Spring! We are on a roll!

 

It's been a beautiful Spring here in Michigan.  It's raining here today so I'm catching up on laundry and cleaning.

The garden was dry enough to plow.  Well, he had a little bit of trouble with the mud but he got it done.  This will help it dry up a lot and we will plow again closer to planting time.

I was able to plant onions in the raised bed in the back this past week.  I bought the onion plants at the farm store two weeks ago and stored them in the fridge till I was able to get back there.  

The greenhouse is getting full.  You see that red planter in front?  It's like a greenstalk.  I bought it at a garage sale for $5.00.

I planted one of the raised beds we bought for $10. this past winter.  I planted some cabbage and marigolds.  We have another one but the chickens have to get out of it before I can plant it.

We've been watching our daughter's dog and the cat is pretty mad about the whole situation.  I can't believe the face my cat can make.  The dog is pretty scared of him, poor thing.

How is it been going at your house?

Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here). 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog

Virtual Book Tour and Review for Two Polar Bears by Crystal Beach and a $10 Amazon/BN Giveaway!

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.  Crystal Beach will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

                          Two Polar Bears

                                         by Crystal Beach

What could possibly be better than One Polar Bear? Two Polar Bears! Join this charming polar bear couple as they try to have a peaceful soak in the tub only to be interrupted by four very dirty cubs! This delightful rhyming story chronicles a lovable polar bear family as they go through their nightly bedtime routine. Celebrating individuals with a variety of abilities and disabilities, readers are introduced to early learning skills such as bedtime routines and grooming. With fun and humour, this book also helps children establish healthy sleep habits. Two Polar Bears is an entertaining story and a beautiful addition to your child's own bedtime routine.If you can be anything, be inclusive.

My Review:  

What a cute story..family time in the bath tub.  I can just hear the little ones asking for this book over and over.  The illustrations are perfect.

Author Bio:

Crystal Beach is an adoptive mother and caregiver of two adoptive children who have complex medical needs and disabilities. Her children are often represented in her work as strong, caring individuals with special gifts and powers. Her writing projects are intended to ensure financial support for her children's future.

 

Crystal has a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Her focus is in children's literature, publishing, and journalism. She has had many careers including ten years as a MedA with the Canadian Naval Reserve, advertising with a daily newspaper, communications and marketing, training as an EMT, and continued studies in developmental psychology.

 

She and her family live in Regina, Saskatchewan in a simple little house with two giant support dogs.

 

For more information visit www.crystalbeachauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystalbeachauthor

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Giveaway!  

Crystal Beach will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Many thanks to Goddess Fish Promotions for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here). 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog

Freeze, Frost, Death in the greenhouse, and Meet the Tillers!

 It's been a busy week:  

Wednesday night it came a freeze, not a frost mind you, a freeze.  I think they said it got down to 24 degrees.  You can see in the background of the garden where we desperately tried to  cover the fruit trees with old sheets.  We are short people so this is the best we could do.

Some trees really are too young yet to worry about but the apple and the peach were looking good before this.  Time will tell if are efforts worked.  

This is Friday -we left the sheets on last night for a frost.  I'll take them off later this morning.

The freeze got one of my tomato plants in the greenhouse.  I believe it's because it sits right under the vent. No other plants in the greenhouse were harmed.

That makes two deaths -I also had a cabbage plant also wither and die for some reason. There is life and death in the garden and greenhouse just as in our lives.

The plants in the greenstalk are growing fast.   I picked just enough lettuce to go on our hamburgers a few days ago.  

Meet the tillers.  I let them out to roam the yard and they go out all over the yard but they always end up in the garden, tilling for worms.  This will have to stop once the garden is in.

I made some Keto peanut butter cookies that disappeared fast.  Since this, I've also made some Keto chocolate chip cookies.  

How is it been going at your house?

Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here). 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog

Book Review: Miracles at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard

 

                     Miracles at Promise Lodge 

                                                  by Charlotte Hubbard

Returning to the fan-favorite world of Promise Lodge, the small-town Missouri setting for her beloved Amish inspirational romance novels, Charlotte Hubbard charms readers with a Mother’s Day themed tale perfect for fans of Shelley Shepard Gray and Beth Wiseman!

A season of change has blessed the Amish of Missouri’s Promise Lodge, as mothers-to-be anticipate the arrival of their little miracles and one young man’s life is about to take an unexpected turn as he sheds his bad boy reputation and embraces the value of faith and hard work.

Long-time residents of Promise Lodge welcome a wave of newcomers that includes a pretty potter who’s come to help an expectant couple, and a hard-working dairy expert ready to manage the herds on the expanding Burkholder farm. Then there’s Isaac Chupp, the handsome, charming son of a notoriously unyielding Bishop from nearby Coldstream. Isaac has recklessly rebelled against his dat, and his bad boy reputation precedes him. Now he seeks a fresh start, applying for work at Dale Kraybill’s bulk store.

Proving himself reliable while Dale takes off for his wedding trip is Isaac’s bold first step. But more miraculous awakenings may come as he settles into the warm new light of the faithful community. And while Promise Lodge celebrates an abundance of newborns as summer turns to fall, Isaac discovers a kindred soul who has her own share of challenges. In helping her, he just may find his true purpose in loving selflessly, building up, and giving back 

My Review:

The last in the series Miracles at Promise Lodge was a page turner.  A troubled youth Isaac applies for a job thinking no one from Promise Lodge would know of his misdeeds.   He spends a lot of time trying to remake himself.  It proves to be a hard road.

I loved the forgiveness, the second chances, and the hard work of all the charactors.  I also loved the romance, the couples are not who I thought would pair up for sure.  I guess the one part I didn't like is the suggestion of the .. heat in the romance.  I'd rather not hear about that part.

Otherwise a great read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

 Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden

This week on the Homefront, Great deals, Spring, and Grilling out!

 

Tulips and daffodils are blooming!   Spring has Sprung and it won't stop raining.  The backyard is just a flood.  It will be awhile before we garden..it's just too wet.

I made my youngest daughter a cake for her birthday. 

 I realized then I no longer had a turntable.  I bought one at a church garage sale today for $1.00.  It came with a bag of cake decorating tips and bags, icing spatulas, and silicone cupcakes holders.  Brand new!  

I picked up two bales of hay on the curb just before trash day.   Man they are heavier than I remember!  I like to use this in betweens the rows of the garden.

We bought mulch for $2.00 a bag at Menard's.   Now to get it done! 

 Although it was windy we grilled out  today.   It was enough for 3 days, steak, hot dogs, and pork chops.

I used my garlic butter I had frozen and we are in love with the taste.  I'll be doing this again at harvest time for sure.

How is it been going at your house?

Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here). 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog

Spring Cleaning: The Bedroom Closet (before and after)

Spring Cleaning is what I do on rainy days and I read.  Reading is my favorite.

The bedroom closet had got out of control.  This happens about once a year.  Well, really it happens more than that but let's say I try to straighten it once a year.  

I started on my side.  My side is on the right in this picture and his is on the left, on the top, and most of the shelves.  Long ago I gave up and took over the closet in the computer room for my dresses and dress clothes.  They were getting smashed.

I started on my side.  I got rid of one big overstuffed trash bag full of clothes and shoes.    I was able to get rid of two pairs of boots and one pair of pants from him.  

You have to admit though it looks so much better when I got done.  

I hate to shop but now I feel the need to buy me some clothes.  On sale of course!  😀

How is it been going at your house?

Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here). 

Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog

Book Review: Sandcastle Inn (A Hope Harbor Novel Book #10) by Irene Hannon

 

Sandcastle Inn (A Hope Harbor Novel Book #10): (Small-Town Beach Contemporary Clean Romance Set in the Pacific Northwest) 

                             by Irene Hannon

Vienna Price never intended to return for more than a passing visit to Oregon and all the bad memories she'd left behind. But when your career tanks, home is where you go to nurse your wounds and chart a new course. Only temporarily, of course--because as much as she loves her quirky mom, anything more than a short stay would drive them both crazy.

A trip to Oregon isn't in Matt Quinn's plans, either, until a perfectly timed appeal for help arrives from his sister. What better place to decompress after a shattering loss than a quiet, seaside town named Hope Harbor? But R&R isn't on the agenda when he arrives to find his sister's new enterprise on life support.

Vienna, however, may have just the skills needed to resuscitate the foundering B&B--if Matt can convince her to hang around long enough to mend an inn . . . and his heart.

My Review:

What a great romantic setting.  I've always loved the thoughts of owning and managing a B&B so Sandcastle Inn spoke to me right from the start.  The perfect setting.

The story follows two people who both have trouble with their jobs for personal and professional reasons.  They come for rest and end up working together.  I was wondering a long time for Matt's reason and couldn't get the images from my mind for awhile.  

There were many great charactors who really cared about everyone.  There were the clerics -funny, loveable, and had great wisdom.  My favorite though was Charley, the taco chef.  He tried to help people as much as he can. My favorite quote from Charley: "expecting perfection may be a bit arrogrant.  Only God is perfect."

A great read!  

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

 Be sure to follow me on Facebook,and Bloglovin where I share my frugal list, gardening, recipes, Free Kindle books, and more!  You can also sign up for my email list on the top right hand side of the blog.

**As a Amazon affiliate I earn a small percentage when you purchase items from one of my links (the item doesn't have to be what I have linked here).  Thanks so much for helping to support Vickie's Kitchen and Garden