A New Kitchen Floor

These pictures show the progression of our new kitchen floor. Tom and Caroline finished it in one day. This Congoleum laminate was glued to our old linoleum. The tiles and grout had to be laid within 12 hours of putting down the glue. (DEADLINE!!!)

We love our new floor.

Advantages:
~warm on the feet
~acrylic grout makes for easy cleanup
~no need to take up existing floor
Disadvantages:
~not inexpensive
~hard on the frugal heart
~now we need to change the paint color (too much gold)
~when we change the paint, we need new baseboards
........ and the list continues (maybe I will need new dishes to match the baseboards :) )

Another Frugal Tip- Free Grill

~FREE Grill!~
It's time to get ready for that all important cooking technique of the summer---outdoor grilling! I have found several stores where you can get one of these FREE Bar-B-Q Grills! You can get a free BBQ grill from any of the following stores:

Hannaford

Sears

Wal-Mart

I especially like the higher rack - which can be used for keeping things warm! Just make sure to get a metal one...the plastic ones don't do so well.

(I couldn't resist posting this one)

Vacation Confessions

I admit it. While on vacation, we do a very "touristy" thing. We collect magnets. This may not appear very artsy, but we enjoy picking out the most unique magnet we can find that gives us a warm memory of our time away. From ME lighthouses to museums and zoos, we pick them up everywhere. However, I refuse to put them on the refrigerator. My Flylady roots won't allow this. Instead, I put them on a magnetic board that I got from our Pier 1 store that was moving to a different location and was getting rid of the store's furnishing. It hangs in our kitchen as a visual reminder of sweet family times.

Rest for Weary Homeschool Moms

Thank you Mary Anne for sending me this helpful article.

http://www.faithandfamilybooks.com/RestForWearyHomeschoolMoms.htm

Another Apron Completed

Lydia is wearing her 4-H apron today.
(Oops-not completed yet. Still needs pockets but I wanted to keep the picture)

Homeschooling in Spring

Who would believe that one week ago we had seven inches of snow. Today it is sunny and 80 degrees. This is Carissa and Abby enjoying their lessons in the warm sunshine. (Notice the bare feet and silver tea pot)

Will God Explain Why

This is another devotional from Elizabeth Elliot that I have enjoyed meditating on today:


Will God Explain Why?
We sometimes imagine that God must eventually "sit us down" and "explain" his mysterious ways to our satisfaction. Let us suppose we have never seen a skyscraper. We discover a whole city block surrounded by a board fence. Finding a knothole, we peer inside. Huge earth movers are at work; hundreds of men in hard hats are busy at mysterious tasks; cranes are being moved into place; truckloads of pipes and cement are being unloaded. What on earth is happening? There is nobody around to answer our questions. If we wait long enough, nobody will need to. When we see the finished building, all the incomprehensible activity becomes comprehensible. "Oh! So this is what that was for."
"I shall be satisfied when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Ps 17: 15 AV).

Wild Poppies- Monet

Carissa's Favorite

We're posting it just because we love it.

Instructions in Hospitality

I love reading articles from old magazines. I also enjoy old books about housekeeping and etiquette. I bought a book for my daughters, reprinted from 1850, called How to Be a Lady- Helpful Hints on the Formation of Womanly Character by Harvey Newcomb. It is a sweet reminder of those genteel days gone by.
The following little paragraph, from 1952, gives instructions on being hospitable. It reminds me of those sweet times when women are not so consumed with all of their many projects that they take the time to be hospitable and serve a cup of tea.

"A Pleasant Custom Widely Followed"
"Entertaining at tea is a pleasant custom widely followed in many parts of this country. Some women make a habit of inviting a few friends in for tea in the afternoon.The small tea is served in the living room. There should be a table low enough for convenient pouring and covered with a dainty cloth. The tea service, silver, if you have it, or china, is on a tray of tole, silver or wood or Mexican tin. The tray, which has no cloth, will also hold a hot water jug, sugar bowl and cream pitcher, strainer, and a place of lemon slices, and, if it is large enough, tea plates, teacups, saucers and spoon. If not, these may be put on the tea table. The tea may be made in the kitchen and brought to the table in the teapot."--The Homemaker's Encyclopedia: The Hostess's Complete Handbook (1952)

What Shall I Do

This is a devotional I read by Elizabeth Elliot- a little jewel of instruction for living today.

