Surpassing our 100th tomato harvested!

Posted on Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 09:24

Laura and Mary were excited to take a picture of this Orange Blossom tomato because it was the 100th tomato picked this season!

After picking the rest of the 4th of July, Early Girl and New Girl tomatoes the count elevated to 136!

Normally here in Northern Kentucky we wouldn't have any ripe tomatoes yet. This success is because we started some plants from seed on Valentine's Day and transplanted them in the garden in early April. We had to put black plastic down the heat up the soil and cover the plants with clear plastic at night. Our first ripe tomato was on June 5th. It worked out pretty well.

We know for sure that the count is 136 because our kitten Maggie counted them again for us!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

- Pa

Our Garden in Pictures............

Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 01:21

Here is a few pictures of our garden.....

Thank you for stopping by....

Blessings,

Ma

Up-date of our week.......

Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 08:29

What has been going on here?? Let me up-date you:) Sunday was so wonderful. Church was great! We had a Praise and Worship Sunday. You can never Praise or Worship our Lord enough! Afterward we had our small group picnic. The couple who hosted it has a really neat home. They bought a mobile home and then built their home around it debt-free! from the outside you really couldn't tell that it was ever a mobile home. The inside was so nice:)  and did I tell you they are completely debt free.....Wow!  We had a great time.

Monday we were so worn out we just hung out and rested most of the day. We did get a lot of house work done.

Tuesday my husband and daughter had a dentist appointment. My husband had to get a crown and my daughter a few fillings but the big news she gets her braces on next Monday. She had to get her spacers on yesterday which will do something? She is a little sore today but she is excited about her future smile:)  I also mowed the grass it was a beautiful day:) I started on a great book about Gods Grace. I hope to read a bit more of it today.  I love to sit outside and read about Gods word.  He is truely Wonderful!!

Today... I am hoping to work on our budget. We are taking a Sunday school class about money. We have learned that 1000 homes 3/4 of a mile around our church are in foreclosure. I have been adding a lot to our house payment. I am thinking I really should add more. I really would like to get our home paid off sooner. We also need to spend less on food... but how?  I have been reading another blog and she has her totals on how much she spend a week this includeds everything phone, electric ect....  this should be a fun project:)  I am glad we had our daughters braces in our budget or it could have been a problem.

I will let you know what happens........

Blessings,

Ma

A Big Hello!

Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 at 02:57

Right now it is raining and I have finished much of my  house work. We were outside all day yesterday. We were in the pool and in the garden. It is so nice to be inside getting my indoor chores done:)

The weekend... tommorow we are going to  the store to pick up  some groceries Yikes! can you believe how expensive food is now? We used to be able to get groceries for around 150.00 now it is getting closer to 200.00 each time.  We are also going out to eat with my parents to celebrate my husbands birthday which was on the 24th.  Sunday we are going to church and then Sunday school which is about Money. We can't wait we went to a class once before at church about money, but this is perfect timing it is always good to learn Gods way according to our money:)  After church we are having a small  group get together at one of our friends house. It will be nice to have some fellowship time with our friends.

I have taken so many pictures of our garden I hope to post them soon:) Everything is growing well. We really needed this rain we are getting today:) We have gotten 60 tomatoes already:) They sure have been good! We have had them with every meal:)

I usually don't ask for prayer here but I would like to ask for an unspoken prayer. I don't want to ask openly but if you would just ask for God to speak and to let me hear His will.

Well I am going to work on some stitching which I really enjoy! I hope you all have a blessed day:)

Ma

Here are a few pictures of "Our Life"...

Posted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 05:54

 We have had a wonderful crop of strawberries this year here is one of our larger ones. 

 This is our new addition to our family her name is Maggie. She has been so fun to watch. Macy is enjoying her also.

 Here is a picture of Macy doesn't she look big compared to Maggie?

 This is what the girls our swimming in this year. We don't usually go to public pools. We like just hanging out at home:)

 Mary took this picture isn't pretty? I think so:)

 I love to stitch so here is what I am making now. I am stitching on a pillow case. This is just one of my favorite things to do during the summer.

 These are a few of Marys handmade cards.

 Here our a few of pieces of Lauras handmade jewlery

 We had a nice rain shower so we thought we would add a few pictures to our blog. I hope you enjoy them ;)

Many Blessings,

Ma

It's been a while......

Posted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 10:03

 We are now on our second week of summer break. We will start doing some school next week. We will work on Math and Reading:) We have had nice weather the last few days its only been in the 70's. We were in the girls pool last week It was in the 80's almost all week. I have really enjoyed the last few days:) I do like cooler weather.

