The Story of my Hoe

Every year when we start working in the garden, Chuck says I need a new handle for my hoe. It might be a little wobbly, but it's not happening. 

 You see, it belonged to my grandfather.  Pop grew up in a make-do generation. 

Every time I see the electrical tape and the bent nails it reminds me of him. Pop grew up on a farm during the Great Depression. He was a newly married man, farming his own piece of land during World War II. 

He and my grandmother never talked about living a frugal life. It was ingrained in the way they had always lived. Growing up I never realized how much I was learning from Mom and Pop. It's a great reminder that it's not about what we say, it's about what we do that makes the biggest impact.

I imagine Chuck will still comment on my hoe each year and I will smile, and keep using my hoe as is as I cherish my memories of Pop. 

Wendi 

100 Miles An Hour

Things have been busy around here. 100 miles an hour feels like an understatement most days. Let's start off with today... Chuck and I celebrated our 25th anniversary! Nothing fancy happened. We had thought about a get away, but with an upcoming beach vacation we opted to stay home.  Chuck took the day off, we did some projects, ran a few errands, and ended the night at our favorite pizza restaurant. 

Lots of outside work has been happening. 

The garden has been tilled and broccoli and cabbage plants have been planted. 

There is kale in the gutter garden. I have also planted lettuce and spinach. Those are making a slower appearance. 

Potatoes are growing well, and so is the lettuce that I started indoors. The lettuce had been under a frost cover until today. 

I've looked at the long range forecast and I should be able to plant my garden in the next two weeks. That means it's time to harden off my seedlings. 

They are more than ready to go in the ground. 

The pressure washer has been pulled out and the porch received it's yearly cleaning. 

While everything was off of the porch I wiped things down and any maintenance was preformed. The first thing completed was a fresh coat of paint on the planters. 

I've wanted to paint the stand for this swing for years. This was the year! Chuck washed, sanded, and painted the frame. I had him use the same color as the planters. 

Once that was complete I knew the swing was getting a coat of paint also. 

I have loved a white swing since I was a little girl. I remember going to visit a relative we called Cousin Edna. She had a white swing with a green cushion on her front porch. I found it so charming!

While I was in the painting mode I touched up some furniture. 

Fresh mulch was placed in all of the flower beds. 

Megan gave me a watering can and twinkle lights for Mother's Day last year. I had a plan for it, but I needed a shepherds hook. I finally found one tall enough. 

It turned out so cute!!

The swing set was pressure washed. This swing set was built by my father-in-law in 1990 for his first grandchild. She was grown by the time we purchased this house and they gave the swing set to us. 

Over the years we've had to replace the tarp and swings. The wood is still in great shape and it looks brand new after being cleaned. 

Beside our already scheduled trip to the beach we have no plans for travel this summer. With the state of things we will be staying home. I am completely fine with that, as I am a homebody.  The plan is to maintain the things we have. 

We are still working on the kitchen remodel with our neighbors. The countertop was slightly delayed. Once that is installed we need to help with the back splash and then we are done. Yeah! The plan was to help them with this remodel and then they would do a few more upgrades and put their house on the market in a couple of years.

Well, that has changed and it is going on the market as soon as the kitchen is complete. We are sad, yet we understand. That has lead us to a project that we had hoped to put off... our fence.  It needs some maintenance. Some of the pickets need replaced and it needs painted. Since our beloved neighbors are moving we have decided to add a few more privacey panels. 

You never know what kind of neighbor you will get. So, we thought it best to go ahead and do the maintenance on that side of the fence and to extend some privacy for our back porch and pool. I guess you could say we are planning for the worse and praying for the best when it comes to new neighbors!

Here is my girl going on her first interview for what I am calling a big girl job. 

She has applied at several banks. So far she's had three interviews and no offers.  As I was texting with her after an interview today... I told her I am praying for God's will when it comes to a job offer. So, if they aren't coming it's not God's will. She replied you're right. Trusing God for his plan and timing isn't always easy. *smile*

Besides everything I've shared our calendar is full for the month.  There are many nights I'm not sitting down until after 8. I know this pace is end in three weeks. I might be counting down the day!

Wendi 

A Working Kitchen

I snapped this picture after I completed a deep clean of my kitchen. I can honestly say that this space, especially my counters, rarely stay this way. Why, because I have what I call a working kitchen. 

For me a working kitchen is one that is easy to tidy and meets my everyday needs. For each person that will look different.

Most of the time my counters aren't what I would considered cluttered.  And they certainly aren't picture perfect. They have an item or two that is working for me. 

