wednesday five | The Big White Farmhouse – Page 3

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Happy Wednesday!

A QUOTE

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. – James 1:2-3

A BOOK

I’m currently reading Roots & Sky: A Journey Home in Four Seasons by Christie Purifoy.  Her writing is very descriptive and lyrical, which is a writing style I sometimes struggle with, but I’m actually really enjoying it so far.

OUR LATEST FRUGAL INVESTMENT

I’ve been on the lookout for a way to use less plastic in our kitchen.  Reducing food waste is always a big thing for me too, so I was thrilled to find a company called Swag Bags!  They make machine washable, breathable bags for fruits and vegetables and claim that your food will stay fresh for at least two weeks and you’ll be able to reuse the bags again and again without the need for plastic.  I purchased the Twin Pack with one Long and one Small (trimmed in different colors) and I love them!  We use the big one for new produce and the small one for random half-used bits.  

  • My oldest son just started playing the guitar and is taking “lessons” from Justin Guitar.  It’s completely free and I’ve been so impressed with the professionalism of the videos.  M is loving it and has learned so much already.
  • My latest success in the kitchen: Pretzel Bread, started in the bread machine!  SO good.

A CROWDSOURCING QUESTION

Have you ever line dried your clothes?  I’m intrigued by the idea, but hesitant about execution.  Does it really save a lot of money?  Can you even line dry in really humid spring/summer weather?   This post contains affiliate links.

Happy Wednesday!  Looking back at January with my five today:

A QUOTE ON GRATITUDE

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us – and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”  – Thomas Merton

JANUARY HIGHLIGHTS 

+ Life went back to normal as we resumed our schoolwork and extra-curricular activities.

+ We committed to a No Spend Month.  We did have some unexpected purchases come up, but were able to pay them without too much stress.  Our goal was to use this month to gain some momentum on our debt and we were able to do that – (see below) – so I’m considering it a success! 

+ It snowed!  The first storm of the year gave us 4-5″ and hours of playtime outside. + I started a 90 Day Sugar Detox, one of my 100 Little Things goals and something I really wanted to start after all of the Christmas treats. + I also started the Women Empowered Program, a self-defense course I got for Christmas.  (And another 100LT goal!)  I’ve completed the first two lessons.
+ M started learning the guitar.  He’s enjoying the process and is a quick learner!

  • French Bread Pizza.  Big loaves of french bread are only $1 at our Walmart.  I just cut it in half lengthwise, sprinkled with sauce and cheese and stuck it in the oven for an easy weekend lunch.
  • Twice Baked Potato Casserole.  This casserole was fairly inexpensive and the boys devoured it!  I may need to make a double batch next time.
  • Slow Cooker Taco Chili.  This recipe makes a ton and I was able to get two meals out of it.  The second night, we put the leftovers on top of baked potatoes.
  • Crockpot White Chicken Chili.  I couldn’t eat this chili because of my dairy sensitivity, but the others said it was delicious.
  • Bean and Cheese Burritos.  I’ve been on the hunt for meatless meals that my kids will eat and stumbled on this simple recipe on Pinterest.  You mix a can of refried beans with a can of Rotel and heat on the stove.  It definitely brings the flavor up a notch!  Some of the kids drizzled queso blanco on top too.

2020 GOALS UPDATE

  • ✔ I want to spend time with God everyday.  I started again where I left off with my Bible in a Year plan (as of Jan 31, I was on day 206/365) and didn’t miss a day all month!  I also worked through a Bible verse writing challenge that I found on Pinterest (I just did step #2).  It was the first time I’ve ever physically written out Scripture every day and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
  • ✔ I want to keep on, keepin’ on with our debt freedom journey.  We paid off another student loan!  Feels so good to see some forward progress.
  • ✔ I want to be a better steward of my home.  I started using The Confident Mom’s Household Planner and it is working so well for me so far!  Every morning, the kids and I have a “morning meeting” and divvy up the chores for that day.  It usually takes us less than 15 minutes to complete.  The house is still a work in progress, but we’re making big strides in the right direction.  Also!  I found a monthly decluttering plan from Home Storage Solutions 101 and have been loosely following that as well. I completed 20/31 “missions” in January.
  • ✔ I want to hand write 52 pieces of mail.  A strong start!  Current total is 19 pieces.  (Here is the blog post.)
  • ✔ I want to write 150 blog posts.  Another solid start!  I wrote 20 posts and participated in one linkup: Top Ten Tuesday.  (I hope to find and participate in more linkups in the coming months.)
  • ✔ I want to read 52 books.  I read 8 books. (Here is the blog post.)
  • ✘ I want to take the first steps for postpartum doula certification.  Nothing yet.
  • ✔ I want to create a family culture of generosity.  After reading Emily Freeman’s book, Simply Tuesday, I’ve been pondering the idea of taking back “small.”  I may not have hundreds of dollars to donate or the ability to spend weeks in third-world countries, but I can still do something.  Lots of small acts can still make a difference.  So this year, my family and I are committing to something we’re calling 20/20 Giving: a $20 donation to non-profits we love and 20 minutes of using our time and talents to serve others.  Obviously if we’re able to give more, then we will, but this is the minimum we hope to achieve each month.  
    • January’s $20 Donation // We read this powerful story about Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah in school and then watched this documentary about him.  It was such a beautiful testament to the dignity of all human life.  My biggest boys were especially impacted by his story and his unwavering mission to help the disabled in Ghana.  Inspired by Emmanuel, we gave our first $20 donation to the Free Wheelchair Mission, an organization that provides wheelchairs to disabled men, women, and children around the world.
    • January’s 20 Minutes of Time and Talent // Teaching the high school CCD class at church, altar serving at mass, and responding to the latest call for non-perishables for the church food pantry

