Simplifying Life

Simplifying Life is what I strive for this year. When you simplify your

life you have time for the desires of your heart. Learning to get rid

of activities and stuff in your life can be hard to do in the beginning.

After, you evaluate whats in your life and is it worthy of your time.

Fruits of the Earth

Getting rid of stress is one way to put order in your life.

Doctors always tell their patients get rid of stress. Easier

to say then to actually put into action. It has almost been one

year since my husband and I choose to have only one car. The one

car is for my son to take to college. You can bacically say we have

choosen to cut back on expenses to loose stress in our lives.

We have been blessed with having a company car for my husband to

use. Fruits of the Earth, this picture touches my heart. I feel as the

Lord has given me a gift of growing fruit. I seem to just strive on

growing and tending to fruits of the field. Simplifying my life in the

house allows me to work in the garden more.

I believe it is my job as a home keeper to provide nourishing

meals for my family. What better way then to grow it yourself. God

has given us the hands to work with.

In the rose garden

Tuesday July 15, 2008

In the rose garden I go to visit with my Lord.

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done.

The things you planned for us no one can recount to you;

were I to speak and tell of them they would to many to declare.

Sacrifice and offerings you did not desire, but my ears you have

pierced burnt offerings and sin offferings you did not require.

Then I said, "Here I am , I have come

it is written about me in the scroll. Psalm 40:5-7

Studying through the bible study David written by Beth Moore,

has been a great eye opener to my Lords heart.

The picture depicts a women going to meet with her Lord. She is

dressed in a beautiful dress to go before her God. That is how

I want to go to the garden. The Lord gets to be with us at our best.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Monday July 14, 2008

Outside my window... the rain is splattering on the deck. I am

admiring the bubbles the rain is making on the deck. I find it

amazing today how the rain just comes flowing down from the

sky.

I am thinking... what a great love Jesus has shown us. In

yesterday's sermon, the youth pastor spoke. God was just

speaking through this man's mouth. I just kept hearing him

say "Do you really love me?" It occurred to me Jesus said

those same words to Peter. Do you love me?

I am thankful... for my life with my family, as a young women

that is all I wanted. The Lord so graciously gave it to me.

From the kitchen...my son and I shared breakfast together

this morning. We maid omletes and fried bacon over conversation.

I am creating...my daughter and I are making a tiered skirt for her. These

seem to be in style this summer.

I am going... to start planting my fall garden and envisioning

the winter garden.

I am wearing... my brown flowing skirt with a beige sweater.

I am reading... From 1 Peter this morning and doing a little studying as

I will be teaching Bible study this evening on David. I am also reading

Abigail Adams a book I got from the library.

I am hoping... for a peaceful day.

I am hearing... a song playing called Grace Flows Down.

Around the house... it is quiet this morning.

One of my favorite things... is looking at old women praire pictures.

A few plans for the rest of the week...getting my husband ready for his

business trip to Atlanta on Thursday. Making time for sewing, and working

on the strawberry bed this week.

Here is a picture thought...

My first tomato of the season. It was a great joy to pick your very first
tomato.

The Simple Woman http://www.thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

The Simple Woman' s Daybook

Monday July 7, 2008

Outside my window... I am watching the little wren's come up on the

deck and get a drop of water for a drink. Have ever watched a bird

get a drink, they look so dainty. They dip thier beak into the water and

push back their necks.

I am thinking... What shall my husband and I do today as he is on vacation.

I am thankful... We are Americans in this great country. My family had just

watched the John Adams film the HBO mini series. What great timing as

it so wonderful we can learn from our Founding Fathers.

From the kitchen... I am freezing my rasberries as I pick them.

I am creating...a new flower arrangement to bring into the house. I love

having flowers at the front door. I sometimes like to walk in the front

to see what has come in from the garden. Today the Lavender plant and

roses will dazzle us with their splendor.

I am reading... Psalms from the Bible with my daughter. If is a little book written by

Amy Carmichal I like to read a few lines a day. Revoulutionary Mothers by Carol Berkin

what an inspiration of what we can do. I have picked up my Small Farmer's Journal

from the book shelf. It continues to inspire me.

I am wearing... my favorite long blue jean skirt, with a black shirt.

