Redo of the old

So, I have started on my projects, Finally! Yesterday I did Carl's dresser. He is into Thomas The Train, so yep, that is what we did.

It came out reall nice, and he loves it. I went and got green and yellow to do his shelves! I can't wait! His room will look so cute!

Construction has begun!

I am so happy to write this! It has been a little over 2 years since we moved into this house and I have been waiting for this time to get here! Right now we have approximately 1100 square foot of house with 8 people in it. Trust me, that makes for cramped quarters! A few weeks ago, Jasper started it off by replacing windows in what will eventually become my dining room. It has opened the room and I have windows that will now open. Then he added a small area of shake siding. This really allows you to see how the house is going to look in the future. Can I say, Excited!
This week he took time to do the roof. Usually we have youth camp and he normally is counselor over the Jrs, but, not this year. He had two days that he just couldn't get things done because other situations pressed in. But, last night at dark he still managed to get all the osb on the roof. He did great! He has so far to go still, but we have begun and that is the main thing! 

Spring, and now what do I do?

In Elkton, Virginia we have had nicer temps. The bitter cold seems to have passed, with temps well above 50 lately. The grass is getting green and won't be long until the mowers will be roaring in the neighborhood.
I ordered several trees and shrubs and am waiting for them to arrive. I am so excited! I already received my shipment of Sugar Maples from Musser Forests. I planted them and am hopeful in a few years we will be making our own Maple Syrup.
I the next shipment is my Apple trees and Almond trees, Also Other goodies and found out yesterday some free gifts as well. That would be great, however, Where I was supposed to build my privacy screen, Jasper decided he still needed it open. So now I am scrambling to think where to put everything. I hope he was just kidding?
 That shipment is coming from Gardening Direct. In it is also a nice selection of black raspberries for Carl. He loves them and I really enjoyed seeing him chow down on them. Something he can enjoy eating with no dye worries! I have 8 plants coming. The idea for them is a place I can access them from all directions. So it will be in a circle bed.
I have nice rocks to line the beds. Jasper got them from the left overs at work. Yellow Knockout Roses will be another beauty to plant. Along with Forsythia, Spirea, and Weigela. I hope it will be purdy.

I sure wish I had the gift of creativity. I sure could use it right now!

New Lights!

We have all new lights in the house! Jasper replaced 10 lights and it really makes a difference. It is really nice having your own fix it man around. ;)

Finally!!

Jasper is prepping the house for the new siding! I am so excited!

Frosty October Morning

Today was our first real frost. My entire yard was white. Temps are low and the wood stove is going. We are cozy warm in the Little House In The Valley. Hey I kinda like that, its catchy...lol.

Anyway, Carl came down with a bug and ran a slight fever. It was 99.7 at its highest and he was complaining of tummy pain. He seems better right now. I hope so. I so hate it when my babies are sick.

I recently reconnected with an old friend. It was great getting to talk to her yesterday. We have been thru similar storms recently and could really understand one another. She is a precious person. God is good!

Yesterday was our sweetest friends birthday! Aliviah turned 10 yesterday and balloons were released in honor of her birthday. Her mommy tied two balloons together and had Rebecca's name on one and Aliviah's on the other and both had bff on them. Rebecca still holds on to her memories of Aliviah, as we all do. We miss her so much and I know her family does. It won't be long until we see her again!

Well, I better close this out. I have wood to gather, dishes and laundry to wash, school, clean the house, make bed, and the list goes on and on and on......

Fall Table Centerpiece

I have never attempted before. I only have $10 in this.

This Old House

It seems so hard these days to find the time to post like I once did. I stay so busy between the kids and the house. All of that is about to pick up even more. We moved in this house a little over a year ago and I have been waiting for Jasper to begin the transformation of turning this from an ugly old eye sore in the neighborhood, to a cute farmhouse. It's coming soon! I was so happy the other day to find out it was all about to begin!
He is going to put on the OSB and the shake siding on all but the side we will be adding on the new room to.   This will include shutters and all. I cannot tell you how excited it makes me! I try to picture this in my mind, but it just won't come together. I will be sure to post pictures as the work begins!

The weather just can't decide

One day it's hot, the next its cold....Ahhh spring! Soon it will be hot weather and we will wish we had these cool days of spring. The grass is already growing quite a bit. Samuel is attempting to cut it down. We have 2 fields that were very high last season and so they are much thicker than the rest of the yard.

I have begun my container gardening. I have several plants now. I have Hosta, several types of Day Lillies, Hen and Chicks, Irises, Butterfly bush, and more. I am glad to have something this summer to see bloom. After construction is completed on our new rooms, I plan to get a few trees. I would love a weeping willow.

