Homemaking: Nothing Higher to Aspire

“I'm only a housewife, I'm afraid." How often do we hear this shocking admission. I'm afraid when I hear it I feel very angry indeed. Only a housewife: only a practitioner of one of the two most noble professions (the other one is that of a farmer); only the mistress of a huge battery of high and varied skills and custodian of civilization itself. Only a typist, perhaps! Only a company director, or a nuclear physicist; only a barrister; only the President! When a woman says she is a housewife she should say it with the utmost pride, for there is nothing higher on this planet to which she could aspire.” 

~John Seymour

“If you have been afraid that your love of beautiful flowers and the flickering flame of the candle is somehow less spiritual than living in starkness and ugliness, remember that He who created you to be creative gave you the things with which to make beauty and the sensitivity to appreciate and respond to His creation.”

~Edith Schaeffer

During summer, we take a bit of a respite from schoolwork (although I firmly believe learning happens during all the day-to-day happenings as well as book-work). We are able to spend more time doing other things that we enjoy which is such a blessing.

Our green beans and corn (growing in the big garden I posted about previously) are growing well. Other than going down to weed some, we get to just let the growing happen. At home, we continue with all our daily, normal chores like laundry, dishes, sweeping, tidying etc. The other day was simply beautiful and Jaxson helped me wash Wanda-the-Honda (we vacuumed her out too!)...

We've also been working at raking up leaves and pine needles (the long, soft kind) and using them to put into the chicken run (which doesn't get much sun....so with the abundance of rain we have had lately, has been quite muddy). My muck boots came in handy...

I enjoy using this time of year to organize rooms or areas in my home. I like to open up the windows and just go through things! I enjoy rearranging furniture to find a way that works better for the room it is in...and purging out home of things we no longer need! Sometimes, areas don't need "organized" really...but I just get the urge to *freshen* things up and switch it around a bit! :) It's such a great feeling of accomplishment when I am done.

As I have mentioned many times before, I enjoy mowing our lawn. It's great exercise (as we have a good sized yard in the back, sides and front) and a chance for me to roll up my sleeves and get a little bit of sun on my arms and face. The only disappointment is that with the abundance of rain we have gotten lately, the grass seems to grow *so* quickly (much *too* quickly in my opinion)...so between days of rain, we are blessed with a day of sun. As soon as the grass is dry enough, out I go again to get it all mowed again! I joked with Chris that it was like mowing the Amazon Rain Forest! :)

Pearl has enjoyed being out and about...enjoying the grass and sunshine! Our hens enjoy time free-ranging in the afternoons-evenings. I am so grateful that the Lord gave them the know-how to coop themselves at bedtime. Can you imagine having to chase 20 chickens to get them to bed every day?

Remember that homemaking happens *out*of doors as well as inside! Planting flowers (hardy perennials are absolutely fantastic as they come back every year and spread easily!), keeping your yard tidy and pulling weeds are all a part of making your home lovely!

The front of my home is not my favorite thing...I hope to change it one day, Lord willing (but truly, in the scheme of life, it's really not that important)...I *love* dressing it up with tons of flowers though! They bring me such joy! I love the looks and smells of different types of flowers. What a glorious gift the Lord gave us to enjoy! :)

These nicer days allow us to go to a few yard sales as well. I don't go to many...mostly to yard sales of friends and loved ones...but it's always fun to see what you can find for a deal! I found this lovely sweater that I *hope* will fit Madelyn (as she wasn't with me when I got it). Don't you think she will look so nice in it? ...

I also found these fun things...

“Homemaking is a passion you can pass on from generation to generation.” 

~Elizabeth George

And now, I really must go. There are things to tend to....which are not getting done while I'm on here! 

I hope your weekend ahead is blessed....and friends, don't be discouraged by the Supreme Court's ruling today. Our Lord is *Supreme* over all. He will prevail and not forsake His people. It's terribly disheartening but not surprising as the wickedness of man continues to demand its way. Stay in prayer and continue to follow Christ. Glorify Him in all you do and pray that this purifies the true Church. :)

In loving kindness,
Katy

"Show your children God's love...