I have been doing some summer cleaning. I have so many boxes to go through. Today I am going to work under our steps. I am going to try to only work a few hours and then enjoy some stitching:) Yesterday we went through about 6 boxes and have three bags of garbage and 4 bags to go to Goodwill. I am not sure where all these things came from? I guess we have kept way too many things:)

Mary and Laura  have been busy writing on homeschool blogger:)  Mary has been busy making greeting cards. She is doing a great job! Laura likes to make jewerly give her some string and a few beads and she can make something lovely:)

Our garden has given us much lettuce, pea's, and many, many tomatoes! This is the first year that we have gotten tomatoes this early! My husband has done a wonderful job getting things in early it sure has paid off! We haven't gotten a chance to get our coop made. We are hoping to work on it this fall.  We are hoping to get our beans soon:)   Everything is looking great!

We have also been having so much fun as a family. Last night we went to a baseball game:) We have a small family vacation in a few days. God has truely blessed me with a wonderful family:) It is good to work hard but it is also good to have family time which I enjoy!!

Many Blessings,

Ma

Gardening, Children and Friends; A Winning Combination!

Posted on Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 10:00

I have always loved seeing my daughters enjoying the garden. Recently they had some friends over and they all joined in the act. They picked and ate all of the ripe strawberries before I could even get the camera. Then they set out to pick the peas.

 These were Maestro Peas and they were magnificent with eight to ten peas per pod!

After the girls filled their bowls with these plump pea pods, they retreated to their treehouse to shell them.

They had so much fun with it that they didn't consider it work.

They were surprised how many peas they had ready for the kitchen by the time they finished.

We cooked them for supper that night and we all thought they were delicious except for one friend, and that was only because she didn't even try them!

It was really fun for me to watch them all enjoying the harvest!

Many Blessings,

- Pa

Liz's Creative Contest~On my other Blog! :)

Posted on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 06:14

Hello Everyone it's Mary! :) I wanted to give you the chance to come to my other blog and enter my Contest! :) You could even win 2 handmade cards by me! :) Click on the link below to go to my blog and enter!

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/liz/533436

 (It may take a little bit to load)

The last day to enter the contest is on Saturday May 24th, I will be picking the winner on Sunday! :) Please, click on the link to enter and read all the details! :)

Have fun! I hope everyone has a Wonderful and Blessed Day! :)

~Mary~ (Or Liz on my other blog.:)

Things I am Grateful For.........

Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 04:33

Today has been a quiet day of homeschooling, baking a cherry pie and a little laundry. I was thinking about all the things I am blessed with and here are a few:)

I am so thankful for the forgiveness that Christ provides. I am so thankful that I can come to my Savior with any and every need. I am so thankful that He is in total and full control. He is so Wonderful:)

  I am so blessed with a wonderful and caring husband. He shows the love of Christ every where he goes:) He always calls before he comes home and asks if I need anything:) It makes me smile knowing he enjoys coming home and we are glad when  he gets here:)

I have two wonderful daughters. I know that their first love is for Christ and that makes me so happy. They work so hard on their school work and never say no when ask to do something:) I am truely blessed!

God has blessed me with a nice home. We have a enough room to garden and enough room to play:) This year we are making our garden alot bigger and that makes me happy.

I can smell the pie that I have in the oven. I have plenty of food to eat and then some:)

I enjoy stitching on pillow cases:) I love looking at stitching patterns,  and pretty thread. I really enjoy looking at what I have made when I am finished and when they are placed on our pillows:) Making our home look nice makes me happy.

I enjoy playing with our cat Macy. (We are getting her a friend this week so stay tune) I am so glad we have Macy she brings smiles to our girls which makes me happy.

I am so thankful for our garden. It has allowed us to have lots of lettuce the last few weeks. It helps on our budget and makes us healther.

What are you grateful for?

Blessings,

~Ma

Discontentment with being content?????

Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 11:15

Jeremiah Burroughs definition of Christian Contentment is " Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and loving control of every circumstance."

Gods word: "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who stengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13

Jeremiah Burroughs: {A contented Christian} may allow some ordinary cares and fears to break into the suburbs of his soul, so as to touch lightly on his thoughts. But he will not allow, on any account, these thoughts to be an intrusion into the private room, which is wholly reserved for Jesus Christ as his inward temple.... The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment pages 23-24

Oh,  how I let these words sink into my thoughts both from Paul and then from Jeremiah. It is so hard to live in this world and be content.  I want to focus my thoughts on being content each and everyday. These last few monthes I have been struggling with discontentment. I knew something felt strange in my soul that feeling like something was either missing or out of whack?

