Individual Cobbler and stuff....

Life has been a hodgepodge mix in our daily life. We're learning our way around via yard saling. :) Hey, it worked for us when we first moved to Pennsylvania. I've had several spray painting projects going on, rearranging Matthew's room. We donated Matthew's loft bed. Reasoning: Matthew's fascination with popcorn ceilings and since the ceilings are much lower in this rented house. We choose to make it a non-issue and just put Matthew's bed closer to the ground so the popcorn ceiling isn't such a temptation. So, I found a box spring at the thrift store. Now to find a bedframe that will attach to the heardboard I've been painting.

An side note about the move: we're discovering more dvds are missing than originally thought. Today Megan discovered Singin' in the Rain is gone in addition to all of our holiday and Catholic animated movies.

Today Wayne and I went househunting after he worked a double shift last night because a night shift nurse called off. Poor guy was exhausted but he still wanted to go. What a trooper!

Megan's found a volunteer opportunity and is excited about it. Max is still enjoying volunteering at the soup kitchen.

The big girls and I made a version of these: Individual Raspberry Cobblers










These are a Mixed Berries (blueberry, blackberry and raspberry) of Ree's Pioneer Woman's Cooking. Yum!!!

Two Activities for Feast Days

Tomorrow is the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. We're making this cake:

Catholic Cuisine: Recipes for July ~ Month of the Most Precious Blood. Instead of pipe cleaners we'll use chocolate licorice by Hershey's or frosting.

At the Waltzing Matilda blog, Charlotte posted about these: Waltzing Matilda: St. Anne's Family Album.

Earlier in the week I went to Michael's and gathered the needed supplies. We'll be changing the scope of the project. The kids want to make books using pictures of their patron saints.

Simple Pleasures/Thrifty Finds

I'm joining Rhoda for her weekly Thrifty Treasures. If you like bargain hunting join in or check out everyone else's bargains. Just click on the button to Rhoda's blog.


This round table and the glass topper were only $3.99 at Goodwill last week. The fabric/tablecloth was less than a dollar from another thrift store. The lamp/lampshade and bird were also thrift store finds on different occasions this summer.

This ottoman was only $7 at a local auction. The colors coordinate well with our couch. We have an ottoman that matches the chair and I moved that over so we can use it with the couch that is covered in plaid fabric.

The Arm & Hammer box was also $7 at the auction. I sprayed a couple of coats of polyurethane on it and now it's ready to be used for storage in the laundry room. Our homemade laundry soap recipe calls for Arm & Hammer Washing Soda so I thought the box was quite appropriate. :)

These cushions were four for $5.

After applying Scotchguard I put them on the glider (an estate sale find earlier in the season).

This mini greenhouse was only $10. Now I have a place to put our seeds after we get them started for our garden next year. And now for my absolute favorite find:


A clothesline and for only $2!!!! I saw it folded up, leaned up against a fence. I wondered aloud if it was for sale and then asked a lady how much it was. When she said $2 I walked QUICKLY to go pick it up (trying hard to supress that giddy feeling inside). I love, love, love to hang our clothes on the line for so many reasons (gives me an excuse to go outside, quiet solitude that I think of Mary and how she cared for her Holy Family, time to pray and also to be better stewards of the resources God has given us). My husband knows how much I've missed our clothesline that we left in Pennsylvania after we moved here. He put it up right away and I'm so grateful. It really is the simple pleasures in life that make me happy. I love how God knows the desires of our hearts and the ways He finds to make us happy.

Another auction find was this headboard for only $2.50. It's already been sanded and primed. It will be painted black and then a couple coats of polyurethane. Our one son, who will be getting this headboard, can be quite destructive so the door/slider in the bookcase will not be going back on.

I found a space print pillow sham and bedskirt with a black background that will go nicely with the black headboard. Both pieces for $1.00

At another yard sale I found two raspberry starts for $1.00. We'll have a berry patch going in no time. :)

Hope you found some bargains this week too! Thanks for stopping by. :)

Mission of the Sacred Heart

Today we went to the Mission of the Sacred Heart in Cataldo, Idaho. They were having an historic skills weekend with music, women spinning (wheels), a blacksmith and soldiers who fired their weapons (musket and cannon). When we were here ten years ago visiting my parents we brought the older kids here. It was neat to bring the four younger kids now that we're living here.

The St. Joseph Shrine.
The main altar. Isn't it beautiful? Hard to believe it was built before the Civil War.

One of the priest's vestments. See the straw in the wall?


A closer look at the main altar.

Plaque outside the church.



Behind the church.

