{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
{this moment}
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Author Archives: Shanda
pictures of mostly kitchen doings
My husband arrived back from his business trip safe and sound. All is well.
As soon as the sunflower was done blooming a smart goldfinch began eating the seeds from it. I took a picture of it through the kitchen window this morning, through glass and screen.
Listening to this song over and over and dancing as I cook. Cute, happy song from Jacob’s H.S. graduation.
Made a blueberry/blackberry coffee cake, Grandma’s recipe:
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 cups blueberries
Preheat oven to 350. In a mixing bowl shortening and sugar together, add egg and beat until fluffy. Mix in the dry ingredients alternating with the milk. Spread in a greased and floured 11 by 7 inch pan or two 9 inch pans. Sprinkle the top with 2 cups of blueberries.
Crumb topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter
Mix together with a pastry blender or a fork until crumbly and sprinkle on top of the berries. Bake for 30-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
I like making recipes that my Grandma made when she was my age, and older. I think about her and feel like we are connected.
Amish Macaroni Salad recipe here. (I made as written except reduced sugar to 1/4 of a cup.)
First photo of Rich, Sarah and Seth was from last night. All the rest of the photos were taken by me this morning.
Happy Thursday! (I love you!)
these days
phone dump post ahead!
dedicated to the ones I love…….
This was about a month ago at a little league game. Rich brought one chair and eventually we realized we had both decided on the ground so we could sit really close together.
Seth was in the garage and dropped something (he said it was a hammer-thing) on his pinky toe. He came in the house to show me his painful swollen and bloody toe. “I saw my toenail fly off. I couldn’t find it.” For some reason this struck me as hilarious…the thought of my six year old ignoring the pain and taking the time to search for his toenail, like maybe he thought it could be reattached. This is a picture I took of it about a week later, when the nail started growing again.
Mitch and Ethan stylin’ at Jacob’s graduation.
The cake I made my Mama for her birthday.
Singing Happy Birthday to Grandma on June 19th.
At the end of the day…Jacob’s graduation party.
Caleb’s last little league game and his 4th place trophy.
Sarah and Seth with their new backpacks FOR SCHOOL!
A few weeks ago Rich and I snuck away for a night at a hotel together. Alone. This was part of the view from our room. We had such a good time knowing that nobody was around who needed us….we could lock the door and never mind the world.
This is the summer of working toward driver’s licenses for the boys.
I am not very proud to say that I am scared to death in the passenger seat. I feel that this is an indication of a control-problem on my part. I eventually realized that going on my phone or reading a book helps to distract me from panic attack and/or from distracting the driver.
Teenagers arguing over who has to sit in the backseat. Ethan: “I was here first” Zac: “I’m getting dropped off first. Emily: “I don’t want to sit in the back, it’s harder to get out and I want to jump right out when we get there.” Jacob: “I’m the firstborn.”
(they stayed put and rode just the way they were….squished)
Jacob and Emily at the coffee shop. I thought it was so cute that they held hands like that.
The day I took these kids to the movies and Target.
A week later…another movie morning.
Grace and her book at the movies…..
This cat was sound asleep in/off my favorite chair on the porch.
Boys playing video games….Emily painting.
In the coop!
Seth microwaving!
Sarah learned a trick.
Our cat Samantha.
Pretty braid.
At church.
I’ve been making jars and jars of my Mama’s Raspberry Jelly!!!!
From berries on the side of the road!
The very first jar. 2 cups
picking more berries a few days later
I held up one of the briars and it was covered! These treasures like to hide and it truly is a feeling of treasure seeking and finding as I pick. I just love it. Some of the kids find it boring! I don’t understand!
The next two jars! 3 cups
Yesterday’s batch! 4 cups! I kept some of the seeds in this time…I’m going to use a jar for raspberry bars today and perhaps jam thumbprints soon, too. soooooo happy
This is heavenly! Plain greek yogurt with a spoon of homemade jelly— nothing but pure berries and sugar. The recipe is so easy and quick…instant gratification.
Seth does slow down at times. And when he does I stand and stare at him.
R.C. —Jacob and Seth playing with their cars.
Grace laughing over Alyssa’s son’s instagram.
Boys wrestling party at our place this weekend!
I love it when I go in my room and shut the door for a little peace and quiet and this man of mine comes without knocking in to lean over the bed to tell me random things. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.