Although I  would wake up every morning with Joy that would just fill me up. How could I be discontent with contentment?  Could it be that this might be the house that God keeps us in? We might not get another car in the next few years? Is my husband going to retire at the job he is currently in?  How can I feel so much Joy if I also feel discontent or is it that I struggle with not knowing what God has instore for us?

True Joy comes from God.  He gives me that everyday. I don't want to fear not knowing what the next few years will be like because He is incontrol of it all. He only wants the best for His children. Isn't that enough knowing God is incontrol? Shouldn't just that give us contentment?

We had  wonderful worship on Sunday I could feel God in the room as we sang and worshiped Him. He is truely wonderful!  I pray that God keeps reveiling himself to me and gives me that inward quiet peace of knowing that He is truely incontrol!

Blessings,

Ma

The Baker Creek Spring Planting & Heritage Festival With ** Lots of Pictures

Posted on Monday, May 12, 2008 at 09:33

It has been a whole week already since we were at the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Spring Festival. We went both days and had a great time. It was fantastic! We took several extra days and made a family vacation out of it. We also visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home & Museum, a real treat for we Little House fans! We ate at The home of the "Throwed Rolls", Lambert's restaurant, and spent a wonderful afternoon at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Maybe Laura or Mary will post about these later.

This post is about the Baker Creek Spring Festival, it is pretty hard to explain so I will show it to you instead. Following are many pictures taken at the festival.

There were lots of organic  farms selling plants as well as other great vendors:

In addition to all of the booths, they had great professional garden speakers giving talks all day in the speakers barn. When I was in there, I was too busy listening to take pictures. My favorite speaker was Len Pense. The day after the festival, we visited him at his farm to see his revolutionary vegetable garden system. I will be writing an entire post about him soon.

There were at least three areas with fantastic live music and entertainment going on constantly. This was Mary and Laura's favorite part of the festival.

The young man dressed in yellow in the above picture is Jere Gettles, owner of  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. He started his seed company as a teenager while being homeschooled - what an inspiration!

In addition to running Baker Creek Seeds, he built the "Town of Bakersville" to have a place to host his garden festivals. These buildings were really neat.

They have also begun construction on a grist mill.  

Of course the most important building at Bakersville is the Baker Creek Seed Store where you can get seeds of hundreds (maybe thousands) of common or highly unusual top quality heirloom varieties!

I only bought a dozen or so seed packets because I had already ordered from Baker Creek by mail. Next year maybe I'll go back to the festival and buy all of my seeds there instead of by mail. I strongly recommend any serious gardener to do the same. If you don't want to wait a whole year to visit Baker Creek, they have another big festival in August and smaller ones every month.

I loved our trip to Baker Creek. In my next post I will let you know about some of the cool things I bought at the festival and about some of the people I met. And then I have to give a big update on our gardens here in Kentucky. I have lots of pictures to show. We have been harvesting lettuce and other salad greens. The garlic, potato onions, broccoli, cabbage, potatoes, peas and early tomatoes are doing really well. Tonight Laura and Mary helped me plant peppers and beans and Ma helped with the weeding. We are now in the busy gardening season. Isn't it great?

Many blessings,

Pa

May is planting season....

Posted on Friday, May 9, 2008 at 10:49

We got back from Baker creeks seed festival on Wednesday. We are finally getting rested from all the fun we had. We are hoping to put on pictures soon! I can tell you we had a great time and hope to go back next year:) We brought home many packets of seeds and some pepper plants. We are hoping to plant our garden soon. Mary and Laura bought a few hand-made crafts:) There were many people selling plants and hand-made items it was amazing at all the things they were selling:)

It is May and that means planting season. We are going to extend our garden. We have raised beds and we are hoping to have a few row beds.  We might add a few more raised beds too? I don't think much of our fruit did well but we do have strawberry plants that are now getting ready to fruit.  We visited a nice mans garden while we were on vacation. He was growing his fruit in raised beds maybe we will try that next time. Our blue berries and grapes have been hard to grow. Has any one here grown fruit in raised beds?

We only have a few more weeks of school until our short break. It will be nice to have a small break:) There are so many things we would like to do this summer. I always get a little nervous that we won't be able to get it all done. The older I get the quicker the seasons fly by. I can't believe I have a 14 and an 11 year old. Where did the time go? I have been home with them and cared for them every day and still I miss them being little. Although these teen or between years are also fun:) I remember both of our daughters playing in the garden and now they  can plant and water and  do almost  all the work themselves. I miss having little ones.