I am hoping...for some time for sewing today. Now, that I have caught up

with weeding in the garden.

One of my favorite things...is being able to grow vegetables and be able to

store things up for the winter months.

A few plans for the rest of the week...is just spending time with my dear husband.

Here is a picture thought...This is my Dahlia, that I happy to present.

I planted these from seed and they are just now starting to bloom.

This one sits right in front of the large strawberry bed. When you

look outside the kitchen window you can see this little flower. God has

given us great beauty to look at. Flowers add such delight to our lives.

Here is the link for this project

The Simple Woman http://www.thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

Seeking His Face

Sunday July 6, 2008

I am seeking my Lord.

Oh where I go He will show up.

In the kitchen, he sits with me, and talks with me.

As I do the dishes he comforts me.

When, I am sweeping the floor he sings to me.

Oh where I go He will show up.

Out to the garden to tend to His world.

The flowers are showing their colors,

He surrounds us with His love.

Oh where I go He will show up.

In the sewing room with my daughter,

I help her learn an art of stiching,

she has a willing heart that the Lord

gave her, bless her soul.

Oh where I go He will show up.

As I prepare dinner he comes to sit.

While, I set the table he blesses my time.

The family comes in and fills the house.

How precious this time to have while

the boys are still amungst us.

My daughter fills my days as I train her

up to be a lady.

The Lord is always with us wherever we go.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman's Day Book

Monday June 30, 2008

For Today

Outside my window... The birds are singing as if they are

as happy as I am that we had rain last night. The leaves on

the Dogwood tree are still wet this morning. There is a small

cool breeze coming in through the window. God is good, he

takes care of the plants growing outside.

I am thinking...how happy I will be in a few days when my

husband returns to us after being away for 8 days.

I am thankful...for the gift from God of being homekeeper in

this modern world.

From the kitchen... I am baking cornbread and coffee cake

muffins. Cornbread for dinner and coffee cake for Bible study

this evening. Potato salad and barbeque chicken for dinner with

my cornbread.

I am creating... a bedspread for the winter months.

I am going...to teach my daughter how to sew her own jean

skirt today. As she is now 12 and it is time for her to begin

sewing her own things. We will have to begin making items for

her Hope Chest soon.

I am wearing... a long beige skirt with a black short sleeve

sweater, and my hair is extra curly today.

I am reading... The Daily Bible with my daughter along with

Psalms, I read 1 Corinthians chapters 3-5. Rose From

Brier by Amy Carmichael, is a little read for the rest I

need in the afternoon. The Four Season Harvest by

Elliot Coleman which helps me stay on schedule for

planting in the garden.

I am hoping...to listen for Gods guidance through my day.

One of my favorite things...is remembering my visit with my family in Kentucky. As I cherish those visits so close to my heart. Being away from them most of the year. It is so nice that my brother and I were able to go fishing together with our girls. My Aunt and Mom were able to have girl talks this visit.

A few plans for the rest of the week...I would like to accomplish getting some progress done on my bedspread. Getting my daughter to finish her paper she has been working on, continueing organzing papers.

Here is a picture thought...

These are my prized strawberries this year. I grew ten rows

about 15 feet long the past two years. I made sure and cut off all

the runners to get good quality fruit. It shows when you really

take the time for something. My harvest this year gave me about

6 quarts of strawberries . I am very pleased with the size

of the strawberries, there were some that were quite large. Now I will have

to plant a cover crop as I sure don't want to pull weeds in this plot

the rest of the summer.

To go to the originator of this cooperative daybook: http://www.thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

Growing Potatoes

Saturday June 28, 2008

Growing Potatoes

This year we planted 15 lbs of potatoes. Our plan is to grow
enough potatoes to get us through till next season. I figured
every one loves potatoes, so why not grow them. All summer
my family loves eating potato salad. It is one of those staple
foods I grew up with and my children also have grown up with.

I started out by placing an order with Seed Savers Exchange.
The potatoes arrived at my door right on time to plant. We set
the potato seeds out in the sunlight for the eyes to form. After the
eyes formed I cut them up as you only need two or three eyes per
potato seed. Then, we began marking our rows with a stake and
string. I then took a bulb planter and marked my holes and plop
the potato went in. Cover with a soil.

