Here are some pictures from our weekend. On Saturday we worked around the house. Rich put in a garden for me! (well, it’s not actually planted, but it’s ready to plant!)
First thing in the morning on Saturday, geese landed on the pond. I walked down to try to take a picture of them, and they flew away. . . . .See how it’s body is straight as an arrow, and the feet are tucked up?
The buds on the trees are like little red flowers:
We picked one daffodil:
This is my new garden (for veggies). . .Rich used old railroad ties for the box. Caleb was filthy dirty by the time we were done. I had to run bath water two times to get him clean!
This hat was the best 7 dollar purchase. It keeps the sun off my face and I wear it all the time now. The rim can be folded up like I have it in this picture:
Grace had fun running around in the dirt.
This is the cast iron bell that hangs on our porch. The ribbon came on some Land’s End packaging and I saved it. The children need a refresher course, but the rule is “When you hear the bell, run to the house as fast as you can”
It saves my voice and head from yelling and yelling for them to come.
These are the books I was reading this weekend, for inspiration:
The last time I was at the Hallmark shop, I found this bag on clearance. It holds my housekeeping journal at the moment, with some nice sharp pencils:
On Sunday, Rich and I went for a little walk around the yard. I think these little daffies are so cute. I put my mug down with them so you can see how small they are. The funny thing is, I don’t even remember planting them.
Random comment****I just had to run like a jack rabbit to get the recycling outside in time to be picked up. We have 2 tubs that get completely filled every week. I am so tired this morning. It’s going to be a nice day today, we will have a (hopefully) relaxing day of home-school and then the kids can play outside.****
Some Spring Firsts:
1. Jacob and Ethan had their first “frog collecting” session yesterday. They put water in a rubbermaid storage container and caught bull frogs and one turtle. Of course, the very first one was brought into the house to show to mommy. I saw it and laughed and said, “Well, Hello!” I really don’t mind bullfrogs and turtles, and it makes me happy that they creatures are re-appearing after the winter. Parker, our dog, was so interested! He had his face down there in that container, just like the boys did! He even lurched down into it and caught one in his mouth! He brought it quickly up and dropped it on the ground, watching it intently, with his ears up, the whole time. Grace stood and guarded the catch from David and Caleb (I had to calm her down several times, she got so bossy!)
2. Grace found a creamy yellow pansy in my garden on Saturday. We got right down next to it and felt it’s soft, velvet face. I was thrilled to see it.
3. I saw some violets yesterday! (my birthflower) and also what we call “forget me nots”. I also found a small white wild flower in the woods yesterday (while I was walking the dog). I need to find my wildflower book so I can look it up.
4. Hornets are back. Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
5. I used some rhubarb yesterday in a coffeecake. I just ate a piece.
6. We’ve also seen a couple of snakes (one is named Ferdinand). We found a small dead one on the driveway and David carried it around for a while. I don’t know what he did with it. (I just asked him. He said, “Umm. Well. . .I throwed it in the pond.”)
****Other news. We will be leaving on Saturday for our vacation. Rich’s company has a leadership conference every spring for their top employees and Rich gets to go to help “host” it. His company pays for Rich and me to go. We used to parcel out the kids and go, just the 2 of us (unless we had a little baby, then the baby came along) but a couple of years ago I realized that I did not like leaving the kids behind. (it was actually a shock to my system to go from taking care of 5 children to taking care of none!) So, now we take the older ones with us. This year the conference is in Orlando. Jacob, Ethan, Grace, and David are coming an
d Caleb is staying with Rich’s mom. We are all excited about going to Disney. We will be in FL for 6 days! (In other words, I have a lot of organizing and packing to do between now and Saturday!)****
Most of my children are already outside. I wish you could see Ethan wearing his red bathrobe and his black rubber boots! He just caught the first frog of the day.
I read this quote this week and loved it:
“I only wish that I could come into your home and sit at your kitchen table each morning and talk of our common problems, though I could never solve them! I am no great brain, just a neighbor and friend. . .Mrs. Homemaker, I think you’re the most wonderful person on earth! You are the very backbone of family life.”
~Heloise, Heloise’s Housekeeping Hints
Isn’t that encouraging! What we do is important, so important! Don’t forget it!
Okay, I must get busy!
