Weaving Gods Word Into Our Lives

~New Blog

2010-10-15T09:55:00.004-04:00

Our Family is no longer homeschooling so we will no longer be blogging here. But you can find me, blogging still and I am over at

Big Dreams In a Little House

We will keep this blog up for awhile in case anyone wants to go through our past homeschooling posts for links or ideas on homeschooling.

Thanks for Visiting with Us

~Heather, For The Watts Family

Welcome Bunnies!!

2010-05-17T16:52:00.002-04:00

We welcomed some new friends into our family a few weeks ago...our Rabbits had babies here are some snapshots of these cute little guys guaranteed to make you smile!

We hope those bunnies made you smile!
Have a Blessed Day~Love The Watts Family ~
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
John 16:24

Painting Rocks and Other Things....

2010-03-11T09:59:00.002-05:00

Since my paints were out I thought I would try my new used craft book that I found called The Art of Painting Animals on Rocks. This looked like a lot of fun and we have done this before you can read the post from last year just click here but this takes rock painting to a whole new level!!!

I chose to paint a cat per Liam's request and since I am allergic to the real thing I figured I would indulge Liam and make him a cat that we could have in the house.

when you keep your tea near your paint water you have to be careful not to accidentally dip your paint brush in it ...not that I would ever do that hehehehe!!

Following the steps and instructions in a book is hard for a very visual person like me I have a very hard time learning by a book like this....Show me how to do something and I can watch you and I am a pro hand me a book and I instantly get confused and frustrated...
Oh this is alot of fun.....I can see all the rocks painted in my yard...We might have rock animals everywhere :)

A cat that doesn't make you sneeze now that's my kind of cat!!

The is the Wood Sorrel I journaled about it is just thriving on the side of our house I can't wait to try this wild edible on a salad...
The Finches have been busy laying lots of eggs and we thought we had a male and female but we actually have 2 females the one just has a different color variation so the eggs are not fertile and we will have to go out and get some men for these lovely ladies....So Sam will be known as Samantha now hehehe!!
Noah candled the eggs just to make sure they were not fertile and confirm our suspicions.
The bunnies are doing well but they have asked that it stop raining so they can go outside and use that wonderful rabbit yard that Mr.Watts made for them...
Our garden has been just devoured by wild Rabbits. The boys shot and killed one the other day and then taught themselves how to skin it and tan the hide. The fur is drying out very nicely. This has been a wonderful learning experience for them.

When we had Mr. Watts home last week he graciously went to work on fixing up our garden and rabbit proofing it. Adrian and the boys expanded the garden and fenced it all in with chicken wire and I am happy to report the wild rabbits are no longer eating our veggies they have to sit outside the fence and daydream of the days when it was wide and open!!
May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow.
May the soft winds freshen your spirit.
May the sunshine brighten your heart
May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you.
And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 14:27

Country Diary Entry ~

2010-03-10T13:47:00.004-05:00

I have been missing Adrian something terrible this week and his future work trips are stacked endless back to back.... I have a pile of beautiful fabric just staring at me waiting to be sewn into something wonderful....but I just have not been feeling like sewing at all......so I have been pouring my thoughts and drawings into my journal which has been a great distraction, and Here I meet with God and He greets me and lets me know that even through this season He is present with me in my thoughts and prayers and I have much comfort knowing this too shall pass.....Here is part of my entries for today ~

I have been using pencil & watercolor...The journaling has been great for the children to see it has encouraged them to do lots of painting and drawing this week as well.
SunsetThe day is done, The sun has set,Yet light still tints the sky;My heart stands stillIn reverence,For God is passing by.Ruth Alla Wager

And I just had to include this little snapshot of Anna painting....She loves to dress herself in lots of color!!!...like a little rainbow which never fails to bring a smile to my face.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for himPsalm 37:7

Tuesday Tea Time...God is Here!

2010-03-09T09:14:00.001-05:00

We are joining our friend Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for another Tuesday Tea~Come and sit and have tea with us we have words we would love to share with you! Today we are using our black teapot brightened with lots of peeks of yellow that you will find around our home this week.

God is Here!
By: Madeleine Aaron
God is Here I here His voice!
While Thrushes make the woods rejoice
I touch his robe each time I place
My hands against a pansy's face
I breathe his breath if I but pass
Verbena's trailing through the grass
God is here! From every tree
His leafy finger bekons me.

The beauty of the earth, the beauty of the sky, the order of the stars, the sun the moon...their very loveliness is their confession of God: for who made these lovely mutable things, but He who is himself unchangeable beauty.
~Augustine

Life itself, every bit of health that we enjoy, every hour of liberty and free enjoyment...comes from the hand of God.
~Billy Graham

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works
Psalm 140:31

Thanks for stopping by and visiting with us we hope you have found our words shared encouraging today ~Love The Watts Family

Ode to My Adrian Elessar....

2010-03-08T16:04:00.004-05:00

A post for my dear husband who left me with some beautiful flowers to bloom in his absence...

I Love Thee

by Eliza Acton, 1799-1859.

I love thee, as I love the calm

Of sweet, star-lighted hours!

I love thee, as I love the balm

Of early jes'mine flow'rs.

I love thee, as I love the last

Rich smile of fading day,

Which lingereth, like the look we cast,

On rapture pass'd away.

I love thee as I love the tone

Of some soft-breathing flute

Whose soul is wak'd for me alone,

When all beside is mute.

I love thee as I love the first

Young violet of the spring;

Or the pale lily, April-nurs'd,

To scented blossoming.

I love thee, as I love the full,

Clear gushings of the song,

Which lonely--sad--and beautiful--

At night-fall floats along,

Pour'd by the bul-bul forth to greet

The hours of rest and dew;

When melody and moonlight meet

To blend their charm, and hue.

I love thee, as the glad bird loves

The freedom of its wing,

On which delightedly it moves

In wildest wandering.

I love thee as I love the swell,

And hush, of some low strain,

Which bringeth, by its gentle spell,

The past to life again.

Such is the feeling which from thee

Nought earthly can allure:

'Tis ever link'd to all I see

Of gifted--high--and pure!

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

Ephesians 5:31

The Country Diary of a Not so Edwardian Lady~

2010-03-07T21:06:00.004-05:00

Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.Psalm 96:9

2010-03-06T18:14:00.002-05:00

The Flowers

by Robert Louis Stevenson

All the names I know from nurse:

Gardener's garters, Shepherd's purse,

Bachelor's buttons, Lady's smock,

And the Lady Hollyhock.

Fairy places, fairy things,

Fairy woods where the wild bee wings,

Tiny trees for tiny dames--

These must all be fairy names!

Tiny woods below whose boughs

Shady fairies weave a house;

Tiny tree-tops, rose or thyme,

Where the braver fairies climb!

Fair are grown-up people's trees,

But the fairest woods are these;

Where, if I were not so tall,

I should live for good and all.

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.— Isaiah 25:1

Taking School Outside...

2010-03-05T11:57:00.002-05:00

Anna started some new studies she will be studying Shakespeare and we are using the book by Edith Nesbit called Beautiful Stories From Shakespeare and the corresponding Notebook from living books...and then she is also doing a study on Animal Homes which is from Light Home Publications.

We decided with the Sun shining although it is a little cool we would take school and head outside...

apparently Wyatt likes Shakespeare...who knew????? Although he really needs a course on etiquette..

And for our study on Animal Homes we decided to go on a hike to try and find some animal homes right in our backyard....

Sticks make good homes...

mushrooms make good homes....

holes and dirt make good homes....

Here are some of the pretty sounds we heard when we were outside....

May your blessings outnumber
The Shamrocks that grow.
And may trouble avoid you

Wherever you go.

Have A Wonderful Weekend ~Love The Watts Family~

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth~

Genesis 1:1

The Perfect Pillow

2010-03-04T09:18:00.001-05:00

Around Christmas Time I saw the perfect pillow. It was to me just a lovely decoration that would go so wonderful on my favorite chair that I like to snuggle up and watch movies in.....But it was Christmas time and I had gotten a flood of catalogs in from way to expensive retailors. I really hate getting all those catalogs in I find they just make you want to buy stuff....So I ripped out the picture and tucked it away and got rid of those catalogs.I like to think that God has blessed me with a great sense of creativity and I thought to myself I could definitely knock this off!!

The other day when I was picking up some odds and ends at Target I was casually walking by a 4 pack of cream colored napkins on clearance for 1.74$ (all right you caught me I was sticking my nose in the clearance section no where near the laundry detergent I have a tendency to get distracted hehehe)when the light bulb came on and I knew it was time to make the pillow!!

Here is how I did it!!
I ironed the napkin to get it really flat...
Then I drew out the shape of the bird with a Sharpie on a thick piece of art paper...

I then placed the paper under the napkin and lightly traced the image I drew with a pencil. I then went ahead and painted all the color onto the picture.

I then added the black highlights!!

And there you have it the perfect pillow. I used an exsisting pillow I had for the insert and I used a piece of scrap brown corduroy that I also had on hand for the backing. My chair is red corduroy so I thought this would look good with it. I don't know about you but I think the bird I painted looks much more friendlier than the retail scandle above!! So the pillow cost like .44cents to make. And now I have 3 more blank canvas's or pillows waiting to be painted in the future should the inspiration occur!!
Have A Blessed Day ~Love Heather
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Peter 1:3-4

Literature Link For Upper Grades~ Homeschooling

2010-03-03T11:41:00.006-05:00

We wanted to share with you something we found on the internet. Here is a link to some Free PDF Study guides for some wonderful book selections. We have used these and have liked them, they usually also have a nice introduction to the Author as well as activities for each chapter that help the children with Language Art skills, and also help them to understand the story and what is going on in the plot. They also give the options for companion stories that would go along well with the main story...These I think would be great for the 6-9th Grade range. These are put out by Glencoe who make text books for public school. The books used are very easy to find at your local library...And the best part the study guides are FREE!!

Click Here For Link To Main Directory

Sample of one The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Baldwin Project also has some great Literature selections that can be read online

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds

Hebrews 10:24

The Problem With Heartburn ~A Home Schooling Post

2010-03-03T09:20:00.004-05:00

The Problem with Heartburn

A Medical study Of Heartburn By: Liam Watts Grade 6

Have you ever had a burning sensation in your throat that won’t go away? Well this could be a case of heartburn. Although the name suggests that the problem is due to a heart problem this isn’t so. To find the real culprit and the cure we need to know more about the problem.

Heartburn is not normally dangerous (unless you have chronic heartburn which is a serious medical condition) though it can be very unpleasant. It is caused by acid from the stomach going up into the esophagus through the Lower Esophagus Sphincter or LES. Normally the LES only opens to let food in or the occasional burp out but when certain conditions are right it doesn’t close properly, so let’s talk about those conditions.

Well caffeine is a stimulant that excites some parts of the body but not all parts. The LES is one of these instead of getting excited it goes to sleep and can occasionally let out some acid.

As much as I hate to say another leading cause for heartburn is chocolate. You’re probably wondering how our friend the chocolate bar could turn on us, well to keep things simple chocolate contains high concentrations of a chemical called theobromine which also relaxes the LES. There are many other causes but these are the most common and these are all we’ll talk about and now on to the cures.

There are many believed cures to heartburn that don’t involve medicine these include tea which would in truth worsen the problem by letting more acid through the LES and burning the already hurting parts, unsalted roasted almonds, sherbet, apple cider vinegar, and gum.

