Happy 1st day of Spring!!!

And isn't it a lovely one? I believe we're to have rain the better part of the day, with some sunshine thrown in for good measure...

I had to get a new stove yesterday. The old one literally sparked in my face! Scared the bejeebies out of me! Wonderful husband came to my rescue and tried to fix it, but when he tried to replace the part that blew, the shop said they didn't even know how long it would take for a new part to come in! And hubby wasn't too fond of the idea of me using the stove with  top burners that wouldn't turn off.  So... he bought me a new one last night. Had it delivered and everything!

I used it last night to bake the 4 loaves of bread that were sitting on the counter ready to be put IN the oven when the old one decided to Ka-put, and then dd tried a new recipe that she had been planning... coffee marinated steaks. Came out pretty good, if I do say so myself!

Hubby has an awful cough and cold, so therefore I couldn't sleep too well last night, adn got up about 1:30a. I have already made a pitcher of soy milk. (We use it for cooking and the children drink it. Well, I do too, but dh refuses. ) With the price of milk (and everything else these days) we have to cut corners somehow and somewhere!

Beautiful grandbaby likes it too! :)

Speaking of conserving energy, I've been making a budget, and not one to hide things from the children, I explained about the bills vs the money coming in. We've had an extrordinarily high electric bill and water bill, so we've come up with a plan to conserve what we can. The children are as old fashioned as I am, so we re-filled our oil lamps last night, and unplugged the microwave and clocks we don't use.... we have power strips that we turn off to the computer in the evening, and have made a plan....

We are going to use as little as possible during the next two months and see what the difference is in our bills.

It was nice to NOT have to listen to that dad-gummed TV last night, and to see children doing their homework by oil light.

Some of their studies are still there (I took this pic this morning...)

The home is a place of comfort and peace, and I like  it to be so... for parents and children alike, and I believe that the soft glow of an oil lamp gives that effect.

Here's my living room this morning...

Well, not the whole living room, but I'm sure you get the meaning.

Making (and keeping) a peaceful home is very important to me. I remember being able to go home to my Momma's (always home to me) and knowing that I would be comfortable there, and I pray that our children will always feel the same.

Please... do tell... what are your secrets for a happy, peace filled home?