Homemaking Mondays: Wildlife Gardening & Different Way of Eating

 

Hello! 
How is your homemaking day going?

I hope you are enjoying the day and all that is 

flowing into it.

I woke today to a very cold day

it dropped down to freezing last night 

but all seems well this morning.

Last night while I was out checking on the garden

I stopped to admire this large clump

of lupins that has erupted into bloom recently.

Soon the forest floor

will be blanketed with their beautiful blue

scented blooms.

My sons led a bee hotel activity 

this past week and it got me to thinking 

about the wildlife gardening that

to me is just as important as

planting the seeds for what we want to grow. 

Gardens are a little habitat 

that we get to play a part in. 

Thinking of the pollinators is a huge aspect

that takes some consideration.

All those bees and butterflies,

lady bugs and yes, even mosquitos. 

Is our yard/ garden space welcoming to them?

A few years ago my father gifted us a 

bumble bee house. 

It has been used, not every year but a few. 

The butterfly house also has played a part in 

sheltering butterflies during cold nights.

This year with the inspiration of my boys

I put together a new bug/bee hotel

for our yard.  
In the past our bug hotels have 

had quite the turnover

in critters finding shelter there. 

I hope this one is also enjoyed by little critters.

Speaking of little things. 

My daughter sweetly gifted me with these 

amazing beautiful stitch markers. 

Little tea cups and tea pots.  

Just adorable really! 

As for a different way of eating.

Well....my body has been telling me lately 

that something needs to change. 

I've decided to go on a no sugar diet

which is more of a lifestyle.

With that I'm learning to do some new things.

If you know me at all...then you know

I love to try new things in the kitchen.

This past weekend I made some egg waffles 

for something new.

It's eggs, a little sour cream, parmesan cheese

and then some shredded cheese over top.

Pour into the griddle and close the lid.

It's a challenge eating this way...but there 

are some fun things to.

I've already been seeing some positive 

changes getting away from the sugars. 

My husband has recently joined me in this journey. 

It will be interesting to see what comes of this.

Well, I am off to get some bread made

for my family (those that still eat it),

and then on to some spring cleaning.

It's that time of year the inside of the kitchen 

cabinets need a good scrub.

I pray you have a lovely day!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Can Others Tell You Live There?

 

Hello! 
I hope you are enjoying 

your homemaking day! 

There are so many things that make 

our homes places that reflect us.

Can others tell that you live there?

Each of us have our interests,

our cherished "stuff",

our ways of doing things,

our own styles.

I think of these things when I walk 

into another woman's home.

You can really learn a lot about a person

by just walking into their home.

That brings me to think

what do others think of my home?

Do they see what interests me?

Do they feel at home and welcome in my space?

What kinds of things are important to me?

What does the Lord think of my home?

Is it filled with things that honour Him?

or should I reconsider what I have brought into my home.

As I go through my home I am evaluating 

what needs to be here and what needs to go.

With moving in a few months and also Spring cleaning.

Part of refreshing the home is evaluating

the place everything has in our homes.

Above I found a beautiful plate at the free store.

I brought it home and will use it as a serving dish.

Something beautiful and useful.

That said I have other serving plates that will find a new home

as I no longer have a place in my home for them.

Over time I have found my home changing.

As I slowly find things that I enjoy,

that suit my personal style

and not just a specific function.

Our homes are so much more then just a place

to lay our heads at night.

What does your home say about you?

This past weekend my husband 

took us on a fun adventure.

He drove us out to a community 

not so far from home.

It has a lovely beach.

We had a little picnic in the town park.

A couple of my children went for a big walk way down the shore.

I stayed closer to the vehicle with the others.

The warm sand was lovely to walk in although

further out on the beach the wet sand turned bitter cold.

The wind was a bit brisk and I must say that I love

how it blocks out the noises around you 

blowing your hair about your face in untameable ways.

It was a lovely day to spend some time together

as a family enjoying the world God has made.

This week in the garden 

there have been some wins and losses.

The squirrels have been nibbling down my little

greens seedlings.

The tomatoes and squash are growing strong

and the herbs are enjoying the added warmth and light.

The hascaps have leaves popping out as they 

are following suit to the trees.

The brilliant green of spring is amazing...

along with the smell of sap that fills the 

afternoon air in the heat of the day.

I bought some more flowers this past week

and have planted them out in the yard.

I found a cute little basket that had the bottom

taken out of it...so I put it in my big steel pot.

The colour is starting to come out 

with the flowers and colour the yard.

Things are still covered at night and through

the morning as it's still quite cool and frosts at night.

The new glass in my butter churn I must say

works beautifully! 

My arm is definitely out of shape for this task

and it took me a long time on my first go.

The butter turned out perfect

and I shall be using this more often.

I love the smooth sound of the gears

a melodic sound in the quiet of the kitchen.

