A Morning prayer

I love the kind of morning, where I can sit with a cup of coffee and admire God's creation. To see the sunrise with it's purples, reds, yellows and oranges shine down on the light snow that fell last night. The world seems so at peace at this time of day, oh how I wish it would stay like that all day. It's a time to prepare my spirit for the upcoming days challenges.

We received a card in the mail with a prayer you can pray in the morning and flip it over and has one for you to pray in the evening. I wanted to share this prayer with you. This is from Intouchministries.

   Father, I thank You for awakening me to this new morning!Please help me begin this day with rejoicing and with praise to You on my lips for keeping me through another night. I also praise You for the promise of your Word Lamentations 3:22-23 that Your loving-kindnesses never cease. I rejoice that Your compassion never fail but are new every morning. I commit this day to You. Help me to keep You first in my thoughts, and help me magnify and glorify Your great name in all I do and say. I pray this in the powerful name in Jesus. Amen.

I hope this prayer brings you peace for the day to come like it does me. Hope you all have a wonderful day!

~ Katie

It's seed time!

I love this time of year! The seed catalogs come pouring in and my mind goes in so many wonderful places! What should I plant!  We still have a big garden we are doing while friends of ours are still away we get to use. So I want to get a decent haul this year since we won't have that garden next year. We don't have much room at our house for gardening, so we will be doing a lot of container gardening. I am also looking forward this year to add to our berry patch some blueberry bushes. Does anyone have a breed of blueberries they love and would recommend? I will be also buying some vegetables in plant form at our local hardware store closer to spring/summer. Since in our house we don't have alot of room to start seeds.
     Have you gotten any seed catalogs yet?! What are you planning on growing this year? I would love to know! Have a wonderful Day!

23 day frugal Challenge

I am preparing for the 23 day frugal challenge. :) I am excited for this to challenge myself and my family to be more frugal. I have begun to stock up on meats, pancake mix, rice, noodles, cheese, etc.with the gift cards we got for Christmas, so I don't need to run to the store as much. We are really working on pinching pennies, so we can save up for things we would like to do to the house and to save for the farm. :)

Are any of you doing this challenge? What are you doing to prepare for the challenge? For those who don't know about the challenge and want to know more go here http://frugallysustainable.blogspot.com/2011/11/23-day-frugal-living-challenge-join-us.html. Come join the challenge! :)

Cheese Giveaway!!

The Woodwife's Journal is giving away a cheese kit! head on over and see her blog and while you are there enter her cool giveaway! :)

Propane or no propane?

That is the question going around in our minds here. As you know we are finishing our unfinished basement and are thinking of a heating source other then oil (which is ridiculously high!). So we first  thought of a wood stove, but we would then need to put a chimney up through our house so that was cancelled out. So our next thought was propane. We could use the propane for a fireplace downstairs and then also get a propane stove (yes I must say I squealed a little at the thought of not only a new stove but one that wasn't electric! )  So we  still have a lot to do downstairs before even putting one in, but you know me I am a planner. So I was wondering if any of you have propane? What are your pros and cons? Is it cheaper then oil? Any suggestions on what kind of tank? Anything would be greatly appreciated! :)

On another note.... Christmas is so close! I am finishing up my Christmas shopping this week. I know, I know. I am not usually one of those last minute people but this year it really snuck up on me. I don't know if it because I have a 4 yr. old and a toddler, or I really need to clear my schedule more. But slowly but surely the shopping will get done and the homemade gifts will get finished and ready for Sunday.  Anyone else still need to do Christmas shopping or finishing the homemade gifts?

I found a lot of great things on Abbi's blog http://proverbs31living.blogspot.com/search/label/frugalityhttp://proverbs31living.blogspot.com/search/label/frugality
She is so creative and makes me not want to waste anything. There is a use for everything. So if you are looking for any last minute homemade ideas there are plenty here! Check them out! :)
If I don't blog before then, I want to Wish Each of you A Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!!
And most importantly REMEBER THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS!

~Katie

Great craft/ christmas present idea!

