Happy Monday! I haven’t posted in a couple of weeks. I tried to sit down and write a few times, but my head was in other places. Yesterday I realized I’m ready to get back in the saddle again of posting and creating about all things home, faith, and homeschool. But before I get to things around my home, a few online housekeeping things.
Connecting in Other Places
I’ve been posting more on Parler which I joined 2019 in anticipation of the eventual social media purge of conservative voices that is now taking place. You can find me at Sallie Borrink on Parler. I also have a MeWe account which is Sallie Borrink at MeWe. The bulk of my interaction will continue to be here on my own website because this is my home online. The private group is my place to discuss the few topics I decided needed a different home. Parler and MeWe are for trying to reach out and connect with more women who would like what I do here and in the private group. If you are on either platform, please say hello! Yesterday Parler was adding thousands of new users per minute so it was wonky at times. Be patient if you try to make an account.
There is a massive exodus from Twitter and Facebook occurring. If you aren’t on those platforms, you might not be aware of it. But people are tired of the rampant and biased censorship and are leaving. I’m actually really excited to see friends and family leaving Facebook and moving to Parler. I have missed seeing them, but was not willing to use Facebook after I quit a few years ago.
Regarding the conservative purge going on online, I know some of you have probably thought I was an alarmist over the years when I’ve written things such as:
- 4 Ways to Simplify Your Life for the Coming Decade
- When Your Quiet Simple Life Hits Reality {Sallie Video}
- Choosing to Create a Better Life, Not a New Normal
- Building A Small Diversified and Profitable Online Business
This is only the tip of the iceberg, honestly. There is going to be plenty to discuss beyond current events in the months and years to come including the peak of the Fourth Turning, the Grand Solar Minimum, etc.
Around Our Home
So we’ve had some truly fantastic November weather. We will have temps in the 70s for I think six or seven days in a row by the time it ends tomorrow. This is unprecedented for us since our highs are normally around 52 in this part of November. I enjoy a mix of clouds and sun, but I will say that this weather has been a real boost for my spirits. Having good weather through the first ten days of November will definitely make the winter seem a bit shorter.
Lots of people were out this weekend putting up their outdoor Christmas decorations. Yes, it’s rushing it a bit but it’s so much more enjoyable to hang lights and such when the weather is nice rather than wind chills in the 20s. I don’t know how many people will actually turn them on at this point, but they were certainly getting them out.
We planted some new purple asters this fall. We had some at one point and they inexplicably disappeared. They are such a pretty fall flower so David bought a few plants for me and put them in the front of the house. I look forward to seeing them next autumn.
Speaking of pretty things, we’ve had bluebirds at our birdbath this summer and fall. This is the first year they’ve been around fairly regularly. There were two of them enjoying long baths yesterday and it’s so much fun to watch them. There is something about caring for the birds by feeding them, providing water year round, etc. that makes me feel closer to God. Playing a small part in caring for His beautiful creation restores my soul.
Homeschooling
Homeschooling continues to toodle along. We’re in a good place with what we are doing, but I still need to add a few things in. However, we have to do schooling in small bites due to the way Caroline learns and I don’t want to add too many bites to the day. So I’m kind of struggling to figure out how to do some of this best. Sorry for being vague, but I try to walk the fine line between sharing info and protecting her privacy.
David and Caroline are currently using National Geographic Science of Everything: How Things Work in Our World as their current science book. David combines it with videos and other rabbit trails they go down. They are really enjoying it.
In any case, this year is going well with what we are doing and I’m thankful. I’m blessed with a pretty delightful daughter if I do say so myself.
That’s it for today. What’s going on in your world?
Simple Living This Week No. 45 – Being Self-Employed, Mother Culture, Grand Solar Minimum
Hi Sallie – we, too, hung our Christmas lights this past weekend because of the nice weather. Just in time too as today the wind changed, it’s a cold rain and will turn to snow tomorrow!!!!!! : ) Lesson learned – take advantage of nice weather at this time of year. : ) Thank you for your post!!!! Mary
Hi Mary,
It’s good to hear from you! The sun is shining on a cold Saturday morning, but we have a big windy front coming for overnight. Looking forward to seeing at least a few snowflakes in the air tomorrow!