. One of the over the counter methods I also mentioned earlier would be an antacid which should relive your burning sensation in about 15 minutes.

Now that you know the facts, the causes, and the cures you can do your best to stay away from and to stop heart burn. About the chocolate though, you should still eat it just don’t shove it down your throat, please just eat moderately.

***Disclaimer***

The purpose of this informative article was not to dissuade people from chocolate just to tell them to eat moderately and to warn them of its dark-side. We are not responsible for the people who completely quit chocolate and are thus throwing away there lives.

Thank you from Liam Watts and his Affiliates

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5

The Lone Horse ~ A Home Schooling Post

2010-03-02T16:03:00.003-05:00

The Lone Horse
By: Anna Watts
Grade 3

Once their was a foal that had a destiny.
It was going to be a police horse. But it escaped. So the owner looked but could not find it.

Soon it was night time.
She only found shelter under an old tree.
She was cold.
In the morning it was raining and she was all wet.

Then a woman saw her and came back with a rope.
She put up signs but no one came.
So they named her star.

So Star Grew.
She was a pretty Chestnut with black hair.
She lived a happy life until her owner died and the
children went off to an orphanage.
And star escaped.

Then Star found a yard.
She saw an apple tree.
She ate some apples.
Then the the back door opened and an old woman came.
And she saw Star.
So she put her with the other horses.
And they became fast friends.

The End.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4

Tuesday Tea Time...

2010-03-02T09:40:00.004-05:00

We are joining our friend Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for another Tuesday Tea~ We are taking the Tea outside today to enjoy our pretty blooms and the spring weather....

An excerpt from an old magazine called Hi Call.

Visiting in a mining town, a young minister was being escorted through one of the coal mines. In one of the dark, dirty passage ways he spied a beautiful white flower growing out of the black earth of the mine."How can there be a flower of such purity and beauty in this dirty mine?" the minister asked the miner. "Throw some of the coal dust on it and see," was the reply. The minister did so and was surprised that as fast as the dirt touched those snowy petals., it slid right off to the ground, leaving the flower just as lovely as before. It was so smooth that the dirt could not cling to the flower.

"Our hearts can be the same way. We cannot help it that we have to be in a world filled with sin, any more than the flower could change the place where it was growing. But God can keep us pure and clean that though we touch sin on every side, it will not cling to us. We can stand in the midst of it just as white and beautiful as that flower.

The secret of purity is God! The secret of seeing and knowing God is a pure heart...a pure heart comes from God! Get a pure heart, and you can be supremely happy~ no matter what the circumstances!!"

Billy Graham~ The Secret of Happiness

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:8

"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."

Mark Twain

Thanks for joining us for tea today we hope you have found these words encouraging ~Love The Watts

A Kitchen Tour...

2010-03-01T08:43:00.002-05:00

We saw Rose's post and how she was joining in on the kitchen tour over at Doing My Best For Him Blog Spot! and this sounded like fun. I could use a little fun distraction I sure do miss my husband and the weekends just aren't the same without him. You know I am out of sorts when I don't even feel like sewing!! We can't wait to see Mr.Watts again this week and have him back home.

Here is a tour of my kitchen....

Here is the view when you walk in from the front door. You can see the breakfast bar and Anna playing with her webkinz on the laptop. You can also see our dining table.

Here is our dining room an extension of our kitchen. In the hutch we keep all our homeschooling supplies as well as the bench seat lifts up and we store stuff in there. The shelves are where I keep my teapots and cups. The dining table is where we do the majority of our homeschooling. I made the curtains out of a table cloth I found on clearance at Ross.

Here is the kitchen I keep my cast iron hanging on the wall as well as some more mugs over the stove. I find this helps free up the cupboards for more storage.

Here is the view out the kitchen window. I love standing here and looking out the window. I waited and prayed a long time for a view like this and I thank God everyday for it! I love to play music when I am in the kitchen especially classical music.

Here is Anna with her webkinz at the breakfast bar I love this part of the kitchen I can talk to the children while I am cooking.

Here I am cooking and the dogs are really hoping I am gonna drop something good hehehe!!

This is what I usually see when I walk in my kitchen. My hungry Mastiff puppy waiting to be fed again....even though we all know he just ate lol!

This is the other side of the breakfast bar. This is where I keep my cookbooks and I have a small magnetic pocket on the side of the fridge this is where unopened mail goes.... I love clean counters. I love to keep them wiped down and free of clutter.

This is my new stove!! This was a recent gift from my Father. When we first moved into the house my Dad sent me in the mail a carbon monoxide detector he is very thoughtful like that. And sure enough we weren't in the house 2 weeks and the CO alarm went off. We got everyone out of the house and opened all the windows and we figured out pretty quickly our stove had a CO Leak....Well sadly we lost our pet bird but thankfuly none of us were hurt. And my Daddy he went right out and bought me a new stove. How wonderful is that! Thanks Dad!!

Here is a peek into my drawers...I try to keep them tidy but I have 3 children who sometimes have a different idea.

In this drawer is where I keep all those wonderful potholders Anna makes for me on her loom.

Right off the kitchen is this little room that is where the pantry is/laundry/mudroom/backdoor. This is where we feed the dogs and you can see the lovely towel on the wall to catch all of Wyatt's drool hehehe!!

There is always a load of laundry that needs to be done. So it is so nice to have the laundry so close to the kitchen it really helps to be able to quickly get a load in or put stuff in the dryer while I am cooking. We have actually had a few days recently that we were able to hang the laundry outside to dry!!

Here is our kitchen being put to good use. Noah made us a very nice stew for sunday dinner....

And Anna made her first apple pie for a special Sunday Treat....I realized when Anna went to bake her pie I do not own a pie pan, I had one but it must have disappeared in the recent move. So we used a round cake pan...deep dish right!!

I hope you enjoyed visiting our Home with us in the kitchen ~Blessings Love Heather
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Psalm 27:8

Oh dear Oh dear ...I shall be late!!

2010-02-27T10:28:00.002-05:00

Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, `and what is the use of a book,' thought Alice `without pictures or conversation?

So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.

There was nothing so VERY remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so VERY much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, `Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!' (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually TOOK A WATCH OUT OF ITS WAISTCOAT- POCKET, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.

In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.

~Lewis Carroll

Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14

2010-02-26T10:39:00.004-05:00

Thanks Tonya for the blog award we do enjoy your blog and all the wonderful scripture you include on it! It is so encouraging and a real breath of fresh air!!
We are to list 7 others to pass it on and then list 7 interesting facts about ourselves
So the 7 facts........

1.I am terrified of butterflies. Will send me running and screaming.

2.I used to be allergic to chocolate as a child would send me right to the ER...but not anymore thank goodness.

3.My husband really is my best friend. We have known each other since we were 15.

4.I really want to learn how to ride a horse.

5.I was in a car accident where I was not wearing my seatbelt when I was 18 and was thrown right out the window and hit a tree.....it is a miracle I am alive!!.....Yup God is Good all the time!!

6.I do not wear makeup or use anything on my face at all not even soap...

7.I know for a fact I can do nothing... but I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me!!
Here are 7 people that I pass it onto....

Grace Marie~ From the Rustic Home......She is from our old stomping grounds in New York and she is a beautiful young Christian Lady you has a wonderful Edifying and Encouraging blog.

Sandi~ at Rose Chintz Cottage~ Sandi is one of our new blogging friends and she has such a Lovely & Edifying blog we so enjoy our Tuesday Tea Time with her!!
LDH at With a Grateful Prayer and a Thankful Heart.~ We love all the wonderful photography on her blog and we have often wished to be her neighbor when she post pictures of the delicious things she cooks!!
Maria at The Simplest of Days.....You always leave Maria's blog feeling renewed and encouraged by the word. She truly honors the Lord in all that she does and her desire to do so is very encouraging.
Vivianna~ At Blossoming Where I am Planted!! I enjoy Vivianna's blog she is very encouraging and I always look forward to her comments on mine!! Yes it's true what they say I do blog for comments hehehe!
Michele at the B Skep Chronicles~ I enjoy Michele's Blog she has the cutest little girls, always wonderful photography and she has been blessed with creativity and she makes wonderful things. plus I think she makes the best soap in the world!!
Carrie at Farming on Faith......Carrie now I do not know her personaly but she seems like she would be the Queen of Multi tasking.. A wonderful Creative & Godly woman who encorages me that I could possible do 2 things at once with out setting something on fire hehe...yes I have been known to accidently start the odd fire while multi tasking... And she always post wonderful recipes and tips!!

We hope you have a Wonderful Weekend.....~Love The Watts Family~
If God sends you down a stony path,
may he give you strong shoes.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

1 John 4:9

Barn Paint and a Surprise for Adrian....

2010-02-25T21:16:00.003-05:00

We wanted to surprise Adrian when he came home with a freshly painted deck. We have a huge deck on the back of the house but it was in really sad shape the paint was very faded and peeling everywhere. So the kids got to work scraping, sweeping and painting. We weren't sure if the weather was going to co~operate but the sun ended up coming out and the deck turned out great. We can't wait to surprise Adrian!! Here are some snapshots of what happens when you mix 3 kids with 5 gallons of Barn Paint.

Here is our pretty valley some beautiful clouds in the morning.

scraping and more scraping...getting rid of all that loose paint.

More scraping and then sweeping...

working together and painting....

This is what happens when you leave Anna alone with the paint lol!!

All Done!!

We can't wait to surprise Mr.Watts so when he comes back from the other side of the world he can sit out on the back deck and enjoy the view!!!
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
1 Peter 5:6

Unit Study Of Japan

2010-02-25T00:16:00.004-05:00

In our homeschool we love to do unit studies, we do these with our Weaver Curriculum and sometimes we do them separate from our normal studies when the children have a desire to learn about a topic in particular. We find nothing more enjoyable than an immersion into the things we love. With Anna's father in Asia this week. We decided to jump into a Unit Study on Asia & Japan.

When we decide on a topic we always head over to the book shelf to see what we have available to read and learn.

Then we pile up our books and choose what to read...

Some geography, photography, & literature...

Then we head over to the computer desk to get paper and file folders and this time we printed some worksheets off Enchanted Learning and we decided to make our own lapbook that we filled with our worksheets, & crafts all about Japan.

Then we headed over to the arts and crafts bin and dug out some art supplies. We decided to have fun with Origami and then we made a Koi fish wind sock.

We looked and played with some currency that Mr.Watts brought back from his last trip to Asia. And then we curled up on the couch and we looked at some photography and maps from Asia and read some old folk tales from Japan.

That is how we like to do a Unit Study in our home. It does not have to be something really complicated or take weeks to plan. I have found that some of our best units the ones my children have retained the most from are the ones we did not plan out in advance but

just jumped right into.

And Anna is feeling much closer to her Daddy now that she knows all about Asia & Japan and where he is.

Update on Wyatt: Wyatt our puppy is spending the night with the vet he looked sick today and did not want to eat...we are not sure what is wrong. The children said a very nice prayer for him Hopefully he will be feeling better soon and be able to come home.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Psalm 57:10

Greetings from Thailand

2010-02-24T09:51:00.006-05:00

Adrian sends his greetings from Bangkok Thailand this week. He is there with his work. He has quite the journey ahead of him from Thailand he will head to Singapore and then Tokyo. When his work was all done yesterday he had some time to take in the sights. Here are some pictures from the Royal Palace in Thailand.

