Looking for a summer reading contest worth entering? Look no further!

I am soooo excited to share this summer reading contest with you, dear blogging friends! Exodus Books is our local source for all things homeschooling, both new and used. And the best thing is that you don't have to live locally to participate! Want to know more? Keep reading...

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
—Groucho Marx

Every year, half a bajillion local libraries offer incentive-based programs designed to get kids reading during the summer. While the aim is a good one, we've been consistently frustrated with the quality of literature and the general lack of direction. Instead of complaining about those, however, we're proud to announce we've created our own recommended reading list for grades 1-12, complete with great books and a program offering prizes to kids who participate.

The Outside a Dog Book List offers approximately 50 titles for each grade. Our list doesn't promote a liberal agenda, cater to the lowest common denominator, or present books designed to make anyone look smart. A lot of the books are classics, but just as many are Exodus Books staff favorites, designed to open the wide doors of reading to kids turned off by more standard fare. We think many of these books are a great place to kindle a love of reading, but we certainly don't want anyone thinking these are the only books to read. The only books to read are ones you buy at Exodus Books (just kidding).

Contest Dates:
June 1–August 31, 2013.

Who Can Do It?
Any student grades 1-12. Younger students may also enroll, but the booklist starts at first grade. You DO NOT NEED TO BE LOCAL. You can download the booklist via pdf, and you can email us your completed book logs. Only local customers will get the bound booklist unless you want to pay for shipping.

Happy reading!

~Lisa

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Disclosure

Anticipation...

You know the song...

Anticipation, anticipa-a-tion is making me wait, it's keeping me wa-a-a-a-a-aiting.

It's been a while since I posted a garden or homestead update. I've taken many, many photos, but just haven't gotten around to posting them until now which really bugs me 'cause there's been lots going on in the garden. Sigh. The thing is that I love getting my hands dirty and working with my family to take dominion over this small acreage we've been blessed with. Seeing the fruits of our labor -- anticipating tasting the fruits of our labor -- makes all the work so worth it.

But even though we work, this seems to be a season for waiting: Waiting for the weather to warm up enough to put corn seed into the ground. Waiting for lettuces to produce enough leaves for a spring salad. Waiting for berries to ripen and flowers to open and herbs to fill our raised beds and planters. Waiting for the sun to come back and the cool rains to ease up. It was in the high 30s the other morning and only in the mid 50s throughout the week. My tomato plants? They're not liking this weather so much.

Other news from around the homestead:

• we've decided to not raise a flock of meat chickens this year, the reason for which I cannot share at this time, but the reason is an exciting one I look forward to sharing in the not too distant future. 

• our laying hens have taken to laying a little later in the day than usual, and we're not quite sure just why that is. That they're laying consistently is a good thing whatever time of day it is, and so we're thankful.

Summer plans include:

• finishing our woodshed and moving all the wood piles scattered here and there in -- NO MORE TARPS!!

• putting up a clothes line

• finishing our back deck: trim boards and stairs

• landscaping the back yard which includes planting a shade tree as well as a lawn

Lord willing, I'll post updates more frequently, but for now, this is it. Hope all is well around your homesteads!

~Lisa

PS: The hummingbird... so curious this fellow who has spent the past two days perched like this just outside my kitchen window. Just had to share. :)

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In Threes & The Snow Child... {tending my yarn garden}

I find myself trying to get to bed early these days so I can read a bit of The Snow Child which I am just loving. :)  AnnaLynn and I finished Beautiful Girlhood Tuesday afternoon -- such a wonderful read aloud to go through with my girl! I cannot recommend this book enough if you've got a daughter between the ages of 11 and say 14 or so.

On the needles is Kelly Herdrich's in threes which I'm knitting with an extra soft wool blend by Lion Brand. This project is just about finished which is good since the daughter-in-law's baby shower is this Saturday! Worsted weight is nice for quick projects, don't you think? I also cast on the first of Kelly Patla's Perfect-fit Newborn Socks but don't have more than a few rows completed. Such a contrast between my two projects: worsted weight and size 8 needles for the in threes and fingering weight and size 1 for the socks. I guess it's good to keep things interesting.

How about you? What books are you reading? What's growing in your yarn garden? Please share in the comments and join me at Ginny's.

~Lisa

Thanks for visiting Happy in Dole Valley! To join us on our journey, look to the upper right to follow or subscribe. :)

Savory Shepherd's Pie...