Sallie
We are having unusually warm weather,too. We are just about finished with the Thanksgiving decorations. We have started Christmas shopping and are trying to wrap. We hate to leave teh wrapping until Christmas Eve. Have a good week.
Marilyn
Hi Marilyn,
I always hope to have my wrapping done by the start of December so I can enjoy looking at all the pretty packages under the tree for a few weeks. If I’m going to do that this year, I need to get moving! I don’t have anything purchased yet…
Sallie
We have just about finished decorating for Thanksgiving. We are going to order the turkey this week. We will order the trimmings nearer to Thanksgiving. Have a great week.
Marilyn
Hasn’t the weather been beautiful?!? We have been getting a few quick maintenance things done outside while the weather is nice and it’s just been so good for my spirit. We got some half-dead shrubs pulled out of our front flower bed, got my parents’ lawn mowed for the last time this season, and hubby fixed some saggy boards on our back deck. I still have a couple small packs of flower bulbs I need to get put into the ground where we removed the shrubs so we will have a little color next spring, so I hope to get those planted tomorrow.
I have been enjoying your posts over at the Christian Women Seeking Truth group. It’s difficult for me to sift through all the news going on for truthful accounts, so it’s nice to be able to find it all in one place! I have accounts at MeWe and Parler, and have been waiting for the rest of the world to catch up. 🙂 A few of my groups are starting to migrate, but at this point, I’m checking all three just to keep up with where everyone is going. I will be glad when something wins out and I can just get back to monitoring one social media site!
E has a job at a cafe right now a few days a week during the lunch hour. It’s been so good for her and definitely a growing, maturing, learning experience! The school work that we have been doing is just cruising right along. I don’t think she has any stand-out favorites this year, but also not too many dreaded subjects either. Thankfully, our art class has started back up again. She had just started going in January and was making new friends before the lockdown. That one will probably become a favorite pretty quickly once she gets back to a comfort level with the other kids attending. Art is one of her gifts.
Hope you have a great week! Thanks for the peek into your home!
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
That’s great to hear about E’s job! It sounds like our girls have a lot in common.
I’m glad you are enjoying the group. I am, too. I am relieved to have finally found a solution that works. It took sometime, but I got there in the end.
Sallie
I’m glad to see you posting these weekly again. It’s fun to read.
I’ve seen a few people here putting up lights, and it always hugely amuses me when lights go up so early. Of course, a great many of them are putting them up because they celebrate Diwali, so they put them up now, and then leave them up through Christmas. The neighborhood next to mine is mostly Hindu.
As to what’s going on in my corner of the world. We took our dog in to get spayed this morning, and so she’s groggy and unhappy now. It’s a little weird to us to see her not hungry.
Cases of COVID are apparently going up in my county of Texas, so our church has gone back to requiring masks for all indoor activities the whole time. Sigh…
Hi Ticia,
Yes, I like posting these weekly updates too. Hopefully I can get back in the routine. I’ve been trying to juggle so many changes and I want things to just settle down. LOL!
Cases are going up here and I’m sure our governor and her minions are just itching to exercise their control over us all. It’s really sad that their behavior has caused me to trust nothing that comes out of their mouths.
I hope your dog is recovering well!
Sallie
She is, with all the energy!
The week of warm weather was a Godsend for me and my big refinishing project; I was able to put on all the finish coats out in the garage, and now I can do the final reassembly indoors without poisoning us all.
Our neighbors gave us a couple of boxes of school supplies that their young-adult children no longer need. I am getting inspired to do some writing and artwork!
Hi Peggy,
Oh, boxes of school supplies! How fantastic!
I laughed about your refinishing project. That stuff does stink and definitely can’t be done indoors. LOL!
Sallie