It has been nearly three years since I have blogged. Things have changed a lot. I'm still gardening, still a nurse, I'm going to the same church and living in the same town with the same amazing man. Although now life is being lived in a beautiful new townhouse. I keep saying to Brian "I feel like we live in a hotel" What with central air, a HOA that takes care of the lawn, oh and having an attached garage...A far cry from our old school house from 1882 that was our first home (see previous blogs) Every time I pull into the garage and do not have to lug groceries inside while it rains I say a prayer of thanksgiving. We have been here for a year now and LOVE it!!
In other news I am no longer a pediatric home care nurse. In January 2013 I started to work at our local community hospital and in Sept 2013 I changed shifts to work "weekend option" night shift. Yes I'm officially a weekend warrior! I would not change a thing about it : )
What I want to do here on this blog is begin sharing my life again. Mainly I want to do this because it's fun to write, summarize, share highs and lows, and look back. I want to share about my hobbies and interest, grow in what the Lord is teaching me, and inspire other to live a full and healthy life while I gain inspiration also!
Ready?
Let's GO!!!
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Saturday, September 1, 2012
End of Summer Provision
It's the end of summer here in Lancaster Co, PA. I find my mind is being pulled back to my garden and making the most of the last of the harvest. I've been dreaming of what I'm planting for fall and what needs done for winter. I love how the garden connects me to the seasons in a palatable way. I know it puts dirt under my nails but, hey, there's something about getting your hands dirty. It's a sign of impending goodness.
My tomato harvest is in full swing. I know that in 3 weeks or so these giant tomato plants will die. I am watering them (at the bases only) faithfully, every night. Standing there makes my mind wander to what delightful tomato-y goodness I'll be putting by next. I can only hope there is enough to last most of the winter. My salsa went quickly after my first season of canning last year. This year I planted Gilberti tomatoes from High Mowing Organic Seed Company. They are HUGE plum/roma tomatoes that are super meaty. Great for canning.
In other news, my husband and I were recently on a week long camping trip to Maine with my family. It was a great time together. We kept busy, but also had time to do some of the relaxing things we enjoy. We had a car issue and got stuck in Maine an additional 5 days. It was a frustrating experience. We had to spend money that wasn't intended for this, and we missed work. I had it in the front of my mind early on the fact that God knew what was going on before it even happened. Why would he choose to allow us to go through this frustrating time? I had my eyes open the whole time. I was praying and thanking Him for every little provision along the way, and there were many! In the long run I don't know the ultimate lesson but I learned many small ones and got to know my husband even better.
So enjoy the end of summer harvest and remember God is teaching through all the good and bad times!
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Spring Again
Here I am! I didn't forget about this little blog! After a boring winter, my garden is growing and I'm feeling inspired to post again. The Lord has been blessing us with some nice rain, followed by beautiful sunny days and my garden is happy! Here are some pictures of what's going on in my tiny corner of Lancaster, PA:
Spinach!
Collard Green~ First try
An heirloom variety of lettuce that a local family has been growing for over 8 years...I'm going to let this go to seed and save them
Lemon Balm and Lavender...Mmmm
Thyme
Oregano
Meadow Mint(Spearamint)
New type of tomato~ Gilberti Paste. They are supposed to be 8-12oz each!! In the mini green house for now until it's consistently warmer.
This is the one I'm most excited about...my Garlic that I overwintered. It's HUGE and beautiful! Organic from a local grocery store. There are over 45 plants!! Did I mention we LOVE our garlic? : )
That's all for now folks! God bless you all!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
End of the Harvest
Here I sit with a cup of homemade hot chocolate. MMMmmm...My husband is beside me sipping his chai tea and browsing the internet. Our brand new non-electric coal stove is crackling in the next room and we are toasty warm and as cozy as we can be. It's so good to be able to slow down and enjoy these moments together.
The last few weeks have been busy with making arrangements for getting the coal stove installed by builders who also put in a new chimney in our 1880's home. She tolerated it like a champ! Actually the home originally was heated by coal, so it's like having an old friend over. Christmas prep has been keeping us moving as well. I can't complain, it's a good kind of busy. But, Oh!, these calm moments are priceless.
