:: A Proud Moment ::

...or... " A Home School Post, Really???" 


If you've read my blog for any length of time-- and read my 'ABOUT ME' STUFF... then you know I've listed myself as a Veteran Home School Mom. 
Homeschooling is NOT something that I write about very often on my blog. In fact, I can't really remember EVER mentioning it here. Because, after all... I'm finished. 
But, I did. I home schooled my four children all their lives...well, until they were out on their own. I still try to teach them now...ssshhh!!! ;)

Of those four kids, they've all grown to become responsible, strongly opinionated, contributing adults to the world around us. They are all talented, smart, and caring. 
I'm proud of each and every one of them. I never EVER pushed College. I'm not about to discuss all that here. But, I'll just say-- I don't think a degree is needed to be successful in life. Do I think certain professions need schooling and preparation for their jobs? Yes. So did I talk my kids UP for College? No. I. Did. Not. Period. 

But, I always knew my youngest daughter would go to college. She told me this when she was about 8 years old. Because she home schooled she announced she would one day go to college; because she wanted to ride the bus! (ha! to be eight again...) 

 My youngest-- Many of you know her as 'Easton's Momma'  will be 22 in September! Oh. My. Goodness! Yes. She is the only one of those kids to go to college.  She is keeping her GPA up; despite Motherhood, Marriage, and Work (housekeeping and outside the home) 

She was inducted into PHI THETA KAPPA tonight!  I'm so excited! The Honey and I are so proud of her!!! 

                         

The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philippians 4:23 

 

::Tweaking Some Artwork::

I blogged about the artwork around my home about 2 years ago! Can't believe it has been that long. 

Lately, I've been thinking of taking up painting for myself, a hobby. I'd like to learn to paint. I think it would be fun! 

Anyway- You can read the entire post here: PAINTED GIFTS

This is from that post:

This framed artwork painted by my oldest daughter-- when she was 15 yrs old.
It is a rendering of her Grampa's barn---they (he and Granny) had two, this one was at the bottom of the mountain. It's titled
"the Lower Barn"







Today, I had a few moments of time. I decided I wanted to do something to really make this painting pop! on the dining room wall...  

So, I got out my DIY Chalk paint and painted the frame black; then rubbed it with a little minwax. Now it really stands out against the yellow wall. I love it! The painting had been a gift from my daughter years ago; and the paint and supplies, I already had on hand. So this little change up cost me nothing! Woot-woot!

I wish I were able to get a better picture of the two cows above it. I have no idea how old that painting is, or who painted it...It came from the same trunk that had the Yo-Yo quilt blocks in it a few weeks ago, they are now in my bedroom! I love opening that trunk and finding all sorts of things inside! :) 

There! doesn't that look much nicer? It makes me smile. :)  So I did all this and found out that Brenda (Cozy Little House) decided to jump on the party bandwagon so... 
I'm adding this to  Brenda's "Tweak it Tuesday" very first party! 


Hope to see you there! 

The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philippians 4:23 

 

::Finally, Good News! ::

I was checking the Local Paper Online...and I saw this posted on the side bar. 

A little bit of good news! 

We're almost at NORMAL and it's the end of JULY! 

Last year...we were having the worst time with the drought. Now, this year, MOST OF THE NATION is experiencing drought, high temperatures, and extreme weather phenomenon. 

We've had a pretty good bit of rain this year in this area. Praising God and am happy for it. 

Where ever you are today... I hope you're getting some much needed rain and cooler temperatures. 

The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philippians 4:23

:: Thanks, My Repurposed Life! ::

Gail is entering her fourth year of blogging and just had a week of give aways...

::Pinning Recipes~ Summer Time Berry Crumble::

Today, while at the grocer with my daughter (I only went along for the ride) but... I couldn't help it, the IFFY produce buggy had a couple of good finds. There was this batch of Peaches marked $1.99 it was about 3 lbs.






I decided today would be the day to try a recent recipe that I pinned on Pinterest.







I got the original recipe from Keeping it Cozy --she did a fine job with the recipe.Be sure and click on over there and get that recipe. I actually followed this one-- she used other fruit besides peaches; and suggest you use what you have on hand or in season. I had blackberries in the freezer for a recipe such as this...but I'll wait and make it later on; besides, how much cobbler can two people eat?




I love cooking all my casseroles and cobblers in my big cast iron skillet. Do you like using cast iron? I warmed this up with a little butter and then added the peaches and sprinkled some flour...(tip: stir slightly after sprinking)



It turned out to be quite delicious.



I didn't have cream but I did have some butter pecan ice cream so just a dollop on top was all that was needed make this a delightful little dessert.

Here is a special Tip:
As I was getting all the ingredients together, I noticed I was out of Brown Sugar-- here's what I did.

First, I googled What to substitute for brown sugar... I found several recipes for MAKING YOUR OWN.

So here it is... Pretty simple.

2 1/2 cup white sugar

2 TBLsp of Molasses

Stir together until mixed well. They also suggested using a Food processor; which I don't have. I have the equivalent of a Braun hand blender...it worked just fine. This recipe is for light brown sugar. For darker sugar;  add less white sugar.

I'm linking up here: Sunny Simple Sundays


Homestead Revival 

The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philippians 4:23

 

::Ding,Ding,Ding!- We have a Winner!!! ::

Thank you everyone who participated in my 200th Follower Give Away and Fun!  
It's been WAY FUN! 

So I had my big GIVE AWAY-

And my readers joined in to play;

There were forty-nine names,

To pick from this game; 

At RANDOM, I chose one today! 

See, Isn't that fun? I love limericks!

