Posted in The Homestead

I am just loving the month of January. I'll be really sorry when it is over. It is so nice to just have the days quiet and without having to think about schooling or running the kids around to this and that. The less I have to go into town, the better.

Having just moved into our new home just before Christmas, this is the first time I've been able to try and get my systems set up in the house. Kris recommended several websites for diaries and home organization methods. I am not a big user of diaries. I've tried in the past, but it usually only lasts the first week before I go back to using a calendar on the wall. But Kris mentioned Bahama Blessings at

http://www.homeschoolestore.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=144&affiliate_id=698

and I really liked the simplicity of these forms, and they're very inexpensive too. I got a set for $3.95, which works out less than $10 New Zealand dollars, and no postage, as it was a download, and I can just print off new sheets when I need them, and they're pretty too. All of this brings me to my new pantry. I spent all day Saturday arranging it and sorting things out. We're still unpacking boxes, so I know I'm going to have to tweak it here and there, but I'm just loving the extra storage space, and the extra bench where I can prepare my baking. If someone calls in, I can just shut the door on all the mess!

I have been getting noticeboards for the children to put above their desks in the school room, and decided to get one for myself as well to put on the blank wall in my pantry. I am going to work on that today, but that is where I plan to put my planning sheets from Bahama Blessings, and my menus and have a running grocery list on there as well, with a pen attached - I'm always having a hard time finding pens!!.

It's so much fun getting organized. There are not enough hours in the day for me right now. I can't think of a better job/career right now than just being at home getting my house in order for the year.

So here are some pictures of my pantry. This first one shows the entrance from the main kitchen.

The next two photos show the top part of the shelves and the bottom part of the shelves which are around the corner in the pantry. I'll post a picture of my noticeboard once I've completed it.