I Have So Much to Do That I’m Taking a Break
This has been a very busy season for us. Actually, the past year or so has been flying by. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older and my children are getting older, and somehow that makes life seem busier.
I made my second batch of soap in April (see photo above). This time I made lavender soap with lavender buds in it for some interesting texture and color. I doubled the batch this time, so I got twice as many bars as last time.
My first batch of soap is now ready to use, and we’ve been enjoying it. And marveling at the fact that I actually made this myself!
And, I was able to give away my first bar of soap as a gift (that was really fun).
Our raised beds are starting to produce. My mom gave us a bunch of tomato plants that she had started from seed. They were so big and healthy, and there are several different varieties.
We also have green onions, pepper plants (bell peppers and banana peppers), radishes, lettuce, cauliflower, pole beans, cucumbers, spinach, cilantro, and parsley. And we have some asparagus and potatoes that we need to plant. In another part of the yard we have a little strawberry patch (the plants donated by my parents, from their garden), blueberry bushes, and some blackberry bushes.
I have more herbs this year than I’ve ever had before. I have chamomile (started from seed last fall, so it’s ready to harvest already, and I’ve been harvesting it several times a week), rosemary (planted last year and now three times as big!), lavender (from a plant I moved here from our previous house, and I’ve also added several new plants), sweet basil, sage, oregano, bouquet dill, lemongrass, two stevia plants, parsley, echinacea (the ones my mom gave me last year apparently re-seeded, and we also planted more this year), chives, and three kinds of mint.
The little herb garden area is right outside the back door, so it’s easy to run outside for some herbs to go with a meal. Just around the corner from the herbs, I’m starting a flower garden. We put the bird bath in the middle of it all, as I’m hoping to attract birds and butterflies to this spot. I made a stone border using native stones found in our yard. Then we added the little white fence after the neighbor’s dog stepped in here (on some plants). He could obviously go over it very easily, but I just thought it might help. So far it seems to be working.
I love an English cottage garden look, so I chose plants that would fit that theme. I based a lot of my selections on the book, English Cottage Gardening: For American Gardeners. This book is full of inspiration and has a list of suggested plants in the back.
I really wanted to focus on perennial plants so that they would come back year after year, which would save both money and time. I love plants that come back. When you see them returning in the spring, it’s like greeting old friends. I regularly walk around the yard and say, “Oh, look, the roses are starting to bloom!” Or, “Oh, the mint is coming back!” It’s a happy feeling.
Some of the plants I have in the flower garden are: May Night Salvia, Tall Garden Phlox (purple), Pink Phlox, Pinks (Dianthus), Bee Balm, Creeping Thyme, Bachelor’s Buttons (my mom gave me these), and Veronica. I also planted some foxglove seeds, but I’m not sure if they’re going to make it, as they accidentally got stepped on (by a child this time).
My fairy rose has made a lovely comeback, and I was able to use some of the tiny blossoms for our Mother’s Day table (my dear mother came to church with us, and then we had her over for lunch). I found these tiny little glass bottles at a flea market last year. I only paid about $2.00 for all eight of them. When I saw them, I immediately envisioned little individual bouquets on the table, at each place setting.
The children also planted a little garden. This photo was taken early in the spring, and now they also have some of my mom’s tomato plants growing there, and peppers, radishes, flowers, and sunflowers.
A month or so ago I made a weekly menu plan that stays the same, week after week. I haven’t been able to do it completely yet (as we had other food that needed to be eaten or we were just needing a different plan for that week), but it’s nice to have everything all planned out.
Monday’s lunch included a delicious fruit salad (made with frozen fruit and berries),
And these delicious Turkey Ranch Pinwheels:
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, life has been so busy lately. I have a list of projects I need to work on. Sewing, gardening, organizing, and school planning, to name a few! So, I’m planning to take a couple of weeks off to focus on two birthdays, many different projects, and hopefully making a few memories, too.
(A crustless pumpkin pie, created by my daughters for our tea party.)