***disclaimer***I am including a video of Adrian in Thailand I just want to make a note that when the video is done Photobucket has the option for you to view related videos and these are random videos off Photobucket. I am not sure why they put this feature on there but that being said they are not from our family and may not have appropriate content.****************************

A Ride through the city on a Tut Tut....You better hang on Adrian!!

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5

Tuesday Tea Time~

2010-02-23T09:47:00.002-05:00

We are joining Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage for another Tuesday Tea~

Here is a little piece from a book that I read and enjoyed~
Roses for Mama
Janette Oke

"I remember one day when I didn't want to do the washing," she began slowly. "There were lots of grimy clothes. Piles and piles, it seemed, and I thought I would never finish the wash. Mama said, 'Angela, never let your task become a drudge. You are special. You are unique. No matter what your duty, no matter how distasteful you might find it, inside you can be whatever you decide to be. Outside your hands might be soiled with daily toil~inside, your soul and spirit can be refined and elegant. You can be just as much a lady leaning over a tub of hot sudsy water scrubbing your farm dirty socks as you can sitting on a velvet cushion, fanning yourself with a silk and ivory fan."
"What did she mean?" wisphered Sara.
"Well," responded Angela, "I think she was trying to tell us that work is necessary~ but honorable. It is what you are deep inside~ not what you do that is important.
"You mean," asked Sara "I can pretend to be a grand lady while I am washing the dishes?"
"You don't have to pretend," answered Angela."You can actually be one."

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Thessalonians 5:16~17

A Cloudy Weekend with the Dogs and some new Recipes...

2010-02-21T11:03:00.004-05:00

Our house sits around 3000ft in elevation and we literally sat in a cloud all weekend. It was sunny down in town but not at our house! So we loaded the dogs into the car and brought them out to get some socialization. After the vets report I expected Wyatt to attack and kill someone at the pet store but I am happy to report he was very friendly and we brought him to petsmart, petco, the local animal shelter, and then to Starbucks. He met lots of people and lots of dogs and was absolutely fine.

I tried out some new recipes this weekend that we enjoyed, I'll post them below. I thought trying out some new recipes might help me stick to the cleanse that I am doing which this time I am having a hard time sticking to. The first one is from Better Homes and Gardens and I altered it a bit to make it work with the McCombs Plan that I am doing. It also called for Arugula but our grocer has not been able to get any in so I just left it out and used more spinach in its place.

Spring Green Soup
1tbsp. Olive oil
1 Medium onion halved
1 32oz. container of natural broth chicken or veggie
3 cups of chopped potatoes (recipe calls for yukon I used what I had on hand)
3 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
3 cups of spinach leaves
3 cups of fresh Arugula
2 cups of fresh parsley
1/2 tsp. of salt and pepper

In a sauce pan cook onions in hot oil over medium heat. Add broth bring to boiling Add potatoes and return to boiling..reduce heat Simmer covered 10 minutes.
In a separate pan ~I used a cast iron skillet now fry up your mushrooms in some olive oil. When they are done set them aside then end up as a garnish to put on top of the soup.

Add spinach arugula and parsley to soup and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and then use an immersion blender and blend it up. I do not have one of those stick hand blenders or immersion blenders so I poured it into my regular blender then put it back in the pot. Serve immediately topped with the sauteed mushrooms! YUMMM we had several bowls one just wasn't enough lol !

The other recipe I invented on my own. This is a gluten free meatloaf that also follows along the guidelines of the McCombs Plan that I am doing.

I call this new recipe
Anna Don't Know There's Squash In It Meatloaf!!!
2 pounds of ground beef
4 crushed brown rice cakes
1 yellow squash grated ( about 1 overflowing cup in size )
2 heaping tblspoons of minced garlic ( I love garlic the more the better)
handful of fresh chopped parsley
2 fresh bay leaves chopped
1 tbsp of freshly grated ginger
1 egg
1/4 cup of Braggs Aminos

I put this all in a bowl and mixed it up real good then patted it into that wonderful meatloaf shape and put it in a loaf ban and baked at 375 till it was done. Which was about an hour. Anna had no idea there was squash in there hehehe ;)

I got to enjoy candlelight tea with my husband this weekend....and we saw him off this morning as he heads to Thailand

I pulled out my beading supplies this weekend and had some fun making jewelery. What else are you gonna do while waiting for a cloud to pass?

This is a rock I fished out of the creek from our hike the other day....wrapped in wire.

I made some heart earrings to match the locket Adrian gave me for Valentines...
I also turned and old quilt into a dog bed....

Quality control inspecting the work I am doing....I wonder what happens if it does not meet his approval lol!!

Wyatt is certainly not making it easy to sew this!!

After all that here's what they think of their new bed!! HA I think there playing a joke on me hehehe!! Yes they are actually sleeping next to the bed not on it lol!!

Here's wishing you a wonderful week filled with lots of sun and clouds that don't sit on your house but just pass on by~
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:12-13

A is for Apron

2010-02-19T21:00:00.005-05:00

Well summer is already gone and spring has come back in our neck of the woods that certainly did not last long but alas that is the nature of spring it always seems to be playing tricks on us. We looked out our window today to find a very cold and gray day staring back at us. Even though it is winter in most parts of the country I like to think that spring has arrived here!!

Wyatt is doing very well recovering from his surgery. The Veterinarian did say though that he was not socialized enough, so we will have to start bringing him out more to be around people. He is fine with us but has started growling at people he doesn't know Yikes can't have that right!(I didn't say anything to the vet but Lucy does that too so I guess I will have to get her out more as well) I guess we will have to find Wyatt & Lucy some friends.

Well the gray skies and dreary weather made me feel like sewing something bright and colorful. And since Anna and I need no more clothing I figured I would sew an Apron. You can always use another apron right!
I used the book called A is for Apron and I made the Lorelei apron. I decided to line the apron with a lightweight cotton the pattern did not call for this but, I do this with all my aprons I find they are alot more sturdier and hold up better with a lining.
Here's how it turned out.

Now if only the sun would come out so I could go and see how this apron is in the garden!
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him."
Jeremiah 17:7

What a week .....lets have a Giveaway!!!

2010-02-18T16:23:00.002-05:00

It has been gorgeous in California this week.
Wyatt the puppy goes in tomorrow for surgery on his eye, we did finally get him into the carThank you also for your prayers I am feeling much better. We are spending lots of time outside soaking up this warm sunshine that God has blessed us with this week.

Here are some snapshots of our week and be sure to check the end of the post for a Special Giveaway~

Outside playing in the sun...

We took the laundry outdoors to do some old fashioned hand washing ....the clothes smelled so wonderful after drying in the sun.

We managed to get Wyatt in the car. Wyatt does not like riding in the car and it is very difficult to force 85lbs. to do something it does not want to do...Mastiffs are known for being stubborn we seem to have gotten a very stubborn one lol!!

Wyatt decided to pretend he was a lap dog!!

Our garden is well under way...we are thinking already about talking to Mr.Watts about our expansion ideas :)

Our soap came in from The Moss and Fern Etsy StoreThank you Michele this is our first time buying something off Etsy .....The soap is wonderful and I am keeping it in my bathroom although the children keep sneaking in to use it...

We found this cute rocking chair at the thrift store this week...Anna has enjoyed reading her books and rocking away ....

And no cookies with my tea this week after my nasty migraine I have finally got around to starting the McCombs plan again which means NO SUGAR AGHHHHHHHHH!! I am looking forward to feeling better!! I will miss you cookies :)

The Giveaway ~Drawing on Friday March 12th 2010~

As a token of our appreciation for all you Ladies who follow us and pray for us and encourage us we are so thankful for you that this giveaway is for you!! Anna and I have picked out a few of our favorite things to share!
The only catch is this giveaway is only for Followers of the Blog ~(if you comment with us regularly but have not joined us or follow privately please feel free to enter also. We know who you are ;)
Just leave a comment below and we will enter your name~
Here is a list of the goodies in the basket(wicker basket not included sorry)We will be sending a little spring in your direction!!
1 Smith& Hawkin garden apron with cute little birds on it..
1 Smith& Hawkin stainless steel garden shovel
1 Straw sun visor
2 Packets of seeds
2 Pads of Beatrix Potter notepad paper
1 Journal filled with bible verses and encouraging quotes
1 Flip book for daily bible verse by Elizabeth George
1 Hallmark Moms photoalbum with voice recorder.
1 box of our favorite Raspberry Hibiscus Tea

We Hope you have a wonderful weekend
Blessings ~Heather

Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Hello Summer!!

2010-02-17T22:01:00.003-05:00

We skipped over spring this week and jumped right into summer or so you would think from our balmy temps...Here are Some of our Pretty Blooms from all of that warm sunshine.....

2 Corinthians 4:15-18

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Poor Mr. Wyatt

2010-02-16T22:28:00.006-05:00

Well I just had a feeling it was going to be one of those weeks lol!! I am sure you know the kind of week I am talking about where nothing is easy and everything is complicated....I guess we all have to have one of these weeks thrown in there every now and then or else we would never know the difference between a good week and a bad week or how to count our blessings. I woke up with a migraine and a sick stomach only to greet Wyatt with a cherry eye. This has something to do with the tear duct and third eye and treatment from what I read over the internet requires surgery.....Right now I am trying to figure out how in the world I am going to get a 100lb. dog lifted up into the back of my car so I can take him to the vet??? I think I need a ramp hehehe!!

I think a good verse for this post would be
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I will be pinning this verse to my shirt this week or using a post it and sticking it on my forehead :)

Tuesday Tea Time & Testimony ~When You Are Weary

2010-02-15T12:31:00.008-05:00

We are joining our Friend Sandi over at Rose Chintz Cottage for another edifying and encouraging Tuesday Tea. She has some wonderful advice this week and that is to smile! I am wondering if God did not intend that little message for me hehehe!!

I have been reading and enjoying recently Devotionals with Laura by Dan L. White. As I look to the next several weeks ahead with my husband traveling for work I found myself feeling a little discouraged and overwhelmed facing the household and all my responsibilities. Laura Ingalls Wilder was a kindred friend in this, she to also faced days that seemed long with much work that needed to be done on the Rocky Ridge Farm.
Here is an excerpt from the devotional

Here are Laura and Manly's reflection on how hard their parents worked.

The Man of the Place and I were sitting cozily by the Fire. The evening lamp was lighted and the day's papers and the late magazines were scattered over the table. But though we each held in our hands our favorite publications, we were not reading. We were grumbling about the work we had to do and saying all the things usually said at such times.

"People used to have time to live and enjoy themselves, but there is no time anymore for anything but work, work, work."

Oh, we threshed it all over as everyone does when they get that kind of grouch, and then we sat in silence. I was wishing I had lived altogether in those good old days when people had time for things they wanted to do.

What the Man of the Place was thinking, I do not know; but I was quite surprised at the point at which he had arrived, when he remarked out of silence in a rather meek voice, "I never realized how much work my father did. Why one winter he sorted five hundred bushels of potatoes after supper by lantern light. He sold them for $1.50 a bushel in the spring, too but he must of got blamed tired of sorting potatoes down cellar every night until he had handled more than five hundred bushels of them."

"What did your mother do while your father was sorting potatoes?" I asked.

"Oh she sewed and knit," said the Man of the Place. "She made all our clothes, coats and pants, undergarments for father and us boys and well as everything she and the girls wore, and she knit all our socks and mittens ~shag mittens for the men folks, do you remember, all fuzzy on the outside? She didn't have time enough in the day to do all the work and so she sewed and knit at night."

