First Signs of Spring, The Trees

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The last week or so since the calendar’s declaration of SPRING has been very typical of early spring in the Colorado foothills.

Late March snow

Late March snow

Early April snow

Early April snow

 

Aspen Catkins

Aspen Catkins

Notice the Catkins on the Aspen, they are sure signs of spring.  Catkins are skinny clusters of flowers that if pollinated, drop tiny hairlike seeds in early summer.  The seeds need moist soil to geminate, which here in the Rocky Mountain foothills is not a likely find.  It’s a good thing that Aspens primarily propagate by root shoots.

Peach Tree, no blossoms yet

Peach Tree, no blossoms yet

The Peach Tree is 3 years old this year (I believe).  This past winter wasn’t as dry as the last few, but we still didn’t get as much snow as we hoped for.  I was very intentional about shoveling our back patio and heaping the snow around the base of the tree, with the hopes that it would get as much moisture as possible and be productive this summer.

Lilac Bushes

Lilac Bushes

The return of the lilac leaves and blossoms is always a delight.  There are several strong bushes with new shoots every year by our west fence.  Lilacs bring back sweet memories from my childhood, and are likely the reason for my lifelong love of the color of purple.  It is in this cluster of lilac bushes that our flock of ducks and chickens seem to like to hang out.

Post Oak

Post Oak

And finally, the Post Oak, my favorite tree in the yard.  It is always the last to leaf out, but I love how straight and tall it is, like a sentential watching over the driveway entrance.

If you are watching for signs of spring, what have you found?

Goals for April 7-12

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Happy Monday! How is it going with your goals? It was a good week, and even though I didn’t get all of my goals met, plenty of other good things took place. A friend told me about a Just Between Friends sale, and that was a success for me! Several new books arrived in the mail and I got sidetracked from getting the 2 chapters read in the specific books I had chosen for the week.IMG_1238I am creating a new wall display at church and these photos will be added this week.  These are some of the kids our congregation sponsors through Compassion International.

Goals for March 31-April 5

Making Home

Read with my granddaughter

Write a Love Note

Read Aloud 4 Chapters of Anne of Green Gables

Clean drains

Sew binding on new cousin quilt

Cousin QuiltPersonal Growth

Memorize Ephesians 6: 11

Walk/Run 1 mile, 3 times this week, 3 Days strengthening exercises

Read 2 chapters from each- If I Had Lunch with C.S. Lewis, When We Were on Fire,

Listen to 2 more chapters of Bonhoeffer audio book

Ministry Goals

Write 2 notes of encouragement or gratitude

Write message for congregation (updated pictures to be added)

Begin outline for Compassion Sunday presentation

Household Business

Begin working through WordPress tutorials

Make a couple more recipe cards using this tutorial

Take and edit 5 pictures

 

FOR SALE ~ ALL SOLD

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For many years we have enjoyed our homeschooling adventure with materials and direction from Five in a Row and Simply Charlotte Mason.

As we enter a new season in our pursuit of education for life, it is time to pass on some things to make room for others.  I am holding onto my Five in a Row manuals for co-op classes and grandchildren, but over the next few months many other things will be offered here.  If you find anything here that will be helpful on your educational journey, please let me know.  Continue reading

Backyard Barnyard, Week 2

The chicks, ducks and turkeys are growing, with the ducks most rapidly.  I really like the pouf on top of Sebastian’s head!  We did loose one chick this past week.  No one is sure what happened, and we were concerned about illness.  What relief as the next few days pass with no more loss!

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Care and feeding of these little creatures has been fully taken on by 3 of my daughters.  It is bringing me joy to see the creativity and problem solving skills they each bring to the task.  It took me by surprise when I saw the Lemonade Stand sign being used as a barrier between the ducks/turkeys and the chicks, but a problem was solved for the moment.

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Cleaning up after the ducks prompted this smart little idea.  Now the litter doesn’t have to be changed so often!  My daughters did not believe me last when I tried to sway them away from ducks.  They are SOOO messy!

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The other chicks outgrew the rubber tub this week, and have settled in well on their side of the coop.  Hopefully the night time temperatures will stop dipping so low and we can move the bigger birds out to the unheated coop soon.  It seems the turkeys are ready to stretch out a little more.

Are there any backyard flock raisers reading?  I’d love to hear from you!

This Moment, April 4 2014

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A very ordinary, yet extraordinary moment that gives a peak into the wonder of everyday.

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Linking with Amanda over at SouleMama

Eat Move SLEEP

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Last week I wrote a little about the book Eat Move Sleep and how I have been encouraged to get back to pursuing a more active life.  That is continuing to go well.

