The Invitation of the Ocean

My first novel is now available.

You can buy it for Kindle

here.

You can buy it for Nook

here.

And you can even get it in print

here.

We're in the process of planning local book signings and maybe even a release party.

Keep in touch either here or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/phyllisfekula)

for updates.

I do have some author copies available. Contact me on FaceBook if you'd like to order a signed copy.

-Phyllis

Winter Happenings

We've been busy with home projects this winter. It's been deceptively warm here during January, and I've been dying to get outside and start planting. But now that it's freezing February, I'm glad I waited. 

We put up pantry shelves in the laundry room.

Now I can see what we need more of- potatoes, tomato sauce, salsa, and chicken broth.

I built some shelves for the office.

 This is still a work in progress. I plan to hang another bulletin board on the left and relocate some of the clutter on top of the shelves. My favorite feature in these shelves are the concrete blocks. I love the cubby-holes. I put some small toys in them for the girls to find.

This wooden stepladder was a gift from Ben's Grandma Pat.

 I cleaned it up and put it beside my bathtub. I love the rustic farmhouse beauty of it.

This post is linked to

 

What to Do With An Egg-Eating Hen

I’m a real Homesteader now!

We adopted two older hens from our new neighbor. He’d complained that he only got one egg per week. Well, it took me a few days, but I figured out why.

One (or both) of them was eating the eggs. I found one eaten egg inside the coop, did a little recon, and found a clatch of eaten eggs in the bushes.

Egg-eating is contagious. Or rather, teachable. The offending hen will teach the others how delicious eggs are, and how to eat them.

She had to go.

I didn’t know which one it was; they were identical Black Australorps. So I chose the biggest one.

It was my first time butchering a chicken. I was amazed at how docile she was. It was as if she knew that chickens were made to be food. She calmly lifted her head and didn’t fight or struggle or make a sound. It was peaceful. But not fun. No, I absolutely did not enjoy it. But I can do it. I am happy to report that I can provide meat for my family if I have to.

Since she was two years old, she was destined to be a stew hen. Because she was too tough for frying, I took the easy way out and skinned rather than plucked her. Then I made healthy, flavorful chicken & rice.

Isn’t this a cute pot? I inherited it from Ben’s Grandma Pat.

Thankfully, I got the right hen. I was sad to lose her gorgeous bright sky-blue eggs. But I wasn’t the one getting them anyway. The remaining Black Australorp is very sweet and happy to be in our flock. She lays about 4 very pretty pink eggs each week!

 

This post is linked to the

and

 

New Plantings- The Mulberry Tree

On our 9th wedding anniversary, our first anniversary on our new homestead, we planted this mulberry tree. It was a gift from one of our beach neighbors. It lived in a 5 gallon bucket for two years, just waiting for us to find a homestead.

Here we are. Lyli is 5, Loral is 11 months.

We look forward to God’s Continued Blessings while we watch our family, our homestead, and our tree grow.

Blessings to you all!

-Phyllis

 

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New Life for an Old Ottoman

One of the wonderful things about having a home again is having all our stuff in one place. I can finally work on some projects that have been delayed for too long.

We bought this storage ottoman before Lyli was born. We stored movies in it. Then it was a toy box for a few years. Last year I stocked it with old magazines and my favorite reading blanket. But the straw top was fraying badly. It didn’t like being used as a footstool I guess.

Finally, my fabric stash, stapler, and the ottoman were all in the same place. I organized my stash and remembered my unfinished ottoman project…

Ta Da!

I love the country blue fabric.

Happy Homesteading!

This post is linked to the BarnHop! Come join in the fun!

Through a Child’s Eyes

I love to see through Lyli’s eyes. There is such wonder, joy, peace, and faith.

Do you see the star?

She had to point it out to me, too.

:D

A Quick Message From Our Father

I love it when God sends me a postcard to say He loves us.

My Brother, Jesus, is quick to remind me of His love.

Our Comforter, the Holy Spirit, is always here, and never leaves us.

 

Ben and I received this cross as a wedding gift. I hung it up a few days ago. Then yesterday morning, God graced it with a sunbeam.

Blessings!

-Phyllis Fekula