I looked down at the magazines in my hand and remembered how my mother was always sewing and knitting by the evening lamp. I realized that I had never done so except now and then in case of emergency.

But the Man of the Place was still talking. "Mother did all her own sewing by hand then," he said,"and she spun her own yarn and wove her own cloth. Father harvested his grain by hand with a sickle and cut his hay with a scythe. I do wonder how he ever got it done."

Again we were silent, each busy with our own thoughts. I was counting up the time I give to club work and lodge work and yes I'll admit it ~politics. My mother and my mother in law had none of these, and they do use up a good many hours. Instead of all this, they took time once in a while from their day and night working to go visit a neighbor for the day.

"Time to enjoy life!!" Well they did enjoy it, but couldn't have been because they had more time.
Laura Ingalls Wilder

I was blessed to know an older more seasoned Christian women than I who God crossed my paths with a few years ago, and I adored her she was so full of spirit and life and I remember something she said to me that I do not think I shall ever forget she said "Speak it how it should be and not how it is!" wise words indeed. So instead of grumbling under my breath speaking how it is, I will dig out some of that joy from down in my heart and speak it how it should be! There is always time for Joy.

Laura Ingalls Wilder suggestion of what to read when you feel weary Matthew11:28 & Romans 8:31 to 39

Matthew 11:28-30
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Romans 8:31-39
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sunshine & Valentines.......

2010-02-14T18:15:00.004-05:00

We woke up to a beautiful warm sunny day on Valentines. You could easily mistake this day for a northern summer day.
Mr. Watts surprised Anna and I with some very nice tokens of affection.

Anna received a heart with wings.

...and for me, Mr.Watts had a beautiful heart locket with his picture inside. So I can keep him close to my heart. Something I will certainly cherish.

We decided this afternoon would be a wonderful day to enjoy all the Majesty God has created first hand and take a hike through the National Forest that is just down the way from where we live. Come take a hike with us! This is a moderately steep rocky hike my knees felt this one. But it eventually levels off to a beautiful rushing mountain creek (which was rather chilly how would I know? I fell in of course!!)...and some gorgeous views that will certainly catch your breath and leave you praising God!! .

The boys felt it necessary to challenge their skills and set off to do some climbing us girls took it easy and hung out by the creek looking for pretty stones we could string onto necklaces. This is when Lucy forgot she was a girl and when I was not looking pulled rather quickly on her leash to follow the boys promptly catching me off balance sending me straight into the creek. I will admit I didn't mind it so much the fresh creek water felt really good!

Looking up at the boys!!

The boys looking down at us!!

Some were enjoying the trail by horse back....

We hope you had a wonderful Valentines with your loved ones nearby or remembered dearly close in your heart ~Remembering of course the One who loves you most
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life John 3:16
Psalm 93
The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty
and is armed with strength.
The world is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.

Show and Tell Friday ~ Thrifty Finds

2010-02-12T10:02:00.005-05:00

Thanks Cindy for hosting the fun Show and Tell Friday you can visit Cindy at My Romantic Home

We took a trip into town this week...I have my eyes set out for some coffee tables, Wyatt the Mastiff puppy likes to lean and use the coffee tables we have as a chin rest and my cheapy little target coffee tables are about to buckle from his constant pushing on them. But alas there are no heavy wood coffee tables to be found. But we did find some other wonderful things. Here's the loot we came home with.

Some Beatrix Potter Movies....Anna and I love these and yes while most people are out getting blurays~ Anna and I are still digging into the buy one get one free VHS bins hehe!!

Some wonderful books for .10cents each these should help me get a few steps closer to achieving my green thumb!!

Anna found this wonderful blue teapot. Anna has a knack for discovering treasures!!

Anna then went on a hunt for blue tea cups to match the teapot and of course she found some being the wonderful treasure hunter that she is! These say they are from England. Anna says they may have belonged to the Queen hehehe!! We will put these to good use!

And so Anna thought we found a blue teapot, we found some blue teacups, we shall have to find a blue creamer! And Anna found Mr.Cow......Wow Anna you have a real knack for this Thrift store treasure hunting.

And according to Anna this is our best treasure yet!! A BOY DOLL!! The first one ever to live in our home hehehe....I think he was very happy to meet all the Ladies and to get his place on the shelf in Anna's room.

We hope you enjoyed the snapshots of our treasure hunting here is a wonderful verse and some encouraging thoughts from Verse of the Day
Always love - pretty tall order and pretty tough stuff. Only God is always. But then Christians are fueled to an always love through the Holy Spirit! Elsewhere, Paul tells us that "The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Rom. 5:5) No wonder this love is always -- it is God's love, demonstrated by Jesus' sacrifice, and delivered by the Holy Spirit!

Wishing you a wonderful Weekend and a Most Blessed Valentines Day filled with the Everlasting Love from Our Father, and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ~Love The Watts Family

Sewing For Anna....

2010-02-11T13:28:00.008-05:00

I have been trying out some new patterns for Anna since we are taking a break from homeschool for the next couple days the boys have picked up a cold and I am treating them with garlic and a few other herbs & vitamins. But most importantly I am letting them rest so if they feel up to do something they can but if they would rather curl up in bed with a book then they can do that too! This is just one of the many blessings of homeschooling.

Anna needs a few new dresses to welcome the spring with as winter has not stopped her growing at all and although I do think of her as my little flower she is definitely growing as some would say like a weed.

This sewing machine was a gift from my husband a few years ago and makes sewing such a pleasure. With this machine button holes are a breeze you literally just press a button and it does it all for you.

I tried out a new pattern that I really liked. It is Butterick 3762 and I made this in a size 8 for Anna. This is a very generous size 8 and fits her very nice. This dress was very easy to sew and I adjusted the pattern by not adding a zipper and putting buttons instead. Anna has very sensitive skin and a polyester zipper would not be nice rubbing on her back. The only thing it needs is a small snap at the top above the first button hole. But that will have to wait until my next trip into the city. Anna seems to pay no mind to this anyhow and has happily put the dress on and has run outdoors to break it in. Lets hope she can run fast enough from Wyatt's slobbering face!
Here are some snapshots of Anna's New Dress.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him."
Jeremiah 17:7

Tuesday Tea Time & Testimony ~ Open Doors!!

2010-02-09T11:01:00.005-05:00

We are joining our new Friend Sandi over at Rose Chintz Cottage for another edifying and encouraging Tuesday Tea.

I would love to share with you a bible verse that was shared with us this Sunday in church it is an exciting and challenging one!
Revelation 3:7
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no-one can shut, and what he shuts no-one can open.

8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no-one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

What doors has God opened for you today? What Opportunity is sitting right in front of you waiting for you to seize it?

Deuteronomy 31:6
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

What are you waiting for????
Don't miss the opportunities God has set aside just for you today!

Blessings ~Love Your Sister in Christ ~Heather

Spring has Sprung .....

2010-02-08T13:48:00.005-05:00

More Rainbows....
The weather has been very unpredictable but I think this is the true characteristics of spring the warm sun will be out one moment and the next the wind will pick up and it will be raining sideways and then the sun comes back out and we open up the doors and windows to let the fresh spring breeze in and then the next thing you know we are closing the doors and windows and turning on the furnace and lighting a fire.....We seem to be running out doors when we can and then running back inside when the weather decides to turn on us....
But there is so much to do inside and out here are some snapshots of what we have been busy doing as we chase the sun or run from the rain....
Some Baking.....
When it was raining I pulled out my Grandfathers recipe book and baked some bread. The fresh bread seem to disappear rather quickly...

Some playing......
Inside and out.

Some gardening....

Some birding...

The Western Bluebird

Some Drawing...
This is from Noah's nature journal.

Some Sewing...
The adult Edwardian Apron.

And we even had time to squeeze in a birthday. Liam turned 12!!! Happy Birthday Liam!

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57

Big Boy

2010-02-05T09:07:00.002-05:00

Well I thought it was time to do a post again about our Neapolitan Mastiff puppy. Adrian and I love large breed dogs and we are no stranger to them. My favorite since I was just a little girl has been the Irish Wolfhound. On my way home from school there lived 2 of them just down the street and you could always find me peeking through the fence to spy on them. I just thought they were wonderful. But with all my allergies I have never considered getting such a long haired dog.

Adrian and I are no stranger to large breeds when we lived in Alaska we did the odd job of dog sitting. And we watched several giant German Shepherds one of them named Ahnika where we got the name for our Dane from that a friend used for skijoring and we also watched a Wolf Hybrid that was 80% wolf named Tudor. I wish I had some pictures of him he was a Beautiful Gentle Giant. We have owned 2 large dogs before with short hair of course. Shade the greyhound he was about 80 lbs. and was very tall. And Ahnika the Great Dane who was actually on the small side for a Dane she weighed in around 130 lbs.

~Ahnika

Lucy was here before Wyatt and she is a standard poodle that we got in Miami. She is our smallest dog she only weighs in at about 45lbs.

Apparently Mastiffs are Adrian's dream dog and he was so happy when he found out we got the house that within 24hrs he had one flying on a plane to us all the way from Ohio hehehe!!

But I was completely unfamiliar with this breed. We have always gotten rescue dogs in the past which have always come to us as almost adult dogs. So Wyatt was our first puppy. We of course found a trainer right away because with a large breed dog that last thing you want in your home is a dog larger than you bossing you around.

Training Wyatt has been an absolute nightmare. He is extremely stubborn and we are just now finally getting to the point where he is allowed to come out of his kennel and be in the house with the rest of us. And the Drool have I mentioned the drool? We now have a permanent hook on the wall which holds the Wyatt towel so that we are always prepared to clean up the drool. And of course there is the 5:30am howling wake up call that he puts us through every morning!

We took some pictures of Wyatt last night this is probably the last time Adrian will be able to pick him up. He is pushing over 70 lbs. now and his father weighed in at 225lbs. He was also the largest in his litter so we are thinking he is definitely still going to double his weight and then some.
Wyatt is going to be big but Wyatt will be a wonderful dog to protect our property. We have 8+ acres that are all open as well as all the acres surrounding us. Which means we have tons of coyotes and we even have the odd Mountain Lion as well as many other critters. Adrian got Wyatt to keep us all safe when we are outside and keep and eye on the property. At just 4 months old Wyatt's is already doing a great job. And although the training has been difficult we know he will be a wonderful protector and friend to our family.

Well that's our big boy!! Can't wait to post the next pictures in a few weeks can you imagine how big he will be???

The word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalm 33:4-5

Welcome February!

2010-02-03T15:31:00.002-05:00

We welcomed in February with alot of fog and a cloud sitting right on our house. But we are looking forward to the spring for we know not to much longer before we feel the warmth of the sun and are able to do lots of fun things outside

This week sewing is but merely a day dream as I have been so busy with getting caught up with the laundry...

and finishing up with our lesson plans for school.

Quite the acomplishment though I have the next 40 days of work all planned out with projects, research papers and worksheets for the chapters 5 & 6 in the Weaver Volume 3. The children will be studying The Brain, Insects, History of Time, A good review of Gravity, The Solar system as well as a biographical notebook on some famous scientists....

Which has left me hunting high and low for all sorts of books to fill these objectives. And making me feel so thankful for our home library.

Mr. Watts was busy this weekend building the children a pen where they could take their rabbits out safe from the dogs in the backyard. Here are some snapshots of his wonderful handwork and the rabbit pen.

