Homemaking Mondays: Touching the Soil

 

Hello! 
How is your homemaking day? 
The past few days here the sun has been warm 

and is melting away the snow. 

There are little patches of ground showing here and there 

just enough to enjoy some time in bare feet.

The plants have been loving the added sunshine. 

They are growing nicely and by the time it's 

warm enough for them to be outside they'll be ready.

Our cucumber and squash seeds are germinating and 

soon they'll be taking over the window space.

The warmth and brightness are so welcome to the plants 

as well as to ourselves.

The bright sunlight has also brought out more blossoms inside the house.

A cheerful addition to the room. 

Outside the garden beds are starting to show.  

Once the snow gets down a bit further 

I will cover them with some frost blankets 

to help them get ready for planting.

I'm looking forward to touching the soil.

May sound funny to some....

but there is something very special and satisfying 

about playing in the dirt.

Perhaps that is something that is just a special memory

from when I was a young child?

As I've gotten older I have learned that dirt isn't just dirt

but it's another whole amazing world the Lord Jesus 

has created. 

There is a lot of life in the soil.

I think soil..or dirt is such a big part of homemaking.

We garden in it, we wash it off our food, 

we wash it off our kids and ourselves.

We wash it off our floors and out of our clothing.

At times in the past I've been very put out about how much dirt there is.

Now....the Lord has given me another insight into it.

It's a part of our lives...not a problem. 

Just another aspect of the world God has placed us in.

Dirt means there is growth.

Dirt means there is life happening.

All a part of caring for our homes and our families.

Perhaps touching the soil...will make you smile.

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Fresh From The Oven

 

Hello! 

How has your week been? 

Mine has been going back and forth between

spring and winter blasts. 

More snow and bits of sunshine here and there. 

Inside is homey and smells of 

fresh bread right out of the oven.

It's so nice to have fresh skillet buns 

to go along with a roast chicken dinner. 

Chocolate chip cookies in the cookie jar. 

It's that time when we seem to be craving 

things fresh from the oven.

This week I've been separating out some seedlings

to encourage them to grow more.

I've also been re-arranging things in front of the windows 

to try to get the most of the light.

Below I have lemon balm that will be so nice 

in hot tea or infused in chilled water through the summer.

There is a salad mix growing in the window. 

Still a tad too small to snitch. 

It won't be long before we will have the odd leaves 

to add to sandwiches. 

I had up potted my lemon oregano plant 

and it has just exploded in new growth. 

It'll make some nice meals and tea

plus lots to share.

Talking about sharing...

we have some new critters sharing our yard.

Not sure for how long, but for now we are enjoying them.

A couple mule deer came walking up our snowshoe trail

and decided to hang around and nibble on our little trees.

One was also checking out the one bird feeder 

before moving around the house. 

Below he is just past our carport.

Then we have also been blessed with 

some lovely little snow bunting birds. 

They are very busy and it's fun to watch them run 

and slide through the snow as they feed.

At first they scared away the other little birds....

but they are starting to all get along.

I hope your homemaking day is going splendid! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Habitat of Home

 

Hello! 

I hope you are enjoying the day.  

It's been a snowy day here although with the temperature up around freezing 

it is still very pleasant to be outside.

In our homeschool day a couple of my children 

are doing profiles for birds. 

It's part of an eco-system/ habitat/ permaculture study 

that we are doing for around our home. 

Since we've not lived at this place for a long time we are going to 

study a bit more about what lives here, what we would like to live here,

and how to make it all work together in a 

lovely habitat called home.

Just like how we create an inviting habitat 

 inside our homes for our families

it is nice to create a habitat in our yards 

for those creatures that call it home.

For instance.  We know the types of birds that come to our feeders.

What kinds of things would encourage them to stick around come summer?

What kinds of nests do they build...could we supply some of those materials?

Would they benefit from a birdhouse? 

What kinds of insects do we want to be in our yard...

and no there is no choice but to include the mosquitos. 

We want to encourage beneficial bugs and birds to help

with our gardening and flowers.  

Would could we add to the yard that would be inviting? 

What flowers should be planted?  

Are they going to be a good

addition to the habitat or are they invasive? 

So...just a good discussion and study 

to spend some time on. 

There are also some lovely pink flowers blooming in the house. 

They make a nice fresh burst of colour.

I hope you are having a lovely day! 

Do let me know if you do special things

for the habitat of your home in your yard?

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Days of Mine

 

Hello! 

I hope your enjoying your 

homemaking day! 

It's been mostly cloudy here 

with a bit of sunshine is coming through.

It's been a mix of snow and then sunshine...

as well as lots of wind.  

Inside there are things growing. 

Like my lemon oregano bush that I up potted this week.

It smells so nice when I brush up against the leaves.

I also planted up some onions that had sprouted in my pantry.

Below is the tray of lettuce and spinach 

sitting on the oil monitor stove in the dinning room.

I almost planted radishes between the rows and then 

decided not to. 

Here are some trays of herbs and flowers that 

have started to grow. 

I'll need to separate them out quite soon into

separate pots. 

Some for us and some for the local community market.

Inside the house smells like fresh bread.

I also have a sourdough loaf rising to be baked later in the day.

This past weekend we enjoyed some sliding fun with friends,

and a hot dog roast as well.

Winter fun is still happening!

With spring comes the desire to eat more eggs. 

Does that happen in your family? 

Below are some "fancy" eggs that we make.

It's just scrambled eggs with some peppers, onions,

spinach and ham tossed in. 

