Grandpa’s March Project

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March has been a busy month for Grandpa.  He's in full wood-gathering mode, storing up wood for burning in our wood stove next winter.  Since his old blue truck is out of commission this spring, he's had to limit himself to wood that is more easily accessible.  Things worked out splendidly in this regard when our brother-in-law helped us out by cutting down three trees in our yard last week. I regret that I did not take pictures during that work day.  It was fun day, much like what I would imagine an old fashioned butchering day or barn raising to play out.  My sister and … [Read more...]

One Thousand Gifts — Book Review

This is one of those books that I'd heard of and seen online but hadn't taken the time to read.  One day I noticed that Kindle version of this book One Thousand Gifts:  Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are is available on Amazon for just $2.99.  It was definitely worth the price I paid, maybe more. I love the message this book brings to light.  The message is that we find joy when we open our hands and our hearts to accept the gifts that God gives to us in the midst of our everyday lives. I'll admit that Ann Voskamp's flowery, poetic language was a little off-putting for me.  I … [Read more...]

Do You Practice Creative Deprivation?

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Ever feel as if you don't have a minute between activities to catch your breath?  If you consider yourself to be too busy and you long for a less frantic pace, you may need to work on cultivating some Creative Deprivation. I first read of this concept of "Creative Deprivation" in Amy Dacyczyn's Complete Tightwad Gazette.  If you were to read The Complete Tightwad Gazette now, you would probably notice that much of it is outdated, but there remain some nuggets of wisdom in that book that are universal and timeless.  This idea of Creative Deprivation is one of those nuggets. The gist of … [Read more...]

Autumn Memories

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Today is the last day of October already, and it's also the anniversary of my father's death.  I thought it would be fitting to share with you one of the fondest memories I have of my dad. First, let me show you what my dad looked like.  The cool thing about this picture is that not only can you see my dad, but you can also see the "fireplace" that we had in my house when I was a kid. It was made of plywood covered with a brick print contact paper. I can't think of a tackier focal point for a living room than a fake fireplace made of contact paper bricks, but when I was a kid, … [Read more...]

Fall Decorations

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Some of my favorite colors are the warm hues of autumn: apple red, pumpkin orange, goldenrod, and purple chrysanthemums.  While I can't compete with God's beautiful autumn displays outdoors, I still look forward to unpacking my fall decorations to use inside our house. The focal point in our living room is a six foot long custom- made oak shelf on the wall between our kitchen and living room.  This shelf is where I go a little crazy with decorative "clutter".  It's a perfect way to decorate because it's out of the way of our regular living space.  And I don't have to dust it until it's … [Read more...]