The Dogs are wondering why we won't let them in to play ????

And another week brings another farewell to Mr. Watts who travels with his work. He has some exciting work trips planned for February and will be visiting many countries some of them are Japan, Korea, & Singapore. And although it is hard to say goodbye to him all the time. We are thankful that his work allows us to stay home and be so well cared for. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful man as our provider.

May joy and peace surround you,
Contentment latch your door,
And happiness be with you now,
And bless you evermore.

I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
— Psalm 59:16 "From December to March, there are for many of us three gardens: the garden outdoors, the garden of pots and bowls in the house, and the garden of the mind's eye."- Katherine S. White

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant."- Anne Bradstreet

"Wan February with weeping cheer,Whose cold hand guides the youngling yearDown misty roads of mire and rime,Before thy pale and fitful faceThe shrill wind shifts the clouds apaceThrough skies the morning scarce may climb.Thine eyes are thick with heavy tears,But lit with hopes that light the year's."- Algernon Charles Swinburne

Tuesday Tea Time & Testimony ~Knowing Ourselves.

2010-02-02T10:03:00.007-05:00

We are Joining Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage today for Tea Time & Testimony
When my middle son was in first grade before we homeschooled and we were attending his parent teacher conference I was not at all surprised to hear the teacher say in a not very happy voice that he was a perfectionist and overachiever who always thinks he's right. I couldn't help but giggle at this actually because some of these traits I myself have struggled with on a daily basis and I am all to familiar with them.

As a young child I was always walking to the beat of my own drum. And even now as an adult and as a Christian I find this especially true even more so. I have found it hard sometimes to be different. And now a days just bearing the mark of being a Christ follower makes you stick out like a sore thumb and then throw in there dressing modestly, I do not wear makeup, and of course I like to sew my own clothes. This sort of thing has certainly not made me popular and is not always greeted with pleasantries. But sometimes the reality of being a Christian means that you will be scoffed at or laughed at for being different or set apart as the bible says. I find great comfort in the scriptures for being the unique and individual person that I am. There is also much comfort in knowing that God knows exactly who you are, you can hide nothing from him. And God excepts and forgives and loves us with all our faults just as we are.

Before I had a personal relationship with The Lord a dear friend asked me how I was doing with my faith. And my reply was when I got my life all straightened out and all my problems solved then I would go back to church then I would be able to speak with God again. What a relief that my friend was then able to share with me that I did not need to struggle on my own anymore and carry all those burdens myself and it was at that moment that I asked for forgiveness for my sins and began a new chapter in my life as a Christ Follower.

I have found this passage from Thomas Kempis to be very encouraging and would like to share it with you as a source of encouragement to enjoy along with scripture. It is a wonderful reminder that we need to attend to ourselves not in a vain, selfish, or worldly way. But that our soul needs nourishment from God so that then it can overflow and spill onto others with kindness, and charity and the same love that God shows to us. And it is in this, that we will begin to truly know ourselves and feel the grace and love of who God has called us to be.
This Chapter is Called

On Knowing Ourselves.By~ Thomas Kempis
We may not trust overmuch in ourselves, for we often lack grace and understanding. There is little light in us, and even this we easily lose through carelessness. Moreover, we often do not realize how blind we are. We often do evil, and we do worse in excusing ourselves. Sometimes we are moved by passion, and mistake it for Zeal. We rebuke small faults in others, but overlook greater faults in ourselves (Matt.7:5). We are too quick to resent and feel what we suffer from others, but fail to consider how much others suffer from us. Whoever considers his own defects fully and honestly will find no reason to judge others harshly.

The spiritual man puts the care of his soul before all else; (Matt.16:26) and whoever diligently attends to his own affairs is ready to keep silence about others. You will never become interior and devout unless you refrain from criticism of others, and pay attention to yourself. If you are wholly intent on God and yourself, you will be little affected by anything outside this (I Cor.4:3). Where are you when you fail to attend to yourself? And when you have occupied yourself in countless affairs, what have you gained, if you have neglected your soul (Mark 8:36)? If you really desire true peace and union with God, attend to yourself, and set aside all else.

Keep yourself free from all worldly entanglement, and you will make good progress; but if you set great value on any worldly things, it will prove a great obstacle. Let nothing be great, pleasant or desirable to you save God alone, and whatever comes of God. Regard as empty comfort all things that derive from creatures. The soul that loves God regards as worthless all things other than God. God alone is eternal and immeasurable, filling all things; (Jer.23:24) He alone is the true comfort of the soul and joy of the heart.

Jeremiah 23:24
Can anyone hide in secret places
so that I cannot see him?"
declares the LORD.
"Do not I fill heaven and earth?"
declares the LORD.

Have A Blessed Day ~Love Heather

Sunshine..Raspberry Tea & New Dresses

2010-01-28T18:46:00.007-05:00

Well after a week and a half of rain the sun is shining again and we are warming ourselves up in the winter sun on the front porch.

We are enjoying some Raspberry and Hibiscus tea....

Anna is finishing up her school

Noah is bird watching...
And Liam is off tucked away somewhere reading a book that is what he enjoys.He is always difficult to find and snap a picture of. You never know where he might be he has always loved to hide away with something good to read.
I have been sewing again recently trying to think ahead of what Anna and I would like to wear this spring and summer. And I have been digging into some new patterns.
I sewed a Dress for Anna out of some nice light weight denim. I want to make her a few dresses that will look cute with her pinafores and aprons. I used Mcalls Pattern 4648

And for myself I tried out a new pattern Simplicity 2539. It is a very cute square neck jumper. I just love this pattern and I think this will become my main dress this season since it works great with that cotton floral fabric that I have tons of. And it is very easy to sew.

I will be enjoying this weekend the surprise my father sent me in the mail today. The Cranford movie collection! I can't wait to watch this! ~Thanks Dad!!

And I will leave you with an Irish Prayer that I like in the hopes you have a most blessed weekend with lots of sun to warm you ~Love The Watts Family
Dear Lord,
Give me a few friends
who will love me for what I am,
and keep ever burning
before my vagrant steps
the kindly light of hope...
And though I come not within sight
of the castle of my dreams,
teach me to be thankful for life,
and for time's olden memories
that are good and sweet.
And may the evening's twilight
find me gentle still.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3

Homeschooling and Hymn Study

2010-01-27T13:00:00.005-05:00

Anna along with her regular studies is enjoying a lapbook/notebook study this week on some of the more famous Hymns and the writers of them. We thought we would pass on the link in case anyone is interested. Faithbooking Hymn Study

Here is a version of the Hymn we learned about today from You Tube. You will need to pause the music on the blog so that it does not overlap with the hymn when you listen.
O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing. Words by Charles Wesley

Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.
1 Chronicles 16:23

Anna's Secret Garden.

2010-01-25T16:46:00.002-05:00

This weekend while browsing the Goodwill we spotted a very nice wood twin bed for twenty dollars. Anna was in need of a new bed or more of a downsize she has always had a queen bed which was nice to have when family visited us. But Anna's new room is just to small and the large bed left her with just a narrow walkway and no room to play.Which just was not working for us at all. So we purchased this wonderful little wood bed and got to work figuring out how to make some space for Anna in her room. While we were moving things around in her room I decided to finally grant Anna her wish of having a wall mural painted on her wall. Something you aren't able to do when you have a landlord but now that we are in our own home we can paint away. So Anna now has a secret garden right next to her bed. Here are some snapshots of Anna's Secret Garden.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

My Hat

2010-01-23T14:31:00.004-05:00

Here in our family we love hats everyone wears them even Mr. Watts. I recently found a beautiful straw hat from Italy for 2.00 that just needed a little attention. When buying a used straw hat you can straighten it out and bring it back to life with a good steam. We have a hand held steamer we purchased from Khols that Mr. Watts likes to use on his suits for his International Travel when they are packed into a suitcase. The steamer is wonderful though for hats, it is great for disinfecting and for pressing any creases out that may have occured during the life of the hat from improper storage. Also a fake head can be purchased at Sally Beauty supply for 3.99 which is a great item to have for steaming and especially if you like to add flowers or a new ribbon to your hat it makes a wonderful stand. Here are some snapshots of some of my new thrifty hats that I have found and brought back to life as well as a wonderful poem and craft.

My Hat!
The hats of a man may be many
In the course of a varied career,
And some have been worth not a penny
And some have been devilish dear;
But there's one hat I always remember
When sitting alone by the fire.
In the depth of a Northern November,
Because it fulfilled my desire.

It was old, it was ragged and rotten
And many years out of mode,
Like a thing that a tramp had forgotten
And left at the side of a road.
The boughs of the mulga had torn it,
It's ribbon was naught but lace,
And old swaggie would not have worn it
Without a sad smile on his face.

When I took off the hat to the ladies
It was rather with sorrow than swank,
And often I wished it in Hades
When the gesture drew only a blank;
But for swatting a fly on the tucker
Or lifting a quart from the fire
Or belting the ribs of a bucker
It was all that a man could desire.

When it ought to have gone to the cleaner's
(And stayed there, as somebody said!)
It was handy for flogging the weaners
From the drafting-yard into the shed.
And oft it has served as a dish for
A kelpie in need of a drink;
It was all that a fellow could wish for
In many more ways than you'd think.

It was spotted and stained by the weather,
There was more than one hole in the crown,
And it made little difference whether
The rim was turned up or turned down.
It kept out the rain (in a fashion)
And kept off the sun (more or less),
Bt it merely comanded compassion
Considered as part of one's dress.

Though it wasn't a hat you would bolt with
Or be anxious to borrow or hire,
It was useful to blindfold a colt with
Or handle a bit of barbed wire.
Though the world may have thought it improper
To wear such old rubbish as that,
I'd have scorned the best London-made topper
In exchange for my old battered hat.

By~
William Henry Ogilvie

Here is a great link to make your own straw bonnet like the one we made above out of a straw hat!
CLICKHERE!!

May joy and peace surround you,
Contentment latch your door,
And happiness be with you now,
And bless you evermore.

Have A Blessed Weekend Love ~The Watts
Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:2

In between storms...

2010-01-20T12:16:00.002-05:00

We are currently in between storm 2 and 3 as we await the approach of the final storm on Thursday that is supposed to be the worst. There has been lots of wind and rain and power going on and off fortunately with this storm it has been short power outages so we have not had any food spoil. We have been tucked inside our little house weathering the storms celebrating a birthday even entertaining an old friend visiting for dinner, homeschooling, reading and keeping busy while we wait for the sun to come back again.

Mr. Watts Celebrated a birthday with a wonderful Chocolate Cake that Anna made all by herself for him.

Wyatt keeps growing bigger, droopier and hungrier...Here he is at his favorite spot waiting by his food bowl.

The wind blew the greenhouse over....

Oh No!! There goes all our seedlings....

What a mess!

While the rain brought devastation to some of our plants for others it has brought more life and beautiful blooms.

Keeping busy with school and enjoying a bible study on the names of God!

While we love learning together with the one room school house approach, Anna is also learning this year about independent study.

and she is doing a great job working quietly by herself.

We sure do hope the sun is shining where you are. Wishing you a most blessed day
~Love The Watts Family
"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."
Luke 6:43-45

Keeping Busy on a Blustery Day!!

2010-01-18T15:59:00.004-05:00

We have another winter storm rolling through and here where we live it means blustery winds and lots of rain. Today the children have the day off from school we handed in their grades today for the second semester of homeschool. So we are tucked inside our little home keeping busy on this very dark and windy day.
Noah is working on an airplane model....