33~Yolanda @ Chickens on the MoonJuly 26, 2012 10:45 AM

I love your shelf!

Yolanda is a pretty NEW Blogger. She likes photography, chickens and Soccer... she seems pretty well rounded...like me! 

Yolanda- Please email me your address so I get your prize to you in the mail! 

You have 48 hours to do so... or we'll have to draw another number! 

(and then I'll have to subject everyone to another limerick...etc. We don't want to do that...not really. No.) 

The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philippians 4:23

::Photo Caption- Last Chance Give Away::

Earlier in the Summer we had an issue with snakes around our place. 

Nothing to be too alarmed about; most were just chicken snakes. 

We had one come along INSIDE THE HOUSE... 

YIKES!!! 

The Honey took it outside and chopped his head off-- after all, a little chicken snake becomes a big chicken snake...and then it will eat chicken eggs! 

Can't have that~ 

He took it outside and gave it to the chickens. But this is as far as we got! 

The just stared at it ...

Like a calf looking at a new gate. 

Maybe you can come up with a CAPTION for this photo.  I'd love to read them leave it in the comments. 


Don't forget...ANY COMMENT YOU LEAVE TODAY-puts your name in the drawing for the GIVEAWAY it ends tonight at mid-night! 
you may also click HERE
HERE, HERE, HERE ...if you haven't done so already, for more chances to win. Each comment puts your name in (One comment per post please!) 
Thanks a bunch and good luck~ 

The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philippians 4:23 

:: It makes me Smile::

I found this picture on the BHG.COM  
When I saw it

... it made me smile.






Because of this....

I love my shelves now that they are painted and decorated purposefully. I think I have a "Nature" theme going on now...and it isn't all hodge-podge. 


So for today: 
I thought I'd show you the very first piece of junk I ever rescued from the dump...as a young married. 
As a child...I think we all rescued stuff from the trash pile. Right? we ALL did, didn't we? We were kids...it's in a kids nature after all to pick up things they shouldn't.  
I don't think I ever outgrew that part of my child hood.  (I have lots of 'found' items around my house and on this shelf) 

 See that little dark wood shadow box?  Yes! that's it... I've had that about 28 or 29 years!  It was in the trash barrel at the Flea Market-- I was walking by and saw it; originally it had a little door with little tiny hinges. There had been glass in the door, it was broken and one of the hinges had broken free too. I guess that is why the tossed it. 


Oh well-- their loss. I've used it in lots of places. Usually, I hang it because of this... 

 It's a tad bit out of square. I've never cared...because I could hang it crooked MAKING IT STRAIGHT and it wasn't noticeable. But now... it sits on the shelf and ....YOU CAN TELL!!! 


So I started giving it a face lift first with decoupaged pages in the back (see above?) They're pages from the SECRET GARDEN... 

 I thought a little crepe paper placed around the edges would help to disguise it's crookedness... But NO. 

 So, Next I gave it a prosthetic foot... really just a piece of toilet paper roll cut and hot glued to the bottom. ;) 

 Much better. Well, it looks crooked now...because SOMEONE ...EHEM! glued crepe paper to the front of it!!!  Go figure.

 I am still making changes to the shelving behind my bed. I  still love the color.

 I don't remember if I ever pointed out when I changed my bedroom to this furniture layout back at Memorial Day. I changed the color of my bed... It had been painted GREEN surprise, surprise! 
 I painted it WHITE.  I like it White now. 


One of the recent changes are the plates... I added them recently. I had this little metal candle holder-- it was a brick of a candle. It had been in my MIL things when it got stored and it melted. I cleaned it all out and painted it with GOLD spray paint... 

I put these two plates in it and put it on the shelf. The plate in the back is broken...but you can't tell. I cleverly disguised it with a plate in front!  I like the flowers and it fits the 'nature' theme of the shelves now. 

Now MY shelf makes me SMILE! 

Don't forget I'm having a GIVE AWAY.

You can click the Give Away link and Here and Here or you can leave a comment on this post. (One comment per post this week only; until Friday Uuly 27 th- mid night) 

That's four chances so far to win! Check back tomorrow and see if I post again...that would make 5!!! 

Have fun and Thanks! 

The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philippians 4:23

::New Feathers and Cool Breezes ::

I showed you pictures the other day of my chickens and their bare backs. 

Their feathers are starting to grow back now. I tried to get pictures and close ups of most of them; they are all at different stages. 

 Jayne

 Jaynes feathers are starting to *feather*.   I don't know the official jargon. 

'Ethel'

 Ethels  feathers are just poking through (this is actually a few days ago and they are in quite more prominently now)

That is just in a day or so... 

... doesn't it look painful? 

Gracie Chicken

 Her's are just in the beginning stages and they are lighter in color than Ethel's. I'm not sure what that means because they are the same type of chicken. All I can figure is their coloring, Ethel is more of a black barred rock with white stripes; and Gracie is more of a White barred rock with black stripes. That is how I tell them apart too. 

Here is a picture of a partial flock. Can you tell which ones are The Nuggets? 

 This is Lucy and a Nugget. 

 Lucy as been pushed out of the Friendly Flock... (irony, I know) they aren't so friendly to you if you are the same size as The Nuggets. 
Just doesn't seem fair. 
But, they are getting big enough to 'put up' now, I'm thinking. 

 I took this picture of George the other day. It was quite warm and he stood like this for quite some time. Frozen like a statue, with his chest out and his wings slightly open. He was cooling himself. 

I tried it. 
When the breeze comes across the back pasture at just the right speed and your standing in the shade. 
It works! 

Hope you're staying cool where you are! 

The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Philippians 4:23