Us girls! :)

The meadows down the hill from the church are beautiful. After we made a short hike, we had a picnic under a tree.

Prayers for a friend and her family

My friend De'Etta and her family are in need of prayers. Mike is De'Etta's husband and an Air Force chaplain. While in the process of moving from Texas to Japan, their van was stolen. Inside the van were the family's important documents (passports, birth certificates, military id's, etc.). Please visit De'Etta's blog: ~ Choosing Joy ~: Specific Prayer Requests if you'd like to pray for their specific needs at this time.

Thanks!

A Thorn in the Flesh

The second reading from mass yesterday was from 2 Corinthians12:7-10 Brothers and sisters: That I, Paul, might not become too elated, because of the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

This has resonated with me since I read it aloud to the kids before mass yesterday. Since we moved, some experiences have felt akin to being pricked by thorns.

With God's grace a new resolve has stirred within me: to press on and forward.

On Fourth of July Wayne had to work so we had a low key holiday. He grilled hamburgers, steak and hot dogs before leaving for work. I tried a new recipe for potato salad and it was a hit! Thanks Barbara! Two of the older kids and I went to confession. What a blessing!

Monday's Thrifty Treasures

I'm joining Rhoda again @ Southern Hospitality for her weekly party. It's fun seeing what deals can be found.

Because of the holiday weekend there weren't many sales or any local auctions. I did manage to find a few things from the local thrift store and craigslist.

I've been wanting a hutch to replace some of the many bookcases and other larger pieces of furniture we left behind in Pennsylvania. This will be painted black. It was a real bargain on craigslist. It's solid maple.
This sign is one of my favorite finds! It's punched tin. This will look great in our dining room. Our dining room chairs are painted black so this will look great in that room.



When we lived in Pennsylvania we had 3 compost bins. Those were items that were left behind as well. I've been searching for 3 months. I found this one (it was in two bundles without directions) at a local thrift store for only $10! I found the assembly directions online. I just love it when I find something practical that we can really use.

Adjustments

We're all still adjusting to our new life in Idaho. It's safe to say we're all still feeling unsettled. After years of owning our own home, we're renting. So the walls will remain devoid of pictures and boring white in color.

Since we arrived close to summer, most homeschool and extra curricular activities were already winding down.

I try hard to focus on the blessings: we have a place to live, my husband has a good paying job, we're healthy, our house in Pennsylvania sold and God has provided for our every need. The mountain scenes and beautiful, clear blue skies are inspirational.

We're enjoying the slower pace: no harried pace to get the kids to extra curricular activities. We're within walking distance to Wayne's place of employment and our church so we're saving money on gas.

But yet something is missing: my two best friends who *get it*, our church family and our favorite Zumba instructor who made exercise soooo much fun.

a day in the life

For new readers, our 7 yr old son, Matthew, has sensory issues. For the last several weeks he's been doing something new. One week, every. single. day and for the entire week, Matthew hummed. The next week Matthew whistled. All. day. long. for the entire week. The third week Matthew began clucking his tongue. The week after that Matthew learned how to make some sort of snorting sound through his nose. Why? We don't know. It's just something he does. Matthew is also doing cartwheels through the house. Most of us are taking it in stride. It's just something Matthew does.

We're still searching for a house. We're leaning more towards living in the country with some acreage and critters. I think it would be wonderful for the kids and after playing taxi for years with 3 teenagers and a baby, I don't care to do that again any time soon.

Wayne and Matthew continue to be fishing buddies. They go every chance they get. It's what they're doing right now.

Max's behavior hasn't been what we'd hoped. No big surprise there but it's still disappointing that after 3 and a half years, he's still stealing and having temper tantrums when we're in public.

Kaila and Megan are outside. Kaila's playing her guitar and both girls and singing an old Eagles song.

Ohhhh, gotta go! The boys just got home from fishin'!

Some of this week's bargains

My hubby (what a trooper) and I headed out early Friday morning to hit the yard sales. I love it that he enjoys yard saling and bargain hunting as much as I do. :) The white enamel bowl, galvanized watering can and outdoor side table look great together and help make the front covered porch more of an outdoor living area.

The three panel screen (one panel is folded behind another), 3 drawer wicker chest, tin panel and architectural piece were all weekend finds too. The tin panel and architectural piece will work well with a collage I plan to make using brown transferware plates.

I was ecstatic to find this book display for only $15! Being a homeschooler, I've wanted one for years. When I first spotted it several weeks ago in a resale shop it was for display only. I was thrilled to find it for sale Saturday morning when I just happened to stop by.

Please join Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality for