Weekends

Weekends come around and the list of things to do grow longer.  I love taking Saturdays and accomplishing unfinished tasks around our home and garden.  I also love taking Saturdays and spending some time enjoying my home and my family.  I sometimes struggle with finding the right balance between working and relaxing.  Today I have enjoyed the work that my hands have found to do, and I have also found time to enjoy the ones I love.  For me, this is the perfect balance on a hot Saturday in July.  I hope you enjoy your weekend as well.

grace and peace,
julie

A Day In Court

Today you will not find me in front of the stove with my canner.  I will also not be found in the garden enjoying my summer bounty.  Instead you will find me in a far away county in the courthouse standing before the judge.  Well, I won't be standing before the judge.  No sir.  I learned my lesson about driving fast when I was in my early twenties.  You will find me with my son who will actually be the one standing in front of the judge explaining why he was speeding.  In the state of Tennessee, any teenager who receives a ticket also gets a trip to court to visit with the judge.  Notice I didn't say a free trip to court.  Nope...it will have to be paid for by the one who broke the law.  His ticket will also have to be paid by him along with his date with traffic school.  The state doesn't say who has to pay for all of these items, but Michael and I demand that the teenager must be the one to pay.  That is our rule, and thus far it has worked out well for our family. 

At first, I told Michael that it was his turn to stand in front of the judge with our child.  I went to court with our first son when he got a ticket so it only seems fair that Michael should go to court with our second son.  He was in agreement with our arrangement.  Then it dawned on me that if our third son went to court for a traffic violation that it would once again be my turn.  Now I love our third son, but he is always a handful and I am never for sure what he might do.  I decided that I would rather go with our second son rather than our third.  Our second son is easy going and you can always count on him to be responsible.  I went back to Michael and begged for the opportunity to go to court today.  I hope this doesn't back fire on me.  I would hate for Michael to get the idea that I love going to court with our traffic violators/children!

By the way, you may not want to call me today. I have a bad habit of not turning off my phone.  I sure would hate to make the judge mad!

grace and peace,
julie

Summer Thoughts

Summer is racing quickly away to a new school year.  Just a little over two weeks left before our kids start school.  I have so enjoyed the slower pace of summer days.  The garden is keeping me busy, but that is a fun kind of chore.  I have been canning and freezing almost every day, but that too is somewhat fun.  I sure am enjoying watching my canning shelves fill up with food.  There is still a lot of canning ahead of me before summer slips away into autumn. 

With the new school year comes a new teaching job for me at our local high school.  I am so excited about the new chapter in our life, and  I am so thankful that the Lord opened up this door for me. 

grace and peace,
julie

Summer Thoughts

Hope you are having a relaxing summer just like Missy and Seth!

grace and peace,
julie

Creative Fun for a Summer Afternoon

Our daughter enjoys watching shows like Cake Boss.  She would love to decorate cakes someday.  She sits around and designs cakes in her free time.  What is a wanna be cake decorator to do when she can't find any fondant to use for practice?  Hope took play dough and made roses.  I was impressed with her creativity as well as her flowers.  I now have many play dough flowers sitting on my side table as decorations.  I was pleased with her success.

grace and peace,
julie

Garden News

Forgive me for such a long pause since my last post.  I have been busy enjoying life!  (By the way, Happy 4th of July!  We celebrated last weekend in Kentucky with our family so I almost forgot today was the actual holiday)!  One aspect of life that I dearly enjoy is the garden, and our garden is doing very well this year.  I have had much loot from the flowers that I planted.  These flowers have resulted in endless smiles and bouquets for me.

These sunflowers just make me happy!  I have pitchers filled with happy sunflowers all over my house.

What other bounty from the garden are we enjoying?  Lots of zucchini and finally some yellow squash are showing up on our dinner table.  Our cucumbers are just starting to spit out one of life's finest summer treasures. (You can find one of my favorite ways to eat cucumbers here.   Just scan to the bottom of the post for the recipe).  We picked our first red cherry tomato last night.  Michael ate it, but he did find one more to share with me.  For just a minute, I was very unhappy with him.  Green onions are still abundant, and our okra is producing just a bit.  It hasn't  made enough for a meal yet, but soon enough we will have our fill of okra.  I also have baby cantaloupe along with  watermelon blooms.  Our green beans should be ready to pick some time this week.  The neighbor did share a 5 gallon bucket of his green beans so you can find me canning green beans this morning should you happen to need me.

And this will be my view from the stove...a beautiful  arrangement from our garden along with an English Mastiff thinking about her next adventure. 

grace and peace,
julie

A Father's Day Letter to the Love of My Life

As I sat around yesterday and enjoyed the laughter of our children, I realized that these children are who they are because of the father that you have been to them.  You have a firm hand that comes with a soft heart. You know when to discipline, but you also know when to love.  You have a witty sense of humor that comes with many words of affirmation.  You have shown our boys what it is to be a man that isn't afraid to love.  You have shown our daughter what a husband and father should be.  That doesn't mean you are always right, but you surely know how to say "I'm sorry."  What is the best gift that a dad can give to his children?  To love their mother unconditionally, and you have done just that since the moment  we became one standing in my parent's backyard saying our wedding vows. How could I ever ask for anything more?

In all ways,
For always,
i love you

Everyday Happenings

Finally, I am in the flower business.  My zinnias are blooming as well as my sunflowers.  I have fresh cut flowers in my house, and all seems right with the world once again!  Just ignore the fact that I have dirty dishes in my sink and my laundry hamper is overflowing.  On the up side of things, my kitchen table doesn't have folded clothes on it because I haven't done any laundry! 

With the encouragement of my fresh cut sunflowers and zinnias, I am heading downstairs to make chicken and dumplings, sweet potato casserole, and fried zucchini for supper.  Don't even bother to tell me that fried zucchini doesn't really go with that menu.  I already know that.  However, I did promise a certain 7 year old that we would eat it this evening for supper, and he has been literally watching the zucchini grow.  I can't disappoint him by not honoring my word. 

grace and peace,
julie  

Brotherly Love

Growing up in a home full of boys can be hard, but it does come with some rewards.  Here Hope is enjoying her oldest brother's hugs.  Shhh...don't tell anybody, but she really misses him living here at home.

grace and peace,
julie

Ravioli Casserole

Do you happen to have a lot of lettuce growing in your garden?  We sure do, and it seems that I plan my meals around salad these days.  I also have a nice herb garden complete with fresh basil so I decided that I wanted to make an Italian dish for supper.  My family loves Italian meals, but the problem is that most of those meals are time consuming.  It doesn't bother me to simmer a pot of sauce for hours if I am going to be at home.  On occasion, I have used the crock pot to cook my sauce.  However, I have been on the lookout for a good Italian meal that is quicker than the average homemade Italian dishes that I usually serve my family.  I found that dish in the new Taste of Homes Church Supper magazine. The recipe was submitted by Margie Williams and it was wonderful.  ALL of my kids enjoyed it, which is amazing because it doesn't contain any meat!  Hope you enjoy!!!

1 package (25 oz) frozen cheese ravioli
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1/4 cup white wine or chicken broth
1/2 cup minced fresh basil
3 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese, divided
3/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
2 1/2 cups Marinara ( I used a Prego brand for convenience, but it would be fantastic with a homemade one)

Cook ravioli according to package directions.  Drain.  In a large saucepan, melt butter.  Stir in flour and salt.  Continue to stir until smooth.  Gradually add milk and wine.  (I used chicken broth because my husband said I couldn't open the special wine just for cooking).  Bring  to a boil;  cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened.  Remove from the heat.  Stir in fresh basil, 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

Toss drained ravioli with white sauce mixture.  Transfer to a greased 13x9 baking dish.  Top with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce.  Sprinkle remaining cheeses on top.

Cover and bake at 375 for 30 minutes.  Uncover and bake 10 more minutes or until bubbly.  Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Serve with a fresh garden salad and homemade bread sticks!  If your men fuss about the lack of meat, you could cook up some fresh Italian Sausage and add it with the marinara sauce.  I am sure it would be fantastic!

grace and peace,
julie

Garden Progress

We have been enjoying fresh lettuce for several weeks now.   I always love the salads made with our garden lettuce. 

I cut my lettuce in the morning while it is still cool outside.  I use a bread knife to cut it, and then I bring it into the house and soak it in a sink full of cold water.  I then use my salad spinner to spin it dry.  I usually cut enough lettuce to last us at least several days. I store my clean lettuce in a plastic bread bag in the refrigerator.   It is a chore to wash and dry the lettuce, but I find that we use it more if it is prewashed. 

