As summer progresses, some days are very different and many are very much alike. Here is a typic day in the life of ‘July’ as we know it, listed as topics.

BAKING

Even with the hot temps outside, as a homemaker some baking is required. It’s often bread of some kind. But it can also be a dessert here and there. Roasted veggies are also a fave. (above: orange quick bread)

PRESERVING

With a garden producing every day or so, we are finding many ways to put up the harvest for the coming year! The ways I generally preserve are: water bath or pressure canning, fermenting, dehydrating, pickling, freezing.

GARDENING

Depending on the day as well as the weather, we are in the garden many days per week. Recently with the rain, we haven’t been able to hoe or harvest root crops. But, we are bringing in other lovely foods to eat fresh and preserve. This week’s newbie: sweet corn!

CHICKENS

The laying hens are all healthy and growing fast. The white leghorn variety should begin laying first, most likely late August. We have named these lovely ladies more recently! That was fun and funny.

PLAY

Inside or outside, a lot of play goes on around here. My three kiddos are all independent players as well as enjoying time playing together. Outside, they like playing Cowboys and Indians, Pioneers, and things like sidewalk chalk or water balloons. Inside, they play Legos, Lincoln Logs, PlayMobil, dolls (my daughter), puppet shows, and dress up. Note the play bow in the background of this photo. If they’re chaperoned, the boys enjoy BB gun and bow/arrow target practice.

COOKING

As things come in fresh from the garden, I try and use them fresh as well as preserving. Zucchini is one we put into dishes in many ways. I love skillet chicken, adding garlic, salt/pepper, a fat choice (butter or bacon grease usually), and veggies!

READING

These were two recent summer books I chose after reading about them in Mother Culture by Karen Andreola. Our family loves to read! We finished our read aloud (Anne of Green Gables) and began an audio theater about Robin Hood. My boys devour books and my six year old daughter loves looking at books and being read too. She is learning to read herself.

Current Reads:

• me- Village Affairs by Miss Read
• Sweet Husband- Wild Things by David Thomas and Stephen James
• 12 year old: Around the World in 80 Days
• 10 year old: The Hardy Boys series
• 6 year old: Heidi (read aloud at bedtime)

TRAVEL

We don’t travel a lot, and usually choose day trips (above: Middlefork Forest Preserve) but we chose to do three 3-day trips this summer: TN family visit, St Louis family visit, and southern IL hiking and exploring. Otherwise, we love going somewhere close for a fun day outing.

Faves:

• Walnut Point State Park, Oakland, IL
• Springfield Lincoln sites, Springfield, IL
• Lake of the Woods, Mahomet, IL
• Skovil Zoo, Decatur, IL.
• Lincoln Log Cabin, Lerna, IL

HOMESCHOOL PREP

I am already gearing up for the fall and our 2024-25 school year. I will have 7th, 5th, and 1st graders this year. And, as I have signed on to direct our Classical Conversations ‘Challenge A’ program (7th grade) I have a lot of work to get ready myself! What a blessing to be able to teach our children at home, laying a firm foundation with Christ at the center of every day. Our homeschool life is just that- we incorporate school into our daily lives, find room for flexibility, and enjoy showing how we continue to learn all the time!

REST

Taking time for rest and being together as a family is very important to us. Our deck with a porch swing is a favorite spot. We love being home. We enjoy being together. And, honestly, we like to work. So, generally you find us here, relishing in the day-to-day beauty God has blessed us with! We use the skills we have been given, stretch in the places that need a challenge or worked on, and grow!

What does your July look like?