This year I’m going to attempt to read widely by using the 5×5 reading challenge put out by the Schole Sisters. You choose 5 categories and read 5 books in each category over the year. My categories are: American Lit, Theology, Brain & Habits, Barb Raveling books, & “For Sarah.” American Lit~ I’m going to…
Here in Oregon, we went from summer to winter in about a week. My garden loved the extra warm days of October, and it eeked out a few more tomatoes and green beans, but all the fall planted lettuce quickly went to seed. But we are solidly into the colder, rainy days (shhhh, don’t tell…
How was your week this week? We’re getting hot and dry in Oregon after a long, cold spring, so things in the garden are perking up and needing a lot more water. Garden A friend dropped in earlier this week and we ended up in the garden. Some of my potato plants were looking about…
I overestimated how much time I’ll have to blog with the garden going strong. Oops. However, it looks like most of the plants are perking up with the warmer weather, but I lost an entire row of jalapeno peppers, which is super sad. Next week I’ll be pulling up the garlic that I planted last…
I’m really trying to build a habit of doing routine things in a patient and thankful way. I’m not good at it. My usual way of doing things is ignoring something until it makes me crazy then working impatiently and furiously until it’s done. That makes everyone around me unhappy, including me. So I’m trying…
…but sanctify Christ as Lord in you hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence…” 1 Peter 3:15 As I’m continuing to work through 1 Peter to write a new Journal and Doodle study…
With the rise in prices, and the hit or miss availability of some items lately, I’m going back to what we did to survive our earlier years when we had small paychecks and a growing family. I’ve shared a favorite cookbook, a menu planning technique, and today I’m sharing a way that keep my pantry…
Food prices, gas prices, and inflation have us tightening our budget around here, and I’m going back to some of the things we did when we were broke with three young kids. I dug out my old More with Less cookbook, and today I’m going to share how we used to menu plan in a…
With all the talk about possible coming food shortages, and the ever increasing cost of food in grocery stores, I’ve pulled out one of my favorite old cookbooks, More with Less. I was thrilled to see that there is now an updated (and beautiful and easier to read) 40th Anniversary edition available. (I’ve heard the…
Every Christmas it was always the same. Our boys would hunt under the tree and sort out their gifts by the gift tag, and pretty much figure out what was in each one. Even the cleverly disguised ones, like a tiny gift in a big box with a brick in it. So frustrating for me…