Liam loves Lego's so he is busy building all sorts of things...

Anna is busy painting butterflies. She is always painting yellow and black butterflies these are the ones she would always see when we lived in Florida but she was never able to catch one. Maybe this is her idea of catching one!

And I was busy sewing. I took my first attempt at making an Edwardian Apron for Anna. I would like one for myself but I decided to start on a smaller scale first. I had originally ordered the epattern from sense and sensibility patterns but my printer for some reason would not print it out. Talk about frustrating. So much for modern technology I will have to wait for the adult size pattern to come in the mail. But in the meantime I decided to put my art skills to good use and draw out my own pattern. So this is similar to the pattern I will be getting in the mail but I made a few changes to it like a much larger pocket and a ruffle on the bottom. I also lined the entire apron so there are no frayed edges and it is heavy duty to withstand anything Anna could dish out!
Here are some snapshots of the Edwardian Apron.

sketching out the pattern....

choosing some fabric......

getting to use the beautiful chatelaine that The Graham's sent to me....How did I ever make it without little scissors before? and thankyou so much for this thoughtful gift.
Here is the finished Apron I am very happy with how it turned out.

Okay before you say Wow you have alot of books this is only a small fraction of them lol!! Yeah we have that book collecting disease hehe!!

Some big pockets for all those girlhood treasures....

Just the right size for a friend!

We hope the sun is shining where you are today ~Thanks for visiting with us and have a Most Blessed Day ~Love The Watts Family

The Reason For Our Hope!
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV

Show and Tell Friday & Thinking about summer.......

2010-01-15T11:32:00.007-05:00

Thanks Cindy for hosting the fun show and tell friday you can visit Cindy at My Romantic Home~ she looks like she is having fun over there with her new convertible!!

Well our thoughts have turned to summer and we have been happily browsing through seed catalogs and imagining what our summer garden will look like. We have begun to plant and start some seeds from flowers and our warm winter sun has them starting to sprout. This is our first winter living in this climate so we have no idea what to expect but from what we hear at the nursery the growing season can be year round. We did put up a little greenhouse just in case we should get the threat of a frost.

There is a book that has been influencing the flowers we would like to grow it is called Dried Flowers For All Seasons
This is an amazing book if you have ever wanted to make some dried flower arrangements or decorate your house with them. I am picturing lots of lavender, and larkspur and goldenrod in my garden. I was fortunate to pick up this book at the thrift store for 1$
I also found another wonderful book called Dress Daze for making modest dresses. This has one standard pattern that you can then take and make a whole bunch of different dresses or jumpers from. What I like is there is also a petite size which will be wonderful in a few years time when Anna gets just a little bigger. I know it is harder to find modest dresses for that pre~teen size.
Here are some pictures of the dress I made. I used an inexpensive calico from walmart 2.44 a yard and I used 3 yards to try this pattern out.

And I will leave you with a recipe for a wonderful yummy green sauce so if your not feeling the warm sun like we are a quick trip to the produce department at the grocery store will at least leave you with a taste of summer itself. I think this would be delicious on a salad especially if you are looking for a dressing that does not have high fructose corn syrup or sugar! And the garlic is so good and healthy for you!! We enjoy it on our chicken.

Green Herb Sauce
for baked potatoes, salmon, chicken or eggs
2 lemons
5 garlic cloves ( I put way more I love garlic!! :)
1c. fresh cilantro chopped
1c. fresh basil chopped
1/2 c. fresh parsley, chopped
1c. olive oil
1tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Grate zest from both lemons. Halve and squeeze the juice from them. Add garlic to lemon juice and zest. Stir in chopped cilantro, basil, and parsley. Add olive oil, stirring until blended. Add salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature.
*suggestion ( I like to put this whole mixture in the blender and we enjoy it that way.)

Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:31-32

This and That & The Winter Sky ....

2010-01-12T14:51:00.003-05:00

We have been busy inside the house with homeschooling but we have also been having some pretty nice weather outside. So we have been trying to get outside as much as possible and enjoy the warm winter sun. Although that is soon to change we are supposed to be having a weather front move through tomorrow that they are saying will be bringing in some rainy and blustery changes over the next few days. So we have temporarily tucked some of our flowers away in our little greenhouse to weather the storm and hopefully we can pull them back out in a few days to enjoy. We have some wonderful photos of the pretty iridescence and corona's that we have been spotting thanks to the cirrus clouds this is apparently common for winter in the mountains.
Here are some snapshots of our this and that & winter sky !
Wonderful Iridescence in the Sky ~

This one is harder to see with the camera but there was a Corona around the sun a beautiful rainbow.

Mr. Watts built some nice garden boxes that I can't wait to plant some veggies in....

The boys using their air rifles....

....hunting the elusive metal squirrel.

Enjoying our first winter in the desert with the warm winter sun. Wishing you a very blessed day and hoping you also are being warmed by the sun!
He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Luke 10:2

Making Time for Play......

2010-01-11T15:39:00.009-05:00

When I went to put a post on the blog today I found the whole thing upside down and I think the host of my previous background has gone offline explaining the disappearance of it. It took me a few minutes to figure out what was going on.....So our blog got a new template again today :) Hopefully this one won't disappear in the middle of the night lol!
Here are some thoughts on play that we have found helpful and so encouraging within our home and our homeschool. I have wonderful childhood memories of the great imaginative play that my brother and I embarked on when we were young. We have also tried to keep the tradition of a simple uncomplicated childhood alive and well in our home with our children in hopes they to will have some wonderful memories and have learned much in there time of play together. For we all know how quickly childhood slips by.

Charlotte Mason ~ Home Education
There is little danger in these days of much educational effort that children's play should be crowded out, or, what is from our present point of view the same thing, should be prescribed for and arranged until there is no more freedom of choice about play than about work. We do not say a word against the educational value of games....But organized games are not play in the sense we have in view. Boys and Girls must have time to invent episodes, carry on adventures, live heroic lives, lay sieges and carry forts, even if the fortress be an old arm chair; and in these affairs the elders must neither meddle or make.

Susan Macaulay ~For The Children's Sake
Certain Factors encourage play. It is often easier home based than institution based. There should be space, and lots of free time. Children need to be outside for hours. They need to make noise, mess and to have access to raw materials (old clothes for costumes, hat, tables to turn into camps etc. etc....) They need privacy from intruding adults but they need interested support for quarrels, thinking of another way around a problem, providing food, and at the end, bringing the child tactfully back into the world where supper is ready for the soothing routine of evening stories.

A Poem Of Childhood we like....

The Land of Counterpane

~Robert Louis Stevenson
When I was sick and lay a-bed,
I had two pillows at my head,
And all my toys beside me lay
To keep me happy all the day.

And sometimes for an hour or so
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bedclothes, through the hills;

And sometimes sent my ships in fleets
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.

I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life -- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
Philippians 2:14-16

Sunday Favorites......

2010-01-09T23:31:00.002-05:00

We thought we would try something new and join Chari over at Happy to Design with the Sunday Favorite, you repost one of your older posts. We hope you enjoy reading this older post ~Wishing you a most blessed and restful Sabbath ~The Watts Family

June 7th 2009
Girl Facts. Here is a fact I learned today about girls from my daughter. You can put a girl in a skirt but it does not mean that she will not find sticks and play in the dirt and get covered in mud!! But even muddy she is still a girl.

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33

How to make a poultice....sore muscle relief

2010-01-07T14:12:00.003-05:00

This recent injury that I sustained has been one of the most stubborn and painful injuries I have ever received and the pain has been just sharp and intense. I have a very sensitive stomach with a lot of allergies so for me to take pain killers or muscle relaxers would be inviting the opportunity for a bout of vomiting as well. The muscles right now on my neck and shoulder are so knotted you can visually see the bulge I am sure you can imagine how terrible this feels. I thought a poultice might bring some relief. Sure it is kind of an old fashioned sort of thing to do but they have been used for 100's of years and have wonderful healing benefits, and they are very easy to make.

Here are some snap shots and the steps of how I did this

Make a Fresh Herb Poultice

I used Rosemary and Lavender from my garden.

Step1
Chop up about 1/2 cup of the fresh herb and mix with 1 cup of water in a saucepan.
Step2
Simmer herbs and water for about 2 minutes.
Step3
Squeeze out excess moisture, but don't drain.
Step4
Spread the herbal mixture over a piece of gauze, cotton or muslin that is large enough for the affected area.
Step5
Clean the affected area before placing the poultice on it.
Step6
Wrap the poultice with a towel or plastic wrap and secure it into place.
Step7
Keep the poultice on for anywhere from 1 to 24 hours depending applying a fresh poultice as needed

The results of this were wonderful it brought much soothing and pain relief and a wonderful benefit was the simmering herbs make your house smell absolutely fabulous. As an additional note I also added an herbal heat wrap on top of my poultice to supply some extra warmth and heat, a hot water bottle could also be used.
If you want to see all the wonderful things a poultice can be used for google the word poultice, I think you will be surprised at how useful and beneficial this skill is to know it is wonderful for many ailments. I do of course hope you never need to use one.
Wishing you a most Blessed Day ~Heather
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

Recent Thrifting....

2010-01-06T14:41:00.006-05:00

Well we are very fortunate to have a very nice Thrift Store in town that is very clean and well cared for and obviously there are also many cheerful givers in town and happy employees because they never seem to have dirty, broken and unusable things for sale like we have seen in some of our more recent trips to thrift stores. Which can be a real disappointment when treasure hunting. With all of our moving many things of course go missing as you can imagine. And in this recent move it seems like shelves and decorating things are the ones that have disappeared so when ever we are in town we pop into the Goodwill to see what is in and we have been finding some wonderful little treasures for decorating our home with as well as great books to add to our library.

Here are some snapshots of our recent treasure hunting...

A beautiful antique french dresser set!!

A pretty framed picture for Anna's bedroom...

Some interesting looking metal chairs....

A wonderful bible story book from 1904.

and a pretty topiary print in a nice frame for the master bath.....

and a nice sturdy wood shelf for all my bears....

and Noah found this very nice leather vest which he pretty much never takes off but he is 13 now so really what can I say every once in a while when he's not looking I can squirt it with some febreeze hehe!!

And then I wanted to share with you some pictures of my hair, I know I know real exciting stuff there but for me it sure is! It is finally growing or at least seems like it is. The well water here is amazing and has been such a blessing my hair has been very soft and shiny I am telling you I should bottle this water and sell it!! And although it seems a little thiner than I remember and there seems to be a few more greys poking out I am feeling very thankful that I am starting the new year with some pretty tresses. And a special thankyou to my wonderful husband who has been graciously giving me a trim as needed since I have been terrified to go to a hairdresser and have them take to much off.

I am happy to report I am being good and taking it easy and resting, catching up on movies with netflix and keeping my neck iced. But then of course I have a wonderful family taking good care of me also which makes it easy! And hopefully in a few days time I will be good as new. Although my husband has been cooking dinner and he is a very good cook so who knows how long it might take for me to recover in reality it could be weeks hehehe :)
Have a Blessed Day ~Heather
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8

Turning over a new leaf......