I better go and get my day started. Thank you stopping by and reading our blog:)

Blessings

~Ma

Leaving in a few days to see the Baker Creek Seed Festival.........

Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 11:02

Well I am finally back to blogging:) We are getting ready to go to the Baker Creek Seed Companies Spring Festival you can see it here   http://rareseeds.com/    It will take us around 8-10 hours but I am sure it will be worth it:)  

We have been working in the garden getting ready for planting season:) My husband is trying something new this year we are going to try to get tomatos by the end of May. We have huge tomatoes in the ground covered with plastic. We don't have a greenhouse yet but maybe someday:) We still have alot to do but the weather has been wonderful.

We still haven't gotten to our chicken coop. We are hoping to start it soon, we might have to buy pullets instead of chicks I guess we will have to wait and see. My husband has been so busy it is hard to get everything done:) I am sure after getting back from Baker Creek we will get some more great idea's:)

We only have about a month of school left this has been the Best year of homeschool ever! I am so blessed to be able to homeschool the girls:) We will take a few weeks off  and then we will have Bible, Math and Grammer through-out the summer. I give them two more weeks off before school starts and then we start the new year off and running. I know some people take off and don't do any work but we like to stay busy doing a few lessons each day:)

Well I have get a few more things done:) Oh! I have quit crocheting and started back up embroiderying. I hope to show some pictures soon:)

I forgot to tell you that we started our worm bin and it is doing great! I hope to add some pictures to "Our Life In Pictures in a few days:)

Yes! We will take loads of pictures at The Bakers Creek Festival. We will share them when we get back:) We can't wait to show and tell you all that we learn:)

~Ma

Just another day?? of Encouragement

Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 07:36

This morning I woke up and did what I do every morning. I woke up my husband and children. I  feed our indoor animals. My husband went off to work and my girls started school. We got our school work done and picked up the house. One of the ladies in my small group's daughter wanted to bring over a be-lated birthday gift for my oldest daughter.

That is when things started to change: I showed my friend our home and our garden. I also showed her where we are going to have our chicken coop and where we are going keep our worm bin. I then took her back inside and showed her our little plants under our grow lights. The whole time she was just so  nice and very encouraging. She loved our garden beds and all the plans that we are making for our new chickens.

Today God gave me a wonderful blessing by letting me share our garden and our yard with a very nice lady. I sometimes feel very discontent with our yard. My brother-in-law has 100acres+ We only have barely and acre. We don't  have any animals yet but we are hoping to have our chickens soon. I read about so many here on Homesteadblogger that have alot more than we do. But today I feel like I have so much more.

We should never compare ourselves to others. We all have different wants and likes. I have been reading of others that garden in the city using containers. I have also been reading of city dwells having chickens. We can garden and own animals where ever we live.

I am Thankful that God sent my friend over to show me  that I am truely blessed. It is funny we always want more than we have.  Oh, by the way my friend does own more land than we do she has 2 acres and she has a nice garden, grapes and raspberries.

I hope the next time that I visit  she will show me all around her garden and her fruit . I hope I give her as much encouragement as she gave me today :)

~Ma~

Seasons of Life..... and making plans

Posted on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 09:03

Today was such  pretty day the sun was shining and it was in the 50's. The girls went outside and had fun in the melting snow:) I believe that they have went down on their sleds over 50 to 60 times:)

Yesterday was Laura's birthday we took her out to eat and let her pick her gift out. I can't belive my youngest turned 11. Mary's birthday is on Wednesday we will do the same for her but we also have her youth  group and small group on that day so the day will go quick. Mary will be 14.

Now as the girls are getting older I am starting to think about the other seasons of my life. I am now wondering what God has planned for these next few seasons. My husband likes to make plans and think about going on vacations and adding to our garden. I am the type that just sits back and tries to wait for God to lead. Now I wondering if I fail to plan Will I fail the plan?  Should we have a plan? Will I miss out on things if I don't think ahead?  I have looked back and have seen many things I would have liked to have done either God didn't want this or I just didn't listen to His timing So Now what? Should we start looking towards the future making plans? I am not to sure about this?

Well tomorrow the girls have school and my husband  is off work so he can get a few things done around our home. We are hoping to get a few things done in our garden too. It won't be long and we will be able to plant a few things.

Blessings to all,

Ma

8-11 inches of Snow!!!

