All is peaceful

The end of the holidays, brings the start of winter. A cozy fire, hot coffee, and sweater pants so toasty am I. The house is almost back to normal, just some laundry left to do. I am looking forward to some quite time to reflect on the wonder of our Lord, and just enjoy the peaceful company of my children. The girls returned home today, I cried, but I am sure Josh is happy to have them back home with him. Blessings to all.

List of work accomplished today:

bedding laundered

tree down

boxes tucked away

floors cleaned

window sills dusted

errands ran

family loved

Photos

Here are some more photos of our trip home last month. I sure do miss home, don't you mom.

Audrey took this picture of the nicely plowed field, grandpa does such a good job.

The men folk getting back from a wood cutting venture. Now grandma and grandpa will be nice and toasty for the winter. I love it. Tim did this with a horrible case of sciatica (sp)!!

A nice fat buck, I was standing about 2 car lengths from this guy. He just kept on eating from the oak trees. I was making noise to get him to look at me. Oh the life on land that can't be hunted.

The last of the crazy buffalo. You never know what you will find when you go home. I think these are stragglers from a heard that was in an accident. The truck tipped over with a bunch of these buggers in route to their new home. All were rescued but 3 or 4, I assume these are 2 of them. They are very shaggy and skinny.

Blessings to all

Oatmeal Bars

These were very delicious, and so simple to make! The perfect pairing for a good cup of coffee. Oatmeal Fruit Bars
1c. a.p. flour
1c. quick oats
2/3 c. brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 c. butter
1 c. jam

In large bowl mix flour, oats, sugar, and soda together. Cut in butter to resemble course crumbs. Press mixture into a 8x8 lightly greased baking dish, reserve 1 cup. Spread with your choice of jam, I used pomegranate-raspberry. Sprinkle the remaining mixture over the top and press lightly. Bake at 350 for 30 mins or until top is golden. Allow to cool this will allow it to firm up, cut and serve.
Enjoy

Fall decor

Here is my dining room now... Much more calm. My thrifted quail 2.00 ea, candle sticks 3.00 for both.

My Pier One pumpkin... I love the color.

Blessings to all

The 7 Day Decorating Challange

I am following Anna's plan,I will stick to her rules and see what I can do this week. Most importantly it must be free and it must make me smile.

Today I started with the dining room, I moved the buffet back into the dining room, to make room for my birthday gift(you will have to wait to find out what it is). I also hung my grandmothers tea cups and a cross-stitch picture she made. I really missed having the buffet in the dining room. So that makes me happy.

I was wanting some fall butterflies for my dining room table, so I made some, that makes me smile.

I placed some rum balls on the table for a special treat. They were left from Christmas, but were still good. LOL If I had only waited I could have used them this year. (not really)

In the sewing room

I needed some new hot pads and had not been able to find any that I liked. Then I found this really fun fabric (very bright and vintage looking). So I knew this would be my new hot pads. I used Anna's tutorial from Pleasant View Schoolhouse. All finished and ready to be used.

Audrey whipped up a new cover for the hot water bottle. It has been getting used, very comforting when your not feeling so well.

Blessings to all

How to clean with a smile

For years I have been trying to learn how to embroider. I am afraid I haven't been to successful, but I am determined to learn. Here is the project I worked on today. Not perrrfect, but it's
a start. Thanks to you tube, and some good ol' grit and determination. I will keep on working until another skill is able to undertaken. Who couldn't enjoy drying some dishes with this little cutie working right beside you?

A sea of cupcakes

Audrey hits the kitchen again. She has been waiting weeks to make these little cupcakes. Sprinkles and all. She even dressed them up for a grand parade in the kitchen.

Oh so yummy. Many are boxed up and ready to go to daddy's work. The soldiers in the office are sure to enjoy these little guys.

Happy 4th and blessings to all!

New Beginnings

Being a military family means we always have new beginnings. Tuesday night was no different, my kiddos went to youth group. This is the part that always seems hard, attending church is one thing, much easier. But getting involved with others, making friends, planting roots, that is always much harder to do. So I will now follow in their steps and start stepping out of my shell.
I prayed about it, and for them, not knowing how it would go. But they both came home and said they were glad they went, and wanted to go again. I can only say no matter how much we move or how many new beginnings we have to endure, we have one constant in our lives that is unchanging. Our Lord, Our Rock. Thank you for being the God that you are.


Enjoy life

Fresh Bread and yummy pecan pie.

I have taken to making our bread from scratch. It tastes so much better than store bought. I use an easy recipe and mix the dough in my kitchen aide mixer. It tastes so good when it is warm.

Here is the cute guys birthday pie. A derby pie, pecan and chocolate chips. Delicious! Odd thought we should dress it up a bit.

Blessings

A promise from the Lord

Oak Trees From Home

I love that the Lord is always so faithful, and perfect in his timing. Our home school name is Valley Oak Academy. I chose the name because it reminded me of my home, and the lovely huge Valley Oaks we have all over. Over the years, I wanted and used verses that were comforting to me, but always wanted something that was truly ours from the Lord. I wondered why some home schooler's, seemed to have it all together but not me. LOL Well last year I was studying Isaiah and ran across a verse that I knew the Lord had provided for us. (Well all of us)!!! But it was beautiful and a promise from Him. He is perfect and wonderful, and his timing is always just when we need it.
Here is the verse: Isaiah 61:3

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

It can't get any more perfect than that. It is a part of a larger verse, but the whole verse was something the lord was showing me. I am truly thankful for a God, who is real, and hears our prayers and answers back in truth.


Blessings

Resting Your Mind

photo from art.com

I would love to encourage all mothers to enjoy the summer. Slow down the pace, linger in the daily joys of life. Take time for yourselves, especially for those who choose to educate your children, to just enjoy your children. Relax, enjoy, play, cook, swim, bird watch. What ever you enjoy, do it. Try to find something you have wanted to learn, (I am planning on learning to can fruit this summer)and explore it. We as mothers, need to rest our minds, and just enjoy the moments. I will be writing about planning for the next year during the next few weeks. Offering tips, and thoughts on what I have learned over the past 10 years. I have some other posts in the schooling, particular on the last leg of the year, if you would like to read.
Until then,
blessings.

Lemon Boys

So delicious. Anna from Pleasant View Schoolhouse made these sweet cookies a while back. I finally got around to making some. A basic sugar cookie recipe, with lemon icing. They were the perfect treat after dinner.

Lemon Boys, so tasty.

Mouth watering dinner.

TheSan Miguel Mission

Here are some photos from our journey last weekend . The mission was just calling for some pictures. The mission was founded ion July 25, 1797 , the 16th mission in CA.