Trampoline time today. It had been a while.
My kids spent a large chunk of the day playing with Jenga blocks. They have 3 sets (games) each. The name brand Jenga game blocks are the best and most inexpensive (especially when you get them 50% off in Nov/Dec) unit blocks I’ve found. Soooooo many ways to use them besides just playing a fun game.
I’ve made cornbread 4 times in the past couple of weeks. Been using ghee instead of oil and YUM.
Conversation in the grocery store with Ro this afternoon:
Ro - “What’s beef made from? Cow?”
I said yep.
Her response - “I like cow!”
older gentleman walking by giggles to himself
Some thrifted artwork from recently…
The small bird art in the top left was actually my grandmother’s. My grandpa told me to take a few things when we were at his house for Christmas. I chose this to add to my wall of bird art in our guest bathroom.
The other 3 framed pieces are from a garage sale.
I plan on adding the duck art to my bird gallery wall as well.
I’ll probably put a personal photo in the frame with the light green matte in the top right (but I do love the art in it).
Although I’ve considered starting a gallery wall of flower art (who knows where…), I’m pretty certain I’ll use the lovely matted print of irises at our short term rental property hopefully opening so soon.
The kids went afternoon camping, complete with backpacks full of things to do and snacks. 😊⛺️
How We Celebrated the New Year with the kids:
Charcuterie, sparkling cider, mixed treats, and a LEGO put together party
Gumbo cookoff for lunch today
Made gingerbread cookies (my favorite!) last night
Their request for sheep also prompted the question, “How many sheep are in a flock?” And after a little research I found that, apparently, no one knows. But it’s definitely more than 3 and less than 1,000…
My kids have been asking me to buy them a flock of sheep all day today. 🐑🐏🐑🐏🐑
Currently 🦁🎥🌾🌮👟🐅🍪☕️🧱
Reading: Just finished reading “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” to my son. We’re 4 chapters in on “Prince Caspian” now. I found this whole 1970s Chronicles of Narnia set at a thrift store for either $4 or $5!
Watching: @mtt and I just finished watching “A Gentleman in Moscow.” I liked it.
Researching: Countertop grain mills. I think it would be so amazing to mill our own flour.
Purchasing: Lots of Christmas gifts. ‘‘Tis the season. 🎄 My grandfather graciously gives me money to purchase my own gifts. So more specifically, I just purchased myself a Masienda tortilla press and masa. Something I’ve wanted for a while, but just couldn’t justify. But that’s what makes it a good gift!
Wearing: I got a new pair of classic Vans. Sized up half a size for some toe wiggle room (because I wear barefoot shoes a lot of the time and can’t do a tight toe box anymore), and they are so comfortable.
Enjoying: Took my kiddos to the zoo here recently. It’s not very big, but they’re making some improvements as of late. My kids have visited with their grandparents a lot in the last few months, and they were so excited to show me around because it had been years since I’d been. We had the best morning there.
Eating: I’m making gingerbread cookies this week. This is my favorite recipe! In the past, I’ve just mixed powdered sugar and milk until I get a consistency for icing I like. But I think I’ll try a royal icing this year.
Drinking: Bone broth hot chocolate. The recipe calls for chicken bone broth, but I actually prefer beef. It’s really good either way, though! My kids have actually had the opportunity to have packaged hot chocolate several time recently, and they wouldn’t drink it because they said it wasn’t good.
LEGO-ing: I got 3 Christmas Polar Bears sets for 70% off after Christmas last year. Saved them and got them out this week to do with B and Ro. Fun times.
My girl got to go to a Christmas tea party yesterday!
Kumquats
Ro girl taped up a box to wrap. 😊
Two of her favorite things are crafting and wrapping gifts for others. ❤️ Oh, and tape. Tape might be her very favorite thing.
Thrifting Musings
We went to Grant Christmas Tree Farm a couple weeks ago and stopped in a thrift store in a tiny town—the name of which I can’t recall right now—on the way home.
Here’s my $3.10 haul:
A basket for a gift or something. @mtt makes fun of me because I almost always leave thrift stores with at least one basket. They’re just good for so many things. And as gift packaging, they’re cheaper than a gift bag AND reusable. I guess one can only use so many, though. I do plan on being a bit pickier with my future selections. Back to this one, though. It’s not fancy, but I liked the size. I might use it (or one similar) to put hot choc packs in for an event this weekend. And tie a pretty velvet bow on it to make it festive.
The 3 little glass pieces in the basket, which I think are tea light votives you stick in a taper candle holder. Something like that. I don’t plan on using them for that, though. My intent in purchasing them was to use them as mini greenhouses when starting seeds. I mean, I know it’ll only work for a few seeds at a time, but it’ll be pretty to look at! I also just had the thought that they might be cute placed in a taper candle holder and used as a small bud vase. So, I’ll have to try that too!
The glass vase with the scalloped edge top. I’m pretty sure this is a standard vase used when purchasing flower arrangements because I see them all the time, but I have a taller one with the same scalloped top and liked the idea of using this one alongside it. For flowers, of course. But they’d also be pretty as containers for eating utensils or pens and pencils or game pieces (like dominoes and dice) or a rock or marble collection!
Side note: A lot of my thrift purchases have to do with plants and flowers. Maybe I should use that basket as seed storage!
The glass (it was a good glass buying day) Hot Springs National Park mug. We’ve been here and like the area. I also liked the design on the mug. So I got it.
The last few weeks have been busy but real sweet. We’ve been to Branson, MO and back (w/ an overnight stop to see and stay with my dad), to a Christmas tree farm in the middle of nowhere for the day, and we took a 4.5 hour round trip drive to be with family on Thanksgiving.
I just ordered a 5lb. bag of coffee. Basically for myself. And my boy when I make him a cup here and there.
Some recent-ish thrifted things:
A $1 framed Christmas cross-stitch
Lemon Federalist ironstone sugar, creamer, and for cups - paid $2 for all of it
2 floral napkins that were either 25 or 50 cents each, can’t remember.
Did a sort of Icelandic Christmas Book Flood at our co-op today (we’re diving into a Christmas Around the World study for the next few weeks). The kids drew names a few weeks ago and found the perfect books for each other, many of which were thrifted. It was simple, but so special.
