Homemaking Mondays: Taking Time to Enjoy the Day!

Hello! 

Does life just get to be a bit much at times? 

I love how being out in nature seems to comfort and relax me. 

With lots of change happening in our home lately. 

My thoughtful husband took us for a drive to enjoy some of our

favourite places in nature. 

It was a windy day by the lake and the waves were beautiful! 

The sound of them breaking on the shore was 

so restful and I could have stayed there for hours. 

Just up the road from the lake is a river and 

next to that is this cool old cabin. 

Not lived in for a long time and falling down.

It has the call to come explore it. 

The roof is all fallen in, but you can open the door and peek inside. 

I love how the logs are all nestled together and chinked. 

When I was a young girl, I lived in a log home my 

father had built.  

I remember every fall helping to chink between the logs. 

I love how the colours change 

in the weathering process. 

The river was fast running, but the boys worked together to fix up a little 

"bathtub" space that someone else had made. 

They didn't last in the water long as it 

was oh so cold! 

We also went for a walk along the road and the kids did 

some rock hunting. 

They had to be very selective with 

what they brought home. 

I know that the Lord has created beauty 

everywhere on the earth....but

this is my favourite kind of

place that I've ever been to. 

Most of all the best place to find rest is 

in the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

As we have been studying the Bible 

it helps bring all things into the right perspective. 

An eternal one.  

The gardening that we've been doing 

has also been so nice. 

Things are starting to grow nicely 

inside and out. 

Outside the carrots, peas, beans, beets, greens, and potatoes 

are all coming up nicely. 

Inside the tomatoes, squash and some flowers and herbs are 

doing well to.  

I ate the very first tomato this week and oh it was so delicious! 

We've been also taking plants in and out to the deck 

to harden them off. 

It's so windy most of the time that they get a bit bedraggled, 

then seem to recuperate over night in the house. 

There are now boxes all over the house either full or waiting to be filled. 

I know we're a bit early...but before we know it 

it will be time to move them. 

I am trying to pace myself so that it doesn't become overwhelming

physically or emotionally.  

Everything will happen...all in good time. 

I pray that you are doing well and that

if things get to feeling overwhelming....

perhaps some time with the Lord in nature will 

help bring things back to a place

of peace. 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Mist and Musings

Hello! 

This morning I woke a bit earlier then the rest of my family. 

There was a heavy mist settled down in our little lake. 

It seemed to add to the sweet quiet of the morning. 

A good time to talk to the Lord about things that

were on my heart. 

This week I pulled out another of my sweet teapots that I don't use 

as often as my others.  

I save this one for special moments.

This one was from my mom and I just love the floral pattern on it. 

It sure is special to enjoy a cup of tea like this...

kind of like a moment with the one you love.

As you can see above...I've watered my mint plant a bit too much.

I found these interesting mushrooms growing.  

I didn't keep them, too bad we couldn't eat them.

I have a variety of flowers blooming in my house at the moment. 

The lovely sunflowers, geraniums, marigolds, and below

a little viola that is just starting to open. 

Really cheers me as I wait to be able to put some plants outside. 

Still super chilly out at night.  

New snow on the mountains from the last couple days of rain. 

There was a bedding plant market at our local 

community centre this past weekend.

I was able to sell and re-home my extra plants.  

Then I had some space to up pot my squash and then pot up 

some of the extra flowers I had. 

I still need to plant up one big planter...

but there is no room for that inside. :) 

The Lord has provided us a place to move to...

and I'm happy to say there is room for gardening there. 

It won't be for a few more weeks.

We've begun the process of packing.  

It's not too far away and we're delighted 

to be able to stay within the community we enjoy.

I pray you have been having a lovely Monday! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Pretty Sheets and a Picnic

Hello! 

I hope you are having a lovely day!  

I have some pretty new sheets in the wash that my children blessed me with. 

I love the delicate flowers and muted tones. 

I'm wearing the new shirt that is pictured above the sheets. 

My card my daughter made me is sitting on my desk. 

My children are wonderful and are always so sweet to me. 

Sometimes as a mother you can get discouraged or bogged down in 

caring for your family and home. 

Just remember that there are seasons and that each time has it's place.

The struggles and the joy! 

This past week we made some yummy moose jerky in our oven.

It was much faster then in the dehydrator. 

It is all gone...but we shall do this again.

This is one part of homemaking that I really enjoy.

Making special treats on occasion just because.

This week I was home with just a couple of my children. 

We decided to go for our first picnic of the season. 

My son bbq'd up some hot dogs and we wrapped them up to take with us. 

We had found this picnic spot last year and it was very nice. 

We really enjoy being out in the bush and enjoying nature. 

We saw some bear diggings (not too recent, but from this spring). 

As we were walking we saw a hawk fly off 

and then spotted a grouse in the underbrush

frozen, hiding from the hawk.  

We got a quick picture and then went off so that we didn't scare him out of hiding. 

We also found some cranberries that were so very juicy! 

Soon they'll fall off the plants and grow new flowers. 

There are lots of lovely trails to meander on and 

as the season warms there will be coming a lot more new growth.

We are just starting to see the sweet crocus's sprouting.

The birds are coming back.

It's delightful to watch all the different kinds of ducks and shorebirds

that are occupying the water and shore by the house.  

The wood frogs have started to croak out their songs

and it's quite the orchestra with all the bird sounds mixed in.

Our landlady is selling our home and she came with a photographer this week 

to take the necessary pictures for the ad.  

We did some more cleaning then the regular weekly ones we usually do. 

We hid away some things so that it looked better. 

Sometimes there are just things that need to sit out but aren't as "picture perfect". 

It encouraged me to wash some of the light fixtures that often get forgotten. 

I'm a bit shorter and I don't notice some things...like the top of the fridge. 

Do you have that issue?

Those details needed attending to, and take some consideration. 

All the plants that I've been starting in my window are getting so big. 

Yesterday we started the process of hardening off the smaller plants. 

Most are destined for the community market, but we are keeping a few.  

Today more seeds are going into pots for our moveable garden. 

No matter where you live it's good to grow just a few things...even if it's just herbs.

I have been told herbs are a waste of time...but really I have found that 

no matter how "plain" the food is you're making, herbs really make it more palatable. 

If only I could grow a cinnamon tree...I love that spice! 

Praying you have a wonderful day! 

And I also wanted to make a note about comments....I really do appreciate 

all the effort you make to say hello!

It really cheers me to hear from you! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Pasta and Pretties

Hello! 

How has your week been?  

Mine has been quite varied. 

Some sun and some rain.

We've been enjoying getting out and helping others with yardwork. 

Today we worked at the community garden helping to get it ready to plant. 

This week I tried something new.  

Creamy butternut squash pasta sauce. 

I was inspired by Jill's cookbook The Prairie Homestead Cookbook.

Like most recipes I just look at the ingredients and go from there. 

My version is: 

I fried up the bacon on my dutch oven and then removed the bacon 

and left the grease. 

Then I sautéed up some leek as I had that fresh with some garlic.

I added in fresh sage, and then a package of 

butternut squash that I had thawed out from the freezer.  

I cooked this together for a bit...adding in some water instead of bone broth.

Then I added some milk at the very end. 

Oh, and some salt and pepper to taste. 

Then at the end I used the bacon to top the sauce.

I must say I really enjoyed it...but no so for the family 

so I wont' be making it again. 

I served it with some sautéed swiss chard and beet greens,

with bacon and leeks.

This is a family favourite.  

It has been warming up during the day, but at night its so cold that 

the water freezes back over.  

It's so fun to skip rocks on it and hear the special sound it makes.

I absolutely love the pretty patterns in the ice. 

The sun glances off of the different angles in such a 

wonderful way!

More and more birds are coming in. 

We have some shore birds and 

different varieties of ducks. 

Then some songbirds and 

our beloved robins! 

Below I caught a glimpse of him outside one of our windows.  

Sorry my zoom isn't so great. 

I love to hear their cheerful songs in the morning and then before 

I fall asleep at night.  

There have been owls calling a lot at night as well. 

I think they are the great horned owls.

This past week my oldest son turned 12, 

and my oldest daughter turned 21.

With that comes mixed feelings....

but mostly blessed! 

Truth is I am getting older...and nothing but death will change that.

I thank the Lord Jesus for each and every day he gives me. 

Praying you have a beautiful day! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer