Homemaking Mondays: Summer Food

 

Hello! 

One thing about summer is that we eat differently

then in the other seasons. 

There is all those wonderful fresh greens and herbs in the garden.

I made some fresh naan bread. 

I then roasted some grape tomatoes with feta cheese;

added some basil and garlic scape and salt.

Put it all through the blender and it makes such a 

delicious spread on the naan then add some fresh spinach

and yum!

There are so many different kinds of salads to make and 

it's nice how just changing up the greens changes things.

It's also nice to have foods that don't require a lot of indoor cooking. 

Not that it's such an issue with where I live. ha! 

We did have quite a nice hot spell but we're back to the regular summer now.

It's warm but quick meals are best so that we can 

be out doing other things. 

What are some of your favourite summer meals?

This week at the free store I scored a couple of these lovely 

blue and white floral plates. 

They are a great size for serving plates and add

a lovely touch of colour and beauty to the table. 

This week I also re arranged my tea cupboard. 

Yes....again.

This time I added a rack to my bottom shelf so that I could fit my basket of tea bags

and also the bulk tea and coffee bags. 

Now it's much easier to access for all of us.  

The rack rests on the little corked bottles of dried herbs for tea.

Here is a better picture of the tea bottles.

I have some of these in my other hutch with 

my tea cups and tea pots that will be used first.

So...they are holding up the rack and are pretty. 

I love the colour that the dried herbs keep.

This week a couple of my children and I joined a friend on a hike.

I'm not a climber that is for sure and made it just about 

halfway up the climb.  

You can see me and our dog on the one clearing 

if you look real close.  

My daughter took a picture of me from the top. 

What a beautiful view that was enjoyed! 

Plus a wonderful patch of wild strawberries to boot!

It has been quite rainy this past week so I've spent quite a bit

of time indoors.  

A time for everything. 

I hope you have a wonderful week! 

Thank you for dropping by!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays:Colour In Our Day

 

Hello! 
It's been a beautiful summer. 

A lot more sunshine and warmth than last.

It has cooled today and we've had a few showers. 

The mosquitos absolutely love the cooler temps 

and when you go out they come at you in clouds.

There is a place for all creatures in nature

even if there are some that we are less fond of. 

As it was quite cool this morning I opted for

some nice hot tea instead of a cool drink. 

I like to make fresh drinks with lemon and mint. 

My tea was just plain black tea with some fresh lemon balm.

One of my comfort drinks.

I went out to check on my garden. 

I do love all the flowers I plant but often

the ones that the Lord plants catch my attention the most.

I do love fireweed and there are places in my

yard that I purposely don't fuss with so that they will grow.

In the Bible in the book of Matthew

the Lord speaks of the lilies of the field and how 

the Lord has arrayed them. 

If we would take the time to note the exquisite detail

in which the Lord has created the flowers

we will understand that nothing we can create 

can compare to what He has already created. 

For just the brief time the flowers bloom...He made such effort.

There are other plants in my yard that I do need to fuss with.

Like the chives.  I pick the blossoms so that they don't reseed.

I missed a few last year and wow I have a forest of little chive plants

that are growing up amongst the garlic and onions.  

SO...in come the blossoms to my kitchen window to be enjoyed.  

I have at times made chive vinegar but have yet to make a new batch this year.

My family was blessed with a huge gift of delphinium plants this year.

One of my most favourite garden flowers.  

Here is the very first bloom to open this season. 

The garden is doing really well and below 

is my wheelbarrow of nasturtiums and kale. 

The flowers are just starting to come and soon my son

will be pruning it back for me.  

Never a need to dead head them as he loves to eat the blossoms.

Some friends of ours introduced us to phacelia.

I have ever since been trying to plant some in my garden 

as the bees and butterflies adore it. 

It is so delicate and beautifully scented.

This year I have just a few plants that are just inside

my greenhouse to draw in the pollinators.  

Mosquitos are also pollinators but we do our best

not to welcome them. 

My son and I went to the store this year and for the first time

bought some bug net hats to make

gardening more bearable when they are most hungry.

We had to try them on of course.  

We decided to get two like mine. 

Thank you for dropping by today! 

I hope your day is beautiful!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Wildflowers and Greens

 

Hello! 
How are you this fine summer's day?

Here is it hot for us and beautifully sunny. 

