Psalm 5:11

My 2018 Garden

I have greatly enjoyed gardening this year in my raised garden beds! (Mentioned in a previous post).  It’s now starting to feel like fall, and sadly my garden is winding down for the year, we’ve already had one frost and more are called for. I thought it would be fun to do a post about what I planted this year and how it all went. :) 

This is how things looked in early May. I was waiting on dirt to fill up the beds. 

Around the middle of May the dirt arrived! Actually we got it from the canola field behind our house, we are blessed with good rich dirt where we live. 

I was excited to go shopping for all the plants! I knew I wanted one 4’x8’ bed to be for strawberries, several of the little side beds were going to be for flowers, the one 4x4 bed was for my herbs, and the last 4x8 would be used to grow a few vegetables, namely tomatoes, spinach, and peas. 

Flower seeds (and one herb seed package).   Thanks to my sister for giving me these! :)

I redid the edging of the existing lily bed and also made it smaller so it would be easier to maintain. 

Planting the strawberry plants! 

My little herb garden. 

The four tomato plants produced very well! 

I took this picture a few weeks ago. The lilies were finished blooming, and I had already pulled out the peas and spinach, which were done producing. 

I’m already looking forward to gardening again next year! :) 

Show Me Thy Ways

“Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”

-Psalm 25:4-5

Do What is Right, Not What is Easy

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phil. 4:13

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. 10-15

A Fun Project: 2x4 Garden bench

Not long ago I went exploring in the barn and discovered a pile of 2x4 boards.  I had been thinking about buying a park bench to put in the yard, instead here was an opportunity to try to make one out of the boards.  I looked up a few ideas, but being in a particularly frugal mood at the time I decided not to spend money on plans. :b After all, I didn’t have the proper saws to cut angles anyway, I had a handsaw, tape measure and a borrowed drill and impact driver, I was set to give it a try. :) 

Online, I found a bench I thought looked nice to use as an idea. For most of the measurements I checked our porch swing to see how high to make the seat, armrests etc..

Trying to figure out a plan of action! I wanted a reclined backrest to make it more comfortable to sit on.  It did require several angled cuts, and a couple rounded cuts for the armrests, though not perfect, I managed with the handsaw. :) 

Pile of potential :)

Still trying to figure it out at this point. 

The sides were mostly done here and I was trying to decide out how long it should be. 

After I had all the boards cut and partly assembled, it was time to apply wood stain. Many thanks to my Mother-in-law for picking up the stain and brushes for me at the store! 

This was the slightly apprehensive stage, seeing if it was actually going to work. 

Ta da! :D in the end all the pieces fit together pretty good and it turned out mostly to my satisfaction. :)

I moved it over by the raised gardens and flower bed where there was a good spot for it.  The children and I have already used it quite a bit.  It was a fun project to make! :)

Flowers of Spring

Besides dandelions, these are the first flowers I’ve seen blooming in the wild this spring. So beautiful! It was fun watching the butterflies and bees that were visiting the blossoms. :) 

“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

 -Psalm 34:3

For Moms: A Friendly Reminder :D

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine...”-Proverbs 17:22

🌿 Raised Garden Beds!! 🌿

Growing up, my family always used to have a garden. One summer we planted 80 tomato plants, I remember picking tomatoes and hauling them to the kitchen in a wheelbarrow where they were processed and canned.  We had strawberries, raspberries, apple trees, and asparagus, among other vegetables and fruits growing in the yard.   After a move to Florida, my Dad planted lemon, orange and grapefruit trees in our yard.   

When I married, I thought I’d continue to grow things. I love being outdoors! Camping, hiking, a walk in the woods, gardening, keeping backyard chickens, all my kinds of things. :) But, after our children came along, I was unable to keep gardening high enough on my priority list, and inevitably, my garden plot it would end up as one giant weed patch. :/     With small children, babies, and a husband who worked extremely long hours, it wasn’t the right season of life for gardening.  I gave up the idea for several years. 

Then, the winter of 2016-2017 I thought that in the spring I could try making small raised garden beds. That way I could weed easily and even with littles it would be manageable and easy to maintain.  

I was excited! Seed catalogs arrived in the mail, and I spent many a happy moment poring over them.  I’d planned to buy apple and cherry trees, as well as vegetable seeds. In the spring of 2017 a few various unforeseen, things came up, and in the end, my dream of having a garden once again was put on hold. I was disappointed, all winter I’d hoped. It may seem silly, but to me it was important. :)

This spring I once again was thinking perhaps I could garden.  I mentioned it to my husband Graham.  A few weeks back, I looked out the window and there in the grass was a pile of lumber! The next thing I knew, Graham came in with two tool bags.  He then proceeded to  build me two perfect 4x8 (exactly the small size I wanted!) raised garden beds!!! It’s safe to say I was extremely excited! :) 

Even though Graham was busy, and has a lot going on (seeding time here on our farm) He stopped to make the garden beds for me. So thankful for a husband who cares for me like he does! He’s the best, I am a blessed lady!

