July 2022

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

#42. THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON by Sarah Addison Allen // ★★☆☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

According to Goodreads, I have had this book shelved on my TBR list since 2010!! At this point, I have completely forgotten who recommended it to me, so I went in completely blind. And…it was okay. It was a light read, felt very YA (although I don’t think it was), lacked character development and the plot was uninteresting. I had qualms with the light touch placed on some heavy issues (like self harm), but maybe I’m just a curmudgeon. But seriously: there was one male character who snuck into the bedroom of the girl he liked – multiple times! – just to watch her sleep. Am I the only one who finds that not romantic and incredibly creepy?

#43. ALIAS EMMA by Ava Glass // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop)

I read this spy thriller in less than 24 hours! The story is about a young spy on her first big assignment: bring an innocent man wanted by the Russian government to safety. All she has to do is get him into MI6 before an assassination team gets to him first. Such a page turner. I especially loved that while there was a strong female protagonist, she was also fallible and didn’t treat the men in the story as idiots. (A big pet peeve of mine.) If this becomes a series, I will definitely keep reading. (Alias Emma will be published on August 2, 2022. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!)

#44. HIDDEN AMERICA: FROM COAL MINERS TO COWBOYS, AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPLORATION OF THE UNSEEN PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS COUNTRY WORK by Jeanne Marie Laskas // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This was an interesting look at the jobs most of us take for granted. For example, I don’t think many of us realize the amount of trust we give to air traffic controllers who make sure airplanes land safely and don’t crash into each other! Another chapter was about drilling for oil on Oooguruk Island off of Alaska’s North Slope and I fell down a little rabbit hole. The creation of the island is fascinating as well as just the act of drilling in general. Did you know that the scale of drilling is actually pretty small? “The drill bit ranges in diameter from six to thirteen inches; the pipe as small as three inches. An oil well is a remarkably skinny hole.” I also found the information about directional drilling technology really interesting: “[It] allows drillers to go down, over, up, snaking any which way through the earth and landing in ever sweeter sweet spots, reaching horizontally as far as four miles from the rig. In the old days, a single vertical well exposed about 200 to 300 feet of oil reserves. Now drillers can reach more than 20,000 feet of reservoir rock with one well, significantly reducing the footprint above ground, which in turn reduces costs and, in this part of the world, scarring to the tundra.” (p.217) The more you know…

#45. PLAINSONG by Kent Haruf // ★★☆☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

I usually enjoy small town Americana stories, even when the plot is slow and meandering. This book was not bad, per se, and I loved the relationship between the teenage pregnant girl and the two farmer bachelor brothers who took her in. (It had a Secondhand Lions feel that was endearing.) However, the graphic sexual scenes were really unnecessary and didn’t carry the plot further. Just an okay read for me. (This was a pick for my Reading the Alphabet Challenge.)

#46. COPPER RIVER by William Kent Krueger // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

Number six in the Cork O’Connor mystery series. A good one.

#47. THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK by Kim Michele Richardson // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This historical fiction novel set me off on another rabbit trail! The main character is an Appalachian pack horse librarian who has blue-tinged skin due to a blood condition called methemoglobinemia. This article from 1982 about “the blue people” was interesting. I also learned about the apparent controversy between this book and one of a similar flavor, maybe too similar?

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

A QUOTE

The first supermarket supposedly appeared on the American landscape in 1946. That is not very long ago. Until then, where was all the food? Dear folks, the food was in homes, gardens, local fields, and forests. It was near kitchens, near tables, near bedsides. It was in the pantry, the cellar, the backyard. ― Joel Salatin, Folks, This Ain’t Normal: A Farmer’s Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World

TABS OPEN IN MY BROWSER RIGHT NOW

A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART

“The House in the Forest” by Camille Pissarro (found here)

CLASSICAL MUSIC FOR READING (OR SCHOOL/HOMEWORK) TIME

A HOMEMAKER CHECK-IN, ONE YEAR LATER

How are you, my dear reader? Last time I checked in was almost one year ago and in some ways, it feels like we went from bad to worse! Everything from groceries to gas to electricity has gone up significantly where I live and it’s getting trickier to balance the budget. I’m hoping the low-buy month will help, even a tiny bit. How are you adapting? What do things costs around you right now? Our gas is $4.19/gallon. A few grocery staples in my area: a gallon of whole milk is $3.74, a loaf of bread is $3.34, and a dozen eggs are $1.88.

