november chit~chat and belated spring pictures♥

"And so the Spring days came and went, the sky grew clearer, the earth greener and the flowers were up fairly early..."

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott

I cannot believe how long it has been since I have published a post... here we are, at the end of November...where are the weeks going?

I decided that a catch~ up was in order, and I wanted to share these Spring pictures with you all, even if they are a little late in coming, {{smiles}}

A Spring photo~shoot with two lovely friends...♥

the world outside...

Spring has slipped away as quickly as it came, and there is a now a definite Summer feeling in the air. On all of the fruit trees, lush green leaves have replaced the delicate pink and white blossoms, and the days have been getting longer as well as warmer. We have already gone for our first swim of the season! How wonderful it is, not to have to wrap up warmly before going outside to do the chores.

around the house...

November has been quite an exciting and busy month for my family...more so than usual, I mean, {{smiles}} In amongst our daily chores and work, there have been delightful visits with dear friends, outings and visitors. Sometimes homesteading can be quite overwhelming, and the workload intense, and so it is truly amazing how the Lord takes care of us all, and gives us little pleasures along the way that help us to keep going.

listening to...

I recently discovered a beautiful album of Hymns, by Casting Crowns. They are all so uplifting, and I love having them playing softly in the background whilst I potter about the kitchen, cooking and cleaning. You can listen to them here.

from the kitchen...

The preserving season has already begun, and the first few jars of jam on the shelf. Last month we had a abundant harvest of strawberries from the garden, which were promptly made into delicious jam by my Mom. How pretty the jars look, filled with the clear pink jam! 

Octobers are also 'the month of Victoria Sponge Cakes!' And we indulged in quite a few of them while the strawberry glut lasted! Made with homemade jam, decorated with homegrown strawberries and topped with fresh cream from our cow, what could be better?!

in the garden...

My sisters and I have been spending more and more time working in our two large vegetable gardens. Since our worker recently resigned from his position here, there has been a lot of extra physical work to be done, but we love our work, and like to think of ourselves as  Land Girls.  Although my red onion crop failed, {they all went to seed sooner than they were meant to, and the result was a terrible harvest} my brown onions seem to be drying out beautifully! I am planning to publish a Garden Tour soon, so stay tuned for that post!

on the homestead...

Our homestead is at it's busiest! After adding a little lamb to our menagerie, {pictures coming soon!} we had five little ducklings hatch and four guinea pig babies born. It would also appear that our cow is pregnant, and so our little plot is fast becoming overrun with farm animals, {{smiles}}

a little happiness...

Watching my cute, fluffy little ducklings run around the yard, following Mama Duck and staying close to her side. I will never tire of the amazing gift of life that the Lord gives us, and the privilege of caring for animals.

enjoying...

My work on our homestead, and laughing with my sisters.

anticipating...

We have a five day holiday to look forward to, happening at the end of December. Our friends who stay in the little seaside village of Sedgefield are going away, and have asked us to come and stay in their home and take care of their dogs. Unfortunately my older sisters cannot join us, as two people are needed to stay and watch our homestead and do the chores, but for them it is a little rest from the usual chaotic busyness when we all are at home!

Grateful for...

The trailer load of dry wood friends dropped off for us two weeks ago, as a gift. Having heard that we were struggling to light our wood stove due to the fact we had no dry wood to use, they spent their morning chopping a load for us. We all are so touched by their thoughtfulness and kindness. They are true friends♥

a beautiful quote...

"To live wisely is to orient everything about ourselves and our lives around God rather than around ourselves. Wise women are God-centered, not self centered. As we orient ourselves around God, our tastes and interests will change, and we will increasingly love what God loves and hate what he hates:”

 ~ Lydia Brownback~

a beautiful verse...

"But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit, which in God's eyes, are very precious."

1 Peter 3:4

I hope that November will continue blessed and beautiful month for you, dear readers♥

~Blessings, Gabrielle~

Bits and bobs...

"Some old fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat!"

 ~Laura Ingalls Wilder~

 Such a beautiful season...Spring! Wildflowers bloom in all the fields, fruit trees blossom, and the garden comes back to life after lying dormant for the Winter months. Now the rush begins, seeds must be planted soon, or there won't be enough time for them to germinate, grow and give fruit. 

My Shasta Daisy^

 My little flower garden is coming on nicely...my sweet sister, Nancy, gifted me with a pretty little Shasta Daisy bush, which I received with glee! Daisies are my favourite flower, and it looks so lovely in my garden. My Dad also put one of his rose bushes in the corner, and my Mom gave me a foxglove bush. I have also planted more sweet peas and I will be planting zinnias, marigolds and my cornflowers have also come up.

 I am craving a trip to the nursery! I wanted to thank all of my lovely readers who left me some flower suggestions in the comments...you all were so helpful and encouraging♡

Beautiful lusurne fields^

In the mornings, when we go outside early to milk, the sun is shining, and we no longer have to bundle up in warm jackets and scarves...it makes milking a lot easier, and definitely more enjoyable! Our milk cow, Candy, is doing very well, and we all have settled into a good routine. I love milking, and I find that it can be quite relaxing, provided the cow is in an amiable mood of course!

We have gotten our first crop of potatoes into the ground, {{finally!}} as well as our butternuts. We finished clearing the pumpkin patch a couple of days ago, and we will be planting those soon as well. My onions are doing very well, and have begun making bulbs already, which is exciting!

I am looking forward to the fruit coming in, as canning and preserving is a job which I truly enjoy doing, and I set myself a little challenge each year, to see how many jars I can get on the pantry shelf. Sadly, all of our peach and nectarine trees have developed peach leaf curl, a fungal disease caused by too much damp and wet weather. It can eventually kill the trees, if not treated quickly, so last week I spent an afternoon spraying on a liquid that should hopefully sort the problem out. We are praying that the Lord will bless and protect our plants and trees.

My Dad has begun building a fence around the new field. Soon we will have our cow grazing here^

When I am not in the garden or the kitchen, I am enjoying many other little hobbies and pursuits. I have begun embroidering again, and in the evenings Rebekah and I enjoy sitting in our room.  I sew whilst listening to her read aloud. Last night we began a book about Knights and the medieval period, lent to us by our brother in law. I love this cosy hour before bed, and I treasure the friendship I have with my sister♡

I was very excited to find a pretty pair of regency gloves in a second hand store last month, I feel so ladylike wearing them, and I have asked my very talented sister, Nancy, to sew me a regency dress...my sisters and I  firmly believe that we were born in the wrong period, as we all enjoy old fashioned outfits. {{smiles}}

Pretty peach blossoms^

There is also a certain little getaway which I am looking forward to, happening  sometime next month....my sister and her husband have asked me to join them on their three day holiday in Sedgefield! it will be so lovely to spend some time with them...I am missing my sister, and little cutie pie Nicholas♡

Almost every evening, we have the incredible privilege of going to cut fresh lucerne for our cow,  from our neighbour's fields. We are so thankful for his kindness^

In my family, life is rarely dull, and the house never completely quiet. There is always something going on, and as we begin our third summer here on our homestead, we all realise how important it is that we pull together and work as a team. 

 In this crazy, upside down world we are living in, it is comforting to know that no matter what happens, we have the Lord to lean on and trust in, and we have each other.

I hope that you are having a blessed season, wherever you are♡

just popping in to say hello...

"The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes and surely it is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies."

~Laura Ingalls Wilder~

^I just love this picture Kelly took of Nicholas and I...this wee nephew of mine is simply too precious for words♥

 

Dear friends, hello!

I cannot believe that we are in August already...where are the weeks going to?

Looking around us the other day, my sisters and I realised, that Spring is just around the corner! Our nectarine and peach trees are covered in delicate, marshmallow pink blossoms, and the fields are beginning to turn a lush green once again. How wonderful it is to see new plant growth, after the cold and drabness of Winter.

Although I am not very fond of cold weather, and I prefer working outside in the sunshine, rather than being cooped up indoors, this Winter has been an especially pleasant one for me. I have been to visit my sister, Kelly quite frequently, enjoying chatting with her, helping out with the chores, and spending time with Nicholas. I have quite a special bond with my wee nephew, and I just love him so very much♥

And so, between spending days with my sister up in her little house, visiting with friends, working on the homestead and keeping up with my chores, the days have simply been flying by!

I am looking forward to Spring and all that the new season holds for us...it is a very busy time for my family, as it is when we plant many of our crops, and also clean the garden up a bit, after letting go a little during Winter.  

This year I have been given a little patch of ground for my own usage, and I am planning to create a little flower garden...I have already planted a handful of sweet peas, and I am anticipating the day when I can plant them out! I can't wait to make that piece of ground look beautiful♥ What flowers do you suggest I grow?

I must go, I am on cooking duty tonight, and my curry is needing a bit of attention, but I did just want to quickly pop in and say hello...I am in the process of writing a longer post, which I hope to publish soon. When you live in a big family and on a homestead, it can sometimes be a little difficult to find time to sit down and write  a post from start to finish without interruptions {{smiles}}

Until then dear readers,

Blessings~Gabrielle♥

my little nephew is five months old...

Dear friends, 

Can you believe that this sweet, chubby  nephew of mine, is already five months old?

