5 Helpful Habits for Peaceful Homemaking

It's amazing what a difference a few simple habits can make!

Back when Josh was studying crazy long hours in school, I slipped into a horrible homemaking habit. After caring for the kids and working my online job during the day, the last thing I felt like doing after dinner was cleaning up the kitchen. So, after dinner, we laid the kids down and then I … Continue reading...

Summer Highlights

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Just as the full force of summer's activities started, we lost internet for two weeks and then my laptop screen displayed a shimmering mass of pixels whenever I tried to use it. I took these as my excuse to spend the last few months making memories with the kids and focusing on areas of the home … Continue reading...

Balancing a Homemade Lifestyle

Want to bring back the charm, taste, and health of a fresh homemade lifestyle, but don't know how to squeeze it in? Here are some simple steps.

Recently we read Laura Ingall Wilder's "Farmer Boy" aloud as a family. No matter how productive of a day I'd had, it seemed lazy in comparison. The Wilders made 90% of their food, clothing, and shelter from scratch. They regularly worked from before dawn till past dusk, with only a handful of … Continue reading...

The Big Problem with Organic Gardening

Overcoming the big problem with organic gardening

Our little garden is bursting with spring greens and berries. The tomatoes are finally inching their way up the trellis and tiny flowers grace the peppers. We've been enjoying fresh garden salads and bowls of sun-ripened strawberries. We've also been battling bugs. Lots of bugs: asparagus … Continue reading...

The Generosity of a Child

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Bright juicy strawberries peep through luscious green leaves, fulfilling my long-held dream to grow my own strawberries. Our very first "harvest" day, we picked one ripe strawberry that we cut into tiny sections. The next day we each had half a strawberry. By the fourth day, there were enough … Continue reading...

Becoming Poison Ivy Experts

Learn to identify this pervasive itch-inducing plant to protect yourself and your loved ones!

My poison ivy adventure began almost three years ago. The kids and I had just moved into our home. Joshua was still wrapping up his job in Alabama, while I started the unpacking process. With a long day of unpacking ahead of me, I sent the kids outside to explore the fenced-in backyard. Twenty … Continue reading...

Abstract Art Drawing for Kids

Practice patterns with this fun and simple abstract art project!

Sometimes I wish I was a more crafty mom. I wish I enjoyed making a ginormous mess while we created fun memories together. Truth of the matter is though, the simpler an art project is, the better. At this stage in motherhood, I don't need help with extra messes. Messes multiply fast enough without … Continue reading...

Summer Hopes

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I've done it again. Let my blog slip to the back burner while life (with colds and another round of the stomach bug) took front stage. Every time I fall behind I think I'll be better prepared next time. Then life happens, living takes precedence over writing, and I find I'm not that well prepared at … Continue reading...

April Goal Update

Learning how to make sourdough bread!

We're already almost a week into May. It's crazy! We've had bumper to bumper events plus colds, so the days have just flown by. Here's how I'm doing on my goals for the year. I'd love to hear how you are doing! photo credit April Goal Update Grow a perfect tomato plant All April, the … Continue reading...

April at our Home

Science Class

April was another full and busy month. It wasn't until sitting down to type up this post that I realized just how busy it's been. April's highlights began with Easter celebrations, a crazy fun day trip to a local amusement park with my friend and our nine little kids, and much more. But a very … Continue reading...