My husband and have read Elliot Colemans books for many years.
First, The New Organic Grower and then Four Season Harvest. In
his books he talks about adding soil amendments or feeding the soil.
This year we took his advice and added peatmoss, bloodmeal and
bonemeal to the potato bed. The last step to our potato planting is
putting down mulch to keep in the moisture. This is where the reading
of these books came in handy. For the past two years we would take
our leaves from our yard and composted them. This year we had all
the mulch we wanted. Piling the mulch on the potato rows as they grow.
Now stand back and let God do the rest.

Digging in the Garden

Tuesday June 24, 2008

Digging in the garden is a true work of art. Looking at

this picture is how I see a women ,a home keeper raising food

for her family. It shows how she spends her summer hours.

What can you grow in your garden this year? Corn is always

a common staple as after its done growing you can freeze it or

eat it fresh.

I look to the Lord for the strength I need to carry out my

daily tasks.

A Season of Rest

Friday June 20, 2008

Sitting on the porch relaxing.

Hodgenville, Kentucky

Home away from home.

A season of rest.

My Spring Garden

Wednesday May 14, 2008

What is growing in your garden?

Grow some beautiful flowers this spring .

After the Tulips have finished blooming the

Iris will be blooming. The Iris has been

around for a long time. The great thing about

plants is you can share with someone.

Maybe, you can share your joy of gardening

with someone today.

There may be someone who needs your

encouragement.

Sewing Simply

Sewing simple clothes is part of my life. A keeper at home with childen growing up. Although, it was not something that happened over night. Sewing is an ongoing learning process. It seems you try one pattern and learn how to accomplish making it. Then, you try something new and there you are learning a new technique. This is just one more way you can use your creativity and be frugal at the same time.

Straight skirts is a great way to start sewing items for yourself. I started with a simple straight skirts with a draw string. We used jean material from the store as it matches with everything. After, this I began doing the same for my daughter who is 12. She encourages me and loves whereing femine clothes as much as I do. She also wears a simple straight skirt in different colors of jean material. One of the skirts has a nice outside pocket on it with embroidery. I did the embroidery on my machine it adds a nice touch. After I made two of the same style skirts it gave me confidence to try something new.

God gave me a daughter in my later years to train up in his ways.

Planting potatoes

Planting Potatoes

Planting potatoes this year is has brought wonderful excitement.
For the past couple of weeks I have been working hard getting a new
bed ready for planting potatoes. This will be my first year of having a real
potatao crop. In the past I have grown potatoes in small quanties.
My new bed will be 20 ft by 40 ft. I am very excited about this as I love
to grow things myself.

In scripture my heavenly Father talks about using your hands.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life:

You should mind your own business and work with your hands

This will be the year we will store our own potatoes.

Habakuk 3:19 The Soverign Lord is my strength; he makes
my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

There are many types of potatoes to grow. When you buy from the grocery
store you will only see a few types. There are so many more varieties to choose from.
We choose German Butterball, Yukon Gold, Fingerlings potatoes to grow.

The nice thing about planting your own is you know what is on them.

Happy planting!

Spring Has Arrived

How do we spend our time?

A pioneer woman in the spring would be getting a spring planting in. This would give her family nourishing food after the long winter. The gloomy months of winter would be a time of rest. Planning her garden would take a good deal of time. Getting the garden ready as soon as the soil is workable. Sometimes this can be done as early as mid to late Febraury. Seeds can go into the ground as early as the beginning of March in New Jersey.

Everything has a season!

We can learn from this woman, her hands were not idle. Up early, getting breakfast

ready for her family. Planning the rest of her day.

Planning meals took a good amount of time.

Just imagine how hard it was for the Pioneer woman.

Can I do what she did in her time?

That depends on my question.

How do we spend our time?

She had no choice of food. Her carefull attention of what was in her

pantry was so very important. She planned her meals by what

she had, sometimes it was not much.

What's in your pantry?

Can you fix all the food that's in your pantry for all the food your

family will need?

Can you grow the food you will eat?

Today I will ask God to give me the strength to provide food for

my family.

Show me how I have the time to grow a garden full of vegetables.

I pray for the wisdom to carry out this task of raising nourishing food.

