Continuing with this Slow Seasonal Homemaking Series…. January seemed to be three months long this year. It feels like Christmas was a lifetime ago, and I am glad it is finally February. I am in no rush to get through any season, and Montana is nowhere close to Spring in February, but I am looking forward to some fun events and glad they are finally here. I also do enjoy Valentine’s Day and celebrating love all month long. February invites us to notice, linger, and love well in small ways. I adore loving on my boys with simple but special ways throughout the month. I hope you enjoy a little peak into my seasonal homemaking this February.
What I’m Creating
Handmade Valentine’s cards
I have always enjoyed creating cards, scrapbooking, or really any craft that involves paper. I have been a big fan of “snail mail” for many many years, and do try to send out several cards a year to family and friends for different holidays. Valentines Day I always send cards to my sisters, mother, and best friend. When we think of Valentine’s Day as mothers, we tend to think about our children. I think it’s a nice surprise to receive a Valentine’s Day card in the mail.It can help us slow down before a holiday that can feel so commercial. It is also a simple creative rhytm in the middle of Winter, that we can do with our children. While they craft little homemade cards, you can too! We can teach them that loave is something we make, not just buy.
I actually just had a little ladies craft night at my house this past week to make cards together. I will link that post here when it goes live.
A gentle reminder when crafting with young kids: Process over perfection
Flower arrangements
Starting in February, I always try to keep a simple flower arrangement on my table. I grab some grocery store blooms and greens and it brings life to my kitchen and joy to my heart. As soon as the wildflowers are blooming, I will just gather those for my table, but it will be quite some time before they make their appearance. I had two arrangements at once this week because I got some for my ladies craft night- I love them! I cannot wait to grow my own garden roses again and start gardening in our new home. We’ve had an usual early false Spring this year, and I am dreaming of Summer.
What I’m Cooking
- Simple, warming meals- still heavy on the soups and stews, and at least one meal a week is in the slow cooker.
- A few special treats for Valentine’s throughout the month- heart toast for breakfast, a special afternoon tea time, rice Krispy treats, homemade heart “pop tarts” etc.
- Quick & easy meals at least once a week- Tuesday’s my oldest has Scouts and my middle child has ice skating lessons, and they are back to back! So we eat a little later than usual that night and I like to have something super quick to throw together. Breakfast for dinner, something in the crock pot, or simple noodles like this Mongolian Beef Noodle recipe that is always a hit in our home.
- Annie’s cinnamon rolls in a cast iron skillet- they’re not as good as homemade of course, but they’re quick and delicious and feel like a special treat once in awhile.
What I’m Cleaning
We still have LOTS of boxes to unpack in our garage since moving into our new house in November. But when I say we are at max capacity in this house… I mean it. This house is half the size of our old house with no basement, so we really have just way too much stuff. I did purge quite a bit when we left Virginia, but it was not enough. It is primarily toys, kitchen gadgets, and homeschool supplies that I have been getting rid of. We have such a huge pile for donations in our garage right now! So really that is my focus this month- decluttering, purging, and organizing. I also am still trying to get my laundry room (which is also my craft room/office) into a good functional space.
I am also just trying to keep the floors clean with muddy puppy paws! We have been experiencing a false Spring early this year in Montana, and this snow melting has turned our backyard into a mud pit. My boys and dogs love it. I do not.
What I’m Reading
Last month I readA Painted House by John Grisham, and At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks. These books I have had on my shelf unread for years. I really liked A Painted House- and I did enjoy At First Sight, but I was not prepared for the sad ending. This month I am currently reading Making Home Your Happy Place- A Real-Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm by Katy Joy Wells, and I have two books coming from thriftbooks.com soon that I plan to read this month: Magic Hour and Night Road, both by Kristin Hannah. I have read several of her books and loved them all, so I am sure I will love these as well! My goal is to read at least two books a month this year. Which for some, is a low reading goal. But for me, who really fell out of the habit of reading and only had time for audiobooks for quite some time, I think it’s a good obtainable goal. I just replace some of my phone scrolling time with reading, a few minutes at a time when I can throughout the day and then in the evenings when the kids are in bed and I get a quiet hour next to the fireplace with some tea… heaven.
As February unfolds. I’m choosing to see homemaking as an act of faithfulness- creating warmth, nourishment, and order where I can, and trusting God with the rest. Even the smallest efforts can be offerings when done with love, and this season is reminding me that tending our homes is one way we tend our hearts and serve the ones we love.
I would love to know what you are creating, cooking, reading or resetting in your home this February. This season is better when we walk it together- sharing ideas, encouragement, and grace for the days that don’t go as planned.
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