Dear friends,
Hello! How are you on this fine, fall day?
I’ve been busy puttering around the homeplace, getting ready for some very special company. Bob and Jenny are coming to visit us, with their son David! All the way from California (and xanga-land.) We all appreciate Jenny here on xanga, and her gentle encouragement to us. I’m thrilled to meet her TODAY! In just a few hours! I’ll be sure to tell her that you all said hello. Okay?
The guest bedroom (Seth will be temporarily moved into big sister’s room) has been prepared. A bed has been freshly made (our own Davy’s) for David, downstairs in the boy’s “dorm room”. Will they get much sleep down there? Shepherd’s pie has been prepped for dinner, and an apple crisp is cooling on the counter (baked in a Scarlet fiesta 9 by 13). Rich is taking tomorrow off and we are letting the children stay home from school; it’s our own personal holiday, we want to appreciate every moment with them!
The best part of all, is the fall colors are at their prime. Thank you, God, for this gift for our West coast friends!
I took this *all my children* photograph last Thursday during a cool spell. We needed jackets, some of us even needed shoes. What a pleasant evening it was, watching the children play, as this mama was tired, and with a camera in my hands I took a few shots (including the cartwheel photo! so fun).
Is it any wonder that her Papa
sometimes calls her Dandelion?
Our Grace, who was full of it***so happy*** to be home and frisking about. Lying on gravel and what not. Silly girl. Beautiful daughter.
They were playing catch on our very hilly yard. The ball gets away so often. Who will end up with it this time?!
I wear my LL bean boots every day now, to gather the eggs from the coop, as there is so much swampy lawn about the place.
Try as we might, we often have an escaped hen or two from their fenced in yard.
Thanks for the lovely eggs, my dear hen. Did you hear me? Are you listening?
I was holding the bucket in my hand, and the camera in the other hand………
A couple of older pictures, of Sare. (one of her nicknames)..
(dress and knees-highs from Target.)
And, lastly, a few autumn pictures that I took yesterday, and this morning. The colors are so beautiful!
The beauty that shimmers in the yellow afternoons of October….who could ever clutch it? Ralph Waldo Emerson
Good to be Home 
Oh my goodness, how exciting!!! I would LOVE to someday meet some of the friends I have meet on Xanga! I have been xanga friends with Jenny for several years now, and her sister Mary is basically my “internet mom!” How wonderful that you all will get to visit 🙂 The fall colors are so spectacular, too! I expect the official peak down here in VA to be next week, although personally I like it best when there is still some green to contrast all of the other colors 🙂
Happy, happy, happy stuff. Enjoy the real-time, face-to-face with a Xanga friend time!! 🙂
I LOVE FALL! And good friends! (And skipping school! lol) And little Sarahs HAIR!
speaking of encouragement here in xanga-land…you’re just the kind of soul yourself Shanda!always, always Love when you!
I love the colors of Fall!Thanks for sharing.Enjoy your time with friends!P.S.Love your little dandelion! 🙂 A very fitting nickname.
We are heading to Rachel’s (out by the Hudson) next Monday. Hoping the color is still vivd for some nice photos.Love the autumn…..Today is my oldest grand’s 16th. *many sighs*Only yesterday, she was a little one with dandelion hair.Happy Tuesday, my friend.D xo
Your fall is so beautiful!!! and I must say the message on the mug really jumped out at me. I just love reading here and your children put a smile on my face!Love your little dandilion!! I owe you a letter! Its been so loooonnnnggg!!
Have a great time with Jenny and her family from California! How special! I’ve been following her blog for a while now and so enjoy the view from the west coast!
How exciting! Jenny said she was coming to visit you. =)I’m sure you will have a wonderful time together!!! I can’t wait to hear of your visit.Happy Tuesday.Your pictures are beautiful…as usual. =)
Have a wonderful time with Jenny and her family!
I love your fall colors — and your photos of them are wonderful! Grace is growing up to be a beautiful young lady — lovely photos of your family and of her. If I’m not too late, please tell Jenny and her family hello for me — I’ve missed her!
I love the “all my children” photo – what a beautiful, happy family you have! Also LOVE the dandelion photos 🙂 – what a sweetheart! Lol! And Grace is just beautiful. And I love the fleeing chicken photo – made me laugh. 🙂 Happy fall, dear. 🙂
How exciting to meet Jenny and family. Hope you have a great time together~
Fall is my favorite time of year. Love your pictures!! Enjoy your time with your friends.
You have such a lovely family! I hope you enjoy your guests!!!! I’m sure you will!And your fall landscape is breathtaking!!!
Oh, and I adore your shoes in the first photo!
Yes I thought the same thing about the red shoes! SO fun that you have Jenny coming, EVERY single time I feel like I need to get away I say to Steve “I think I am going to go to Shan’s for the weekend” I would love to bring him and the kids so they can see why I love your family so much!Her dress is really cute with the stripey socks I wonder if it would fit Seg she has such a big tummy!Well my friend I hope you are enjoying your company and I will being looking for the update!
how wonderful! I hope you all have a blessed and sweet time!! 🙂 love your pictures.
Yes, we have seen them, and I know of at least one family who raised three. We are comming to Connecticut with the newest mobile chapel – leaving tomorrow. We’re going to Christian Fellowship Church in Scotland, Ct.
Your posts are like balm to my soul! 🙂 I love the joy filled faces, the colors, the beauty of creation, the photos of sweet babies, adorable shoes, lovely chickens (One of my biggest desires right now is to have a little flock of chickens) and your friendliness that comes through in each post that makes me wish every time that we could be neighbors and could sit and have tea and have a good chat. Have a wonderful visit with your friends. Thank you for your blog. ❤
Dandelion! What a fun name for your baby girl ~