Sweet Summertime

by Steph // Thursday, August 6, 2026 // No Comments

Since we are already living in August as I type this post, I am trying really hard to keep my mind on the truth that summer is really not over yet.

But we are getting close to it being over!

I guess it’s something about August 1st on the calendar, the later sunrises, the earlier sunsets, and the change in the hue of the color of the sun that says summer is fading right before our eyes!

I am holding on tight!

June was a beautiful summer month and an exceptionally busy month…maybe they all are???

Blake and I got some date nights in though!!

I LOVE DATE NIGHT!

Have any of you all done a love language test?

My love languages are quality time (surprise, surprise!) and acts of service.

That is why I NEED time from my hubby and date night allows that!!

Sometimes date night is just grocery shopping – but I am ok with that!

This particular evening there were storms heading our way, so we got grocery quick and headed home.

We were down to bare bones though, so it was needed!

Lane truly blessed his mama on one of our scheduled Friday night date nights in June by riding to work with Blake in the morning so he could bring the van home when I came to town for date night.

That gave Blake and I the opportunity to be in the same vehicle!

We have to do that more often!

We tried a new smoothie place, ran errands, and got a yummy snack for on the way home.

It seemed to be a theme for awhile that every date night would be full of storms!

Now you see why I did not want to be in my own vehicle for the long drive home anymore.

The sky was crazy some nights!

Eliza got to move her new hens to our Lil Red Barn in the middle of June.

They are such great looking hens!

We kept them inside the barn a couple of weeks and then clipped their wings so we could let them out in the little barnyard.

They LOVE being outside and they are very fun to watch from the kitchen window!

Family Days in June included River’s 9th birthday and Father’s Day!

River Salem is NINE.

I cannot even wrap my mind around that!!

He is a GEM.

Father’s Day was SO much fun!

I have exactly zero photos of my hubby.

Good one.

We usually get a photo with all the kiddos!!

River got to spend the night at NaiNai’s house for his birthday and we had a blast!

We also have enjoyed swimming on Sunday’s when time and the weather allow.

Found this the day after Rivy was here!

That kiddo makes me smile!

This is my hubby’s honey-do list white board – now with a sweet note attached!

My father-in-law’s memorial service was in the middle of June in Peoria, Illinois.

Twenty-one of us traveled there in four different vehicles, most of us just for the day.

It was a beautiful service, and we were loved on SO beautifully by my mother-in-law’s church there.

I fed most of the crew an early 6 a.m. breakfast before we hit the road!

I am still taking my early morning daily walk, and probably have 5,647 photos on my phone of the early morning sky!

My walk is already getting later and later each morning as I wait for the crack of dawn.

I think my favorite time to walk is at 5 a.m.!

I usually do not meet any cars on our road at that time – but just our local farmer on his tractor.

He is an early bird too!

I also put a bird app on my phone, well, because I am old and embracing it!!

You all know I love birds!

I stand still once in awhile and let my app record all the birds it is hearing.

It is a very neat thing to do!!

The birds are VERY vocal at that time of the day!!

There for awhile I was taking my walk first and then coming back inside for my Bible time.

I would open the shade, see that daylight and sunrise and just could not stay inside!!

I enjoy my morning time very much!!

Jazzy enjoys it too and is my best Bible time buddy.

You can see what she is like when I head out on my walk – let’s just say she is NOT an early bird!!

I also read/listened to the trilogy by Abby Halberstadt and HIGHLY recommend them for any mama in any season of life.

Her books are M is for Mama, Hard is not the Same Thing as Bad, and You Bet Your Stretch Marks.

I need to read them again – they were that good!!

Speaking of that Jazzy girl – we love her.

She is one of a kind for sure.

Cuddly, sweet, spicy, and adorable all in a little grey package!!

She also has two besties, besides us, to hang out with all day.

Sadie will be moving soon with Chad and Kailey, and we will miss her!

I decided to step back from meeting with my Pilates trainer back in May.

It was just TOO much to try to fit that in.

I have been a couple of times since then, because I miss it, but honestly my body misses it a lot.

I plan to start back up again as I am able when school starts for us – which is in just a few days!

I also spent many hours scouring the internet for a dress for Chad and Kailey’s wedding.

That was not easy!

I am glad to say I have one now, but sent back five before I finally found one!

I got to do Kay’s family’s laundry several times while their wash machine was broken!

MADE MY DAY!!

Folding cute little girl clothes is the best!

Tate and Eliza went over one Saturday afternoon to help around the farm and I got a good report that they were very helpful!!

I mostly have photos of my duo that I spend my days with!

I call them my duos, my double caboose, and my besties!

They are my besties and I am so thankful for that!!

We have a lot of fun together, and I spend a lot of my time getting them where they need to be!

I do not have any other driving help here at home anymore – that was a nice long season I lived in, wasn’t it??

Now that Lane is working full time, it’s just me and my van as the taxi cab!

We have music lessons, chiropractor appointments, orthodontist appointments, haircut appointments, work…

It is a busy van!!

We also love being together at home, taking care of this place, pursuing our interests, and hanging out together!!

