Spring has Sprung! - Finally

The snow is finally gone and my daffodils are blooming. This is one of my favorite times of year. After the long New England winter the bright yellow is truly a ray of sunshine. I can see this garden from my kitchen window. I love to sip my morning coffee and watch the robins search for the early worm among the flowers. And doing the dishes is a little bit more enjoyable with the view.

The red, pink, and orange tulips should be right around the corner. Then the daisies and iris. Oh how blessed we with the beauty that God the Father has bestowed on us. I love to take it all in. He truly is the greatest artist. My garden always reminds me of His love for us. It reminds me to paint my world beautifully to show my love to my family. The first step will be to cut some of these for the kitchen table.

Aren't They Cute?

We went with our homeschool group to a local goat farm. There were a bunch of babies. This little guy is about six weeks old. There were a few babies born yesterday that were still with their mothers and a few mamas still waiting to give birth.

The girls had a great time petting the goats and tasting the milk and cheeses. Hannah loved the cheese - what a surprise. we brought home a quart of milk to make yogurt. Yummy!

We learned so much about goats. Did you know. . .

• That a goat produces a gallon of milk per day?




• That more goats are milked in the world than cow?




• That goats milk is more easily digested than cows milk?

Oh how the girls and I wanted to bring home a couple of goats. Wouldn't it be great to have fresh milk every day? Unfortunately we don't have the property for a pair of goats. Maybe at the next house.

First Day of T-Ball

The girls had their first T-ball practice today. They both completely enjoyed themselves. Sarah is playing short stop and Hannah is in center field. It was so cute to watch all of the kids. Most of them had never played before. I had to chuckle as the ball rolled between legs, balls bounced a couple of times before reaching their target, and children ran the bases backwards. Their coach was wonderful, praising the kids and giving them pointers. Both girls can't wait until next week. Go Bears!

Rebekah's Dedication

What a glorious day. Today, in front of family and friends, we dedicated Rebekah to the Lord. It was a beautiful ceremony, filled with so much love for our Lord. As always, Rebekah was the perfect angle. It was amazing to watch her little face as Pastor spoke of our family's commitment to the Lord and her. It was as if she was affirming every single word. Oh how strong the presence of the Lord was. I pray that presence will continue to surround little Rebekah all the days of her life. That she will be blessed with a close and loving relationship with Jesus everyday. And that she will always know what a blessing and miracle she is to our family. I thank God for her everyday.

Wonderful Day

What a wonderful day the girls and I had. We woke up to a blanket of snow. Not my idea of the best weather for April, but it was beautiful. The girls and I actually finished out morning chores early and enjoyed a breakfast of warm blueberry muffins. Yummy! School even went off without a hitch. Hannah's reading is coming along amazingly. I am so proud of her.

The girls spent the afternoon having tea parties with their American Girl Dolls, while I finished a sewing a skirt I cut out last night. It turned out quite well for a novice sewer.

Sarah made lasagna for dinner. She did a great job. It was so good. She is becoming quite the little cook. She served it with grilled garlic toast, salad, and brownies for dessert.

We are supposed to get another 6 inches of snow tonight, so we are all bundled in with the wood stove roaring. Now to join the family for a game of Blockus.

Frugal Friday ~ Homemade Baby Wipes

With a new little one at home, I have been trying to keep baby need expenses down. I have been using cloth diapers and wipes, but haven't made enough wipes yet. The solution has been make your own disposable wipes from paper towels. Cut a roll of paper towels in half and place upright in a cylindrical container. I used a canister but a coffee can would work well also. Pour a solution of 2 cups water and 1 Tbsp of baby soap. I like Dr. Bronner's and also like to add a drop or two of tea tree oil. Let the towels sit in the solution for about five minutes, then the cardboard tube pulls right out and along with this the first wipe. They will now dispense like wet ones or Clorox wipes. All in all the wipes cost $0.49 for 70. The paper towels I bought on sale with a coupon - 8 rolls for $2.99 or 16 halves for $0.18 each. And they were nice thick Bounty ones. The Dr. Bronner's was $4.99 for an 8oz bottle or $0.31 a Tbsp. Not quite as economical as cloth wipes, but if you are in a pinch, run out, or don't want to wash this is a great solution. ~ Elizabeth See more Frual Friday ideas at http://www.biblicalwomanhood.com/2007/02/frugal-friday-frugality-no-matter.html

First Smiles

What a big day for little Rebekah. At five weeks old, Rebekah blessed both mom and big sister with smiles. Unfortunately, by the time dad arrived home, Rebekah was in her evening grumpy mood. Hopefully, she will have smiles for him tomorrow.

Monday: Meatloaf, Egg Noodles, Stewed Tomatoes, Lemon Cake

Tuesday: Lasagna, Tossed Salad, Italian Bread, Six Cup Salad

Wednesday: Lentil Stew, Cornbread

Thursday: Crock Pot Chicken with Stuffing, Corn, Cranberry Sauce, Apple Crisp

Friday: Shepherds Pie, Cottage Cheese with Peaches

Saturday: Sausage Corn Chowder, Blueberry Muffins, Banana Pudding with Strawberries

New to Blogging

You'll have to excuse me as I am new to the whole ideas of Blogs. Recently, I stumbled onto a few blogs that truly inspired me. What a wealth of information and support these women have to offer. They are truly a blessing.

While I am not sure how this will go, I just had to give it a try. I thought it would be a neat way to document my journey with my daughters, keep in touch with family and friends, as well as make new friends.

So while I play around and figure this whole blog thing out, I hope you will bear with me. Thanks for you patience and for stopping by. ~Elizabeth