SNOW Much Fun!

The last five days have been filled with SNOW (almost a foot).

We've enjoyed snow cream, snow candy, snowy chores, snow painting, 

frozen bubbles, and lots and lots of sledding.

 

 

 

 

 

We have had SNOW much fun!

HOME Sweet Homestead

One of my duties each day is to build and tend the fire. Many times this is an easy task because the fire from the previous night just needs to be stoked a bit and more wood needs to be added. But it was quite a task several weeks ago. I have become confident in my fire building skills though and it has become one of my most favorite things to do and the hearth has become one of my most favorite places to be on the homestead (because it's the warmest).

 

We have a new family member. His name is Templeton. 

He is a teddy bear hamster and the boys love him.

I stumbled upon this bookshelf at a local consignment store for $8.50. 

I almost couldn't believe the price tag. It now has a new home in the schoolroom.

 

After we painted the kitchen, we painted the downstairs hallway a very light tan. Painting, these days, seems to take us forever. I am so sick of painting, but I love having freshly painted walls. I suppose it's worth it in the end. At least that's what I will keep telling myself. 

It was nice to hang my Pepaw's keys next to our front door  

 

and a couple of new coat racks.

  

from the {Little Barn Kitchen}

a peek at what I've been cooking and we've been eating/drinking...

{Drinks}

frozen blueberries, strawberries, peaches, banana, spinach, and orange juice

{Main Meals}

(local) pork patty, broccoli, and risotto

 potato and corn chowder (made with coconut milk)

 shrimp, green beans, and swiss chard with gluten free Teriyaki rice noodles

(local) pork, pineapple, green peppers, gluten free Teriyaki sauce, and rice

 

(a very typical lunch for the boys)

apples, oranges, carrots, sliced ham/salami with a smoothie (filled with spinach)

(local) peanuts made into peanut butter and 

(hand picked and local) muscadines made into jelly 

on homemade gluten free bread

(I was super proud of this sandwich.)

quinoa, (homegrown) sweet potatoes, great northern beans, 

green peppers, spinach, and cranberries

{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...

Lego enthusiasm 

a stack of kindling in a sweet bundle

mini hot chocolates and mini men

watercolors and art lessons from a five year old

flowers on clearance

 

monthly visits from Nana and Pop

  
and sledding adventures

 

Little Barn Academy: 100th Day of School

Today we celebrated our 100th day of homeschooling!

 Our day was filled with 

a 100 themed breakfast

 

a decorated school room

popping balloons containing slips of paper 

with 100 themed activities inside

 

counting

 puzzle working

 stamping

reading, jumping, drawing, building, and playing.

What a fantastic 100th day of school!!!

HOME Sweet Homestead: The Kitchen

It's been a few months since we specifically worked on a room or area of the house. But, since it's winter and we don't have a lot of outside work that can be done right now, we are spending quite a bit of time working on the house again. This past month we painted the kitchen and are almost finished with the downstairs hallway. We lived with the crazy painted kitchen for almost nine months and I just couldn't take it any longer. So it was time for a fresh coat of paint.

Here's a few BEFORE photos:

 

 And here are a few AFTER photos:

 

It takes me a while to commit to art/decorations so there will be additions later. 

I am just pleased that the room I spend a whole lot of time in 

has some prettier (light green) walls now.