Budgeting

I have been asked many times "how do you do it ~ 3 kids and all?  "  Well, I've decided to just give a peek into our life financially just to give you an idea.

1.  Learn to delay gratification.
2. Be content to not DO or LOOK or ACT like anyone else.
3. Trust in the Lord your God.

Now for some "practical tips" that we live by.

1. Reduce.
This goes for reducing vehicles, house size, amount of items/stuff in your life.  Reduce your  commitment to activities that cost you more than they give you.  (A family membership to an Arena or Swim place, etc may be a great investment for your health, but if you go to many different activities that keep you away from home during meals, or cause you stress, maybe it's not really needed)

2. Reuse.
Accept donations/ hand-me-downs where you can.  Amazing what you can reuse or "upcycle" into something you need. We basically only buy our undergarments new.  No sense buying anything else new if we can wait and perhaps use something else.  In BC we have a place at the local refuse dumps called "the Share Shed" where you can leave good-for-someone-else items or take those items.  Amazing when I have prayed, the item has shown up within a good time frame.

3. Library ~ use yours!
Get books on "thrift" or financial planning and read a bunch... stop when they all seem to be repeating things that you already do.  Then you know you've learned and put something into practice. I could give you a long list, but really, why bother?  Grow a garden, try not to buy pre-packaged goods, blah blah blah... You know it's cheaper to bring your own coffee/tea instead of buying it.  Get real with yourself.  Ex.  Add up the cost of 1 item and multiply it by how often you have it.  See if it's worth it.  Put that money somewhere else... like a vacation or a donation to a charity.  See if you miss it and how you feel.  Maybe it was worth it, maybe not.

4. Get creative~
We don't go out to eat, etc, unless I have made some extra money somehow. Yes, sometimes we go out once a year. I sell some baking, and I have been using a local facebook group called "Beg, Borrow or Barter" to sell off items.  (In Manitoba you may know of Ebrandon, etc).  This is going to be the best Christmas because I have sold items on this site and stashed away the money.  I am dividing it by 3 and have money for the girls presents this year!  It is amazing how freeing this is! Our girls get presents and I get to buy them~  ha ha ha.

5. Be content to stay home.
Stay home in the evening, make some popcorn or something and cuddle up with your family and a board game.  Snuggle with a good movie and your mate.  Go for a walk. Garden. Enjoy the sunset or the sunrise.
Be content to not have what others have.

6. Get serious.
Budgeting is done for 2 reasons ~ you want more out of your financial life or you have to because there is no other option.  If you see a storm coming, do something now about it.  Look up budgeting worksheets on the internet and WOW!  There's a lot.  Gail Valoxade (on my side bar) is practical.

We have been in interesting times due to some life choices, yes.  Every decision we have made we have peace from God in.  We have hope for the future and are investing in that.  That doesn't mean the now is always an easy walk ~ far far far from it.  The difference is the hope.  The hope of something better.  We are not walking around in circles, doing the same thing and expecting different results.  Love your spouse.  Love your children.

Live within your means, and if you are spending more than you are making, look at how you are living.  Ask God to show you His plan.  Be content.  Be happy.  Don't look at others, because their life is not your life.  What does the Lord require of you? Most of all, don't see "living within your means" as a death sentence to fun times.  Trust me, it's not.  Give where you can (time, money, prayer, etc) and thank God daily for what you have.  Shelter, food and clothing.  God is good!

Pumpkin Scones AKA "Auntie Angie's Scones"

Pumpkin Scones with Spiced Glaze

Pumpkin Scones with Spiced Glaze
Yield: 12 scones

For the Scones:
2 cups all-purpose flour
7 Tablespoons granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
6 Tablespoons cold butter
½ cup canned pumpkin
3 Tablespoons half-and-half
1 large egg

For the Powdered Sugar Glaze:
1 cup plus 1 Tablespoon powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons milk

For the Spiced Glaze:
1 cup plus 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons milk
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 pinch ground ginger
1 pinch ground cloves

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger in a large bowl. Use a fork to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until mixture is crumbly and no chunks of butter are obvious; set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, half-and-half and egg. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, and form the dough into a ball. Pat out dough onto a lightly floured surface and form it into a 1-inch thick rectangle about 3 times as long as wide. Use a large knife or a pizza cutter to slice the dough twice through the width, making three equal portions. Cut each of the portions in an X pattern (four pieces) so you end up with 12 triangular slices of dough. Place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until light brown. Place on wire rack to cool.

4. To make the powdered sugar glaze, mix the powdered sugar and milk together until smooth. When scones are cool, use a brush to spread plain glaze over the top of each scone.

5. To make the spiced glaze, while the powdered sugar glaze is firming, combine all of the ingredients for the spiced glaze. Drizzle over each scone and allow the icing to dry before serving (about an hour). Jo ~ I just put a little cinnamon in the glaze and left it.  Still very yummy.  Girls want me to make these at Christmas!

I took this recipe from here.
This recipe comes from my sis in law's blog and she has much better photos of them.  I will ask her permission to link and you can drool over the scones on her blog :)
She agreed so here is Angie's Blog  Hope this works :)

It's the little things ~

It's the little things ~

the little remembrances that show me I am important 

~ loved

~ cherished.

Hubby was away for two weeks and came back bearing "gifts".

Gifts for us come from many sources.  These came from his parents extras.

"New" to me cutlery, as we were always low on spoons

Out with the old !

in with the "new" !

 The next was from an observant husband who noticed his wife's top dresser drawer was getting empty.  Certain items of a delicate nature were thread bare and ending up in the fire place.
 Nothing says "I love you" like new delicates ~ especially retro 50's style ones for this wife.
Dear husband speaks my love language well ~ he sold some scrap metal to buy me delicates at an Outlet store.  Thrift and thoughtfulness all wrapped up pretty tissue paper!
I'm feeling cherished and lovely.

Peanut Pepper Stir Fry

Sometimes a little kitchen experiment pays off well!  I was looking through the cupboard and fridge, doing the ole' "what to make for supper" routine.  I didn't want to use meat.  So, well maybe some beans.  I didn't have any cooked and frozen, so ended up with a can of "mixed beans".  

We had lots of peppers from Ashcroft, so it would be nice to use those...and the purple onions too.  HUMM ... Maybe I could mix them all together in a sort of stirfry.

I started making my brown rice (as it takes awhile to cook).

Then the girls chopped up peppers.  I simply sauteed the purple onion, peppers and added the rinsed beans.  

Now, I remember in Indian cooking they put peanuts/peanut butter in some of their dishes.

SO, I stirred up some water, beef soup base, cornstarch and a few tablespoons of crunchy peanut butter.

IT WAS DELICIOUS!

The girls asked me to please make this again.  They practically licked their plates.

Intimidation

What are you intimidated by?

I have been nervous to sew a tote bag.  Yes, a simple tote bag.  Why?  Probably because I am unique.  Ha ha!  Why?  Others do it so much better.  Yes, that is it.  OTHERS!

I was talking with my buddy in Manitoba yesterday and asked her how her sewing projects were getting along.  I got inspired.  While I have been following other sewing/quilting type blogs, I have been building confidence.

Out came a pattern ~ fabric ~ scissors ~ and a brave heart!

This is what I came out with, and I am proud to say I HAVE SEWN A TOTE BAG!  Yeah for ME!

Can you see how proud I am?  Confidence should be the word I use.

Can be worn around the neck too for hands-free

I did the pocket with an angle.  Trying to be creative.  Hard for me!

The pocket with the heart button and bling.

Being reversible means there's a pocket inside too!

Other view.  The bottom is round,
so I chose to use the opposite colors for effect.
Again, trying to be creative.

Pretty pleased!

 She now wants one in purple "Mom, how easy are they to make?  Would it look nice in purple? "  I think I am getting a hint here ladies!

My first tote bag completed!

This may not seem like anything to some of you, but it is a pretty big thing for me.  My hubby applauded me and I am encouraged.  So often I don't try something because someone else does it better.  Well, note to self:  Who really cares?  Do I enjoy it? YES.  Does it make me happy to try it?  YES.  Does it matter if I am not as awesome?  NO!  I should never compare myself to others, because Jesus doesn't.

Have I said how happy sewing something makes me?  HEE HEE.  I will be posting pictures soon of some aprons I am making.  Again, big thing for me.  Some of my patterns were missing pieces or didn't have instructions, so I am bumbling my way through.

So ~ one little question of you ~ what has been intimidating you?  Maybe it's time to show it who's boss!

A Momma's Heart

My dear little Ruthie ~ the one God gave me when my heart was breaking and desiring another child.  My promise of hope in a little bundle of sweetness.  You were named after Ruth in the Bible.  You were to be a friend to your sister and companion.

You have such a little Momma's heart.

May God grant you all the desires of your heart.

"Josefina" is in a sling so she can go to work with her Momma.

Did you know Ruth is learning Spanish so she can speak to her Josefina in her native tongue?

Look at Josefina's little bedroom!

Doing school ~ reading the Josefina stories

I love how my girls (especially this one) Mother's her doll.  She is very faithful saving and saving for another American Girl doll.  These dolls are wonderful, might I add, but they are pricey.  She wants one so badly that she is willing to part with other things to sell off to make the cash for another one.  When was the last time I wanted something so badly?  Well, I guess I've wanted a van ~  ha ha.  

Just thinking how soon this phase will be gone... I'm going to blink and wonder where it went.  For now, I am enjoying it!

Playing pioneer with sick children

I strive to encourage my three daughters in their special talents ~ whether it be the way they are with animals or children or anything that may help them as they grow and mature into women of Godly character.
Linked on Modest Mom


HERE for my other blog for Homesteading, Recipes, Apron's, etc

Another Great Chicken Update ~ because we have so many

These poor little chickens felt left out from the last post, so here they are in all their feathered splendor!

Miss Daffodil the Americauna

"Cloudy" the Americauna
Yes, named for her coloring and our neighbor because she's so cute

"Mr. Bean" the Black Brahma Rooster with feathered feet.

Look at those feet!  As chicks we nicknamed these guys "owls"  

"Mr. BEAN" he is hilarious when he runs

ISA Brown Hen ~ may be "Georgia" from Curious George

 

Another ISA Brown ~ they differ slightly in coloring.
Great layers.  

"Debbi" (yes from my mom in law)
She is one of the prettiest and we think a Sussex cross maybe?

Rosie ~ what's not to love about the roundness of her?
Notice her feet.  She will be a good Momma

Feathered feet of a Cochin

~ The Great Chicken Update ~

Miss Leghorn "Peace" and "Daisy" is her sister

 We thought the above Leghorn was a BB English, but she's laying a white egg, is a bit like a road runner and the pictures of the BB English look different.  Guess we have 2 Leghorns ~ they are great layers!

Miss Daffodil ~ an Americauna hen.
Don't let the beard fool you, she's a hen! 

"Brownie" the rooster that used to be brown.
Thought he was BB English, but he must be Leghorn.

   The above rooster was the one with the black on his comb when he was a teenager.  No concerns now.  He has a great voice!

"Rocky" the Partridge Cochin Rooster.  He's the runt.
He's beautiful!

"Fluffy Bum" ~ need I saw more?
We hatched her ~ ISA Brown/ Buff Orpington

The ISA Brown/ Buff Orpington cross we hatched

Fun way to spend the afternoon

Silliness

 We needed to prepare more nests and pens for the chickens for the winter, so we got everyone involved.  Winterizing, and making one pen out of two.

Fresh hay in their nests

Fresh water is very important ~ never let them run out.

Moving nests into another pen.

 Mom always says to put them up a little higher because of disease and vermin.  So we did.

They like to double up.  These are the Cochins.

Sawing a door between the 2 pens.  This can be closed in spring
when we separate the broody hens from the others.

 

 These 2 would jump through the window before we tightened the wires.  They would get back into their comfy nests and sit there together.  So cute.  This was when Fluff Ball (the black Cochin) was still around to entertain us.

Rosie the Partridge Cochin ~ the mate for Rocky

Into the nest!

Nothing like a good dust bath 

Ahhh "Crystal" the White Silkie

Feathered feet, black skin, blue ears and lots of FLUFF

Starting to get comfy for the night

"Crystal" and "Snowball" like to stick together