There is some dripping going on! 

With the temperature rising above freezing we are starting to get

a few icicles forming.  
This one has been growing for quite some time and we are wondering 

if it will reach the ground before something happens to it.

We still have a lot of snow...but spring is coming....

and I have a feeling we'll have some pretty 

cool puddles to navigate. 

It is nice to have lots of things to enjoy and look forward to.

Homemaking is a joy.

Lots of variety and room for creativity. 

Praying you have a blessed day! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Friends Share Life's Journey

 

Hello! 
Isn't that a beautiful truth. 

I thank the Lord Jesus for all the friends 

He has placed in my life. 

In person and online.

The above hand towel is a gift from a friend 

as are the two banneton baskets. 

She and I share a love for making things in the kitchen.

It's so beautiful when we can 

acknowledge those simple things.

A loaf of bread...a cup of tea.

It may seem simple but over the years

those little things are precious. 

Along with the banneton baskets....

this time I used my grain mill to grind some rice flour.

It is better to use in the baskets instead of just a towel.  

The flour is not glutenous and so it doesn't 

allow the bread to stick the same. 

Of course you have to wet the basket down before adding

the rice flour to it.  

It looks so pretty when you turn it out to be baked. 

I like it better then using a towel in them.

I was wanting some comfort food this past week.

I pulled out my recipe binder and made some

apple crisp...along with whipped cream.

Today I made some blueberry buckle as well.

The little seedlings are doing well. 

Below the cosmos are getting their feathery leaves.

I potted up the tomatoes from their little

peat starter pots. 

I always take off the netting before planting in the soil.

They are doing well and if the Lord wills

we shall have lots of tomatoes growing.

It has been a lovely week.  

Lots to do, but also lots of time to enjoy 

the company of family and friends.

Thank you for dropping by!
Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: The Beauty God Brings

Hello! 
It is a lovely wintery March day today.

The mercury is rising some through the day 

so that is nice and later this week it'll be warmer. 

Then the windows can once again be opened 

to freshen up the house. 

I am sorry I've been a bit quiet. 

A couple weeks ago I lost a dear friend of mine.

It is hard to say goodbye. 

I treasure the memories and times the Lord 

gave for us to share. 

The Lord has been freshening up our home 

with the beautiful flowers

that are opening and giving a beautiful light scent

to the room.

Have you ever smelled a grape hyacinth? 

Delicate and sweet!

                                        

There are still little tiny rosemary seedlings coming

in the new terrarium. 

  

There are tomato seedlings that are ready to be 

transplanted into pots.

Hopefully I can get that done today.

It is so hard when starting seeds.  

You look at the trays and all the little plants....

and then have to think ahead to how big they will 

become before going outside. 

There is only so much room next to the windows. 

So planning carefully is important.

I still always end up moving furniture to accommodate more 

before it's safe outside.

As there is lovely growing things inside...

winter is still far from over here. 

I went with a couple of  my children to go sledding

with some of their friends.

The below picture is the top of the sledding hill

where you can see for miles! 

Perfect day to be out...

the only wind was what you felt

flying down the hill.

There were skidoo rides up to the top and so I joined in the fun 

a couple of times. 

A bit sore today...but it was so worth it! 

It has been a bit since I have done a whole lot in the kitchen 

as far as fun baking.

My children have been wonderful and have been taking care of 

things as I've been busy doing things

for my friend who passed away.

I made bread...and then my daughter sliced it up

boiled some fresh eggs, sliced some cheese

and laid out a nice meal for us. 

The Lord is good to us in all the little details of life.

May we always keep in mind 

eternity.

That we can put every aspect of life into 

it's proper place. 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

	Romans 10:9-10  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
	For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." -KJB

Homemaking Mondays: Pushing Through the Last of the Dark Days

 

Hello! 

Pushing through the last of the dark days of winter.

Do you feel like that is where you're at?

I do.  

The sun is starting to shine more and more

and it seems to change how I feel.

When the clouds move in and it starts to snow

yet again...I feel heavy.

Things feel like more of an effort

and I need to start to find things to do

to bring me hope of spring.

Don't get me wrong...

I do love winter and many of the

wonderful things we can do in winter.

It is just..at this point it seems to be 

dragging on...the last couple months before spring.

One of my favourite things to do

is to plant seeds at this time.

I have brought in my indoor greenhouse. 

With dreams of what to start growing.

This year I have been gifted a grow light 

and that should help the tomatoes.

On the bottom shelf I have all my seeds

for now...at some point they will need to move 

so that plants can grow there.  

I might put that shelf up on the top

or move the grow light to the very bottom?

Then I've re-arranged my living room so that I can get plants up 

against the window.

I shall be having a couple rows of plant there as the seedlings get bigger.

I also love having my chair by the window.

I've actually moved it to the other side of the window

as shown in the picture from where it was

and this gives me another view when I turn my head

to look outside.

The Lord has given little bits of delights as well,

as the violets are starting to send out more blooms.

I have been doing some crocheting

and one of the things is this cute

little set of slippers.

Soft and plushy and pink. 

It's an old fashioned pattern

but from experience they are oh so 

comfortable!

I have also been keeping my sourdough starter happy. 

I washed out my big jar

and put the last bit of starter in and fed it.  

All those little bubbles make me happy for some reason.

Perhaps it's the thought of fluffy bread to come?

There are always things to smile at,

to cheer our hearts when 

we count our blessings.

Praying for you as 

we wait till spring to arrive.

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer