everyday gifts

family + sun + water = good times

2011-07-12T07:59:00.006-05:00

we drove straight south, for hours. away from the calendar, the schedules, the telephone ringing, appointments, chores, and work. the trip was uneventful, save one flat tire on the boat trailer and one forgotten cooler of food in the kitchen. the tire was changed quickly thanks to the spare and the tools that mark threw in at the last minute. and the food would be replaced at the walmart as we neared our destination. we turned off the highway and meandered into countryside and then woods. the woods got thicker until we reached paradise! the woods cleared into shimmering water...

a view of the resort from the water

S is up and skiing!

the captain

S and B hangin' on!

C at the helm

everyday gift: the hum of the boat, splashing water, sweet laughter

one thousand gifts

2011-01-23T08:05:00.002-06:00

a remarkable book by a remarkable woman.

it has been a week since amazon sent me a shipment notification. tracking my package tells me it should arrive tomorrow. it is so hard to wait for this book to arrive! but the truth is, i didn't wait. i've already read it on my kindle. even so, i want to hold it in my hand; to turn the pages; underline those poignant words; put a sticky note on a page to come back to. i ordered multiple copies to share with a list of friends. but i am going to have to order more. you see, i want to share this book with everyone i know!

i've been reading ann voskamp's blog, aholyexperience, for some time now. her candid look at faith and life has challenged me in so many ways. her words have brought me to tears on many occasions and caused me to look within and think things through in a new way. my own blog reflects her influence as i note at the bottom of each post the gifts i find in my own life. i have found God's blessings in so many ordinary things. ordinary, but holy when you see God's love shining through them.

but ann's message is more than just "looking on the bright side" or just "being thankful". her message is one of faith, joy, and trust in a God who is in every part of our life, including the difficulties. but i really can not summarize her message. you simply must read it.

everyday gift: heart changing words

blazing sunset

2011-01-12T06:00:00.001-06:00

everyday gift: startling beauty in the sky

eagle in snow

2011-01-07T08:20:00.001-06:00

everyday gift: a majestic visitor in a snow storm

2010 bookshelf

2010-12-28T08:27:00.005-06:00

i didn't get quite as much reading time in this year. i think my knitting took over a little more of my free time. i also was not as good at recording my books. but, by my list, it looks like i read 16 fiction books (6 of these were classics) and 8 nonfiction (including knitting books, cook books, and biographies) for a total of 24 books.

here is a summary and my year end review:

nonfiction:
In Search of the Source by Neil Anderson. this is a fascinating story of missionaries translating the Bible into the languages of papua new guinea. the light of God's word penetrating the darkness of men's souls. powerful.

Half Broke Horses by jeannette walls . a story of survival and resilience. this was quite an adventure with a strong and brave female heroine.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skoot. what a fascinating book! it is a combination of medical miracles and a human interest story with a little bit of mystery as the main character attempts to uncover the past about her mother. highly recommended.

Free-Range Knitters by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. wacky and very funny! the author pokes fun at herself and her obsession with knitting.

The Knitter's Book of Wool by. i loved this book which delves into the unique characteristics of wool and its importance as a fiber. i guess only the die hard knitters and sheep keepers would want so much information about wool.

a fine fleece: knitting with handspun yarns by lisa lloyd. beautiful patterns and yarns in this book. very inspiring to me!

Knit Socks! by betsy lee mccarthy. working on a pair of socks for my mom. didn't quite get them done for christmas! great patterns and tips for knitting socks.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl by ree drummond. yes. i read cook books, and this is a fun one. not only do you find great recipes here, but entertainment as well. you should check out ree's blog. it is hilarious and tasty!

fiction classics:
Lady Susan by jane austen. an early, relatively unknown work by jane austen. a fun read, but definitely not as good as her famous works.

Sense and Sensibility by jane austen. a re-read of a favorite.

Frankenstein by mary shelly. not my usual genre, but worthy of reading. it is not the hollywood horror story that you might expect. rather, it was a thoughtful look at beauty and outward appearances versus the inner man and the need to be loved and accepted.

To Kill a Mockingbird by harper lee. yes, i read this book again! what can i say? i love this book!

Animal Farm by george orwell. i read this aloud to the kids. it was fun connecting the dots of this satire to historical people and events. especially since C had just studied that period in history and written a research paper on stalin.

The Bell Jar by slyvia plath. an interesting look at mental illness, but rather depressing. still i enjoyed the writing; it is no surprise that the author was actually a poet. i think i may try to read more poetry next year...

other fiction:
That Distant Land by wendell Berry. this is my favorite new author! this book is a collection of short stories revolving around the fictional community of port william arranged in chronological order. as i read through this series i was struck by the way the characters were woven together in community, a tribute to the american spirit. there was also a strong sense of generations. and like many of my favorite books, the port william stories have deep character development.
Nathan Coulter, A World Lost, and A Place on Earth are novels that follow the same community of characters. i will continue to read his stories next year.

Austenland by shannon hale. just fluff. but i suppose any austen lover would enjoy all of the references to P&P (even if it is more closely related to the BBC movie version.)

Ella Minnow Pea by mark dunn. what a unique idea. throughout the story, letters of the alphabet are eliminated. it must have been quite a challenge to write in the end! a fun read.

The Gournsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by mary ann shaffer and annie barrows. loved this one! a story told though letters, you know, correspondence.

Lottery by patrica wood. this is a great story with memorable characters. my only complaint is excessive bad language.

Prayers for Sale by sandra dallas. enjoyable read.

Resurrection in May by lisa samson. looking back, i can't believe that this is the only christian fiction that i read all year. i know that i am choosy about christian authors. it is just that i am easily annoyed when a book reduces the christian faith to one dimensional characters and unrealistic situations and solutions to life's problems. but still, i do love a good story that brings to life a deep faith and love of God. lisa samson is one of the authors that does this well.

everyday gift: beautiful words on paper... or the kindle, as the case may be!

sculpted snow

2010-12-26T08:01:00.000-06:00

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.

Isaiah 1:18

my favorite Christmas gift? Jesus! who makes my sins as white as snow!

small joys

2010-12-17T08:23:00.003-06:00

these little stocking ornaments represent a large victory for me. i set out this year to learn new knitting skills, and making socks was at the top of the list. painstakingly, i deciphered the abbreviations; flipping back and forth between the glossary and the pattern. i had my Knitter's Companion by my side as i figured out new stitches. i even turned to youtube as i learned to use double pointed needles and how to turn the heel! one step, or should i say, one stitch at a time and i saw my goal accomplished. lately, i carry my knitting bag with me where ever i go, stealing a few minutes here and there to make these miniature stockings. i can make one without even using a pattern, and it wasn't so long ago that i thought socks were complicated and near impossible. life is like that sometimes. a problem seems insurmountable, and yet all i really need to do is take it one step at a time rather than allow myself to become overwhelmed by the entire task.

stocking ornament made with a single-ply handspun wool

i embellished each one with an antique button from grandma's button box.

merry christmas, everyone!

may you find joy in the small things!

aura borealis scarf

2010-12-03T08:22:00.010-06:00

i am so pleased with the way my scarf turned out. it was a very ambitious process which began with roving from our very own cheviot ewe, roxie. the roving was hand painted at a workshop held by our local guild. i hand spun the yarn and then knit the scarf with a pattern specifically chosen for an upcoming display that the guild is working on. following, i have documented the steps... (although in reverse order!) :

here is a close-up of the stitches.

all year i have been choosing knitting patterns that would teach me a new skill or stitch, including using double pointed needles, circular needles, the trinity stitch, gussets on mittens and socks. and, in this case, the drop stitch. i think the variegated yarn is well suited for the wavy effect of this stitch. it was the look i was going for in keeping with the theme of moving colors of the aura borealis.

on the spinning wheel

my hand painted roving ready for spinning

in july our weaving and spinning guild held a dye workshop. it was a beautiful day to work on our goal of creating hand painted roving to spin and warp for weaving projects. we will be creating a display at next year's midwest convention in the theme of "moving colors of the northern lights." we had a very successful and enjoyable day working together! here are a few pictures from our day:

i am in the top left picture and B on the right. we are squirting dye onto our prepared roving.

B really loved the workshop and created some beautiful roving.

everyday gift: creating!

happiness is...

2010-12-01T18:46:00.002-06:00

hand knit socks!

everyday gift: knitting up love for my girl

a very sincere pumpkin patch

2010-11-13T14:46:00.006-06:00

i am really enjoying the pumpkins from my garden this fall. and i smile at how little i did to deserve such a wonderful harvest! these are truly a gift. last fall i got some lovely sugar baby pie pumpkins from a friend's garden. but i had one left over that never got cooked and baked into something yummy or even put in the freezer for later. instead the poor thing was shuffled from the kitchen counter to the laundry room when the fall decorations gave way to christmas. then moved from the laundry room to the mud room when i cleaned one day. by now the pumpkin was looking pretty sad and slightly mushy. mark wondered why i was keeping it and i had to face it: i was not going to get around to cooking up that pumpkin. it had definitely gone by! so it was thrown outside into the flower bed. i noticed that a mouse found it and gnawed a hole in it to feast on the seeds. i'm sure it was quite a windfall for him so late in the winter when his store of seeds must be running low. spring finally came and what was left of the pumpkin was given to the chickens. i welcomed warmer weather and was anxious to get busy in my garden. it was then, while weeding my flower bed, that i noticed something sprouting, maybe sunflowers? i might have spilled some birdseed. but then i realized. these were volunteer pumpkin sprouts! what seemed like hundreds! i transplanted 3 small seedlings into the vegetable garden and sadly weeded out the rest. the little guys did not receive much attention from me over the summer. i think i gave it one good weeding and let nature do the watering. the result was 20 beautiful pie pumpkins, an undeserved gift!

(i know, that is quite a story to introduce this blog post!)

freshly pureed pumpkin

how to make fresh pumpkin puree

after cutting open the pumpkin, scoop out the inside seeds and pulp. (yes! i saved the seeds this time!) next, cut the pumpkin into chunks leaving the skin on. place in a large pot and add a few inches of water. cover and bring to a boil. turn down to a simmer and cook, covered, until pumpkin is soft. when cool enough to handle scoop pumpkin from the skins. puree in a food processor. drain pumpkin in a fine sieve for 10 or 15 minutes to remove any extra liquid. freeze in 2 cup quantities in freeze bags or containers. (2 cups roughly equals a small can of pumpkin)

and in the spirit of the season, i made some pumpkin cutout cookies. :o)

everyday gift: a bountiful harvest of pumpkins

fungus fascination

2010-11-12T15:57:00.012-06:00

it was a hot afternoon and i was walking the path next to the creek. the shade felt good. all around me were the dark greens of the trees and brush, the black earth underfoot, and the tall dark brown trunks of the trees, with dappled sunlight peeking through the leaves. and then, across the creek, i saw an explosion of color. orange.

an old fallen tree slanted down the steep bank and dipped into the water below. it hosted a beautiful colony of lichen in full bloom, so bright and unexpected that it took my breath away. i hiked back to the house to get the camera.

i had to overcome mud, thorns, poison ivy, and mosquitoes, but i managed to get in a good position on the other side of the creek to photograph the phenomenon. i am so glad i went to the trouble, because a week later, when i returned to sight, the lichen had faded. it was not nearly as stunning as it had been.

God gives beauty and color in such unexpected places. watch for it!

everyday gift: unexpected color

the hope of a spring yet to come

2010-11-12T13:49:00.004-06:00

autumn's overnight frost has ushered in the end of summer.

what was once green and lush, now turns brown and brittle.

the milkweed pods look like death shrouds,

but as it splits open it reveals something quite opposite of death;

a hundred seeds spill out with wings that will carry them on the wind.

seeds that carry the hope of new life and a spring yet to come.

everyday gift: beauty in a milkweed pod

summer camp

2010-10-07T19:51:00.001-05:00

dusting off this blog post draft left over from the summer... i downloaded a few pictures from B's canoeing adventure in july, but never went any further. and then life kept happening. and happening. so here i am trying to get back into the blogging habit. i will start by posting this summer memory. now that it is october the days are getting shorter, the nights cooler, and the evenings are now filled with homework. how did the summer fly by so quickly?

a picture perfect day for canoeing

everyday gift: summer sun, fun on the water!

2010-10-07T19:49:00.001-05:00

one thing i love about summer...

2010-07-30T13:27:00.000-05:00

everyday gift: vine ripened tomatoes

presto! pesto!

2010-07-30T13:01:00.004-05:00

my basil really took off this summer. i love the spicy smell as i pick large bouquets from my herb garden to make pesto sauce. i have purple basil growing as well... i wonder what it be like to make purple pesto?! maybe i'll try that someday.

i have been re-establishing my herb garden at our new house. chives, thyme, and feverfew made the move from the old house. in this picture i have rosemary, sage, apple scented geranium, purple basil, and sweet basil

mollie katzen has written some of my favorite cookbooks. it is her recipe from The New Moosewood Cookbook that i use to make my pesto. fresh basil, pine nuts, lots of garlic and parmesan cheese make this recipe so flavorful!

i put some in jars to use right away. pouring a little olive oil over the top for storage will keep the green pesto from turning brown. i also made a few batches to freeze for later.

everyday gift: fresh basil pesto

a noste-who-ee?

2010-07-20T16:47:00.004-05:00

a nostepinne! well, actually, it is an antique spool that has been re-purposed as a nostepinne, that is, a Norwegian ball winder. i can wind my skeins of yarn into a handy center pull ball. clever!

from skein to ball

i finished spinning the rambouillet wool/angora blend roving that i purchased at the iowa sheep and wool festival. it was very nice to spin. the angora gives it a very luxurious feel and will make my cowl even warmer. i found this easy pattern at crazy girl yarn shop and adjusted it slightly making it several inches shorter. i didn't want quite so many folds. around my neck.

i got a few strange looks when i knit this cozy neck warmer while the sun was blazing in july and temperatures soaring in the 90's! but i was hoping to knit some of that heat into my project. come january, i'm going to need it!

the finished product

everyday gift: storing up the summer sun :o)

snap shots of a summer adventure

2010-07-12T21:17:00.013-05:00

a glorious week on clayter lake.

sailing, canoeing, swimming, snorkelling, rowing, water skiing.

a summer to remember.

i think C is the last one in the last canoe.

sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

sunshine in my eyes can make me cry,

sunshine on the water looks so lovely...

(sorry, i just couldn't resist breaking into a john denver song)

the dock

umm. i guess they weren't really "roughin' it", now were they?

the rocket, pulled by a speed boat

a beautiful sail boat.

C tells the story of their first day out in the sail boat when a storm popped up. the wind was keeping them from making any progress toward the dock and at one point the boat was almost capsized! i'm not sure, but i think he actually enjoyed it. or maybe he just enjoyed telling the story and how he had lived through it! ;o)

C learned to row and really fell in love with this sport at camp. living right on the mississippi river, he may have the opportunity to pursue this new interest. i'm looking into it.

his incredible week of water sports ended with a bang. the night before heading home, C caught his hand between two boards tearing his finger, requiring an ambulance ride to the ER and 11 stitches. now i know why i was praying so hard this week! and despite the injury, i know that God protected him. C's tendon was exposed from the cut. had his tendon actually been cut, he would have needed surgery instead of just stitches! so we are thankful for the silver lining.

C in the ER

"yes, mom. i'm really okay!"

everyday gift: C on an exciting adventure... and safely home!

lemon blueberry bread

2010-07-12T10:15:00.003-05:00

i love the summer tradition of picking berries; strawberries, raspberries, blueberries... all in their turn, with the sun on our backs, the kerplunk of berries in the bucket, and pleasant conversation buzzing like the bees around us... forgive me for being a bit sentimental, but that really was the lovely time we had at Beacon Woods Farm. thank you, chris, for the delicious berries and the warmth of your friendship!

lemon blueberry bread

1/3 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

juice of 1 lemon, zest of 1 lemon

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup milk

1 cup fresh blueberries

2 Tbl lemon juice

1/4 cup sugar

preheat your oven to 350* and grease an 8 x 4 loaf pan.

combine the flour, baking powder, salt in a mixing bowl, and set aside.

cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. add the eggs, one at a time, beating well. mix in the lemon juice. add the flour mixture and milk, alternating. fold in the blueberries and lemon zest. pour the batter into the prepared pan.

bake at 350* for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. combine lemon juice and sugar to make a glaze. pour over the top of the bread while still warm.

everyday gift: bursting blueberries

highlights from the weekend

2010-07-12T09:57:00.007-05:00

this is actually about 4 blog posts rolled into one, but as you may have noticed, i have not been very good about sitting down to my computer and getting things logged in. life happens around here faster than i can type, it seems! so in a whirlwind post, here are a few pictures and highlights from our weekend..

i recently came in contact with a local alpaca breeder while trying to find a shearer for our alpaca. we had a nice visit about raising such interesting animals and i mentioned that since we lost our llama last year, i was concerned that she didn't have another friend of her own kind to hang around with. sheri remembered that comment and called me last week when she decided to sell her gelding. i had to do a bit of negotiating with mark, but i decided to bring him home. he has got the softest fluffiest fibers! isn't he cute?!

meet "Thorn".

i spotted this carding table at the alpaca farm and snapped a picture. it is a frame with a bottom of wide screen. it allows you to sort through your fleece and fibers while the dirt and vegetable matter fall out. i am hoping to convince someone to build one for me!

another opportunity came our way in the form of a free rabbit! an english spot rabbit to be precise. B is delighted with her new friend. she named her "Violet".

B learning some tips on raising english spot rabbits

a bunny farm

my new friend sheri, from the alpaca farm gave me these pumpkin blossoms with instructions to prepare them like morel mushrooms. that is to say, lightly breaded and sauteed in butter with a little salt and pepper. i love trying new things!

the weaving and spinning guild held a color/dye workshop this weekend with abi hutchison teaching and demonstrating some techniques for hand painting yarn, roving, and warp. what a really neat time we had experimenting with colors and working on ideas that will fit the theme of the aurora borealis. what an incredible inspiration in nature to use for a workshop on color, don't you think?

roxie's cheviot roving

dyed in a progression of colors: yellow sun, spruce, emerald, sky blue, and brilliant blue.

i am really looking forward to spinning this!

everyday gift: new friends

zucchini blossoms

2010-07-09T08:37:00.002-05:00

please excuse my absence. i've been lingering in the garden...

everyday gift: the summer sun nourishing my garden

iowa sheep and wool festival

2010-06-26T20:36:00.006-05:00

a few weeks ago B and i took another mother-daughter road trip. it was a wonderful weekend adventure at the iowa sheep and wool festival. (i would like to take a moment here and say what a blessing it is to have a daughter! we have the best time together, sharing so many interests, having heart to heart talks, and laughing a lot, too. i am so thankful for our special relationship!) okay, back to the regularly scheduled blog post... B took a beginning spinning class and was able to learn how to use the wheel she got for christmas. her wheel is a beautiful louet s15 that has been stained green and decorated with a fern motif.

hurray! success on the spinning wheel!

B spinning on a drop spindle

carding fuchsia wool

B and i in the bleachers watching the sheep dogs herd their little flocks through the course...

i also took a class and learned a few techniques to spin specialty yarns using mohair. it was rather difficult and i'm not sure if was very successful, but it helped me to break out of my "spinning comfort zone".

left to right: spinning directly from mohair locks, a loopy yarn, spinning onto a core thread

i wanted to try some new fibers so i bought this beautiful silk/merino blend.

this is a wool/angora blend.

i am spinning it now and looking for some kind of cowl/hood/mobius pattern to use with the yarn. do you have a favorite?

everyday gift: a weekend with my girl

spring lambs!

2010-06-23T20:53:00.000-05:00

i have been meaning to post about our new lambs for about a month, but life around here has been a little crazy. finally, here are pictures of our little babies. it has been so much fun to get to know them. they each have their own little quirks and stories.

hope

hosanna finally had her baby. out of the 4 ewes who lambed this spring, hosanna was the only experienced mama. every time a lamb was born, hosanna stepped right up to take care of the new lamb, to the point were she was interfering with the real mama. we had to keep running her off and then we isolated the new mother and lamb so they could get to know one another without aunt hosanna budding in! so finally she had her own lamb about a week behind the others. it is a sweet little ewe lamb with a beautiful face, dark brown legs and belly, and a white fleece. hosanna has kept her very protected so we have not had much of a chance to handle her like the others. our little hope is the shy one of the bunch.

solomon

this ram lamb was the first to be born this spring. i love his beautiful face and the cinnamon brown tips on his fleece. underneath the color is fawn. he looks very much like his mother, jubilee. he had a little trouble nursing in the beginning. mama was so large and engorged with milk that he could just not latch on, despite his efforts. we tried to let nature take its course, but after almost 24 hours we still had not seen him successfully nurse. i finally gave him a bottle of milk replacer to give him some strength but i was not ready to take on the full time responsibility of bottle feeding this little guy. so mark and i began our efforts to assist the nursing process. mark had to hold jubilee and squirt milk from the nipple into the lamb's mouth while i physically attached baby to mama. we did this every hour one day and resumed the efforts the next morning until he would finally nurse on his own.

ezekiel

sweet little ram lamb. this is shalom's second born of the twins. shalom, hosanna's baby from 2008, is a shetland/cheviot cross. now, crossed back to shetland, her lambs have a very luxurious fleece. zeke is coal black with a small white spot on his head.

joy!

we could not have chosen a more appropriate name for shalom's ewe lamb. she is the friendliest, bounciest, silliest lamb that we have. she loves to climb all over you, if you let her, and she leads the other lambs all over the pasture in crazy leaps and bounds. she has unusual markings on her face of black, brown, and white. her long soft wool is growing in very grey underneath the white tips, very much like her mother.

malachi

this is malachi. second twin of bathsheba. he had a rough start when his mama was too busy with her first lamb to give him the attention that he needed. i watched on and waited for her to start licking him dry and nudging him to his feet, but she wasn't interested. when he started to shiver, i had to step in and dry him off with a towel and help him stand. i kept introducing him to mama and putting him in position to nurse. finally he latched on and bathsheba began to lick him and accept him. what a relief! he seemed to do well after that, although, he was never as frisky as the others. we didn't realize until it was too late that he had become sick. we lost him after 3 weeks. maybe he wasn't nursing as well as we thought. we will miss his sweet face with the funny white markings!

comfort

she is truly a prize among our lambs. bathsheba's first lamb is a spotless dark brown. in this picture she looks black, but compared to the true black lambs, she is definitely brown. we ended up with a perfect variety of colors: white, grey, fawn, dark brown, and black. i couldn't be happier about that! i believe comfort misses her brother, malachi. after he died, i left him with him mama for a little while. if i hadn't, she might have continued to look for him frantically and bah for him. this way she can somewhat process the fact that he has died. during this time, comfort lay down beside him and wouldn't leave him, even when the others had gone to pasture. it was very sad. maybe that is why she has become such buddies with hope.

everyday gift: colors of the shetland rainbow

radishes!

2010-06-02T12:03:00.002-05:00

B with some of the radishes she grew this spring!

a spring salad
spinach, leaf lettuce and sliced radishes from the garden
red onion, grated carrot, and feta cheese
tossed with italian dressing
a winning combination!

everyday gift: a garden fresh salad

recent happenings...

2010-05-25T11:49:00.007-05:00

so many things have been happening all at once during the month of may. it has sometimes been hard to coordinate them all. here are a few of the more important events...

our church was planning a baptism service and B wanted to be baptized. she picked up a packet that had all the information, a Bible study to complete and a form to fill out to help you verbalize your testimony. B was very serious about doing everything required exactly right. this lead her to be a little stressed and nervous. it did not help matters that we were very busy with so many other activities. as the date approached, i suggested that maybe we should just wait until the next time. but for B, this was just not an option. she reminded me of the story found in acts 8 about the ethiopian who believed when philip explained the scriptures to him. they came across a pool of water in the desert and he said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" like the ethiopian, she wanted to be baptized right now! and why not? here is water!

we couldn't have the cake reception for her like we did when her brothers were baptized, our weekend was just too packed with events. but she said, "you know, it's not about cake!" thank you, dear B, for reminding me to focus on the important things.

B shared her testimony about her sunday school teacher (miss paula)
teaching the kids about salvation when she was 5.
later that day she prayed to ask Jesus into her heart.

she was baptized by john, the children's pastor at our church, who has such a heart for the kids.
God has used him in a such a wonderful way in our family, especially evident in the spiritual growth spurt we have seen in B. she has learned so much through the children's ministry and has a real hunger for the Word. God has given her such a loving, compassionate, and generous heart. we have seen her give sacrificially to missions and serve the women's ministry by helping care for the younger children during Bible study. i am praising God for her sweet faith in action.

3 John 1:4

I have not greater joy than to hear that my children are
walking in Truth

This month was also important to C as he reached a milestone, graduating from 8th grade. my boy is ready for high school! (not sure about his mother!) this past year has been a time of tremendous growth, yes, physically, but also in maturity. i have watched him take on a man's work, side by side with his dad. he has taken responsibility for his studies, working independently through the algebra text book ahead of the class. i have also seen him overcome some pitfalls. (i will have to stop before i get into trouble...he is not too happy about being the subject of my blog. ) but i will say, i am so proud of this young man. it is a joy to see God working in his life.

C receives his certificate of 8th grade graduation

Philippians 1:6

...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

i must have turned my back one day, because when i looked again,

my boy had become a young man.

he has passed me up in height and is gaining on his dad!

clownin' around! :o)

everyday gift: celebrating achievements, growth, and God's grace

jack-in-the-pulpit

2010-05-10T06:58:00.005-05:00

we have a nice patch of jack-in-the-pulpits

in our woods along our path.

a jack-in-the-pulpit pushing up from its winter resting place

some flowers have deep purple markings inside. these are the seed making flowers. the pale green flowers only produce pollen which the insects carry to the other flowers. in the fall a spike of scarlet seeds will form. i have seen this before, not knowing what it was. i will be looking for them come october.

everyday gift: another wildflower for my nature almanac :o)

happy mother's day!

2010-05-09T21:20:00.002-05:00

everyday gift: a mother's love

spring soccer

2010-05-03T10:18:00.005-05:00

april and may bring a craziness to our schedule as our three soccer players gear up for the spring season. although it can be a strain, i do love the excitement of cheering my kids on from the sidelines. we have mostly good weather so being outdoors is very welcome after a long winter. here are a few shots from this weekend. (i forgot the camera at S's game, so i'll have to catch him next time. too, bad! it was a great game... he scored a hat trick!!! not bad for a defender, huh?! **correction** S read this and mentioned that although he is usually a defender, he was a midfielder for this game. just to set the record straight)

C in action during a weekend soccer game

he is serious during a game!

B nearly scores a goal!

everyday gift: a lawn chair, popcorn, lemonade, partly sunny skies, and an action-packed soccer game

road not taken

2010-05-03T09:40:00.005-05:00

a basket of homespun yarn

wool, compliments of jubilee, shetland ewe

i found a beautiful book at the library called: a fine fleece: knitting with handspun yarns by lisa lloyd. it is filled with beautiful patterns and insights into knitting with these special yarns. one pattern in particular caught my eye, a lacy scarf which the author called "road not taken". it calls for a fine yarn, but all of my yarns are thick and woolly. so rather than try to spin up a new skein, i decided to use a single strand already on the bobbin instead of a plied yarn. i was not sure how my experiment would turn out since plying a yarn causes a counter twist which balances the yarn. you can see in the picture how the yarn has a little kink to it.

but it was worth a try. i found the pattern to be very forgiving of that extra kink, the variations in yarn thickness, and my mistakes. i loved spinning jubilee's oatmeal colored wool and found it just as nice to knit. i am so thrilled with the outcome!

the author's comments on the pattern inspired me, "...I realized that the zig-zag pattern represents the different directions and roads that we can take with knitting and spinning. I am always thinking of alternate versions of garments and wonder just how many different roads could be explored. small projects such as this scarf allow unlimited possibilities. So many choices, so many roads to take."

and yes, i had to go out and buy the book! if you know me, that does not surprise you!

the finished product

everyday gift: learning new stitches

a morning walk

2010-04-07T19:02:00.008-05:00

since the weather has turned warmer, i have been taking a morning walk through our woods, even on a morning like today with a light rain falling. it is amazing how fast spring changes things from day to day. the flowers blooming yesterday are gone, but others have jumped up to replace them. i have found beauty at every turn, and not just in the wildflowers. i wish you could be with me to hike on our paths. until then, i will share my walk with you in pictures.

S discovered "raccoon tree" last year. we now pay him a visit every time we pass by. i am sure he wonders why we must wake him from his comfortable nap!

this tree fungus remind me of a sunrise. the colors and lines are so beautiful.

i enjoyed listening to this wild turkey this morning! he was making quite a racket gobbling to his girl friends. mark has seen a few turkeys around, but this is the first one that i have spotted. mark put a baby monitor out on the deck so we can listen to the birds sing (or gobble, as the case may be) in the morning when it is still too cool to open the windows.

how's that for re-purposing the baby monitor! *smile*

such diversity and uniqueness in nature!

at first glance the woods seem dreary and brown, but i found such beauty there this morning.
these oak leaves look as if they have been dipped in bronze.

watch your step!

i love the perfect geometry in this little snail.

the morning drizzle left sparkling jewels on the clover.

everyday gift: seeing God's perfect creativity and beauty in nature

what a mighty, mighty savior you are!

2010-04-07T08:27:00.004-05:00

What a mighty, mighty savior you are!

What a mighty, mighty savior you are!

You can wash away my sin,

You can cleanse my heart within,

What a mighty, mighty savior you are!

everyday gift: the voices of children singing God's praise

easter reflections

2010-04-07T07:27:00.005-05:00

on the floor of the woods, everything is brown. the leaves that fell in the autumn are covering the black earth, crumbling and returning to the soil. fallen branches are decaying...
...but out of this death, a shoot springs up. a single green leaf wraps around a stem, almost like a shroud, but instead of holding a corpse, it holds new life, a single white bud. it makes me think of the shroud of Jesus, wrapped around his crucified body, but instead of keeping death, it brought forth new life when He was raised on easter! praise God for his resurrection power that raised the Son from the dead and can breathe new life into a sinner's heart, like mine.

...just as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father,
we too may live a new life.
Romans 6:4b

Bloodroot

Sanguinaria candadensis

everyday gift: new life springing up in a dead heart because of Jesus

snow trillium

2010-04-01T09:25:00.003-05:00

the other night we went crunching through the blanket of leaves in the woods. mark was planting B's christmas tree (she insisted on having a LIVE tree in her room at christmas in protest to our new artificial tree. her dad was a softy and bought her the tree. and now it is planted on the edge of the woods. i hope it makes it, but it is not looking too good right now). anyway, i tagged along and was looking for birds and critters when i noticed little patches of white flowers blooming...

i recognized the three leaf and petal pattern as trillium, but it was not the prairie trillium that i have commonly seen. that plant has a brownish red flower, is much taller, and blooms later in spring.

excited by my sighting, i did some google research. i found the best information on the illinois wildflower website. there i learned that its latin name is trillium nivale and it is commonly called snow trillium because it blooms so early in the spring when there is often still snow on the ground. according to the distribution map, it does not even grow in our county or the surrounding counties; other places in illinois it is uncommon. it is considered an "indicator species of high quality upland woods." i was pleased to read this about our little woodland home. :o)

everyday gift: a discovery

red dakota sunset

2010-03-28T15:38:00.005-05:00

here are some more pictures of B and her new horse. the two have been getting along famously. do you know how i would have loved an opportunity like this when i was ten?! i only dreamed of having my very own horse. but i really think watching B enjoy living the life of a country girl, riding trails, getting dirty, and learning to love the outdoors brings enough joy to make up for it. more than enough!

first love!

B named her horse red dakota sunset.

dakota is a red dun quarter horse.

in this picture you can see the dark dorsal stripe,

which is characteristic of a dun.

B likes the natural "highlights" in his mane!

this is pixie, an american paint horse which we owned for about one week. she is a beautiful bay tobiano. but mark sent her back because she was nipping and bucking. the owner, who had assured us that she is 100% gentle and ready for the trail, was really surprised at this and had an equine chiropractor working on her. perhaps a pinched nerve was causing her to act up. whatever the case may be, we did not want to take a chance on her. too, bad. she is a real looker.

B and her dad going out for a ride.

mark is on an ornery pony named angel, which he thinks is a total misnomer! we borrowed her from a neighbor so dakota would have a pal until we find another horse. she a little small for mark. dakota, on the other hand, has been great with B. he is calm, cooperative, and friendly.

a very happy cowgirl!

everyday gift: the smell of fresh hay in the barn and a pile of dirty jeans in the laundry room!

twirling ten!

2010-03-28T09:19:00.003-05:00

HaPpY bIrThDaY!B, i am so thankful that God chose you to be a part of our family 10 years ago, you are such a blessing! i love the way you love life and do everything with such enthusiasm, from horseback riding, to jump roping, to reading, and crafting! i love the way you love with your whole heart. i love your laughter and joy. i guess i just love YOU!

everyday gift: twirling girl

mark's trail cam

2010-03-22T09:40:00.009-05:00

we have all been enjoying mark's trail cam! it gives us the chance to see the more elusive creatures that call our woods home. the deer are not hard to spot at dusk around here, but those bucks are very suspicious of people and keep hidden.
we have a running list of animals we have seen:
deer (does and bucks), fox, raccoon, rabbit, neighbor's dog...

mark and B hiking out to pick up the trail cam.
they are the wildest animals we have captured on film to date. :o)

mark has his eye on this buck.
he is torn between enjoying his presence in our woods,
and wanting him as a hunter's prize.

here is a little red fox.

we have seen his tracks and found his deserted den,
but he keeps himself out of sight.
i do hope he stays away from my chicken coop!

a few other nature highlights from past few months...

this winter we have enjoyed watching eagles soar over our farm.
this is the best of my attempts to photograph them.
i need a bigger lens and a tripod to get a better shot.

tracks in the snow...skunk, i think

coon tracks

everyday gift: our little woodland creatures

got mud?

2010-03-12T21:54:00.010-06:00

ah, yes. all signs of spring are welcome, even if it is mud.
and, boy, have we got MUD!

i can't wait to get that grass planted!

two pheasant roosters strolling along the treeline.
i took this picture from the deck, they are a little too far away for my camera.
but we were so excited to see them that i wanted to include this picture.

an interesting fungus amongus in the wet leaves.

the path through the trees opens up into a clearing. the boys are tossing a football around and i am trying hard to capture the moment in a photograph, but they are moving too fast.

time is moving too fast. i remember the day each of them was born as if it were yesterday. and now they are big, and confident, and exploring their worlds, and becoming more independent everyday.
*sigh* if only i really could capture these moments.

out for a little hike, trying to walk off the cabin fever we've had for the past few months and soak in the warmer temperatures. the breeze has the feel of spring. the birds can feel it, too, and they are announcing spring's arrival from the tree tops! we saw a dozen robins the other day and a blue bird. it is time to clean out the bird houses and make way for the new nests.

this is a ramp that the guys put up on a hill for sledding. now that the snow is gone we have discovered that it has become a busy little community!

underneath we found some little baby mice.
better way out here in the field than my kitchen!

everyday gift: a family walk after dinner

goin' to see a man about a horse

2010-03-07T06:48:00.003-06:00

whenever my gran'dad wanted to do something as a surprise and his girls got too curious and started asking questions, he always teased them and told them he was "goin' to see a man about a horse." and that was the answer i always got growing up when i started getting too nosey. of course, it was never a horse...

but yesterday, B and her dad DID go see a man about a horse! a 14 hands, red dun quarter horse. and it looks like we will have an addition to our little farm in a few weeks after mark can secure the fences and B can think of a fitting name. she is flying high! with special thanks to her grandpa for making it happen!

everyday gift: a girl's dream come true

a few pictures

2010-03-01T17:39:00.004-06:00

dad and mom

february 25, 2010

a dinner celebration after the wedding

yum! a shirley temple!

B with grammy

okay, guys. get serious...

that's better! (nice ipod earbud, C.)

more pictures from the photographer at the church to follow.

everyday gift: family times

celebrating a miracle

2010-03-01T09:14:00.003-06:00

dear mom and dad,

last week we celebrated a miracle. God has healed what many said would be impossible. my prayer for you is that the past will truly be overcome and love and forgiveness will reign in your marriage. may this chapter of your lives be the happiest yet.

your marriage brought back so many thoughts and memories of our family. i have been thinking about all our family has been through over the years and i realized how much you both have taught me. through all the ups and downs i can see the hand of God providing, guiding, protecting, sustaining and teaching me. let me number the ways...

1) growing up i never really knew that at times things were financially tough. we always had enough to eat, clothes on our backs, and a house that mom lovingly turned into our home. i always felt secure and cared for. i watched dad work hard to provide for our family and i know now that you both sacrificed your own desires for us. (sorry that you never got that bass boat, dad!) it taught me that family was really what was important.

2) i learned from you that when hard times come you must lean on the Lord and on each other. Our family has weathered some very sad times and through them all i watched your faith, rock solid, relying first on the Lord and also the other to make it through. mom, i witnessed you take the heart break of losing your son and turn your eyes to heaven with praise on your lips. your example is one of the single most poignant demonstrations of faith that has touched my life.

3) you taught me unconditional love. and i tested it! (sorry about that!) when i came to you, having failed and disappointed you with my choices, you were there for me. it was your love and support that gave me confidence and courage. and through the Lord's grace, a time of difficulty was turned to blessing.

4) and when your marriage faced it darkest hours i learned that even the strongest marriages are vulnerable if left unattended. mark and i have talked about this lesson often, vowing to do what it takes to protect our marriage from such pit falls. we are striving to keep our relationship as a top priority, second only to our relationship with the Lord.

5) if i learned something from your troubled marriage, so much more so in your reconciliation! mom, God met your needs when you were alone. he comforted and sustained you. your attitude of love and forgiveness amazed all, even when righteous anger would have been acceptable. your prayers and your patience have won out.

where would our family be without the Lord? mired in bitterness, unforgiveness, and hopelessness? He has taught us to trust and rest in Him. through good times and bad we are in his hands. and we are family.

mom and dad, i love you and am so thankful for you.

a few february projects

2010-02-27T18:37:00.006-06:00

at the beginning of the year i decided that i would dedicate myself to learning some new skills in 2010. making yogurt was a start. it was much easier that i had expected. i don't have a yogurt maker so i simply heated the milk on the stove top with a makeshift double boiler. then i kept the cultured milk warm on top of a heating pad and covered it with a dish towel. i chilled the yogurt in quart canning jars. it is wonderful! i have been experimenting with new recipes using my newest favorite ingredient making carrot ginger soup, spinach yogurt dip, and simply sweetening it with homemade raspberry jam. i am currently reading the stonyfield farm yogurt cookbook. yes, i know, i do tend to take things to the extreme. :o)

now, you may be wondering why i am including my wool and spinning pictures in the same p0st as my yogurt. i realize that my yogurt and spinning really have nothing in common, except, maybe the fact that both of them have kept me away from everydaygifts this month...

this is some dark brown roving that came from our shearer. i don't know the breed of the sheep, but based on the color and softness of the wool i would say it was shetland. i have spun a few skeins of it and i am looking forward to knitting with it.

here it is on the wheel

meet hosanna.
i mentioned her when i posted about my mitten project, but could not find a picture of her. well, here she is, my very sweet shetland ewe. her wool is a lovely grey.

hosanna's roving and yarn on the bobbin

a hand spun skein

success! i completed a matching pair and learned so much in the process. the first one i thought looked pretty good. the second however did not match the first. the third, i thought, would match one of them to become a pair. but i discovered an error in my knitting while making the third and with the correction, it really turned out to be the best one yet. so i had to knit a fourth, finally making a pair! now i am ready to take on SOCKS!

are you keeping your mind and hands active with learning and productive projects? i think i would go crazy with all of my required activities (you know, the cleaning, lunch packing, laundry, cleaning, taxi driving, did i mention cleaning?) if i did not have these enjoyable diversions!

everyday gifts: warm woolen mittens and yogurt!

family movie night

2010-01-18T07:20:00.004-06:00

the basement of our new home is still a work in progress. it has walls and paint but not much more. no carpet, no ceiling, and hardly any furniture. the family room (ie: tv room) is downstairs which is really not a big deal considering that we rarely watch tv. but in the event that we have a movie to watch from netflix, it is somewhat of a squash for the 5 of us to sit on the one couch. but this weekend i found it a real blessing.

first, can i tell you that teens are a challenge? maybe you have parented teens and are thinking, "you're not telling me anything i didn't know!" haha. but lately i have found myself at odds with my teen and it can become quite emotional. well, we had one of those moments the other day and i was left feeling like the parenting failure. i know i handled it badly, even though i was confident i was right about the issue. i felt a wall growing up between us a result and i worried that i was losing touch with him. but a little time passed and tempers calmed and a little red envelope came in the mail. it was time for the family movie.

so down we clamor for the best position on the couch. we are watching "murder on the orient express". during the movie i feel my boy leaning on me...i know he can't really help it on that crowded couch. but still, the closeness and comfort of it are soothing to my hurting heart. and then he reaches out and holds my hand. just for a minute. do you know how long it has been since that hand reached out for mine? well, i can tell you the last time it was much much smaller. on the screen the orient express chugged through frozen ground and into a snow drift, while my heart was warmed by the touch of a hand that said, "i still love you."

everyday gift: the touch of a hand

hosanna's mittens

2010-01-14T07:11:00.006-06:00

hosanna's wool is wonderful to spin. it is so soft and springy. i am spoiled now to spin anything else. i have been searching my photos for a good one of hosanna, i wanted to post it here and introduce you all to my sweet shetland ewe. but she is apparently camera shy. i will have to rectify that problem. shetland sheep produce a wide range of wool colors and hosanna is officially "grey". it sounds rather dull, but actually it is quite interesting. it has a pearly cast to it and the variations of dark and light give the yarn a lovely depth of color.

grey shetland roving on the bobbin

i am following the pattern of ann budd in
the knitter's handy book of patterns.

because of my large stash of roving and growing stash of handspun yarn, i figured i had better get busy and increase my knitting skills so i am able to do something worthy with it.

so here is the progress i have made:

i had to consult youtube to figure out how to use
these double pointed needles!

everyday gift: gentle lambs, warm wool, homegrown mittens!

stopping by woods...

2010-01-10T07:09:00.003-06:00

flocked trees

whose woods are these,

i think know,

his house is in the village though.

he will not see me stopping here

to watch his woods fill up with snow...

a view of the snowy landscape

on the heels of a long Christmas break from school, the kids got another day off last week because of snow. although i am already wishing for spring, i can not help but marvel in this winter wonderland. i love how quiet it is after the snowfall, the trees all trimmed in white, the pastures unmarked by footprints.

"you go first." "no, you go." "i'm not goin' out there!"

what are ya? chicken?!

a view of the back from the creek

the pasture gate

our little junco friend.

he comes frequently to our feeder along with his many friends.

everyday gift: a walk in the snow

my bookshelf 2009

2009-12-31T08:42:00.002-06:00

here are the books i read in 2009. i have highlighted in red my favorites of the year. those with a (+) are books i enjoyed and would recommend; with a (-) were disappointing.

(*) The Help by kathryn stockett ~ this was a fabulous way to end my year of books. i loved this book! what a fresh and interesting look at race relations in the south during the volatile years of the emerging civil rights era. tragic and sad and yet with glimpses of love and respect. her characters were real, memorable, and brave.

(+) Three Cups of Tea by greg mortenson ~ great story of perseverance. i loved the message of respect and relationship building. this story would be a true winner in my list if mortenson had an element of Christian faith to his mission instead of bowing to allah in order to gain entrance into a closed culture.

(+) Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by barabara kingsolver ~ enjoyable book about eating fresh and locally grown food. now i am itching to plan and plant my spring garden!

(+) Crazy Love by francis chan ~ very thought provoking and challenging.

(*) The Book Thief by markus zusak ~ this author has an incredible way with words. he has crafted a very unique story told from a surprising view point.

(*) The Patriot by pearl s. buck ~ for some reason i am just taken with pearl s. buck! it is not that i have a fascination with asian culture, because really, i don't. i just love the way she tells a story and draws the reader into the lives of her characters. this historical fiction is set in china during the communist revolution and contrasts old ideas with new; china with japan. a very interesting read.

(+) Seventh Day by bodie thoene ~ some in this series are better than others, but over all, i recommend the "a.d. chronicles" and its insight into the culture and biblical figures during the time of Christ.

(*) Girl in Hyacinth Blue by susan vreeland ~ an interesting collection of short stories which work backward in time all tied together by a beautiful masterpiece.

(-) A Bridge for Passing by pearl s. buck ~ a nonfiction account of the author's grief after the loss of her husband. i did not enjoy it as i enjoy her fiction.

(*) Agnes Grey by anne bronte ~ i love those bronte girls. :o)

(-) Letter from Peking by pearl s. buck ~ one of the few titles from buck that is not set in china. this particular book did not touch me the way her others have.

(+) Straight Up by lisa samson ~ i have enjoyed every one of lisa samson's books!

(+)Tiger Lily by lisa samson

(+) Sixth Covenant by bodie thoene

(+) Fifth Seal by bodie thoene

(-) The Other Boleyn Girl by philippa gregory ~ i was not impressed with the morals of the royals. this was a little too trashy for my taste.

(-) A Respectable Trade by philippa gregory

(*) The Church Ladies by lisa samson ~ i reread this favorite of lisa samson's and enjoyed it just as much the second time around.

(-) Where You Once Belonged by kent haruf ~ i like the author's style and really enjoyed his other books Plainsong and Eventide, but this story was not as good, in my opinion, and i hated the ending.

(*) Home by marilynne robinson ~ robinson has such a gentle and thoughtful way of examining relationships. the plot is rather slow, but the character development is excellent.

i have also been perusing some interesting cookbooks this year! i find they make good reading as well as good eating. Nourishing Traditions by sally fallon and Hearth and Home by karey swan are two books which have been shaping my views on food and healthy eating.

happy reading everyone. feel free to pop in with a comment and give me your recommendations for my 2010 bookshelf!

everyday gift: my bookshelf

a shepherd's Christmas

2009-12-24T19:46:00.007-06:00

you know your husband loves you when he will give up his saturday to drive an hour and a half to pick up your Christmas gift... a ram! this is our new shetland. isn't he a beauty? his fleece is very nice, actually a pearly taupe color if you were to look beneath the lighter tips. he is very tame and hopefully, will give our ewes a springtime of new lambs.

since i have become a shepherd, i have fresh outlook on the Christmas story. so after church on Christmas eve, i had an inspired idea. we'll all go out to the barn and read the story of Jesus' birth by lantern light with the sheep. i imagine the sweet smell of hay, the warm glow of the lantern light, and the gentle presence of our woolly little sheep. i had it partially right. the kids and hubby go along with my plan even though it is pouring rain, cold, and windy. we can't find the camping lanterns so we use our largest flashlights. the wind is blowing out of the south right into the 3 sided shelter of the shed.

yes, the shed smells of the sweet hay... and other things. the animal shelter is not quite as cozy and romantic as i imagined it would be on a Christmas eve. the animals look at us as if to say, "what in the world are you doing here now?" the wind blows damp and cold and the kids say, "hurry! read the story!" they are anxious to get back into the house, next to the fire with a mug of hot cocoa. so by flashlight i read the familiar story in luke,

"...and she gave birth to her first born, a son.

She wrapped him cloths and placed him in a manger,

because there was no room for them in the inn. ..."

i was feeling a little bit disappointed. it was not exactly the lovely Christmas memory maker i had hoped for... but then i realized, that must have been what mary and joseph felt as well, thinking, "was this the way Messiah should enter the world?" and all of Israel looking for a regal king of military might to come and rescue them from rome instead of the gentle savior who grew up to die in our place; to rescue us from the ultimate enemy: sin.

we have made the manger of luke chapter 2 a little too comfortable. the truth is, animal sheds are drafty and smelly, filled with more than sweet smelling hay. it reminds me a little bit of my own heart... where you'll find more than just sweet smelling love, and yet Jesus humbles himself to dwell there as well.

Jesus humbled himself and set aside his deity to become human with all that goes with it.

"Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to grasped,

but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death - even death on a cross."

Philippians 2:6-8

the miracle of Christmas ~ God become man ~ for my sake.

oh, my soul. kinda makes my ridiculous pride so... so... well... ridiculous.

forgive me, Lord Jesus. make me humble like you.

perhaps our Christmas eve outing was, in fact, very appropriate after all.

A very Merry Christmas to all of you!

everyday gift: the Christmas manger

hand spun christmas

2009-12-23T07:10:00.007-06:00

a basket of handspun skeins by members of the guild

B and i belong to the local weaving and spinning guild. i joined several years ago when we began raising sheep. these women have been such a wealth of knowledge, teaching me to spin and reintroducing me to weaving. B is a jr. member and is eager to learn to spin as well. i am so tickled that i have a daughter who shares so many interests with me.

(these pictures were taken on the day we helped decorate a room in the historic home where the guild meets. this mansion is kept open to the community for meetings and events. and at Christmas time the halls are decked for an open house. it is a lovely setting for our meetings.)

B learned to make these adorable little yarn doll at a swedish festival

and she has gone into production!

this one is made with my hand spun wool.

a miniature skein of hand spun shetland wool to decorate the tree

everyday gift: hand spun ornaments

snickerdoodles

2009-12-21T06:53:00.006-06:00

snickerdoodles

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

cream butter in with an electric mixer and add the sugar, baking soda, and cream of tartar. beat in egg and vanilla until combined. mix in flour. cover dough and chill about 1 hour.

combine cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. shape dough into 1-inch balls, roll in sugar-cinnamon mixture to coat. place 2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

bake at 375* for 10 minutes. transfer to a wire rack to cool.

everyday gift: baking Christmas cookies with B

nesting...

2009-12-15T19:53:00.003-06:00

when it comes to decorating i'm a "natural" or mark might say i am a little bit "off the beaten path", to put it nicely! but i don't care. i love my branch window covering with its little nest.

everyday gift: a bit of the woods brought into my kitchen

wintery view

2009-12-15T19:18:00.003-06:00

one of the things i love about living in the country
is the view from my window.
i love to watch the seasons change as God changes
the colors on his pallet
and paints everything new.

everyday gift: admiring the snow from the warmth of my home

a peek into B's room

2009-12-09T13:31:00.007-06:00

cotton clouds over dancing green meadows

and dreams of horses decorate B's room

B loved sponge painting the clouds on her wall

everyday gift: a room of her own

giving thanks

2009-11-29T17:24:00.007-06:00

i just don't know where to start when i consider all that i have to be thankful for. God is so good. and i am very mindful of the fact that it is easy for me to be thankful when i have a beautiful new home and do not worry about paying for the groceries, while others have lost jobs or are struggling in other ways. but i am even more thankful for the intangibles. these are things that can never be taken be taken from me, my salvation, God's love for me, an eternity in heaven when this life is through, my love for my family... it is for these things that i give thanks more than all else.

november was busy, but i will end this month with a few pictures: our anniversary, caleb and mark's birthdays, and thanksgiving, of course.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers, neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35

Let them give thanks to the Lord for

his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men,

for he satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things.

Psalm 107:8-9

anniversary roses to celebrate 16 wonderful years together

thank you, mark. for an adventure filled life, i love you!

i am thankful for C, born on a snowy day

a few days after thanksgiving,

14 years ago!

B looks on as C opens a gift from her:

chocolate nesquick, his favorite!

look! a smile from mark!

a thanksgiving toast

mark carving the turkey

the kids are so blessed to be able to enjoy a thanksgiving with their grandparents.

a crazy game of 4-sided chess! i love the fun of a good game.

do you like the table?!

i am so thankful for family times like this.

everyday gift: a holiday to reflect on our many blessings

the least of these

2009-11-28T08:16:00.005-06:00

it was cold, raining, and already dark at six o'clock on a sunday evening, the kind of night you want to stay home curled up under a blanket reading a book. but monday was coming faster than i wanted it to and my kids would be looking for something in their lunch boxes, so i had to go to the grocery store. i literally had to drag myself out the door. i made my way quickly through the grocery store aisles, filling my cart with all of the necessities, plus nonessentials that we don't think twice about buying. i hurried to a checkout line with only 1 person who looked almost finished, a young mom whose kids were bickering. i smiled to myself remembering when my own were that young and sitting in the grocery cart. i remembered how stressful it can be to have young ones along while shopping. the mom scolded the kids, then turned to the cashier apologizing for something, while trying to get through to someone on her cellphone. there was more going on here than i first realized. the cashier turned her "open" light off and recommended that i change lanes as they had run into a problem. so i moved to the next lane and began unloading my groceries. i could tell now that the girl in the other lane could not pay for her groceries and her cellphone was not getting any reception inside the store. she asked the cashier if she would hold her order while she stepped outside to call. my heart was breaking for her! i thought i should just swipe my debit card for her! ...but i didn't. we walked out into the rain almost at the same time. from the parking lot, as i loaded my bags of food into my van, i could see her standing in the drizzle, having an emotional conversation on her phone. and i began to pray for her asking the Lord to send her some help. i felt a nudge to do something, but what? surely she would not welcome a stranger at this difficult moment. what would i say? i drove away with her in my rear view mirror, praying.

i could not get her off of my mind. why didn't i help her? i was praying that someone would come along, but i think I was meant to be the answer to her prayers somehow. regret washed over me and i vowed that the next time i wouldn't walk away. the next time...how often do i run into a situation like that? i mean, it's not like people are knocking on my door asking for help...

and then last sunday, my pastor preached a message on matthew 25:40, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." as i listened to the message about extending ourselves outside of our comfortable circles and sharing the love of God with others through practical means, it brought that experience back to mind again. the Lord was really speaking to my heart. i have been so completely blessed and i need to share it. i prayed that God would bring another opportunity to me and that i would have the courage to follow through with boldness...but it's not like people are knocking on my door...

later that same afternoon i was in the house relaxing while the kids were playing outside enjoying the sunny day. S came in with a serious look on his face, "mom. someone needs you outside." oh? did B get hurt? "no. but someone needs you!" i walked outside to find a 14 year old girl, out of breath, asking for a ride. it seems she had a fight with her boyfriend and he dumped her out of the truck, a ways from town. she ran. "i know i'm just a stranger to you, but do you think you could help me?" i gave her a glass of water and got my car keys. during the ride which was further than i expected, she spilled her sad story. i was able to share how God had helped me in times of trouble and that He would help her, too. i told her she was beautiful and valued by God who loved her and created her for a purpose. when we arrived at her sister's house, i gave her a new testament and asked if i could pray for her. she looked a little taken aback, but allowed me to pray for her safety and future. and then she was gone.

yes, God had brought someone knocking on my door asking for help! it seems unbelievable. i wonder if i did the right thing for her, not knowing if everything she told me was true or not. i pray that i took her to a safe place and that the words i shared would come back to her again and again. i pray that the Living Word that i placed in her hands would open her eyes to the Truth. but i will have to leave all of that up to the Lord. all i know is that i asked God for an opportunity to show His love and He answered that prayer.

everyday gift: a second chance

ready to spin

2009-11-02T06:50:00.009-06:00

well, i finally came to the realization that the 18 raw fleeces stored in the garage were just too much for me to handle. the slow process of washing and carding such a large amount of wool was overwhelming. and then we had to move it somewhere when we sold the house. so i took a little trip to High Prairie Fibers and enlisted abi to process my wool. i cannot tell you what a relief it was to have that job taken care of. last week i went back to pick up the processed wool, it is now in clean fluffy strips of roving, ready to spin, and there is A LOT of it! almost 40 pounds worth of roving! several of the fleeces i took in ended up being of inferior quality, not worth keeping. sadly, bathsheba's black fleece was among these. but the rest came out beautifully. i will be spinning all winter long!

B and i love to visit abi's little farm/mill. in addition to their sheep and wool processing, they take in and care for abandoned, homeless, or sick exotic birds. they have an entire building devoted to these birds. B came away with a large flight feather from a blue and gold macaw, it is a prized possession!

a rainbow of wool

dark brown wool from a jacob sheep (?), gray jacob, shalom's gray (cheviot/shetland cross), hosanna's silvery gray (shetland), jubilee's oatmeal (shetland), snowflake's yellowish white (cheviot), roxie's bright white (cheviot).

sweet hosanna's wool on the spinning wheel

everyday gift: wool in a rainbow of natural colors, waiting to be spun

soccer highlights

2009-10-30T19:22:00.003-05:00

some might think we are obsessed. others might say we are crazy. but we cannot deny that we are a SOCCER family throughout the fall and spring seasons. with three players, two of which are on travel teams, it is quite a juggling match to get them all to practices and games, on the right field, at the right time, with a clean uniform. (actually, there has been the occasional incident when we are late, can't find a jersey, and must pull it out of the dirty laundry! shhh. don't tell!) tomorrow will be the last games of the fall season and it will be a relief to our schedules. but even with the craziness, i must say that soccer has been great for our kids. i love to see them running and exercising (thank you, Lord, for strong healthy bodies!). i love the lessons in teamwork, cooperation, and sportsmanship learned. i love the discipline and commitment they are developing. and i love cheering on the sidelines!

oh, by the way, coach just called. he wants to practice indoors for the winter and he reserved a spot for us in the winter league, indoors. we've got to keep in shape, ya know...

so much for a relief in the schedule! ;o)

C plays for the U14 travel team.

it has been so fun to watch him improve his skills

over the years he has been playing.

even with his cast on, S could play soccer,

as long as we wrapped it in protective foam.

it really didn't slow him down much!

B is No. 2 for the "lavender lightning"

all those years of playing against her brothers in the front yard

has made her a pretty tough player!

(i have more pic's of B, but i can't find them on the computer! )

everyday gift: ~~surviving~~ enjoying the soccer season

autumn view

2009-10-28T06:43:00.005-05:00

this is the view from the deck of our new house. we have moved in (but are not quite settled yet, in case you have wondered where i have been!) the field in the background is our corn which the farmer has not been able to harvest due to the wet weather. if things don't dry out soon, the crop could be lost. however the "crop" of mud surrounding our house seems to be doing just fine! yikes. i am still hoping that we can seed some grass before winter.

although the summer went way too quickly, i do love the change of seasons, and autumn is one of my favorites. i hope you are enjoying the crisp evenings with some hot apple cider! i have a taste for pumpkin... maybe, i should bake some pumpkin scones today...

everyday gift: the colors of autumn

more about gourds

2009-10-06T08:14:00.011-05:00

a few weekends ago we spent a lovely time at the gourd fest. who knew gourds could be so interesting that you could celebrate them so? well, if you have been reading my blog lately you know that B has become quite taken with gourds. she has her own gourd garden with birdhouse gourds ready to harvest soon. so when we heard about a local gourd festival, we knew we couldn't miss it!

