From the Gratitude Journal . . .

Today I am thankful for:

. . . for Hubby cooking me breakfast on the weekends

. . . for my washing machine and clothesline

. . . for soft pillows

. . . for our coffee maker that brews in 3 minutes

. . . phones

. . . for fragrant candles my Mom gave us

. . . good ol' fashioned, to-the-mailbox, mail

. . . the sun shining today and warmer weather

. . . God's availability, always there, always listening

. . . pens and pencils

. . . for my 19 year-old daughter getting a job yesterday.  She's officially employed.

. . . for locating an alpaca farm not too far from here.  You may hear more about this later.



Today, the weather is to be up in the 60's, so the washing machine is getting a workout.  So are my clotheslines.  The kids have not been counting eggs, so I may skip the egg count this year.  I have a few new tulips and hyacinths to plant today, and add yet a bit of more pink and purple to the gardens.  Bills need paid today too.  

The herb garden is looking nice already, and my green onions need divided out.  I am replanting a new rosemary plant, since I left mine out all winter (oops!).  The chives are looking great and my sage is doing good (lost them the previous winter).  Even parsley has popped up here and there, and the same with cilantro.  We may be planting peas tonight.

 



        

From the Gratitude Journal . . .

Today I am thankful for:

 ~ Organic bath salts for sore muscles

 ~warming, organic coffee

~for the library, and it's free access to books

~for God's Promises

~for hugs from my kids

~for the milk our goat's produce

~for the wrens singing outside

~for radio stations that continue to play uplifting, and inspirational music

~for soft cozy slippers

~for the pink carnations, and pink and white daisies on my kitchen windowsill    

From the Gratitude Journal . . .

Today I am thankful for the continuous, beautiful sunrises.

...for hot water.

...for God's guidance.

...for natural remedies.

...for once again, honest friends.

...for organic peppermint oil

 

 

Excerpts from a Journal Junkie. . .

from the homesteading journal . . .

...dh won't be hunting for deer this upcoming weekend - no extra cash for the hunting license.  I've only spotted 3 deer here this season.  There has also been talk of sick deer this year.

...dh and I have been reading up on what types of meat chickens are best (check the latest issue of Backwoods Home Magazine for a good article).  We've raised one breed so far.

...there's a job opening for a cook at the county jail, but I'm afraid to ask hubby if he approves (most likely not).

...hubby and I have talked about investing in a hand pump for the well in the future.  We are still talking about plans for raising meat (pig and cow), and possibly a dairy cow.  

...I am very impressed with the new handmade recipe I found for grout/tile cleaner.  It's inexpensive,  works better than store brands, and does not have a nasty chemical smell.
 


from the Handicraft Journal . . .

(Started 9-20-2012)

 (one finished, the second is half done)

...almost finished a pot holder set for my mother's cousin.  I got side tracked with other work.

 ...crocheted cup cozy, just like the one above, for a stocking stuffer for one of the girls.



from the Family Journal . . .

...our 10 year-old is entering the seasonal "design a Christmas card" contest.

...I checked out 2 card game books from the library.  I am going to re-teach myself how to play Gin Rummy and teach my kids.

 (side with driveway)

 (front porch and upper floor)

...put up the outside Christmas lights this year. We haven't done this for almost 5 years now.  This is not as easy as you think.  We have zero outlets on the old farm house.  When the last homeowner added on, they added outside outlets on the back half.  My son had to "McGiver" these to one outlet and a then a timer.




from the Gratitude Journal . . .

~my clothesline (even when it's snowing out) 
~cheap coffee
~friends
~our canned food supply
~pen and paper
~mild weather
~natural salves for tired and sore hands
~God's Promises  
  




from the Exercise Journal . . .

...walking at least 2 miles a day (running 3 minutes), down another 2 pounds.

From the Gratitude Journal . . .

 . . . I am thankful for wind and sun.


. . . I am thankful that we found Nellie (our lost araucana), and she is safe and sound. I wish I had a photo of her to share.  She is very pretty.  I'll try to do that soon.

 . . . I am thankful that my son caught the owl in the coop before it could kill the rest of our chickens.

. . . I am thankful for beautiful sunsets.

. . . I am thankful for calm weather, so I can turn off my corn/pellet burner to save on pellets today.

. . .I am thankful for honest friends.

. . .I am thankful for God's timely reminders and Love.