Battlefields, Books, & Feet Photos

Welcome to the Homemaking Party! Last weekend, our family spent the day at the Pea Ridge Battlefield Site in Northwest Arkansas. It was a perfectly beautiful day and we just enjoyed the history of it all so much! I took this photo by accident with my iPhone. Isn't it awesome?

Here I am at a Trail of Tears site that runs through the park. My entire life, I've heard my family talk about how my Oklahoma ancestors walked the Trail of Tears. I'm so thankful we're living here in a place with such intriguing history.

Completely unrelated to Pea Ridge, but still... Here's my step onto the oldest man-made place I've ever been. This is me at the Roman Bath in Bath, England last fall. My whole life I've had an obsession with taking photos of my feet---something my husband has teased me about since high school. What's funny is that one time I was looking through an album of my parents' pictures and there was a picture of my dad's 20-something feet. Cracked me up. Ok...off that random topic now...

Have you seen my newest project: Belle's Library? Kick off is later this week so make sure to sign up for email alerts so you don't miss anything. Also, I'd love to have some contributors! You can make a one time commitment, or sign on to submit regularly. I'm looking for any kind of writing on books. You can submit commentaries, essays, book reviews, book memes, quizzes, author fun facts...the options are endless! Visit the Writing Opportunity tab above for details.

Speaking of books, I'm participating in two reading challenges and am keeping a running list of what I've read here. Here's the info on the challenges I've joined---in case you're wanting to join too!

Since August 1st, I've finished these books:
French Lessons by Peter Mayle
Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin' Cornbread by Mary Jane Hathaway
Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo
Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway. 

Current Read: Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili Slaw Dogs by Mary Jane Hathaway

Here are my plans for Simply Audra Marie's Friday "It Begins with SUMMER" challenge:

S---Secrets of Sloane House by Shelley Gray (reading next)
U---Undone (will read in September)
M---Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart (done)
M---Motel of the Mysteries (will read in September) This book also counts for Audra's Not Your Typical Genre challenge)
E---Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili Slaw Dogs (reading now)
R---Recipes for Easy Living (will read in September)

Also, I'm considering reading Beverly Lewis' October Song for Audra's, A Reader Is Born challenge in September.

What are you reading?

Make Bake Create Party

Welcome to the Make Bake Create Party! 5 blogs-1 party-lots of fun!

Celebrating Happy Times & #MyGoodLife #shop #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

A couple of years it occurred to me that, as homeschoolers, my kids hadn't had the experience of a sack lunch. One day, I made each of them their own paper bag lunch and took them to the park. It was awesome to see their excitement over something that was a regular part of my every day as a kid. Now when I make them a sack lunch, it's a really special thing. Yesterday, Lynzie and Michael were outside enjoying the sunshine and I decided to bring them a lunch to enjoy under the shade trees. I included a sandwich, chips, an apple, some Nestlé chocolate milk, and a couple little boxes of Nerds. My mom loved to put Nerds in our lunch boxes after Halloween when my brother and I were in grade school. She was branding us at an early age, I think.

I know I have a blessed life. It's so relaxing and fulfilling to me to watch my teens outside, playing music, being artsy, and thoroughly enjoying being family. Want to see what Michael's playing? Check out the little Instavideo I took.

I found the Nesquik at Walmart in what I call the "alternative milk" section. It was in the chip aisle, next to the dried fruits. They had chocolate and strawberry flavors and there were 10 to a pack---just enough for each of the kids and Daddy to have one.

I love having these bottles to pack in a lunch when our family is headed to the park or going on a field trip. I have the kids save them when they're done and I wash them out to use as water bottles later on. Since it takes us all so long to get ready, load up, visit somewhere, pack up, and head home, we're guaranteed to eat at least one meal on the go. Still, it's worth it to take the extra time to make up lunches so we can all enjoy a day out together.

Lynzie, especially, really enjoyed her chocolate milk. She sipped it slowly to make it last and kept her Nerds in the box to enjoy during her reading time later that night. I'm so happy to be able to provide her with a life of comfort and happiness. At her age, I had already started working a regular job, on top of my hours of school and homework, and didn't have time to explore my hobbies or the world around me. I hope Lynzie will always take time to relax and take in the beauty of nature and art, even as her life gets busier as an adult.

Michael had fun enjoying his Nerds and, like Lynzie, he wanted to save some of them for later reading time. They both really appreciated their fun lunches and I had a blast taking their pictures and making videos. I'm sure there are some out there who would say we could be doing more productive things with our time, but for us, family time and making memories is time perfectly spent!

#MyGoodLife
#CollectiveBias