Homemaking Mondays: Summer is Bringing Blessings

 

Hello! 
Summer here has been quite lovely with some sunshine

and some rain to help things grow and 

avert the dangerous fire season. 

There are flowers bursting forth all over the landscape. 

The pollen has been easing some and we are breathing easier.

The new gutter on the greenhouse has been helping a lot

in keeping the greenhouse watered 

without too many trips to the lake. 

The greenhouse is really coming to life in the last week. 

There are some flowers on the squash. 

Plus the wild roses that I didn't cut down are starting to bloom. 

Then yesterday I picked our very first tomatoes! 

Oh did they taste amazing and I had a line up of kids to get one. 

We've been harvesting some of our first herbs as well 

and they are wonderful to add to our meals

or just snack on whilst out in the yard. 

Below the chives and parsley made it into a pork chop dish.

Along with the herbs by the front steps I have 

some lovely pansies that are blooming.  

I have to remind myself that it's still June and things take time.

Out in the forest God has created carpets of beautiful flowers.

Here close to the greenhouse we have 

beautiful lupin blooming.

The roses in the greenhouse greet us with their gentle scent

as we open the door in the morning.

This week we had a bit of excitement with one of the young squirrels. 

It had come up close to the feeder to look for seeds that had fallen. 

It can't make it into the feeder like it's mother. 

Our dog found it and chased it into this little birdhouse below.  

I noticed our dog Sophie sniffing around the house and thought

I should investigate.  

I peeked in to see the little squirrel staring back at me with huge eyes.

I picked up the house and moved it to the spot below close to the building 

it lives in with it's mother.  

Poor thing took about an hour to come out and run home. 

At first I thought perhaps it was injured but no...just terrified! 

I saw it out running about today so all is fine. 

Funny thing that I had pulled this birdhouse out of the shed and set 

it down by the house to remind myself to paint it. 

Never thinking that it would become a refuge for a little squirrel.

I put it back so if needs be it can be used again as a safe house. 

I have been baking some sourdough bread this week. 

I really like the recipe from Farmhouse on Boone. 

I slathered this loaf with butter as I'd let it get a bit too 

crispy in the oven. Yeah...I am easily distracted. 

Along with doing more prep for the market next week.  

I canned some banana jam and more relish. 

It is nice that the market is just every two weeks so it gives lots 

of time to prepare. 
Next I need to make some bumbleberry jam. 

I have also finished the baby blanket I was making. 

Just sewing in the ends and it's ready to go to it's new home.

My boys are done with their school lessons at this point. 

I have some summer projects in the planning but they are enjoying

a break from book work. 

Our riding on bikes and enjoying time in the woods.

I pray that your week is a blessed and productive one. 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: The Work Of Your Hands

 

Hello! 
It's a drizzly day out and a good day 

to think on the past week.

Little bits of pleasant things 

smattered through out days. 

Last week my sons and I enjoyed a quick lunch outdoors.

We took a break from our gardening work

and eat at the picnic table. 

I have this wonderful wooden tray 

that I put some food on to carry outside. 

It's been quite nice weather up until the last couple days.

Now it's been raining...which we do need.

I just wish it interspersed with sunshine so I can work outside.

So indoors my thought turn on rainy days.

I found this candle at the free store and as I looked around

I also spotted this cute little bowl all on it's own. 

It's got a stamp on the bottom that says

Cream Petal from Grindley England.

I thought they went together nicely and so I have another

cute candle piece to put in the house.

There are some larger wildlife that is emerging to where

we see them more. 

The bears have come to the roadsides to enjoy

the fresh spring dandelions.

Below is one of the bears we saw this week 

the other was a momma grizzly and her two cubs.

Under the row covers at home we  have some 

wonderful things growing for us to eat.

This coming week the community market begins again.

We'll be there selling jam and other odds and ends.

It is one of my favourite events. 

Great place to buy local food and also to enjoy

the local conversations with friends new and old.

With the rainy days it's getting me working on

my crocheting projects more. 

I always have more in my head then gets through my fingers.

The geraniums in the kitchen are still giving us

lovely blooms to enjoy. 
The herbs are getting big enough to snitch from

and that is a real treat.

I have peppermint floating in my water bottle right now.

Another treat is what my husband brought me home

from a garage sale this week. 

He finds some of the best things! 

I've been wanting a matching dish set.

He found this white dish set for just $10! 

There are 11 cups with the set..I'll never need them all

so they are tucked away but still accessible 

if something comes up.

In our home we all have our own mugs that we love.

SO these would be just for company.

I love them as they have

 a wonderful classic look and will go

with anything we use or table cloth we have.

Colossians 3:23-24

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;     Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:  for ye serve the Lord Christ." 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;     That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing." ~Thank you for dropping by!  Love and Prayers, Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: I've Been Outdoors

 

Hello! 
I've been outside quite a bit lately.

The warmer weather and gardening is beaconing me

to the outdoors. 

I've been doing some small hikes with my daughter 

around the lake. 

It's so nice and if we go early enough the 

mosquitos are still asleep. 

There is often no real wind and the lake is 

smooth as glass!

We've done a bit of wading and my kids in the afternoons

have gone swimming some. 

We are finishing up lessons for the year in the next little bit.

The boys will be happy to have more free time.

Some places on the trail are

a bit of a challenge to traverse.

Makes for an adventure at times. 

We find lots of these little rock treasures 

along the trail. 

Along with lots of spider webs.

I think I should have collected enough

web to create a sweater! Ha! 

The birds are so pretty in the morning

singing away and fluttering about in the trees overhead. 

I made a delicious streusel for the first time.

The dough was actually really easy to make 

then I filled it with apples, hascaps, and cream cheese.

My boys went to a glass blowing workshop

and made this cool bird and paperweight. 

Then my older son bought me this cute paperweight. 

In the garden I've been busy. 

I've not taken any pictures of the progress yet.
In the greenhouse the tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash are 

in their permanent pots. 

I planted beans both in pots and in the ground.  

This year I'm trying pole beans in the greenhouse for the first time.

There are peas in the greenhouse and strawberries to. 

Things are starting to flower and it is a very cheerful sight 

when I open up the door. 

In the garden things are starting to grow nicely.

The greens are up and thus far

the squirrel hasn't eaten all of my peas.

I am keeping my two raised beds covered with row covers.

That is giving them a bit of a boost.

Soon I'll have to uncover the one side so the

garlic and chives can have some more space as they are getting tall.

We were gifted some more delphiniums and a lilac tree.

Those are planted out near the house now. 

We had our first thunderstorm of the season and it was 

very welcome!  It helped to clear the air of some of the pollen

we've been struggling with.  Just brushing up against the

evergreens sends showers of pollen into the air. 

I still have raking to do in some parts of the yard. 

Very thankful to now have all garden things planted.

Now to wait until we can eat something. :) 

I hope you are having a wonderful day! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer