As much as I converse with sages and heroes,

they have very little of my love and admiration. 

I long for rural and domestic scene,

for the warbling of birds

and the prattling of my children. 

~John Adams

(I love this quote!  I found it this morning.)

I’m impatient and a lil’ ornery at the moment.  I confess, I have this problem of going crazy cleaning my house whenever Important Company is coming over.  At this moment, my Parents are on their way to our humble abode and I know for a fact that they could care less if it is clean.  So, in an attempt to slooooooow myself down, I am going to sit at my desk for a few moments, write, and try to catch my breath.

I believe that our fall colors are at peak season.  It’s raining this morning, so the reds, oranges, and yellows are popping in an amazing way.  It’s so easy to find lists of reasons to thank God when you stop and really look and delight in His handiwork.  As I sit here and look out my windows, I can feel my spirit calming down.

Jacob is doing his writing assignment.

Ethan and Grace are doing math.

Caleb has been waking up around 6 (shortly before or shortly after) every morning and so it didn’t surprise me to find him sound asleep in his high chair at 10:30.  He’s in his crib now, under his favorite “Thomas the Tank Engine” blanket.

David is in the basement, sitting on the floor with a box of screws and hammering on them to “make them hot”.

The top picture is one that I found the other day.  It was taken during baby Jacob’s first autumn.  I put it in a frame yesterday to add to our fall decorations around the house.  I first fell in love with photography when I became a Mother.  I should get out his baby album and look through it again. . .seems like such a different life compared to now.  It was 10 years ago!

I am making stuffed shells for dinner tonight, and a nice salad.

I can’t wait to see my Parents, it’s been almost 2 months now, and they haven’t been here since Christmas time.  They are staying the weekend.

The house is quiet right now, all I can hear is Jacob softly humming a song.

He has a wonderful new teacher, Mr. Clayton B, who always keeps him over his 1/2 hour lesson because they are having so much fun.  (They have become friends.)

After mastering the latest song, “Pop goes the Weasel”, his teacher asked Jacob which song he wanted to learn.

He chose “Ashokan Farewell”.  The song that plays on my blog.

He is so excited about learning it that he has been playing his violin 3 or 4 times a day. 

At this moment, Rich is doing something very romantic for me.  We’re out of coffee for the 3rd day in a row, so he is on his way to Dunkin’ Donuts to get me a nice fresh cup.  It will be nice not to drink instant again.  The sun is just beginning to come up, and because little Davy-do was on the couch when he left, he took him along for an early dark morning ride with Daddy (and, maybe he will get a donut!)  Buying me a cup of coffee will add an extra 20 minutes to his already 45 minute commute, so I take this as the precious gift that it is.

But this post isn’t just about this morning.  It’s about yesterday;  it was late afternoon, the kids were outside and it was time for me to start making dinner.  I had chicken in the fridge so I pulled out my current favorite cookbook, “Flavors of Fall” and opened it up to look for chicken recipes.  Low and behold, on the same page as “Chicken Vermicelli” I read this quote:

The beauty that shimmers in the yellow afternoons of October. . . .who could ever clutch it?  Ralph Waldo Emerson

After sitting and gazing out the window for a moment, I put my cookbook down, found my camera, and ran outside.  It was the exact shimmery sort of afternoon that Emerson was describing.  I would try to clutch some.  Dinner could wait.

Click here to order Grace’s Dress (from Gymboree, they have sizes 3-12 and it’s on sale for 12.99!)

Dinner was half an hour late.  We had tuna noodle casserole. 

My coffee is here so I must go.  Enjoy your day, lovely ones!  Blessings to you and yours.

So, the other day I was busy with something (as usual) and the littles were watching a video when I heard David say, “Mom, take a picture of us!”

Okay then!  You don’t have to ask me twice!! 

This poem is so cute!  It makes me think of David and Caleb together.

“Us Two”

Wherever I am, there’s always Pooh,
There’s always Pooh and me.
Whatever I do, he wants to do,
“Where are you going today?” says Pooh:
“Well, that’s very odd ‘cos I was too.
“Let’s go together,” says Pooh, says he.
“Let’s go together,” says Pooh.

“Let’s look for dragons,” I said to Pooh.
“Yes, let’s,” said Pooh to Me.
We crossed the river and found a few–
“Yes, those are dragons all right,” said Pooh.
As soon as I saw their beaks I knew.
That’s what they are,” said Pooh, said he.
“That’s what they are,” said Pooh.

“Let’s frighten the dragons,” I said to Pooh,
“That’s right,” said Pooh to Me.
“I’m not afraid,” I said to Pooh,
And I held his paw and I shouted “Shoo!
Silly old dragons!”–and off they flew.
“I wasn’t afraid,” said Pooh, said he,
“I’m never afraid with you.”