We have several things coming up to keep us busy:

Convention (Begining Thursday)
A Surprise (Can't tell ya yet)
A visit from Auntie Linda and Uncle Richard (May 13)
Rebecca's 9th birthday! (May 17)
A possible trip to NC/GA (End of May)
Blue Ridge Youth Camp * (July 4th week)
Landmark Youth Camp (End of July)
Cassia's First Birthday! (August 9th)
Carl's 5th Birthday! (November 13)
Georgia trip (Thanksgiving)

My we will be busy! Once I began typing it became real just how much we had going on over the summer! I hope we can fit it framing up for our expansion to the house! We really need it!

Our Snow Days

Could not get door open

My Beautiful Blue Spruce

This was taken in the morning, 

we had snow all day long, which

 added 6-8 more inches

My Burried Van

Deep!

Our Snow Covered Bush

School And More

So far so good, well, for the most part. Most of the kids are staying on track. I am hoping we can continue a good pace from this point on. I am the only one up right now. Jasper went to work in Charlottesville, so I am up enjoying some me time! It's usually the only time I can get it.

Jasper is still working on the kids play room outside. It's a huge project and though I like the idea would have preferred my new living room being added first. The one we are using right now is so small. Hopefully soon we can get started on that. I plan on primitive decor in the living room and roosters in kitchen. I am not sure yet what I want for the master bed and bath.
I am so looking forward to warmer weather coming. It's not far off I know, but for now seems like it. With warmer weather coming the kids can get out more.

Cassia is growing so fast! She will be 6 months old on the 9th! Where has the time gone? Why is it zooming by so fast? She is jabbering some now saying ba ba, da da and ma ma. She also is getting up on her hands and knees and rocking. She is so sweet and pretty. I am trying to train her on a cup. So far she only chews it! She is eating some baby food, though I do not give her a lot yet. She is at the stage where she only wants Mama and cries if I leave the room. It makes it very hard to get things done. I am  hoping this one is grown out of soon.

Rebecca, Carl, Cassia and me are all down with colds. Rebecca and Carl have it bad. They both slept in living room last night. I feel sore in my sinuses and it burns a bit too. I'm hoping they will feel better when they get up.

I have wanted to post more today, but my eyes are getting heavy sitting here. I will close this for now.  Have a great day everyone!                                                                                                                                                      

The Weather Today!

We are expecting severe weather today in Elkton, Virginia. Heavy rains and high winds. It's the price we have to pay for such a beautiful day we had yesterday. The sun shined and it was warm. The kids played and had a great day. It was a lovely break from the bitter cold week. The cold is coming again. I am hoping that this time won't be so bad.

I have so much to do. I have been looking at a blog for organizing the home. Oh the ideas! I can't wait to do some of these. I have decided to do the stove room into 3 sections of shelves with lots of tub cubbies. We need the organization for all the school supplies. I will have lots to keep me busy once we get started.

The kids are doing well in school. We seem to be staying on target, which I am glad. I have not decided when we are taking our spring break yet. I am thinking maybe the end of March so I can get my birthday off. :) I always give the kids their birthday off. I love being a Home Educator! We do what WE want! :)

Cassia is growing so fast. She is almost crawling. She gets up on her hands and knees and rocks. She has started to explore and it's so fun to watch her. she will be 6 months old on the 9th of February! I am amazed and saddened how fast the time is going. I am trying to enjoy every day.

Well that's it for now. I hope everyone who reads this is having a blessed day!

Saturday Night Post

It's ten minutes till 11. I am the only one up. Jasper has a rotten cold and was in bed by 10. Rebecca and Carl went to bed at 9:30. Cassia and Samuel were a bit later. I am going to do this post and then hit the shower.

Today Renee had the day off, so I took the kids shopping and we went to the pet store just to look around. They had fun. I also went and got a few groceries. It was around 6 when we got home. They seemed to enjoy the day. I did too.
Poor lil miss Cassia was pooped. She didn't have her long afternoon nap. So She was over tired and a little cranky. I got her to sleep but she would wake up easily until around 10 tonight. She zonked so soundly I was able to cut her fingernails.

I am working hard on my house. I am sorting through things tossing junk, getting ready for a possible house guest. Can't go into details right now. Just know, I am working hard getting things ready just in case!

I also called my mom today. She seems okay. Somewhat confused but not too bad. We didn't speak very long but it was a nice chat anyway.

Oh my my eyelids are falling. I need to jump in the shower then to bed. Have a great SUNDAY!!!!

Just sitting here

I am holding Cassia while she naps. She is growing so fast it is not even funny. She is becoming more vocal and beginning to drool everywhere. She still has her hair. I am hoping she keeps it! Her eyes are turning brown. Was really hoping that they would be blue but that's okay!

We are still moving rooms around. it's been so cold I haven't been able to get top the front porch to go through all the boxes. I am going to have to get them moved and things sorted asap! I have just a few days until we go to Georgia!

