Too Too Cute!

 

Cameron is two! And boy is he one cute boy!

He is so fun loving and friendly.

We are so blessed!

Eating from the Pantry and Freezers

 I started this year following the Pantry Challenge from Three Rivers Homestead yet again... and know what? I have decided that we need to eat this way for a while... so much to make!

Like this pumpkin sweet roll- I still have a few quarts of Tahitian Melon (a type of squash) to get through. Luke does not really care for the taste... so decided to try putting it into this bread. Then I filled the rolls with coconut sugar, cinnamon and pumpkin spice and topped it off with my salted caramel (made with maple syrup and butter) and cream cheese "frosting".

Turned out delicious, but I would like to find a way to have the pumpkin flavor a bit stronger... I am sure Luke will not mind tasting my attempts!

I also have so much pesto and so much pizza sauce. So these chicken pesto pizza pockets dipped in pizza sauce did not disappoint.

Home canned beef, some canned stock, a little thickener = delicious beef and gravy!

And Luke and I both enjoy a bowl of oatmeal (this one made with peaches and cranberries) and a bowl of chili.

Making ricotta from frozen milk - then turning it into bread (made with the whey) and homemade lasagna is always scrumptious!

This sloppy joe sauce is so good, I will need to can more when I run out!

I tried my hand at pink pasta and it was a hit!

And maybe our favorite - cream of carrot soup made with home canned carrots and a simple white sauce (with a bit of curry thrown into the mix) - absolute yummy!

I am so blessed to be able to create good food from our pantry!

It's Finally Christmas 2023!

 Been busy in many ways.. and many people not feeling well the last few months, but it was so nice to see so many in the family at Christmas time!

Such a beautiful gift for my garden!

ALWAYS grateful when I can tend the grands!

And welcome to Amanda!

Family is what makes the world a brighter place! I am so blessed!

Always Some Project!

 It seems that Christmas time always finds me trying one project or another...

This year it is my own version of Moon Dust, some writings for the Grands, and these

lotion bars! They have a base of oil infused calendula (from my garden, of course.)

I hope they hold up well.

I know I am very blessed to be able to try new things.

Blessed to Love Papa Ooh Ooh

 AKA Grandpa Luke!

This man is such a wonderful Grandfather to these boys!

They have so much fun with him!

And I have so much fun watching them have fun together!

They look up to him both literally (for now) and figuratively!

And I could not be more thrilled!

I am so blessed to be married for all eternity to him!

A Fine Nine!

 

Our Ashtyn is nine! The years really do fly by!

Ash is such a creative, fun and loving girl!

And a wonderful big sister!

I am so blessed to know you Ashtyn Dee!

Our Fantastic Four!

 

Thomas is four! He is such a delight to watch as he explores the world. He is so imaginative! And he has a fantastic smile!

We are so blessed!

'Two' Cute!

 

and ALL boy! Our Oliver is so adorable - even though he likes Grandpa Luke better!

He loves all things that might be considered a vehicle - cars, trucks, lawn mowers, tractors... When we went to the farm, Oliver did like the animals, but he loved sitting on the tractors!

And he loves 'giving rides' to all of his toys. 

He is growing up fast - but growing well!

I am so blessed to be his grandmother!

She's Five!

 Our Rylee Sue is five!

She is such a sweetheart! Rylee loves her family. She always tells me how happy she is when I visit or when she comes to visit me. Rylee just loves being with her family!

I am so blessed to have this girl in my life!

Nine Years a Grandmother!

 And loving it!!!

This beautiful girl turned 9 - already! Time goes so fast any more.

We love Claire so much. She is so fun loving and always learning.

I am so grateful to have this grand in my life and that she allowed me to be one of my favorite things - a grandmother!

There Really is Beauty All Around

 especially this time of year!

The flowers are out everywhere!

Plants are flourishing despite the bugs and weeds!

And the front yard project is complete! (Here's to hoping at least some of the weeds stay away...)

I am so blessed to live in such a beautiful place!

My Father's Example

 I can say without a doubt that I do have the greatest father! He is such a great support and example to me!

When I was young, my father was a high school math teacher. As I grew up, working with math was just something to learn like riding bikes, reading, cooking/baking. It was never something treated as difficult or hard. My father never treated math as something you are either good at or bad at. It was just another thing to learn. As such, I always knew that I could learn math, and I have come to LOVE teaching math to others, teaching them that they too can learn math with patience and practice. I have a career I enjoy thanks in part to my father's example.

My father grew (and still grows) a garden. He taught me so much about growing things, especially about trying something. I remember the year he grew peanuts. It was a great example of growing something not necessarily for the yield but for the fun of growing it!  This example has helped me to discover the joy in growing sweet potatoes and garlic - two of my favorite crops! I thought I may as well try it just to see what happened, and with my success, I now grow them every year.

My father also has a special place in his garden for roses. After seeing the beauty these flowers brought to his garden, I learned to care for them too. I now have several rose bushes that thrive each year.

latest project - this new garden area

My father also gave me an example of hard work and not being afraid of DYI projects. I watched as my dad laid tile among many other projects. This gave me the courage to teach myself home improvement skills like laying tile, dry walling,  installing new light fixtures, and so much more. As a single mom, I could not afford to hire anyone to do these things for me - so I just learned to do them myself. Projects like these are extremely satisfying to me even now when I could technically hire someone to do them for me.

I am so grateful for the wonderful examples set by my father! But his best and most cherished example comes from witnessing his love for his family and his love for our Father in Heaven! My father truly is a great man because of this love!!!

I am so blessed!

She's Seven!

 

Parker is seven! She is so full of life - ALL OF THE TIME!!! She is really into drawing, gymnastics, dancing, make up, and reading.

And treats (cookies, cakes, candy)... you name it!

We are so blessed to have Parker in our family.

Happy to be Surrounded by Mothers!

 

There are not adequate words to express my love for all of the many women who are mothers in my life - so I will just leave you with these pictures.

And so many more...

I am so very blessed! Happy Mother's Day!