Look at how cute our old bedroom rug looks in Eliza’s room!

She loves having it there – it is so much more cozy.

She likes to hang out in her room to write letters to her pen pals and talk to one of them on facetime!

To end this very long June post, I will give you a glimpse of the gardens back then!

They change so much day to day and do not look anything like this now.

They are flourishing again this year under Tate’s care and we are reaping the benefits!!

Ok, summertime!!

You are sweet!!

Please stick around a bit longer!!

Signing off until next time, friends!

Love, Steph xoxoxoxo

The Flavors of June

by Steph // Saturday, August 1, 2026 // No Comments

The photos I post here of all that we eat may seem impressive, but, honestly, I feel like I am in a pretty big rut of just doing the same things.

Mostly that is out of necessity!

I have a lot of bellies to fill, and not a lot of extra time.

Looking back at this little ole blog of mine is a very fun and inspiring thing to do in regards to what comes out of our kitchen.

I usually look back on the year before at the beginning of every season to refresh my memory as to what we were cooking and what we enjoyed.

So let’s take a look at what those things were in June!

June was an exceptionally busy month – so I am even curious to see what I photographed!

Ok, I had already forgotten about that raspberry sourdough bread – and they LOVED it!

I am still using our smoothie “cubes” – they are a great staple in the freezer and a quick way to have a smoothie.

I just made two huge jars of those refrigerator pickles this morning because the cucumbers are coming in from the garden faster than we can preserve them!

Hummus is a staple I have made for years and years.

Lane’s absolute favorite snack!

Hard boiled eggs are a staple too.

Doesn’t everybody make hard boiled eggs all the time?

Fresh cookies are always on the counter in that same container.

I am sure I do not need to say how often I make waffles.

They are a great freezer staple!

I have probably made thousands of them over the years.

French toast is a weekly staple too!

And I make extra for the working guys who are not home when we eat it the first time – it toasts up very nicely!

Sometimes, when I have extra time, I really enjoy making our food look pretty!

Especially salads!

Pancakes are a very fun way to start a Saturday morning.

Look at the big bowl of batter!

Blake cooks them on the blackstone, usually after making a bunch of bacon too.

Then I text Addie and Scottie and say, “pancakes and bacon in 30!” to which Addie usually responds, “REALLY?”

Then we have a table full and it is yummy and FUN!

Tate and Eliza still enjoy doing their own thing in the kitchen too.

Sometimes I just tell them what I need, sometimes I just say do what you want!

Look at all that grilled chicken for family day!

And what a good NaiNai I am to provide muffins for the grands – I love to have a reason to bake!!

Anyone remember the farm kitchen?

That kitchen, in the 8 1/2 years we lived there, put out SO MUCH FOOD.

I looked up this photo to show a friend, so I had to show you all too!

Then I got stuck on memory lane and saw this photo!

Why do they have to grow up???

Ok, what were we talking about.

Flavors. Food. That’s right!

Some days are a day full of the same.

Different flavors, most the time, when it allows – but these are our from scratch staples.

I do make a lot of the same meals too.

We have some good ones, though!!

And making the children’s favorites is a rewarding thing to do.

My all time favorite meal is cranberry chicken!

We also made a new ice cream recipe with almond “malk” and raw cashews.

I am not able to eat coconut anymore.

Don’t ask, I am not over it yet, sigh.

But that ice cream is FANTASTIC!

I do not make much soup in the summer, but tomato soup is just so perfect with grilled sandwiches.

Tate and Eliza are pros at making corn tortillas now that we have that press – it elevates taco night!

Well, there’s another pot of soup – probably requested by the tallest guy in this house.

Lane loves chili!

Delivering a meal IS THE BEST.

That takes filling bellies to a whole new level, doesn’t it??

That last photo makes me smile because my hubby would smile too.

All that food has to be purchased!!

Thankfully, Blake helps me with that alot!

He stops at Costco for me whenever he is near one.

He grabs things in town for me all the time too!

And once in awhile, date night includes grocery shopping as well.

At least I buy a good snack for the long drive home!

I make chicken stock all year round.

It is a huge staple – we almost always use homemade.

Does anyone else like to peak in other people’s fridges?

I do!!

Guess what I was making in that last photo?

Blake would call it “the gross green stuff” but the rest of us love guacamole!!

Speaking of green, it seems to be theme here!

A huge delicious green smoothie – one of our favorites!

I should make that again tomorrow morning!

Some green in our muffins too – zucchini chocolate chip to be exact.

And a very green broccoli salad – we love that one and I hardly ever make it!

Oh look, a green watermelon, and some green avocado toast!

By the way, that Hawaain sheet pan dinner was fantastic and is a plan again for this week!

Ha, ha, more green!

This green apple salad is one that Kayla introduced us to and we love it!

The flavors of summer are SO fresh, delicious, light, and even better when eaten outside!

We bought and ate two whole pecks of peaches in June.

They were FANTASTIC.

Tate and Eliza know when to start asking if we can go and get some from the produce stand at Valley Market!

I am glad they keep me doing things that we enjoy.

Tate brought me the very first ripe raspberry from our very own raspberry patch!