Can’t wait to plant some seeds and plants soon!! :) 

“Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4

Little bit of Happiness #2 Tea cups, and coffee

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Sometimes it’s the little things that can bring joy and remind me to be thankful. Today for me it was sipping coffee out of my favourite Pioneer Woman mug. I love the colours on the cup! Someday, I may look into getting the matching teapot. :) I’m thankful for good coffee and pretty mugs to drink it out of! 

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” -Psalm 68:19

Windy Spring Day: Bag Ballon Kites

Today is warm, sunny and breezy. The children asked me to make large garbage bag balloon kites. They don’t fly very good, but everyone was having a blast running around with them tied to a yarn string. :) 

Simple outdoor spring fun!!

A Few Meals, Trim Healthy Mama Style!

I thought it might be fun to share a few of the THM meals I’ve been eating lately. :) I usually snap a quick photo right before eating so the pictures are not fancy.  These are dishes that I enjoyed a lot, and either have made multiple times, or will make again. 

This was my S supper tonight.  I bought the THM Troodle vegetable Slicer, and this was my first time to use it.  After cutting the zucchini, I tossed it with salt, onion powder, garlic powder and basil.  I then fried it olive oil for five minutes. At the end, I added in Parmesan cheese and a half a cup of diced canned tomatoes.  It was delicious! My husband does not care for zucchini at all. I didn’t tell him what I’d made, but asked him to try a bite. He thought it was good and asked “What is it?”  I had to tell him it was zucchini! Cooked this way it still has a slight bite and isn’t mushy at all. I will be making this again for sure! :)  I got my idea for this dish Here. 

My S lunch today. Avocado, easy over eggs, and steak. I sprinkled nutritional yeast over the egg and avocado. Yum!

S lunch last week, made from a mix of cubed cheese, spices, spinach, chicken and bacon. I put everything between two small low carb tortillas and fried it up until it was hot. So good dipped in sour cream! This was an S. 

Banana Bread! This is a E meal. I figured out the carbs, and saw I could double the recipe and still be fine. We didn’t have oat flour so I made my own. I have made it twice now and really enjoy it!  Click Here for the recipe.  I also didn’t have Greek yogurt, I substituted water in its place. 

Burritos! Super simple delicious S meal. Served on low carb tortillas. 

Low carb pancake, coffee with cream.  This was a mix I bought online, it was pricey, but both my husband and I agreed it was the best low carb pancakes we’ve ever had. 

So there you have it,  just a few meals I’ve had lately, the weight is dropping and we are eating like kings! :)  THM is great! 

Happy Spring Day

Today, one of the children brought me the first little dandelion of the season. I love these bright cheery yellow flowers. :) We still have a few unmelted snow piles in the yard, but the temperatures have been in the upper 60’s and the warm sunshine feels good.  I pulled out our humming bird feeder and filled it with fresh sugar water. It’s now hung outside all ready for when the tiny birds pass though.  Also today, we heard the first robin, it was perched high up in the still bare tree branches, chirping happily.  I am thrilled that spring is here for real in Saskatchewan! :) 

2 Cor. 5:15

Thought for Today

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”  Proverbs 4:23

Pancakes

Pancakes for supper tonight!  I love having breakfast foods for supper, or lunch for that matter. :)

I used a pancake mix tonight, what’s neat about it is, that the wheat used in it, is from our farm, and other local farms. :) 

My kind of pancake! Whipped cream, strawberries and syrup. Mmmm, I’m on the THM diet so none for me tonight, but the children enjoyed them! :) 

In His Presence is fullness of Joy

Psalm 16:11

Little bit of Happiness #1 Colour in Winter

I am excited to that two of my flowering plants are now in bloom! I keep them on the window ledge above the kitchen sink, it’s nice to see a pop of colour in contrast to the drab winter landscape outside right now. :) 

This is the first time this orchid has bloomed since I first got it. Seeing it adds a bit of brightness to my day. :)

Pretty purple African violet flowers. :) 

Beautiful! 

“The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”  Psalm 24:1

Winter Tea Party

With the weather getting to such low temperatures here in Saskatchewan, we’ve been stuck in the house even more than usual. Yesterday, I thought I’d make a tea party for some of the children to help keep them occupied.  We had lots of fun! Here are a few pictures. 

Getting everything ready. I had some special snacks I’d been saving, I pulled those out and made some tea. 

The snacks!  Colorful mints, assorted cookies, peanuts, and we also had a bowl of pretzels. :) 

The tea tray. Tea, cream, sugar and snacks. 

Ready to eat! 

Happy sigh! I love pouring tea. :) 

Hope everyone is having a good winter! 

  “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it [is] the gift of God.”

-Ecclesiastes 3:13

Marshmallow Snowman

I saw a cute idea for making marshmallow snowmen to go on top of hot chocolate that I wanted to try. Today I realized we had big marshmallows and some of the other things needed to make one. Below is my first attempt. Not as cute as the Pinterest picture, but not bad. :) 

I used toothpicks for the arms and legs. The picture where I got the idea used small pretzel sticks, but I didn't have any on hand. For the eyes, nose and buttons I used small pieces of gummy fruit snacks we were eating with our hot chocolate at the time.  It was fun, and the children thought he was cute. :)