Sherlock helping me watch my chickens….we lost 5 last week to a raccoon so I’ve been keeping them locked up unless I am right there.
The list I left for the kids on Saturday morning when Rich and I left to get stuff for the wrestling party.
Sarah pretending she is a cat named “Hawaii”
Sarah swimming. Now is the time to get those Land’s End suits on sale for next year! This one is size 6, a little big on her…but so so cute.
Jacob and Emily napping on the couch.
Seth and I had to wait for Jacob at the college last week….
He was hitting mushrooms like they were golf balls. Using a stick as a club.
We had a coffee/pastry treat as we waited, at a wonderful Italian bakery.
I made Caleb’s birthday cake myself…David in the red shirt took one bite of it and yelled “YES!” As I jumped in my seat next to him he continued, “This cake is moist! I love it when the cake is moist.” LOL!!
Everyone was full of it.
sooooooo happy with these people of mine!
Micheal and his watermelon. Parker was watching his Dad through the window. One of my sunflowers got broken so I put it in a pitcher by the piano.
Yesterday Caleb got the last football cards I will ever buy him! The complete set purchased with his birthday money and a loan from Mom. “Mom, can I borrow 13 dollars? It would make me really happy.” Okay then.
We went to the movies and Subway for lunch.
I got my ears pierced! (2nd hole)
We went to the library last night for a magic show and then Seth got his first library card! I die.
SOOOOOO cute
“Why does it say Seth W on it?” “That’s your middle initial” “Oh, I remember! William!”
I wrote this post with Parker at my feet.
Happy Summertime, my friends!
after berries
savor ~ to enjoy food or an experience slowly, in order to enjoy it as much as possible
*****
“If she were seen holding a stem of beardtongue blossoms to admire their color or stooping to touch the spikes of jimson leaves, some would solemnly call her mazed in the head not to know beardtongue when she saw it, and others would wonder, grinning, was she so wit-scoured as perhaps to eat jimson? Gossip had it that she went about with a notebook and pencil and would stare at a thing–bird or bush, weed, sunset, mountain—and then scratch at paper awhile as if she were addled enough in her thinking that she might forget what was important to her if she did not mark it down.” Cold Mountain, page 77-78
I was walking around the pond and picked the stems of three daisies to gift to little Sarah, who was playing at the water’s edge. I thought she would enjoy floating them in the water like pretty little boats. I happened to see a tiny struggle going on underneath one of the blossoms. A small red bug was pulling and tugging at a worm smaller even than one of the white petals. I put it gently on the ground to watch. A miniature little scene, something real and active, yet silent and easily missed. Neither one of them wanted to let go…the bug holding the worm, and the worm holding the thin edge of the daisy petal. But shortly the worm lost it’s hold and the bug moved fast to carry it away. Of course with the daisy now topsy turvy, it took him a quick second to realize that what was “down” was now “up” and the bug had to run back down from the top of the cut of stem to move off the flower and onto the rock, heading for the sheltering grass.
With a basket on my arm, I later wandered away from the house alone in the golden ending hours of the day. I was after berries. I found a cup and a half of blackberries around the house and garage and wanted to see if I could find more. I had an idea of where some might be, and perhaps even some blueberries, but the bush I thought was likely blueberry turned out to be something unidentifiable. It had little white blossoms on it that looked like the blossoms for blueberries, but no berries, instead, little hard seed pods. I stood in the twilight, letting myself settle into the very quiet of the beaver pond. Three golden birds sang by with their wings fluttering.
I was wearing flip flops which were now soaked with water but as I looked a short distance down, I thought I could see a blueberry bush, so once again I picked my way through tall grasses, rocks, and branches, basket on my arm, heavy camera around my neck. Smiling a little smile.
I tasted a berry, there weren’t very many, and held a thin branch of blueberry bush in my hand. The bark was rough and strong.
Under the bush was like a shelter. The branches were over hanging, all leaning toward the right, making a roof of green leaves overhead. I imagined taking the time to gather in under them, to watch the water, the little bugs skimming on top, the birds flying by not knowing I was there.
The path that I took to get to the bottom of the hill, with the water of the beaver pond.
There is something so satisfying about standing still in a lonely spot of nature for a time, listening, looking, wondering.
{this moment}
opened presents
went to Crackerbarrel for breakfast
put together his lego set
looked at his baby book for the first time
had his favorite dinner at home (chicken divan)
this is a football-birthday for our football-loving boy
Caleb turns 10!!!!!!!
the comfort of God
“A pond without dragonflies darting above it or without the exquisitely iridescent damsel flies clinging to the leaves of its border would be a lonely place indeed.” (this and all following nature quotes are by Anna Comstock)
Dragonflies are common at our place as we have two ponds and a stream. It is always a pleasure to stand on the road and lean over the guardrail to peer into the water of the stream and watch the bright green bodied damsel flies, or to walk along the edge of the lawn where the tall grasses grow and observe the various dragonflies fluttering. And it is always a feeling of accomplishment if I can get close enough to one with my camera and snap a clear photo.
“The grasshopper has some means of defense as well as of escape; it can give a painful nip with its mandibles; and when seized, it emits copiously from the mouth a brownish liquid which is acrid and ill smelling. This performance interests children who are won’t to seize the insect by its jumping legs and hold it up, commanding it to ‘chew tobacco'”.
What delightful and beautiful insects grasshoppers are! Watching them jump is highly amusing, their back legs are like springs.
When I look at this photo of a grasshopper, I am struck by an urge to try to draw it.
This was an exciting surprise. I was hunting the trees along the edge of the field for birds and my only thought was determination to take a pretty BIRD photo in the evening light. And what do I see? A tiny, chubby chipmunk way up high, frozen in fear as I photographed it. Look at those tiny ears.
“The lay of the bullfrog, which like the song of some noted opera singers, is more wonderful than musical; the boom of the bullfrog makes the earth fairly quake.”
Even the bullfrog is lovely with it’s green and brown skin and gorgeous round & golden eyes shinier and prettier than any marble. You can see the sky reflected within it’s black iris. The round circle to the right of the eye is the ear. My sons love to catch bullfrogs and consider them friends of the pond.
Notice anything special about this chicken?
The hydrangeas are continuing to dazzle.
Another surprise! Just one week after seeing a baby chipmunk in a tree, I was sitting on the porch talking to my husband when my eyes landed on this one, way up high in the bush by our porch.
“While the chipmunk is a good runner and jumper, it is not so able a climber as is the red squirrel, and it naturally stays nearer the ground……a second glance showed me that it was a chipmunk lying close to the branch, hanging on for ‘dear life’ and with an attitude of extreme caution…”
So what was this chipmunk doing up in a bush? I believe the answer was this:
Kitty on the porch probably chased it up there. And after giving up on the chipmunk ever coming down, went back to his cozy seat on the porch to take a bath.
A chipmunk observer.
The children played a game of catch over by the chicken coop.
*******
I had many real and imagined worries about the children and their future and by the end of the day yesterday I gathered my journal and my Bible to me like a lifeline…knowing that I needed most of all to saturate my mind with the truth of God, that He is in control of all things and that I can trust Him with my (His) children whom I love so much that I never want to let go of them or these days.
How Does God Comfort us?
Through His very nature, He is faithful. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”
Through His Word. “I delight in your word every day.”
Through Prayer. “Morning, noon and night I complain to you, Lord, and you always listen to me. I rise before dawn and cry for help.”
Through His Holy Spirit. “If we live by the Spirit, let us walk by the Spirit.”
Through others. “Let us stir up each other to love and to good works.”
“I believe, Lord, that as I seek you I find you. You will always show me the way that is good for my life, You will lead me along the right way and I know that you always love me. You pour your love into my heart so that I praise you because of your faithfulness; my innermost being says ‘thank you.’ Through the cross of Christ I have been brought back to you: how I praise you! Through the cross my life is transformed. For Jesus Christ’s resurrection and for my new life I praise you.”
From a little booklet published in 1985 by Gospel Light Publications, “Enjoying God who Comforts”
football brothers
lemon cupcakes
We used the spray-on sunscreen. I used it on David and I laughed hysterically yesterday when Rich showed me this picture he took of Dave’s back yesterday at the track:
I honestly thought I had covered him entirely!
On the fourth of July Rich took the kids to the playground so he could go running. I made macaroni salad (amish recipe) and looked forward to grilling for dinner.