Since we are eating so many salads, this gives me plenty of free calories to enjoy strawberry cake and coffee on the front porch.  Okay, that may not actually be true, but it did sound plausible!  (Strawberry Cake recipe coming soon)!

grace and peace,
julie

Sunday Scripture

"...He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;"   Philippians 1:6

Keeping It Real

Do you ever get tired of looking at homemaking blogs and wondering if these people are real?  It is amazing what details can be left out of a photograph!  For those of you who may wonder about our family being real, here is a little proof...

You will almost always find clean laundry on our kitchen table.  This is the spot that I always fold our clothes.  If you come to our home and there isn't folded clothes on the table, either you had an invitation or I got up early that morning.  The other scenario is that I saw you coming down the driveway and I quickly grabbed the clothes and made a mad dash to throw them on top of the dryer.  If that is the case, the laundry room door will be closed!

Speaking of laundry, I found these this morning in our dirty clothes hamper.  I have no idea who owns this pair of underwear.  I have no idea how they ended up in our dirty clothes hamper.  I assume that one my children wore somebody else's underwear home, but again I am unsure of the reason why.  I don't think it was my husband who wore them home, but he did wake me up at 6:00 a.m. asking me if he had any clean underwear.  I directed him to the kitchen table.  Isn't that where everybody keeps their husband's underwear? 

And speaking of husband, I did a bad thing this morning.  I sent him to work in a shirt that was in desperate need of ironing.  I kind of sort of mentioned that it needed ironing, but I didn't say much more than that.  I figured he is a big boy with better eye sight than mine so he was responsible for his clothing decision.  It was only after I had my first cup of coffee that I felt a little guilty about his attire.

I always have dirty dishes in my sink.  If the sink is clean, we are expecting company.  The other real thing about our dishes is that if you come to our home you will probably be drinking out of a mason jar.  We don't have enough glasses!  It doesn't bother me because I like the ambiance of a mason jar.  I am weird like that.

This is the view of our back porch.  It looks like a bomb went off, but don't worry it is just the kid's stuff.  Most people enter our home from this area.  I try to keep it cleaned up, but those kids of ours haven't gotten that memo. 

The entryway to our home brings me to my next real point.  For the first time in our 20 year parenting career, Michael and I both went to asleep last night without knowing for sure that our teenager got home safely.  Well, this one isn't on me because I always fall asleep early.  Michael bolted out of bed this morning asking me if Josh got home.  I looked in the driveway and his car was there.  However, I have no idea what time Josh entered our home.  This is a little disconcerting to say the least. 

And speaking of kids, this picture is the perfect example of our 14 year old aggravating someone.  This particular time Jacob decided to steal Matthew's shoe and hide it on top of the playground equipment.  Jacob loves the fact that he out grew his older brother in height, and he reminds Matthew of it any chance he can get.




If you want to stop by our home, you are always welcomed.  Just be aware that we are real people, with real children, and a real dog that  sheds real dog hair.  And you will be served a glass of tea in a real mason jar!

grace and peace,
julie

Sunday Scripture

"Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28

Potato Bugs on My Tomato Plants

If you want loads of tomatoes like this...

then you better watch out for the dreaded potato bug eggs!  I found them in our garden last night.  They are little yellow eggs on the underside of the leaves.  My solution is simple...just use your finger and smash them.  Make sure you stay on top of this problem because these bugs can do a lot of damage to a tomato plant!

grace and peace,
julie

Another Boy In High School

Jacob has had a busy week.  He has spent some time getting to know the neighbor's horses.

He has been busy playing baseball.

And today he was busy graduating 8th grade.  We now officially have two high school students in our family.  I am looking forward to seeing what the next 4 years hold for Jacob Andrew.   I expect it will be a fun ride for sure!

grace and peace,
julie

Garden Progress

 We are finally making headway with our garden.  I have felt perpetually behind this year and I am unsure as to the reason for this.  This is the first time for us to garden in our new area, and I am still learning the planting schedules.  Michael decided to have two gardens.  The picture to the left is our large garden.  This is where our tomatoes, peppers, corn, beans, watermelon, cantaloupe and cucumbers are growing.  We still have more tilling to do, but we are moving along nicely.


This is our "kitchen garden".  This garden is closer to the house to make it easier to pick things for the dinner table.  My herbs are here along with lettuce, squash, zucchini, okra, green onions and flowers.  This year we have had trouble with our seeds germinating.  I am trying to use up as much of the old seed as I can.  I will purchase new seeds for next year's planting. 

Please note that I have added a new category on my side bar.  I plan to keep a list of the amount of food that I store this year.  Since our move, we have completely emptied our freezers and most of our canning jars along with our bank account.  We spend an amazing amount of money on groceries these days.  I look forward to "free" food growing in the garden once again. 

grace and peace,
julie

Unintended Blogging Break

I didn't intend to take so long between posts.  Life just happened and I got caught up living it.  For the last several months, I have been substitute teaching at our local high school.  I am hoping that it will grow into a full time teaching position next year.  Many of you do not know that 20 years ago I graduated from college with a major in English and a minor in Education.  My dream all along was to be a teacher.  I had no idea that I would take a break from my dream career and home school my own children for the next 15 years!  Oh, I wouldn't change anything about putting my teaching career on hold.

Now all of my children are in school, and the time has come to pursue this childhood dream once again.  I have spent the last few months vigorously studying to take my Praxis exam.  I passed both of the exams that I needed to be issued a teacher's license in the state of Tennessee, and I recieved my license in the month of April.  I have waited 20 years for this piece of paper!  Now all I need is a job.

I have to be honest about this new chapter in my book of life.  I am a bit scared and more than a bit overwhelmed.  As with anything in my life, I will take it one day at a time.  My family supports this decision, and everyone has been pitching in to help around the house.  My biggest challenge thus far has been meals.  I have always been a planner where meals are concerned, but now I have to plan even more.  I'll let you know how this new chapter plays out in our life!

grace and peace,
julie

Growing Kids

Although last year found us without a garden, that didn't mean things didn't grow in our world.  Our kids have all grown leaps and bounds since I have been away from the blog world.  Here is our oldest son, Matthew.  He hasn't come to visit us as much as I had hoped, but we do see him about once a month. In a few weeks, he will complete another semester of college.  I miss him being a part of our everyday life.  I cherish our daily phone conversations.

Joshua has done his fair share of growing this year.  He has adjusted well to our new life.  He is working two jobs and will be finished with his junior year of high school in May.  He has made many friends since being in his new school, and he has brought many of them to our dinner table.  I have enjoyed watching him grow into a fine young man.  Did I mention that I also love spending time with him? 

Jacob has probably grown the most these last few months.  He now outweighs Joshua and they are wearing the same clothes!  He earned several awards this year for football.  Next year he will be starting high school.  He is still very loving, unless it is early in the morning!  I think he misses the farm more than any other of the kids.  He told me just the other day that if he could have just one farm animal that he would choose the sheep.  He loved their personality.  Hopefully soon we can start getting animals again for this young man to tend.

Hope has gotten braces since we last spoke.  She has grown into quite the cook.  Here we are decorating Christmas cookies together.  She is still playing basketball and she excels in school.  I don't have to nag her about getting any of her homework completed.  She is on top of it all!  I have watched her grow in her relationship with her brothers.  She is learning how to take their jokes and responds back to them with great wittiness!  Did I mention that I enjoy having a daughter?               

Seth has grown a lot these last few months as well.  We celebrated his 7th birthday.   He is doing well in school.  He holds close to a 100% average in all of his classes.  He is still shy, but he is growing into being a more confident person.  Our neighbor has a grandson that is close to Seth's age.  These two boys spend a lot of time together, and Seth has been enjoying being with the grandparents.  He eats dinner with them a lot, and they invite him to come along on walks.  I am thankful that the Lord has put this couple into Seth's life.  It has been so good for him.  I love the fact that we still have a young child in our family.  It keeps us still seeing the world through the eyes of a child!

While all of these kids have been busy growing, Missy has been around watching it all.  Well I should say she has been busy watching in between naps! 

Michael and I have been enjoying the family that the Lord has given to us.  When my children were all little and it seemed like I would never be finished changing diapers, I often wondered what it would be like when they were older.  Let me just say, it has been great.  We have our ups and our downs just like any family, but the rewards are well worth the sacrifices.  One of our kids made a comment to us the other evening.  He said just think how much money y'all would have if you had never had any children.  We quickly reminded him that although our bank account would be much fatter, our hearts would be missing out on so much love.  I wouldn't trade that for any amount of money in the world!

grace and peace,

julie

Sunday Scripture

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."      Philippians 4:7