My older son and I took a detour

on the way to his music lesson this past week.

It was such a beautiful day we decided to take a bit of a climb

to see the lake above the dam.

So calm and peaceful.

I wanted to share this sweet little pillow that I found

yes...at the free store.

It's an April Cornell and I love the 

beautiful hand stitched look.

A lovely fresh pillow cover for my chair.

I also found this beautiful

little candle holder at the free store.

It was a bit dirty...

but nothing a little scrubbing couldn't fix.

I put one of my beeswax candles

on it and it's ready to go.

Plus fun fact...there was a hole

in the wall right there 

so it was like it was waiting for that

candle holder to come and cover it. :) 

Thank you for stepping into my life and home today!

I pray you enjoy your homemaking this week.

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Freshening Up For Spring

 

Hello!
I hope you are enjoying your day

whatever it is you have found to set your hands to.

Here it is a lovely spring day 

and I have been puttering about the house. 

I find that I will go to do one thing 

and then find something else that needs doing

and before long I am way off track from where I started.

Does that happen to you?

I have been more thoughtful as of late

with knowing we are moving

to take in those little details of things I love about this place.

Like this sweet little bench 

that sits out in front of the house overlooking the lake.

Not far from it were the lovely crocus above

just starting to bring some colour to the yard.

Of the little trees that are scattered about the forest on the trails.

I love this little one that is growing out of this stump.

I first noticed it when it was super tiny and have 

enjoyed watching it grow.

I love being down on the shore of the lake.

Listening to the wind in the trees

and the frogs at this time of year

singing away in the grasses by the shore.

The clouds are beautiful

and I could stand and watch them 

for hours as they shift and change.

Reminding me that change can be beautiful.

I came across this delightful little basket with a lid

this past week at the free store.

I have brought it home to store away all our 

painting supplies.

We don't need as much space for them as 

we don't use as many as we used to with the children

growing up and finding new interests.

This past weekend I was spoiled 

by my family with some very special gifts.

One is this sweet soup tureen.

My husband saw it and thought it looked

like a giant tea cup. :)

I very much love the blue florals on it

and will be looking forward to 

putting some delicious soup in it for my family.

Also to the right in the picture shows the new glass

for my old family butter churn.

Now I can churn some butter

just like my family did for many years past.

Some delightful lavender/earl grey soap

a lovely new pink violet and picture.

Then a new dress in my favourite colours.

It's a lovely summer dress and the weather was cool

so I put a sweater over it. 

The necklace was a gift by my daughter for my birthday last.

It's a copper piece of fireweed.

I don't have much jewelry but just a few special pieces.

It is lovely to freshen things up for spring.

I've started my spring cleaning.

As the windows have been open the sounds of spring 

have come filtering through the screens.

The song birds and the little squirrels finding their voices.

The fresh air cleansing the stuffiness of winter.

All of these lovely things to bring smiles to our hearts.

Thank you for dropping by!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Burst of Spring

 

Hello! 
A week ago I got a call from my brother

and he wanted to know if we'd be around the next weekend.

He ended up coming for a visit and it was so nice!

We got to do lots of chatting and some exploring our 

favourite places that he had not seen.

Above is one evening we went out to the Wheaton River Bridge.

The sun was setting and it was stunning 

As you can see there was still quite a bit of snow...but 

with the warmer temps we have been having it would all be gone now.

With the burst of spring

things have been busy with yard work and little projects.

Little seedlings are sprouting 

in the warm greenhouse.

I have them under row covers as it's not heated in there.

It is getting warm enough during the day that it needs to be 

opened up so that it doesn't cause too much 

of a temperature swing for the little seedlings.

We're still waiting for the crocus to come out in our yard

but they are coming in other more exposed areas. 

We did a bit of raking up close to the house

but will leave the other areas till the little critters

hiding in the leaves and brush wake up.

With moving I dug up my hascap bushes 

and put them in pots while they are still dormant.

This past week I also had a little fun project to do.

I had gotten this plant from the plant swap 

and the pot was spray painted yellow. 
Yeah, not my thing so.....

I hot glued some jute cord to it and I think 

it looks way better. :) 

This past week I also tried out an idea I saw.

It was using my salad spinner to dry off my fruit after washing.

I must say it works really well

and since I already had the salad spinner 

it was worth it.

Washing the fruit and putting it in glass

really does help it last longer.

Interestingly the fruit in the jar lasted better then 

the fruit in the silicone bag.  

The burst of spring weather and things starting to grow

draws me outside and with that

the need for snacks and thermoses of tea.

The reminder to put on sunscreen as the first

sunburns of the year are felt. 

I hope you are enjoying the spring weather wherever you are.

Taking time to notice the little details.

Thanks for dropping by!
Love and Prayers,

Jennifer