We started homeschooling again this year the day after Labor Day...and I got bit by the "nesting" bug! LOL Along with schooling, watching Ty, and everyones activities starting up again, I decided to switch sizes and seasons for Ronnie and Anna....I'm so grateful that Meghan and Sara do this themselves! We've also been doing a lot of canning and freezing...looking forward to doing more when we get back from vacation.
Part of our simple, frugal lifestyle, is re-purposing clothing. Jumpers can be made into aprons, which save our clothes from stains and wear and tear...skirts can be made to fit Anna, by simple adjustments....we're even going to be making potholders out of old denim with sweatshirts sandwiched in between them. One of the ways that I consider re-purposing...is to pass on clothing to others once my children have outgrown them, and to gratefully accept clothing that is given to us....the Lord never fails to provide for us...and this is the main way He does it...thru friends.
We store bags in the attic marked boy or girl and the sizes, and then pull them out at the appropriate time. Well....I think I've had 12 ex. large loads of laundry this week! LOL I have the LAST load in the dryer now....chicken soup simmering on the stove, and bread dough rising....a perfect "nesting" day!
I finished cleaning Anna's room and organizing all of her clothes....have 3 bags to be passed on to friends for their daughter. Today, I will do Ronnie's. Everything from clothes, jammies, coats, snowpants and boots will be going to a friend....and we will be prepared for winter. I'm organizing all our blankets and quilts as well.....I already have all the flannel sheets washed and ready for colder weather.
This coming week, I will be making large pots of chili, pasta fagioli soup, split pea soup, and baking zucchini bread and banana nut bread....as we will be going to spend a week at Lake Chautauqua in New York next week. We may be able to go to dinner a couple of times, but for the most part, this will be a frugal, simple vacation. We are blessed to be able to stay at my cousin's home, right on the lake...it is so beautiful and peaceful there! My mom and step-dad are going with us...and there will be a lot of fishing, card playing, game playing, old movies and popcorn...along with bonfires and marshmallows, of course! We are so looking forward to relaxing and making memories with my precious parents!
Of course, the girls and I will be taking lots of yarn up with us, to work on Christmas gifts while we are there. What could be better than soft, warm, fuzzy yarn by a fire with the people you love?! Ron and I are especially looking forward to peace, quiet and no running around. Life will speed up for our family quickly once we get home! We are considering a short trip to Ohio to visit friends, then our dear friend, Gabrielle, will be flying back to visit with us for 2 weeks....to help celebrate Sara's 14th and Anna's 5th birthdays...lots of fun plans are being made with friends!
I finally finished the infamous "Dr. Who" scarf! Our friend, Rick, was so excited! He loves it, and I am so glad! I forgot to take a picture, so as soon as I have one, I'll post it. I am also hoping to finish my great nephew's quilt as they are coming to visit this week from Delaware. I can't wait to see and hold Hayden!!!
That's about it! Once we are back from vacation, we hope to give the house a thorough cleaning, take a day to clean out the attic (when it is cool...it's still very warm up there!)....and then we will be ready! Ron's Winter project is to re-tile the downstairs bathroom. Finally.....he finished the upstairs, and has been doing outdoor projects all summer. For instance, since we can't afford right now to get a new front door, he painted it. I love the shade of green! He also took 2 days and painted our shed.....the kids are thrilled that it looks like a barn! Sara says it is great for photo shoots!
Had a very nice visit with the cousins this evening. Ron's Uncle Joe had knee surgery yesterday, so Ronnie, Anna and I took some chicken soup and homemade rolls over to them...and all the cousins were there. Ronnie and Michael had a ball, as usual, and Anna had a fun time with her girl cousins...she and Molly are both in kindergarten this year, with Julia and Mia in preschool and little Maddie....just 2, home with her mommy. Maddie's mom, Carol and her sister started a new business, 'Madison Ave. Specialty Cakes'...I'm very excited for them! Once their website is up and running, I hope to post it here, and it will have pictures of their specialties, as well as tastings by appointment information. It was a wonderful visit!
Tomorrow....we are all looking forward to a special Sunday! Church, as always, is very much looked forward to all week, then I'm taking Ronnie & Anna to meet friends at a Revolutionary War encampment! Then it is off to visit my great-aunt Helen, and to deliver the twins baby blankets that I made...Addison and Bailey will be here by the end of the month, I hear! Then home to a pan of lasagna that my step-mom sent over....whoo hoo! I don't even have to cook dinner! Then we are popping popcorn...and our Aunt lent us the movie "Bedtime Stories"....for a relaxing, family movie night to end our day.
Hope you all have a very special, blessed Sunday! ~Sue~