...by loving them and others as Christ loves you. Be quick to forgive, don't hold a grudge, look for what's best and speak gently into areas of their lives that need growth."

~Genny Monchamp

Words of encouragement for you mamas out there. We all need it from time to time, don't we? :) The biggest source of all your wisdom, encouragement and daily nourishment of the mind should be coming from consistent time spent in God's Word. Even a busy mama can leave her Bible open on the table and as she walks by read one of the Proverbs and start memorizing it. You simply *must* be in the Word. It's vital to your life. Just as food nourishes the body, the Scriptures nourish the heart, mind and soul. Let God speak to you (through the reading of His Word) and you can pray to Him as you go through your day. Always be communicating with Him. There is always time for that! :)

“The way you keep your house, the way you organize your time, the care you take in your personal appearance, the things you spend your money on, all speak loudly about what you believe. The beauty of thy peace shines forth in an ordered life. A disordered life speaks loudly of disorder in the soul.” 

~ Elisabeth Elliot

A little of our days...

Jaxson got a remote-controlled plane and was having a lot of fun flying it! Much to their excitement, Eloise and Dinah (my nieces) were there to watch it!

 This super-sweet fuzzy-haired pumpkin was there too...

We all had a lot of laughs as this thing flew all over! It zoomed *at* us too, causing us to erupt in bursts of laughter (because although Jaxson was in control of it...he wasn't really sure *what* he was doing...so as it zoomed all over and then right over our heads and then *at* us, we were in fits of giggles ~ my sister and me especially!)...

Although you can't tell in this still photo, the girls were watching at the plane *took off* from the picnic table...

Mmm, yes. Such a beautiful thing to spend time with those girls. They just bring us all such joy! I can't imagine what our lives were like without them! :)

It's been raining here *a lot*. This resulted in my lawn looking like an amazon rain forest. Although the grass is still wet outside, the sun is out and I did some mowing today (as it is suppose to rain tonight and this week)...but then the mower ran out of gas. Our gas bins are empty as well. So, we're having some lunch, going to get some gas and then mow out at Aunt Jo's. Then we'll come back home and I will continue mowing here.

Madelyn has been a doll today. While I was out hanging a couple loads of laundry and mowing, she was inside ~ dusting, sweeping, washing eggs etc. :) Her help is truly glorious.

Before I go...(as there is much to do today and my lunch is finished and I *really* need to get going)...I just wanted to share a few photos from around the house lately.

Making homemade pizza (using the Homestead Blessings recipe)...

And here is the *fantastic* dry sink I found **on sale** for only $20! I was so, so excited and just had to snatch it up! I have this love for furniture. I need to remember I only have so much room to fit it all in my house!

Winnie-the-cat...

A peach pie that Madelyn made (while visiting at my parents' house) for Chris *for Father's Day*...

A gift from my mama...a candle within a candle. It smells like French Vanilla and I *love* it!

Sweet Stella...

Thanks so much for visiting! I gotta get going!!! The grass won't mow itself! Have a great day!

Cheerfully,
Katy

"I love my garden, and I love working in it...

...To potter with green growing things, watching each day to see the dear, new sprouts come up, is like taking a hand in creation, I think. Just now my garden is like faith ~ the substance of things hoped for."

~L.M. Montgomery, Anne's House of Dreams

We have our corn and green beans growing down at the big garden (that we share with Chris's parents). They are growing beautifully! It was time for us to get down there to get some weeding done (and Chris had hoped to get some more rows of corn planted but the tiller stopped working after making only one row. Chris spent a lot of time trying to fix it and had to just let it go for the night as the bugger didn't seem to *want* to be fixed right then, unfortunately.)

The corn is growing quickly and looking great! 

There's my poor hubby (and Xavier) trying to fix that tiller. It's always so frustrating when something breaks down/quits working...