The European Starling

Hello everyone Rachel again. We have some Starlings in two of our bird houses. one is red, the other is just plain ply wood. as you can see, starlings are really nice looking, but if you've ever had them in a tree in your backyard, you can know what a din they can make.Also, starlings will stand in groups on the little grass things on the side of the road walking with a jerky movement.

They do that because they are looking for bugs in the ground. I hope you found this both interesting and helpful.Rachel

Lettuce

Lettuce

Growing lettuce is one of the first items I begin to grow in the early spring. There are so many varieties on the market today. If you like the mixes you buy in the grocery store consider a Mesculan mix. It is one of the easiest to grow and it is not hard to germinate.

After the seedling begin to look like a real plant it is time to move them. You can use

plastic containers, peat pot containers or any small container.

I try not to pick anything to big, since you will fill it up with your soil. After, you

transfer you seedlings make sure and give them a week does of fish emulsion.

It is also vital that you water from the bottom. Just fill a tray of any sort with

your fish emulsion liquid and

then put plant containers an to soak up the liquid.

.

In a few weeks you seedlings will begin to look like lettuce.

Just imagine the tasty salads you will be making.

Your salads will be full of flavor.

The Wren

The winter wren is a cute little bird, they always love to go and see what's happening . For
instance,
We have wrens that love to fly in and out of a pile of pine tree branches in our backyard. They
also like to fly up on our deck. They are also very brave. Flying here, flying there, I love wrens,
and I think they are very nice little birds. Rachel Bunk

Nature Study

Nature Study of a Bird

Home educating with nature. My daughter and I like to watch the birds from our window. We have these little birds that like to come up to the windows. They are some of the smallest birds we see in the winter season. The wren is what they are called.

In the afternoon, can be a time to go walking in the woods. What is nice about doing this is we can come back into the warm house and have some hot tea. Luckily, in the summer months I collected some flowers from my camomile plants. I cut the flowers off and dryed them. The flavor is intense when you collect them from your garden.

I found this poem which I thought went along with our nature study today.

A Little Bird Song

Once I heard

A little bird

Singing very clearly;

And the bird

That I heard

Sang:"God loves me dearly

Please stay now

And tell me how,

Little Bird, you know it

"Everyday,

Come what may,

Many kind things show it.

"Sun and rain,

Ripening grain,

Food and water given,

Leafy trees...

All one sees

Under the blue heaven."

Then the bird

That I heard

Sang it very clearly:

"God loves you"(off it flew)

"Loves you very dearly."

Taken from The Collected Poems of Amy Carmichael Mountain Breezes

Planting

Planting

Planting is just the process of your getting your seeds to germinate. Now, that you have gotten your lettuce seeds lets get them in moisten soil. This is how they will germinate and become plants.

To moisten the soil I will start by using concentrated fish emulsion. If you take a 1/2 gallon of tap water or rain water and add it 1/2 tablespoon of fish emulsion. Take your soil that you have prepared and moisten it with your water.

After the soil is in your planting trays add your seeds. Only lightly cover your seeds with soil. Next, place your lid on the top of your seed tray. If you place your seeds on top of your refrigerator it will give your seeds a jump start. Now, we will check back on the tray in a couple of days.

Growing Lettuce

Growing Lettuce

Growing lettuce will be the first crop I will grow. It is easy to start and it has a short growing time. Since my husband and enjoy eating salads it will be easy to start with. I have a catalog from the Seed Savers Exchange that I choose to order from. While I am waiting for my order to come in the mail I will get soil ready and the container set up.


First, I bring the pots inside as we are having freezing temperatures in New Jersey. It will take overnight temperatures in the house to thaw the soil.

I use last years soil from my pots. There is no reason to throw the soil out. You get rid of any pathogens and bacteria from the soil by placing it in your oven for 2 hours at 200 degress. To do this I take a flat cookie sheet and place aluminum foil on the baking sheet. Then, I place the soil on the aluminum foil. Place it in the oven.


Now, you are ready to start planting. While, waiting for the seeds to come in the mail I choose to educate myself.

Here are a few books I found to be inspirational at my local library.

Storey's Gardening Skills Illustrated Seed Sowing and Saving by Carlole B. Turner

Growing Herbs and Vegetables from Seed to Harvest by Jerry and Mark Silber

The Four Season Harvest by Eliot Coleman.