a simply lovely life.

It’s so good to be home, with this contented feeling after having a relaxing morning with my husband and children.  I drank hot caramel coffee from a fiestaware mug on the porch in the clean morning air.  I looked at a Mary Jane Butters magazine full of wholesome food and craft ideas….photos of the outdoors, chickens, flowers, gardens.  I guess it inspired me to set the magazine aside and get my camera.  With the mug in my hand, and the camera around my neck, I wandered around taking pictures, noticing and enjoying the morning.

Day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in y Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure gives unto each day what He deems best–
Lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest.  ~Carolina Berg

Sam is a little one year old female cat who loves being outside.  She only comes in the house to eat cat food now and then.  We beg her to stay and let us pet her but she wants to be out.  We find her all over; at the stream, running up a tree, catching baby birds and eating them (so wrong), curled up on the porch.  The only time she shows us love is if WE go OUTSIDE.  Nine times out of ten if we go out for a walk, she shows up out of nowhere to “flirt” with us.  She was with me as I took at the rest of these outdoor pictures…….

Rich played catch (football) with Seth & Sarah and then they did some pushups together.

I let out the chickens and gathered two eggs.  Now I was juggling the camera, coffee, eggs, and no pockets.  I love it.

Someone found a lovely place to sleep last night.  See the moth?

This is called cardinal flower and it grows wild along our stream.  It’s been said that it is the most true red flower…..

I was sitting on a big rock with Sam on my lap when I took the picture.

We spent some time cleaning and I made roasted vegetables; one squash peeled and cubed, one red onion, and two potatoes.  Lots of salt and pepper, a healthy drizzle of olive oil.  Roast at 400, take the pan out after 20 minutes to flip and stir the veggies.  Let roast for another 20 minutes of so, until done (soft when pricked by fork).  Rich and I love to eat vegetables this way.  You can also add carrot, or a bulb of garlic with the top cut off and oil drizzled over top.

Billy, sleeping on our bed.

It’s been a quiet, nice morning.  Now that Jacob and Ethan are home from football we are going to take them, plus Caleb and Seth, out school shopping.

As thy days so shall thy strength be.  Deuteronomy 33:25