I thought it would be fun to share what I’ve been up to for the past week. It helps me to look back and see all that I’ve accomplished, especially when I have so much on my to-do list! I’ll be honest I didn’t think I was that busy this past week but now that I’m looking at it as a whole I think I was busy! But isn’t that the best kind of busy–where you don’t really know you’re busy??
Anyway, here we go! I taught a STEM class at my local library’s after school program. We made apple crisp and discussed measurements, seasonal produce, and how you take different ingredients, put them all together, add heat, and then come up with a completely different, and yummy, product. Of course we taste tested some apple crisp.
Anna and I got in a couple of walks this week. Not as many as we should have, but anytime we can get outside is a good time. It’s a good acorn year. I’ve been collecting and collecting acorns for my winter dyeing projects. I’ve also been collecting sumac and avocado pits. But it was such a nice day when we went for our walks that I couldn’t resist a little selfie. And the picture of Anna was her selfie except I had to take it for her..that whole opposable thumb thing.
We’ve spent some time lately enjoy the night sky and I was lucky enough to capture this sunset.
I decided that I needed a dedicated work space in order to get things done. And because it’s nearing the end of the fishing season I have access to some of the rooms that I don’t have access to during the season. Last year our work space was in one of the bedrooms upstairs, but I decided this year’s work space will be the old living room. It’s been converted into a bedroom but it’s largely unused during the off season. And what better space to work than overlooking the river?
I finished up my last farm market of the season. I was only able to attend 2 sessions (mostly because I didn’t know about the market until September). I loved this market. It’s small and in it’s first couple of years of existence. I met some great people and was able to get the word out about my business, what I do, the classes I teach, and why it’s important to me. And I sold some product in the meantime. I’m scheduled to vend at a pop up shop in November. I’ll update my list of classes and events with that information. Look at this view! This is what we see every time we’re at the farm market.
There’s been some great fall colors! Finally! We went yesterday and today and got our decorations that should last us through the end of November. The nights are cooler so the pumpkins should last a long time. I decorated the front porch and the fly shop/lodge sign. Of course as we’re walking around we see all kinds of examples of fall. I couldn’t help snap some quick pics of the moss growing on the back porch steps. And Anna needed to a part of that too! I love this time of year. The other thing I like about our decorations is that it all came from a local farm stand. It’s nice to support another local business (I wish I’d been able to grow those pumpkins myself, but alas it wasn’t in the cards this year. I got one tiny Jack-be-little pumpkin).
And this is the first time I’ve ever grown sunflowers! I don’t know why, but it is. I planted them in one of those grow bags from Tractor Supply. The deer ate the heads off some of them, but I’m lucky enough to have about 3 or 4 that are actually blooming! I had all the plants that I wanted to save-rosemary, sage, lemon balm, geraniums, and the sunflowers-on the back porch but after decorating for fall, and using some of the flowers in my decorations, I moved all the other plants to the side porch. I’ll take some more pics soon so you can see how it looks. It makes my heart very happy.
Other things from this past week: I had two coffee shop dates at two different coffee shops. We started our cash spending program again. I just think that makes more sense. We’ve been able to save a lot of money by being frugal and not spending a ton of money. We’ll use the next month to fine tune details on our cash spending. I’m afraid the decorations probably sent us over the edge but we’re shopping at the farm market weekly and only spending $20-30 on groceries. Our freezer is stocked with meat for the winter. I need a few pantry staples but we should be good to go. Oh. Speaking of, we’ve been eating really healthy. I’ve been doing a lot of the cooking from the Whole30 cookbook. I’ve modified it a bit but it’s been really good. I feel better. I’m eating good, walking, taking care of myself. It feels so good to be doing this finally. I’ll put the food in my highlights on instagram so you can see what I’ve been cooking up.
I’m still offering a discount code (restock15) good through 10/1/19 for anything in my online shop. I have so many ideas swirling around in my head about my little homesteading business. I can’t wait to work on things and share it with you all over the next few months. But in the meantime I need to make room so use the discount to buy a hat or a postcard or a lip balm or whatever!
That’s it. It was a very good week. Tell me what you’ve been up to this past week. What’s been good? What have you been struggling with? Is it fall where you are? I need to know!
Melinda
Sounds like a productive week, and a fun one too! π I love the selfies, both of them, and the apple crisp and the sunflowers and those decorations! Oh, I love the look of fall. Something about pumpkins and mums just gets to me…
I’m happy to hear things sound like they’re going so well for you. Personally, I think it has more than a little bit to do with that positive attitude of yours π Hope this week is just as fabulous!
chickenlibrarian
Aww shucks Melinda! Thank you! I just needed to hit reset for a bit so I could start moving forward again. I enjoyed my time away from all things chicken librarian but I’m just as excited to be back at it!
Daenel T.
Thatβs one of the few things I miss about Pennsylvania – the fall colors. I mean, nothing beats them. Here in Louisiana, everything goes from green to brown to dead in no time flat. So thank you for posting pictures to help me remember that a real fall does exist somewhere. LOL
chickenlibrarian
I do like that we live in the Northeast because we get all 4 seasons. BUT sometimes winter can be a little daunting…especially if it comes early or last longer than usually. Forget about the years when it comes early AND lasts longer. But yeah, I’m always happy to see the seasons changing. And those fall colors are my absolute favs!
Tracy
Finally able to make it back to see what you have been up to! π The photos are so wonderful. I really like that you take the time to add them to your post. I feel like your blog is a bit like an Americana Coffee Table book. Relaxing with my morning coffee and “browsing” is a great way to start my Friday morning. π
That view from your farmers market is awesome. Although we have “rolling hills” around here, they are not exactly in my daily line of sight. I miss that “nestled in” feeling you get when your world seems framed by the rise and fall of the hills around you.
Busy here too, but it’s due more to job/work than (home)work. But, I suppose that;s just the way of it! I should re-make my plans and schedule. (Perhaps I have become lazy? And I am so far behind on my blog posts…)
So what is the cash spending program? I, too, feel like my spending has gotten a little…. not frugal… and I to reign myself in! Do you follow a particular program?
Okay, enough of me peppering you with questions! π
Lastly: selfie of you is great, love your fall decorations, STEM class idea = very creative, and Anna has a good face. She looks like she’s a good listener. π
chickenlibrarian
You are so sweet Tracy! That is such a big compliment: “Americana Coffee Table book. Relaxing with my morning coffee and browsing”! Swoon! Thank you friend! And you can never ask too many questions! I do love the hills here. I just stopped and took a bunch of photos on my way home from a workshop today. I could spend 100% of my time photographing these hills. I feel lucky and blessed to live here. And homestead here.
A good plan is always a good thing. Even when that plan changes. I know I’ve said it before, but I LOVE a good plan. My workshop today was on business plans and taking a product from start to finish and I’m really excited about it. A business and marketing plan has been on my to-do list for some time now and now I get to focus completely on that for this workshop series I’m doing. I said all that to say that I totally agree with you about re-making plans and schedules.
As for the cash spending, it’s loosely based off the Dave Ramsey total money makeover/financial peace university. He outlines baby steps that you take in order to pay off your debt and one step is making a budget and use cash spending. I think this works so much better for us rather than using the debit card. Money goes much quicker when I use the debit card. If I have a $100 bill in my pocket I don’t want to use it so I hold on to it. I keep telling myself that no one will break a $100 so I just don’t spend it until I absolutely have to. I’ll do a blog post on it outlining what we’ve been doing and where we can improve. I’ll admit I haven’t done as good of a job with this first round. So there were lessons learned and now I’m getting back on the wagon.
Thanks for all your support and for asking these questions. I love sharing with others so it helps when you ask questions! xoxox