Rewarding Hard Work

 It's important to teach kids responsibility.  I also think it is encouraging when you reward. What? Don't you get a paycheck for hard work that you do? 

I had a reward system for our boys growing up. They had chores they did. We rewarded hard work. This created work ethics. 

Things are no different with the girls. I teach them the same thing. 

They help with cows, garden, mowing, cleaning or anything we are doing. They are not afraid of hard work. 

I remember taking the boys to spend their chore money when they were younger. Walking down every isle, looking at EVERY SINGLE toy, helping them make economical decisions, telling them if they had enough money or not. 

I took the girls out today to spend their money. We made it a girls day out. I had to do the same thing with them too. 

Atleigh said this was the hardest decision of her life. I believe it. Do you see how long that isle is? I needed a lawn chair or something.  We finally narrowed it down. They were so proud of their decisions. 

On another note, it's pure luck that outfits fit that you sew when they are not around you to try them on. Phew!!!!!!

It's ok to teach responsibility at young ages. There are age appropriate chores that can be taught. 

It is easy to create chore charts and have a reward system. This teaches hard work ethics which will follow them throughout their adult life. You can't follow them out into the real world and do things for them. They will grow up and move out someday and they need to know how to do basic life skills and make good decisions.  

As a parent and grandparent it is our responsibility to teach the younger generations. This is plainly stated in the Bible. 

May we all do our best to carry out our special calling. 

Tracy

Keeper of the Home 

TEACHING LIFE SKILLS

 Teaching kids to cook is an essential life skill, not just for girls. I'm so glad we taught our boys to cook at young ages. You can't follow them to college or out in the real world when they move out and leave the nest. You can't do everything for them. 

Teach them what they need before they leave home so they will be able to do things for themselves. 

It is our jobs as parents to "Train up a child in the way they should go....." 

#cooking #baking #teaching #lifeskills #parenting #kids #kidscooking #Instagram #Facebook #viral

This is our youngest son from years ago. He was always the little chef. He would carefully plan out his meals. Now , he cooks for him and his wife. 

Start them out young in the kitchen. You never know what their passions become. 

Tracy

Keeper of the Home 

This Sale Ends Soon

 

Bentgo’s Stainless Steel Insulated Food Jar for Kids is here! A leakproof, insulated food jar that keeps yummy meals warm or cool by lunchtime! Available in our most-loved prints to match our lunch boxes, lunch bags, and more!

Help Your Teachers Out

 Attention:

Parents of Preschool, Pre-K, Kindergarten,  I'm gonna have to help the teachers out a bit. 

Please start working with your children, and practicing at home, basic needs, manners, hygiene, etc. Make sure they know how to properly care for themselves somewhat when they have to go potty. Proper cleaning (wiping), washing and drying hands. 

Getting them selves ready to help your mornings go smoother. 

Help them practice opening lunch boxes, water bottles, containers. Teach them what is to go in the trash and what comes back home. Those zippers and containers can be hard for little hands. 

I know some of these are no brainers but you would be surprised at how many children go off to school and no one taught them how to do these things. 

The teachers are responsible for 20 or more students. If you have trouble keeping up with your own kids, try being in charge of that many at one time. 

Help your teachers out.📚🗒🖍🖌

Tracy

Keeper of the Home 

Todays Video is Live Now

 Dear hubby made his own video for you guys out there who love to grill and smoke meals. He did an awesome job and I couldn't be more proud of him. He is coming around to the camera. I was just the camera man...ummmm...woman for him. 

Ya'll feel free to check it out. Just click on the link and watch. Hope you enjoy. 

Day 2 of Make Ahead Breakfasts for Back To School

 I ended Day 2 of my Make Ahead Breakfasts for Back To School marathon. 

Yesterday I finished my Back To School Batch Cooking Make Ahead Breakfasts. 😋 I ended with mini chocolate chip muffins, regular size chocolate chip muffins and pancakes. All were made with freshly milled flour and sugar free chocolate chips. The pancakes were made with freshly milled flour and I snuck in butternut squash and flavored them up. These kids have been eating them this way for years and they never notice.

All is in the freezer now and I can relax knowing my mornings will run a little smoother now. 

Here is another video of some more great ideas for breakfasts:

 I ended the night with Pickling okra and making zucchini pickles. 