In other news today after church I pulled in the end of my lettuce harvest. I had a small (maybe 3x2) plastic green house over my 3 small rows and it kept my lettuce perky until now. Not bad! We've enjoyed tons of fresh salad this fall. Can't wait to plant in the spring : ) Gardening is becoming a favorite past time of mine, reawakened this year as it was time to have my first real honest-to-goodness own garden on our own property. I've got gardening in my veins. My great-grandfather was a fruit vendor in old Totowa, NJ. My grandparents on both sides of the family gardened and were pretty good at it. My parents are avid gardeners. One of the pastimes they really enjoy doing together. Growing up we had 3 gardens! One large one in our back yard in NJ ( they don't call it the Garden State for nothing!) and 2 at our Community Garden Center. One was a perennial plot that was left alone for the winter, while the other plots got tilled by the grounds keeper. I have many memories of gardening as a child. Watching mom with her bandadna on her head working in the garden, Dad making his nightly run over to the Community Garden Center to water it, and me enjoying the sweetest peas right out of the pod. So it's been a wonderfully nostalgic, yet a fresh and new experience to dive into gardening in my own way. I'm thankful for the experience and looking forward to year two.
To close I want to share this verse that has a little bit to do with my gardening experience. I love this past time but the most important thing is to see the Lord and his goodness in his creation. It's because of Him, what He's done in my life, and how His Word has changed me that I can experience joy and see His love in creation.
Job 23:12 " I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." NIV (emphasis mine)
The last few weeks have been busy with making arrangements for getting the coal stove installed by builders who also put in a new chimney in our 1880's home. She tolerated it like a champ! Actually the home originally was heated by coal, so it's like having an old friend over. Christmas prep has been keeping us moving as well. I can't complain, it's a good kind of busy. But, Oh!, these calm moments are priceless.
In other news today after church I pulled in the end of my lettuce harvest. I had a small (maybe 3x2) plastic green house over my 3 small rows and it kept my lettuce perky until now. Not bad! We've enjoyed tons of fresh salad this fall. Can't wait to plant in the spring : ) Gardening is becoming a favorite past time of mine, reawakened this year as it was time to have my first real honest-to-goodness own garden on our own property. I've got gardening in my veins. My great-grandfather was a fruit vendor in old Totowa, NJ. My grandparents on both sides of the family gardened and were pretty good at it. My parents are avid gardeners. One of the pastimes they really enjoy doing together. Growing up we had 3 gardens! One large one in our back yard in NJ ( they don't call it the Garden State for nothing!) and 2 at our Community Garden Center. One was a perennial plot that was left alone for the winter, while the other plots got tilled by the grounds keeper. I have many memories of gardening as a child. Watching mom with her bandadna on her head working in the garden, Dad making his nightly run over to the Community Garden Center to water it, and me enjoying the sweetest peas right out of the pod. So it's been a wonderfully nostalgic, yet a fresh and new experience to dive into gardening in my own way. I'm thankful for the experience and looking forward to year two.
To close I want to share this verse that has a little bit to do with my gardening experience. I love this past time but the most important thing is to see the Lord and his goodness in his creation. It's because of Him, what He's done in my life, and how His Word has changed me that I can experience joy and see His love in creation.
Job 23:12 " I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." NIV (emphasis mine)
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Happy December!
I am really looking forward to this month as it brings fun times with family and friends, making memories, and celebrating Jesus birth together. This year I've made a hot chocolate mix from dry ingredients. I put it in pint mason jars with marshmallows to top it off. Pieces of some old christmas cards become cute tags and it all has come together very nicely!
Do you have any clever and cute gift ideas? This stuff is so stinkin' yummy!! For the recipe head over to Homestead Acres's page : www.homestead-acres.com I omitted the coffee creamer and used whole-fat dry milk instead of non-fat dry milk.
Hope you are enjoying this season. Don't forget to slow down, step out of the materialism of it all, and thank God for "drawing near to us".
Hope you are enjoying this season. Don't forget to slow down, step out of the materialism of it all, and thank God for "drawing near to us".