2010-01-04T19:50:00.002-05:00

Well I am certainly not the sort of person who makes New Years Resolutions but starting out the first week in January and I am definitely seeing that I need to make some changes. I have time to contemplate this as my family has sent me to bed! You see I have not been taking care of myself I have been busy, busy with our move and now I have some nice muscle spasms in my neck causing me great pain and I also found out while visiting the hospital today that I have also gained about 15 pounds ugh! Not exactly how I had hoped to start the new year. But I do believe what the bible says that a cheerful heart is good medicine and I will seek to be cheerful and I will take the wonderful advice of my husband who likes to say when times get tough, just keep smiling.

Sometimes when we won't be still God steps in and depending on how stubborn we are and how hard he has to pull on the reins....he slows us down. When ever I am going through a difficult time I like to pull out my old journals with notes I have taken from my daily bible reading. I wrote a verse in my journal awhile ago that I found to be a reminder and an encouragement that I will share with you.

Journal Entry :

James 1:12

Blessed is the man that perservres under trial because when he has stood the test he will recieve the crown of life that God promised to those that love him.

~No-one should say God is tempting me but rather it is our desires tempting us. Our sinful nature leads us into ungodly desires which become the root of our sin when they are acted out.

Sometimes we make wrong choices but we can always ask God to forgive us and the good news is He does! So here I am not exactly where I had planned to spend the beginning of the year in bed in pain but I am feeling rather grateful that I get a chance to try again and make some better choices in this new year. Which probably means no cookies lol!! So better than just turning over a new leaf I will turn my face towards God who with, anything is possible

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
Psalm 145:18-19

Long Winter Shadows.......

2010-01-02T21:32:00.002-05:00

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Some Place to Play......

2010-01-01T20:46:00.002-05:00

We set out to start turning this big yard of dirt we have into a safe and inviting place to play. The side yard is great but in the eyes of a child it is a vast open space of dirt that does not look like much fun at all. So Adrian and I have been working on a simple space that would just shout out to the children come one outside and play! I started by clearing some of the vines and plants that I felt would be inviting to snakes or unwanted pests. We then built an A frame to hold a swing and we also found an old tractor tire on our land that we very easily turned into a sand box. Now the yard looks more like home......and play outside is just what the children did all day long.

Here are some snapshots from making some place to play...

The important job of holding up the beam !!

Making good use of the scrap wood!!

And there you have it! Some place to play....
Happy New Year!!!
sending you wishes of an extremely blessed year filled with good health, family close by, more joy than you can imagine, and dreams come true for you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
~Love The Watts Family
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12

Tut Tut it looks like rain....

2009-12-30T18:35:00.004-05:00

It is winter in Southern California which means cold, blustery, rainy days. But it makes the desert bloom and turn green so no one is complaining. The dolls have been keeping busy.

Reading all the recent bestsellers by the Lovely Graham Sisters....

Practicing their instruments....

Playing Cards......

and of course drinking lots and lots of tea!
We took a trip to the hardware store with a pretty drive through the country here are some snapshots from along the way...

Hopefully we will see some more sun tomorrow we are ready to start working on the side yard that is fenced in, to make it a wonderful place for play and rest. Right now it is a wide open space of dirt so we have our work cut out for us!! Should be fun indeed!See Ya in The New Year!!Happy New Year ~Love The Watts Family
"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name."
Psalm 91:14

Through the Woods...

2009-12-26T20:11:00.002-05:00

Today we worked on clearing a path through our land so that we had a nice loop that we could hike. This was hard work but a wonderful reward for some new places to explore as we get to know the land we live on. Come for a walk with us through the woods....

Come on Wyatt lets go!

Winter Blooms....

An old post and handle....

Off we go to find a trail...

Looking at the land to see where to start the trail....

The clearing begins....

winter berries...

Magical Forest Lichen....Can you believe this is the Color God chose for this? How stunning....

Wyatt helping to clear the trail...

Breaking in the Trail....

Exploring the forest....

More stunning Lichen...

A nice clear path....

Thanks for stopping by and visiting with us!!
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."
Proverbs 16:9

And the Winner Is!!!!!!!

2009-12-26T10:26:00.003-05:00

We put all the names inside the tea cozy and Mr.Watts drew out a name. And the winner is Deborah from A Different Drum Blog Spot.
Send us an email at wattshomeschool@gmail.com Deborah with your address and we will mail out this cozy so your tea stays warm.
We hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas
Blessings And Happy New Year
~The Watts Family

A Very Merry Christmas To You!!!!

2009-12-24T09:58:00.002-05:00

A Very Merry Christmas From Our Family To Yours!
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6

A Girl and Her Hula Hoop!

2009-12-19T16:24:00.002-05:00

We Thank Thee
Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Flowers that bloom about our feet
For tender grass, so fresh so sweet

For song bird, and hum of bee
For all things fair we hear or see

Father in Heaven, we thank Thee

For blue of stream and blue of sky
For pleasant shade of branches high

For fragrant air and coolling breeze
For beauty of the blooming trees,

Father in Heaven, we thank Thee!

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."
Colossians 3:15

Felt Flowers and Cozy Giveaway!!

2009-12-17T12:28:00.002-05:00

I would like to show you how to make some simple felt flowers that you can use to fancy up just about anything. These are a wonderful way to fancy up a simple Christmas Present. You can sew them on a plain hat, an old sweater, you could glue one to a barrette or headband or sew them on a pillow! They are so so simple to make in the middle of winter you could have blooming flowers everywhere!

Cut out your petals you will use 5 on the large and I do 2 of these large flowers and then you can use 5 or 6 petals for the small flower.

Next you get some matching embroidery thread and needle and you sew through the bottom of the petal as shown and join all the petals together.

Then you will take the ends of the thread like in the picture and join them to make your flower.

When you are done your flower should look like this.
You sew all three flowers the same way and then you layer them one on top of each other with the smallest flower on top. Then you will sew near and around the center through all three flowers to join them together.

The next step would now be to cut out your leaf from some green felt and pick out a button for the center of the flower.
I like to use a button that is contrasting in color to the flower.

There you have it!!

Some very simple very pretty flowers. I have not tried it but I am sure that you could also use polar fleece as well to make these flowers. Which would be a great way to use up scrap polar fleece pieces.
Click the picture to print the pattern from my photobucket!

Now that I have all these flowers what better place for them than on a tea cozy!!

For a chance to win this tea cozy all you have to do is leave a comment.
The Tea cozy is made out of 2 layers of soft gray polar fleece if this doesn't keep your tea warm your in big trouble!! We also made the tea cozy tall so if you have a fancy tall tea pot or a round short one it will be sure to fit.
The drawing for the winner of Tea Cozy will be on Dec 26th. Be sure to check back to see if you win!
Merry Christmas and Many Blessings Love The Watts Family
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16

Pretty Things.....

2009-12-16T15:07:00.002-05:00

Today we tied up our boots and headed outside to do some yardwork. It was a gorgeous sunny day filled with all sorts of beautiful little treasures. Compliments to our Amazing and Almighty God who makes all things beautiful. We probably won't be having a White Christmas but I think you will agree the desert has a special beauty all of its own.

A pretty little Alpine Flower.

A pretty view of the valley. Everything is a beautiful shade of green from all the rain we have been having.

Pretty Yellow Goldfinch

Bright Red Loveliness

I think these flowers are making the goldfinches jealous!

The Rain has everything blooming!

Enjoying the warm sunshine...

Rolling in the dirt....

Rosemary and Rock gardens....

There are beautiful rocks all over our property so when ever we find one we add to our rock garden that sits by the Rosemary bush.

Dusty Dirty Boots means a hard days work and I will be sleeping well tonight!

Thanks for visiting with us and we hope you enjoyed looking at all these pretty things!
"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."
Jeremiah 32:17

The Dolls Deck The Halls......

2009-12-15T16:51:00.003-05:00

The Dolls have been so busy with their move cross country, but they finally found time to decorate for the Holidays.

Abigail that is a beautiful ornament you have there!

Samantha it is not time to put the Angel on yet!

What a pretty Angel that is. I think Samantha wants to put the Angel on now.

Lovely red sparkles....

The Dolls are letting Anna hang a few ornaments. How nice that they are sharing.

Emily has a present!

Oh Samantha how nice to let Abigail put the Angel on the tree....

Be careful Samantha don't get tangled in that garland!

Wow! It looks beautiful! The dolls did a wonderful job decorating the tree. I think they are now ready for Christmas!

If you would like a nice picture of the nutcracker ballet to print and color CLICK HERE
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37:5-6

Goodbye Molly

2009-12-14T14:40:00.002-05:00

We have some sad news to share. Our dearest little lovebird Molly passed away this weekend. We will miss her terribly as she has been a wonderful companion to our family and has been through all our moves with us. We are not sure what happened to Molly she passed away very quickly on Sunday while we were frantically calling around trying to find an open vet which we never did. The children buried her here on our property in a special place but we are all very sad as we say goodbye to our good friend.

We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19 (Read all of 1 John 4)

Merry Christmas

2009-12-09T17:52:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

signing off......

2009-12-05T17:17:00.002-05:00

Well just when we get back on the internet it seems we will be needing to take a blogging break. Please excuse our family as we step away from blogging and the computer for a little bit. We have had so much to do with our move and getting settled and we are hard at work turning this house into a home as well as jumping back into our homeschooling and enjoying the Holiday Season.

From our Family to Yours have a Very Merry Christmas!

The Birth Of Jesus As Told From The Bible
Luke 1:26-2:40 (King James Version)

26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

46And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

56And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

57Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

59And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

61And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

62And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

63And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

64And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

65And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

66And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

67And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

78Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

Luke 2

1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

21And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

23(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

24And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

25And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

39And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

40And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

We're Back!!!!!!!

2009-12-04T14:37:00.002-05:00

We're Back! AT&T is still working out the kinks with our internet service but what a joy to be able to blog today. And oh how I have missed my blogging friends, it will probably take me a few weeks to get caught up. It was difficult to write this post as I keep peeking back on to everyones blogs and visiting to see what has been going on.
Here are some snapshots from around our home as we get settled in!

The sun peaking through a very rainy day that we had filled with lots of visits from coyotes that day.

Inside our home....

Playing outside and exploring our new backyard.....

Until next time we visit Have a Most Blessed Day ~
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13

The Mail...The Birds....Feathers...and The Dolls

2009-11-25T14:02:00.002-05:00

The inside of our house right now is an absolute nightmare as we are having all the flooring ripped out and replaced. But sometimes the seasons we go through look terrible as the journey plays out only to leave a beautiful blessing in the end. And as this season is temporary I am sure our home will look wonderful in just a little time from now.

With that being said lets get out of the house and go outside. We decided to head out to find the mailbox. We know there is one some where! Won't you join us for a walk.

Here is our home.....

Then down the dirt road....

Lets follow Anna she looks like she knows where she is going.

An endangered tree....

There is beauty out here even in the barren and dried out.....

Just keep walking and walking......

Horse tracks....

We found it! So there is a mailbox.....that walk will certainly keep us all healthy!

We also have a special corner for our feathered friends. Let us show you where they visit us.

They wear yellow so well and make it look so wonderful! What a blessing this corner is for us a place to sit and watch nature.

Anna is so happy to see her dolls again and she is getting them all dressed up for the holidays

And we would like to say thank you to the Graham family for the wonderful Feathers we received in the mail. Noah has received many compliments in town about his fabulous feather hat! The Graham Family Chickens are making quite the fashion statement out here in California! Praise the Lord for the blessing of pen friends. Noah also found another feather to put in his hat the gray one is from over by our bird area I think they left it as a thank you.

