreshment and return to a home in better condition than I left it. It is such an amazing blessing to watch my daughter grow into a young lady that is so responsible and downright likable. It almost makes the idea of her growing up okay - almost.

Here is the bread.....wish you could smell it. MMMMMM!

A sewing lesson

Allie has been wanting more skirts, but when we have gone shopping, we are more than a little disturbed by the length (or lack there of) on the ones we find. So today, Allie and I spent several hours sewing. She is a beginner, and I'm not far above that ;O) so we chose a very simple pattern. She was a wonderful student and completed three adorable, modest skirts to add to her wardrobe. I'm sure she will post more at her blog.

A Saturday on the Farm

It was a lovely, sunny day on the farm today. The animals around our place are so happy that it's spring and the kids are pleased too.

We enjoyed grilling out for lunch and dinner, because we just got back our very own tasty beef from the meat market...delicious!

Henry on the hay.


Chickens foraging for goodies.


Allie taking scraps to the chickens.


Willie, our young steer.


Ashlyn going with Daddy in Old Red.