Under the Weather....still

I've been feeling under the weather nearly all week. The aches and pains have kept me from my normal activities and home-keeping. I just do what must be done - necessary laundry, dishes, and meals. The rest of the work will still be there when my health returns, but until then I am tasking it easy and trying to rest as much as possible.

I'll return as soon as I can...

Blessings,

Autumn Chill

Autumn has finally arrived here in the south!

The air conditioner is off and the windows are open.

The chill in the air is delicious!

It's time to pull out the Autumn decorations,

browse through cookbooks for comfort foods,

light lots of scented candles,

pull out cozy sweaters,

make hot cocoa with marshmallows,

and do lots of snuggling with my honey and children.

Gratitude

This week I am thankful for:

~ Creative ideas, using what I have on hand.

~ A good workout

~ Experimenting in the kitchen.

~ Rain to water the parched earth.

~ Visiting with my family.

What are you thankful for this week?

He still thinks he's a lap dog...

Oh Zeus, when will you realize....

you are much too big to sit on Mama's lap?

*smile*

Cooling Off...

Last weekend, I took the girls to the Splash Park...

It's the perfect place to go to cool off on a hot day!

This heron thought so, too!

Afterwards we went Summer Scoops - an ice cream shop that is decorated in a 50's theme. All three of us enjoyed an Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream cone. Boy, was it good!

Marilyn

For my birthday, Mama bought me this picture of Marilyn Monroe which I hung over our bed, much to Alfred's chagrin. Hee!

As much as I adore her, can you believe I have had no prints of her until now?

Thrifting Treasures

White shirt - $2.99

Twirly navy skirt with white polka dots - $5.99

Piano Girl

Kenzie plays Happy Birthday on the keyboard for me.

She can also play:

Amazing Grace

Joy to the World

Silent Night

and

My Heart Will Go On,

from the Titanic movie.

She is entirely self-taught. :)

The Pond

Alfred, with the girls' help, finally got the pond painted! It looks 100% better. He's going to put a second coat on it this afternoon and then, after it dries, it will be ready for water.

Gratitude

This week I am thankful for:

~ Mama'a birthday gifts, a large Marilyn Monroe picture and a $15 giftcard which I used to buy myself a few goodies. :)

~ Kayla and Kenzie made homemade chocolate chip cookies without ant help from me.

~ Quiet morning hours...

~ Cooler morning temperatures.

~ A solid night of sleep without having to take the dogs out in the middle of the night. Oh, how rare it is!

What are you thankful for this week?

Polly and Nelly

Please meet Mary and Nelly - my porcelain dolls.

This is Polly. I found her on Ebay years ago and paid around $20, if my memory serves me correctly.

Polly recently took the scissors to her bangs, thus their crookedness!

And this, of course, is Nelly. I found her at a Habitat ReStore shop for $5.

Nelly does not like to brush her hair ever since Polly took the scissors to her long flaxen locks.

Oh yes!

I've tried my best to try to teach them to be genteel young ladies.

But I shall not give up on them.

And so you've met the very naughty girls...

Faith

Weave in faith and God will find the thread. ~Author Unknown

Thirty-Six

Another year has passed and in honor of my birthday, I thought I'd share my list of resolutions for my "new year".

~ To take time each day to refresh my spirit.

~ To find joy in my daily round as a wife, mother, and homemaker.

~ To replace my wardrobe as finances allow with clothes that are both pretty and functional.

~ To spend more time working on stitching and crafts.

~ To get back into the gym and get into better shape.

~ To rediscover myself and be authentic.

~ To be creative in my daily life with decorating, meals, in the garden, etc.

~ To be as kind to myself as I am to others.

~ To keep a daily gratitude journal.

~ Celebrate life each and every day!

Creating a Beautiful Life

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 It is my philosophy that you can create a beautiful life whether you have little or much. It's all a matter of priorities and what is beautiful to you.

Expensive furnishings do not guarantee a well decorated home filled with charm. I think it is rather fun to piece together your home with secondhand treasures - adding your personal touch as you go. And, oh the money saved by doing so! When you put your heart into making a cozy home, one can feel it when they walk into the rooms.