Friday, November 4, 2011
Fear
Today I had off of work! Kind of not a good thing right now as my hours have not been what they once were with the nursing agency I work with. I've been in contact with our local hospital and I'm hoping to get back in to work at least part time. This has been a lesson in submission to my husband. I LOVE doing nursing in kids home. It's a great fit for me...however the hours are unpredictable and the homes are sometimes far away and even unsafe. After 2 years of being patient with the agency my husband has told me I need to look for a more stable job, at least part time. He is right! I need to hear that from him, I need a kick in the pants sometime! I also need to submit to him. If I could make it work I would keep this job forever!! I love it but I also think it's easy and comfortable for me, fear may be keeping me from going back to harder work. Which leads me to the second lesson God is teaching me: "Don't let fear stop you if I AM is leading you!"
Fear of failure, making mistakes, not being able to handle it. Isn't that the way it is with a lot of new things in life? We hold ourselves back due to fear or stepping outside of our comfort zones. Have you ever experienced this feeling? Have you ever chosen the easy road even though you know God (maybe even through your hubby) is calling you to a more challenging path? I trust Him that as He calls me He will give me the strength I need to replace the fear.
2 Timothy 1:7 "The Lord has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind."
Fear of failure, making mistakes, not being able to handle it. Isn't that the way it is with a lot of new things in life? We hold ourselves back due to fear or stepping outside of our comfort zones. Have you ever experienced this feeling? Have you ever chosen the easy road even though you know God (maybe even through your hubby) is calling you to a more challenging path? I trust Him that as He calls me He will give me the strength I need to replace the fear.
2 Timothy 1:7 "The Lord has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind."
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Stocking the Pantry
Well fall is is full swing here in Lancaster Co PA and winter is right around the corner I'm sure!! I LOVE fall! It is my most favorite time of year! It's so crisp and fresh and the sun is so bright and warm while the breeze is cool. I love it!
Last winter was our first married winter and it was a hard one financially. Turns out our house, which was built in 1882 doesn't hold heat... at all!! Our oil bills were ferocious. We are braced for it this year. We'll be running space heaters more and we also may have someone blow insulation into the attic floor. Just need to make sure we can afford it...it's like the question is "Money now or more money later?".
I have the pantry really well stocked. Including toiletries and cleaners and all those goodies. I discount grocery shop so for about $150 I really was able to pack the place. I love getting stuff for a steal, as long as it's still safe. Boxes of quaker oatmeal for .50 cents because they're dented, cans of tomato products for a quarter. Umm yes please!! There's a brand called Fantastic World Foods which makes some great vegetarian dried products. There's a sloppy joe mix and also taco filling, chili, refried beans, and hummus that all require just some water and cook time. They were .50 cents this week! At a normal health food store they are around $4.00 We win!! Haha! We're not above that! If you're in this area a few places I'd suggest are:
Ebeneezer's Groceries on 272 in Ephrata
Glenwood Foods on 322 out toward Hinkletown
BB's on 419 in Shaefferstown
Worth your time!!
If you have any advice on saving money for the winter I'd love to hear it!!
Last winter was our first married winter and it was a hard one financially. Turns out our house, which was built in 1882 doesn't hold heat... at all!! Our oil bills were ferocious. We are braced for it this year. We'll be running space heaters more and we also may have someone blow insulation into the attic floor. Just need to make sure we can afford it...it's like the question is "Money now or more money later?".
I have the pantry really well stocked. Including toiletries and cleaners and all those goodies. I discount grocery shop so for about $150 I really was able to pack the place. I love getting stuff for a steal, as long as it's still safe. Boxes of quaker oatmeal for .50 cents because they're dented, cans of tomato products for a quarter. Umm yes please!! There's a brand called Fantastic World Foods which makes some great vegetarian dried products. There's a sloppy joe mix and also taco filling, chili, refried beans, and hummus that all require just some water and cook time. They were .50 cents this week! At a normal health food store they are around $4.00 We win!! Haha! We're not above that! If you're in this area a few places I'd suggest are:
Ebeneezer's Groceries on 272 in Ephrata
Glenwood Foods on 322 out toward Hinkletown
BB's on 419 in Shaefferstown
Worth your time!!
If you have any advice on saving money for the winter I'd love to hear it!!
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