Posted on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 09:05

Good Morning! :) I thought I would update on how the snow is. It is about 8-9 inches on our deck, but we don't know how deep it is in the grass! :) Here is a picture of how it is right now...

I will take more outside when we go out, so maybe Ma or Pa will post them this week. :) I hope Everyone has a Wonderful Day! :)

~Mary~

The SNOW!!!

Posted on Friday, March 7, 2008 at 03:38

Hi Everyone it's Mary.   It started snowing this morning and they are now predicting 11-15 inches!!! Wow!  I have been taking pictures about every hour or so, so I could post them here! :) Here they are! :)

Starting about around 9 or 10 o'clock this morning.

Getting about an inch more around 11.

About noon-1 pm.

This is the most recent picture.

It is about 3 inches right now, but we are supposed to have about 5 inches. Most of it will come tonight. It is supposed to stop around tomorrow afternoon.

The birds look really pretty in the snow, especially the Cardinals! :)

And, I just had to post this one! I took it on Wednesday. I held the camera up high and she looked up, so it looks like she is upside down! I thought it was so cute! :) By the way, Macy's Adoption Birthday, when we got her is tomorrow! :) Happy 1st year with us Macy!!! :)

I am really excitied about the snow! We haven't had that much in a while! :) It is hard though, because I like the snow and I also want to have our family over for Laura's and my birthday. :( God has a Plan though. I just have to keep on reminding myself that. :)

I hope everyone has a Great Weekend, and I hope you enjoyed the pictures too! :)

~~ Mary ~~

UPDATE: There is now 5-6 inches of snow outside! I measured with my ruler on our deck, but it is deeper in the grass! :) I thought I would update. :) Also there is supposed to be at least 6-8 inches of snow tomorrow morning(On top of the 5-6 inches)! I am really excitied. :) Well, I should go Bye!

Crazy day and weekend.... Snow, snow and more snow

Posted on Friday, March 7, 2008 at 07:11

Well it' s probably going to be crazy the next few days. We are suppose to get 3 inches of snow to day and another 8 inches tommorow and then a little extra on Sunday. We were suppose to have the girls birthday celebration on Saturday but we are now wondering if we should cancel? The girls are excited about the snow. We went out last night to get a few more extra goodies. I am sure we will stay home play in the snow and eat all weekend:)

We are going to take the girls out to eat during the week to celebrate each of their birthdays. They are getting so big. They really don't seem to mind having their party on another day but I do. I guess I was more excited about getting together with everyone. I do enjoy being with family:) I also like to eat the menu is/was: chicken, cheesy potatoes, greenbeans, mac and cheese ,veggie tray cake and ice cream.Oh well we will have it all another day.

I guess I better get the girls up and do a little school they will want to get outside when it starts snowing:)

Blessings to all,

~Ma

 I got on our weather web-site here is what we are expecting:

Trials and more trials....

Posted on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 04:20

Last week Purewater http://www.homesteadblogger.com/purewaterhollow/  had a post about not being able to live without modern day conviences. He is so right! Lately we have been having many things break last week we needed a battery for the car. Last night we had to turn our hot water off in the kitchen because we had a leak. Today our dryer is broke:( 

I have never thought how totally spoiled we are!  We take so much for granted. I have had a hard time today just trying to fill my thoughts of finding something else to do other than laundry. I usually do around 5 loads a day. Yes! I have many other things to do but laundry is a big one and when we get our dryer fixed I will have plenty to do.

Yesterday was so pretty and today it has rained most of the day. I am going to start getting ready to order the girls books for next year. I would like to get that out of the way:) I would like to ge their books mainly because if I don't I will be worrying if I will get them in time for next year. Yes I am a worry wart:)

The girls birthdays are next week.  I can't believe we will have a 14 year old and a 11 year old. Time really has flown. We are having my family over this weekend to celebrate. So we have much to do!

Blessings

~ Ma

Spring is almost here... Added new pictures....

Posted on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 06:56

Today was a very pretty day. My daughters and I got outside for a little bit today. It was around 65 degrees a perfect day for bike riding, swinging and pulling some brush up:) I worked for about two hours cutting down brush or( thorn bushes?)

Today really gave me spring fever we have a list of things that we would like to do and most of it is plain old hard work:) We have so many old boards that need stacked and lots of weeds to pull or cut down so needless to say I can't wait for another day to get outside and work:) Tommorow is suppose to be cold and we are suppose to have snow flurries off and on. I guess it really isn't spring yet?

I have added new pictures to "Our Life In Pictures"  Right there on the right hand column.

Blessings to all

~Ma