Meals need not be extravagant either. Simple meals can be both satisfying and nourishing when prepared with love. Gathering your family around the table at the end of the day to enjoy dinner and to reconnect, sharing the day's events with those they love most, can become a perfect end to the day. Perhaps there is soft music playing in the background and the candles are casting a soft glow over the meal table. A peaceful home doth good digestion make.

Gardening is highly rewarding and also a great teacher of patience. You can't plant a seed today and expect a harvest tomorrow. No, the garden must be nurtured and pruned, watered and weeded. It takes work as well as tender loving care. But most of all it takes time. Time spent out of doors in nature with your hands in the dark, rich earth, the sounds of birds singing and the wind whispering in the trees. Whether your garden is flowers, vegetables, or herbs (or all three!), the garden adds beauty to life.

Raising children is much like gardening in that it takes a lot of time, patience, and tender loving care. The seeds you plant today in your children's hearts, whether good or bad, will grow and eventually bloom. So it is important to plant seeds of beauty, love, and truth and to weed out the little thorns of disrespect, bad habits, and boredom. Just think of how in the not-too-distant future, for time does indeed fly, how nice it will be to be able to call your children your friends as well!

With creativity and a little imagination, there is no end to the beauty that can be had in one's life.

Wishing you a beauty-full day!

Gratitude

This week I am thankful for:

~ Noticing the intricate design of a spider's web as it sparkles in the morning sunshine.

~ Finally cleared out all of the bushes from around the koi pond and sealed the cracks in it.

~ A new garden flag.

~ Taking in the sights and sounds of nature as I journal outside in the fresh air.

~ The girls volunterring to give me & their dad back massages. We happily accepted! :)

What are you thankful for this week?

More Thrifting Treasures

I recently found this eyelet lace valance for $2.99 at the thrift shop. I love the way it softens up the window!

Here's a slightly closer look at the curtain...

I *love* stained glass, so I had to buy this plaque for the not-so-good days of homeschooling. :)

It was only $1.00!

This red bottle was $1.00, too. I love the bright color.

Thanks for looking at my treasures!

Thrifting Treasures

Skirt - $4.99

Blouse - $4.99

Sweater - $4.99

Full fitted sheet- $4.99

Set of two Eyelet lace pillow cases - $2.99

I love a good bargain! Don't you?

How I Do It: Grocery Budget at $125/week for Family of 5 Plus 7 Pets

A reader asked how I managed to average about $125/week for a family of five with four cats and three dogs.

Well, dear reader, I cook and bake mostly from scratch. I have found it to be more filling than store-bought foods. I make our own desserts - cakes, cookies (this recipe is good!), brownies. In the Winter, I make a big container of homemade hot cocoa mix. I make muffins, quick breads, pizza, lasagne, burritos, etc.

I take inexpensive cuts of meats and marinate them or cook them in the crockpot until they are so tender you can cut them with a fork. I prepare simple meals using very basic ingerdients like hamburger, rice, potatoes, pastas, and beans. I buy frozen/canned vegetables. I buy in bulk when I can - canned goods, flour, white/brown sugar, cooking oil, chocolate chips, cocoa

I shop the sales and use coupons on some products. We use generic brands if it's cheaper. I have a Reward Card that I use, also. Pet foods usually have coupons and sales. It's great to combine the two to get the most savings. Or try buying bags of pet food at a feed store/co-op. Here we can get a 40# bag of dog food for $18!

I also like to find substitutes that work well. When I make Po'Boys, instead of using those expensive sub rolls, I substitute with hot dogs buns. Bread is bread, after all! Hot dogs buns are nearly $2 cheaper than those rolls. I also like to use them to make garlic bread to go with pasta dishes. Just butter, sprikle with galic salt and bake until golden. Yum - yum!

It may take some time to reduce your grocery budget, but it can be done! The more you work in your kitchen and experiment, the more money you can save as your cooking/baking skills expand. Don't be afraid to try new things and be creative!

A New Blog

I've created a new blog that will start on January 1, 2011 called A Year with Simple Abundance.

If you are a fan of SA or have been wanting to read it, feel free to become a follower now and we will work through the book together!

Gratitude

This week I am thankful for:

~ A new journal to capture my thoughts and dreams in.

~ Puppy kisses.

~ Cute finds at the thrift shop.

~ A night out with my honey.

~ Turning the page of the calendar to September.

What are you thankful for?