About Shanda

wife, mom of seven, friend, child of God

On a hot day. . . . .(and, no bake cookie recipe)

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Shanda

we ate popcycles. . . . .

we went for a walk by the stream

and found this little guy:

We climbed rocks

and looked for more creatures. . . . . .

We found pretty wild flowers. . ..

and made no-bake cookies.

David (dripping wet from swimming and still in his life-jacket) wants that one:

NO BAKE COOKIES

3 T. cocoa
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 t. vanilla
3 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. nut meats

Boil all of the following: cocoa, sugar, shortening and milk for 2 minutes. Then add peanut butter, vanilla, oatmeal, and nut meats. Drop on wax paper and let harden.

Also, on a hot day sometimes it’s a good idea to hang out in the kitchen sink:

toes

May I indulge in a show and tell? On my kitchen windowsill you see: a blue glass vase that reminds me of my mom because she collects blue glass. A fiesta teapot clock is behind the vase. I found it at a tag sale for 10 CENTS! See that piece of wood? It’s something I picked up on a walk, the knot fell out leaving a perfect circle. I stand at the sink and look at the perfect circle and think about God. The piece of wood is in a thingy that you use for canning to keep the rim clean while you add the hot liquids (I don’t know the name of it). I love my old canning jar that I filled w/old white buttons. Last but not least is my little nutmeg grater, a vase of wildflowers that Jacob picked for me, and a small pitcher that has loose change in it. They are all things that I like to look at.

What do you have on your kitchen-sink windowsill?

It’s another hot morning but I’ve heard that a thunderstorm is coming. I may get to run around outside in the rain today!

By the way, that picture above of the stream reminds me of Psalm 23. Maybe one of you can quote it in your comment.

family news

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Shanda

We’re in the process of adopting one of these chocolate lab puppies!

Are they cute, or what!?!?!?!?!

Thanks for all your kind comments from the past posts. I have more pictures to share from my trip back home at some point. And, by the way, Grandma loved the portraits of the kids with her quilts!

Have a wonderful day and enjoy your loved ones! It’s going to be HOT here today (90’s and humid–and don’t forget, to New Englanders this is HOT) . . .and we don’t have air conditioning in this house. Thankfully we have the pond and stream and woods. . . . . . . .

“O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Ps 90

(my mom’s garden)

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Shanda

On Sunday we spent some time outside

in the garden.

Mom had Grace planting herbs

and Jacob planting cucumbers.

Ethan was busy hammering together

another wooden garden frame.

I find my mom inspiring.

I did a little weeding

but spent most of the time

wandering around with my camera.

I enjoy how she has little personal touches around.

Like this “My Garden” sign

and the birdbath.

And this clever way

to keep track of the garden gloves.

These old wagon wheels must’ve

come from the farm and are now propped up by the shed.

She loves her garden shed.

She even has a little twin-sized bed in it.

Dad and Mom take naps there sometimes.

Just for fun.

An old enamel tub had pototoes in it,

waiting to be planted.

And I found this old piece of iron

on the fence post that helps

contain the concord grape vines. . . . .

all these things say to me

“Mom’s been here! Mom’s been here!”

Almost like her signature was signed

with a flourish all over the gardens.

“The more things thou learnest to know and enjoy,

the more complete and full will be for thee

the delight of living.”

Phalen

(my mom's garden)

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Shanda

On Sunday we spent some time outside

in the garden.

Mom had Grace planting herbs

and Jacob planting cucumbers.

Ethan was busy hammering together

another wooden garden frame.

I find my mom inspiring.

I did a little weeding

but spent most of the time

wandering around with my camera.

I enjoy how she has little personal touches around.

Like this “My Garden” sign

and the birdbath.

And this clever way

to keep track of the garden gloves.

These old wagon wheels must’ve

come from the farm and are now propped up by the shed.

She loves her garden shed.

She even has a little twin-sized bed in it.

Dad and Mom take naps there sometimes.

Just for fun.

An old enamel tub had pototoes in it,

waiting to be planted.

And I found this old piece of iron

on the fence post that helps

contain the concord grape vines. . . . .

all these things say to me

“Mom’s been here! Mom’s been here!”

Almost like her signature was signed

with a flourish all over the gardens.

“The more things thou learnest to know and enjoy,

the more complete and full will be for thee

the delight of living.”

