A New Springtime

Snacktime

Pouring...

peeking...

eating!

Summer Salads on My Mind Giveaway

I am doing my very first giveaway and I am so excited! I think it is a great time of year to eat healthier foods because they are so much more available.    In a few weeks many people will have veggies growing right in their own back yard or frequenting there towns farmer's markets!

 Fresh salads are easy to toss together and can be filled with wonderful ingredients grown locally or picked straight off the plant or vine!

There are so many different ways to make salads and this great book by William Sonoma has some great ideas! Not only does it have the salad recipes but it also has recipes for dressings, too!

Sharing recipes can be a great gift  idea for a family member or friend. I like to write my favorites ones on some pretty stationery and  give together with a few of the yummy ingredients in a pretty bowl or basket.

Salads are a great way to bring friends together on a sunny summer afternoon! A few simple festive flags as to decorate the middle of the table in the dining room, on the front porch or  the back patio.  I want to spend some time catching up and sharing my blessed life with some of the women I don't get to see during the busy home school year.

Two of my favorite colors during the summer are navy blue and kelly green. They make me think of sailing and a life at the beach! I love watching sailboats when we go to Mystic Rhode Island for a few days each summer.

I hope this summer brings with it many opportunities to gather my thoughts and some friends to share my home and some fresh delicious food! I want to give away these items to help another to do the same:

• Food Made Fast, Salad by William Sonoma
• a galvanized hanging chalkboard ( write a welcome greeting for family & friends)
• an adorable salad bowl or strainer ( Kelly green)
• a coupon/receipt organizer ( navy blue)
• a notepad to jot down ideas
• a pack of note cards and envelopes (can be used as recipes card or invitations)
• 5 festive flags

All of these a ideas are just suggestions of course, this giveaway is a gift just for you to make and create your own special summer memories!

I will run this giveaway until Wednesday of next week, and the names will be folded and put in the salad bowl and randomly picked by my daughter.

I will announce the winner  Thursday,  June 11, 2015. I will mail it off to the winner that afternoon.

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite Salad and your favorite summer colors and why these colors are your favorite.

 

 

 

Makin Groceries New England Style

Makin' groceries, that is the terminology that people down in New Orleans for going to the grocery store! I always thought it was kind of cute, being from New England I had never heard hat before. My husband is a native New Orleanean and we have lived our whole married life here in Massachusetts.

Last week, on the way home from makin ' groceries, I took a different way home. I wanted to avoid some construction so I took the scenic country route! I wasn't left disappointed because I got to see these beautiful cows. I think they are Jersey Cows.

I pulled off the side of the road and the darlings came strolling right over. There was a fence but they must be used to people coming up to them because they were definitely not shy!

As i drove home, I just couldn't get over the open fields and green grass that stretched across the landscape. It was a warm breezy day and the wind was just sweeping across the grass, it gave such a sense of serenity to my soul!

As i drove further along, i could see some dark clouds and that there was a storm brewing somewhere in the valley.

Lightening was flashing and the gray was hanging over head but it didn't bother me one bit because the farm country was just calling my name and I was answering, " Here I am." A homemade ice cream stand, fields of new plantings and the raw milk sign were all so enticing! I know were my new  stops are going to be next week on my ride home from makin' groceries!

Red, White, and Blue Festivities

Sunday was a big day for all of us, we celebrated Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, and our son, Max's fifteenth birthday, too. Since Monday was also Memorial day, I decided to use red, white and blue to pring it all together!

I have been using this cute galvanized tray as a focal point for our parties and celebrations! It is also very functional, keeping napkins, plates, cups and plastic wear together and central.

I made some more paper flags inspired by " The Homespun Heart" blog and later added some festive flowers.

These were only $3 at Wal-Mart for a bouquet of about 7 flowers.

Food as decor is always a plus, nothing will go to waste and nothing to store afterwards!

I had this adorable wheel barrow, a thrifted find from years ago. It has been several colors, first it was green, then pink, now it is blue.

There is so much to be thankful for in life. I am so thankful for my faith, my family and my friends! All good and perfect gifts come from above!

Simply Special

We have three birthdays a week apart in the month of May. We try to keep it simple. It is just the kids and a few family members.

I have been so inspired by the blog called, " A Homespun Heart"! It is a wonderful blog that has a lot of simple but delightful ideas. It's main focus is on family, faith and slowing down and appreciating the events of everyday!

Special days make special memories!

Simplicity at its best can make the prettiest display.

Pretty, pastel and pink paper, some wooden dowels and a Ball mason jar set the mood for a spring time early evening celebration!

Taking the time to put some special touches on precious packages, make a special event even more so! Some ink pads, rubber stamps and  printed card stock put the finishing touches on the wrapped gifts! A simply special day for a simply special little girl!

Some Touch Ups

Our breadbox was looking pretty shabby, so I got out a sample of Behr paint that I used on a couple of craft projects, and got busy. I thought it was kind of strange that I had a boost of energy until my husband called and asked me how I liked the new coffee. Oh, that was what it was... some high octane Columbian caffeine!