B following her dad's instructions to have her picture taken with the biggest gourd she could find.

unbelievable variety!

a sweet kiss.

B and grandy share a common interest in gourds, so this was a special time for them.

B with grandy and grammy

the uncommon gourd was my favorite vendor booth.

incredible works of art. i especially liked the ones that mixed basketry and weaving with the gourds. i love artwork that uses natural beauty in the design. you can see more of this artist's work at her website.

dried gourds. we bought a few to play with over the winter while B's gourds dry in the barn. i think it will be fun for B and grandy to have a special project to work on together.

decorating gourd shakers

gourd bowling!

wonderful gourd arbors

the girls had fun walking through the gourd arbors

grandy with B, identifying gourds with the guide

across the fence was a beautiful view of the countryside with a train rumbling by.

i love the sound of a train whistle.

everyday gift: enjoying the gourd fest with grammy and grandy

success!

2009-10-06T08:09:00.002-05:00

i knew you could do it!

everyday gift: learning to fly

we're getting closer!

2009-09-27T18:11:00.006-05:00

"Unless the Lord builds the house,

its builders labor in vain"

Psalm 127:1

mark laying the oak floor in the dining room with C as his assistant.

this picture is a wonderful testimony to God's faithfulness. about one month ago mark was having severe back pain. he feared the worst and started consulting with doctors and investigating surgery as a possible solution to his bulging disk. with much work yet to be done on the house, mark was worried that he would be unable to accomplish his part in the home building. hiring out his share of the work would put us over budget.

as you can see, he is doing much better. after visiting his chiropractor, doing some therapeutic stretches, wearing a supportive back brace, and giving it over to the Lord through prayer he is doing very well. thankfully, he has been able to finish framing the basement, hang all the doors, and lay the oak flooring. he is now ready to set the kitchen cabinets and install the trim.

B helping to lay out the floor planks

(we've got everyone doing jobs!)

"If a man will not work, he shall not eat" 2 Thes. 3:10

*smile*

S painting the kitchen

painting the living room

the kitchen is ready for cabinets! we are getting so close!

everyday gifts: oak plank floors and God's healing hand

visiting rocky ridge farm

2009-09-25T15:43:00.013-05:00

last weekend we took a very delightful trip to Laura Ingalls Wilder Days in mansfield missouri. it was such a blessing in so many ways. B really enjoyed dressing the part of young laura ingalls and i had fun sewing the prairie dress (except when i couldn't find the directions for the bonnet and had to make it up as i went along, and when the pleats on the pantaloons didn't come out right, and the pattern made a simple dress waaaaay more complicated than need be...other than that, i really enjoyed getting back to the sewing machine). ;o) but i digress...

...while B was busy imagining the life of a 9 year old girl in a covered wagon, i was so pleased to learn more about the woman/farmer/wife/author she became. i have been enjoying two new books that i purchased at the gift shop: On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 and Laura Ingalls Wilder: Farm Journalist. both of these books reveal the true character of a woman who faced and overcame many hardships. a woman whose determination and courage are the epitome of the american pioneering spirit.

barefoot country girl!

B as laura ingalls

"The Little House Books are stories of long ago...the way we live and your schools are much different now. So many changes have made living and learning easier. But the real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful: to be happy with simple pleasures and to be cheerful and have courage when things go wrong."

~Laura Ingalls Wilder

standing before the judges. she was very brave!

and to this mama's eye, she was the cutest prairie girl around! *smile*

making friends with one of the other "lauras"

B made friends with a girl just her age at the contest and it was a highlight of the trip! together they played, chatted, and twirled their dresses while they waited through the long procession of laura and almanzo look-alikes. they had decided to become pen pals, but sadly, she slipped away with her grandpa afterwards before addresses could be exchanged.

B in her prairie dress, apron, bonnet, and pantaloons. however, she ditched the stockings and shoes and went barefoot for the look alike contest.

B and grammy waiting for the play to begin in the outdoor theater

the ingalls family portrayed by the ozark moutain players

in the presentation of "Laura's Memories"

we visited the grave site of almanzo and laura ingalls wilder.

stepping back in time

i loved this little window

B sitting on the porch of the rock house

the three of us, my mom, B and i, standing in front of the rock house,

it was a really special time for just the girls to be together.

i know we will treasure the memories of this trip!

rocky ridge farm, mansfield, missouri

"When I look around the farm now and see the smooth, green, rolling meadows and pastures, the good fields of corn and wheat and oats; when I see the orchard and strawberry field like huge bouquets in the spring or full of fruit later in the season; when I see the grape vines hanging full of lucious grapes, I can hardly bring back to mind the rough, rocky, brushy, ugly place that we first called Rocky Ridge Farm. The name given it then serves to remind us of the battles we have fought and won and gives a touch of sentiment and an added value to the place.

"In conclusion, I am going to quote from a little gift book which my wife sent out to a few friends last Christmas:

'Just come and visit Rocky Ridge,

Please grant us our request,

We'll give you all a jolly time-

Welome the coming; speed the parting guest.' "

A.J. Wilder, July 22, 1911

everyday gift: celebrating an american treasure, laura ingalls wilder

in progress...

2009-09-25T09:14:00.002-05:00

here is a little peak at one of my many projects in progress. mark does not like the fact that i have multiple projects going on at the same time. he works in such a different way, focusing on one project at a time and steamrolling ahead until it is done. (and i am so thankful for that! it is the reason we are so far along on our housebuilding!) while i hopscotch from one thing to the next, always drawn into a new idea. well, anyway, this is a sneak preview of a very special church pew that i am half-way through refinishing for my new entryway. the story behind it and the finished product will come soon...

everyday gifts: finding beautiful things to add to our home

an afternoon at the park

2009-08-28T07:02:00.008-05:00

after a morning of running errands with 4 kids...we were all ready for a break! i packed some sandwiches so we could enjoy the beautiful afternoon picnicking at the park. it was so much cooler than the normal temperatures of august and the sun was shining! so i sat in the shade munching on doritos and sipping snapple peach tea while the kids ran off the energy which had accumulated while they were "being quiet and not running" in the carpet store!

we rule the merry-go-round!

oops! bad picture, moving too fast!

the zip line

(although after his summer camp excitement, S was not impressed by this. lol.)

everyday gift: an afternoon at the park

summer sweet corn and the keepers

2009-08-17T07:37:00.014-05:00

there is nothing like illinois sweet corn straight from the garden. oh, my! it is heaven. it is one of those things that you simply must have when the hot days of august roll around.

the keepers met on saturday to work on their food preservation badge. i really must take just a moment to tell you how truly thankful i am for this group. i have been so blessed by these moms and daughters (both past members and present). these women have been such an encouragement to me by their commitment to spending time with their girls, teaching and mentoring them in all areas of skill and service. at this meeting nancy taught the group how to preserve fresh corn by freezing it. she did a wonderful job of leading the girls through each step. and we enjoyed her stories of growing up on a farm where the whole family and a whole day was devoted to the process, freezing many times more than we attempted on this day. thank you, nancy, for sharing your expertise with us!

beforet the meeting, B and i stopped by the farmer's market to pick up some really fresh corn...

beacon woods market stand

this is my friend, chris at the farmer's market. her corn is incredible!

( you can check out her blog here. she writes about her adventures on the farm and her observations of God's grace and love. )

B choosing her corn for the keepers at home meeting this morning

first the corn is shucked and cleaned of silk.

then into the boiling pots go the cobs of corn

after 3 minutes at a rolling boil,

the piping hot, blanched corn is taken out the pot...

and plunged into ice water to stop the cooking process.

mrs. D is demonstrating the safe way to cut the kernels from the cob,

the girls give it a try.

filling the freezer bags with the corn kernels

nice team work!

the girls holding a bag of the finished product, ready for the freezer

they did a fantastic job!!!

everyday gift: sweet girls and sweet corn

sunset

2009-08-13T21:00:00.002-05:00

sunset view from the new house

our days have been so busy with so many things to accomplish.

the sunset is welcome and we are thankful for the rest it brings.

My people will live in peaceful

dwelling places,

in secure homes,

in undisturbed places of rest.

Isaiah 32:18

everyday gift: the incredible colors of a sunset after a busy day

ahhh, those summer days

2009-08-10T06:19:00.001-05:00

we are in the midst of a very memorable summer: the house, 9 camps between the kids, living in town, bethany's pony...wow, such excitement and fun. here are a few snapshots of july.

S with his garter snake

lolly enjoying the pasture

our cozy little summer cottage

this little house is such a reminder to me of God's provision.

while i was busy worrying about how all the details of our move would work out, He quietly provided...

a picnic at the farm

i have been packing a lot of our meals lately and taking them out to the new house where mark is busy working. the boys have been a great help: cleaning up the construction area, working on the deck, framing some basement walls. sometimes we eat in the barn on my kitchen table stored there. this day the weather was perfect for the picnic table.

bethany having a ride

everyday gift: enjoying summer days

the lemonade stand

2009-08-05T07:16:00.005-05:00

B has really enjoyed having her friend live just a few doors down for the summer. they are constantly scootering back and forth between the houses, having popsicles, than checking at the other's house to hopefully have another one. (yes, B. i'm on to you!) last week they launched their lemonade business. that kept them busy for days, cleaning out the play house, making signs, gathering supplies, advertising in the neighborhood, and minding the stand.

the lemonade was as sweet as the memories being made.

i thought 10 c was a bargain, so i gave a little in the tip jar, too. ;o)

everyday gift: a summertime lemonade stand

the gourd project continues

2009-08-04T11:07:00.005-05:00

when it all began, i had no idea where it would lead. B and i reading a story about slaves seeking freedom by following the stars north: the big dipper or the drinking gourd. a friend had some old gourds she had dried for bird houses and she graciously shared one with us so we could cut it open and see how a water dipper might be made. B planted the seeds in dixie cups and watered them faithfully. she planted the sprouts in the ground and they have rewarded her in a big way! she now has visions of selling gourds at the farmer's market, making bird houses, and wonders if you can roast and eat the seeds like pumpkin seeds...the learning goes on, from history to botany to economics to bird house construction to cooking!

if anyone ever wonders, THIS is why i love homeschooling: the curiosity and wonder that lead to learning. we have gazed at the stars and imagined what it might have been like to travel at night using the stars as a map, hiding in fear of being returned to slavery. we have tasted a drink of cool water from a gourd that we hollowed ourselves. we have watched the miracle of sprouting seeds that turn into a gigantic vine laden with dozens of baby gourds. and we ponder the possibilities of the future.

flowering vine with baby gourd

tendrils reaching and climbing

vines on the wren house

B with her baby

everyday gift: growing and learning

progress on our new house

2009-08-04T09:14:00.006-05:00

i am finally getting these pictures off the camera and into the computer (thanks, S!). i did my best to put them in order, but blogger doesn't always cooperate. it is so amazing to see the house that mark and i dreamed up on some scratch paper at the kitchen table actually take shape with concrete, lumber and nails. we can walk through the rooms at this point and really have a feel for the flow of the house and we love it. it has a very spacious and open feel. the view from the back of the house is beautiful countryside...someday a lake? but wait, i am getting ahead of things!

lumber delivered and ready to go...please don't rain!

basement walls are done

view of the back walk-out basement

framing is underway

the trusses are up

nice view of blue skies with cotton clouds!

view of the back of the house

looking into the dining room and through to the kitchen from the great room.

door from dining room to deck.

skylight in the kitchen

front view of the house

everyday gift: dreams taking shape

B at Bible horse camp

2009-08-01T21:28:00.003-05:00

i am sooo behind on posting, but here are the promised pictures of horse camp. sorry my comments are so brief, but i will let the pictures speak for themselves. B had a fabulous week!

cantering!

showmanship

horse love!

friendship!

everyday gift: Bible horse camp

it's a beginning...