Hi Everyone,
I will post pictures of our progress on the basement soon I promise. This afternoon when I had a 4 yr. old on my leg saying "What can I do?", with that I am dying of boredom look on his face. haha You know the one I am talking about!  :)  I didn't want him to watch tv, we try to keep weekends tv free. :)
I was trying to think of things to do with the boys ( mainly Kyle) and found this!
Thought this was a great idea for a craft for you to do with the kids or even Christmas gifts for kids!. I found it at this link:
http://tammysrecipes.com/homemade_play_dough_winter_themed_scents_colors

I have followed Tammy's blog for over a year now and I love it! Such a wonderful Godly woman, a wonderful mom, wife and most of all she has some awesome recipes and great tips! Check her blog out!
 So do you have any fun ideas or crafts to do with your kids? I would love any ideas so I can have a long list of things to do with them during the winter. :) Because we all know that if we don't have a list ready of things to keep them busy it will be a LONG winter! :)  Hope everyone is doing great! Till next time!
Keep being frugal! :)

~Katie

It's that time of year agian!

Christmas is upon us again! I love this time of year and not because of the presents or the Christmas dinner! haha I love Christmas because it is such a wonderful time to spend with my family again and to celebrate the birth of Christ together. That to me is the best gift in the world!
   It also is a bitter sweet month for me and my family. We lost someone in December of '03 who was a huge part of this family and made a huge impact on me , even though I was on a wrong path at the time, this person was my grandfather. He was an amazing, solid Christian man. Every December I think about him and how much I miss him. I wish he was here to ask , what should I do?, What do you think about this?. He is the person I think my mom and I got our love for farm life from him. I know he is proud of me and the dream of having a farm is bringing a smile to his face. :)

On another note about Christmas. Presents: this is a part of Christmas I find myself getting caught up in. I find myself going oh I would love this or oooohhh I want this so bad. And really I don't need it. We have been working on asking for things that would could really use and not just feel like we need. We are also working on giving more homemade gifts this year. I think they mean so much more then something bought.

What are you guys doing for Christmas presents this year?  Are you doing homemade?? What does Christmas time mean to you? I would love to hear and any great ideas for homemade gifts! :) Have a wonderful Friday and weekend!

~Katie

Finishing our Basement!!!

Yay!!! I have been waiting for this project to get done and the time is here. It is going to take us a while to get this done but are hoping to be completely done by The end of June in time for the Boys birthday party!

We are thinking of doing a barn theme! Love love love! I asked on my facebook for any fun decorating ideas that anyone may have , so I am asking you on here as well. :) We are going to making our own sliding barn doors, to use as our doors into Tom's workshop and another for the laundry room. http://remodelista.com/posts/architectural-elements-sliding-barn-doors   Our doors will be a rougher look though.

We are also are also going to use an old wagon as a coffee table. Like this one  http://www.nebraskahistory.org/images/sites/mnh/toystory/wagon.jpg.

We are also going to be using wooden crates as end tables.

For the laundry room we are putting in a utility sink and I had the idea of using one of those large metal gardening buckets, kind of like this but wider http://www.flickr.com/photos/7545231@N03/5352513017/
we will coat it with a water proof seal and my husband will drill a hole for the drain. What what do you think?

So we are on our way, we have one wall framed out so far but there is only so much you can do with two kids around :)  Thanks for reading! :)


~ Katie

Chickens, Turkeys and quiet days

I got my Meyer Hatchery 2012 Catalog. (www.MeyerHatchery.com) . I have picked out the chickens we will get someday! I have picked out the Buff Orphingtons and some Barred Plymouth Rocks. Ahhh I can't wait . I also picked out the Bourbon Red Turkey . :) ( He will be for Thanksgiving.)  Every time I look at this Magazine I am like a kid in a candy store! :)  Where do you get your chickens if you have them? What kinds do you have or do you want to get? I would love to hear! And for those who are waiting for your homestead, it is never to early to plan :) and dream!  I am going to look at burpees today to get my seed list ready and maybe order a few for the coming years garden.