Good to be Home 
And oh, how I would love to sit at your kitchen table and eat a piece of that rhubard cake served on a piece of your Fiesta with you! It is to be a nice day here too ~ I will think of you as I wash windows that will probably get nice new spots on them from the expected spring thunderstorms tonight. Blessings on your day ~
Yes! God is showing me over and over lately that what I do as a homemaker is importnant…cleaning the dirty laundry, baking fresh bread, sweeping the pourch…all of these little things make my family feel safe and loved…that is my job! I praise God I am learning to accept it =)
We just prepared our garden this past weekend as well. I think I will have to check our library to see if they have the “Vegetable Gardener’s Bible” looks like something I need! I do not know anything about gardening! (my husband does, thank God!)
Have a fabulous relaxing day =)
Hang on to the TRUTH that what you are doing as a homekeeper/mother is the most important ministry you can be involved in right now.The moments pass all too quickly….seize each one!I’ll miss your posts while you are away.Enjoy the time together!!!Make more memories.xox
Spring is in your air….and I can tell you all are taking every advantage of each breath of fresh air. I will look forward to watching your garden grow.I just love the smell of dirt, and believe it or not I love to pull weeds. Just as sin needs to be dealt with in our lives, so do the weeds in are gardens.We used a bell to call our children too. I like the cow on yours. Have a great trip….come home refreshed.
I saw that you were reading Anne Of Green Gables…..definitely a favorite of mine!Spring has arrived there…and I am seeing some flowers on the trees here in Germany as well. There are the most perfect tulips around here, I will have to take pics…I just hope the weather gets warmer, so I can go out and enjoy it!
Thank you for sharing all of your signs of spring! I enjoy your pictures and descriptions so much. You and your new hat look perfectly suited to one another. Good luck with your packing and organizing, and have a wonderful time together! Your kids are going to have so much fun!!
I so enjoy seeing all the little details of your life…dirty toes, cow bells and books read.And how fun you get to go on a vacation to Disney with the children…I’m already looking forward to the pictures you’ll bring back!
Dear Lord, please organize our Shanda’s days, establish her plans, keep everyone healthy, and grant them a safe and pleasant vacation. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Love this post!
My husband often jokes with his brothers and sister about the whistles they used to have to wear around their necks. They were instructed to blow them (hard!) only if they were in real, true danger and they were afraid for their lives or lost. Their mom and dad had whistles as well to call the children home from the woods. Such a great memory.
Love your hat!!
Yes, I know the hornets are back — I have a huge red welt from my shoulder to my elbow on the back of my arm to prove it!! I don’t do well with stings! I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip. When my nephews were small and we lived “in town” I would babysit them and they had to come for lunch when the noon fire siren sounded — I never had to call them! We have a “triangle” bell on our front porch now but I don’t have anyone to “call” with it — it just hangs there, useless!!
LOVE the tree with the buds…I have been watching mine for weeks now and one morning I woke up and it looked just like that…almost as if someone had come during the night and colored all of the tips red!
I can’t wait to start a garden, but I think we are going to have to pass on that this year again since our drainage issues have not been resolved yet. (We won’t be able to till it up until May…which will be way too late!) I might try a container garden though…we will see!
I can’t wait to see what you do with your garden! I hope that you have everything in order before Saturday! lots of love, Lish
I hope you have a great time on your trip… but I am oh so jealous. 🙂
thanks for letting me stroll around the yard w/ you~ 🙂 love the hat you are so adorable in!
Well mama, didn’t you know your garden was the new playground too? 😉 I’ve told Dan that I am going to use a bell to call them at meal times. Hmmm…
I love your spring firsts and photos, and that quote too! Thank you for sharing. I have some little purple flowers at the bottom of our deck stairs that I don’t remember from last year. Perhaps a tiny gift from Him?
Have a wonderfully fun vacation, my friend! You’ll be missed!
I just LOVE your sun hat! It is adorable on you!! (love the book collection….some of my favorite too)
The bell ~ I LOVE IT and such a great idea ~ OK, that’s not all…your bag is just perfect and the pictures look great. I would love to grow daffodils…..they are one of my favorites! Your pics are just so clear and colorful.
If you get a minute, tell me about your housekeeping journal. Thanks and have a great week!
Stephanie <><
The bell reminds me of the little book that I love so so much, “Cheaper by the dozen” I think the dad would whistle or maybe it was a bell but all of the kids would come running!
Are you all packed and ready to go? I missed talking to you this week! I am sure the kids are climbing the walls with anticipation of this upcoming trip!
How did he move the wood, wasn’t it heavy? I think it is such a cool idea and am so happy for you I know you will love spending time in your garden!