From Seeds to Harvest Challenge - Join the Fun!

Come on and join the fun! If you already have a garden going-great. Just take some pictures and join the challenge. If you have never tried to plant a garden, have a go! Just click the image and it will take you to the site.

I grew up with my Dad planting a garden. We had the standards--potatoes, onions, carrots, corn, radishes (my dad loved radishes) and then he would plant some fun things like spaghetti squash, Indian corn, and peanuts. I think it is very ironic that I did not get into gardening.

Well, 20 years later and I have started.
Just goes to show it is never too late to start.

A Terrible Injustice

Hard to believe--two posts in one day. I must be ill! LOL

I have been really thinking about my role as wife and mother. I have read many posts from my friends' blog, Keepers At Home and also from Generation Cedar. They have really got me thinking. I used to tell my girls that they need to go to college before they are allowed to date (it was said somewhat in jest, but the meaning was perfectly clear). I have done them a terrible injustice, which I am now trying to rectify. I cheapened the great profession of being a wife and mother. I think I can thank the "women's movement" for that.

I have been a SAHM since my first was born. I will say that the first time someone said to me "Oh, you don't work" I was terribly upset--my self-esteem plummeted. I had bought into the idea that unless I was financially contributing to the household, I was not worth much. WHAT A BUNCH OF FOOLISHNESS! I have been called to be the keeper of my home.

I know this is old-fashioned, but they got it right. Need to get back to the "old-fashioned" ways.

Do I think girls should not go to college? Absolutely not! I have no idea what God has in store for my girls. But I want to prepare them for all avenues. I want them to the seek God and do what is pleasing to Him NOT society.

I also fell into the "2 kids are enough" mentality. I was 35 when I had my first child and 38 after my second. I decided that would be my last--I didn't want to "burden" my children with an older parent. I had a tubal ligation. I would say that two was enough and if God really wanted me to have a third, He could make it happen. How arrogant of me. I do mourn the thought of what God might have planned for me if I trusted Him. Maybe two children was all He planned--I will never know. I have asked God to forgive me (which I know He has) and am making sure that my girls are better equipped not to fall in the same thought processes of the world.

My Garden--and other ponderings.

I have started a garden--it was a little late in the season but I think I will have a pretty good harvest. I have read about the square foot gardening method.

I waited too late to make the boxes (I want to work on them this winter) so I used an old turtle sandbox (which I think I will use again next year. It is just too cute.) and various planters I had.

Carol likes tomatoes so a beefsteak tomato was planted in the turtle along with green, yellow and red sweet peppers for me. The marigolds are to keep the bugs at bay.


The cucumber and squash are for Donna.



I have Roma tomatoes (5 of the 6 have grown--the 6th was always puny and I did not think it would make it, but I thought I would try anyway) and a hanging patio tomato. I have been making my own ketchup and I want to be able to use my own tomato paste in the future. I hope it works. I also want to make my own tomato sauce and salsas. If I have a good harvest, I will be calling on some of my friends to help me learn how to can.


I planted beans. Out of 8 pots only 1 grew. My friend, Carrie, told me I should plant three seeds per hole to guarantee that at least one will grow. I will harvest my one bean plant and then try again next year.


I am so excited with my garden.

I was trying to think of other ways that I could "financially" contribute to the household (without starting an internet business, etc.)

The #1 answer was "Have dinner ready when husband gets home -- that really lowers that going out to eat and spending lots of money mode".
#2 Garden (see above)
#3 Start making various cleaning products for the house. I am making laundry and hand dishwashing soap for starters. I will let you know how they work in later posts

If anyone has any other ideas, please comment. I am open to suggestions.

It appears that I am going to do a monthly blog instead of a weekly. Actually we have been pretty consistent in our schooling. I have many lapbooks I want to post--Multiplication and some other American Girl and a few others. Hopefully, I will get more consistent with my posts. We will see.

As you can see by my last post, it has been a while since I last wrote. I have been having a hard time being consistent with school. As soon as we get in a rhythm, something comes up--family in town, going out of town, or just plain feeling crummy. I get very discouraged sometimes--are my kids really learning anything when I am this sporadic??

Well, we went to a trivia game and my 8 yo daughter could answer all the Bible questions and quite a few of the history and science question. I guess she is doing okay.

But what about my Kindergartner? Is she getting the basics? Is her reading approving and what about math? I don't think I have to worry there either. I told her she could not play a game because she was not old enough--her sister is 9 and can play the game, Donna told me just to turn her 6 upside down and she could play. I think she is getting it. Almost anything that is put in front of her, she can read--she might not comprehend it all, but she can read it.

Do I want to be more consistent? Of course!

I enjoy doing some lapbooks with the girls and have finally started getting a routine--

1st and 3rd weeks of month: Monday - American Girl Book Club. Tuesday - swim class and play date. Wednesday - Hands On History and AWANAS Thursday - swim lessons and history. Friday - fun day science .

2nd, 4th and if have, 5th weeks of month : Monday-school (everything but history and science). Tuesday-swim lessons and play date. Wednesday - school (everything but history and science) and AWANAS. Thursday - school (everything but history and science). Friday - make up day.

Am I going to be consistent? Well, some of the time.

Mary, Did You Know?

May you celebrate the true meaning of Christmas throughout the year.



"For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

My second favorite Christmas story (the first being about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ) is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This animation is by Richard Williams and was aired in the 70's.