Today is a quiet day around here. The boys are playing , I washing and hanging laundry out.  Also, making cinnamon buns with cream cheese icing. YUM! Recipe from :
http://tammysrecipes.com/cinnamon_rolls_cream_cheese_frosting. Best I have ever had! You should stop by her website and check out other yummy recipes that she has made. 


 What are you doing today on your homestead? Have a wonderful day!

~ Katie

Happenings

Well I haven't  posted for a few days . My family had come down with the stomach bug. Yuck! Thankfully we are now better and getting back into the swing of things. :)

 Today I got raspberry bushes from a friend of mine that I knew in youth group, it was so great to see her again and she is on a simple life/ homesteading journey as well so that is awesome too! I get to have someone to chat with about that and share our experiences together! Can't wait to talk to her agian!

So back to what I was saying. She was so gracious enough to give me a bunch of their raspberry bushes. We both did some research and I am looking for anyone who has raspberries or has ever planted them. When is the best time to do so? We both found some articles that said fall is good and others that said wait till early spring to plant them . So any help would be greatly appreciated! :)

Sorry this is such a short post. I will be working on menu plan tomorrow and will try to post it then . Hope you are all doing wonderfully! Anything new on your homestead? I would love to hear!!! :)

~Katie

Giveaway!!!

There is an awesome giveaway going on at NewLifeOnAHomestead! Giving away a fair trade goodie bag!Get on over there and enter! :)

Wow I know it has been a long time.

I know it has been a long time since I have written here!  Life has been very hectic lately with my oldest son starting school this year and I took on a job at my church.
We have finished preparing the small garden around the house and the strawberry patches for winter. Next we are going to work on the big garden and get that one ready for winter. Hopefully we can work on some of that tonight and this weekend.

I am already in the midst of making out my list of things I want to grow ,next year. I am not going to do certain things that didn't work out well last year. Such as the corn and the watermelon. We will just have to buy these at the veggie stand. :)

Thanksgiving is coming up! I love this time of year (also Christmas) , because I get to spend a whole day with my whole family! I love family time so much! I guess that is why I don't like to travel. hahah Or as my husband would call me a homebody. :) I don't mind I take that as a compliment.

Anyway, I am so thankful to God, my family and friends for so much they have done for me and my life! They keep me motivated knowing that someday God will provide us the live we always dream of having with our children. I can't wait for that day, but even where we are there is so much to be thankful for that we take for granted. I want to challenge you to sit down for a few minutes ( I know when does a mom have time to do that) okay then maybe while you are throwing in a load of laundry thank the Lord for something you are thankful for, maybe those clothes you are washing or those dishes you are washing, or the food that was on those dishes. Really take the time this month and every month to be thankful for what you do have and not complain about the things you don't have. :)

I am going to live my life by this Bible verse. This is by far one of my favorites.

Philippians 4:11-12

¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I will try to keep this blogging up! haha Thank you for those who do follow me! Have a wonderful day!

~Katie

Great givaway from a great blog!

http://lameinbothfeet.blogspot.com/2011/08/being-brave-for-maintenance-honey.html

Check out her blog it is so great and inspirational!

~Katie

Awesome giveaway!!!

http://www.themorristribe.com/2011/07/debt-slaves-the-wild-and-free-pigs-of-okefenokee-swamp/

She is giving another copy of off the grid away!

Great Giveaway!!!

This is such a cool giveaway! And an amazing blog to start following! :)

http://www.themorristribe.com/2011/07/surviving-off-off-grid-decolonizing-the-industrial-mind-giveaway/comment-page-1/#comment-4508

garden update 7-10-11

Well things have been producing great up at the big garden for us! I have been freezing beans, snap peas and squash so far. I also went to a country store we have in our area and bough 10 lbs. of blueberries ( they are sooo big and sooo good) I froze those as well. We are hopefully going to try to keep those in the freezer for a while but we will see how long that lasts! haha We dug under one of our potatoe plants and found they are doing great and are almost ready to harvest ! yay!! Wanted to say thank you mom for all your help with the garden this year!