In this instance it's the dehydrator. There was an abundance of cilantro that wouldn't be used before it went bad. 

Three meals a day come out of this space. Many times it's an appliance doing the work for me. 

Megan enjoys working in the kitchen also. Sharing a kitchen with my 19 year old daughter means that many times she is the one working in the kitchen. 

A jar for egg shells to be baked and ground up for the chickens. Along with some banana peels becoming fertilizer are sitting next to the sink.

This bowl is always on the counter to collect eggs. 

This space is one that you spend a lot of time in serving your family. From serving hot meals to nourish hungry bellies, to prayes sent up as dishes are washed. 

One thing Megan talks about is grounding. In her case, walking in the yard in her bare feet feels grounding. For me the grounding comes from the peace and security of my home. Mainly, my working kitchen. 

It's the work horse of the my home, and place where memories are made around the table. It's a place where problems are solved. Budgets are worked around the table, plans are layed out, crafts and school work are completed here. There is dancing, laughter and sometimes tears shed. 

Not only do I have a working kitchen, I'm trying to have a no waste kitchen. Such as the banana peel fertilizer, the eggs shells as calcium, and a scrap container for the chickens. 

As the world seems to get crazier and uncertainty is everywhere it's time to pull our focus toward home. A working kitchen can provide a safe place and become a haven for those who enter. Who wouldn't want to stop by for a fresh baked cookie?

My working kitchen is ever changing. 

Wendi 

Making Hay

 Hello friends, it's been a few. While I've been away I've been busy making hay while the sun shines. 

If you follow Annabel from The Blue Birds are Nesting on the Farm I imagine you've heard her use that phrase often. I'm sure we could all feel a shift in the world recently. 

When things feel heavy I do two things... turn to God and turn my thoughts toward my home and family. I looked it up and the Bible mentions multiple times that we are not to live in fear. I can't remember exactly, but it was something like 365 times!

What can I do to change things when the world is on fire? Really, nothing. I can pray and I can prepare. Here are a few things I've been doing to make hay while the sun shines.

I planted the last of my vegetable seeds.  

A week after sowing the seeds, most of them have sprouted. 

We (meaning mainly Chuck and me as his cheerleader and helper) have taken on a project. We are removing and installing new kitchen cabinets for our next door neighbors. They are also helping with labor. 

They were quoted $24,000 to complete this project. We were approached and asked if Chuck would help them (which means basically to do this project). They are paying him for his help, even with paying him they are going to save a bunch of money. Over the weekend this is the section we were able to complete. 

There is still lots of work to complete, but in the end it will be a win, win for all of us. They will save money and we will earn some. 

For even when we were with you, this we command you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:10

With things feeling a little uncertain I decided I needed to do some stocking up. I may not work outside of my home, but what I do in my home is just as important. 

 The first stop was to get bedding and extra feed for the girls. 

Next I added to the pantry. Now, as I've mentioned before I keep a well stocked pantry, so I did a little topping off. 

The first stop was to stock up on my tea. Only one store carries the kind I like. I did splurge and purchase a frozen pizza that was on sale. That will save us from take out on a crazy or lazy night. 

I stocked up of flour and sugar. There is so much that can be done with these two items. I also needed to top off my chicken supply. 

Now that most things have been topped off I will need to be prudent to watch sales and ensure my stock doesn't dwindle. 

While making waffles for breakfast I whipped up a double batch and added some to the freezer. 

Chuck finished the window boxes to the point that I was able to give them their first coat of paint. 

The plan is to finished them this week and then Chuck will be able to add the trim to the top. 

It's spring break which means I won't have to care for Ben for the next two weeks. I have a lot of hay to make while the sun shines!

Keep those home fires burning and continue to pray, that's really all we can do!

Wendi 

New Year, Same Me

Yup, New Year, same me! Let's see what I have in mind for 2026. Trust me, nothing earth shattering.

I've been reviewing 2025 and overall it was a really good year. Our biggest accomplishment was a huge declutter and a very successful garage sale. Once we moved from the inside of our home to our out buildings we were feeling the pressure to get it done. That leads me to one of my goals for the new year.... organizing.

The plan is to go through all of those spaces again and get everything very organized. I am so looking forward to completing this project. I recently heard a Youtuber state that "order creates peace." Yes! I whole heartedly agree. I am going to be working hard to have an 

organized home. 

That leads me to my word of the year. Peace. I don't have to tell you that the world is crazy. My goal is to create a home that is peaceful. 