The weather has turned cool here in Virginia. This week we are in a warming trend. I am thankful for that. I have things to do and the warm weather will help me get them done! We have missed the 2 big storms so far that have hit the East Coast. I am sure we will get some snow later in the season.

I hope to be able to log in more soon. Until then it will be hit n miss.

2 All Nighters = the red eye

Cassia just has had her days and nights mixed up. I am so tired. I finally took her to bed with me last night just so I could get the 2.5 hours I got. I feel like a zombie today...lol

Cassia is nearly 7 weeks! She is a chunkie thing. Doing her very best to "talk" to me. I love it! She is so precious. We are all totally in love with this baby!

I decided to try to bake our sweets rather than buy them. It seems everyone likes the idea. I have been trying to make peanut butter fudge and it has not done right yet. No complaints though, they eat the chewy peanut butter goo. I will hopefully made it right soon.
Last night I made chocolate peanut butter chip cookies. They came out very good. Next we will bake a cake when the cookies are almost gone. I want to bake every other day. Or maybe every third day.

We have been having cool weather, which I am happy to see so that the light bill will go down. With the weather changing we must get ready to put the wood heater in. I have to get the boxes that I have had stored in that room out. So I have been cleaning out yet again. I need to just throw the junk away. Some things I am free cycling and the rest if I plan to keep I am packing up to put in building. Hopefully by the end of the day I will have the room cleaned out.

Lets get started!

Honey Wagon??

What do you think of when you read the title? A wagon load of honey? Or something along those lines? What I am about to tell you is definitely far from that!

Recently, we have had some issues with our plumbing. the toilet was constantly backing up and being sluggish. We also have had an occasional septic odor in the bathroom. NOT good! So I called the one who handles repairs and they called a company who pumps out septic tanks. It has never been pumped out so it was past due!
When the truck arrived, the 2 men listened to all my complaints and said sounded like it definitely needed to be pumped out. The located the tank dug it up and then went to get the truck to pull it closer to pump it out.
So, he is backing it up when all of a sudden I see this picture on the back of the truck tank, it is a covered wagon being pulled by a team of horses Beside it are the words Honey Wagon! I began laughing and said how in this world did you all come up with that name?! One of the men said that is what the Amish community call the septic trucks! I thought I would roll! Never would I ever call THAT a Honey Wagon! Nothing in that smells sweet at all!

Our problems as far as plumbing were taken care of. However today we have had some strong winds and rain. We found several leaks in the bathroom we did not know we had! Yikes!

My Stove Room

While gone to shower Jasper carpeted Stove room.
 It looks so much better!! Carl's bed is in there for now.
Carl's room will begin being framed within the next 2 weeks!

31 Weeks!

It's hard to believe it's getting closer to the time of arrival of our baby girl. Cassia is definitely growing! I can tell she is running out of room in her comfy little place she has called home since day 1 of her creation.

Last night she had moved into a position that put a lot of pressure on the right side of my pelvis. It was very uncomfortable and I had gone to the grocery store to pick some things we needed up. I scared the cashier because as I was swiping my card I was saying owe owe owe...she stops and just looks like uh oh...lol I told her it was okay she was just in a weird position and it was not the greatest. :)

This week I have been getting things in the mail for Cassia from my sister Linda. It has made everything "real" now. Even Jasper had a grin on his face. The count down is on 8 weeks left!

I have a goal this week to get the stove room emptied of all the boxes and set up and carpeted. We were going to use vinyl but Jasper says he gets carpet so easy from the job he works that it would be easy to replace when tracked. So as soon as I can get that ready he will carpet it. I made some progress yesterday. It was noticeable too. I am hoping to make more progress today. :)
Having just 8 weeks to complete my list of to do's I feel a little stressed. I have a feeling I have less than 8 weeks. Not because she might come early, but because I think I will be out of commission from the pelvic pain.
So I need to work as fast as my waddling self can work. lol Moving during pregnancy is awful for sure! I do not recommend it to anyone.

We are gearing up for our first room addition. Carl is in need of a bedroom. Though it will be small it will be his own room. It should not take too long to get dried in. Jasper and Samuel will build that. Then, later we will build a kitchen and living room and turn current living room into master bedroom with a bathroom. At that time Carl will get the old master bedroom and Cassia will get Carl's small room. It will make a total of 7 bedrooms when completed! I love being married to a jack of all trades! We save thousands on labor charges!

Well I hear everyone beginning to stir, so I will close this for now. I am taking Samuel shopping today. :)

Freecycle Gems!

I love Freecycle! I had posted a "wanted" listing for little tykes yard toys.
Though this is not what I had in mind, I am very excited for the children to have such a fun
playground in their back yard! Jasper has to dismantle it and rebuild it in our yard. I feel for him, but I love it!

The Livingroom

Moved in. It's small but cozy! I am thankful! We can breath better now.