“THIS ONLY HAPPENS TO ME” STORY OF THE MONTH

I could write a book with all of the embarrassing moments that have happened in my 35 years, so I thought I’d start recording the best ones!  This story is from two Sundays ago, when we traveled to a nearby church to attend a Latin Mass.  Imagine a three-year-old little boy who has had enough of Mass and is starting to be vocal about his readiness to leave the church.  I convince him to wait just a little longer because it’s time for Communion.  I carry him in line and he starts playing with the necklace around my neck.  And then, to my horror, he SNAPS my necklace and beads fall everywhere.  Like everywhere.  The way-too-nice young man in line behind me crawls on his hands and knees – HIS HANDS AND KNEES – to collect them on the floor and under pews.  People from all over are passing me small handfuls of beads.  Oh my word.  I was beet red for a solid 15 minutes, ha!  God sure likes to keep me humble. This post contains affiliate links.

Happy Wednesday!

A QUOTE

To listen does not mean, or even imply, that you agree with someone.  It simply means you accept the legitimacy of the other person’s point of view and that you might have something to learn from it.  It also means that you embrace the possibility that there might be multiple truths and understanding them all might lead to a larger truth.  Good listeners know understanding is not binary.  It’s not that you have it or you don’t.  Your understanding can always be improved.  – from You’re Not Listening, page 88 

TWO BOOKS 

I like to have two books going at the same time, one fiction and one non-fiction.  For my non-fiction choice, I’m reading You’re Not Listening, but I can’t seem to make up my mind on a novel!  Top contenders right now are Ordinary Grace and Behold the Dreamers.  So many good books, so little time.

  • Faith and Flour // I just came across this Youtube channel and have only watched her weekly cleaning routine video so far, but I was already taking notes about cleaning “tools” and techniques.  
  • Sweet & Simple Home // I’ve mentioned this Youtube channel before, but she is just the sweetest and I’m always inspired by the way she views her home.
  • Clean Mama // I just re-subscribed to this blog…I think I read hers awhile back and then probably got overwhelmed…but I’m back and ready to learn!

FOUR TABS OPEN ON MY COMPUTER RIGHT NOW

  • A local farm’s CSA program // participating in this is on my 100 Little Things list, so I’m starting to do the research & calculate the cost
  • Walmart Grocery // I always keep this open and add things throughout the week as we use them up
  • A video series on the Holy Spirit // I’m thinking about going through these videos next month
  • Valentine cards on etsy // so many cute options!  I’ll be sharing some of my favorites in my Five Reasons post for February

FIVE THINGS ON MY FEBRUARY TO-BUY LIST

Since this is No Spend January, I’ve been jotting down the things that fall into the middle of need vs. want: they aren’t immediate needs, but probably should be purchased sooner than later.

  • an outdoor broom
  • two new hand towels for the downstairs bathroom
  • a coffee maker: ours is leaving more and more grounds in the coffee, which is always a fun surprise to find in your mug
  • shower curtain liner for the boys’ bathroom
  • I Love Lucy DVDs: Amazon took the free episodes off of Prime Video and my kids were so sad!  I’m going to see if I can find them for cheap on Second Spin.

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Happy Wednesday!  Another week of five prompts with a whole bunch of bullet points:

A QUOTE

The next time you see the trunk of a clean-cut felled tree, have a look at the tree’s cross section and the complete ring of bark that has been revealed by the saw and you may well notice it is marginally thicker on the north side.  On the same tree have a look at the tree rings and the heart of the tree.  Most people assume the heart of a tree will always be in the center, but it rarely is.  The heart of a tree is rarely in the center because it’s affected by the asymmetric strains of the wind, which will draw the heart toward whichever side the prevailing wind blows from, and the growth shaped by the sun, which will draw the heart southward.
– from The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs, page 61

A BOOK 

  • Can I recycle used batteries and if so, where can I drop them off?
  • What can I make to use up two cans of artichoke hearts in the pantry?
  • Do I have a book that can fit into January’s prompt for Chantel’s Read Your Bookshelf Challenge?