This week a friend posted a link on facebook that I have found encouraging along the lines of Sleep.  This article is very interesting to me, as I so enjoy my afternoon 10-15 minute “resets”.  Especially if I get a good 7.5 hours of sleep at night, the mid to late afternoon 15 minute nap is just what I need to finish the day well.  Below is a graphic from the article.

sleep naps Napping can Dramatically Increase Learning, Memory, Awareness, and MoreHave you seen this article or another that encourages you regarding napping and rest?  Do you find a quick nap in the afternoon helps you make it through the day?

Sold Out

We apologize that we now sold out of that item.  We are working to restock and can email you when the item is available.  Please let a comment or email us to let us know if you would us to contact you.  byquietwaters@gmail.com

Goals, Week of March 31-April 5

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Goals for March 24-30
Making Home
Pre Read 3 chapters The Book Thief , decide if it a suitable read aloud for our family in this season
Read with my granddaughter
Write a Love Note
Complete Week 4 of MSM’s “4 Weeks to a More Organized Home
Freezer Cooking Session to Include Home packed Oatmeal Packets

Personal Growth
Memorize Ephesians 6:10, 11
Walk/Run 1 mile, 3 times this week, 3 Days strengthening exercises ~ started well at the beginning of the week, but as varied things came up I just didn’t keep on.
Read ~ Notes from a Blue Bike, Listen to 2 Chapters of Bonhoeffer audio book
Practice what I learned at the photography class this past weekend

Ministry Goals
Write 2 notes of encouragement or gratitude
Gather supplies to make this
Schedule time to work on our church’s Compassion Wall this will be an ongoing project for a while

Household Business
Begin “How to Make a Living Selling Kindle Books” Udemy courses
Make a couple more recipe cards using this tutorial

List items on facebook & craigslist– was introduced to the Just Between Friends sale mid week. I spent some time preparing 3 baskets of items to “test” this market.

Goals for March 31-April 5
Making Home
Read with my granddaughter
Write a Love Note
Decide on Read Aloud and start reading – I am conflicted about the Book Thief, so I am setting it aside for awhile.
Clean drains, furnace & vacuum filters

photo(3)Personal Growth
Memorize Ephesians 6:10, 11
Walk/Run 1 mile, 3 times this week, 3 Days strengthening exercises
Read 2 chapters from each- Notes from a Blue Bike, If I Had Lunch with C.S. Lewis, When We Were on Fire,
Listen to 2 more chapters of Bonhoeffer audio book

Ministry Goals
Write 2 notes of encouragement or gratitude
Gather supplies to make this
Prepare pictures to be added to Compassion Wall, write message for congregation (updated pictures to be added)
Begin outline for Compassion Sunday presentation

Household Business
Begin working through WordPress tutorials
Make a couple more recipe cards using this tutorial
Deliver items to the Just Between Friends sale

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Reading in March

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The weather has leaped into spring and I’ve enjoyed more time outside.  It is good that I set an earlier bedtime a while back, so that I can get in a chapter or two before sleepiness takes over!  It was more challenging to make it through my reading list this month, but that is okay.  Sunshine is an equally good thing!

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EAT MOVE SLEEP by Tom Rath ~ thoughts from this book are here.

Love Does by Bob Goff – we read this book as our dinner time read aloud over the past 2 months.  My kids got a kick over my tears in many chapters, but I loved that this book opened up conversations on deeper topics.  My kids seemed to love Mr Goff’s humor and mishaps.

Simplify and Beautify Your Life with Natural Coconut Oil, by Carrie Soneji, read on my kindle app ~ Have you ever seen the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”?  Well, coconut oil is my windex!

5 Conversations you must have with your daughter by Vicki Courtney ~ This book is full of important information, but I found myself very bogged down by all the statistics and heaviness.  After making it slowly though chapter 12, I simply skimmed over the rest of the book.

Where There Was No Church, by EJ Martin.  This was a very interesting book, if you are interested in missions, I recommend it!

How about you, what did you read in March?

March Booking It: French Women Don't Get Facelifts, The Monuments Men, & My Berlin KitchenLinking with Jessica at Life As Mom

 

Backyard Barnyard

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Last fall when we sent our 2nd flock of chickens to the country, I was pretty sure we were done with backyard chickens and ducks.  Well here we are again, with a little flock of chickens, ducks and TURKEYS.  Part of the reason I was willing to do this again is that I have 2 daughters who very heartily told me they are more than willing, they WANT to learn to butcher and process birds for the freezer.

So, the turkeys are named La Cena & El Almuerzo.

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A couple of daughters have named the ducks in hopes that they will be pets, I don’t think they remember our last fiasco with ducks, sigh.

For the little flock of chickens, we have a good plan in place.  Books will be read, the internet googled and hopefully around August 1 we will know which birds are laying good eggs.  And we will know birds are headed for the soup pot.

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This hard full and good life sure is a crazy one!  Are there any other backyard flock families among the readers of By Quiet Waters?  And do you butcher/process some of the birds at the end of summer?