2009-07-21T07:25:00.002-05:00

i know it doesn't look like much, but it is a beginning. and it is "home sweet home".

piles of dirt, evidence of the basement excavation

cement truck and pump truck, pouring the footings

the footings, upon which the foundations of the house will rest.

See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;

the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

Isaiah 28:16

The rain came down,

the streams rose,

and the winds blew and beat against that house;

yet it did not fall,

because it had its foundation on the rock.

Matthew 7:25

although these footings will soon be hidden, first, by a cement floor, and then a wooden frame, walls, and a roof, they are the most important part of the house. silent and invisible they will hold firm keeping the walls strong and straight. when the winds and rains come against the house (and they will come), i will be warm and snug and safe inside.

what is the foundation of your life? are you trusting in things that shift like the sand? money? easy come, easy go! your job? the economy is so unreliable. people? they can let you down. they're only human, after all. but if you have Jesus, you have the firm foundation. He is the cornerstone that Isaiah was referring to in his prophecy. trusting in him will keep you from being dismayed when the circumstances of this world rain down on you. i am praying that if you do not know Jesus as the foundation and rock of your life, that you would come to know him. He is the one who will give you peace during the storms in your life.

everyday gift: a firm foundation

prayer in the morning

2009-07-15T07:08:00.001-05:00

But I, O LORD, cry to you:
in the morning my prayer comes before you.

Psalm 88:13 ESV

this has been my place for my quiet time and coffee at our temporary house this summer. i can't believe how cool some mornings have been, even in july. i take an afghan, my coffee, flavored with vanilla caramel, and my Bible outside on the little patio to read, pray, and enjoy the singing birds.

praying for today:

*uncle ron, in ICU with a serious infection.
*the boys' safety while away at camp.
*progress on building the house; safety for the workers.
*mom and dad as they forge a new relationship.

thankful for everyday gifts:

*my blue chair.
*the chickadee on our bird feeder.
*the beautiful view behind the new house.
*the incredible love and grace of Jesus.

critter feeder

2009-07-14T06:37:00.002-05:00

well, i know they are called bird feeders, however....

mr. raccoon seems to think i put this picnic out just for him. he knocked the lid down into the weeds and stuffed himself with birdseed, completely emptying the feeder. between him, the army of squirrels, and the chipmunk that stuffs his cheeks to bursting, i can not keep seed in the feeders!

and they are sooo bold, down right brazen about it. i have tried to shoo them away from the window only a few feet from the feeder, but they just glance up at me and continue gorging themselves. only if i actually walk out onto the deck will they run off, hide behind some tree, and return the moment i am back inside the house. i just do not have time to guard the feeders.

i think the answer is to change the name of the feeders from "bird feeders" to "critter feeders". after all it is cheap entertainment!

everyday gift: all creatures great and small

another view of horse camp

2009-07-12T07:45:00.001-05:00

S was a good sport. although he could have had plans to play with a friend during B's horse camp show, he wanted to come and see what she had learned. he really is a nice brother. but after an hour of watching the girls circle the arena and lead their horse through the cones and over logs, he was getting a little bored. was i done with that camera, yet? he wanted to know. he found some more interesting subjects to photograph...

"hoof prints in the sand"

"haybales"

"___"

i love his creativity! and his kindness toward his sister!

p.s. more pictures of the horse show to come...

everyday gift: a sense of humor

follow-up

2009-07-10T20:21:00.002-05:00

i just wanted to post a quick follow-up about C's mission trip. 'thank you' to those who supported him with prayer or a monetary gift! he had a wonderful time. they came home exhausted and were in no mood for a group shot. so this is the best i could do to document their return:

unloading the trailer

it was so neat to hear C tell about the work they did during the week. i think his favorite project was helping a pastor of a church in a very needy part of the city. they cleared out an old warehouse to make more room for the food pantry and clothing ministry that he runs there. another day they helped a single mom in his congregation move to a new apartment and clean the old one. the laundry he brought home gave testimony to his other jobs of yard work and painting with dirt, stains, and sweat. you'd think C would be glad to home...but he was wishing he could have stayed another week. i do believe his love language is the 'gift of service' and he really spent his week loving.

everyday gift: showing God's love through service

a pony for our pasture

2009-07-08T19:35:00.004-05:00

we had an exciting fourth of july weekend! we picked up a pretty little pony for B! it is really only on loan from a friend's farm, but it is the perfect pony for B to learn with. if we do get her her own one day, she'll know just what it takes to care for it.

meet princess lolly! i am told she was named after a character in the game candyland. she is a welsh pony and is very friendly and gentle! B is in love!

fitting lolly to her saddle and her new rider

mark is almost as excited as B... i think, deep down inside, he is really a cowboy! i love how this has become a father/daughter project! mark has really been involved with her, researching horses and learning about their care and training. it truly warms this mother's heart to watch them.

everyday gift: a pony in the pasture

my little herb garden

2009-07-01T17:52:00.004-05:00

with all the busyness that goes along with moving, my herb garden was very neglected. it is looking terribly overgrown and abandoned. i do hope the new owners will be able to see the potential. i did give it one good weeding earlier in the spring and planted a tomato plant, several green pepper plants, and some onions. i knew when i planted them that i may not reap the harvest, in fact, i hoped i would not, because that would mean we had sold our house and would be busy building the new. but i couldn't bear to leave without taking a few starts. i potted them so i would be able to take them with me to our temporary home and then to the new house.

they really appear quite happy in their traveling home!

in my herb pot: chives, chamomile, lavender, thyme, oregano, bronze fennel, parsley

and dill volunteers popped up as well!

my pot of shady plants divided from my garden.

butter and eggs (top), mini hosta (right), variegated red fern (left),

and shooting star (back, not really visible),

also in the pot, hens and chicks

everyday gift: fresh garden herbs

scrambled eggs???

2009-07-01T17:37:00.005-05:00

the coop at our old house, the fences removed. the girls were accidentally let out of the coop on the morning of the big move. so we had us a little chicken chasin' party to get them all back in the coop. what a fiasco!

the coop being loaded onto the trailer after the the stilts had been cut and the skis attached.

successfully loaded onto the trailer

the chickens takin' a joy ride! LOL!

the coop in its new, temporary location .

and i am happy to report that there was no noticeable decline in the egg count.

everyday gift: adventures in moving

what's for supper, mom?

2009-06-30T07:05:00.000-05:00

just because they can fly does not mean they don't need their mama anymore!

well, my boy "flew" today. he went on a week long mission trip with the youth group from church. during the week they will hook up with various service projects in the community and through their service they will share the love God and the gospel. i can not tell you how much it blesses me to see C with a heart that is anxious to serve the Lord. he was quite independent about preparing for this trip and i can see him maturing in so many ways...

and yet, i know he'll always come home and stand with the refrigerator wide open asking,

"isn't there anything to eat?"

if you feel led, please pray for this group of jr. high students: for safety on their trip, for the love of God to be demonstrated through their service, and that they would grow and mature in their relationship with the Lord through this experience.

everyday gift: young hearts willing to serve

good times with grandy

2009-06-29T07:39:00.001-05:00

B with grandy on father's day

i adore this sweet picture

a few weeks ago S spent the week at boy scout camp. the camp is close enough that we were able to visit him on family night and enjoy dinner and a special bonfire. at the bonfire, the scouts who had been selected for order of the arrow were called out, and C was one of those scouts! it is an honor to be selected because they are voted in by their fellow scouts who believe they demonstrate best the scout oath.

it was so nice that my dad was able to be there. he was once a boy scout himself, earning the rank of life scout. i know he takes a lot of pleasure in seeing his grandsons enjoy scouting.

dad with C and S at scout camp

everyday gift: time with grandy

there are certain advantages...

2009-06-29T07:33:00.002-05:00

...to living in town. like stan the ice cream man!

B is having a bomb pop.

everyday gift: an ice cream truck on a hot summer day

moving house...be back soon!

2009-06-24T15:09:00.005-05:00

in case anyone has been wondering, i have been buried in moving boxes. i have so many pictures to post, so much to blog about, but, alas! i don't have internet at the "summer house" yet. and there are more boxes to move and miles to go before i sleep. so for now, i will leave you with a picture of what i would rather be doing...

spinning yarn!

my spinning wheel with my lazy kate.
i am plying single yarns into a two ply yarn.

lessons from Little House on the Prairie

2009-06-17T13:51:00.005-05:00

this historic stone house makes the perfect setting for the park district classes about Little House on the Prairie. it was built in 1860, about the same time that laura ingalls was living out the pioneer adventures she wrote about in her books. B has had a wonderful time with the
projects they have done: making butter, molasses snow candy (with snow saved in the freezer from this winter!), and soap. and then learning to do laundry... the old fashioned way! she thought it was great fun, although i suspect she would tire of it really soon if was not a game!

a cake of homemade soap

Wash on Monday

Iron on Tuesday

Mend on Wednesday

Churn on Thursday

Bake on Saturday

Rest on Sunday

laundry day

putting the clothes through the wringer

B carrying water for laundry day

scrubbing on the wash board

swing your partner!

the kids had a great time learning some dance steps

and imagining pa playing his fiddle!

everyday gift: living history lessons

a garden friend

2009-06-17T07:44:00.000-05:00

meet LUMPY...

everyday gift: a garden friend

backyard wienie roast

2009-06-09T06:31:00.010-05:00

the weather forecast for the weekend was all rain, but friday was beautiful! so we quickly put together a plan for a bonfire and wienie roast. i made gran'mom's recipe for potato salad and put baked beans in the crock pot. mark had already moved our patio furniture so we used the flatbed trailer that was parked and waiting for another load as our table. i spread a checkered tablecloth on the end.

mom and dad enjoying the "tailgate" party

i know we will have a fire pit at our new house, but still, i am feeling very nostalgic about leaving our home in few weeks (are we down to days?!). this will most likely be our last bonfire at this place that holds so many good memories. our first bonfire was in the fall of 1999. the barn was built, but no house. we came out with coolers of food, lawn chairs and blankets. C was almost 4, S only 2, and B...well, we didn't know B yet! my folks and a few other families joined us and we chatted, laughed, and enjoyed the cool fall evening. we were filled with the excitement and anticipation of building our someday home in the country. that fall bonfire would become one of my favorite traditions and it grew as we included new friends. we put boards over sawhorses in the barn to hold all of the potluck dishes. mark would take the kids on a hay rack ride through the newly harvested fields. and as it got dark, flashlights could be seen running between the trees, as the kids played flashlight tag! i can still hear the shouts and laughter.

S and B roasting their hot dogs...and one for me, too! thanks!