Life is, well, expensive right now. We had to pay the tree removal company to help us after the storm, which was quickly followed up by a bulk feed order for the animals. (And they upped their minimum purchase amount too!) We took our cars in for a state inspection and one needed a few repairs. The other passed but with the warning that it would probably need four new tires by this fall. Combined with the increased costs of food and gas and electricity and all the things…I’m feeling the need to tighten the reins a bit. Instead of sobbing in frustration, I’m going to be proactive. In August, I’m embarking on a “low-buy” month!

For me, a low-buy month is an opportunity to be intentional with money. It’s a way to stop and determine needs vs. wants. It’s an opportunity to take a deep breath before diving into the fall and all of the celebrations that come with it. It’s a way to stretch my creative muscles and do what I can with what I have.

MY GOALS

Purchase perishables (milk, fruit, cheese, etc.) but primarily eat from the pantry, garden and freezer
Declutter like crazy and see if I can sell anything unneeded
Create a list of items needed to buy in the future (birthdays, Christmas, farm things)
Pay off the remaining balance on the credit card
Focus on creativity and frugality

MY TO DO LIST TO COMPLETE BEFORE AUGUST 1ST

Replace perishables and fill up the gas tank to give us a head start on the month
Pencil out a month’s worth of meals, focusing on what we already own
Start a pile to list on ebay/Poshmark

For added motivation, I made myself some worksheets. You can find them here!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // The weather has been so incredibly hot and my enthusiasm for outdoor projects has dropped dramatically. On a positive note, my garden is looking great, a little jungle-like since I’ve been slacking on the weeding, but great!

As I look around the house // My excitement for a little living room update has quickly deflated: the armchair (that arrived broken) won’t be replaced, but the company is going to send someone out to repair it. When we called to make an appointment, the earliest they could come was the end of August. The lumbar pillows that I bought for a steal on Poshmark….well, the seller never shipped them, so I eventually cancelled the order. Womp womp.

On this week’s to-do list // – start fleshing out lesson plans for the first few weeks of school – touch up laundry room walls (& hopefully start painting!)

– try making zucchini puffs

– clear out the last of the spring garden & amend soil for fall

– finally finish stitching the scrap quilt top!

Intermittent fasting update // I’ve been reasonably strict for almost one week and I’m feeling so good. Down 1.5 pounds, which is welcome, but the internal gut feeling (difficult to explain, but I just feel satisfied and not overly full) is the best part.

Currently reading //

On the menu this week //

Monday: southwest chicken alfredo
Tuesday: fry bread tacos
Wednesday: summer squash and bacon quiche
Thursday: Refrigerator Cleanout Night
Friday: roasted salmon

A new series about little thoughts and things to share. I hope you’ll share your thoughts and latest finds with me too!

+ Have you ever stood still and watched a bee? Listened to its buzz as it finds just the right flower? Observed it work diligently before moving onto the next and the next? I’m often zipping along with my head filled with tasks and taking for granted all of the beautiful, incredible things happening around me. I can’t imagine what I may be missing! I’m so glad I stopped to watch the bee.

+ I stumbled on this older video interviewing Michael O’Brien on Mystical Experiences. I found it strangely comforting.

+ If you’re looking for an opportunity to nurture gratitude in your children, check out these printable colorable thank you cards. I especially love the calendar guide to help make this activity a regular occurrence.

+ We’re already more than halfway through our summer vacation, can you believe it? Even so, there’s still a little time to challenge my kids to choose a book versus a screen. These printable bookmarks look like a fun way to track their progress. I think I may use them as a way to track time (like 15 minutes of practicing phonics/reading) for my younger kids. Ice cream sundaes or a box of junk cereal will be the prize for a completed card!

From the Big White Farmhouse archives…
+ Three Months Without Amazon Prime // How It’s Going So Far
+ A List of July’s Frugal Accomplishments

A monthly project featuring ten photos throughout the day that show a peek into our extraordinarily ordinary life.

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Highlights of the day:

I started the day with a rainbow visible in the sky!
Today was day one of a new round of intermittent fasting. I’ve been pretty fast and loose with my diet this summer, but it’s time to rein it back in. For my 10:00 brunch, I decided to make Mexican squash and ground beef casserole. Kind of a weird choice, but it was delicious and used up a bunch of odds and ends in the fridge.
Ducks are hilarious. Not sure if I’ve mentioned, but my kids have named them after the penguins in Madagascar: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

If you give a mom a crooked rug…
She’ll move all the furniture out to straighten it. Seeing all of the toys and dust will send her on a cleaning spree. She’ll tidy and vacuum and mop. Seeing a virtually empty room will inspire her to move all of the furniture around. She’ll love the new look and especially love the extra room for seating. So she’ll start searching for another armchair. She’ll eventually find one at a reasonable price, but discover at delivery that it is damaged. She’ll call the store and ask for a replacement. The fix will be at least 7-10 business days, so while she’s waiting, she’ll start imagining the finished room. Having two armchairs will have her looking for matching pillows. She’ll find a beautiful off-white pair on Poshmark. Seeing the fresh color will make the walls and floorboards look dingy, so she’ll make plans to paint everything. (Story to be continued….ha!)

Green beans are growing with wild abandon and I’m doing my best to preserve them for later. Mostly flash freezing them at this point, but I’d like to try making some dilly beans.

Other home updates: I have a little nook in the dining room that was a perfect spot for a little piece of artwork. I browsed etsy and found this beautiful vintage piece called “Flight.” I love that it has a religious theme, but is also very subtle. Anyway, I ordered it printed on rolled canvas (so as to look a little more like a “real” painting) and was so pleased with the quality. The shop is called Heirloom Print Shop and I will definitely be ordering again.

The project that never ends…

I surprised my daughter with this Perler kit and it was a huge hit. Surprisingly, my boys were just as interested, so I quickly bought a Marvel Avengers kit too.

One afternoon, we were surprised with the most beautiful sun shower!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

In an attempt to breathe some excitement and life into our homeschool, I have been creating a new plan that encompasses some family favorites and a few new curriculum pieces too! I tried to spend my money wisely and only purchase things that will compliment my children’s interests and learning styles. I won’t know for certain if I’ve accomplished that goal until next spring, but here’s hoping! Here are five new-to-us curriculums that we will be trying in the 2022-2023 school year:

SPELLING YOU SEE

One of my sons has been fighting an ongoing battle with language. After working so hard to overcome a speech delay, his latest obstacle is reading. (Dyslexia strikes again!) Thankfully, we’re not quitters and we just keep plugging along, patiently waiting for that beautiful day when it all “clicks.” Anyway, I found this spelling curriculum called Spelling You See and I think it will help reinforce his reading lessons. We’re going to start with Level A, even though it looks pretty easy at first. It may help with his confidence! (I purchased this on Christianbook, but you can also find it on Amazon.)

SIMPLY CHARLOTTE MASON LEARNING ABOUT BIRDS WITH THORNTON BURGESS

I was seeking a nature study option that would have a little more structure and this seemed like a good fit. I like that there’s a storybook (perfect for my little two) and the topic of birds is perfect for us since we see/hear a ton of them around the property. I’m going to add an art element for my middle two and picked up a used copy of Identify and Draw North American Birds for that purpose. I may join in on the fun as well!

APOLOGIA ADVANCED BIOLOGY: THE HUMAN BODY

My sophomore is considering the EMT field after high school, so I thought we’d get his feet wet by choosing anatomy for science this year. I don’t usually love Apologia textbooks, but this one looks pretty straight-forward. I also bought the Anatomy Coloring Book to reinforce the text in a different way. Lots of memorization is in his future this fall! (I purchased the curriculum on Christianbook, but it is also available for purchase on Amazon.)

LEGENDS & LEAGUES GEOGRAPHY

Our geography skills need some reinforcement, so I purchased part of a book series called Legends & Leagues. I bought the original Legends & Leagues story (along with the workbook) but after browsing through it, I think we’ll complete it during the first term. Thankfully, I also bought the next in the series, “South”, so we can keep going for the rest of the school year.

SIMPLE SPANISH

I don’t follow the Charlotte Mason method completely, but I do like a lot of her ideas. I recently learned about how her students studied multiple foreign languages and I thought, surely we could learn some of at least one in our own homeschool! I wanted something really casual and non-intimidating and Simple Spanish fit the bill. It’s broken into units, so I downloaded the first one to see what we think.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // I am determined to figure out how to fortify the hens/ducks from a pesky predator. Probably a racoon? The girls are all safe in their coop, but he certainly has enjoyed opening the buckets of feed.

As I look around the house // I’ve been bit by the homemaking/home decorating bug! After months of being on the back burner, I’ve been slowly cleaning and tidying and organizing each room. My “Things I’d Love to Find” list is growing! (One of the lessons from the 1,000 Item Declutter Challenge that has really stuck for me.)

Watching // all the curriculum review videos on Youtube. For the past two years, I’ve been so distracted by life that I feel like our school has been (sadly) unexciting. I’m ready to breathe some new life into our school days!

On this week’s to-do list // – figure out how to eat these adorable pattypan squashes – order materials for the winter permanent pig shelter – fertilize the fruit trees – continue moving wood chips to the food forest – buy a small roller to paint the back doors – list a handful of things on ebay/Poshmark

– work on the laundry room project

Currently reading //

On the menu this week //

Monday: rigatoni with sausage, tomatoes and zucchini
Tuesday: taco bowls
Wednesday: Refrigerator Cleanout Night
Thursday: spatchcock chicken (either in the oven or grilled) and potato salad
Friday: breakfast for dinner – maybe a frittata?

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

A QUOTE

I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker. – Helen Keller

TABS OPEN IN MY BROWSER RIGHT NOW

A CREATIVE PROJECT IDEA

I LOVE this idea! So creative and thrifty. Adding this one to my “Things I’d Like to Make Someday…” list.

ON MY NIGHTSTAND

HOW DO YOU USE UP HOMEGROWN SQUASH AND ZUCCHINI?

I planted a ton of squash and zucchini this year with the plan to eat it fresh, but also to preserve it for later. What are your favorite recipes at your house? Here are a few I’ve recently found and hope to try this summer:

+ Rigatoni with Sausage, Tomatoes, and Zucchini
+ Sweet and Sour Zucchini Pickles
+ 20 Minute Skillet Sausage and Zucchini
+ Zucchini Gratin with Yellow Squash

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

#34. THE BOUNDLESS by Kenneth Oppel // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This middle grade novel was a recommendation from my 11 year old son. It takes place on a train and is action packed and just a little bit scary!

#35. THE FILTER BUBBLE: WHAT THE INTERNET IS HIDING FROM YOU by Eli Pariser // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // better world books)

Even though this book was written over 10 years ago, I found it very relevant and thought-provoking. There were quite a few, but one of the biggest takeaways for me was that “over-personalization” of your online experience greatly decreases the ability to think creatively. As an example, he talks about serendipity, the process of stumbling across the unintended. I recently experienced this as I used Pinterest to find a recipe. Years ago, I would be able to see a wide variety of things on my home page, especially what all of my friends were pinning…now all I see as I scroll is more of the same topics I have searched for in the past. It’s becoming harder to discover something fresh and new, something that excites me and raises my curiosity. Like Pariser says in the book, “Google is great at helping us find what we know we want, but not at finding what we don’t know we want.” (p.104) It takes intentional effort to pull yourself from the bubble the Internet creates for you, but I’m inspired to try. (I chose this book as part of my non-fiction Alphabet Reading Challenge.)

#36. THE GOOD DAUGHTER: A MEMOIR OF MY MOTHER’S HIDDEN LIFE by Jasmin Darzink // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This memoir was so good. The author is an Iranian immigrant who moved to the US when she was young. In her early twenties, she was helping her mother move when a photograph fell from a stack of old letters. The photograph showed her mother wearing a wedding veil, but the man at her side was not her father. When Jasmin inquired, her mother refused to speak about the photograph. Months later, however, she received from her mother a handful of recorded cassette tapes that would bring to light the story of her family’s time in Iran. I flew through this book and found it both fascinating and utterly heartbreaking. The writing was beautiful.

#37. THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

Elsa had never thought of land that way, as something that anchored a person, gave one a life. The idea of it, of staying here and finding a good life and a place to belong, seduced her as nothing ever had. (p.52)

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I’m on the fence about whether Kristin Hannah’s books are a good fit for me. I loved The Nightingale but had issues with The Great Alone…where would this one fall? I’m fascinated by the Great Depression and thought the book was good, but it felt like a hundred pages too long.

#38. THE NEW NEIGHBOR by Karen Cleveland // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop)

Karen Cleveland wrote one of my favorite thrillers, so I was excited to get my hands on her latest book! Super fast read and I didn’t guess the twist at the end. Need to Know is still my favorite, but this was fun. (The New Neighbor will be released on July 26, 2022. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!)

#39. THE END OF THE PRESENT WORLD AND THE MYSTERIES OF THE FUTURE LIFE by Father Charles Arminjon // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This is a beautiful book, but for whatever reason, it took me forever to get through! I would definitely like to read it again sometime in the future.

#40. ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF IVAN DENISOVICH by Alexander Solzhenitsyn // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This one is about a grueling day in the life of a prisoner serving time in a Siberian labor camp. So brutal. (This was also my 1962 pick for the 20th Century in Literature Challenge.)

#41. NOTHING TO HIDE by J. Mark Bertrand // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This is the third and last book in the Roland March Mystery series. Fast paced with plenty of twists and turns.

This post contains affiliate links.

Life is finally getting back to normal around here, praise God! (We’ve had enough excitement for one summer, thank you very much.) Feeling very grateful for my health and my very boring, very ordinary life.

Grateful for // the tiny bouquets my daughter creates and sprinkles throughout the house. Planting more flowers is definitely on my to-do list for next spring.

Grateful for // a rainy day that kept me inside. I got a wild hair and decided on a whim to rearrange the living room furniture! I love the new setup; it feels bigger and will allow for more seating options.

Grateful for // this exciting morning. One of my sons went to the garden and picked an onion, some red potatoes, and two jalapenos for his breakfast. He made a spicy hash with over easy eggs (from our hens) and we were so tickled that he could make an entire meal from the fruits of our labor.

Grateful for // the daily probiotic I’ve been taking to get my gut back in working order after a week of antibiotics.

Grateful for // the bird that made a nest in a cleat in our garage! We peek in everyday for updates.

Grateful for // the two batches of iced tea we made this week. One was my go-to peach and for the other, we tried “Wild Berry Zinger.” So delicious and refreshing.

Grateful for // one project to check off the list! I sanded and re-stained the coffee table with an oil treatment we already had on hand. It’s not perfect and not exactly what I had in mind, but it’s better than before, it was free and it’s DONE. I’ll take it.

Grateful for // a ridiculous new “problem” we have with the hens. After the big storm, some of our moveable fencing was damaged. We decided to let all of the ducks and hens free range until we can get a replacement and they are loving the freedom. Definitely living their best life, but now we have a new problem: not everyone is laying in the nesting boxes! It was like a daily Easter egg hunt for awhile there, searching for eggs under bushes and tree branches. Thankfully, most seem to have remembered that it’s much more comfortable to lay in the coop.