I took the above photo years ago. (A barn we saw while on a drive not far from where I live.) I added my favorite Bible verse and this has been my cover photo on FB forever. 

The verse conveys exactly what I want for home. A peaceful place where you feel the love of the Lord, a place to retreat from the world, a haven that makes you want to sigh with contentment when you are there.

There is also a trip to the beach in the works. Originally we said no to going.  Then my mother said that it would be the last trip for her and my dad. They are in their late 70's and the long drive is hard on my dad. We didn't want to miss the last big family trip. The good news is that we have already paid our portion of the rental. 

We also have some financial goals. I hate to admit that we added some debt in 2025. We will be working on paying that off. We will be "hunkering down" as Patsi from A Working Pantry says. I'm going to try really hard to find extra money in my grocery budget to add to the debt reduction. I'm going to see how I can make some changes, tighten the purse strings and become a work on becoming even more of a frugal homemaker. 

I'm ready to hit the ground running and knock some things off my list. Happy New Year! Here's to a prosperous and joyful 2026!

Wendi  

Day in the Life

It was a little after 8:30 when I woke up. Generally I wake between 7:30 and 8:00.  I hadn't slept well the night before. I have been limiting my access to news and social media since the flooding in Texas.  Although I know I need to stay abreast of things happening, it has been very hard on this Mama's heart. I spent some time on the computer Sunday night and that resulted in my poor sleep.

Number one the loss is heart wrenching. Number two I read a couple negative things that people are saying. One that really bothered me was a women who made this sad, sad situation about race and politics. I generally refrain from mentioning any of those things on my blog. I was really bothered and upset by the comments. I'm sure you have all seen some stories of blame and just plain stupidity. That's all I will say about that.

I start my day be having a cup of tea and time in the Word on the back porch. It was such a pleasant morning. The humidity was low and the temperatures very pleasant. After praying about all the mess in the world we live in I decided to do what women have been doing for centuries. What you may ask? Focusing on what is most important... my family and home.  As Mother Teresa said, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family."

With the pleasant weather I decided to focus my energy on the outside of my home. I began in the front landscape. The daylilies were pretty much spent and I spent a couple hours cutting all of the stems off.

When that was complete it was after 12:30. I made a quick trip out to pick up a prescription and to drop something off at my parents. Once home I made a simple lunch. While eating my neighbor popped through the back gate and we chatted for a few.

Next on the list was mowing the lawn. We have a large yard and it takes an hour to an hour and forty-five minutes to finish. It just depends on how detailed the job is done. 

See those brown spots? Did you know that if you spray your grass with bug spray it will kill it?  I didn't. On the Fourth I sprayed some during fireworks. Oops! Dumb, dumb, dumb!

As I finished cutting the neighbor came back over. Could I watch the twins, as it was baby time! They are having a second set of twins!! Soon there will be six little boys living next door to us. 

While the boys played I watered my flowers. Since it was Monday that meant it was time to feed them while giving them a drink of water.

This basket looks happy to me!

The boys were here for a little over an hour. We were waiting for grandma to pack a few things and head over. 

I had been cycling laundry through out the day and made a quick trip inside to fold a basket. 

I then went back to cleaning up the front landscape. I pulled all of the dead out of the lilies and then weeded. I was still at this when Chuck pulled in at 5 p.m.  He did a little weed eating while I finished up. 

The front was now in full sun and I was hot by the time I finished. So, into the pool I went for a little cool down. 

I floated for about ten minutes before I went in to make dinner. Tacos were on the menu. Since I had been outside most of the day I opted for a taco salad. 

After dinner was cleaned up I took a walk to look at the garden. I collected a few goodies. 

I know some may question why I cut grass. One reason is that I enjoy it. The other is that as a help meet to Chuck I want to make things easier for him while he is home. There are times when he will cut, or we will do it together. By helping out instead of cutting grass that evening he was able to take us to Rural King. 

The chickens needed a few thing and the plan had been for Megan and I to go the next day. It was sure handy having him along to lift these things for us!

Once home I took a couple of these and sat down about 8:30. 

I may have over done it just a little. I spent the rest of evening chilling out while Chuck dozed while watching TV.  It had been a full day and by 10 I was tucked in bed. 

The world around me may be broken, sad and on fire. I can't fix those things, but tomorrow I will start the day the same way... a cup tea, time in the Word and prayer.  Then once again I take care of my home. Making it a safe haven for the family I love beyond words. 

Wendi