I was out earlier this morning thinning carrots 

and puttering about the gardens.  

This time of year is one of my favourite times 

as there are so many wildflowers out growing

and the garden is starting to really take off. 

Do you put wildflowers on your kitchen window sills?

Some flowers I pick and some my children pick for me. 

I have a collection of fun little vases to accommodate them all.

With the garden staring to produce a lot it's time

to start bringing it into our kitchen and to 

the hungry tummies of the family. 

One thing I've been making is pesto.

I harvested some basil from the greenhouse, 

some bunching onions and spinach from the garden bed.

Plus a huge amount of chickweed.  

Yes you heard that right.  It's a healthy bountiful crop that the 

Lord has planted for us. 

I blend it all up with some fresh garlic and olive oil.

Then I put it in freezer bags where I just break off what I need and thaw.

It stores really well over the winter like that. 

I also enjoy the herbs that are coming on as well.

Yesterday I picked parsley and oregano to add to the chicken 

dish I was making for nachos. 

Then for the fresh salad there was more chickweed,

kale, radishes and green bunching onions.

Sadly I'm not a great radish grower so mine are kinda on the 

tiny side most of the time before they get woody.

From garden to table. 

This is what growing food is all about.

The wildflowers are so beautiful and outgrow my garden flowers

every single year. 

There are some fireweed flowers starting to bloom where 

they came up in the flower beds.

The lupin are staring to fade, but the wild roses are 

coming on to full bloom and even though 

I've been picking a lot of the flowers they are still going strong.

The greenhouse is starting to fill and soon there will be more then

just the odd cherry tomato to snitch.  

On the bench is a mound of fireweed that is now

being made into tea.

In this cool old wheelbarrow we found on our property

we have planted nasturtiums and some kale. 

This is like the one snitching part of the garden my son 

likes best of all.  He's anxiously awaiting the blossoms.

We have been having a lot of heat and thunderstorms rolling through

our part of the territory.  

There have been fires started close by through the lightening strikes. 

I am thankful for the Lord's protection in helping them to get

put out quickly.

There are lots of fires burning up here and the sky is tinged with

the colour of smoke although the smell is faint. 

With the main road up from the south being washed out and all the flooding

that has been happening this year. 

I am just thankful to the Lord Jesus for all that He has been providing for us.

Truly He is the one that is our provider! 

Thank you for dropping by! 
I pray your day is blessed with God's provision.

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

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

Homemaking Mondays: Crocus and Gardening Experiments

 

Hello! 
It is a lovely spring day here again. 

No sunshine today but things are starting to sprout more. 

The trees are starting to bud and the crocus are out.

Just this week they have begun to emerge and 

they are just gorgeous!

I do love the feathered stems and how they cradle that

lovely yellow centre from the cold each night.

The Lord is awakening the sleeping plants now.

Inside there are sunflowers blooming in the windowsills.

Their cheerful colour brings smiles to our faces each day.

This year I'm trying another experiment in the garden.

I've been seeing in gardening blogs and pictures for a few years

how people use these old rain gutters.

So....I have been wanting to try it. 

I was gifted with a bunch of old gutters from a friend.

So...this year is the year to try it out. 

I have taken these smaller ones and screwed them up to 

the side of the greenhouse wall. 

They have strawberries in them and will have some pansies soon.

I also thought of herbs...but don't know what might

compliment strawberries?

Then I have also planted a couple nice long pieces with peas.

These peas are the shelling kind as the snap peas are planted in the 

outside garden.  

I'm going to grow them in the gutters until I have the soil 

under them prepared to slide them into. 

It will buy me some good time. 

The mice have already discovered the peas so I had to put them up on top

of the rain barrels in the greenhouse for now.  

Soon I'll have a bench in there to deter the mice.  

I don't mind sharing some but they seem to take more then their share 

if left unchecked. 

A new addition to the perennial bed is this cute dwarf columbine.

I purchased it from a local lady at our bedding plant sale

that was held at our community centre.

It's so cute and I've never had one like it before. 

My daughter also from the same lady 

bought this cute little larch tree. 

It is one of her favourite kinds of trees. 

It will be interesting to see where it finds a new home

in this yard of ours.

Spring is a season for new things. 

It will be interesting to see how things progress. 

There are already little seedlings pushing through the soil.

I look forward to the first tastes from the garden.

Praying you have a beautiful day! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer