rejoicing in the day

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Shanda

This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no ficklenss, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

My darling Ethan Gregory made his appearance on a beautiful but cold March afternoon, making our little family all the better and giving Rich and I an amazing set of boys to watch grow up together. I can’t even believe that Jacob is 19 now, and Ethan is 18. It has been the joy of our lives to see these two brothers together throughout their childhood. Times, they are a- changin’, and the brothers will be going their separate ways within the next year, and indeed have already begun growing apart slightly as Jacob is in college now and working. They do not share a room anymore for the first time. David shares Ethan’s room and Jacob moved down to the basement with the little boys and sleeps on the couch. Such is the way of life, and it is all very good indeed. Whatever happens or where they go, I know our family will always be close and always be there for each other.

Ethan has plans to go into the service as a SERE specialist (he is in the first steps of making this happen so we can’t say definitely that he is accepted into the program yet) which he considers a dream career. Even if he isn’t accepted into this particular program, he will no doubt do something similar and he will be a great addition to any program or company. As for now, he is finishing up his senior year in High School, active in sports year round, has lots of friends and a sweet girl friend named Tessa, he is involved in church and loves Jesus, likes playing Clash of Clans and Skyrim, trying new recipes in the kitchen (especially pancakes), playing the guitar and singing, and watching Harry Potter movies. Ethan is the strong silent type and does NOT talk much, he enjoys dressing nice, but he does NOT enjoy cleaning his room.. He’s a great guy. Truly. He always has been, always will be. I’m very very proud of him, to say the least, and so is his Dad and the rest of our entire family including aunts and uncles. 🙂

We took some portraits this morning to mark the occasion of 18 years old. These young adults years are going to be great years for Ethan! He has so much adventure ahead of him and it will be fun to see what he does.

Happy Birthday once again to my son, someone I admire and love with all my heart. I rejoice in the day that God gave him to us.

“Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude”. ~Ralph Marston

family photo album

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Shanda

This morning I got up at about 6:30 to find Ethan just about to make waffles, Jacob getting ready to go see Emily and take her to school, Grace and Dave ready & waiting for the bus, Michael’s rooster-crowing alarm going off so he could go jogging, and Sarah already awake and playing with toys.

I thought I had to take Gentleman Gray to the vet and got 10 minutes down the road before I got to thinking and realized his appointment was for the following week……sooooooo, I came back home, washed the syrup off Seth’s pants….as he told me it was “wear red and white to school” day, I hugged him because he was so dang cute, I got their snacks ready, waved to them as they rode away on the bus, then cleaned the kitchen and living room even though I didn’t want to. And now here I am on the couch ready to type up a blog post and then continue on with my day.

These are just some photos taken over the weekend. This one because I was walking around the (melted!) “long pond” and noticed I had one single friendly hen following me. All the rest of the flock was back at the coop where I had just stopped to give them treats and gather eggs.

We walked all the way around but didn’t see any signs of life in the pond, it was only wishful thinking.

See the dirt? she went barefoot!

Our other pond still has ice on it and Ethan was hitting golfballs. One of them landed on the ice and he went after it. The ice held but he stayed by the dock just in case.

I learned a new crochet pattern and made a dishcloth. Next one will be the basket weave, as suggested by my fabulous aunt.

David practiced shooting his bow.

I took the kids to church. Sarah said to me, “Don’t take a picture of my dress.” “Well, what should I take a picture of then?” “My shoes.”

She didn’t like wearing her dress, whenever she sat down it choked her so she would have to pull on the neck of it frantically to get herself breathing again. (slight exaggeration)

Rich was away with Caleb and Seth all day long for Caleb’s wrestling tournament. He ended up getting 6th place at States. Rich texted me the news with this picture. I was like, “awesome! when are you coming home?” 🙂

Yesterday I had a doctor’s appointment and some errands to run and as I was putting on my make up in the bathroom I looked down to see I had company.

During these extremely busy years of being a housewife/mama to a large family, one of the ways I give myself a *small pick me up* is by ~~buying jewelry at Tiffany’s every chance I get~~ going to Goodwill and/or the Thrift stores to see what treasures I can find. You never know! (I’m always looking for fiestware but only find a piece .001 % of the time) Yesterday I bought three framed pieces. One is Lady-slippers, one is Trilliums, and one is Violets. Two of them are signed and numbered prints and the other is a painting on velvet. I loved them because they are wild flowers that grow in our woods. Last week I bought the “Thank you for Not Smoking” sign which NO ONE understands but I think is funny because no one in my life smokes or would smoke at my house~ LOL. I bought it because of it’s irony, but also because it’s handmade embroidery in colors that i like and, only 50 cents.

This picture is for my parents because they hadn’t seen this gift and asked for a photo. It is a little felted bird within a little felted egg that their church mailed to Sarah as a “get well soon, we are praying for you” gift. Isn’t it so sweet?

This morning Jacob practiced the electric guitar.

Ethan drove himself to his dentist appointment and to school, looking very handsome indeed. His 18th birthday is SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t stand it.

nice clean eggs from my darlin’s

Isn’t it a wonder that God created birds that lay all different sizes, colors, and patterns of the humble egg? He loves variety! That’s why YOU need to be YOU!

View from the porch this morning.

(32 degrees)

lit candle, part of a hornet/bees nest I found on the ground in the woods, a Scarlet fiesta vase filled with branches of fragrant white flowers from Costco (which I keep sinking my face into and drinking in) and ………plain unromantic bananas. 🙂

And oh! I’ve had such a lovely walk in the May twilight; I stopped by the barrens and picked these Mayflowers; I came through Violet-Vale; it’s just a big bowlful of violets now — the dear, sky-tinted things. Smell them, Marilla — drink them in.”

Marilla sniffed obligingly, but she was more interested in Anne than in drinking violets.

~Anne of the Island

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ethan’s Waffle Recipe

2 eggs
1 3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter
2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tablespoon sugar

In a large bowl beat the eggs. Add the remaining ingredients and beat until smooth. Do not stir the batter between bakings. Makes 6 round waffles.

He doubled the recipe so we could freeze the leftovers. They can be popped in the toaster for a quick breakfast or after school snack. We eat them with butter and Grandpa’s homemade maple syrup.

alive

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Shanda

Everything is flowing — going somewhere, animals and so-called lifeless rocks as well as water. Thus the snow flows fast or slow in grand beauty-making glaciers and avalanches; the air in majestic floods carrying minerals, plant leaves, seeds, spores, with streams of music and fragrance; water streams carrying rocks… While the stars go streaming through space pulsed on and on forever like blood…in Nature’s warm heart. John Muir

Hello, it was one of those weird weeks when things are sort of crappy but sort of unexpectedly nice, at the same time.

Rich was away for five days in a row and we dealt with the stomach bug while he was away. Sarah was supposed to go in for surgery on Thursday morning but as things would have it, I went to bed that night and NEVER SLEPT because my stomach was roiling. My stomach felt as if it contained a turbulent, oily sea. I was looking forward to vomiting. Sarah had been sick on Monday, then David, and then Ethan. They shared it with me! I called the hospital at 4 in the morning so I could stop thinking about it. They kindly rescheduled her surgery for this next coming Thursday. I was happy. I thought to myself, how nice, Rich will be back by then and I won’t have to go with Sarah alone after all. I thought this for about 24 hours before I found out that Rich will be in Baltimore on that day. I just have to laugh. At least he will be home that evening.

I spent Thursday on the couch, with Ethan on the other couch. It was the most relaxing sickness I think I have ever had. This was the unexpectedly nice part. The throwing up went away and I was left completely spent…..totally wiped out but with a smile on my face because I had no energy to even OVERTHINK…praise the Lord! 😉 I didn’t feel guilty in the least for not cooking dinner, not cleaning, drinking lots of sugar laden ginger ale, not tucking the boys into bed, watching too much tv, not showering, etc, I was just plain too tired to care! LOL (and so was E).

I fell asleep on the couch with Sarah at 6:30 pm Thursday, it was truly heart achingly sweet to be snuggled up with her. We woke up and went to bed at 8 (when the little boys got home from wrestling practice thank you Jess) and I slept until 10:30 Friday morning. It was awesome, and even better–Rich got home during that time. He got out of bed in the morning to get the kids on the bus and then came back to bed and we both slept in.

Today is Saturday and he took the kids out for a little while. Ethan broke his iPhone dropping it while playing basketball so they went to take care of that and to go shoot bow. He sent me a picture of them eating lunch at Buffalo Wild wings. He has David, Ethan, Tessa, Zak, Sarah, Seth, and Caleb with him. LOL -the more the merrier- Grace is at school helping out at a band retreat and Jacob is working today until three.

When they left I watched a little TV and then went outside for a walk. Yes, I’m feeling much better and it was wonderful to be outside. Cold, but wonderful. (34 degrees currently).

Dried Queen Anne’s Lace

I didn’t charge him a portrait fee. In fact I paid HIM for sitting so nice. I gave him a warm hen egg from my pocket. He loves them. (he eats them)

I try to point my nose to the ground AND up to the sky, so as not to miss much.

Granted, I’m a pretty loud walker (trying to scare away bears) so it’s a miracle if I can get a bird within 35 feet of me. Today I had a short lens but I cropped this pic….see the titmouse on the branch? There were several of them, including some chickadees, and they were being quite communicative. They were clearly mad that I was walking with a cat.

Sam had a great time running around, up and down trees and boulders, leaping over streams and such.

One of my favorite colors—dark brownish yellow–

Who knew the inside of acorn caps was such a pretty brown?

curling thin papery tree bark with veins of moss

moss under a sheet of ice (turns out we had two storms Thursday night…one in my tummy and one outside the window….tons of rain, thunder, lightening, and wind)…all that rain left puddles to freeze up again so prettily.

*prettily*

Someone has a very nice home.

I spoke to a cardinal. It seemed quite happy. As it flew after a female, I understood why.

Another type of moss (growing by a running stream).

Beautiful icy water

See the ice on either side of the photo?

I looked down and saw this:::

So then I looked up and saw this::

It’s my favorite picture of the day!

And then I came home and saw the first FLOWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very exciting.

Inside pics.

Cats giving each other baths. Candles lit.

Card from dear friend. Thank you Dawn.

An entirely gray cat.

FIRST GREEN EGG from this flock of chickens! Isn’t it lovely?

I repotted the string of pearls plant and put it in a red hanger.

flowers by the sink

lastly,

crocheting a dishcloth.

“Just to be alive is a grand thing.” Agatha Christie

happy here

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Shanda

corners of our home

I remembered my old gentle books. They were scattered throughout the house, neglected, so I searched all the bookcases we have in our home, and found most of them. I’m still missing several (gasp), no doubt under someone’s bed or tucked away in a forgotten spot.

I still remember the first time I pulled Anne of Avonlea out of a bookcase in the elementary school library. After enjoying Anne, I happily went on to read every one of Montgomery’s other novels. I discovered newer publications of her short stories and gobbled those up as well. Then, as an adult, I found her posthumous journals and read a biography written by Mary Henley Rubio as soon as it came out. The journals and biography were fascinating but depressing for me, as her mental state was quite fragile, but this mind of hers was a beautiful gift regardless of her struggles, as out of it came stories that remain beloved by so many even after all these years.

During the same years that I read LM Montomery’s books, I found and read Cynthia Voigt with the same passion. I loved reading all of Voigt’s novels and shared them with my mom and my book-loving friends and then my daughter, who loves them, too. I read On Fortune’s Wheel over and over through the years…..the Dicey books and the Kingdom books will always be mine.

On my bedside table……..

I am reading The Seven Storey Mountain, by Thomas Merton. Although I just started it, I can already tell it is a most excellent book that will remain in our home library.

While I was waiting for the boys in the dentist office the other day I picked up a current copy of People magazine and came across an article about the woman who wrote The Life Changing Habit of Tidying Up which I have purposely avoided even looking at because it has been everywhere lately. Surprisingly, I read the article with fascination! No wonder the book is a best seller….the author is intriguing and unique to say the least. I read just one of her many suggestions, this one about folding clothes into little bundles and standing them up in drawers, and just look at what happened in Sarah’s room (only)!!!!

(I ordered the book).

Rich gave me this perfume for Valentines’s Day. It’s my new favorite!

(and by “gave me” I mean, I bought it for myself on Valentine’s Day while he was coaching Seth’s wrestling meet)

This is how we keep track of our receipts…with an old vintage invoice spike that I found thrifting. This is the only way to do it, IMO.

I keep track of daily life by writing everything (appointments, birthdays, Rich’s business trips, the kids sports games and school concerts, etc) down on the calendar in our room. By the end of the year I don’t want to throw them away because it’s such a condensed but detailed view of our family life.

I’ve had this plant for years now and to have it rebloom is such a satisfaction. It’s saying in the language of flowers, “I’m happy here.”

old magic

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Shanda

Today was dentist day for two of my children.

I wrote a list of things to do and I only have one more to cross off.

There is homemade chicken soup simmering on the stove.

The house is quiet…..

“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds, your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36:5-6

One of the joys of life for me personally is when I manage to get outside for a walk through the woods and the field up by our house. I never know what I might see, but always with a hopeful heart, the sign of my hope is the ever-present camera around my neck.

Sometimes it’s simply the way the sun shines through the trees, or the beauty of a pattern in the bark of a tree. Other times it might be a butterfly or a moth, an interesting insect, or bubbles in the stream. Once I saw a porcupine way up in a tree top.

Today I saw a flock of bluebirds. Seeing them brought me right out of my thoughts and into the challenge of trying to get a decent picture.

I tried to send as much of a “I’m your friend” vibe as I possibly could but they were still suspicious.

I also saw a woodpecker, a cardinal, and a flock of juncos. I’m thankful to live near a place where there is running water and plenty of wild seed and berries for the birds.

I collected this lovely little nest out of the bushes and briars. I love the way paper birch bark is used and wrapped round and round the nest. And after a season of fall and winter, all the old nests have filled with berries and seeds.

I left this one in the briars. But see how it’s all filled up? Nature’s own bird feeder.

I sat under a tree for a little while to listen to the water and pray.

And then I walked back home to feed the hens and gather (3) eggs.

I put the nest in a vase of baby pink carnations.

Grace surprised me by coming home after school because she’s feeling under the weather. I gave her pain meds, hot tea, a warmed up corn bag, and a blanket. She put her robe on and snuggled up with a book, and is now currently sleeping peacefully.

I stopped by the library today to return books. I discovered three LM Montgomery books in the discard/withdrawn pile, free for the taking. Since I already have copies of these I would like to offer them to one of my blog readers….I only ask that whoever wants them doesn’t already have them and also has not read them. You are in for a treat!

~~email me at goodtobe.home@yahoo.com. I’ll need your address and will mail them to you book rate ASAP. If there is more than one request, the first person to contact me will receive them.~~

The books have been claimed! I’ll post more free books if and when I come across them.

*****

“Oh, the old magic had not gone. The world was still full of it.” Anne of Ingleside

what’s the special occasion? “life”

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Shanda

“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.”

*****

“And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.” 1 Chronicles 29:13

We spent the weekend in literal freezing temperatures. Saturday there was a wrestling tournament. My brother Isaac and his wife Cassandra came and watched it with us. Ethan came in fourth in his weight class.

On Sunday, my sister came and dropped off Abigail and picked up Sarah. It was Valentine’s Day. Rich took Seth to compete at States for wrestling and Seth won.

While they were away doing that, I took Ethan and Tessa to Texas Roadhouse and dropped them off. Abbie, Grace, and I went shopping at our favorite store, Sephora. Also, as a nice Valentine’s gift for Rich and I, I went to Pottery Barn and bought a beautiful dark gray linen duvet cover for our bed. When we came home, I found flowers in a vase on the counter from Jacob. He gave me a rose, and he gave each of his sisters a red carnation. Later on that evening, Caleb came by to take Grace out to dinner for Valentine’s Day.

On Monday, I had a dentist appointment. I had to have a filling in one of my very back molars. It was not fun for a variety of reasons. And then my face was numb for several hours. After the appointment, I picked up Zak and brought him home to spend time with Jacob and Ethan. I dropped him off at the house and picked up the kids and we went to see the movie Kung Fu Panda 3 with my sister, and we exchanged back our girls. When I came home, I found that my new TOMS had arrived. I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8:30 last night we were all visiting and chatting in the kitchen….David showed everyone a youtube video. Aren’t these smiling faces wonderful? (Oops I forgot to crop out dinner, which was meatloaf and everyone picked on it saying it looked like something else all together.)

This morning I had my yearly check up. I took Grace and Sarah along so we could go shopping together after the appointment. We went to Costco and then Target. We picked up Grace’s boyfriend on the way home. When we arrived, I had all the kids help bring in the food and clean up the kitchen a little. I was so very happy that all my favorite kids were here and so I took a portrait of them to hang on my blog and on my wall. I love these people so so so so much.

from left to right: Caleb, Grace, David, Zak, Ethan, Tessa, Sarah, Emily, Jacob, Michael, Caleb (sitting on floor), and Seth.

I have to show you a picture of the shoes Sarah picked out today. We were in Payless. She didn’t hesitate at all. She said, “I am going to get these because I have NO high heels.”

She twisted her legs so I could be sure to take a picture of the heels so Aunt Amanda could see them. Grace was unamused at Payless, “She’s FIVE, Mom.” But then as we watched Sarah take her first wobbly steps she changed her mind, “Well, if you get them for her now by the time she’s my age walking in them will be a piece of cake.”

