"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Green Dress Event

If you are a parent with teen girls, then you probably know how expensive prom dresses are these days.  I've been praying that the girls find a dress at an inexpensive price. 

Well, our prayers were answered for one daughter.  A friend told them about a dress event that a church held in another city.  

The event was a "green" event for giving a free donated dress to each girl that attended.  My second oldest daughter went also, but found a Homecoming dress. 

Each girl that attended also got one free piece of makeup and one piece of jewelry.  

A note came with each dress that asks for the recipient to donate the dress back, and help the program continue.
(my oldest daughter in her prom dress in 2011 - beautiful, yet very expensive and worn once)

I think this program is wonderful.  My girls only wear their dress one time, and most of the time, they can't be handed down to the next daughter.

And of course, today's dresses are not conservative as they once were.  However, the trend to wear long dresses to prom as returned in our area. 

Another prayer that was answered - a new well dug a the horse stable.  Evidently, the 120 year-old well at the stable went dry.  Water was brought in one day, and they were successful at digging a new well.  If they had not been, my daughter's horse would have had to be moved to a more expensive stable.  Phew!  Thank you God!

A Year of Quotes:
"I think the one lesson I have  learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention."  ~ Diane Sawyer

Sunday, March 11, 2012

A Night Away


The younger kids really needed to get away for a night, which gave the older kids a break from Mom and Dad too.

We booked an inexpensive hotel, not far from home, and packed the bags for a night away.  

The kids got an entire night of swimming and fun, and we got the chance to rejuvenate.  

The pool was very busy with kids, but our three that we took with us, had a break from chores and homework.

While the kids, and Hubby, were swimming, I got the chance to stay up in the room to write.  I love to write in places that are away from home.  I have no idea why.  Possibly the "fun" in all of it, or the seclusion, or simply getting away from the same everyday "stuff."

Only seven miles from home may seem like a lame attempt to "get away" but for us it didn't matter. 

When we got home, we were talking about the fox that someone hit in the road, just down from the house.  As I was exiting our vehicle, I looked toward the open barn, and a big white dog walked out.

 Thankfully, the dog had current tags.  We searched the tag number on-line and called the owner.  Owner and dog were glad to see each other again.