From our family to yours Have a Most Blessed Thanksgiving!!
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

The Secret Garden

2009-11-23T23:31:00.003-05:00

Well I never thought I would have a secret garden but I found a grown over gate at the back of our property that leads into our land. So I decided to dig it out and hopefully open the door to a whole bunch of new adventures for my family.

A new little path and a gate that can open.

We also cleared out the area on the back of the deck. We do not want any brush that would be good habitat for snakes around where the children and the dogs play. Especially since we get rattle snakes out here. It was also interesting clearing the area I wore boots and jeans and gloves and hoped for the best when I reached in to grab all that overgrown brush.

Adrian also worked on fencing in the yard since we are not using the corral right now we thought it would be nice to let the dogs have an area to run around.

We also are slowly getting unpacked inside. Here is a sneak peak of a part of our home that is not messy right now.

Have a Blessed Day ~The Watts Family
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

2009-11-21T23:28:00.003-05:00

Shhhh don't tell anyone I have snuck away for a few minutes. When I was unpacking I found my art supplies, I know I should be unpacking but I had to check to make sure they all still work and were not broken.They seem to be working fine but maybe I should draw one more picture to be sure.

The Sparrow
Author Unknown
Glad to see you, little bird;
'Twas your little chirp I heard:
What did you intend to say?
"Give me something this cold day"?

That I will, and plenty, too;
All the crumbs I saved for you.
Don't be frightened--here's a treat:
I will wait and see you eat.

Shocking tales I hear of you;
Chirp, and tell me, are they true?
Robbing all the summer long;
Don't you think it very wrong?

Thomas says you steal his wheat;
John complains, his plums you eat--
Choose the ripest for your share,
Never asking whose they are.

But I will not try to know
What you did so long ago:
There's your breakfast, eat away;
Come to see me every day.

Matthew 10:31
So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

We've Moved!

2009-11-20T21:12:00.002-05:00

Well the last few days have been an absolute whirlwind but in a good way. We finally closed on our house which is nothing short of a miracle and we are moving in. I have a few snapshots to share of this unbelievable blessing that God has placed in our lives. And as we get settled I can't wait to show you more pictures all around our new stomping ground. But for now I have some unpacking to do!

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world."
Isaiah 12:4-5

Introducing Wyatt

2009-11-17T22:17:00.002-05:00

Well the puppy has arrived and he is absolutely adorable. I will definitely have my work cut out for me all my past dogs have been adult rescue dogs such as greyhounds and even Lucy my poodle was already 8mos. old when I got her, and I am a pro at crate and potty training adult dogs. But this puppy seems to be leaking more than I know what to do with and after I bring him in from outside hehehe!!! Well I will spare you all the not so fun details of having a puppy and show you all the cute pictures. Wyatt was so exhausted from his flight he walked in the house and fell asleep right on the kitchen floor.

Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10b

Under Construction

2009-11-16T22:13:00.003-05:00

Please bear with with us as we try on some different templates we have been fooling around with the HTML on our blog and trying to find a blog design that we think goes along with our family. Hopefully I am not causing any motion sickness with our blog changes. I guess all we can say is we hope you enjoy the ride lol!
~Blessings The Watts Family

Quiet Weekend.....For The Birds and a little Catty

2009-11-15T20:58:00.006-05:00

We had a pretty quiet weekend around the apartment. With the exception of Saturday night we had some neighbors get in an enormous fight, which was very upsetting to listen to. One of the hardest things I find about living in an apartment is sharing your living space with others who may live much differently from you and your family. A good reminder that we should be praying for our neighbors even if we do not know them personally..

We ended up also having a few more papers to sign that were incorrect for the house closing and we are still trying our best to be patient and keeping busy while we wait.
Anna and I did some bird watching and had the privilege to spot a gorgeous American Kestrel. It had the most beautiful blue wings. I only wish I could have zoomed in more to show you. So I grabbed a closeup off the internet so you could see how gorgeous this bird is.

We also found an abandoned birds nest that was on our balcony that we have been watching since we arrived here. It was tucked up in the corner rafters, the former tenants left some unhatched eggs behind and it was obvious to tell they were old and all dried out. But it was a wonderful opportunity for the children to study it. We found some really great worksheets on birds nest that you can get if you CLICK HERE
Now normally if you find a birds nest you should leave it alone because it can be very hard to tell if it is abandoned, but since we have had such good viewing of this nest daily for over a months time we were able to determine it was abandoned.

And on a different note...my middle son Liam loves cats and unfortunately his mother is extremely allergic to them. So he collects stuffed cats. At Christmas our family enjoys handmade presents so this year I thought I would make Liam a cat. I got the pattern from a book that I purchased called Wild and Wonderful Fleece Animals. I hope to make a few lovies for the children from here for Christmas they have some very cute animals in here, and it was really quite simple to make. The patterns are included right inside the book. The only problem I had was I kept putting the ears in the wrong direction. I think I had to pull out the stitches and fix it 4 times. And lucky for me there was a football game on which Liam loves so I had no problem sneaking this all past him.

A new week is ahead and who knows what might be in store it could be another week of waiting for us or it could be another move. Well good thing we can cast all our burdens on the Lord and He is faithful. He knows exactly what will happen this week and has just what we need to make it through another week with ups and downs.
Have a Most Blessed Monday ~ The Watts Family

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
Psalm 23

Fall Inspiration ~

2009-11-15T13:06:00.001-05:00

Homemade Christmas Present Ideas For Children

2009-11-13T23:25:00.005-05:00

Here in the Watts home we love to make our Christmas presents for each other. And this year I have been looking for some craft books to get some new ideas for things to make. I found this Japanese inspired craft book called Cute Stuff by Aranzi Aronzo filled to the brim. Lots of great ideas in here of super cute and easy things to make. My children having been leaving lots of hints of things they liked from inside the book hehehe! I decided to make one of the crafts today. I chose the water bottle cover to insulate and keep your water cool and Anna picked a cute duck appliqué for it. This craft was very inexpensive to make and I was able to find all the supplies for it at Wal Mart which is really convenient.

I can tell we are going to have lots of fun with this book the appliqués are super cute.
Have a Blessed Weekend ~
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
Proverbs 10:12/center>

Show and Tell Friday! A New Friend for The Watts Family

2009-11-12T18:46:00.015-05:00

Thanks to Cindy for Hosting Show and Tell over at her very lovely blog called My Romantic Home.
Well we broke the news to Lucy.....

Listen up Lucy we have some important news to tell you. Were getting a puppy!!!

To which Lucy replied your kidding right?????

Well I think that went well but she was more interested in playing with the children than hearing about her new roommate.

The new puppy is arriving here on Tuesday he is flying in all the way from Ohio. He is a Neo Mastiff and his Daddy weighs in at a mere 250 pounds. Whoa thats alot of dog.

He is currently called Doodle.

But were going to name him Wyatt a nice western name!

I have been busy working on all of Lucy's tricks and skills to make sure she is top of her class before the puppy gets here.

Oh it should be interesting around here soon!
The skirt I am wearing is simplicity 2609 this is the pattern I showed earlier in the week of a super easy and inexpensive skirt to make. This skirt was made out of the cheap Wal Mart fabric at 2.50 a yard. I just wanted to show you that it looks great even with the really cheap fabric.

We also recieved an award from Bear Bear over at Live Love Learn This is an award to let another blogger you recently discovered know you think there great! ~Thanks Bear Bear we love it and now we pass it on to:
Deborah at a Different Drum ~We enjoy all your beautiful pictures
Theo~Ann at Outside The Box Great craft ideas and tips.
And Rose over at Good Wife Rose blog spot.There is something lovely always going on over there!

Here are the guidelines for the award.
1) To accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link. 2) Pass the award to other bloggers that you have recently discovered and think are great! Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Thanks for visiting with us today have a blessed weekend!
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
John 15:12

Thanks!

2009-11-11T16:31:00.003-05:00

Well things have been moving along with the purchase of our house here in California. It has been like a wild roller coaster ride. But before I go into any more details we just want to say Thanks for all the prayers and lifting our family up during this time. We have crossed so many hurdles and the prayers have really sustained us and have been a constant source of hope for our faith to lean on. Yesterday we signed the last of the paperwork for closing and paid our deposit so we are almost at the end. We will now be waiting for the bank to fund the money so we are not completely out of the woods yet so please if you feel lead to continue to pray for us over the next few days we could certainly still use prayer that the closing would finish with no more obstacles. The seller will be moving out this weekend and we should be able to move in next week.

The waiting now has been extremely difficult on the children as it appears to be a few more days till we can call somewhere home, but I am keeping them busy to keep their minds off of it even though it does not appear to be helping much hehhehe! So you probably want to know what it is you have been praying for and I have a picture to share an overhead view of the ranch. It is a modest house on 8 acres tucked away on the outskirts of San Diego in the mountains complete with a horse corral. For our family who has been renting and all we have gone through with renting for the last 4 years now since we left our house in New York it seems like a little slice of heaven on earth, and we can hardly believe that we will be able to call this home.

Thank you again for all your prayers it means so much to our family and hopefully next week we will be able to post some pictures of Home Sweet Home.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Simple Skirt Pattern.....Simplicity 2609

2009-11-10T12:21:00.002-05:00

If you are looking for a simple skirt pattern that is easy to sew, inexpensive to make then let me suggest for you Simplicity pattern 2609. You have 2 options when making this skirt if you are looking for a long modest skirt, you can make a 4 panel skirt which has a pretty flare and drape to it or you can make the tiered skirt which is also a very pretty style of skirt. For the skirt that I made I chose to make the 4 panel skirt in a medium weight denim that has a nice drape to it and is great to have in the wardrobe because it is really limitless with what you can pair with it. At Wal Mart this denim will cost you $4.44 a yard and 1.23 for elastic which puts you around 15$ to make. Wal Mart also sells some wonderful cotton prints at 2.50 a yard which is also a steal and would look lovely especially in the tiered version.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
Mark 12:30

A Sunday Stroll....

2009-11-08T23:00:00.004-05:00

Come on along with us as we hike the Bayshore Trail. It is a coastal trail with beautiful San Diego views. A mere 3.2 miles long on a moderately steep incline. All sorts of wonderful Flora and Fauna await. For the 3-D virtual walk with us be sure to make a squirt bottle of salt water to mist your face every once in a while hehehe!

Are your ready to get your boots dirty?

Thanks for joining us we hope you enjoyed the trail.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Hebrews 13:5-6

The Trouble with Red Hair!

2009-11-07T21:22:00.002-05:00

We have been keeping busy in the home as the Watts like to do. There have been all sorts of projects going on with school and for fun. This week I pulled out the flannel and sewed some cozy p.j. pants for the boys. The kitchen here in the apartment has a wonderful granite island that is fabulous for sewing. I will certainly miss it when we move.

Anna and I also worked on a new doll this week. A gorgeous red head who we of course had to call Anne.

"You'd find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair," said Anne reproachfully. "People who haven't red hair don't know what trouble is."~Anne of Green Gables

Anna could just not wait to play with Anne and decided to take her to bed before her clothes were finished.

Then of course the new Waldorf Dolls had tea!

"There's such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that is why I'm such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn't be half so interesting."
- Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

"Marilla, isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"
- Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

"Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing."
- Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

"For we pay a price for everything we get or take in this world; and although ambitions are well worth having, they are not to be cheaply won, but exact their dues of work and self-denial, anxiety and discouragement."
- Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Thanks for visiting with us over here
May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.
~The Watts Family

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock."
Matthew 7:24-25