December 2018 ~ #whole30 #ihike2019 #lifetimemeds #readthebooksihave

Before the Christmas rush was really on, I had already decided some things would change-- this year. Of course, folks have thought I was crazy to start a #whole30 diet in December. Who does some thing like this?? This is the season of indulgence and all good things. But just like the book says, no time like the present. And then there's this constant reminder: 

A Year from Now, 

You'll Wish You Started Today

So I started. I've documented everything. Every. Thing. 

I even had to visit my GP, and was able to brag. I told her I was actually looking forward to seeing her in March to see my bloodwork. 

I don't  (but that's for another post..) know exactly what pushed me, but I know hearing about someone's medical cost for things that could be prevented with early(ier) life changes in diet and lifestyle made a huge impact. 
I just don't want to live like that. I want to live. Fully. In a way that honors God and supports my family, not weighs it down. 
I've been watching Heidi Scovel hike this year, and have decided I'll set a real goal. #ihike2019 is the code for my present count of 0/52. Why should I wait for a doctor to prescribe what we already know? 
I talk to my BFF almost everyday and for some years she's been talking about Whole 30. She recommended reading 
'It Starts with Food,'  
I read it. And jumped in. All the way.
 I've been successful, with my weaknesses right at the forefront of my plan. No compromises. It's been almost perfect. And I can say, I'll keep up most of it after I'm done. I've never felt better in my life. I don't want to go back. I have 48.5 more years to go to get to 100, and after reading this article today, I think I can make it. Why shouldn't I? The gardening I plan to do to support this diet should surely work! Not to mention fresh eggs! 

One of my 5 chickens as of December 2018.

 Gardens including an asparagus bed ready for winter. 

My chicken's egg on the left. Store bought on the right. 

Over the last year, (and continuing into the next,) I have been reading many books in preparation for teaching Advanced American History IEW Writing in the fall 2019. And I believe I have all I need for that endeavor, so I made another decision. 
This year: I will buy no new books. None. (This is where to lay bets folks.)
I will #readthebooksihave 
I gathered up some reeeally good ones in the last year. One in particular is a great place to start for the upcoming new year. 

Shannan Martin holds nothing back. Should any of us, when it comes to loving our fellow man? loving God? 

2019 will be an interesting year for sure. I will certainly begin counting my #lifetimemeds again, and enjoying hobbies that feed my soul. 

What are your goals for 2019? 

Remember~A year from now, you'll wish you started today! 

Routine During Renovation

 

Reading through the Bible. Even in the sheet rock dust. Cereal. Toast and the book of 1st Kings. That'll wake you up in the morning.

We are so thankful for our newly renovated home. It's coming together. Just need to snap a couple of more pictures before I post the big reveal. But I cooked dinner in the kitchen for the first time last night. Boy it tasted good!

Life & 31 Days

Just about the time you start to think too hard... life happens. We had a bout with pneumonia around here, and well the 31 days just didn't materialize. But we did alot of reading, thinking, listening, and I'd say we just practiced what we preached.
____

We also painted the shed! The before and afters are superb. (Thankyou Eric!) The colors are Hardware(siding), Thunder Grey(trim), and Peppery(doors), all from Sherwin Williams.  I have been dying to try Peppery on something. We're debating the Hardware/Thunder Grey for the house. There is alot of siding for our house, so we need to choose wisely.

 

You get the idea. Obviously different seasons, but Eric has done an amazing job clearing out around it to make way for usable yard/garden/play space.

 

Kitchen designs are still priority, as we will get started as soon as the new year rolls around. Bye-bye kitchen in the foyer syndrome. Our kitchen is the drop spot for everything on one tiny stretch of counter. We're taking over the previously known as dining room/school room.

Here's the original 'before' with the wallpaper.  

Here's my after wallpaper removal.

And here's where a new kitchen will go.

 

The wall on the left where the kids table is (and my current range is on the other side of the wall) should turn into a peninsula, sink infront of raised windows, and range with a window to the right will go on the right wall.

Fridge will slide down from it's current spot.

I'm. so. excited.

 

 

Meanwhile, we sort through AR Reading list, work on Handwriting Without Tears, practice math facts and enjoy fall days. School is going well. Learning and living are happening. Live out the Grammar of our Lives.  

 

 

 

 

 

December Details #40

Simple plans, books, recipes from magazines. And everyone's new best friend-- Pinterest.

Here it is.

School. CC is over till January, but we're still Reading, Writing & practicing our Mathematics.

Reading. We have a wonderful version of The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Robert Frost's Poetry are rich with winter illusions.

Right after Thanksgiving - It Was a Dark & Stormy Night by Janet & Allan Ahlberg.

and The Snail House also by Allan Ahlberg.

FIAR presented to us The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills.

The Runaway Dinner is truly comical along with The Pencil.

At night, we've been reading a couple of passages from The Book of Virtues by William Bennett.

These need to be selected with some care, but most are perfectly appropriate for my boys. Last night we read a story about a man who saved a woman from a the plane crash into the Potomac in 1982. Courage demonstrated. Tonight we read about Abraham Lincoln. Honesty personified.

We also read from BOV, the story of Esther, Queen of Persia, ancestor of Jesus. Also our reading from the Jesse Tree, December 18. (Henry knows what a scepter is now.)

Our Reading from Our Spiritual Heritage brought us to the story about grumbling & complaining. The children of Israel not liking what they had, and wishing they could go back to Egypt.

The crossover is in reading comes in two books, and leads to my personal reading.

Carry On, Mr. Bodwitch by Jean Lee Latham has been recommended academically as well as bearing the Newberry Award. We've made it through the first 3 chapters and found it interesting

My Reading.

Echo in Celebration, by Leigh Bortins. She recommends 'Bodwitch' for purposes of seeing a classical education. Thank you Marianne ( my director at our Classical Conversations community) for your gracious gift mid-year.

Started a new Alexander McCall Smith series - 44 Scotland Street. I loved his 'Ladies Detective Agency' series. It is excellent.

'In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving' by Leigh Anne & Sean Tuohy. Exellent. Inspiring.

'Gluten Free Girl' Shauna James Ahern. Extremely interesting and thought provoking. She has a blog. http://glutenfreegirl.com/

Listening. Handel. Before the Christmas season, we started with Bach because we are currently enjoying an academic program(Master's) focused on the Baroque period. We then moved into Handel, 'The Messiah'. But started with Handel Cantatas. Our cd is from the library, the artists are Magdalena Kozena & Marc Minkowski. Beautiful.

Baking. Country Living December 2010 Tea Cookie Dough & Jam Thumbprint cookies. I used Cherry Jam instead of Strawberry Jam.

Mrs. Field's Cookie Book. Kelley my sister-in-law gave me this at one of the shower's I was given. She was so creative, and gave me trays and all. But this is my go-to chocolate chip recipe. I'm finally going to venture past the one page and make the Refridgerator Thumbprint Fudgy Cookies. Because I've been invited to a cookie exchange & I'm all out of butter! I've got 3 dozen made of the Thumbprints, but I need 3 more dozen.

I made my Appetizer tho. Just a mix of the usual suspects to make shrimp dip. Cream cheeze, sour cream, mayonaise, grated cheddar cheeze. Garlic salt, diced red onion, stalk of celery diced and shrimp in small pieces. The shrimp is medium & I cut it down. Not small canned. Serving with crackers.

Growing. Amarylis. Red. One saved from Baton Rouge, and 2 purchased at Publix. So not really growing, but doing alot of raking/burning leaves in preparation for soil for the backyard garden.

Loving. My life. Peace abounds. Something to do, people to love, hope.

**Picture courtesy of Pinterest. When I find the actual source I'll credit. But this is the picture of inspiration Eric & I are considering for our livingroom/schoolroom. love the order. *sigh*

343- 350 I stopped counting & posting in August/last 1000 gifts post #39, but our school has been much more intense this year. Blogging has been put on the back burner. But as Christmas has come, I'm seeing the fruits of our labors and the gifts of God. Following our plan, seeking His. So I will assign these numbers to above. Looking forward to a week of counting God's blessings with kids as our assignment is to turn our grumbling into thanks, learning from the Israelites in the Wilderness. Lesson's abound in God's Word. Counting with others at http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/12/3-gifts-you-really-need-to-open-right-now-love-comes-down-video/ . I think I'll print Ann's list for the boys. We saw blue birds in our bird house. They'll love the eggs & birds for places to write gifts. 351.

New Kitchen Before

The view over the sink.

















What sold me. A view to the family room. from the kitchen. and the backyard.

















Um.. where do I actually chop those vegetables. Who cares...

View from the current dining room door. To the left you can see the hall to the garage, laundry & powder. The pantry is that door open in the middle of the picture.

We'll see what happens. My ideas are found at houzz.com