Our Island was also in need, so with a couple of strokes of the brush, it got a fresh coat of paint!

I just love balmy spring days! It is the perfect time of year to do a few touch ups and refresh the house . The kitchen felt bright and I enjoyed baking my daughter's birthday cake we would share later that evening!

Christmas Cookies Fun

Pretty frosting: 1 cup powdered sugar + 1 Tbsp. milk + food coloring of choice.

Sugar cookie mix, easy to use and delicious!

Simple and easy to decorate!

We put foil on our area for easy clean up.

Malcie and I are getting into it!

Christmas Eve fun!

Big sister helps to clean up.

The Christmas cookies are all done!

Home Grown

 Our little Malcolm is making so many strides especially since he has his siblings of various ages to inspire and instruct him in his everyday endevours. He has so much stimulation and support from all of us here at home that he is confident when it comes to being out in the community. Over the years of homeschooling, I have come to realize we have the ideal situation when it comes to so called "peer group" situation. I am not a believer in same age peer groups because I have seen the negative effects and dependency it can cause on children. It is not a realistic situation for real world communication, for when do we ever encounter a group made up only of one age on a day to day basis once we have left the school system. Hardly ever.

There is so much co-dependency these days and I find many people are afraid to reach out to others and make new aquaintances, I feel this is because we become complacecent in these "peer groups" and do not become comfortable with reaching out from that same age group approach. Children are especially impressionable at these young ages and become attatched to these type of settings. What I am finding is that younger ones strive to become more like the ones they are surrounded with and if that entails people of different ages they will have a repitiore of ideas and ideals to strive toward. I also find that older children of middle and high school age grow and become strengthened by being a mentor and example for younger people. This increases their confidence and sense of responsibility rather than  just trying to fit in with ones of their own age.
I am in awe of the interaction that I see on a daily basis when it comes to the benefits of homeschooling. When I was called to this vocation, a little over 14 years ago, I could never have guessed at how blessed our family would be and that we would be given such a special gift by God.

I have had my blinders removed and seen the glory of God Himself! He has given us a pure gift and has shown us by being open to life and educating these children according to His laws and His ways is a contradiction to the world. Family is the first and foremost community and from there we are called to go out to build up society not the other way around. Taking apart the family and sending them many different directions when they are still young and influentual is not the ideal situation. To have a father, mother, brothers and sisters in the home who can nuture and build up their children in love gives them and their offspring the confidence they need to become "successful" and loving citizens.

To have each other and teach each other in a home environment is just like homegrown fresh veggies.  God has always provided for us and we are not rich by any means. I believe if we live simply and humbly and strive to live in His ways by His commandments, even though we fall short of his glory He will help us along the way! 

( Malcie signing 'star')

Having a large family, a special little boy with Down Syndrome, homeschooling, and my Catholic faith have  shown me so many wonderful eye opening treasures. It shows me that I do not have to follow the crowd or the main stream but to follow God, Jesus Christ Himself, who is real in proof that in following what He says to do brings true eternal life and happiness beginning with us right here and now.

 

 

 

 

 

Cooking with My Girls

 It is a lot of fun to have somone to cook with in the kitchen. I like it when the girls show intrest in making meals for the family. Last night, we enjoyed each others company while making: salmon, brown rice, zucchini and mushroom stir fry.
The girls chopped, seasoned, and used the stove like professional chefs!

We like to steamed our salmon with a bit of Stonemill Essentials lemon/pepper from Aldi's. We have been using a silicone steamer by Chef'n that I picked up in Northampton, MA at Different Drummer's Kitchen Co. The right gadgets can make cooking much more enjoyable.

Most of the guys, except Malcolm, weren't home so the ladies of the house sat down and had a toast to our time together at the stove and table. It was a  great way to celebrate a winter's evening!

 Malcolm has been such a trooper and is progressing nicely with a bit of help from his Early Intervention. One of the things he has trouble with is dealing with textures in his mouth. His Occupational therapist is awesome and has been working with us desensitizing his mouth and helping him to be able to move up into a later stage baby food.
 within just two weeks he has been able to tolerate thicker food and is starting to be able to become comfortable with some chunks in his meals. This is so much better for him nutritionally because now I can try to make him some whole food baby food. This is better for him overall. He will get more flavorful tastes now and it is better for him developmentally, too. Setting up an area to make his food makes it easier for me to achieve my goals of preparing his food.
I picked up some ice trays to freeze the homemade food in and I will store them in freezer bags once they are frozen. Youtube has some great baby food making vids. I haven't done this in a while so it is good to take a refresher course.
A good book is always handy and since I am a visual learner I like this DK book called first meals by Annabel Karmel. Of course it was a Goodwill find a couple of years ago.
My 9 year old daughter helped me peal and chop and we got quite a bit done. We made apple, pear, carrot, and pea puree. Tomorrow, I will work on the sweet potatoes, the chicken noodle and some pork chop and rice meals. I hope baby Malcolm likes his new foods, maybe this will also help him be a bit healthier, too!!