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 

Joy in the Ordinary

 Some ordinary, yet joyful moments from my week. 

Hello friends, after a cool start to spring, it's starting to warm up. This summer loving girl is ready for some warmth. 

Although short lived, peonys are sooo beautiful. And the fragrance is devine!

I love being able to get outside before lunch. While Mr. Ben plays I'm able to spend time in the Word. 

Just because I never get tired of seeing fresh eggs in my kitchen. *smile*

Mother's Day was delightful. Chuck and I took my parents out for lunch. (Megan was working.) I received a lovely homemade card from Megan. She drew the chicken. I also received gifts for my garden. 

Speaking of gardening... here I am ready to go to my happy place. 

Posing with the flowers for my window boxes and the veggies I grew myself. All of my flowers are planted and the plan is the have the planting of the garden completed by the weekend. I hope Mother Nature got the memo that's the plan!

Look around, really look around and you will find joy... joy in thee every day, joy in the ordinary. 

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 

Joy in the Ordinary

 Some ordinary, yet joyful moments from my week. 

Beautiful artwork left by one of the five year old twins who live next door. 

It brought joy to this sunshine loving girl!

There were a couple of bumps in the road this week. I asked Chuck to get the mop out of the utility closet and he spotted this on the furnace flue.

That's something I probably wouldn't have noticed. He made a list and then the plan was to take my car to the hardware store for parts and fill up my gas tank. Nope. We hopped in and my car wouldn't start. 

On to plan B. We hopped into his car and were off to get the parts. 

My handy guy was able to get the pipe whipped back in shape. My car ended up in the shop. Thankfully it was an easy fix and I was back in business by the next afternoon. 

Several day it was window open weather. 

It was warm and sunny. The perfect ice cream kind of day!

The highlight of the week was the empty grave and our risen Savior. Hallelujah!

My contribution to our extended family dinner was desserts. 

It was a great day and wonderful week. 

Look around, really look around and you will find joy... joy in the every day, joy in the ordinary.

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 

First Week of Spring

The first week of spring has been full and wonderful. The weather has been spectacular for early spring. That helped to get many things  marked off of. the to do list.

Here and there I have been up potting my seedlings. I still have three trays to work through.

I was also able to do some early season planting. 

 

Peas are officially in the ground!

Every one has been anxious to be outside, even the chickies. 

The yard was cleaned and the first cut of the season took place. 

The big project of the week has been the neighbors kitchen. All of the old kitchen cabinets and counter top were all condensed into this stack. I may have had a great time busting most of these to smitherines!

This is as far as we got by the end of the weekend. Honestly, must further then we thought. 

Since this picture was taken the sink has been temporarily installed.  A must with twin 8 month old babies. The plan is to have the cabinets completed next weekend so the counter top installation can be scheduled. Oh, and they will be able to load the cabinets. I know they are looking forward to getting that chaos put away.

Not everything was work. The weather was perfect and there was a lot of time spent outside. The boys from next door were in our back yard as much as they were their own. 

I really don't mind as it warms my heart to hear them counting while playing hide and seek and the giggles make me smile. 

While the kids played I read. I've officially completed all 14 books I received for Christmas and my birthday. I'll have to find a new series to read soon.

Spring is my favorite season and I plan to enjoy every moment.

Wendi