See you next month!
P.S. Be sure to check back here in a couple of weeks (around the beginning of June) for a very fun giveaway I have planned (for a little hint: I think all the seamstresses out there will really love this giveaway! And if you wish you could learn to sew, you might want to get in on this, too!). 🙂
I love your blog! How did you make your soap? I would love to try it but oh so nervous because there are sooooo many options out there! I don't know anyone who has done it but I have tried many of your other posts/recipes so I would love it if you would share. Thank you!
Thank you for your kind words, Becky!
It took me years to finally work up the courage to make soap. And after I did it the first time, I realized that it wasn't as hard as it had seemed (although I'm still afraid of the lye!). I have never taken pictures of the soap making process because it usually takes all my concentration to just get it done, but maybe someday!
Stunning photographs, and absolutely inspiring! Thank you for sharing! It has really encouraged me in my gardening endeavors and makes me want to start a new sewing project.
Blessings
Mrs. White
The Legacy of Home
Thank you, Mrs. White! I hope your garden flourishes, and enjoy your sewing project. I'm in the sewing room this afternoon, whipping up a new apron.
Blessings to you!
You you are inspiring me! I have some of what I need to make soap but need more supplies and I LOVE your menu chart and how it has reminders for the next day. [o= Love that! I really hope you share your recipe for crust-less pumpkin pie soon and your garden is doing soooo well. We seem to be behind but that is okay it will grow.
Thank you for your encouraging note. (((HUGS))) I think we will have lots of fun encouraging each other in our motherhood and wife journey.
Blessings and (((HUGS))) my SSiC (sweet sister in Christ)
-Mary
Mary, thank you so much! I really appreciate your encouragement!
Your posts are always so beautiful and refreshing, Joy! Almost like going on a walk or sitting out in the grass with a dear friend and enjoying fellowship and a good visit together. Only, it is through a computer screen and I have to just imagine being together! 🙂 I really wish I could have slipped on over when the tea party was going on . . . it looks like a very special and fun time. Thank you for sharing and enjoy the rest of your break!
Thank you so much, Sarah, for leaving such words of encouragement here! It would be so nice if we lived closer and we could visit in person. 🙂 I hope your day is blessed!
You'll be missed. I just love your posts! But I'm so glad you're taking time to do the first things first! I took 6 weeks off from my blog when my baby was born recently. Wasn't planned… just wasn't going to work any other way! 🙂 Enjoy life!
Oh, thank you so much for your kind words, Babychaser!
Congratulations on the birth of your new little one! After our fifth baby was born, I just couldn't find time to blog much, so I ended up taking some time off, and it was a blessing to just enjoy my new baby. 🙂
Enjoy your break!
Your tea looks lovely and so does your soap! How wonderful to make your own. I am hoping to learn this summer – I have a friend who makes soap!
Deanna
Thank you, Deanna! You'll love making soap. It is so much easier to visualize if you can do it with a friend the first time (at least that was the case for me!).
Just lovely, Joy! I wish you well and productivity with patience and energy over the next couple of weeks! We all need a break here and there 🙂
Your tea party was so adorable…I have only sons, so there is NO "pink" and "dainty" at my house, LOL! Enjoy those girls!
Blessings,
Lori
Thank you for the well-wishes, Lori! So far I've had a cold, so my productivity has been down a bit, but hopefully I can be more energetic next week! 🙂
Have a wonderful time, Joy. It's good to step away from blogging and see what and who needs you more than that.
Love the soap you have made yourself. Hope to get there too some day..
See you soon!
Love from Holland
Thank you, Monique! I hope you get to make soap–it's so fun!
your photos are pure bliss as always!
I will be looking forward to hear from you when you get back from this break!
Thank you, Amanda!
don't be away for too long. I do so look forward to your blog posts!!! IT's a tranquil spot in my day.
Oh, thank you, Josette! 🙂
Have a wonderful break! I have been thinking about a break recently as well. Perhaps when the summer starts to get busy!
Thank you, Heather!