Here is how I did those:

#viral #instagram #facebook #fyp #youtube #makeaheadbreakfast #backtoschool #college #momlife #homemade #homemaking #homesteading

If you enjoy posts like these, feel free to sign up for our email list. You wil get a notification every time a new post is made. The sign up is on the right side bar of the Home page. Thanks so much for hanging out with me. See you in the next post. 

Tracy

Keeper of the Home 

Make Ahead Breakfasts for Back To School

 It's a good thing dear hubby has supper covered for tonight because I am exhausted.  50 to 60 waffles, 50 to 60 chaffles, and  30 or so sausage patties. Every year, right before school, I take a few days to batch cook MAKE AHEAD FREEZER BREAKFASTS.   This makes school mornings so much easier and I know they are getting a nutritious breakfast before their day starts. I did this with our boys and now I do it for our grandchildren. I make all things like breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches of all kinds for grab, heat up and go. Then I make items that are heat up and sit down and eat if they have time. Either way they are winners. 🏆🏅

Tomorrow will be pancakes and muffins. I always take their requests for their favorite thing then we will rotate next time around. 

I need a nap. 😉🤣

If you want to know more of how I do this,  Click here to watch 

#breakfastideas #breakfasts #freezermeals ##freezerbreakfasts #freezercooking #makeaheadbreakfast ##makeaheadmeals #baking #cooking #backtoschool #offtocollege 

Tracy

Keeper of the Home 

It's All About Teamwork

 For years my husband and I have worked together as a team. He grew up with a Momma teaching him life skills too. I'm so glad we had mommas to teach and guide us. It has been essential in our lives as we carried out our roles as husband and wife, parents and now grandparents. 

"And the two shall become as one flesh......"

Dear hubby rocked making the main dish and I whipped up some homemade rolls to go with it. 

Tracy

Keeper of the Home 

#oneflesh #teamwork #marriage #spouses #lifeskills #parenting ##momlife #dadlife #lifehacks 

NEW VIDEO TODAY ON YOUTUBE

 Newest Video in my Homemaking Series on YouTube.  Check it out. With school coming up, it can help keep your days on track. 

Click on the link to watch. 

Tracy

Keeper of the Home 

Biggest Sale of the Season

 Bentgo is having their biggest sale of the season. Everything for your lunch making essentials. They are not just for kids either. Check out their adult products too. Click the link below to see all they have. 

Bentgo’s biggest sale of the season is here! Gear up for back-to-school and save 20% sitewide on lunch boxes, lunch bags, backpacks, water bottles, and more for kids, tweens, teens, and adults! The sale starts from July 18 to 31. Don't miss out!

This post contains affiliate links to which 4D Farms earns a small commission at no cost to you except savings. Thank you for your support. 

Tracy

Keeper of the Home

#sales #deals #savings #discounts #coupons #lunch

Latest Videos

 If you have been following my Breadmaking Series on my YouTube channel,  another video is up and running. In today's video, I use my 5 Minute No Knead Bread to make a sandwich loaf using a Pullman bread pan and then I make baguettes. They were so awesome. 

My momma has learned to make this same dough and started making her and my daddy some better bread. I will repost the start of the 5 Minunte No Knead Bread videos so you can get caught up in case you missed them or are new to seeing us for the first time. Here are the first two:

Here is today's video:

This 5 Minute No Knead Bread Dough comes together in a jiffy and it mimics sourdough for its healthy fermented gut benefits. But there are so many ways you can use it. 

If you want to know where you can find the Pullman pan and the baguette pan, you can find them  Here in my Amazon Store and here is the smaller size pan Here 

Here is the Baguette pan here 

Today is the last day for Amazon Prime Days and if you shop through my link you will also help me out. 

Also, another new video of my journey to making dear hubby some low to no sugar jams that he can eat. This one is now his favorite. He loves strawberries in jams. Here is that video. It was so easy to do, that I am still questioning myself why I waited so long to try it. 

If you are looking for Pamonas Pectin you can get it Here in my store also

This post does contain affiliate links, and if you shop through my link, you will be helping support our blog and YouTube channel. There is no extra cost to you except savings. Who wouldn't want that? Thank you so much for your support. 

I hope you enjoy the videos. 