What a privilege that was.

Baby Bertha still works very hard in our kitchen – I just used my sourdough today to make some sourdough chocolate chip cookies!

This whole meal was so enjoyed – I should do the whole thing again!

The dairy free baked mac-n-cheese had Eliza’s thanking the Lord “for this very very very good food” during her dinner time prayer!!

When your fridge is full of lemons that are going bad, make lemonade!

I made two jars of honey ginger lemonade, and one quart jar of the concentrate that we added to sparkling water.

That was SO good and refreshing!

Now I am wondering if I have any lemons in the fridge, ha, ha!

June, you were good to us in the food we enjoyed!

And in so many other good things too!

Stay tuned and I will fill you in on all that June held – now that we got all of this deliciousness out of the way!

Hope you all are enjoying summer too!!

And all if its wonderful flavors!!

MACHE 2026

by Steph // Thursday, July 23, 2026 // No Comments

Wow, has it been a super duper long time since Blake and I attended a homeschool convention!

I know it has been at least ten years, but probably longer.

I asked Blake about going this year as I round out my homeschooling career with our double caboose who start high school this fall.

He agreed that it would be a good idea!

I needed a different plan for Tate and Eliza than I did for Lane, or even Chad, who were my last two graduates.

And I wanted to see and touch some books!

Talk to some professional homeschool book vendors!

And get some inspiration from some speaking sessions.

We signed up for MACHE – Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators – convention at the end of May.

We were going to be gone two days for it, but ended up missing the first day and just attending the second one.

I am still so glad we went!

Jazzy saw the suitcases out and would not leave my side before we left.

Sweet girl thought she would be going along!

That Friday, since we got a very late start, we stopped in Rochester to stay the night and drive the rest of the way the next day.

I took some reading material for the drive, but, as usual, could not focus enough to read it.

We decided to go for dinner at Twigs, a gluten-free restaurant that we had been to once before.

The weather was warm enough to sit outside!

I will say that this place was struggling that night, BIG TIME, but we ended up getting most of our meal free because of it, and still enjoyed being there!

Boy, do we look tired.

We were tired!

Our hotel stay was short and sweet, but at least we were that much closer to the convention the next morning!

We headed the rest of the way and got there shortly after it started.

I wanted to start in the vendor areas, and skip the speaking sessions unless we had time to get to one later, since we were only going to be there that one day.

I am very glad we did this!

It was a lot of money to pay to drive there, have a hotel, and the pay entrance fee just to look at curriculum, but it is what it is, my hubby says!

We came home with a list of possibilities to pray and think over.

I have since then ordered what we decided would be best for our 9th grade year starting this fall!

After we left the convention, we headed back through Rochester and stopped at the Costco there to stock up on grocery.

We also bought a pool floating thing, that would not fit in the cart!

Blake said I was embarrassing him walking around shopping with that thing over my neck – but it was the easiest way to carry it, ha, ha!!

Please notice my face at the check out as the total is growing and growing, sigh.

Grocery is SO expensive these days!!!!

We stopped at Qdoba for some dinner after Costco, because we had not eaten all day and we were starving!!

Looking back on this trip makes me smile.

It was rushed and during a very busy time at home, but worth it.

I am so glad we got to look at curriculum in person!

As usual, my hubby makes it all happen.

Thanks, babe, for doing this for me!!

You are one in a billion!!

The Beginning and Now

by Steph // Wednesday, July 22, 2026 // No Comments

Tate and I start dreaming about our future gardens before the garden seasoning we are currently living in even ends!!

Poor Blake – he is the one who makes our expansion ideas come true!

SO thankful for all his hard work to make Tate’s gardens happen this year – I just have not had as much time for this right now!

They got the current beds ready and added two new beds in the middle of May.

All of Tate’s seedling plants that he started inside over the cold months were longing to be outside!

We also added a second trellis as we hope to grow LOTS of cucumbers this year.

We canned pickle relish and pickles last year that were a huge hit and hope to do much more of it this year.

Blake diligently fenced the garden beds and raspberries again so that all of Tate’s precious plants would not be bunny snacks and gone in one day!

We ordered new strawberries this year – 75 to be exact – and hope to have a bumper crop starting next year!

We also visited the greenhouse one last time to fill in with some plants that we still wanted.

Getting the gardens started is THE MOST FUN!

We wait so long here in Wisconsin for warm enough weather to be growing things, taking long walks, swimming outside, having camp fires….

It is WORTH the wait for sure!!

Tate is in his gardens first thing every single morning, and as I am typing this in late July, we have already enjoyed quite the harvest of its first fruits!

We had quite a few, although small, strawberries and lots of raspberries!

We have eaten so much kale – I cut it one day and it is back the next!!

We have enjoyed all of Tate’s herbs – what a great addition to any dish!

We picked a bowl full of peppers already!

And we already have started getting zucchini and cucumbers too.

Please notice that amazing photo Blake took of Tate working in his watermelon patch one evening at sunset!

And then notice the next photo of our friend who would run up the downspout and watch us when we were working in the gardens – crazy squirrel!!