So wherever I am, there’s always Pooh,
There’s always Pooh and Me.
“What would I do?” I said to Pooh,
“If it wasn’t for you,” and Pooh said: “True,
It isn’t much fun for One, but Two
Can stick together,” says Pooh, says he.
“That’s how it is,” says Pooh.

A. A. Milne

These two have physicals this morning at 9:15.  They’re always together.  That’s how it is.

And Mama gets to watch!

Wonderful Saturday, how I love thee!  My day off. . my day to enjoy without reservation the things in life I love most. . . .my family, my home, my friends.   I’m still in my pj’s, I’ve been busy in the house–made breakfast for my family, with Grace’s help, and I’ve puttering around cleaning and putting things away.  For now, I thought I would sit and try to write and share some photos.

Outside the sun is shining. I have all the shades up here in my room so I can see the bright colors.  I can see Jacob marching around with (a toy) gun.  It’s cool outside, in fact, we had our first frost last night.  I woke up this morning and decided that it was time to get out the down comforter.  Even though it’s chilly, I have my window open a crack so I can here the birds and the wind.

The boys, and Rich, all have jeans and sweatshirts on today.  Grace has a pair of jeans on under her dress.

David and Caleb are having fun playing in their room.  Every night we clean the room and every morning they get right up and mess it up again.  Today they have David’s mattress pulled off the bed and Caleb’s crib filled with toys.

For breakfast this morning we had fried eggs, hashbrowns, homemade buttermilk biscuits, sausage, and bacon.

Biscuits  (Jacob had 4 this morning!  We all loved them)

1 cup flour
1 cup cake flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 in. cubes
3/4 cup buttermilk (you can add a splash of vinegar to regular milk and let it sit for a substitute)

Rack in center oven 400 degrees.
Whisk dry ingredients together.  Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly with a few pea-sized pieces of butter.  Stir in enough buttermilk to make a soft, sticky dough.

Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface.  Quickly knead the dough just until it comes together-do not over-knead.  Pat or roll out until 1/2 in. thick.  Using a 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter, cut out biscuits and place 1 in. apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake about 18 minutes.  Yield:  14 biscuits

Victoria Magazine is back!  I received my first issue yesterday in the mail.  I lit a nice-smelling candle and looked through it on my porch when the kids were napping.  Even with two blankets, I was still shivering out there in the fall breeze. 

  Here are some photos of this beautiful, inspiring magazine:

I am a big fan of Tasha Tudor and was delighted to see this article about her antique clothing collection:

What a lovely quote:  

One of my pleasures is to sit down at my kitchen table with my stationary, to write letters.  I found this article about writing to be very inspirational:

This morning, after breakfast, I took these photos.  We’ve been feeling so cozy all morning.  Rich (who was reading at the table with his coffee) said to me as I made breakfast, “I love these times.  You know?  Watching you in the kitchen, cooking, with music playing and having the children around us.”   Yes, I know.  I love them, too.

Country Home, Country Living, Mymeanderings (in the photo album), Beatrix Potter, and Tasha Tudor, all in the same basket!

I found this malted milk jar (from England) this summer, at an antique store in NYS.   I added the metal cookie cutters a few days ago.

Someday I will have a collection of miniature things to put in these cubbies.  For now, they are empty.  Every once in a while, the children add something.  Like dogfood nuggets and acorns, for instance.  There is a mini cobalt fiesta disc pitcher on top, and a “Tis a Gift to be Simple” piece of framed art on the wall from Joanna.

This is a quilted wall hanging that Rich’s Grandma made for us as a wedding gift.  I use it to drape over the printer in our room.

The bookcase in our room.  Books are my friends, *smile here*.  The scrapbook with the flower on top is another gift from Joanna.

I love this figurine Colleen gave to me.  It’s sitting on a jewelry box that used to be my Grandma’s.  And, that is sitting on a pink painted box that Joanna made me.  Inside is decoupaged with some of my baby photos that she printed out from an email that I sent her (not knowing she would use them for that purpose!)  Rich keeps his spare change in the lidded bowl.  Every time the children find one of his golf balls outside, they are allowed to take 25 cents.

I am standing in front of the front door/and the door of the master bedroom as I took these:

Living room

Kitchen

Upstairs landing.  Sister’s room is on the left, bathroom is straight ahead, and the 2 boys bedrooms on the right.  There is enough room on the landing for an area rug, 2 bookcases, and a big comfy chair.

There is nothing like staying at home

for real comfort.  ~Jane Austen

I love this quote and totally agree with it.  However, I am hoping that Rich will take me for a fall drive later today.  Maybe we’ll stop and get apple cider someplace or go to an antique store.  What are you doing today?  Whatever it is, I hope you have a wonderful day!

I took these pictures of my determined son the other day. . .and am sharing them just to make you smile.

Patches was such a good kitty, she didn’t fight against this treatment at all, she just kind of “limped” herself and patiently waited for the chance to be free. 

In the end, I was the one who rescued her. 

They look almost. . . . . related (with those squinty eyes) in this shot:

“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can”

“I need to stop for a moment and . . .adjust. . ..” 

“THERE we go, UP!  UP!. . .oh, Patches!  Get your ear out of my mouth, yuck!”

“Almost there, Patches!”

(She got away at this point. . . .but wasn’t safe for very long)

“*Whew*  I got away, now, back to my bath”–Patches

“Here that boy is again, I’ll groom his arm.”  ~Patches

“Woops!  Off we go again!”  ~Patches

(This one reminds me of a pairs figure-skating position.)

“Come on Patches, Mom’s starting to yell!”

“My shoulder feels funny, it’s a good thing I’m flexible!” ~Patches

“What are you doing?  I wish you would use those back legs!”

“Ooph, you’re heavy.  But, we’re almost there.” 

“Stay with me, Patches!”

This is where I intervened, concerned about poor Patches’ joints.

Patches got away and the little guy went off to do something else.

I eventually let him play with the hose, but that’s another story.

Faith and Love

In my meditations lately, I have been thinking about FAITH and LOVE.  And how confusing it is for me to make a request of God (and see others make requests of God), with faith that He WILL answer. ..and yet, the answer we look for doesn’t come.  In other words, I’ve learned that having faith isn’t an “end all” to my prayers, it needs to be there, but it doesn’t guarantee the outcome that we want. 

“Faith to move mountains, mountain moving faith” IS A GOOD THING.  However, the Bible says, “Faith abides, but the greatest is LOVE”.  When my mind made that connection, I was amazed. 

“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains (!!), and have not love, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.”

Those are pretty radical things–giving all to the poor, having all knowledge, having enough faith to move a mountain, giving my body to be burned!  As Christians, we are encouraged to do “radical things for Christ” all the time, at least I am–in sermons, in the books I read, in my own thinking, and yet—–these radical things, although they SOUND so sacrificial, will profit me NOTHING if I do it without love. (we need to be aware of our motives)

Verses on LOVE:

“Biblical love has God as its object, true motivator, and source.  Love is a fruit of the spirit.  The ultimate example of God’s love is the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, ‘I give you a new commandment:  that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another.'”  John 13:34  (this is something I wrote in my journal from some book, I don’t remember which one)

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  Galatians 5:14

“For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou SHALT LOVE thy neighbor as thyself.  LOVE worketh no ill to his neighbor.  Therefore LOVE is the fulfilling of the law.”  Romans 13:8b-10

“For IN JESUS CHRIST neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision:  but FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE.”  Galatians 5:6

“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  On these two commandments HANG ALL THE LAW and the prophets.”  Matthew 22:36-40

I can’t do away with my faith and my good works for love’s sake.  Instead, because of my love, I will work and I will have faith in my precious Lord.  Works and faith, and every fruit of the Spirit, the profiting kind, because of LOVE—and, remember, we love BECAUSE of Him. (not by our own efforts or “goodness”)  In my mind, in my thinking, love should always come first. 

Beautiful.  God’s way is the best, most wonderful, and most gratitude-provoking way to live.

*********************************

Look who got to finally use his new umbrella!  (bought with birthday money)

I am sure it is a great mistake always to know

enough to go in when it rains. 

One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge,

but one misses a world of loveliness.  ~Adeline Knapp

Anyone who says sunshine

brings happiness has never

danced in the rain.  ~Author Unknown

I just got done drawing the name!  It was so much fun for me, thanks to everyone who asked to be included.  I put all the names in my big cobalt mixing bowl and went outside on the porch.  The kids were all around me, very excited to see what Mama was doing.  My 10-yr-old was the official photographer.

I just want all of you to know, that as I carefully cut all your names out into strips, I prayed for you.  That the Lord would bless you and keep you. . .that you would do His will and find true contentment and joy in the life He has given you.  I still have all the little papers with your names on them. . .all my friends here on xanga.  You are all so very special.

The winner is MoyaMommy! 

To the rest of you:  If you are interested in owning the book, you can easily order it off Amazon.com. 

Have a lovely day!  And thanks again for participating.  I’m still smiling. . . .