Tracy 

Keeper of the Home 

#latestvideo #viral #newvideos #bread #breadmaking #jam #jamming #canning #Preserving #prepping  

Busy Day on the Farm

 All before 8am. We made homemade biscuits, sausage and sheet pan eggs. All was baked at the same time in the oven.  While they were baking we made use of our time and whistled while we worked just like Snow White. We swept, mopped, washed dishes,  wiped down countertops and refrigerator.  Now we head to the garden and check for tomatoes, okra, peppers and zucchini.  🍅🫑🥒

I've always taught our boys and now teaching our grandchildren that work comes first and then play. So play it was 

We have always taught our boys work before play. Well, after work this morning we got to play. Swimming, roasting smores on our little table top fire pit. Then one of those long, summer, lazy, after swim naps that sends you to LaLa land and you wake up wondering what day it is. Atleigh made up a new word. SMORERIFFIC!!!!!!! I agree. Caroline enjoyed just doing her cannonballs.

Teachers, today and Tomorrow is Amazon Prime Days be sure to get all your Back To School Supplies and help a girl out 

You can find all your needs through our Amazon Store

This post contains affiliate links to which our farm earns a small commission. Thank you for your support. 

Tracy

Keeper of the Home

Today is the Day

 Whooooo Hoooooo!!!!!!! 

Today and Tomorrow is the days. 

Amazon Prime Day. 

I was able to get some early Prime Day Deals and here is a few. 

I love roasting hotdogs and marshmallows but not when there is a heat index outside. So I got this little table top fire pit. Now we can sit and enjoy roasting in the summer ☀️ 

All it requires is a little fuel and when you're done you snuff the flame with the lid. Easy Peasy. 

I have added this to my Amazon Store on my Outdoor Recreation List. You can find it Here 

Then the next thing I purchased was this baby. 

Let me tell you, this has saved me so much time and helped me get my housework done so much faster. I named her Hazel. 

You can find it on my Cleaning Essentials List Here 

I hope you find all you are looking for on these two big days. 

Happy Shopping 

Making Low To No Sugar Strawberry Jam Using Pamona's Pectin

In today's video I have found another way to make low to no sugar jams and this one is shelf stable so it is water bathed. It also uses Pamona's Pectin. I was so intimidated to try but once I did, I will be doing this from now on. I do not know why it took me so long. 

Be sure to check it out. 

#lowsugar #nosugar #jams #jellies #newvideo 

Tracy

Keeper of the Home 

Back To School and Off To College

 It is that time of year again that we all dread and that is Back To School or Off To College. 

School will be starting soon next month and everyone is starting to look for the best deals for all their needs. It is not just a time for students, but teachers also. Anyone who will be having children in their care like, Baby sitters, Preschool Workers, Day Care Centers, Learning Centers, etc. 

Parents are looking for their children's school supplies, students are looking for supplies for college or dorm room, and Teachers are looking for suppies for their classrooms and students. Caregivers will need supplies too. 

Here are some deals that I have found for you. 

Let's start with Dollar Tree. I have been keeping an eye on their merchandise. Let me tell you when I say they have stepped up the past few months. They are getting better merchandise. They even have stocked some nice backpacks and lunch boxes. The best part is, now you can shop online in the privacy of your own home in your pajamas if you want to. You can have your supplies delivers straight to your door. No getting out in the heat and lagging and unloading all these bags. Better yet I will just let you watch this video where I take you into the store and walk you around with me. 

You can go straight to their website Here and type in what you are looking for in the Search Bar. I personally picked up some items to restock and reorganize an area in our living room for our grandchildrens arts and craft supplies. 

The next place you can shop is Amazon. If you don't find what all your looking for at Dollar Tree, you can always look on Amazon. If you want to help a girl out you can always go through our Amazon Store link and find what you need in the Search Bar. You can go  Here an help me out a little. Prime Day is July 16th and 17th. 

If you are on the lookout for lunch box accessories, or back packs, even for grown ups, check out new items from Bentgo.  

You can check out more deals Here from Bentgo. 

I truly hope you find everything you need at awesome deals. With Inflation the way it is, we need all ths help we can get. 

This post contains affiliate links to which 4D Farms earns a small commission at no cost to you. If you use any of my links to make purchases, please know we appreciate your support. 

If I find any more deals and sales for you, I will be sure to let you know. 

Tracy

Keeper of the Home