Happy Thanksgiving

Blessings from The Walker Family

Photo by Wendy Carr

Farmhouse Fall Tour

I do love fall! Hands down it's my favorite time of year. I think it's all the deep rich colors that I adore the most, but the brisk mornings, occasional fog, and other "signs" of autumn just take it over the top. Really... what's not to love about it?

When it comes to dressing up the home for the season, I really don't do all that much. For the most part I prefer to bring the outdoors in a bit, but none-the-less, I thought I'd share just a few photos for fun.

Plan To Eat... On Sale SOON!

It's good to get updates every now and then on products I've reviewed in the past. One that I'm still raving about... PLAN TO EAT.

Yes, I'll be renewing my subscription at the end of this month in order to save B.I.G. when it goes on sale because I use it just about every. single. day. Now I can't say I always actually PLAN, but I do use it for storing my recipes if nothing else. I love how they easily input from websites and can be printed for my 3 ring binders. With photos!

I don't want to give the impression I NEVER plan... no, no, no. I just don't plan as often as I'd like. Life is just kind of messy like that. Did I ever mention that the older kids get, the less predictable life is?

For some of my past reviews of PLAN TO EAT, just do a search over on the right sidebar... all my past posts on the subject will appear before your very eyes.

Be sure to check out some of the NEW FEATURES, such as the cooking view... I LOVE it!! (Thank you PLAN TO EAT for continually making fantastic improvements!)

• Mark your calendar for Nov 29 - Dec 2.
• Access PLAN TO EAT though Homestead Revival if you would be so kind (it's about the only thing I'm still an affiliate for and I will earn a small commission).
• Renew or Purchase a subscription at 50% off - woo hoo!!
• Enjoy the benefits of organized recipes just in time for all that holiday cooking and baking.
• Pat yourself on the back for being so thrifty and smart.

You go girl!

Preparing Now for Advent

Hmmm... that title is a bit redundant. While the latin word for Advent means "arrival" or "coming", traditionally, it is used to signify the time period where believers prepare their heart... "the season leading up to Christmas" (J. Piper). So preparing for advent is like saying preparing to prepare!

Well... yes. That is exactly what I mean.

Advent begins four Sundays prior to Christmas Day. And I don't want to miss a second of it! I L.O.V.E. advent. Yet, if I don't prepare to practice advent IN ADVANCE, I'm sure to miss something good. At least that's how my mind works.

So each year I TRY to be prepared to prepare. I plan how I want to practice the presence of God in the days leading up to Christmas. While it always includes Sunday evening services (in addition to Sunday mornings), I usually include a daily time of reflection and meditation of some sort. Sometimes it is a book I want to read about Christ's coming, but usually it is a devotional written especially for Advent.

This year it was a no brainer...

In fact, I about shouted with joy when I saw Ann Voskamp had published her newest book, The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas. I wasted zero time getting to the bookstore to pick up a copy of my own.

And if the introduction is any indication of what awaits beginning December 1st, I will not be disappointed. {...warm smile...}

Just thought you might want to prepare to prepare and get your own copy... in advance of Advent. {... big smile!...}

September & October Highlights

Hello world. Still here in blogland... although quietly so. I don't dare promise to start writing regularly because as soon as I do, I'm sure to fail at that. Life has a way of getting busy when I least expect it! However, for now, the week is wide open with only school and Bible study and a little fun side trip planned for the weekend. Haven't done that in a while! (Road trip, that is.)

The house is still for sale if anyone's interested... it would bless my socks off to turn over Sweetwater Farm to someone who would love it just as much as we have. Around here the-cat-is-out-of-the-bag... we've found a new location that we believe will be our future homestead...

• closer to town (less gas)

• less acreage but more useable space - 2 acres all the way to the trees in back  (should be easier to maintain)

• able to build what we need (with cash when the house sells)

That alone has kept us busy with research, negotiations, crunching numbers on building, etc. While we wait for it to sell, we've kept busy...

A photo shoot for the local magazine that was lots of fun...

Tehachapi Lifestyle Magazine

Re-homing the bucklings to their new ranch...

New kittens ("B Team" Mousers in training - they're spending more time indoors than out 'cause we love 'em so much!)...

Family photos (sneak peak)...

Wendy Carr Photography

And enjoying as much of the fall weather as we can possibly absorb before the leaves are all gone...

Come Saturday, a little fall drive and my annual antique "outing" with girlfriends...

Remnants of the Past

What treasures await??!!

Apple & Walnut Oatmeal

Fall arrived early this year... blew in over the weekend in full force! And the Lord blessed us with a great rain to boot! This morning we woke up to the thermometer hovering just above the freezing mark. A warm hearty breakfast just seemed in order. One of my favorites? Apples and Walnuts over oatmeal. 

Apple & Walnut Oatmeal

2 cups rolled organic oats

2 cups milk

2 cups water

pinch of sea salt

butter

maple syrup

walnuts

apples

cinnamon (optional)

Heat milk, water, and salt in pan on stove until bubbles form around the edges. Pour in oatmeal, stir, and simmer until liquid is reduced to your liking (usually between 5-10 minutes). Meanwhile, chop walnuts and toast under broiler until golden brown, chop apples, and add about 1/2 T or less of butter to bowl and 1/2 - 1 T. maple syrup (adjust all to your preferences). 

Serve oatmeal over butter and syrup in bowls and top with apples and walnuts; sprinkle with cinnamon if desired. And enjoy!

For some FABULOUS organic walnuts, try Brit's @ Fillmore Farms. She's a Homestead Revival reader and their walnuts are the B.E.S.T.!!

Now, serve up a nice cold glass of fresh apple cider from the local orchards and you'll be feeling "fall-ish" inside and out! 

A New Adventure: Selling the Homestead

Yes, it's true. We have put the homestead up for sale.

"Amy, are you insane? What are you thinking?"

Well, there are a few reasons actually. And it's not something that we just decided to do on the spur of the moment. It's been a topic of conversation for several years in our home. In fact, we had it on the market 3 years ago, but decided to stay and plow through some challenges. But the Lord has clearly shown us that He has another plan for us.

1. Downsizing. Our family will only get smaller in the next few years, not larger. When we built this house, our family was in a period of expansion. That time is over and has come to a close. This home is definitely an asset for a large family.

2. Health. If you've been a reader here for a while, you know my husband has a chronic health issue that makes keeping a large home a challenge. I'm no spring chick either! And as our own chicks fly the coop, it's just more  house than we'll need. The garden is big, the coop is big, the property is big. Perfect for a bunch of kids to conquer or a young couple to develop. I had wanted to plant a small apple orchard out back, build a gazebo at the top of the hill, add a barn, etc. While the zoning doesn't allow for commercial businesses to operate on the property, one could still harvest an apple crop and take it elsewhere to trade or sell.

3. Debt. We are just one step away from being totally 100% debt free. Yes... we can smell it!!! And we want it. Our mortgage is the last thing to pay off. We are very blessed NOT to be upside down in our house - we built when the market was down and not inflated. So by selling and buying or building a smaller home, we can pay cash.

So, I look at this as a new adventure. An opportunity to try something new. We're not giving up on homesteading. Not in the least! But it will be smaller in scale... otherwise, not much will change. In fact, we plan to stay in the area because we love it so much here!

It would totally bless my heart to see someone with a passion for homesteading living in this house. I'm sure it would make the transition so much easier, knowing Sweetwater Farm would have the same love and attention. If you're looking for a homestead you can sink your roots into, perhaps this may be just the place! (See more photos and specifics HERE; for Farmhouse Tour Photos click HERE; for more on Bear Valley Springs visit the site at http://www.bvsa.org/)