Farm~School~Life

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Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!

I hope your day is full of bliss and uninterrupted potty breaks.

I have decided to take the Flats Challenge that begins today.

It was started a few years back by Kim of Dirty Diaper Laundry to test her commitment to keeping her kids in clean diapers. I know many people in our world, country and even in our county don't make enough to make ends meet. There is no federal assistance program for diapers (not that I believe there should be) but because of that some people take extreme measures to squeeze every last dime out of a diaper...down to reusing disposables. This challenge was created to show that where there is a will there is a way. You can cloth diaper your child from birth to potty training cheaply using things you probably have around the house or can pick up for less than $25 (the cost of a large pack of Pampers).

We make ends meet, occasionally we use disposables, and have a working washer & dryer...so why am I participating in the challenge? To show folks you can do it, if you want! You don't have to reuse disposables or leave a diaper on too long. Also I feel that I am in a unique situation..many of the moms I have seen are participating in the challenge stay at home, I on the other hand work a full time job outside the home, run an Etsy shop, help on the farm, have multiple volunteer commitments and an older child who has school and extra-curricular activities. (Please don't think I am discounting the value of a stay at home mom or her time...I'm just in a different situation) I want to someone who feels like they can't to know no matter how much is going on in your lives you can accomplish this. Even when ends barely meet and time is sparse you can diaper your baby without disposables and modern conveniences.

So there you have it. I pledge for the next 7 days to only use flats, no washer, no dryer on this little bum. Through church, t-ball, work, committee meetings, and a 12+ hour round trip to only use flats. If we can do this in our crazy family...you can too! Are you willing? It's not to late to join...check out the rules here and come ride the crazy train with me!

Until we meet again!

Caci

Statistics show that most people drop their New Year's resolutions within 30 days!

So basically we don't even finish the month of January before we throw our hands in the air.

I, for one, can completely understand why.

It's cold outside and all I want to do is sit on the couch and watch "Bones" on Netflix,

which by the way I think I have now successfully replaced "Transformers" and "Superman" with "Bones" as most watched....I'm sure Wyatt will remedy that soon and cuddle these two kiddos.

Anyways this year I have set 14 goals for myself. I didn't necessarily lay out a plan for how to accomplish each on but I'm working on them daily. So let's check in and see how it's going.

1. Pray about EVERYTHING!

This is a huge commitment for me. Please don't get me wrong I pray regularly, daily, some days hourly however I don't think I have ever taken everything to God in prayer. I'm trying.

2. Study Scripture Daily

I'm not able to spend an hour each day in God's word. I would love to spend HOURS each day but that's not practical, however I am immersed in His word daily.

3. Tithe 1st, not last.

I do all my budgeting with Excel and I have redesigned our 2014 spreadsheet with tithing 1st. Now to lots of folks that's not a big deal however to me it's huge because where you fall in the spreadsheet is how it comes out of my account. So right off the top my tithes are accounted for and checks written.

4. Memorize 12 verses of Scripture.

I have already began working on this. My first verse is 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

5. Organize my life

This is going to be a difficult journey however I have been working towards it by working on completing my Home Management Binder (future post), dusting off my calendar, and setting up my notebook. I have even gone paperless for some bills and started scheduling payments based on my budget.

I was able to at least be organized enough to contain the baby while feeding heifers :)

6. Declutter our house

Umm...does mopping the bathroom floor count as decluttering?? I haven't really tackled this one yet. This month's room is the bathroom. I have been pinning some great ideas on how to better organize our 1 bath however there hasn't been much clutter busting. This is a one room or area/month goal so I still have 25 days to accomplish this!

7. Set a daily schedule and stick to it..

Yeah, no...really need to set that schedule so I have an idea of what to stick to :)

8. Pay off Debt.

I do have our budgeting done based on our current salaries for the 1st 1/2 of the year. By June 1st we should have paid off a large chunk of our debts and be able to pay extra monthly on the remainder all the while putting money in savings!

9. Put at least $1000 in savings for a rainy day

Like I mentioned above we are working on this through budgeting at the moment and we are on track to be 1/2 to our goal by June 1st.

10. Put $200 extra into each boy's savings account

I have been confounded about how to do this without just handing money over to our sons. Obviously the baby can't "earn" his money yet so we will just be padding his account but our oldest can "work" for his. We are researching the best way to do this. If you have any suggestions please let us know! I don't want it attached to chores as we believe those jobs are part of being a family and helping out...not something you get paid for.

11. Do a family outing once a month

This might be harder than I originally thought however we are still working on it. We haven't done one yet this month but plenty of time to still to fit it in.

12. Exercise 3 times/week (include the boys)

So in 6 days I believe I can count 3 that were exercise if I can count rolling out bales of hay and feeding square bales as exercise. I have logged one formal day of exercise as well. Wyatt and I have a workout date schedule for when I get off the 8-5.

13. Go on a date night (just William & I) once a month

I still have 25 days to make this happen right??

14. Post 60 blog post.

Have 2 down and 58 more to go :) I do have a few things up my sleeves and a couple already schedule. I'm excited about this! Plus my new favorite app is Flipagram!! Here's one I made about the farm :)

So there you have it...I've made it 6 days and haven't completely shredded the list yet.

Caci

Wow it is hard to believe this work week is over.

On Monday I always want the work week to hurry up and get over so I can spend more time with my family but then Friday seems to sneak up on me and my to-do list seems only half-way done.

This week has been a myriad of things...from the EPA sending us things to look into at work to new lambs and a new heifer, to birthdays. There never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done for work, the farm, our family in addition to doing Mommy School with lil' man and spending quiet time alone with God reflecting on his word.

About a month ago I joined an online bible study...(you can here more about it here) from Good Morning Girls.org. It was a great way for me to get motivated and have conversations with ladies studying the same verses (they have a Facebook page as well). All was well until everything seemed to catch up with me and snowball all at one time. This week I haven't read a single verse even though each day I intended to get caught up. I have been distracted and unfocused and frustrated all week...you know why because I am not taking time to spend in God's word. His word is what creates calm and order in my life not me. I have to let go...hopefully next week will be better!

Well like I said we have been celebrating birthdays...yes days. My husband, son and father-in-law all have birthdays in the month of February (the 5th, 7th, and 16th). To make it more interesting the all share the same name (Sr., Jr., and III)...thank goodness we call them all something different or that would be confusing (Hubs-William, Son-Wyatt, FIL-Bill). Each celebration comes with its own unique issues. We celebrated William's birthday last night...at home with just Wyatt, William & I.

It was wonderful to me however Wyatt was devastated that Daddy didn't have a BIG PARTY like he did...but he settled for the chance to pick out Daddy's cake. Wyatt insisted on Lightening McQueen "because Daddy loves the movie Cars." (I personally think that he is getting a little confused with the whole name thing).

Lastly I had to go to the grocery store early in the week to buy meat...

yes pretty much just meat.

I purchase the majority of our meat in the grocery store usually with the expectation of sausage and ground beef. However this week I had to purchase ground beef as well because we are out. With homegrown our homegrown beef I don't have to drain the meat after browning it because there is very little fat however with the 75% ground beef from the grocery store I have to drain it or our food is swimming in fat. Now with that being said realize this is still what I buy.

I just make sure that I brown the meat alone first and then drain the meat in a strainer and run hot hot water over it to help wash away any excess fat. If I needed to cook it with onions or seasonings or whatever I just wipe out my pan while washing the meat and throw everything back in the pan for a few more moments. This gets you a leaner supper, cheaper.

Beef is a regular part of our diet. Most nights that is what we eat for supper. Now I don't expect everyone to agree with that but my hubby isn't a chicken man and in our family pork is a mainly a breakfast meat. Occasionally we will enjoy pork chops...oh how I love a good fried pork chop or chicken leg...or most anything fried (sorry just a ramble...almost lunch time)

There are many good lean, healthy beef cuts that you can enjoy. I encourage all of you to hope over to Explore Beef and check it out. To encourage you to try some beef I thought I would share one of my favorite recipes: Country Fried Steak. I use a recipe similar to the Pioneer Woman's seen here

Ingredients

Cube Steak
1 cup All-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Seasoned Salt
1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
a dash of Garlic salt or powder
3 teaspoons Ground Black Pepper, Or To Taste
Salt, For Seasoning Meat
1/2 cup Oil (more If Needed)
milk
eggs
2 Tablespoons Butter

Preparation Instructions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Mix together flour, seasoned salt, and pepper.

in another pan mix together milk and eggs (2 should be enough)

Season both sides of steaks with salt and pepper. Dredge each piece in milk mixture then then flour mixture, milk again and then flour one more time...coat with as much flour as possible.

Add butter to pan right before frying.

When butter is melted, fry pieces of steak in butter/oil mixture. Flip when sides are deep golden brown and cook about 1 minute on the other side.

Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve immediately with mash potatoes and pan gravy.

Ok now I have to go find some lunch!

Until Next time-

Caci