More Paperback Trees, Crafting with my Grandson, and Day 16 of the Jesse Tree

Advent is a time of preparing.  Most of the morning was spent giving half the house a good (almost) spring cleaning.  Then off to the library. 

The paperback Christmas Tree competition put on by the library is always so fun.  I like to participate mostly to see if I can "start" and "finish" the project.  Everyone is so talented.  Here are some of the entries.  (I do often wonder if, as we fold the pages, if anyone begins to  read the book they are folding and want to finish it... despite only being a partial book. smile)

After school today my grandson and I got together to make ornaments.  It is still too cold for him to go skateboarding so crafts it is!

The first one is the melted snowman... not that that is ever going to happen anytime soon in real life but we made an attempt in our creativity. 

We filled an ornament a 1/4 of the way with fake snow. (this was not an easy concept for him, as melted snow is water he says) He wanted to know if this was real but warm snow?

Blurry snowman parts...

Oops we realized we forgot his scarf!

He is showing his ornament but more than that, he is proudly displaying his missing tooth!

In the scarf goes!

Next up a fun one but seriously cautious craft so we don't make a mess. We prepared to make an acrylic pour Christmas ornament. 

We mixed up 50% floetrol (a paint additive)

30% acrylic paint (one color per cup)

20% water 

mix each one thoroughly. 

We put each clear ornament turned over on a popsicle stick into a piece of Styrofoam to hold them in place while we poured paint slowing over each one, one color after another. 

Now we let them dry for 24 -48 hours , read a book and play hide and seek.  Then spray with an enamel seal in a day or so. 

Crocheted a few scrunchies before dinner .

After dinner I realized I need to make today's Jesse Tree Ornament.

December 16 - Jesse: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Symbol: sheep & shepherd's staff 

"He then asked Jesse, 'Are these all the sons you have?' Jesse replied, 'There is still one left, the youngest; he is looking after the sheep.' Samuel then said to Jesse, 'Send for him, for we shall not sit down to eat until he arrives.' "

Time to felt up some of my wool.

peace 

Homestead update April 18

Today was warm but extremely windy.

The garden was green and very happy looking.  It is amazing how little you need for your family. Keep it trimmed and it will continue to give you food. 

Spinach

Red Lettuce

Butter lettuce

We filled a basket to make our lunch and dinner side. 

We picked a couple of radishes to go with our salad.

I trimmed the parsley... again.  I like it as a salad, in recipes, a garnish and dried for winter dishes. 

We made a big salad.

I headed to the store while Dude moved big rocks with the tractor and got the chicken house ready for new meat hens.  I took pictures so you could see some birds are more expensive than others.  Meat hens are $2 each.

I picked up 30 chicks to raise for the next 6-8 weeks for our fall and winter meals. 

They cozied themselves under the heat lamp. 

Dude continued outside while I got the table and dinner ready for Holy Thursday. 

Lamb shanks are going in the oven for our Seder meal for Holy Thursday.

We raised this lamb.  I am not sure we could butcher another lamb. We are raising two and Dude says he is not sure he can eat these two tender friends. 

When it comes out of the oven we will have it with apple salad, regular salad, matzo , hard boiled eggs and cheesecake for dessert. 

May you have a very blessed Holy Thursday. 

peace 

December 2nd First day of Advent , morning in the greenhouse and more.

I began the day...after my morning coffee with Dude in front of the fire... in the greenhouse.  My thought was to get some greens and carrots for dinner.  We are having  locally grown pork and I am on a mission to eat, at least half the plate in veggies.  There is still snow on the ground.

The ground in the greenhouse is not frozen yet so I took some more plants I had and planted them... mums. In the spring I will transplant them outside.

Planted mums.

As I was digging I found this wiggly worm.

Our carrots do well throughout the winter. We pick them as we need them. 

The cabbage is growing too. 

We put our wood stove ashes in our gardens.

It was a great way starting the day... in the dirt... hearing the sheep calling outside and rooster crowing.

 Sunday is Dude's football day.  That man does so much for the house despite being "retired".  Since he does I like taking on the outside chores on the weekend, mostly feeding and watering the birds and sheep.  I mean, who wouldn't... everyone is so adorable.

When I got back in Dude was stoking the fire and then vacuuming while listening to the game. Rest... for one day... rest.

Again the day did not turn out as planned.  My mom needed to be taken to the hospital for stomach issues.  She lives over an hour away and the hospital she wanted to go to was another 30 minutes away.  I brought books and crafts to be done.  I am glad we did... we were there for 5 hours.  They did many tests and in the end sent her home with some good medicine to help her eat. 

I worked on paperback Christmas trees while waiting . 

 It needs painted and decorated but the hard part is finished. 

And read...

Always be prepared!

We lit the Advent Wreath after dinner.  This is the first Sunday of Advent... the four Sundays before Christmas.  It is a time of Preparing the Way and the first candle a symbol of Hope. 

peace