Homestead Happenings.

There are so many different projects happening on our little homestead right now. We are finishing up 3 major renovations. The back deck only needs a few more boards then will get a tin roof. Off the end there will be a courtyard garden that I will put in this fall when it is cooler out.

The fireplace renovation needs a few more trim details, paint, stain, and decorating but it is getting close! Just in time for the fall decor. The last photo is the before picture.

Madeline's room is waiting on the arrival of more wallpaper. Tony did a fantastic job on all the trim work and after the paper goes up he will finish up the last details and add crown. The bed was originally painted antique pink but was just not bold enough so it is Benjamin Moore's Royal Fuchsia now. The closet was painted to match the wallpaper background.

I finished the final Dave Ramsey Cash Clutch design and have been using it for the past 2 weeks to see if it needs tweaking. It is perfect! I hope to get a few in an etsy store soon for my other cash carrying sisters. I love using a cash budget and I'm pleased to have created something beautiful and functional.

On the "micro" farm things are challenging. In Florida the summer is hard with excessive heat and humidity, pests, low food production, and increased agitation in wildlife. This past month we lost a rabbit and a racoon ripped a hole through the chicken coop devouring one hen and injuring another. I have also noticed several turtle nests that have been dug up and consumed by wildlife. On a positive note, the sunflowers are still working to keep the squash bugs busy and off delicate plants. Most sunflowers in the garden look similiar to this one, covered in squashbugs.


And now it's time to go back to work. Hopefully I will be sharing finished pics soon!

Proverbs 27:23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds.

Keeping it real.

Cooking is not my favorite thing to do and living as free from processed foods as we can is exhausting at times but it does feel good to watch my family consume the things that we have worked hard to produce together.

Farm fresh eggs, fresh picked watermelon, freshly ground spelt biscuits, homemade orange/lemonade, sautéed peppers, hand whipped butter, and fresh picked flowers. So beautiful! I just wish it would hold off their hunger for more than 2hours.

Happy Homesteading!

Dave Ramsey Envelope Clutch Wallet.

In our home we follow the Financial Peace model from Dave Ramsey. There are so many wonderful things about the budgeting plan but the thing I love most is I finally feel we don't waste money buying wasteful things. I spent most of last year throwing away bag after bag of items wondering where they came from. Moving to this system helped me to realize how many things I purchased that we didn't really need or that could wait a week or two allowing me time to really think over those purchases first. I will get more into Dave Ramsey on another post. Today I wanted to share a few photos of the clutch I created for those following the cash system plan.

This design has lived in my brain for about six month and now that my paper envelopes have almost disintegrated I decided it was time to put it together.

It needs tweaking still but I'm so excited about the overall concept! I want to shorten the dividers and the change purse about an inch and add a true credit card/Id card divider pockets. Other than that, I'm in love! It has extra dividers for coupons and receipts, the change purse hides the evidence of several envelopes of cash, and there is still plenty of room for my phone, lip gloss, and other items.


This is just the first draft so better pictures coming soon!

God, how did you think of a star?

The deer have knocked down all the wild grasses making their way to the water.

Fallen Tree from one of the afternoon storms that come to visit daily.

I should have spent the late afternoon hanging wallpaper but instead I decided to walk the property and enjoy some much needed quiet time in nature.

God the Artist

God, when you thought of a pine tree,
How did you think of a star?
How did you dream of the Milky Way
To guide us from afar.
How did you think of a clean brown pool
Where flecks of shadows are?

God, when you thought of a cobweb,
How did you think of dew?
How did you know a spider's house
Had shingles bright and new?
How did you know the human folk
Would love them like they do?

God, when you patterned a bird song,
Flung on a silver string,
How did you know the ecstasy
That crystal call would bring?
How did you think of a bubbling throat
And a darling speckled wing?

God, when you chiseled a raindrop,
How did you think of a stem,
Bearing a lovely satin leaf
To hold the tiny gem?
How did you know a million drops
Would deck the morning's hem?

Why did you mate the moonlit night
With the honeysuckle vines?
How did you know Madeira bloom
Distilled ecstatic wines?
How did you weave the velvet disk
Where tangled perfumes are?
God, when you thought of a pine tree,
How did you think of a star?

Angela Morgan