Since we came home she’s been wearing them nonstop and I have to say, walking in them is already a piece of cake for this girly girl of mine.

When we paid for them, the lady asked if they were for a special occasion. Sarah said “yes”, and when she then asked what the occasion was I said, “life”.

‘Tis true, ’tis true.

*****

you are loved

welcome

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Shanda

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If you are paying attention, then the day is going to be pretty joyful, and a lot of delight will fill it. ~Greg Boyle

*****

This morning when I woke up I looked at my phone and already had a text message from my brother David wishing me a happy birthday and that he couldn’t believe “the 40’s are here.” I thought about it. I began to get the sensation that I was standing in a doorway and would I welcome the 40’s into my heart with joy? Or work myself into a rather bittersweet melancholy about how time is passing by?

“I want to sing like the birds sing,
not worrying about who hears
or what they think.” ― Rumi

The three younger ones filled out the obligatory tiny cards for Valentine’s day.

This morning they wore red (the boys) and pink (in a cheetah pattern).

And went away to school.

Rich took the day off and the two of us, alone, went out for breakfast at the diner. They make the best mushroom and swiss cheese omelets. We played UNO while we waited for our food. The waitress called us “you two”. After we ate we went out shopping. It was about 3 degrees at that time, and this afternoon it felt downright warm at 23.

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I got some books and a pair of Tiffany sunglasses….this beautiful lady helped me with the purchase (my sister).

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We arrived home at noon and oldest son Jacob was awake and had cleaned the kitchen as a birthday surprise. He gave me a big hug. Rich made us coffee in fiesta java mugs and we watched a movie together.

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Look at the stickers my parents put on my birthday card envelope!

(I love chickens and pigs)

Rich asked me why I was sighing. (I heard that sighing makes you live longer, am I right Nicole?) I was looking at raw chickens and wondering how to truss them without the long needle and proper butchering string that Julia Child had in her explanatory cookbook?

They may not be Julia-perfect but I bet she would be proud of my no-sew pattern of cutting small slits in the loose “shoulder” skin, in order to insert the legs. The wings got folded under. There. Two very nice chicken bundles.

When Caleb came home from school he exclaimed, “WHAT SMELLS SO GOOD??” and I said, “It’s chicken in the oven.” “OH MY WORD, IT SMELLS SO GOOD, IT SMELLS BETTER THAN HOMETOWN BUFFET!” When I laughed he assured me he wasn’t kidding, it really did smell better than Hometown Buffet in the house. Then he ran downstairs to where David was playing video games, “Call me up when it’s done!”

Today I am thankful for so much:

many many friends on FB writing words of birthday blessings
my parents and siblings
my husband and the way we are together
my children and how they are growing and the way they pay the ultimate compliments
home
roasting chicken especially the smell
books
the candy hearts Sarah shared with me (the pink one is in my mouth)
and so on.

Everything.

Opening it up and letting it in.

day of snow

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Shanda

The first thing we all did this morning was check to see if there was a snow day and YES we had no school for the first time this winter. The ground was already covered with fresh white snow.

Ethan shoveled the driveway.

Yesterday we had carpet guys come and start work replacing our carpet upstairs. They did half of the job and then had to come out today to do the rest while a multitude of snowflakes fell outside. It was cozy inside with all the children and the workers. I got busy in the kitchen.

I made two pans of apple crisp and a pot of clam chowder for lunch and invited them to eat with us. One of the guys said my chowder was better than his wife’s. He said he wouldn’t tell her though.

Grace took a nap on the couch despite all the hammering and noise.

Emily and Tessa came and Emily taught us how to make cake in a mug.

~New carpet~

(When the guys tried to leave they were stuck in the snowy driveway for a while)

There are piles of stuff still waiting to be put back away. But I wanted to take a break and say hello to my bloggy friends. It’s been a busy, lively day. Happy Friday!

~you are loved~

“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” Victor Hugo

we both learn more about peace

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Shanda

One of the best things about having children is being able to hang original art all over the house. This weekend I was emptying out Seth’s backpack when I found this wonderful paper plate project. It took me a moment to recognize that it was his hand with a dove over it.

“Seth, this is beautiful!” I gushed.

“It means peace,” he grunted happily.

“His class talked about peace but they aren’t able to mention God so…..” (I thought)

“Oh I love peace, it comes from God!” I say.

“AND Arthur Luther King,” he added.

Amen.