Home Keeping:Mowing Our Property

I've been the main mower of our property for most of the years we've lived here, though Nate mowed for several years, too.

I've always enjoyed this time.  I put in my ear buds and choose some music or a podcast to listen to.  It takes about 90 minutes to mow the almost two acres of the 4 acres that we live on.  When it summer I do this twice a week!  When the kids were all younger, this was valuable time to think my own thoughts and listen to encouraging things for me!  It was my 'me' time.

This year Kyle will be learning to mow.  He knows how to drive the mower, but he'll learn how to go about mowing the property so that he doesn't miss any spots, and it all looks neat.

Since we live in the country, though in a neighborhood of houses that have at least an acre of land, our 'lawn' is not all grass.  It has dandelions, wild violets, plantain and other green growing things.  It's all okay.  It looks beautiful when it's mowed!

I start mowing here in front of the house.  That way if I get interrupted and can't finish all the mowing, The front of the house looks nice.  If I don't get interrupted I mow to just beyond the green boxes on the left down there and then back along the tree line that is the dividing property line.
The propane tank is ours and our veggie garden is down there.

 This is when I was mowing on Thursday late afternoon.  It was a beautiful but chilly day, so I had a light jacket on.  In the summer, this is when I get my tan!

 In the above photo, the house would be to the right.  On the left corner is my Cleveland Pear tree.  On the right the two burning bushes we planted when we moved here.  They are at the end of the dog run.  Above the dog run is a shed for garden tools and bikes.

 There's the propane tank again and to the left you see the back deck. The big trees on the right down at the end are a Red Oak and a Maple tree.  Our creek runs along behind those trees and in front of the red playhouse.  On the right behind the playhouse is our fenced pasture and if you were to look to the right from where I am on the mower you'd see the barn on the other side of the creek, too.

Here's a photo I just took so you can see the barn.  And here is a photo of where I mow along the road you see to the right of the barn.

This is an older photo and the one of the front yard and of the barn were taken today, and the others on Thursday afternoon.

Well, now you've seen the layout of our property.  We may build a pole barn type building in this area on the right in this photo, in a few years.  Tim needs storage space for his business, as you may have noticed the big water tanks in front of the barn.

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Happy Saturday!

Home Inspiration

I was reminded of the important things about a home this week, when I read this quote.

I am dreaming up plans for some room refreshers (after living in our home for 15 years).  Basic, simple updates.

But I don't ever want to lose sight of the main gift of a home - to share love with family, friendship with guests, and to make it a place of peace and rest.

Let's Chat

The sun is shining, there are no clouds in sight, and I'm in the mood for a chat.  How are you all doing?

I know that many of you are busy with work, wishing spring would make up her mind to stay, at least two are moving.  I'm praying God's peace, grace, and mercy to be abundant for you all.

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I mailed two packages the other day, each to the opposite side of the continent - one to Alaska, and one to Maine!  That was fun!  The one to Alaska was to our niece's family.  Knit hats for the Hobbits, who both have short haircuts now and don't look much like Hobbits anymore {sniff}, and a really neat little book called, "The Year of Miss Agnes," by Kirkpatrick Hill.  Miss Agnes is a teacher who comes to a little school of children, whose families are migratory.  She teaches them much like I teach my own children, by stirring up their curiosity and their love of learning.  My friend Karen, recommended it.

The package to Maine was a belated birthday gift.  My friend has had a tough month or so.  She is always an encouragement to me, and I hope this gift blesses her and that she will know that she is loved!

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I've been reading a lot of books again lately.  When I was busy with two weddings, I did most of my reading online - blogs, news, articles of interest.  But I dearly love to read, and so do Rachel and Sarah.  

One of our favorite authors is Lisa T. Bergren.  I posted about her River of Time series ( you can find those posts by using the search box on the side bar and putting in River of Time).  That series made me ponder my response to fear - you can read that one here.  

