Life Lately on Our Little Homestead
We always have lots of creative projects in process here. This lovely lavender soap has been curing on top of the refrigerator for some time now. I really need to make a couple more batches, but I’m not sure when I’ll do that.
Our raised beds have been producing some lettuce. If only the neighbors’ dogs would stay out of it…
Last month I finished another dress for my youngest (from the Miss Madeline pattern). She said it was her favorite one yet! Someone gave this fabric to my mother-in-law and then she passed it on to me a few years ago. So, a free dress! I took these photos on my daughter’s birthday, which is why she was whirling around excitedly (and that’s a neighbor’s dog in the foreground!). 🙂
We’ve been making bread every week again (here’s our recipe). My children are always so excited when they see me making bread! It seems to be everyone’s favorite food. They always enjoy helping shape the loaves and rolls, too.
We are all loving the school room we made in our basement a few months ago. It is so nice to have a central place for all the school things. I especially like that we have a place to display art projects after we finish them.
My youngest finally finished the All About Reading Pre-Reading program (we went through it sloooowly!), and he just read his first word this week! He’s been loving All About Reading Level 1, which is what I used with his older sister. My favorite reading program ever!
Here’s what a typical school morning might look like. Except not usually this messy! My sewing machine and all sorts of stuff was sitting at the end of the table in this photo. But I do usually have a cup of tea sitting by my school books. 🙂
We’ve been really enjoying our Thanksgiving unit study. I feel we’ve all learned so much, including me! We’ve almost memorized the hymn we were learning (Now Thank We All Our God), and the books I made for each child are now filled with drawings, thoughts of gratitude, beautifully-colored illustrations, and lovely copywork pages. It’s been one of the most profitable unit studies I’ve ever put together, and for that I’m thankful. 🙂
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” ~Psalm 19:1
Just lovely Joy! Thank you for sharing a peek inside your home with us! 🙂
Thank you, JES, and so glad you stopped by! 🙂
Really cute dress! You take nice pictures, too.
Thank you, Shecki! That's very sweet of you!
pretty dress by the way! 🙂 I'm trying to set up my sewing area and get back into sewing as time allows. 😀
Thank you! I still have two more dresses cut out for her that I need to get sewn up before she outgrows them! 🙂
Lovely soap!! I've just started making soap and it's been rather fun!
Could you share the recipe? I've made a lavender goat milk soap and it is lovely!! I did add lavender buds to the soap which I won't do again, it's a bit rough and the buds remind me of mice droppings. 🙂 The soap feels so good on my skin though! What did you use to colour it? I've loved pouring over recipes. 🙂
I have Chocolate Mint (goat milk) and Rose scent soap curing at the moment. 😉
Enjoyed "catching" up here a bit!! 😀
Thanks, Tanya! Your soap sounds amazing! Chocolate Mint and Rose sound delicious! 🙂 I used some soap colorant to color this soap (I think it was called mica, if I'm remembering correctly). It was the first time I've ever used it, and I didn't get it quite right, but it still made a nice effect. I'll try to share the recipe with you when I get a chance. Great hearing from you! 🙂
No rush, but thanks!! I've really enjoyed learning how to make soap, even though I've just scratched the surface with having made only 3 batches so far. 😀
I always love taking a peek into your lives! Quick question though, how do you get your glass pans so clean? Mine are all -er- brown around the edges. Could you do a blog post maybe? Thanks!
Abi Ant.
Whenever I notice that brownish appearance on the pans, we use a slightly abrasive scrubby and lots of "elbow grease" to get it off. 🙂 Since it's usually only around the edges and handle areas, I don't worry too much about using something a bit more abrasive. Some of the pans in the photo are pretty old (purchased at flea markets and thrift stores), and I love that we're able to keep them looking nice! If I ever get a chance, someday I'll try to share a photo of the type of scrubby we use to get them clean. Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
Love your soap! I just shut down my little soap shop. It was actually doing quite well, but with homeschooling and a traveling husband, I just couldn't keep up. Something had to give. I have tons left over so everyone is getting soap for Christmas (:
Thank you! I totally understand about not having time for a soap business. Making items for sale can be a big time investment. But I'm sure everyone who receives your handmade soap for Christmas will be thrilled—it's such a perfect gift!
Your soap looks lovely! Soap making is something I would like to try, but have not got to it so far. Thank you for sharing your photographs 🙂
Thank you, Gwen! I just love soap making (other than being afraid of the lye every time I make it!). 🙂
Looks like you've been getting some things DONE! 🙂 The dress, the bread, the garden, the school room… it all looks wonderful!
Sometimes it feels like I'm not getting much done (or at least like I'm not crossing much off of my ever-growing to-do list!), so it helps to look back at photos I've taken to see that there are some things being accomplished here! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!