When the Ordinary is Lovely

Photo from My Farmhouse Love Facebook page. 

It's a rainy cold Saturday here.  The kind of day that is good for baking.  I dug out an old cookbook and baked a recipe for a cake from the 1930's, thinking of how happy it will make my family tonight.

I stripped the sheets off of our bed and put them in the wash.  It will be really nice to crawl into a fresh bed tonight after a busy day.

I watched episodes of The Waltons while ironing shirts and pants for my husband to wear this week.  How I love that show!  You can learn so much from those dear people.  Such things as,"No use wishing for things you can't have."  Also, how to be a good neighbor.

For a little break after dishes and laundry, I got out my cherished copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House in the Ozarks to read a selection about work. I love her wisdom! She writes of us needing work that we love beyond being compensated.  It stirred thoughts of my work as a homemaker and how I love being home.

And then I listened to some wonderful big band music, as I put a chicken to roast in the oven.  In a bit my daughter and I will make some homemade icing for the banana cake. Then soon, my husband will be home from his hard day at work and we will all sit down and enjoy our evening together.

It might seem like one dreary task after another sometimes, but really, I wouldn't have it any other way!

Hello Spring?

(Picture from My Farmhouse Love's Facebook page)

While not the official first day of spring, it is exciting to be so close.  It will be spring in name only, as the powers that be are calling for more cold weather.  Even though the temperatures are lower than normal, it has been so cold this winter that below normal is now feeling warm.

This is still a season of changes.  We find ourselves with open windows and a furnace turned off.  Then in the early hours of the day, we are cold and wish for the furnace to be back on.  Hot soup one night and bringing out the grill the next is not uncommon.  A winter mix one day and the next we have a perfect spring day to enjoy.

The best part of early spring is the hope one feels.  Birds sing of this hope.  The air is filled with it, too.  I have even seen little shoots poking up in the dirt looking for the same hope.  Aww, spring!!!

My Little Notebook

Electronic journals, readers and calendars are very handy.  But, I  have always loved paper.  I keep a paper calendar.  I prefer books in print. And, for the last several years, I have been writing little bits and bobs in my paper notebook, along with blogging.  I call it my Homemaker's Journal.

On the first page, I have written, "Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time."  Proverbs 12:11.  Oh, do I need this verse!

In my little paper notebook, I write my weekly menus.  I write short "to do" lists for each day.  I write cleaning lists.  I copy recipes that I want to try.  I also write down quotes that I want to remember.  And I write check lists so that when we have to be away from home for a day, I can check the list and not forget little things that are so easy to forget. It is not fancy at all.  It's written in a composition notebook that I usually pick up a few for 50 cents around back to school time.  Usually one will last all school year.  But, I love it.

Here are the last few things I wrote in my notebook:

This week I found a formula for shower cleaner, which I made today.  I will try it out tomorrow.

1 part vinegar, warmed up.
1 part Dawn dish washing liquid, stirred in.
Put in spray bottle and get busy!

This quote from J. C. Ryle , "It costs something to be a true Christian.  It will cost us our sins, our self-righteousness, out ease, and our worldliness."  Hit me where I live, in my comfort zone!

Crash Hot Potatoes (The were really good!)
Red potatoes, as many as desired, boiled until fork tender.
Preheat oven to 450F.
Drizzle baking sheet with olive oil.
Set potatoes on the sheet, gently smash with a masher, rotating both ways.
Drizzle again with olive oil, season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, favorite herbs.
Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
Bake 20 minutes.

What one of my favorite blogs says to do when recovering from an illness, which I was this past week.  

• Clean something
• Cook something
• Plan something
• Read something
• Write something
• Fix something
• Sew something
• Serve someone

This little list inspired me to keep going.  

Cookies, Snow, and Minimalism

My daughter and I made our favorite cut-out cookies yesterday for Valentine's Day.

These are fantastic with layers of flavor.

Do you like to celebrate little winter holidays?  I do.  Celebrating makes life more fun this time of the year, especially when it is snowing again and you are growing weary of snow!

Speaking of snow, we got 5 inches yesterday.  This picture was just the start.  More is coming by morning.  

And finally, a Minimalist Mantra from Money Saving Mom

Stop buying the unnecessary.
Toss half your stuff,
Learn contentedness.
Reduce half again.
List four essential things in
your life, do these first,
stop doing the non-essential.
Clear distractions, focus
on each moment.
Let go of attachment to
doing, having more.
Fall in love with less.

Facebook Finds

{Just a few of my favorites from Facebook this past week.}

One of my most favorite pages from Facebook is Porch Sitting Union of America.  I love the pictures they post as well as their porch sitting attitude!  Here is my favorite one from this week.  I could do some serious porch sitting here!

And this house from Abandoned Everything is simply divine!  I love the windows up in the attic.  I can envision a little cozy room up there for reading or star gazing.  Someone just has to restore this gem!

These flowers from Country Living Magazine's page helped me keep my sights on spring.  I can't wait to make a bouquet from a cutting garden I have in mind.  

Do you have any favorite Facebook pages to share?

Farmhouse Dreams

Photo credit:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Abandoned-Everything/496944700356415

See that beautiful house up there?  You might say it is my dream house. When I look at it, I see perfection. At least it is what I think is my dream, despite the fact that I am not a rehab expert, just an average HGTV viewer.  And I enjoy my modern conveniences, so there is the second conflict in this dream.  But it is fun to dream, and one never knows, it could happen!

Contentment in Winter

We're having a colder than usual winter, snowier as well. Thankfully, we were still able to go on our annual beach hike at our favorite state park,  Indiana Dunes. We were all dressed warmly, another thing to be grateful for. Our 3 hour drive home was a bit frightful in spots with the wind blowing snow back on the highway  faster than the plows could keep up. All in all, my heart was full and we had a fun family outing.  Only 57 more days until spring!