We've read several of her book series, The Gifted series is excellent too, and recently the girls read, her YA series, The Remnants.  They couldn't wait for me to begin this series!  We love to talk books and they couldn't talk to me about it because I hadn't read it!  So last week, I told them I was ready to read it, and Rachel went to the library and got the first book.  I finished in in a few days, and took myself to the library for the next one!  Luckily for us, the third and final book in the series just came out, and I bought it!  Sarah and I are taking turns reading it right now. :)

I love books that challenge me in my faith.  These Remnants are specially gift by God for a certain time.  They are human and still struggle with fear, with doubt, etc.  But every time they focus on the Maker, and on the truth they are brought back to peace and security, clear thinking, etc.  I find that is a good lesson for myself as well.

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We have 10 more days of school!  The excitement is mounting here!  We started in the beginning of August, took days off before Nate and Kay's wedding,  took several days at Thanksgiving, several weeks at Christmas and New Year's.  We've not had any real sickness, we don't have teacher in service days, and so we are nearly done with our required 180 days of school.


I guess that is enough chatting for today!  I want you to know how appreciative I am of you, for your daily visits and comments.  I hope you always find hospitality, encouragement and friendship here!

Playing With Puppies

You may remember that Rachel's dog, Sadie, died in January.  It was hard on us, and at the time Tim and I were in no hurry to get a new dog.

Recently Rachel has missed her dog and wishing she had one.  At the farm where we buy our hay, they had puppies born three weeks ago.  They do not bred dogs, they just had two of their family's dogs (one is owned by the parents, the other owned by their oldest son and his wife, and they work the farm together) get together.

The result is a batch of 11 adorable Vizsla/Golden Retriever puppies.

We got to go have a look at them last night.

 They are very sweet.  Rachel is in love, of course.  We have a wait of at least 5 weeks before they are old enough to leave mama.  We'll likely go back in a few weeks and see which pup she'd want.

It'll be nice to have a dog around again.

I Did A Bit Of Sewing On Saturday

I haven't had my sewing machine out for quite a while, but I needed to mend a dress for Rachel, and we've been needing a few new aprons.  Several of our aprons are in REALLY bad shape.  One was so bad Tim said I should throw it away!

I never did get to the aprons, though I did pick out the material that I am going to use to make two new ones, soon!  What I did do was make two sets of pillow cases!

I love how they turned out!  One set it going to a friend for a birthday gift.  The other set I may use!  I like that they are vintage style patterns, but I usually buy solid pillow cases, because I like to mix and match my linens.  These two patterns would actually work well with the linens I have for my bed, and I think it would be pretty to have some pattern pillowcases on the bed.

What do you think?  What kind of pillowcases do you usually use?



Joining Sandi for No Place Like Home
 Bernideen for BTTCG
And with Laura from White Spray Paint for Thoughts of Home on Thursday

So This Is Happening Right Now

It's supposed to snow all day.

The ground hog told us it would be an early spring and he was right.  Everything budded early.  The poor trees and plants are likely very confused.  In December we had such mild weather that we had flowering cherry trees and forsythia in bloom, so they are on their second blooms.  

 Well, at least life isn't boring!

Rend Collective

Do any of you know about a worship band named Rend Collective?

They are a great group from Northern Ireland.  We saw them with Chris Tomlin last year, and really liked them live.  They are high energy!

We liked their way of telling stories and playing music.  If you listen to Christian radio you may be familiar with their song 'My Lighthouse.'

My mom and I went with Rachel and Sarah and we were delighted to run into friends.  All around us were families, young and old, hipsters and moms like me.

They have hearts for the Lord and for going into all the world, even if its only your neighborhood, sharing the Love of Jesus.

I'm happy my kids like their music - it keeps them from complaining when I have it playing in the house! :)

Mini Rose

I've shown you photos of my mini rose plant before.

 I bought it in January and enjoyed its beauty.  Then February came and the flowers faded and we had less daylight and the poor thing got all spindly and I thought it was going to die.

So I started to move it into direct sunlight/light every day, ALL day long.  I moved it about 5 times a day.  And it began to photosynthesize and feed itself.  I watered it and it just kept getting healthy.

I repotted it last month and set it in my front window.  Now look at her!  She's got a bud forming!