B with grammy and their matching pink shirts

everyday gift: hot dogs roasted on a bonfire

the library sale

2009-06-08T18:19:00.008-05:00

i am in a little bit of trouble with mark. you see, we are moving soon. very soon. and i am supposed to be getting rid of things so we have less to pack and store.

but saturday morning at 7:25 am, i stole away to the library sale. sadly, they have closed the old main library downtown, the beautiful old library with a huge brick fireplace in the center and dark walnut curved railings down wide open staircases. the elevator was put in later. it is small, has one of those metal gates you pull closed, and clanks when it carries you between all 3 floors. the aisles between the bookshelves are so narrow that you have to turn sideways to pass another patron. but it has that wonderful feel of old books. it is an historic building and i hope they find a worthy purpose for it in the future.

well, i went to say goodbye to the old carnegie library and i came home with a few wonderful keepsakes.

this round table was in the children's department. i think it will make a perfect coffee table in the family room. it is wide, 48" across. i can just picture a rousing game of Settlers of Catan on top or a big bowl of popcorn in the center as we watch a movie. it was a steal at $10!

i have really been taking some teasing over this. i don't care, i absolutely love it. a vintage metal trash can. i only paid 50 cents for it! can't you just see it spray-painted some funky color? i plan to keep it in my laundry room so mark won't have to worry about seeing it, he never goes in there!! ;o)

the only problem with spray painting it would be covering this cool company label. have you ever heard of Yaman & Erbe Mfg. Co. of rochester, new york?

everyday gift: vintage treasures from the library

am empty nest

2009-06-05T06:27:00.004-05:00

mr. and mrs. robin have an empty nest.

their hatchlings are now fledglings. i've been watching them from the front porch, the chicks leaving the nest and trying out their wings. newly found freedom! one lands clumsily on the ground and peeps for his mama, who lands not far away than flies to a nearby tree and calls. he is wary of me circling him with my camera so he takes off and flies to a pine tree, near his nest, looking for safety. meanwhile, mama and papa are hovering and watching anxiously, trying to keep track of all four of their babies. i am sure it must be nerve wracking...

although i have years to go before i experience an empty nest, i am feeling the growing pains of a teenager trying out his wings! he has informed me that he no longer needs me to tell him "lights out" at night (my night owl, pushing the boundaries and staying up well past midnight!), he doesn't see the need for his parents to supervise his activities, oh and, by the way, did we know that farm kids can get a permit to get a driver's license early?

i liked it better when he didn't challenge me so much.

but isn't the whole idea of parenting to give them wings and independence?

Train a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

he should go. when the time comes, he should go. and with God's help, we will have shown him the right path, following God's plan for his life. so i will try to have patience with my boy as he tries out his wings. at times he might land clumsily, but i will hover nearby and show him the safety of the tree, until he is ready fly away...

look mom! i can fly!

everyday gift: giving them wings and learning to let go

wordless wednesday

2009-06-03T06:25:00.001-05:00

everyday gift: june flowers

may news

2009-05-31T06:45:00.004-05:00

it seems that the cold grey days of winter have finally given way to warm sunny weather; winter did not want to let go this spring! the warm winds of may have also blown in some changes to our family... so much has been going on, life changing things, that i thought i would give an update.

*we have sold our house ...the house we built 9 years ago, the house i never thought i'd leave! but we are moving on to a new frontier just 2 miles down the road. we bought 60 acres of beautiful land, some of it wooded with a pretty little creek, and some farm land planted in corn and hay. it will be a lovely homestead after a crazy year of moving and building! we will be closing in a few weeks and moving to a rental house while our new house goes up. and i have seen God's hand in all of these details, from bringing the buyer in just the perfect timing (they flew from canada just to put an offer in on our house when they saw online that we had lowered the price) to providing a place for us to live through some special friends of ours...we will enjoy living as neighbors for the next several months and B is thrilled to be moving so close to her BFF!

*my dad has moved back from arizona! it has been so nice to have him with us. the kids have missed him the past few years while he was away. he made the long drive along with his brother ron. thankfully he was not alone when his jeep broke down outside of des moines. and i know it was God's hand that sent the two kind men to provide rides from the side of the road and then back and forth from the motel to the repair shop, strangers (angels?) doing His biding.

*after 4 years apart, mom and dad are talking. perhaps God is doing a healing work in their relationship. what once seemed impossible now seems possible! we continue to pray for God's will in their lives.

*what a blessing it has been to spend time with my uncle ron this past week. most of my life he has lived in arizona while we were in the midwest, so our contact has been very little. i enjoyed visiting with him. it was so good to remember my grandparents and share memories with him. God's hand was present as we strengthened our family ties.

*school is out and i have two straight A honor roll students! :o) C worked hard all year to reach his straight A goal after missing the award by one B last year! i am also really proud of S since this was his first year in a traditional classroom. he has always been homeschooled. B had a wonderful year of school at home. i really loved all the one-on-one time we had together. i think she made great progress in all of her subjects. it was a joy to see the way all three of them worked at their studies. Truly this great school year has been an answer to prayer, especially after such a rough time last year for C.

*S had a great time at his soccer tournaments this may. i am so thankful for young, healthy, and growing bodies. during one of the tournaments we got to stay with my cousins leslie and randy. it was real treat to visit with them. i am very blessed by my family!

*my boy scouts have advanced in rank! C is now a star scout and S is first class. i am so proud of all they have achieved in boy scouts. it is such a joy to watch my boys as they strive to "grow in wisdom, and stature, and favor with God and man." Praise God for His grace in my parenting...i feel so inadequate for the task at times, but i feel His presence and grace as He blesses my children ... sometimes inspite of me!

everyday gift: God's incredible presence in my life...such amazing grace!

acadian flycatcher

2009-05-29T06:38:00.001-05:00

as dad had coffee by the patio door yesterday morning, a little bird flew into the window. he scooped up the dazed bird and held him for us to study. soon he perked up and perched on his finger, seemly unafraid of the humans surrounding him. although the picture may not show it, he was very olive green; two bars on the wing; underneath was slightly buff with a white throat. the beak was black and heavy looking for its size. after reading through our field guides and studying the many small olive colored birds, we believe it was an acadian flycatcher.

after a short visit, he recovered from his bump on the head, and flew away.

acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)

dad with our little friend.

everyday gift: an unexpected visitor

nestled in

2009-05-29T06:23:00.000-05:00

as i peeked into this nest, i found 4 baby robins napping...oops, one woke up and looked up at me, too naive to be afraid. B gently held the branches aside so i could snap this picture. sadly, the nest i photographed earlier this spring was abandoned when the newly hatched chicks disappeared. i suspect a raccoon found the nest built too near the ground. but this nest is a bit more secure in a pine tree. i find this image so comforting and peaceful. what is mother bird's secret to having 4 siblings share a room without conflict?!

everyday gift: baby robins snug in their nest

memorial day thoughts

2009-05-28T07:01:00.001-05:00

this memorial day was special this year as we spent it with my dad and his brother, both veterans. we attended the ceremony at the Rock Island Arsenal to honor all the men and women who have served our country, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. where would our country be without them? certainly not enjoying the freedoms, prosperity, and abundance that we have now.

my dad served in navy from 1961 to 1969 on the nuclear submarines U.S.S. Trigger and the U.S.S. Simone Boulevard. the kids enjoyed hearing his stories of crossing under the arctic circle and observing the soviet navy while maintaining complete silence on board for days to avoid being detected.

uncle ron joined the marine corps. fresh out of high school in 1963. he served for 4 years; 13 months of that time spent in vietnam. his patrol was one of the first to deploy into actual combat. he shared some stories of his time there; a difficult time which stays with him even forty years later. he is still saddened by the loss of his high school friend who enlisted with him. i am thankful for his service and glad that we can give him the honor that is due him, even if he did not receive it from his country at the time.

dad and uncle ron at the memorial day ceremony at the rock island arsenal and national cemetery

flag at half mast on an overcast day

the national cemetary

the kids visiting the grave site of their grandma at arsenal island. mark's dad served in the army and is therefore given the privilege of burying his wife here.

everyday gift: our brave service men and women who are keeping our country safe

spurs

2009-05-27T11:12:00.003-05:00

watch out! the girl's got spurs!

everyday gift: my cowgirl

shooting stars

2009-05-14T08:19:00.001-05:00

aren't these sweet little wild flowers? they are called shooting star or dodecatheon meadia. at the time of the settlers they were much more abundant. they called the flower "prairie pointers".

today, it is often cultivated for the garden...like here.

everyday gift: bringing wildflowers into the garden

sightings...

2009-05-12T09:03:00.007-05:00

about half way down the road between our present home and future homestead site is a hill which is shaded by trees on both sides. there is a steep bank along one side and hidden away between the roots of the trees is a fox den, surprisingly close to the road. i suppose most cars zip on by without taking notice, the nearest house is set back far from the road, and rarely does anyone scale the side of that hill, making it a safe, albeit exposed, location for a den. mark has noticed that a little after 8 o'clock each night, just before dusk, the fox pups poke their noses out of the den and play along the ridge of the hill.

as we came home from a scout meeting last night, mark took us to the place in hopes of spotting them. i had my camera ready. window down. up over the hill...and there! two little orange pups, ears perked up, watching us watching them. oh, are they cute. but, sadly, i choked on the picture taking. they were only there for a few seconds before they bounded into the den and out of sight.

i had another sighting yesterday. i thought i heard an unusual and melodious bird song yesterday afternoon. i watched the trees until i saw it flit from one tree to another. the brilliant orange and black of the baltimore oriole. so, like every spring, i cut a few oranges and put them out on the deck. the ants seem to enjoy them, but so far, the orioles won't come near. this is the best picture i could get from a distance:

(it is no wonder that i didn't get the job at animal planet as a wildlife photographer. )

everyday gift: fox pups and orioles

mother's day blessings

2009-05-11T06:08:00.003-05:00

i have to confess. the last few months have been really hard on me. we have been so busy with all of the usual spring activities, plus the added stress of putting our house on the market and trying to keep it in a presentable condition. besides all of that, mark has been busy with additional projects at our new farm. in a nutshell, i have been maxed out. and i haven't always handled it that well. i have been impatient with the kids and mark. i have grumbled. i have even yelled...i know, hard to imagine, isn't it? ;o)

so this mother's day, i want to say that i am humbled and honored by the love that my family shows me, inspite of my shortcomings. such unconditional love reminds me WHY i am doing all that i do. i am so blessed with this family of mine. let me share a few highlights...

*sleepy-eyed girl with bed tousled hair finding me the moment she awoke to give me a hug and "happy mother's day" *the smell of a fresh bouquet of lilacs decorating the table *a hand painted "i love you" heart dish made in secret *B asking me to write out the "recipe" for baked potatoes *sitting on the couch while the kids bustle in the kitchen to cook my special dinner *an incredible fruit salad of strawberries, blueberries, mango, kiwi, watermelon, and banana! *new (much needed) garden tools *having 3 generations of mothers and daughters together! *a sunny afternoon at the art fair *a beautiful new piece of artwork, chosen with a future home in mind *chocolate strawberry shortcake for dessert *a sweet "top-secret" note of gratitude for all that i do *a bicker-free afternoon :o) *mark commenting after the dinner was planned, shopped for, prepared, eaten, and cleaned up after, "man, that's a lot of work!" (umm, right. i am aware of that, hon.)

mom with her gran'kids on mother's day

everyday gift: the privilege of being a mom

an acorn mystery

2009-05-05T11:11:00.003-05:00

a while ago, we started having trouble with the blower on our heat/ac in my van. when you turned it past the medium speed it made this horrible clunking and grinding sound. so our remedy for the problem...don't it turn it up past medium, of course!

well, one day there was a terrible clunk, and then, voila! fixed! ...so we thought.

recently, the noise came back and now, we don't get any air out of the vents at all. so with the prospect of a family road trip in the near future, mark decided we needed a new blower motor and took the van in. the shop called. we don't need a new motor, all we need to do is remove the 100 acorns that are stuffed in the blower! acorns?! it seems some critter thought that space inside our engine was a good pantry.

now here is the mystery? whodunnit??? the logical explanation is a mouse in the garage. the problem with that is we have no oak trees anywhere near the house. it seems unlikely that a mouse would trek across five acres to deposit 100 acorns in our vehicle!

mark thinks it is the thirteen lined ground squirrel that we are always taking pictures of and watching pop in and out of his little holes. mark is ready to eliminate the little villain. but i maintain that he is innocent until proven guilty. besides, they store their stash in their tunnels and hibernate all winter. and again, we have no oak trees!

i have another theory. in august of 2007 we took a camping trip to yellowstone. if i remember correctly, the first clunking noises occurred on our way home. i remember thinking, "what if we break down in the middle of nowhere!" i think our culprit is a yellowstone chipmunk!

in case anyone is wondering. acorn removal costs about $76.22.