I have been praying a lot to know where God wants our family. I am feeling in that stuck mode where you aren't really sure where he wants you, or it is just me getting restless and wanting the homestead and God wanting us to be patient, because it isn't time for us yet.  I am working on the patients thing! Well how is your garden doing?? Are you planning to plant any fall crops, I would love to know what you are planting. I am trying to think of ones I want to plant. :) Have a wonderful week.

~ Katie

small garden update

Well, it's been a while since I have posted anything about the gardens. I only had a chance this morning to post pics of the small garden I will hope to get some pics of the big garden up soon. :) Everything is growing great! I replanted some pea plants which are really taking off and another batch of carrots.                                Cutting flowers

                         Cucumber plants (pickle cucumbers)

                         Cucumber :)

                    Red peppers, just not red yet :)

                         Onion plants getting big

                   Second planting of pole beans

                         Bush beans

                           Heirloom tomatoes

     trying one of the second plantings of peas in a pot

                        Peas- 1st planting

                       Second planting of peas coming up

                       Amish past tomato

                       second batch of carrots

  Lettuce, going to plant more of this before it gets to hot

 We are trying something new with our potatoes this year. :)  A big metal tub which we put holes in the bottom for drainage and are building up the  burlap as the plants grow and we keep adding compost. We will see how it worked at harvesting time. Fingers crossed.

                Inside the burlap container

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful week!

giveaway check it out!

http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/2011/06/give-away-shelf-reliance-thrive.html#comment-form

Awesome giveaway!!!

http://www.themorristribe.com/2011/06/the-farmers-wife-cookbook-giveaway/

Awesome giveaway!!!

http://www.themorristribe.com/2011/06/the-farmers-wife-cookbook-giveaway/

Check out this giveaway!!! :)

http://littlefarminthebigcity.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-very-first-give-away.html

garden update and thoughts

Here are photos of the garden at our house not the big garden. Everything is looking great!

I also wanted to share a book that our fellowship is reading. It is called Radical by David Platt .
We are only on the second chapter but already Wow! This book really does make you really look at your life, faith and what you could be doing. I feel us in the United States take our faith a little for granted sometimes, while those in other countries thirst for the Word and want to learn as much as they can, while
they know they will be killed for this if found out. What amazing faith!!!
This book has already challenged me and my hubby to not take our faith for granted! I feel so blessed to be able to state my Christianity and not have to worry about being killed for it. This also made me think of other things we take for granted. Our house that has heat and A/C, money to buy food and seeds for the garden. Vehicles,electricity and so on.....
We are going to work harder on giving to those who need things more then we do. I hope this challenges you to really not take things or even your faith for granted because we all are truly blessed!!
Have a wonderful week!
~ Katie
PS. I will be writing soon about my "Battle for the Birds" , my story on trying to get chickens to be allowed in our borough. :)

garden update and menu plan

Here are a few photos of the big garden finally. We really need to get up there to weed soon they are taking over again! UGH!
pictures of the corn, watermelon, tomatoes, pepper, zucchini, green beans, potatoes, peas and lettuce. The lima beans aren't doing great only three plants have come up and this is the second time my mom has replanted.

Menu Plan for this week:

Monday:
B-Pancakes
L- sandwiches/ carrots/ apple slices
D-Spaghetti, salad, bread and butter


Tuesday:
B- Oatmeal
L- Leftovers
D- grilled chicken, mash pot., veggie (green beans)

Wed.-
B- Scrambled eggs, toast
L- sandwiches/ stove top mac and cheese
D- chicken zucchini casserole

Thurs.-
B- cold cereal/ bananas
L- leftovers/ pb&j sandwiches
D- Chicken Pot pie

Friday-
B- oatmeal
L- grilled cheese/ cold veggies/ grapes
D- pizza/ orange wedges

Sat. -
B- Cold cereal/ bananas
L- leftovers/ sandwiches
D- chicken salad sandwiches/ pot. wedges/ cold veggies

Sunday-
B-pancakes
L- sandwiches/ broccoli cheddar soup
D-Burgers, pot. fries, veggie

What;s on your menu this week? How is your garden going? Would love to know! Have a wonderful week!!
~Katie