I love our old-fashioned looking flag bunting for the porch and my dark blue hanging baskets.
After they came home the boys wouldn’t let Seth on the trampoline and he was sad. I was fine with it though because three boys on the trampoline is an accident waiting to happen.
He was still pouting. Some of us did manage to wear red/white/and blue. 🙂
A good mama.
When it was time to start the grill Rich said “oh shoot, I’m out of charcoal” and I almost threw away the meat. He went to the store and eventually we did eat our grilled beef kabobs, baked beans, macaroni salad, cantaloupe, and spice cake.
At our church those who are taking communion file up to the front to take the bread and then the cup, then going back to their seats to partake. Those who don’t take it are left in the pew to try to work their positions in order to be the one sitting next to MOM when she returns……the boys were silent but determined and my communion cup was jostled so that most of it dumped on my chest and lap. I just had to laugh because I know God understands how hard it is for me to stay focused in church these days, and He wants me to cherish the moments. I was in constant thoughts with God, and knew He was enjoying my situation just as much as I was. Rich took the picture after we had gotten back home.
Abbie spend the weekend with Grace. She is my sister’s oldest and the girls are one year apart, both born in November. Cousins and best friends.
On Sunday I had such fun taking them out to Starbucks.
And then shopping.
We spent most of our time in Sephora…..
They had a free mini makeover service and learned about conturing.
I let them each pick one item as a gift from me to them. Abbie chose purple mascara. “Do you think my Mom will let me wear it?” “Well, if not you could at least wear it at home!” And Grace picked out a new eye-liner pencil. I treated myself to a new lipstick.
Later that night they made lemon cupcakes and served me in bed while I was reading my latest book, Cold Mountain. Rich had one as well, as he read a book by Bill Piper (John Piper’s dad).
To be honest, I made Rich go out to the kitchen to get me a second one. They were so good!
2/3 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 2/3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk
1 Tablespoon grated lemon peel
In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in lemon peel.
Bake in muffin cups at 350 for 20-24 minutes, and frost.
Rich woke me up at 2 in the morning yelling at the teenagers to go to bed. The girls were running up and down the stairs and the boys were playing video games. After which we had insomnia for over an hour. We tossed and turned. Ugh.
He’s at work now and I’m showered and dressed. I’m leaving here in about an hour to take the kids to the one dollar movie at the mall.
I don’t want to end this post without sharing a sweet compliment that my husband gave me. We were snuggling close in bed when he said, “Shan, I don’t ever remember a time in all the years we’ve been married that you’ve smelled bad.”
{this moment}
I remember the first time we took baby Sarah to the ocean. She crinkled up her eyes in disgust and would not put her hands down to touch the sand.
We took the children to the beach yesterday and five year old Sarah was busy enjoying herself the whole day long. Digging in the sand, collecting every shell in sight, swimming even though the water was cold, playing with nearby little girls, twirling her new hula hoop. We were there for six hours and she cried when we had to leave.
She loves the ocean.
grace’s new hair style
I’m sure you might feel the same as I do about Grace’s hair.
I loved it long, it was so beautiful. She got several compliments on it from random strangers in the days leading up to her appointment.
But, she’s had long hair for years and she was feeling a desire for a change. Also, her hair is fairly thin and to me it wasn’t looking as healthy as it used to.
She asked us if she could cut it and after thinking about it for at least a month or more, we agreed that it was time for her to chose a hair style and sit herself down in a hair salon.
Here is a “before” picture::
(the determined look)
The sweetest part of this story is that her Dad took her to the spa to get it done. She had to go twice, once for the cut and the second time for the color (done today) and he took her both times. He also made her an appointment to get her nails painted, too.
(He makes most of my hair appointments for me, as well, and loves it when I pamper myself. It’s one of the ways that he enjoys showing his love for his wife and daughters.)
He spent lots of money on her and then she came home and got upset about FISH! But it’s Rich’s fault entirely. You don’t buy 80 live silver shiners and then release them into the pond to get EATEN ALIVE by bass and catfish right in front of your tender hearted daughters and expect them to be happy about it.
We had to wait until after lunch cheered her up again before we could do our little photo shoot.
The cut looks so cute on her and I love the subtle ombre. She came up with this style on her own and it looks adorable. She’s 15 and this is just the right time to say “yes” to harmless changes!