How I love this little chap...he has me completely wrapped around his tiny finger, {{smiles}}

My heart simply melts when he looks up, and gives me a big, dimpled smile....and then, I cannot help myself, I just have to kiss those soft, squishy baby cheeks of his♥

I love being an Aunty to this little boy, and it has been very special for me to spend time with my sister.

Kelly, since I was a baby, has always been my special 'buddy,' and I am thankful that we have maintained a close relationship throughout the years.

I hope that you are having a beautiful day♥

~Blessings, Gabrielle~

In the month of June~

 Hello dearest friends♥

 

A cold, frosty morning on the homestead...

Even the water droplets on the spider webs froze...so pretty...

~

On our homestead this month...

We received a heavy blow on the homestead this month. Our little calf, Shalom, passed  away one morning. It all happened so suddenly, and unexpectedly. She was fine the night before, but the next morning she was found dead. We do not know for sure what could have caused her to die...there are so many illnesses an animal can get, sometimes they don't even show any symptoms of not feeling well..just pass away quietly. We all miss our furry little friend...she was a big part of our homestead. Our plan is to wait a couple more months before having Candy covered again...we are just praying that she doesn't pine for her baby. 

In the garden this month...

While the weather is so bitterly cold, we are taking a little break from any hectic gardening. Of course, plants still need to be watered, weeded and covered at night, but there is no need for us to be spending whole days outside, as there isn't much more we can do. We are, however, starting to plan the Spring crops, and preparing ourselves for a very busy season. This year we need to double our food production.

Outside this month...

Outside, the fruit trees have been bereft of their Autumn leaves, and apple season is finished. There are still a few apples left, clinging to the bare branches. Everywhere you look you can see the signs that Winter has arrived in full force. The brown, barren fields, the dead, frostbitten plants and the muddy dirt roads.

From the kitchen this month...

During the cold Winter months, everyone wants to be working in the kitchen as it is the warmest room in the house, thanks to the wood stove! Winter is a time for eating many warm, nourishing soups, and so we have been experimenting with some different recipes...my personal favourite being a 'Potato Gnocchi and Chicken Soup.' A recipe which my sister, Kelly, sent us. {I will be sharing the recipe soon.}

Around the house this month...

My Mom has begun schooling the two little ones again. During Spring and Summer, we are all so busy planting, harvesting and preserving, that none of us have time for school. We seem to have adopted the method used in the 'Little House on the Prairie' days. The children went to school during the Winter months, when not much work was needed to be done on their farms, but come Spring and Summer, all the kids worked with their families, ensuring that there was enough food for Winter.

Creating this month...

I spent a lovely afternoon sewing two 'American Girl' doll aprons, for some friends of ours. I also hand stitched some felt food for them. I thoroughly enjoy sewing...indeed, it is one of my favourite pastimes!

Enjoying this month...

I am enjoying working on our homestead. My Dad is now on holiday for two weeks, and we have some big projects planned! We are going to be working hard to get some much needed systems in place.

Anticipating this month...

The time has almost come for me to slaughter my very first duck. Although I am not excited about killing an animal, I am excited to do the whole process of plucking and de~gutting for the first time. Wish me luck!!

Hoping to this month...

I am hoping to stat milking again soon! Shortly after arriving, our milk cow, Candy, developed Mastitis in two of her teats. My older sister, Beth, took over all the milking so that she could ensure that the teats were being milked properly, and also so that she could rub on the various natural remedies we used. Now, finally, the mastitis has almost healed, and Rebekah and I can start milking again shortly. My hands have grown so weak during the break though...

Reading this month...

I have started the novel 'Ivanhoe,' by Sir Walter Scott, having been told by my sisters that it is a sweet, Medieval romance...

Listening to this month...

one of Celtic Women's newer albums 'Ancient Lands,' and various soundtracks...and, of course, my favourite composer, Strauss. To my sister's disgust..{{smiles}} I love his Waltz music.

Watching this month...

Us four older girls had a 'movie night' a little while ago, complete with some nibbles! Nancy had found the DVD 'Singing in the Rain,' which we all were very excited to watch, having heard it was a great old film...and we weren't dissapointed! It is now one of our favourite movies ever, and I would highly recommend it.

A favourite quote this month...

"We who live in quiet places have the opportunity to become acquainted with ourselves, to think our own thoughts, and live our own lives in a way that is not possible for those keeping up with the crowds."

~Laura Ingalls Wilder~

A favourite verse this month...

"But have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee, withersoever thou goest."

~Joshua 1:9~

Thankful for this month...

My family♥

~

I hope that you have had a delightful month dear reader...

Blessings, Gabrielle♥