{Gratitude} Lately

Every day I look around in amazement at all the 

beautiful, yet simple, things that I'm so thankful for.

Lately I've been grateful for...

the beauty of an okra bloom

 bowls full of summer's candy

 homegrown watermelons

 a finished schoolroom!!! (more coming soon)

 and for the rare times that I have an empty, clean sink

First Day of Kindergarten!

We officially started Kindergarten at Little Barn Academy today! 

It's sure to be a year filled with lots of learning and many fun adventures!

HOME Sweet Homestead

Three months ago, today, we moved to our homestead in the country. We spent the first month making it liveable. We had air conditioning issues, plumbing issues, couldn't do laundry for a while, and we still have a giant hole in our living room ceiling, but it feels like home now. It fact, it feels like we've been here a lot longer than three months. The progress has slowed down quite a bit but there are tiny changes each and every day and probably will be for the next few years. Here's a look at the homestead right now...

I can go without a lot of things, but a dishwasher is a necessity and the one that came with the house quit working. It was old and was going to cost too much to repair, so we got a new dishwasher!

 The school room is the room we are working on currently. Because the walls were not primed properly before wallpaper was added years ago, we pulled off chunks of the wall as we were removing the wallpaper. We are in wall repair mode right now and there is a thick layer of dust on everything in the room. Primer and paint will go on these walls soon and Kindergarten at Little Barn Academy will start August 25th.

 We have neglected to turn our compost pile and veggies are overflowing out of it literally.

 

This is our solarium. 

There's not much in it right now,  

but I can just imagine shelves full of sprouting seeds this coming winter.

 I saw this guy fan out a couple days ago. 

I'm just dying to catch it on camera now. 

We've named him Gobble.

 We have spotted our potential Christmas tree! I really wanted to chop down a tree at a Christmas tree farm last year and it just didn't happen. This year we can chop down one from our own property!

 Amaryllis popped up in our front yard. My grandmother used to call these Naked Ladies and there is a photo of her standing in amongst the ones that grew in front of her house. It was such a sweet surprise to see them!

Also, this is not really home related but I upgraded to a smart phone. 

 So that means that I'm now on Instagram. I just love looking at the pretty pictures. If that interests you and you would like to see the photos that I take you can now see those on the sidebar or follow me here.

{Gratitude} Lately

Every day I look around in amazement at all the 

beautiful, yet simple, things that I'm so thankful for.

 Lately I've been grateful for... our pear tree!! and the fruit it is providing

little farm boys willing to help and chickens friendly enough to endure it

 giggles in the new hammock that's big enough for us all
and quick reflexes when the bumblebees start attacking
 because the hammock is too close to their nest

 11 years of marriage and a (vintage fire escape ladder) anniversary present

 rain boots that were required for evening chores,
 muddy fingers from digging potatoes,
and a big bowl of food harvested from the garden

 and afternoon play dates that bring so much joy to these boys

Silas is 3!

Our sweet baby boy is 3!  

 

 

Silas asked for two things for his birthday. He wanted a lollipop and a pinata. 

Our birthday celebration for him included bowling with Nana and Pop, a Big Wheel from Granna and Papa, a gluten-free homemade cake, a fishing game from his big brother, a pinata, and of course, a very big lollipop. It was one fun-filled birthday weekend!