FOUR THINGS I LOVE

  • Love Woolies make handmade mittens from re-purposed wool sweaters!  Sophie and I both have a pair and they are so warm.  
  • Rachel at the Sweet and Simple Home (a Youtube channel) has the most calming voice.
  • Santa brought the kids reading pillows (medium size for the four bigger kids and “petite” for the two littles) for Christmas this year and while I worried that they were a little too practical, the kids loved them and have used them everyday since!  Perfect for reading and hanging out in bed and they’ve dragged them to the living room for movie nights too.
  • The short film, The Veil Removed, gave me goosebumps.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT & A QUESTION

I couldn’t agree more!  This year, I’d like to blog, read, and practice my photography – just because they’re fun.  What hobbies do you want to rediscover this year?

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Happy Wednesday!  Changing up my five prompts with a whole bunch of bullet points:

A QUOTE

Let’s take back the honor of small donations, small care packages, and small movements toward fellow image-bearers because love isn’t measured in inches, grand gestures, or dollar amounts… Let’s take back moments that are lovely even if they are imperfect, words that are powerful even if only one person hears them, company that is meaningful even when we don’t say any words at all.

– Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman, p.18

A BOOK (OR THREE)

THREE THINGS KEEPING ME SANE RIGHT NOW

  • NOT folding socks.  I don’t mind doing laundry and actually find folding clothes therapeutic, but the socks…the socks will be the death of me.  Right now, I throw everyone’s socks in a big Bean bag and then we have a “sock folding party” when it gets full.  
  • Writing a meal plan in pencil on a monthly calendar.  I will usually plan five or so meals a week and pencil them in.  But you know how life goes…some days you decide to eat out after activities, some days you’re exhausted and just have cereal for dinner.  When that happens, I just erase the meal and rewrite it somewhere on the following week.  I throw the meat in the freezer and put the non-perishables together in the pantry, so I won’t use them for something else. This has saved me from wasting ingredients and often keeps grocery costs down the following week.
  • A new vacuum.  I’ve been trying to keep my old vacuum alive all summer because #frugalaccomplishment.  But by October, when Lucy was shedding her summer coat everywhere, it was barely doing the job and I was going crazy.  So I invested in this new one and I couldn’t love a vacuum more.  It works on rugs and on hard wood, it swivels and gets in those hard to reach corners.  The ridiculous dog hair situation is now under control.  

A CROWDSOURCING QUESTION OR TWO

  • What are your favorite “old school” blogs?  Who is still out there writing without pushing the latest new product?  Who still writes about their day-to-day life or their hobbies?  I want to read and support blogs that aren’t constantly focused on being “influential”…you know what I mean?
  • What is your go-to weeknight meal?  I’m in a big dinner rut right now and need some new ideas!

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Happy Wednesday!  Here are my five:

A QUOTE

Mike was right: the pattern of life isn’t a straight line; it crosses and recrosses, drawing in and tying together other lives, as I do when I gather in the ends of my thread to make a knot.
–Mrs. Mike, p.300

A BOOK

I’m about a quarter of the way into The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  From the reviews on Goodreads, this book looks to be one that you either love or hate.  I’m anxious to see what camp I’ll fall into.  So far, so good.

A BIT OF NATURE

Last weekend, I bought the ingredients for Easy Cheesy Pizza Pockets and had the kids take over dinner.  Easy, adaptable and delicious – and I had a night off from the kitchen!  Another reason I love having big kids. 

A MOMENT OF HAPPINESS

I overlooked the bedroom disaster to find these two deep in imaginative play.  So thankful for the little moments when siblings are also best friends.  

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I recently started reading a new-to-me blog called Through Clouded Glass and I loved the writing prompt she used called The Wednesday Five.  It’s the perfect solution to my almost-mid-month writer’s block!  Here are my five:

A QUOTE

Jesus deigned to teach me this mystery.  He set before me the book of nature; I understood how all the flowers He has created are beautiful, how the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the Lily do not take away the perfume of the little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy.  I understood that if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wild flowers. And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus’ garden.  He willed to create great souls comparable to Lilies and roses, but He has created smaller ones and these must be content to be daisies or violets destined to give joy to God’s glances when He looks down at His feet.  Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be.

– Story of a Soul by Saint Therese, p.14

A BOOK

I’m slowly making my way through The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs by Tristan Gooley and while I’m only about 50 pages in, I’m really enjoying it!  So far, it’s been a good mix of common sense and things I’ve never considered before.  I probably should start taking notes.

A BIT OF NATURE

Fall always takes its time to arrive here in Virginia and this year, I’ve had an unexpected treat: the wildflowers that we planted this spring are still blooming.

A RECOMMENDATION

I just made a batch of homemade chicken broth and froze it using my new Souper Cubes.  I’m a fan!  Each spot holds one cup, which makes cooking with the frozen “bricks” so easy.  I think I might make a big pot of chicken soup to keep in the freezer (for sore throats and easy winter lunches) next.

A MOMENT OF HAPPINESS

One day last week, my oldest took our dog, Lucy, outside to play.  After a little while, I peeked out but couldn’t find them.  I immediately started thinking worst case scenarios (Lucy has had a couple of stressful “book it to the street like a crazy lady” moments) and ran outside in a panic.  To my surprise, I found both my son and my dog sharing a rocking chair and shooting the breeze.