Meanwhile, the two older children and I (and Chris ended up doing some as well) hoed up around the plants to weed around the plants. Oh my, it was hard work!!! We also pulled up *all* the milkweed plants that were around...

The cows sure have it tough, don't they? ;)

Since it often seems as though all I do is take pictures of everyone else working in the garden, I wanted to show that I definitely work too! :) Hair back, sweaty and really, altogether gross...but here we are (and black and white photos just seem to help make me look a *little* less icky)...

Look at my Madelyn...she worked *hard* and still looks absolutely adorable...

Madelyn and Daddy working alongside one another...Madelyn wanted to race. Chris, not so much! :)...

We got all the rows hoed up around and the milkweed plants pulled...finally getting home around 8pm to have supper! ;) Gardening can be quite exhausting work but so very worth it! I have to admit that I am *really* looking forward to all that delicious sweet corn and green beans!!! I am looking forward to eating it and canning it! 

Are you veggie gardening this year? If so, how is it going for you? 

Thank you for stopping by! 

Warmly,

Katy

Get Your House in Order: Paying Bills

I tend to be a pretty organized person. I am far from perfect (and not overly organized to the point of obsession) but strive to keep a well-run household...from cleaning, organizing, cooking, appointments, and keeping care with our families finances.

I have gleaned ideas over the years from various places...and thought I would share with you how I keep the paperwork/financial part in order!

When a bill comes in, I write it in my budget binder (this is a separate binder than my normal, everyday planner that I use). I have a calendar in there and write the bill and it's amount on the date it is due. I highlight pay days on the calendar in pink. I keep unpaid bills in that yellow plastic envelope...

Once a bill is paid, I write the date and check number on the bill stub (and make an X beside it in my budget binder) and then file the bill stub in the bin below. I don't always file the stubs right away. I will keep them in a holder on my desk and then when it gets full, I sit down and file them in their proper places...

This binder also is used as my wallet. I don't keep money in it...I have another coin purse for cash. I just keep my debit card, checkbook and register in there...

All important papers get filed in this bin (below). I like to know where things are and not have paper piles lying around. When paper piles *do* begin to accumulate, the best thing is to do it sit down with the pile in front of you and just go through it ~ one paper at a time. Trash/shred or file it where it belongs. :)

I hope how I do things helps you in your household organization/paying bills/filing paperwork. If you have any questions, please let me know and I will respond in the comments below. :) This way works wonderfully for me and maybe you have gleaned something from what I have shared..? :)

This is what Ruthie does while I am filing papers...

And before I go...just a few pictures from this past weekend. We attended a wedding this Saturday (as it was an outside affair, we were *so* thankful that the rain held off! I won't even begin to count how many bug-bites I have now though! haha!)...

Chris knows how to boogie (he always makes me giggle!)...

Father/daughter pic (Chris was going in for a surprise peck on the cheek! hehe!)...

Jaxson and his faces!!! Oh this boy of mine! He keeps us laughin'...

Catching a quick pic of Xavier on the move...

And at home...the animals enjoyed their naps (oh how rough they have it!). Remember in THIS post how I told you that Stella loves the windowsill? Here she is again (obviously *quite* comfortable as you can see)...

Ruthie was laying on the floor directly below Stella...

And Winnie would rather snuggle with me (it's a dark picture because when I took it with a flash, she would shut her eyes! I wanted you to see her eyes...because her sweetness is reflected in them)...

Here's one *with* the flash...see, she's all snuggled in...

So, this post was a bit of a two-fer...two posts in *one*! A little look into some organization and a look at a bit of family. :)

I always enjoy all the comments and emails you each send me. Thank you for them! I am going to try and be better about replying in the comments. I admit, I am not always great with that. I'm so sorry. If specific questions do get asked I always *do* try to respond via email (if you have that option available with your profile) or in the comments.

Thanks for visiting!
Cheerfully,
Katy