Oh, Nuts!

Okay, so I'm not the best at thinking of witty titles, but I have been harvesting lots of chestnuts and some not-yet-ripe walnuts and pecans. "Harvesting" sounds so much more interesting than just saying that I've been wandering around in the yard with a bucket and a pair of tongs!

If you aren't familiar with chestnuts they have an outer spiky, sharp layer that will often still be attached when the nuts fall from the tree. I never planned on having nut trees, but we were blessed with them when we purchased our home several months ago. As for the pecans and walnuts, I am hoping that they will ripen while I keep them safe from harm (squirrels a.k.a. The Enemy).


My princess is planting some Magnolia seeds. As I wandered in the yard staring at the dirt in search of nuts, I began to notice small red pieces of candy. I thought maybe some neighborhood kids had dropped some cinnamon candy in our yard, but they were so spread out that I became a little concerned and confused. I was relieved when I continued my online research and found a picture of magnolia seeds. Guess it wasn't candy after all!

So, my apologies to all my neighbors who are driving by as I am harvesting, if you know what I mean.

Keep it Clover!

Peanut Butter Play-Dough

I decided to try a new-to-me recipe  Edible Play-Dough. To remind the children that not all play-dough is edible, we are putting peanut butter right into the name of this stuff. I figured this process would be pretty clean, but as you can see, the flour made a big mess, but cleans up pretty easily.

























I did use a green scratchy to get rid of any stuck-on dough, but the clean-up was a rather simple one. I found that my Puddle Duck truly doesn't sit still for long no matter how fun and edible the activity seems! Overall, we had a lot of fun and some cute pics to show for it!

























Oh, and a bit in the hair! No activity seems to be complete without it. I forgot to put a pony tail in my Princess' hair. Too bad 50% was still failing in school. In some cases half is pretty good during motherhood.

Flag Parade 2008

I am in a parade! Thanks for coming to see me waltz my way along with flag in hand. Saluting those who appreciate the greatness of this country more than I. May God continue to bless America although we don't deserve it. His mercy does much more abound.
You can see more of this parade at Kari and Kijsa's blog.

The picture above looks pretty cute. I have to confess that it is in my bathroom. Complete with my little Puddle Duck playing with a doll! I found that I needed to have some storage for hair stuff which would be at hand and separate the barettes from the pony tail holders and ribbons. These work great and were just a buck each at Dollar Tree. Before we moved, this coat rack was near our front door and was always overloaded with jackets and, well, junk. Now, I'm lovin' it!

I am open to suggestions on how to rotate a picture on here!

Yard Work at the Cottage

We had to get some trees trimmed and our evening family time this week has been "invested" in cleaning up the debris. The joys of owning a home. Yes, I really am enjoying our time despite the mosquito bites!

Settlin' In

These pictures are from the real estate site where I first decided to visit this home during my stressful-at-times home search. I wasn't sure about the wood burning insert in the kitchen fireplace, but now I love it. It just feels so country!

Well, here are my little ones, although this is an older picture. Basically, Princess, now almost four, looks the same, but older and Puddle Duck, age two, looks just like this picture of Princess. So funny. I am an only child so I never realized how sibling can look alike, but act so different and any mixture thereof.

My own home. As I write this blog, I am enjoying my first entire day in our new home. Yesterday we decided to have about four families come over to christen our abode. Was I insane when I agreed to invite what totalled (spelling?) almost thirty people into our home on our third day of settling in? Well, we enjoyed our hotdogs, corn on the cob (courtesy of my good friend Christa), potato chips, and brownies, oh, and I almost forgot the watermelon (also from Christa!). No major catastrophes, but I did find out that our sand pile has evidence of kitty visits. Ewww yuck! Yep, we are official country folk. I am luvin' it! Grandpa Jim even helped me start a compost pile yesterday. I am such a city girl, yet the country life seems so romantic. I have even been checking out farmer-type blogs and sites about raising goats and chickens. I think Iwill just start with some tomatoes and sweet peppers for now! Hope they actually grow. I definitely do not have a green thumb.

So, I tried to use the word "well" a few less times in this blog. I am already improving!

I have continued to learn from fellow bloggers Like Merchant Ships and Homeschool Hacks.

Thanks to all!

Keep it Clover!