Just a Reminder..

Hi friends,

Just a reminder to all of us as we begin a new school week...

Happy Monday, friends!  :)

Some Recent Handicrafts

Over the summer, we were busy with handicrafts...mostly wood-working for the boys and sewing for the girls. 

And we have some beautiful results to show for the children's hard work.  :)

First, the boys' project: My mom gave us cedar lumber that was my Dad's. Hubby decided to make a bookcase with it. The lumber  was rough and dirty and desperately needed milling. Once it came back from the mill, it was sooo beautiful, and smelled wonderful! The milling really brought out the lovely grain in the wood..

It was a fast-moving project and they finished in 10 days! We couldn't wait to fill it with books!  :)

Love it!  :)

Now, for the girls..Their summer project was making a wall hanging for their bedroom. They chose the colors, cut the squares, and laid everything out on the floor to create the pattern they wanted. They did most of the sewing themselves, and here it is before adding the border..

Then they added the batting, border, backing, tabs at the top for hanging, and sewed it all together. (Aaron cut and painted to dowel rod for them.) And it was ready to hang..

They did a great job, don't you think?  :)

On a smaller scale, we did other handicrafts/life skills...

Cake baking and grape juice canning...

Natalie has been crocheting scarves and giving them as birthday gifts..

And of course, with 3 dirt bikes in the family, knowing how to change a tire is a much needed skill in these parts.  :)

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. " ~Ecclesiastes 9:10a

Have a terrific Tuesday, friends!

Wednesdays With Words

We are watching the movie, Gods And Generals with the children. And it fits in so nicely with Ian's  study of the Civil War for yr10.

Last night, we watched the battle of Fredricksburg. At the end of the battle, one of the southern soldiers questioned General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson about how he was able to remain so calm in the heat of battle.

Stonewall Jackson's quote is commonplace worthy - and unforgettable...

"“[M]y religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.” 

Oh, how desperately we need Godly men like this to lead our soldiers...and our country!


Sharing with Dawn.

A Reminder to Me

Even after 33 years of marriage, I still need to be reminded to...

Have a great week-end, everyone!  :)

Lilla Rose Sale

Hi friends,

There is a Lilla Rose Sale starting this morning (7:am PT) til Wednesday, September 30th at midnight....

10% off everything!

10% off October FOTM early release..."Hoot".

15% off newly released styles... and check out some of the Limited Editions...

And 20-40% off select styles.

Order here.

Thanks to all my customers!

I Am a Polygamist

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Did the title of this post catch your eye? I thought it would.  :) But it's not what you think. Let me explain...

A few weeks ago, I found this fun graphic somewhere on internet.

I saved it to my laptop and emailed it to my children. They loved it and it was alot of fun hearing them trying to determine what kind of reader they think they are.

Then I wondered..what kind am I?

It wasn't very hard to figure it out.

Other than my daily Bible readings, I am reading Great Expectations..(love, love this book, but I just finished Tale of Two Cities, which I also loved! Charles Dickens makes it so hard to choose a favorite, doesn't he?)

Volume 6 of the Charlotte Mason series..

And for poetry, Emily Dickinson..

So according to the above graphic, looks like I'm a grade A bonafide polygamist.  And loving every minute of it.  :)

Which kind of reader are you? Do tell!

Nature Exchange #3

I am on  a roll, friends - 2 posts in one week!  :)

In spite of the time crunch here, I just had to share some photos from our recent Nature exchange with Silvia.  This is something we do once a year with Silvia and her family. I have shared previous Nature exchanges here and here.

My children and I have always thought that collecting and sending the Nature treasures to Silvia is the best part...

..until the box from Silvia arrives and we discover what she and her family have sent us....

Books! Lovely, living books!! Take a peek..

Not to mention sweet notes from her girls, a yummy Texas fruitcake, a volcanic rock from Italy, a fridge magnet from Malta, beautiful journals,

And these gorgeous tablecloths..
                                     

The children are devouring the books, and we are all devouring the fruitcake. Thanks again, Silvia! I am so thankful for our friendship!  :)

"As iron sharpens iron, 

So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." ~Proverbs 27:17