Phalen

Posted on June 24, 2007 by Shanda

Grace took this picture of me. It was taken in front of my Grandpa’s barn, the one that held the cows before they went into the milking parlor to be milked. The barn is not in use and my Grandparents are not there anymore–Grandma has passed on–Grandpa is in a nursing home. The farm is for sale and I saw the “for sale” signs up for the first time this weekend. My parents live down the road a little bit from the barns and of course these have been the scenes of many childhood memories–the sights, sounds, smells, memories. Colleen and I made lots of memories here and even milked the cows together for a while. . . . .seems like ages ago. . . .

We used to ride our bikes for hours around and around the “1st driveway”, “2nd driveway”, and when we were a little more daring, the “3rd driveway”!

The driveways have almost all completely grown in with grass!

Mom says her dad and his boys made all the boards to the barn and built the barn together.

Grace and I prowled around and explored the old milking parlor. It had been a very long time since I had been in there, the machinery is gone but the brilliant blue paint remains.

When I first went in the milking parlor I was disappointed, it smelled sort of musty and of mildew.

But as we went out, the wind blew through and I caught a satisfying whiff of it–hard to explain–a combination of cows, milk, rubber tubing, disinfectant, and stainless steel. I was glad to smell it again, who knows if that was the last time I would go in there? “The last time” comes to everything sooner or later!

Colleen, do you remember when we used to pass kittens back and forth through that little door (that the milkman’s hose went through to collect the milk from the tank)? I had completely forgotten until I saw that door again.

I don’t know how to end this post. I feel sad about change and the fact that these buildings are empty and the only sounds that I hear are the creaking of the old boards.

I am glad, though, that I got to visit and take my camera.

Quilts made by their Great-Grandma

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Shanda

This Saturday we are traveling back home to celebrate Rich’s Grandma’s 90th birthday. I decided to give her a framed photo of the children in front of the quilts that she made each of them when they were born.

A garden of Love grows in a Grandmother’s heart. ~Author Unknown

Posted on June 18, 2007 by Shanda

“Mothers, it’s worth it. It’s worth it. It’s worth every hour of it. It’s worth every sleepless night of it. It’s worth every moment of counsel.” –C. Swindoll

I’m my way outside to catch fireflies with Grace, Ethan, and Jacob. Even though I am so tired that my eyes itch, even though I need quiet and my nice comfy bed. Even though my book is calling me. Even though their bed time was almost 2 hours ago.

They are outside already, on the porch. I keep hearing them say, “There’s one!” “There’s one by the pine tree!” “There’s another one!” “Let’s go catch them!”

I didn’t know if they would leave the security of the porch, to go into the dark night. But, they did. They’re out there now, with a big glass jar.

And I’m smiling. It’ll be a late night.

But it’s so worth it.

P.S. I took the pictures of Caleb today with my new camera. He’s such a cutie!

teaching love

Posted on June 17, 2007 by Shanda

“It’s the one job that I dream of. It’s the task I think of most. For if I fail my little fellows, I’d have nothing else to boast. For the wealth and fame I’d gather, all my future would be sad; if I fail to be successful as my little fellows’ Dad.” -song lyrics

“A MAN IS LOVED

not for how tall he stands,

but for how often he bends

to help, comfort, and teach.”

Happy Father’s Day

Do you have a favorite memory of your
father, grandfather or husband?
If so,please share!

(my favorite picture of me, Dad, and sister)

(my mom and dad)

testing. . .testing. . .1-2-3

Posted on June 16, 2007 by Shanda

Jacob, age 10

Ethan, age 9

Grace, age 7

David, age 4

Caleb, age 1

The camera is intimidating, but very interesting and fun.
Rich loves that he can now take even faster rapid-fire photos.
I thought the pictures looked better on the camera monitor, so I was a little disappointed after downloading them onto the computer.
I watched the DVD that came w/the camera 2 times.
I love the wide lens.
I am excited about trying to take pictures of the birds at the feeder.
For that I will need to sit still for a while. Not easy!

Other than photography. . . . .
I talked to sister, mom, and dad on the phone.
We went out for ice cream, errands, and to pick up pizza.
I’ve been cleaning, doing laundry, and reading.
It’s been a nice day.

(he said I deserved it)

Posted on June 15, 2007 by Shanda

I don’t deserve it. I don’t. I feel so humbled by this gift. Humbled but VERY HAPPY!

I hardly even know what to say! Rich bought me it for me tonight. Funny, as we left Costco the guy checking our receipt handed it back to Rich and said, “Happy Father’s Day” in an impressed voice because of the camera. Rich and I had a good chuckle over that. We laughed because, it’s really for ME!

I’m almost afraid to open the box. I have a lot to learn about the camera, but most of you know by now that I love to find pictures. . . . . . .