 She's going to bloom again!

So far there is just one bud, but she continues to put out new growth!

I'm excited because I was able to save her. I love growing things and I am happy to have kept her from dying in February! I love having real plants in my home.

Joining Thoughts of Home on Thursday.

Daily Life

Life is going at a leisurely pace these days, for me anyway.  Tim and Rachel are busy with work, and we regularly have other family popping in and out of the house on a weekly basis.  That doesn't mean I never leave the house, but right now, the hectic pace I was on for so long is over.

I'm liking it.  

Each day has certain things that happen.  Every day we cook, we clean up, do some laundry, wash dishes, tidy the bathrooms.  

Tuesdays we usually have my mom visiting while my dad goes bowling, and then they stay for dinner.  Sarah also has a voice lesson on Tuesday mornings, and after I drop her off I go to the dairy and then swing back to pick her up.

Wednesday mornings are cello lessons for Rachel, then in the later afternoon she and Sarah leave for Ultimate Frisbee.

Peonies coming up.

 

Thursday or Friday I grocery shop.  

 We are almost done with school for the year - only 15 more days!
 

Sunday's are always church days.

I like having a rhythm to my week, don't you?  This 'schedule' leaves plenty of room for hospitality, being spontaneous, helping Tim with work if he needs me.
 

 In the evenings, Tim reads aloud, or their is a movie or show watched on Netflix or Amazon.  Lately, I've been doing some stretching exercises in the evening then getting ready for bed, and watching Fixer Upper on Netflix.  Some of the kids will climb in bed with me.  It's this hanging out time, laughing and enjoying being together that I love.  Tim will come in, too.  

Lately Kyle likes to tuck us in, which is hilarious.  Even if he is already in bed, when we get settled for the night, he comes in does a belly flop on our bed between us, and hugs us and kisses me, then he jumps on Tim and they wrestle around a bit, and have all that awesome bonding.  It gets a little bit crazy, but I wouldn't stop it for anything in the world.  
 
I have a good life. I'm thankful that God has given me eyes to see the beauty in it, even when it is crazy, or there is stress from outside sources.  And there frequently are those stresses.  
 

So, what do your days look like?  Let's chat in the comments.
 
 

  

What's In Your Cup?

For me it nearly always tea!

 Though I don't always drink it from one of my tea cups (shh, don't tell!), sometimes it in a pretty mug.  But it's always tea.

 Sometimes, it's iced, and made with oolong and cinnamon, a wee bit of cayenne, some sweetener and almond milk.  So good!

 Mostly though, it's a strong black tea over ice.  Unsweet.

 It's chilly this morning so I'm brewing up some Organic Darjeeling! 

 We drink a lot of tea here - loose leaf or bagged, black, flavored, herbal, tisanes.  

 I keep my friends' favorite teas on hand, too.  That way when they visit they can enjoy their favorite tea.

So, what's in your cup?  Coffee? Tea? Something else?  Tell me all about it!
 
Joining Sandi @ Rose Chintz Cottage for No Place Like Home

and Bernideen for BTTCG!

Fun With Chalk Paint

I like to have something creative to do.  That's partly why I rearrange my furniture so often, but that's another story.

You know that I have taken a chalk paint class and have painted some of my furniture with chalk paint.  I've recently been eyeing smaller items to paint.  I have a few more things in mind, but here is the first thing I chose.


Remember this cute trough?  I've had it for many years, and I use it a lot, either on my coffee table or our dining table.

I painted it.  I used French Linen for the base and then layered it with Old White.
 

 
I love it!

 Isn't the difference amazing?

I also bought this grey planter yesterday knowing that I was going to add some paint to it and try to make it look aged.
 

 I carried the paint part way inside the pot, too.
 

 I like the way it turned out.

 

This little pot from Terrain was my inspiration.  I use this in my kitchen, it lives on the counter right next to my stove.  I keep my jar of salt in it.  It's a lot prettier than just having the salt sit on the counter.

I've got a few more projects in mind, and you know I'll show them here.

What are you up to today?