Casner Family Blog

One of our favorite past times… 

 I had another post which is missing -really weird…. Life is a bit hectic right now, I’m gearing up for a lot of changes, lots of things to say, just too little time. Hopefully I will get the missing post back soon.  

 

Apples from Megan!

 

Azucena, this should be in the mail soon. :) 

  

Our bake sales all began with the kids wanting to make some money. I asked them to brainstorm ways to do so, and this was one of the ideas I thought we could do. Matheau and I have several goals for the weekly baking sessions and then time sitting at a table trying to peddle our wares.One, that money isn’t always a fun thing to earn, sometimes your job isn’t the most fun thing to be doing, but it is worth it when you earn the check-or our case-cash and change. To make money, you sometimes have to spend it first. Each week, we take time to deduct the price of our supplies and ingredients used to make the product. It does cut into our earnings, but it is a necessary  step. Customer service-this has been a biggie and the hardest. I can’t think of a time when I have had an opportunity to respond and help educate our children in thinking through how they respond to adults and peers purchasing their baked items. It has been a good experience.Good stewardship is important. After we figure out how much everyone earns, we deduct tithes (10% goes back to God to thank Him for the opportunity to earn money in the first place). And 10% goes into savings.  

 

 A couple of weeks ago, Luke had quickly spent  all of his earnings. Even though his pockets were empty, he was dying to spend some more and Hannah offered him a loan. $10.00 if he paid her $20 back. (She is learning about interest.) Anyway, even after some words of warning, she made up a contract and he signed it. Every time he has earned money in the last two weeks, he quickly hands it over to her. I have to admit, I have had to bite my tongue at times because I know how hard it is for him to hand over the money and I think maybe he could just keep a dollar… but that would be ruining this important lesson. Some things look like they are worth paying interest for, but in the long wrong, sometimes it is just best to wait.     

During Grandma Donna’s summer break, the kids all take turns going to visit. This week Luke and his cousin Jeremiah went for a couple of days.Grandma emailed me some photos, here is one of the projects they worked on.

 

 

Yesterday Allison, Lizzie and I drove up with Matheau to Lawrence. We spent some time with Mom and some new friends. I also had time to run to Pendletons’ Country Market and pick some peas for dinner.  

I’m now 34. Thank you everyone for remembering. I received phone calls, facebook messages, wonderful mail with gift certificates for kid watching, surprise visits from friends, gifts of very special cookies, a rad Amy Butler scrapbook album, a tea party and handmade hen and rooster patterns, a handmade leaf press notebook. I already had received 2 blueberry bushes and American bittersweet and a rose bush and flowers for the front porch and money to purchase some of the books I’ve been gushing over, a new loaf pan…. It has not only been a wonderful day, but a wonderful couple of weeks.  Here are just a few photos to show how great turning 34 really is, and how blessed I am. God has put so many amazing people in my life and as I take time to think about all of them, I have no reason to ever feel ungrateful. 

    

 

 

(tea party from Hannah for breakfast)

 

 First rose in full bloom.  

 

Hopefully more photos to come soon…  

There are lots of things worth saying “tada” about around here. 

 

Allison had her preschool graduation last night. 

 

Lizzie’s painting on the patio.   

 

New recipes – this one is blueberry cake from Amanda at Soulemama.  

 

First rose bud of the season.    

Finishing up our official year of school, planting, getting the land ready for planting, cleaning up outside and in, the endless demand of laundry, cooking with real food, classes and special events, gift-making… I just keep wishing I could get by without sleep and not be grumpy!!       

We are missing one of our hens, Princess Leah. She disappeared Thursday morning. Two of the hens had some how gotten out of the runner, we found the white rock, but not our americauna, she was a pretty hen too. It makes me sad every time I think about it.  We had rain again this week – a lot of rain – so everything is still pretty wet. Yesterday, while planting iris bulbs from my friend Suzanne, a beautiful new rose bush and flowers from Matheau, I moved the strawberries and lavender.  My lettuce is still standing in water in some places, hopefully the sun shining today will help try it out.      

Our black raspberries are looking good, but surrounded by poison oak, hopefully I will get that cleaned up a bit, along with some wild honey suckle moved closer to the house today or tomorrow. Well, time for some lunch! I hope your weekend is full of things you enjoy doing!  

    

I can hardly believe it is Friday evening and I am just getting around to posting again. Tuesday was a lovely day. Perfect enough for our first picnic of the year on our front porch.

  

 

In between school, work and rain, this week was outside cleaning out flower beds, making new ones -with borders- so Matheau will know where to/and not mow. Something I have failed to do in past years. Also putting more vegetables in the garden.  Today we met up with a nearby home school group and sang some songs at a nursing home and played at a park. It is always refreshing to hang out with families that also home school, I just wish it wasn’t so hard to fit into any of our schedules…  Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Maybe next week I will be around a bit more often. 😉

There are several reasons for a lack of posts.1. I’m without photoshop right now, not good at all…. that explains the tiny photos).2. We have been busy with the chicks, getting the garden ready, plants started, finding real chicken food for our girls to eat.3. School. 4. And  all the rest of the stuff that goes with life – work, church, family gatherings, cooking and reorganizing my kitchen… :) 

    

Jason has been working on the house for the girls. They now have a floor and a door for privacy. 

     

 

     

Mac’s enjoying the spring.  

     

 

     

Martha jumped the coop (or rather, box) and found the books. Hasn’t she just grown more lovely?         I’ve also been trying to read through a couple of books. “The Art of Simple Food” by Alice Waters and “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan. Matheau has recently shared some great music with me. Two bands, one is “NEEDTOBREATHE” and the other is Addison Road. I will try to add links to them soon. Right now, I need to get some work done.   

     

 

 

 

     

  

     

Well, since the disappearance of the four chicks, we have been very cautious with Mac around. I have covered the chicken box with chicken wire, screen and a board. However, that does not stop a cat from trying. Matheau caught (and quickly took photos) of him trying to get to the chicks. Saturday, Mac burned a portion of his bum in his attempt, and I thought that would be enough, but after he did that, I caught him INSIDE the box with the chicks (that is when I added the board). So far, no more have been lost.

   

 

 

 

Saturday was Luke’s first soccer game for the season, very cold, but always fun to watch. Later that afternoon, Liz and I planted some lettuce, spinach, and onions. 

   

 

After our work, we went to find the grape hyacinth.

   

 

 

Today, allergies are still slowing some of us down, but time for school and work. I hope you all have a great Monday! 

and Abigail, Esther, Compassion, Anni, Owlie… there are sixteen new chicks at our house. More photos to come.