Grandparents. An extension of your family that can be such a huge blessing. And definitely has been for our family. Sidney and I married, and his job sent him to West Texas, 7 hours away from family. After the birth of our second baby we had a chance to move much closer and we jumped […]
Drying Sweet Basil in a Home Dehydrator
It was time to begin harvesting our sweet basil crop – this year I picked up a cheap dehydrator (not the brand I want for long-term use but it will work for now) to make preserving herbs a lot easier. Harvest basil in the morning when essential oils are the most concentrated in the leaves. […]
Your Easter-Basket Chicks a Year Later
I get a little bit preachy about not buying baby animals to look cute in an Easter basket. That’s because I’ve seen it from the other side.
Sweet Basil Steamed Carrots
Fall produce is some of my favorite and the recipes are warm, sweet, spicy and full of flavor. This recipe combines the zest of fresh basil, with the sweet carrots glazed with maple syrup. So good my kids asked for thirds. Ingredients: 12 medium carrots in 1/8″ slices 4 Tbl unsalted butter 3 Tbl pure […]
Oklahoma Wildfires and Relief Efforts of Samaritan’s Purse Ministries #okrelief
You guys may have heard about the wildfires that swept through much of Eastern and Central Oklahoma earlier this month. Over 525 homes and 90,000 acres were burned as a result of a deadly trifecta of extreme heat, extreme drought and gusty winds. When I found out that Samaritan’s Purse had set up a mobile […]
Creating a Personalized Homework or School Supply Station
Whether your child homeschools or is attending a public or private school, I love having a homework station for them. I’ve found that my kids are more likely to be receptive to school time when it’s fun. When it’s personalized. So we create these homework stations that they get to decorate and personalize. Here are […]
Personalizing Your Back-to-School
Back-to-school can get crazy with school issued lists and frugal bulk buys that suck the personalization out of your shopping. I’ve found that even at young ages my kids have definite preferences for having a say in certain aspects of their back-to-school purchases: design, color, etc. Here are some thoughts for helping your children let their personalities shine.
What Activities and Items Grace Your Patio or Balcony?
Our patio is in the front of our house as our backyard is overtaken by food production efforts. For us, this makes the front patio area the place for food consumption efforts. For lazy-coffee-drinking while watching the kids ride bikes (Is it bad that I’m still too chicken to let them go our by themselves […]
Making School Special as a Homeschooler
It’s that back-to-school season, as you are all surely aware. If you’re a homeschooler you might be wondering how to handle it with your kids! Here’s what I’m doing to get my kids back in the school routine – how do you handle it? 1. Let them Personalize Their School Supplies I don’t want my […]
Creamy Cayenne Carrots
This is one of my favorite ways to eat carrots. The sweet flavor of young carrots is such a nice contrast to the zest of the cayenne that it makes a really delicious side dish. Try this on a chilly fall day with carrots picked right from the garden where they will keep under a […]
How to Choose a Pacifier – Six Tips to Keep in Mind
Vivian is one of my first Pacifier Babies. She liked them before I weaned her, but since my surgery and her weaning she’s taken to them even more. So choosing the right pacifier was something I need to learn how to do, five kids later. Here are the 6 things to look for in a […]
The Hands of The Father
Sometimes I forget that I am a little child. Knowing only in part. Drinking the milk of the Word. Seeing dimly. I teeter on unsteady steps, largely oblivious to the potential dangers around me. Like a baby reaching for the next shiny thing to clutch in my chubby fists. Never thinking of the fall until I’ve […]
