Happy Homemaker Monday

Joining in today with Happy Homemaker Monday at Diary of a Stay At Home Mom. And this will be my 300th post!

 

On The Weather Front

And what a surprise - it is raining again! We did have two days where spring managed to sneak in and I actually hung the washing outside on the line for the first time this season. But all gone now! Spring has gone back into hiding.

Reading

I have just started reading In My Father's House by Corrie ten Boom. The book is about her life before WWII, before the events of The Hiding Place. I have only read two chapters but just wonderful so far, particularly her love of children and of helping them place Jesus in their hearts.

Watching

I am really loving watching a new free to air channel, 9Life. It is a lifestyle channel, so last night there was a Tiny House special, four episodes in a row.

I would have to declutter big time to fit in a tiny house. But I just love the idea - whether it would translate to reality, well that is another matter!
There was a couple planning on downsizing from a 4000 sq ft house to a 200 sq ft tiny home. Maybe a bit drastic?!

I'm Hoping

To get the garden water tanks installed BEFORE the rains stop. I'm frustrated that as soon as hubby gets to doing the tanks, the rains will stop for the year. Murphy's Law says it will though!

I'm Learning

I have been reading up this week on successional planting for large scale flower and food production. It takes so much planning! I have been fairly haphazard to date but now realise I have to spend a lot more time in the planning stages, rather than just jumping in.

Jean-Martin's book is my favourite, I think because he advocates the use of hand tools.

Crafting

Christmas gift planning this week, after some one scared me this week when they posted how many (or few!) days there are to Christmas. I will be doing a post later in the week with more of my Christmas plans.
I have placed lots of Tone Finnager's books on hold from the library to look for some lovely ideas.

I especially like the look of this book.

How are your Christmas gift plans going? Are you planning handmade gifts?

Grateful For

The wonderful opportunities we have in our lucky country, that we so often take for granted.

I have been writing letters to Compassion children this week and they have so little, yet are so happy and grateful for the little they do have. Their thanks and prayers to their sponsors are so genuine and heartfelt. I remember one boy wrote a letter thanking us for his Christmas gift as he was able, for the first time at the age of 17, to buy some new clothes. He chose a suit so that he could wear it to church and look special for God. He sent a photo of him in the suit and his smile was ear to ear gorgeous (barefoot though as he couldn't afford shoes as well).

Dreaming Of

Spring coming! I planted 144 sunflower seeds in the greenhouse and will be doing succession planting every week as Whirlwind has been dreaming of growing fields of sunflowers and selling his flowers since we read this post. His favourite paintings are Van Gogh's sunflower ones!

Maybe like this!

Favourite Photo

A trip down memory lane with this photo. My computer died recently and I had to rescue all the old photos from it. This is Whirlwind, who is now 8. Why do all children love making that screwed up face for photos?! Too cute - makes me a bit sad that they are growing up. My littlest is now 5, and acting oh so cool as he will be heading to school with the big boys soon. Gotta let them grow up, I guess, but I just want to squeeze them forever.

Devotionals, Scripture, Key Verses

One of the sponsor children sent me this verse in his letter.

Wishing you all a lovely week.