What Shall I Do?
It is not always possible to know whether the source of an idea or deed is God or Satan, since God sometimes covers Himself in cloud and Satan is often an angel of light. It is, however, always possible to trust the Shepherd who has promised to lead us in paths of righteousness. We must do the thing that appears to be right to do at the right time and do it by faith. That is, we do it with an honest desire to obey God and a willingness to have what He wills us to have, or not to have what He does not will us to have. If it were not for uncertainties, we would have no need to walk by faith.
Show me the way that I must take; to Thee I offer all my heart. Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God. Keep me safe, O Lord, for the honor of thy name.
--(Ps 143:8,10,11 NEB)

Nutritious Can Be Delicious

Abigail brought these cookies to her co-op class that is called Nutritious Can Be Delicious. Here is the recipe. My friend Rachel, who gave us this recipe, says you can add anything to this cookie. She's right.

Wheat Germ Oatmeal Cookies
Mix together: 1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup skim milk powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Add: 1/2 cup oil (canola or vegetable)
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
Stir in: 2 1/2 cup oats (rolled)
1/4 cup wheat germ
Optional: sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, oat bran, chocolate chips, raisins(use more oats if you omit these)
Grease cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1o-12 minutes.

Wednesday at the Salvation Army

One of the frequently asked questions my husband and I get is, "How do you make it on one income?" My first response is, "I don't know!" But then I give the real answer which is, "Our Lord always provides." We have learned many frugal living basics over the years. I love

visiting blogs of like-minded, frugal wives. I always pick up great tips, ideas and glean from their own contented hearts.

My frugal tip is shopping at the Salvation Army on half-price day. People have asked how I make the time to go every Wednesday. I say, how can I afford not to make the time, having the job of dressing 4 girls, my husband(sometimes), and myself.

Here is what we bought today:

Caroline- 2 Sunday dresses (the best deal) 1 shirt

Lydia- 1 blouse

Cindy- 1 blouse, 1 hooded workout jacket

Abby- 1 pajama set

Grand Total- $11.89

The Lord does provide!

A Favorite Poem

The Blue Bowl
by Blanche Bane Kudar

All Day I did the little things
The little things that do not show;
I brought the kindling for the fire
I set the candles in a row,
I filled a bowl with marigolds,
The shallow bowl you love the best-
And made the house a pleasant place
Where weariness might take its rest.

The hours sped on, my eager feet
Could not keep pace with my desire.
So much to do, so little time!
I could not let by body tire;
Yet, when the coming of the night
Blotted the garden from my sight,
And on the narrow, graveled walks
Between the guarding flower stalks
I heard your step: I was not through
With services I meant for you.

You came into the quiet room
That glowed enchanted with the bloom
Of yellow flame. I saw your face,
Illuminated by the firelit space,
Slowly grow still and comforted-
"It's good to be at home," you said.

Must Read Article for Homeschooling Moms

This article that will make you proud you're a homeschooling mamma!

http://www.scriptoriumdaily.com/2007/03/29/home-school-mothers-the-beatrice-brigade/

Newly Completed Sewing Projects

Carissa wearing her apron she made in 4-H

Cindy wearing her sewing project

Ode to a Sewing Machine

I am very intimidated by sewing. We have owned this machine for over a year and I have touched it once. Caroline on the other hand has put many miles on the machine. It is a joy to hear it humming away up in the girls "attic suite." I decided last Saturday that it was my day to take the machine out for a drive.

I was at a rummage sale on Thursday and picked up an apron pattern for $0.25. Then a friend gave me a skirt that had lots of fabric to it. It just seemed to say, "recycle me." I spent a very enjoyable Saturday afternoon designing my apron and adding recycled blue jean material to it. I will put a picture of the apron on another post. I am still learning how to post pictures and cannot figure out how to position more than one picture on a page.:)

Is This Really April?

It's Monday April 16th and the birds are still cheerful and loud this morning. Abby has been keeping track of how many weeks of winter we have had since Groundhog Day. We are past the 10 week mark!

Note: Record breaking day- 7 inches of snow (3 inches previous record)

Why Blog?

I have enjoyed blogging so much this past winter. I have found kindred spirits that share their wisdom, thoughts, and ideas with me. Although I do not know them personally, they have inspired me and helped me make it through the long winter months. I am hoping to share our family's life with our friends and family who live both far and near. We always have great hopes of sending out family newsletters that never seem to get written. This will be my attempt at keeping loved ones posted on our little day to day events. So, here goes.................

Our Little Women