Linda's Lunacy

Faith, Home, & Family

Saturday on the Farm

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We’ve been enjoying the flowers that a still blooming, with more blooming every day. The larger Daffodils are opening now. Here’s a larger one, with smaller ones in the background.

We are so happy the chickens are laying regular again. We are enjoy eating eggs again. Store bought eggs are just not the same. This little rooster saw me point the camera at him, so he had to crow. Not sure what he meant by it, but I like the picture.

The weather has been warmer this week. I am enjoying hanging the laundry on the line. I actually enjoy hanging laundry on the line in the winter, too. For some reason, it makes me smile to see steam rising off the laundry. This made me smile the other day:

We need to get moving on the vegetable gardens this week. I think D wants to have someone come in and plow. So we need to find out about that. I really should have had the tomatoes started indoors already. I need to do that this week. And it’s time to plant peas, and lettuce.

Lots of work to do this week!

**There’s still plenty of time to enter this weeks Giveaway to win a copy of Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs!

Saving Money on Gardening

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Gardening can be expensive. Over the years, I have come up with a few ways to save money on gardening.

One way is to buy flowering bulbs, instead of annuals. These bulbs come back year after year for you to enjoy. But you only have to pay for them once. If your buying annuals as plants, this is a big savings.

You can buy bulbs that flower in the spring,summer and fall. There is a huge selection of flowering bulbs available.

If you just don’t want to give up your favorite annuals, buy seeds instead of plants. Start the seeds indoors, a great project for the kids, or plant directly in your garden.

Another option for your gardens are perennials. These are plants that come back every year.

Don’t forget bushes, either. A butterfly bush is beautiful, and really does attract butterflies. A butterfly bush will live for many years. Rose bushes, as well, will last for years. The initial investment of $5-$10 averages out to very little over the life of these bushes.

I also like to plant herbs in my gardens. Many herbs will over winter if planted in the ground, if your winters are severe, you can bring the herbs inside the house in pots.

Here is a recent picture of my chives starting to grow again.

There’s nothing like having fresh herbs to use. And growing your own reduces your grocery budget, as well.

For more Frugal Friday tips, visit Life as Mom.

A Peculiar People

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But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9

peculiar – 1. strange, odd. 2. uncommon, unusual. 3. distinctive in nature or character from others.

We, as Christians, are not supposed to look like the rest of the world. We are supposed to be different. Set apart from everyone else. So the rest of the world can clearly see that we are Christ Followers.

I want the world to look at me, and see that I am different. I want them to notice such a difference in me, that they want to know why I’m different.

And the why would be Jesus Christ, my Lord & Saviour.

I don’t want what everyone else has, I want what God has for me.

I don’t want to do everything that everyone else does, I want to do what God wants me to do.

An Organized Computer Desk

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With 7 people sharing one computer, our desk can get quite messy. We all leave papers with things we want to look up, mail, notes we’ve taken from the internet…the list could go on, but you get the idea.

So in an effort to organize our computer desk, I made pocket folders with labels on them:

I put them in a magazine holder next to the computer.

I made these about 3 weeks ago, and they work very well. These folders really help us keep the desk cleared off.

See?

 

 

For More Works For Me Wednesday ideas, visit We are THAT Family.

 


2 Week Freezer Test

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Several years ago, I was on an email freezer cooking list. I learned a lot about freezing foods on that list.

One of the things that I learned about was the 2 week freezer test.

If you’re not sure if something that you made can be frozen, you test it.

Just wrap it accordingly, and place in the freezer for two weeks.

After 2 weeks, take it out and let it thaw. Then cook/re-heat as needed.

If you are happy with the quality and texture, then your item can be successfully frozen for a longer time period.

I have used this test several times. I have often been satisfied with the results, but sometimes you find out that a certain item can’t be frozen with good results. Like whole baked potatoes.

For more Kitchen Tip Tuesday ideas, visit Tammy’s Kitchen.

Don’t forget to enter this weeks Giveaway to win a copy of Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs!

Here Burns My Candle – Book Review & Giveaway

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*This contest is now over.

I used Random.org to select a winner, and they picked comment #7.
Congratulations to the winner: bkittie@ I have sent you an email.


A mother who cannot face her future.
A daughter who cannot escape her past.

In Here Burns My Candle, Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. She honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her.

Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips.

His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons.

A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.

I have read other books by Liz Curtis Higgs. I really like her style of writing, and was looking forward to reading this book. Here Burns My Candle is the story of Naomi & Ruth told in 1700’s Scotland.

There is a map in the front of the book, showing Edinburgh in 1745, making it easy to follow the characters as they travel around the city. I love it when historical fiction books include a map.

The author also includes a section in the back of the book entitled “Authors Notes”. They are her notes as she traveled in Edinburgh and did research for the book. Something else I love in historical fiction books.

There were a few parts that I didn’t exactly like. Adultery and worship of other gods, to be specific. But you know what? You can’t see the full effect of the redemptive power of Jesus, without knowing the backgrounds of the characters.

Overall, I really liked Here Burns My Candle, and would highly recommend it to everyone.

The sequel Mine is the Night comes out in the spring of 2011. However shall I wait that long for it?

They gave me a copy to giveaway!

Just leave a comment on this post and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs“

Contest ends Saturday, March 27,2010, at 6 p.m. when I will use random.org to choose a winner

**EDITED TO ADD: I want to thank Liz Curtis Higgs for taking the time to comment on my blog (see below). I was so excited to see that you visited and left me a comment. You are so kind. I truly do read all of the authors notes! And study the maps! As an avid reader, I am raising readers, also. My teenage daughter has now “stolen” Here Burns My Candle from me and is reading it. Thanks you again, for visiting me and leaving a comment.


*DISCLAIMER – This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I also received a copy to giveaway. I received no other compensation for reviewing this book. This review is my own opinion.

I’m linking this post to Things I Love Thursday, visit for more things to love!

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