Contentment Acres Vegetation

radishes planted for Clint

purple salvia

black locust

narcissus in phlox

Our Visitor: Cattle Egret

Caleb, Joshua and Bethany saw this bird in our pasture and asked me what it was.

Rather than telling them, I took pictures and handed the children several field guides on birds.

They were quick to identify this correctly as a Cattle Egret.

Those spindly legs and unwebbed feet are perfect for going through long marsh grasses in search of prey.


He was pushed out by the aggressive sea gulls in the competition for insects turned up by the plowing in the farmer's field behind our house.

We are very thankful to live where we see many different kinds of wildlife daily.

Our Site Has Been Featured As One of the 50 Best Blogs for Christian Homeschoolers

50 Best Blogs for Christian Homeschoolers "No matter a parents’ original motivation, most who opt for homeschooling rather than placing children in public or private schools believe themselves to have their best interests in mind. Christians concerned with the religious education available at different parochial schools may entertain the idea as a valid option if they feel more comfortable preaching their own interpretation of the religion. The following blogs, by no means a complete guide on those available, provide a glimpse into the very eclectic and diverse world of Christian homeschooling. Various denominations are represented here, and each parent takes their own unique approach to the subject. Anyone considering teaching their children in a home-bound setting may find inspiration in the curricula, philosophies, and approaches they have to offer."

Thank you, Karen A., for considering us one of the best! :-)

Goat's Milk Soap

I've had a lot of people ask me if I will be making more soap. It's something I have wrestled with on and off for a year now. Right now, I am too busy with our family, homeschooling, remodeling, gardening, livestock, dogs and other things to even THINK about making it. I have pulled it from all of the stores and spas. I have moved the equipment to the barn. I have enough for gift giving and for our personal use for a couple of years. When I run out, the children will be older and I'll reevaluate then. Thank you for all of the inquiries and kind compliments! I truly enjoyed making it and meeting so many wonderful people all over the world. Thank you to all of the people who carried it in their stores or day spas for us.

Portable Ice Maker Ideal for Large Families

This is the portable ice maker our family purchased to keep up with our ice needs. If you are constantly running out of ice or your ice maker is broken, this is a good investment. If you are concerned about your community's treated water, you can use distilled or spring water in the unit. This will be a nice asset when entertaining, camping or when attending sporting events. It makes 33 pounds a day and ice is dumped every 7 minutes or so. The drawback is that you have to be around to dump the ice once the holding bin is full if you wish to accumulate more than it can hold. Our solution was to put the ice in gallon sized freezer bags and make large batches at one time so the unit does not need to run continuously. Before, we were having to buy 5-10 bags of ice a week for our family of nine. At $199, this unit will pay for itself in no time.

Easter

We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter celebration!