It's Monday morning again; why does the weekend go by so quickly? We had perfect weather (mid-60s and overcast) on Saturday to get some gardening done as well as to do some cleanup around the property. Lord willing, I'll share a homestead update later this week. After church on Sunday, we enjoyed a delicious baptismal feast (smoked brisket!) with our church family to celebrate the baptism of yet another covenant child and then spent the afternoon relaxing in the home of dear friends. Life is good. :)

Today's delicious recipe is one I've had in my draft folder for a while since I kept forgetting to take pictures. Finally, I remembered, and so, I present to you:



This has been a family favorite for some time. It does very well if made a day or two ahead and is an excellent choice if providing a meal for someone in need (like a family who just had a baby!!). Adjust cooking time since it will be chilled.

Savory Shepherd's Pie
serves up to 8

meat mixture:
1.5 pounds ground beef (grass fed is best)
1 medium onion, diced (or 2 T. minced, dried)
1 c. chopped carrots
1 stalk celery, diced
1.5 T. flour (we use w/w pastry flour)
rosemary - 1.5 t. fresh or 3/4 t. dried
thyme - 1.5 t. fresh or 3/4 t. dried
1/2 - 1 t. sea salt
1/4 - 1/2  t. black pepper
1 c. beef broth

mashed potatoes:
2.5 pounds organic russet potatoes
1 - 2 cloves minced garlic (or 1 t. garlic powder)
1/4 c. butter
1/3 - 1/2 c. milk or cream (use more if needed)
salt & pepper to taste

optional toppings:
shredded Parmesan, sharp cheddar, or other cheese
freshly ground black pepper
paprika

Prepare mashed potatoes using your preferred method; this can be done beforehand or while preparing the meat if you like to multitask. :)

Lightly grease a 9x13 casserole. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet along with the onion; add carrots and celery and cook over medium heat about 5 - 10 minutes or until veggies are beginning to soften (check with a fork).

Sprinkle flour over the top and stir to combine; stir in seasonings then add broth.

Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes or so allowing broth to thicken and veggies to soften further; transfer meat to prepared casserole dish.

Spread mashed potatoes over meat/veggie mixture; sprinkle on toppings of choice.

Bake in a preheated 400F oven for 30 minutes or until top is lightly browned -- this one could have browned a bit more, but everyone was hungry!



Visit our Homemade Pantry page for more "healthier version" ideas -- save money and avoid all those nasty artificial ingredients by cooking from scratch. :)

Bon appetit!

~Lisa

Thanks for visiting Happy in Dole Valley! To join us on our journey, look to the upper right to follow or subscribe. :)

Sharing with some of our favorite places...

The Nourishing Gourmet, Sarah's Homemaking Party , Frugal Days Sustainable Ways &

mother's day happenings... {saturday morning latte}

Saturday morning over coffee is the perfect time to ponder, reflect, and record the week's blessings.

If you care to join me, write a post of your own and leave a link in the comments. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Last weekend...

They know me so very well... red wine from my beloved, flower seeds (from around Europe!!) from Jess & Zack, vanilla body butter, herb seeds, and a charming planter from Jeff & Christina, something to read from Daniel and AnnaLynn, and a place in which to enjoy each...

...a new wicker bench for the front porch from Dan and the kids (it even has a cushion so it's super comfy). :)

How blessed am I?

Yes, the gifts and cards are all wonderful, but more so is the love that was poured out upon me last Sunday. No, I'm obviously not the world's most perfect mom, but having my children rise up and call me blessed is enough.

"Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her"

~Proverbs 31:28

~~~~~

I am thrilled that for the first time since we moved to Dole Valley, my bearded iris was in bloom for Mother's Day! The warm weather we enjoyed in late April and early May did the trick! So gorgeous!

~~~~~

Two weekends ago...

It takes a lot of time and planning to pull off a big church event. Have you ever taken one on? My dear friend Leslie and I have done quite a few of them over the years, and I thank God for the joy and pleasure it is to work with this woman. When you know someone well, you get to know one another's strengths and can trust that they'll come through and do what they say they will. If it were up to me, Miss Square Corners/Less-is-More, all would be neat, tidy, and simplistic. Thankfully, we're called to community, so our church's Mother-Daughter Tea was not only simply done, but lovely, too. Our theme this year was "hospitality" as you might have guessed. I was too busy running the tea to take any photos of my own, but thankfully, one of my favorite photographers did! If you click on the photo below, you can see how much fun we had. :)

~~~~~

And while this cute candle wasn't a mother's day gift, it was a recent gift nonetheless from the same sweet young lady who took the tea pictures I hope you took a moment to look at. :)

Thank you, Jess! Love it!

And you, dear readers, if you've made it this far, thank you for indulging me! Wishing you all a blessed weekend,

~Lisa

Thanks for visiting Happy in Dole Valley! To join us on our journey, look to the upper right to follow or subscribe. :)