MerryHeartCrafts.comMountain Momma… Country Living

I simply LOVE old school books.  Here are a few that I have collected over the years.  I learned to read with Dick and Jane and taught my girls with the same books.  They have such wonderful pictures.  The last picture is of two old books from my Dad’s childhood.  Inside the cover, there are the names of many of my aunts and uncles.  I suppose they just passed the books down.  Gotta love that.  We still do that here in this household.  Just pass them on.  These books have a very important place in my schoolroom/dining room, along with an old Strawberry Shortcake lunchbox.  The lunchbox is metal and still has the thermos in it.  It belonged to Jess.  Such happy memories. 

As you can tell, it was a much loved lunch box.  Lots of rain here last night.  Today has been overcast.  Temperature in the mid 40’s.  Not too bad.  Supper tonight will be pork tenderloin on the grill, fresh pineapple, home fries, home canned green beans and homemade biscuits.  For dessert we have some cinnamon rolls left over from the other day.  This will be served with cold mint tea.  Are you all hungry yet?  I am so I guess I better go get that grill going.  Take care and God bless.

More snow!  We already have about 3 more inches and as you can see it is still coming down.  It is supposed to snow all day today and tomorrow.  Wow!  I think it is going to be a snuggle in weekend.  I hope to work on Grace’s quilt this weekend, maybe make a few aprons, have fun with my girls, make a pot of coffee to share with my hubby.  Our front porch is enclosed with glass.  We love to sit out there, drink coffee and watch it snow.  All the beauty without the cold.  I have a beef roast on the wood stove cooking.  I haven’t decided what to put with this yet, probably potatoes and carrots.  Yesterday’s menu was meatloaft, mashed potatoes, green beans, mac & cheese, and biscuits.  School today as usual, maybe make some snow cream later.  Enjoy your day and God Bless.

We went over to our friends house today to celebrate her  daughter’s birthday.    We had homemade pizza and birthday cake.  It was delicious.  Thanks again Vicki.  Then she gave me a surprise.  She made me this beautiful wall hanging!  I could’nt wait to get home and put it on my wall.  I think it looks just perfect in my dining room.  To me, nothing says you care about people more than hand made items.  I LOVE IT!  Tonight’s menu at church is baked spaghetti, salad, bread, green beans, corn, and cake with ice cream.  Sounds good, huh.   Weather here is rain, rain, and then maybe some more rain.  Oh well, at least its not ice.  We now have mud everywhere.  The snow has melted and the ice has melted and they say there is a chance for flooding.  I’m glad the Good Lord is in charge of all this and not me.  Well, I better get busy getting those green beans ready.  God Bless.

Ok, so I’m really getting tired of cold weather and I thought I would have a little summer .  Garden growing, clothes drying on the line.  Mr. Scarecrow on duty.  That’s right.  Stop.  Take a deep breath. Imagine summer in full swing.  Not wind chills below zero, frozen water lines etc. Today has been a nice day, church was good.  The bad news was yesterday.  I went up to my cellar to get some canned goods and discovered my canned green beans had frozen.  I counted 40 quarts frozen and decided I didn’t want to count anymore.  I just shut the door and walked away.  I have never had cans to freeze before so I’m not exactly sure what to do.  I researched this and from what I have discovered,  as long as they stay sealed they should be okay.  I pray this is so.  So much work to lose them all.  Anyway,  it’s all part of life.  I’ve been busy making aprons and discloths to sell.  I have 3 aprons finished and working on the 4th one.  I have about 4 dishcloths made.  I am also working on another wall hanging.  This one will be for Julie.  Oh yea, I also have an afghan in the works.  This is all done in my spare time.  (What spare time?)  Well, it’s time for bible study.  Tonight’s menu includes brunswick stew, green beans(guess who’s bringing them) cornbread, mac & cheese and 2 different desserts, unknown at this time.  God Bless.

The ice storm did come on Christmas morning.  Not as much as they predicted but enough to do damage.  So far, Praise God, we still have electricity.  As you can tell from one of the pictures, one limb is hanging over the power line.  George will have to work on this after the ice stops.   Christmas dinner did occur.  Lots of good food.  Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, baked beans, sweet potatoes and homemade rolls.  I wish all the family could have been together to enjoy it.  Oh well, I guess we’ll just have to eat another  big meal next weekend.  Life is tough sometimes.  Today has been spend playing board games, cards, and other fun activities.  I pray your Christmas has been as enjoyable as mine.  Maybe next post, I’ll put something summery and cheerful.  God Bless.

Today has been a foggy, cool day in Floyd, so I thought we would all enjoy some summer flowers.  I love fall but I do dread to see the flowers disappear.  My grandmother loved flowers and I like to think my love of flowers comes from her.  One of my fondest memories of her involves her holding my hand, taking me through her yard and telling me the names of all her flowers.  So not only do they remind me of summer but also of her.  Today was one of those homeschooling days when you just know it’s all worth it.  School went by steady without interruption.  The girls were focused and so was I.  A good day.  Sometimes as a homeschooling Mom,  I wonder “Am I really doing this right?”  Thank God for days like today.  It’s almost like God wants me to know every now and then that I am doing exactly what He wants me to be doing.  Tomorrow I will be seeing an old friend.   We don’t get to see each other very often as we now live far apart.  I can’t wait to see her and get caught up on things.  True friendship is hard to find and I value her greatly as a friend and also as a Christian Sister.  I now have dinner to cook.  Tonights menu is baked pork tenderloin, potatoes, (fresh dug from the garden) and canned green beans (also from our garden).  I also baked fresh gingerbread to go with it.  What do you all think?  Cornbread or biscuits with this feast?  God Bless.