It’s been really quiet here on the blog…{crickets chirping}…

But not at my house!

We are MOVING!

(It’s great news and I’m excited to tell you all about it! )

More coming soon.  Back to packing more boxes…

And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified:

he is risen; he is not here:

behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.”

Mark 16: 1-7

As the weather has been warming, our neighbors have been coming out of their homes.  They’ve been gardening, mowing lawns and taking long walks down the street. I must admit…I have only met two of our neighbors.  But, my goal this spring is to take some kind of goodie and make the rounds to introduce our family.

By nature, I’m not a very outgoing person, so meeting new people can be hard for me.  But, as I’m growing in my relationship with the Lord, I’m realizing that my life isn’t all about me! I’m asking Him for ways to serve Him and those around me…and He sure is showing me some ways to do that!

Why is it important to meet the neighbors?

1. You never know when you’ll need to borrow something.  (Ask me how I know!)

2. When you smile and wave at them, they won’t think you’re crazy.

3. You can actually say their name when shouting, “Good morning!”.

4. You can tell them about the Lord.

I’ve saved the best for last. We should have a heart to reach the lost and be the hands of Jesus to everyone we meet, but especially our neighbors.  Each of us probably have someone living nearby.

Did you ever stop to think that the Lord may have guided you to the house where you live as a missionary assignment?

Isn’t it amazing that a connection that started with a plate of cookies or a basket of fruit could end up with you being able to share the salvation that our gracious God has offered?

Sandy at Reluctant Entertainer always has great ideas for easy, friendly entertaining. Her post on The Blessing of Hospitality gives a wonderful example of how easy it can be to connect with your neighbors.

(You can read it here.)

Do you know your neighbors?  Do you have any tips for meeting them?  What would you take as welcome gift?

Photo credit: Pottery Barn

Ever wondered what life would be like in the perfect homes in the magazines? With spring cleaning going on for most of us (which seems to make more messes), those serene photos look even more appealing!

Catalog Living blog has made me laugh so many times at the hilarious captions that go along with our favorite catalogs. Click here to see what I’m talking about…

Since our family homeschools we read a lot of books.

No, really.

A LOT.

(Which is just fine by me. I even have my own bookshelf.) {wink}

I really enjoy reading about how women managed their households in the past.  They didn’t have all our modern conveniences, but they didn’t have all our modern temptations and challenges either.  But, even when I know that, I still sometimes feel like they were a better generation of women.  But, is that really true?

This article by Mrs. Eva H. sums up the whole question really well.

“Put your everyday pioneer woman in our modern supermarket again and try to tell her that we can’t just buy anything named “bread,” but that we need to read the labels to know what is actually in it.  Or that “whole wheat” doesn’t really mean whole wheat, and that those green beans are so sodium covered that it’s almost not worth it. Then there is the organic, which really just means that it was grown the way she would have grown it, but is so expensive that you can only afford certain items and then you should prioritize … never mind.  She would stare at you as if you come from another planet and wonder how you remember it all.  But we do.  Or we try.  As they tried.”

What do you think:  Is life easier for us then it was for our foremothers? Or is it just different?

My husband Adam and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary today.  We had a lovely dinner at home.  Cheese and chocolate fondue were wonderful.  I’m so thankful for my precious husband and I love him more with each passing year.

Been wondering what I’ve been up to? There’s a catch up post on it’s way!

A few months ago something amazing happened!

My children and I cooked together! (My son is the oldest at 10 and my daughter is 4.)

They’ve helped a little by stirring or being taste testers, but never really stuck it out till we were finished.

We made Kim Chi (from Nourishing Traditions) and had so much fun.

My daughter tore the cabbages leaves….

…and my son cut the carrots up.

The food processor did most of the work, for which I am grateful.

Here is the recipe we used:

Easy Kimchi
(makes 2 quarts)

1 head Napa cabbage, cored and shredded
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
1 cup carrots, grated
1/2 cup Daikon radish, grated
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 teaspoon dried chili flakes
1 tablespoon sea salt
4 tablespoons whey* (or use additional 1 T salt instead)

Place vegetables, ginger, red chili flakes, salt and whey in a bowl and pound it with a wooden pounder or a meat hammer to release juices. Place them in two quart sized glass jars and press down firmly until all the juices come up to the top and cover the vegetables. The top of the vegetables should be at least an inch from the top of the jar. Cover tightly and keep at room temperature for about 3 days at which time you can put it in the fridge or cold storage.

*You can get whey by straining plain yogurt through a large napkin or cheesecloth.  The solids will stay in the cloth and the liquid that drips down is the whey.

(Note: I didn’t use any Daikon radish and went really light on the chili flakes. )

The first time I made this, I used a quart jar. The next time I made a whole gallon!

Can you tell I REALLY like this?  It’s so fresh tasting…crunchy, sweet, sour…..simply addictive!

This was really easy, please try it for yourself….you’ll be glad you did.

Find more wonderful recipes and projects at Fight Back Friday.

As you can tell from the infrequent posting here, we have been enjoying our summer!
My husband and I have been working hard in the yard and on our house. We’ve been cutting down trees, chipping branches and turning our wooden shed into a chicken coop.

Summer is the best time for simplicity. After a long school year and busy holiday season, I’m ready for some down time.
Here are a few ideas to get you started in simply enjoying your summer….

Turn off your cell phone and limit computer time. (I know, its painful. At least turn it off for a few hours a day.)Go to bed early.Plan easy meals full of garden fresh veggies.Get rid of the clutter in your head and in your home.

Make time for your friends.

Ask for experiences, not things for birthday and Christmas gifts. This really helps to cut down on the clutter and will give you fun memories to boot! Try tickets to your local zoo, movies, plays, museums…the list is endless.

Keep a bag for garbage in your car. (And a zip top bag for upset tummies. Need I say more?)

Unsubscribe from emails, newsletters or RSS feeds that don’t provide value anymore.

Enjoy each moment.

Reduce the amount of TV you watch, or cut if off altogether. (Ours has been off for years and we haven’t missed it.)

Get outside.

Only keep clothes you like and wear often.

Start a gratitude journal; a happy heart is a thankful heart.

Here’s another great giveaway! This time it’s being hosted by Amy of Homestead Revival.

I’m going to start canning this year and the idea of not having to buy new canning jar lids every year really appeals to me.

And they are BPA free, can it get any better?

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I have been so busy getting my garden going, cleaning out clutter and taking care of my family, that my sweet blog has been suffering severe neglect.  (This reminds me, I need to show you all my garden’s progress!)

I’ll try to post more often.

And I’ve got some great things in the works for you….

A new store

Great Ebooks

And more!

So stay tuned!

You may want to sign up for the emails or RSS feed so you won’t miss any exciting announcements!

Our winner, courtesy of a random number generator, is…..

Maria D. @ Downright Domesticity

She said…

“Oh my gosh! There are too many awesome bars to choose from! I think I’d try either the hair and scalp shampoo bar or the pet coat bar. I really don’t like using the commercial pet shampoos, so the natural bar soap sounds intriguing!”

So happy for you Maria!

Even if you didn’t win, you can still have some wonderful soap. Head over to Eco Natural Soap and have fun shopping, you won’t be disappointed!