Joy in the Ordinary

Look around, really look around and you will find joy... joy in the everyday... joy in the ordinary things.

After a hot and humid day the sweet and mild weather returned.  Yes!

I hit the clearance rack and was able get 7 new outfits for Megan for $21!  Some cute dresses for church and three capri leggings with tunic top that will be great for back to school.  Oh my!  I can't believe I am even thinking about that. :(

This little guy had been sneaking into a raised bed and destroyed my broccoli.  We switched out the fencing to chicken wire and his free meal days are over!

Big changes are coming around here. Sigh. 

Just when I thought I might have to water my garden... rain! 

My hard working man. Oh how grateful I am for him. :)

May your day be filled with joy and contentment!

Ready, Set... Go!

Friday I loaded the kids up and we hit the road. The first stop was to pick a couple more passengers... my nieces.
 

Then it was off to the park.

A friend introduced me to this park last year.  It is off the beaten path and has a wonderful walking trail. 

The best thing is that we are usually the only ones there.  Such a pleasant experience!

Next we hit country roads to take us to our next destination. 

My parents back yard! 

Before leaving the house I had packed a cooler for lunch. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent in the pool at my parents.

Megan is becoming quite the little fish.  She says this is her favorite summer time activity. 

A thrifty day as the only cost was what was used in gas.  A full, fun day full of memories.  We are all looking forward to doing this again soon.   

May your day be filled with joy and contentment!

Pinned It, Made It: Moon Sand

Last week I tried another activity with the kids... Moon Sand!  Oh my, this stuff is awesome.

Mix 8 cups of flour with one cup of baby oil.  How easy is that!

It smells fantastic and molds like wet sand without the mess. 

Megan has played with this so many times that I have lost count.  Looks like this is a keeper. 

May your day be filled with joy and contentment!

 

Blooms

Flowers don't worry about how they're going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful. ~ Unknown

The flower that follows the sun does so even in cloudy days. ~Robert Leighton

The kiss of sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God's Heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth. ~ Dorothy Frances Gurney

 

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. ~ Isaiah 40:8

 

We are experiencing what I think is the perfect weather.  Mid seventies, sunny and the windows wide open during the day.  As evening comes it cools enough that most of the windows need to close and you need a cozy blanket.  Ahhh... it makes my heart glad.  Most of my time is being spent outside.  Soaking up the sun, weeding, reading a good book and enjoying the blooms!

 

May your day be filled with joy and contentment!

Joy in the Ordinary

Look around, really look around and you will find joy... joy in the everyday... joy in the ordinary things.

Playing in an afternoon shower.

Planting sunflowers. 

Beans!

Keeping her mind sharp. 

Baby grapes... here one day just vanished the next. :(

Harvesting lettuce for dinner.

Chef Megan... the grill master! 

May your day be filled with joy and contentment!

One Project Down...

I posted about staining the mailbox post. I am happy to say that the mailbox project is complete. I didn't take a before picture and could only find the following picture of when I repaired and repainted
the barn welcome sign.

 

 

I wanted this project to be as frugal as possible.  The numbers on our post where looking old and faded.  I was able to remove them and paint them with some black hammered spray paint I found in the garage.  Now they look as good as new!

I used the same stain we are using for our fence.  Not only did I stain the post I also painted the flower box around the post.  I debated about repainting the barn.  In the end I gave it a light sand to remove any loose paint and left it.  I kind of like the weathered look. 

One project down and what feels like a million to go.  That seems to be a perk of summer and home ownership. 

May your day be filled with joy and contentment!

$1.96 Worth of Fun!

While shopping over the weekend I picked up two inexpensive things to create an activity with the kids. I love doing things with the kids especially if it is a creative, cheap activity. Each of these items were under a dollar... $0.98 each to be exact.
 

I was able to stretch these items into three activities. The first activity I found of Pinterest. I thought I had pinned it but apparently not. Anyway it is super easy! You mix equal parts of cornstarch and shaving cream to make a dough.
 

Very messy!  I then added some blue and green food coloring to create Megan's favorite color.  The texture of this dough was awesome.  The kids loved it!  I might add that the little ones made a very big mess.  I was okay with that as I was able to fold two loads of laundry and the floor needed mopped anyway. 

Activity two was cornstarch painting.  Mix cornstarch, water and food coloring. 

I love this stuff!  As the water evaporates you are left the dried cornstarch.  Clean up is easy as all you do is hose it off. 

I think activity three might have been the biggest hit.  I used the remaining can of shaving cream and put it into the water table.  Then the real fun began!

To quote Abe "it was fun because it was messy!"  At the end of day imaginations were used, everyone had a blast and I have no toys to store. For $1.96 I call this a win!

May your day be filled with joy and contentment!