trip back home

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Shanda

fullsizeoutput_540d

I left Thursday morning as soon as the children got on the school bus and drove leisurely to my parents’ house. I stopped several times for coffee, gas, the mall, and an antique store where I found a handful of old photos and letters for my scrapbook.

Mom was at work but Dad and the dog greeted me and we went for a walk up the road so he could show me the wood he’s been cutting.

We passed the house my mom and her siblings grew up in which now belongs to someone else.

fullsizeoutput_540f

fullsizeoutput_5410

I played on this yard as a child, too.

fullsizeoutput_540e

Springtime Daffodils were peeking through old grasses from last year, in a tire that my Grandma planted flowers in years ago.

Dad stood by his woodpile in the woods across from Andrew’s and the pond.

I admired the beautiful scenery as we walked back down the road to home. I’m forever thankful to have grown up in such a beautiful area.

Soon it was time to pick up my cousin Erika so we could go to school and sing. But first, I was delighted to see her fiestaware collection. This is a photo of just some of what she and her husband have found.

fullsizeoutput_5411

Aunt Colleen says Jillian (Erika’s daughter) is the avocado whisperer because she’s the only one who can get the pits to grow. This is an avocado plant in her bedroom! She planted it from a grocery store avocado, using the pit after they ate the rest of it.

This is a school yearbook photo of my friend Nicole, my brother, myself, Carmine, Dana (my HS bestie) and Aaron, all friends from my childhood who were in chorus with me years and years ago.

My beloved chorus Director is retiring this year so those of us who could attend went back to school to sing one last time………

The beginning of the concert…..

fullsizeoutput_5446

My friend Tracy took this photo of me and the rest of the alto section. Oh it was such fun!! I was just a little bit rusty and couldn’t sustain a note quite as long because I’m out of practice. But still, so fun. I loved seeing familiar faces and places; the whole weekend was full of nostalgia and memories. I hadn’t been inside the school in over 10 years.

My sweet cousin and me after the concert with our red folders. 🙂

fullsizeoutput_5414

Looking pretty good for a pair of 40ish year olds! My friend Tracy and myself (same graduating class of 1994). We had fun walking around seeing the school and how it has changed since we attended there (seems like just a year or so ago…….)

fullsizeoutput_5415

Me and Mrs. Westover at the reception after the concert.

The old gym that we graduated in. Ah, memories!!!!

friday:

I stopped by the restaurant in town that morning where Erika is the baker and she gave me some slices of her homemade pie to take home! Thank you Erika! The pie was delicious when we ate it that evening for dessert. Mom and Dad had raspberry and I had chocolate peanut butter (split with brother Dave).

I drove to meet mom for lunch. She was able to take a special four- hour-long -one just for me.

(isn’t the floor of her office beautiful?)

fullsizeoutput_541b

antiquing…….

fullsizeoutput_541d

fullsizeoutput_541f

Someone glued lots of old McDonald’s toys to a mirror. It would be fun in a child’s bedroom.

fullsizeoutput_5420

My cute mom.

fullsizeoutput_5421

A frame/art shop with a window full of cats.

LUNCH at a thai place

COFFEE time! (with our Vera purses of the same pattern but slightly different fabrics)

fullsizeoutput_5423

After I left mom back at work, I drove the back way home and passed the house my family lived in until I was in 2nd grade. Dave and I have many vivid memories of childhood here. It was a Sears Roebuck house kit built by my paternal grandparents. My dad grew up here and then he and Mom bought the house and lived in it for a while, too. It used to be yellow but the shrubbery is the same (not green now bc it’s still early spring here). Mom said even the driveway was the same and hasn’t been repaved since they sold it. 🙂 The second story window was my bedroom.

fullsizeoutput_5424

And this house next door was my Paternal Great-Grandparents’ house. The families stayed close to each other and Dad has lots of photos of gatherings on the different yards for cook outs and picnics when he was a youngster.

fullsizeoutput_5425

And then I drove by the old church we attended and my Dad was baptized in. I remember Sundays with lots of family and friends. We went to this church until I was about Sarah’s age but I remember things . . . . .children soak everything in. . . . it’s a good reminder for me to be gentle with my own children.

I went to the small country cemetery where my grandparents, great aunt and uncle, and Great-Grandparents (all on my dad’s side of the family) are buried and then to the school and country store.

Then, home again to my parents’ house and a visit with my brother Dave.

I love this photo of Dave and my dad and the family pets. 🙂

“up on the hill”

fullsizeoutput_542b

I went walking in the woods with mom and Dave — they stopped to look at everything, Mom said, “I want to see something new!” They make rock “people” stacks everywhere, and look for gold in the creek (it MIGHT happen!) or arrowheads. Maybe!

fullsizeoutput_542e

Standing under a giant purple tree mushroom. Something new we saw!

Then Mom (she’s very observant) saw a black animal over in the field so Dave and I walked over to check things out. It was two black cats, maybe from Uncle Brian’s house? We didn’t know them and they didn’t know us. They ran off to hide in the old barn.

saturday;

Mom and I did some garden clean-up with Dad and then got ready for more adventuring. We asked Dad to take our photo but first he took this one:

fullsizeoutput_5430

fullsizeoutput_5431

We invited him to come along but he graciously declined.

Mom found a vintage white coverlet and I found a vintage fiesta ivory gravy boat.

~loveliness in a beautifully arranged shop.

~Seating area in a deli where we ate lunch.

fullsizeoutput_5435

Fred, more than 50 years old.

fullsizeoutput_5436

As we left I took a plant!

~Beautiful vintage fiestaware (I didn’t buy it).

I LOVE my mom’s eye for things. She really liked this old oven and opened up everything to figure it out and imagine using it.

Oh how wonderful it was to have a day with my mom! I’m so thankful and so blessed.

We shopped until we dropped and then we went home and she made a pork chop dinner!

It was delicious.

She has sewing and crocheting projects going. This is a quilt piece she’s working on, inspired by the photo next to it.

Photo of Uncle Bob and my Dad Greg next to that same shrubbery.

sunday

Sunday was a DELIGHT. I went to the church I attended all the way up until Rich and I moved away as a young married couple……..and I got there at the same time as my father in law! He was alone (Leslie was home with Charles) so we sat together. I cannot even tell you the gratitude I felt as we shared a Bible and enjoyed a church service together, and singing. I am blessed to be married and born into the most wonderful families. I could look just across the way at Aunt Colleen sitting with her girls taking notes, and Erika sitting behind them with her husband and sister Elisha. My cousin Heidi was there with her two young sons, too.

After church I went home with Dad so I could visit with dear Leslie and Charles. Leslie was just coming inside from caring for her hens. She was wearing a pink jacket and had an egg from the coop. She put the tea kettle on and we sat right at the table and had a nice long visit, just the four of us. Dad gave me a box full of his maple syrup to bring home for the grandchildren’s pancakes and french toast. Leslie gave me a bar of her homemade soap tied with a ribbon. And guess what? It was snowing outside. Yep, snow at the end of April. In fact, Grace just texted me to let us know it’s snowing in Pennsylvania right this very minute.

fullsizeoutput_5440

My father in law built their house. They just finished the back addition and it looks beautiful. I love the wide plank floors and all the windows.

After goodbye hugs, I drove to Colleen’s house and we went out for lunch together, just the two of us. The food was delicious and we had a nice long visit as we ate.

Then, we headed back to her house for another hour or so and made homemade snickerdoodle cookies just like when we were little.

~African Violets in bloom on her kitchen windowsill.

~A picture she painted of the view outside her childhood bedroom window.

She had a batch of Uncle Brian’s green salad in the fridge and even though we weren’t hungry we just had to have a spoon of it. Tastes like our childhood!

Meghan giving the dogs a treat.

After we got our cookies baked, I had to leave to go back home to Connecticut. I drove the back roads for a while and then got on the highway. I drove through some snow, some rain, and the most gorgeous end of the day clouds. I listened to podcasts on the way home and arrived back to my husband and children at 8pm.

Heart-full and Joy-full. It’s good to be home.

day in the life……

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Shanda

One of the things that I’m thankful about regarding Sarah is that she is always willing to snuggle and have “couch time” with mom. In order to have couch time you need:

a blanket or two
a cat
a good tv show
books
ice cream
hairbrushes

At the end of a busy day, this is bliss.

She brushed my hair and made it pretty. I brushed her hair and she, as usual, made complaints. Her hair has gotten quite long and at 7 years old she’s not very good at taking care of it or keeping it brushed. She ends up with tangles and this week, pine pitch. I’m thinking about having it trimmed about five inches to make it more manageable. In fact, this might be a nice outing for us on this cold rainy and snowy day.

Good natured Seth, on a Costco trip.

The black cats we adopted at Christmas time have bonded to yours truly. They adore me, however, at the sound of footsteps, or doors opening, or unexpected movements, they bolt. But their purrs are loud and one of them is faithful to curl up on the couch next to me each night. Unfortunately I cannot tell them apart. I usually have to ask the children, “Who is this?”

fullsizeoutput_53f9

Amanda came over yesterday with her son Weston and her friend’s daughter Julia. Sarah had a girl to play with and they wasted no time in doing all they could in two hours. It was absolutely adorable.

We talked a mile a minute and made plans and went for a walk with the girlies.

It’s been cold and I’ve been pouting in the house, having the children do chicken chores. Two days passed, “no eggs mom” they say cheerfully. So after Amanda left I trudged to the coop and found 2 dozen. Hello? I don’t get it.

They sure are pretty. One of my favorite antique store purchases in the last year has been this old feed scoop. It was the only thing I could grab to put the eggs in yesterday. . .

I made the children egg sandwiches for dinner last night and used up 7 of them.

fullsizeoutput_53f8

We had a fire all day and Seth made a hot dog before bed. He only took one bite before giving it to David, who practically ate the whole thing in one bite. (little brother/big brother). Seth is suffering because he had an expander and habit breaker put in the roof of his mouth this week. He can’t talk and can’t eat and secretly I want to take him right back and have it removed. But they say it’s for the best and he will get used to it.

fullsizeoutput_53f7

Aren’t burning pinecones lovely? Mom told me the Indians used them as fire starters so Sarah went down with a bag to gather them on a dry day (which is how she got pine pitch in her hair).

David felt dizzy during the day so I let him drink a Gatorade (reserved for sports practices and meets) and when he was done he threw that in the fire, too, causing me to lecture loudly. Next thing I found was a metal pipe. I saw it just as I threw another armful of logs on the fire and David was offended and said “My pipe!”. “Get the pipe out of the house and stop throwing things on the fire!” He amuses me and terrifies me.

At the end of the day and just before couch time with Sarah, David and Seth and I put our feet up on the hearth and chatted and laughed about things together.

It’s been a lonely week without my husband, but having the children home on spring break has made it much better. He comes home tonight and I found myself putting make up on at 8:00 this morning.

full & good

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Shanda

fullsizeoutput_53db

Things That Have Been Happening Around Here Lately:

Rich has been away more than here. (business trips)
basketball with neighbor boys
Sarah had a brunch date with friends.
I bought a giraffe at an estate sale.
Someone gave me a gospel track — Rich said I must’ve looked in need of Salvation.
I yelled, “Get OFF the roof!”
I yelled, “WHAT are you DOING?”
One of our black cats ate a purple ribbon.
Sarah broke a rose fiesta bowl.
We had a warm weather day.
We had rain.
We had snow.
We had ice.
The boys had baseball practice.
We are listening to The Hobbit on audible to and from the fields.
Seth didn’t want to hold my hand on the sidewalk in town. (rite of passage)
This week is spring break.
David had an appointment this morning.
And is now back to bed.
I said, “If you ask me that one more time you are going to stand in the corner” to my 12 year old.

fullsizeoutput_53e1

’tis spring; come out
to ramble
the hilly brakes around,
For under thorn and bramble
About the hollow ground
The primroses are found. a.e. houseman

fullsizeoutput_53e2

golden edges

fullsizeoutput_53e4

bluebird sighting at the suet

fullsizeoutput_53e6

One morning I could hear a bird singing and I sighed, “I wish I could identify birds by their sounds.” The children got on the bus and a little while later I went to get in the car and was distracted by the bird that was making that same sound I had heard earlier! So I learned what it was, a Red Headed Woodpecker! I ran to get the camera……..

fullsizeoutput_53e7

It slipped the tip of its beak under the edge of the lichen to get bugs; making its calling noise the whole time.

fullsizeoutput_53e9

No human has a naturally red head THIS red.

fullsizeoutput_53eb

And then, a cardinal appeared.

fullsizeoutput_53ec

And a goldfinch. It was a lovely bird morning. I took the photos from the porch.

fullsizeoutput_53ee

The children spent the entire day outside on Saturday. In my opinion it was our first spring day. . . . .absolutely gorgeous weather, bare feet, fishing, turtles, basketball, baseball.

fullsizeoutput_53ed

Caleb ran to show me the turtle he and Jack found.

And like his big brothers before him, he named it and put it back.

And then they caught a nice fish.

I repotted some plants I started for my friends and family. It’s been fun collected different planters and pots on my thrifting adventures. I’ll have to do a blog post soon to show them off.

life is full and good

~snow in March~

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Shanda

Ah, the changeable weather of March.

This is what we woke up, nothing too terrible, but school was already cancelled and for hours and hours we felt rather let down. . . . .in fact, the roads were perfectly fine when I ventured out with Sarah for her dentist appointment at 11.

Next door to the orthodontist is a small floral shop so the two of us ducked inside to look around before heading home. It was warm and cozy and we met a cat named Penny. Sarah said, “Penny is a great name for a cat.”

No one appreciates flowers like a Northerner at this time of year. They are a feast to the eyes. . . . .

We came home with this arrangement. . .and a soy candle.

fullsizeoutput_5216

back at home. . . . .

fullsizeoutput_5217

David and I played Monopoly with Seth and Sarah. It was laborious. And not fun. By the time I had a total of 2 properties, everyone else had like 7. I kept landing on non property spaces. Seth played like he lives life, with no regard for keeping things orderly and neat, flipping around on the floor, spilling his iced tea, and so on. He also got tired of the game even though he was doing very well. We eventually congratulated ourselves for quitting at the half way point. (we made it that far) But isn’t the penguin token so cute? I thought of you, Dad.

fullsizeoutput_5212

“Why aren’t these kids in school?”

fullsizeoutput_5213

“I can’t relax in these conditions.”

fullsizeoutput_5215

fullsizeoutput_5214

The Christmas Cactus surprised me with one more blossom! (in a cobalt fiestaware planter)

fullsizeoutput_520f

Rich got home from Dallas just in time for the big snow-day. Everyone was glad to have him back. . . .including Parker the dog.

fullsizeoutput_5210

Eventually the snow picked up.

Rich went out with the children to buy a mattress for Joanna’s visit (tomorrow) and I had a nice hour or so to watch the snow fall and read my book (Don Quixote) which has been a highly amusing literary surprise.

“Published in two volumes, in 1605 and 1615, Don Quixote is considered the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age and the entire Spanish literary canon. As a founding work of modern Western literature and one of the earliest canonical novels, it regularly appears high on lists of the greatest works of fiction ever published.” ~wikipedia

I picked up a copy at the thrift store for like 5 cents.

fullsizeoutput_521a

When they arrived home with the mattress, I had just put chicken enchiladas in the oven. Everyone was so hungry. Enchiladas were never anticipated quite like this. We looked into the oven every 30 seconds to see if they were done. Meanwhile, Rich told me all about his wonderful deals at the mattress store. The man in charge gave them his full attention because, as he said, “You will probably be my only customers today.” Rich told me his story as the children all hovered around, listening and watching for Mama’s reaction, after all they were so proud of their Dad and knew I would be, too.

Alas, just as Rich finished up his report and concluded by saying, “Wasn’t that a good deal, Shan?”, Seth “ate his chair”, in the words of our 15 year old son. He had been rocking back and forth on his stool, leaning on it instead of sitting on it, and it slipped out from under him and landed on him with a loud crash. We all looked down at Seth on the floor as he started saying, like he was trying to convince himself or maybe pray for a miracle, “I’m okay, I’m okay! I’m okay!” Rich helped him to his feet and dusted him off. It was dear little his nose, the part right between his eyes. It swelled up slightly and bled a little but was not broken. “Wow, he totally ate that chair,” said Dave, “Is the chicken done yet?” Seth went to look at himself in the bathroom mirror. A picture would be nice right about now but I wasn’t in the position to be photographer at that point, I was too busy congratulating my husband for buying 2 mattresses, 2 pillows, 2 sets of sheets, a mattress protector, arranging free delivery and old mattress pick-up, all for the PRICE OF JUST ONE MATTRESS!!!!!!!!!!!! “Wasn’t that a good deal, Shan?” “Wait, I’ll tell you just as soon as I feel Seth’s nose to see if it’s broken………….”

I’ll just post this photo again. Boy was dinner good. They all dug in and enjoyed as they ate in front of the TV and got up for seconds and thirds. Yes, TV is totally okay during meals on snow days.

The rest of the day passed lazily. PTL

fullsizeoutput_5218

The snow continued to come down heavily and we woke up this morning to yet another snowday. Rich plowed the driveways and headed to work after telling me, “No, I cannot take them with with me,” and the children went right outside before 8, after breakfast to make hyenas. (I don’t know but they took the bag of carrots, I saw Parker running around with one in his mouth)

fullsizeoutput_521d

fullsizeoutput_521c

I filled up the bird feeders and admired little cat tracks.

I’m blogging in front of the window with my slippered feet up on the sill. When I look outside I have to squint a little, the snow is so white and bright it puts our ideas of “white” to shame.

chocolate and sapphire

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Shanda

fullsizeoutput_51bc

Rich and I met for breakfast this morning and then he went to work. Since I was out and about I decided to drive myself to a nearby consignment shop and …….

…..scored a (retired) Chocolate Fiesta disc pitcher for only 6 dollars!

Then I went next door to another consignment shop and ………

……scored four (retired and somewhat rare) Sapphire tumblers!

The tumblers were sold as a set along with a blue teapot that was not made by HLC. The price ticket said “Teapot and four mugs, 22.00”

Fiesta “in the wild” (term for when you find it second-hand) is always exciting (In my experience it happens only once in a blue moon) and I cannot believe I found Chocolate and Sapphire in two different stores within 15 minutes of each other at rock bottom prices.

fullsizeoutput_51bb

“Be faithful to your own taste
because nothing you really like
is ever out of style.” ~Billy Baldwin, interior designer 1903-1983

cinnamon rolls

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Shanda

Ethan learned from my mistake and decided if he was going to make cinnamon rolls then he better triple the recipe.

He and Jacob are done with their wrestling season and are home this week on break from college. One of the things Ethan enjoys doing when he’s home is baking and cooking in the kitchen. As soon as he got up yesterday morning he started looking through our Top Secret Recipes cookbook by Todd Wilbur and thought he would make either donuts or cinnamon rolls. I have to admit I was relieved that he decided on the latter, as the deep fat fryer is a big pain to clean up afterwards and even though Ethan does use the kitchen, he rarely cleans it up afterward.

fullsizeoutput_5176

We had a house-full; Ethan, Jacob, Michael, David, Caleb, Weston (my nephew), Seth, Sarah, and myself. Somehow the cat was able to get a nap in now and then although with any alarming sound he would bolt his neck upright and look around the room with big eyes.

fullsizeoutput_5185

Cinnamon rolls take hours to make. While the dough was rising the first time Ethan went down the road to get his girlfriend Tessa.

Then it was time to form the rolls.

fullsizeoutput_5189

fullsizeoutput_518a

fullsizeoutput_5180

fullsizeoutput_5181

fullsizeoutput_517f

I had to leave as the cinnamon rolls went through their second rise.

It was a day I had been waiting for:

At my last cleaning my dentist sent me to an orthodontist because of over crowding and the Doctor agreed that I was a good candidate for invisalign. I had braces as a teenager but through the years my teeth had shifted and I’m thrilled to get them straightened again.

fullsizeoutput_517b

I came home to a counter full of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. And boy were they delicious. . . . .

The weather was so nice that I immediately went for a walk on the road so as to burn more calories for more cinnamon rolls. These two passed me on the street; Jacob and his best friend and our perennial weekend houseguest Michael.

Two more pictures from the day; Dave on the laptop.

fullsizeoutput_517c

And Sarah Joy telling me that “Michael only won once.”

‘Twas a lovely day.

seth almost got to go swimming

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Shanda

26229726_10155770198356343_8896020436588841380_n

Two evenings ago at around 6 pm I was upstairs peacefully making dinner when Seth ran up from the basement and reported, “There’s a leak downstairs.”

I threw aside everything I was doing and screamed because “leak” is one of those emergency words in the life of a parent. I ran down the stairs as quickly as I could, with Seth running ahead of me.

In a flash I realized that the water pipe to the hose outside the basement wall had frozen and burst. I could hear water gushing and see it seeping quickly onto the floor of our finished basement which contained not only a very full storage room and laundry room, but also beds, bookcases, desks, a sectional couch, toy boxes, dressers, a futon, end tables, chairs, throw rugs, a wrestling mat, and all of the children’s stuff that they threw on the floor instead of put away (clothes, shoes, books, garbage).

I called Rich and said, “Rich, Rich, quick tell me how to turn the water off in the house!” He sputtered, “What?… H?… B?… Why?… What’s happening tell me what’s happening?” I quickly told him and he helped me get the water turned off , said he would be home soon, and we hung up.

(I’ve learned in 22 years of marriage that his “home soon” meant “as soon as I get there” which was not the same thing as my “home soon” which meant, “10 minutes or less”. In this instance, he did indeed get home in 10 minutes (he was at the school) and I almost fell over in surprise because I thought it would be more like…..whenever he was done with practice).

Thank goodness I was about 3 days behind in laundry and there were approximately 10 dirty bath towels in the laundry room ready to be used as a temporary wall to hold back a most giant alarming puddle from spreading further into the room.

It could have been so much worse. In fact, I couldn’t help myself from continuing to say over and over and over, “This could have been a DISASTER an absolute DISASTER! If you boys weren’t in the basement, if you hadn’t run upstairs so fast to tell me, if Dad hadn’t answered his phone, if we weren’t home at the time, the WHOLE BASEMENT WOULD HAVE FLOODED!”

Finally Seth interrupted me to ask in all seriousness, “Could we have gone swimming?”

Christmas 2017, Part 2

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Shanda

JBRTE5267

Good morning and happy new year! I have nothing profound to say. So let’s just jump into the photos. Rich preached at church on Christmas Eve. It was a joy to my heart to have the all the offspring home and in church. Even Ethan and Caleb playing “thumb war” as they waited for church to start didn’t sway my happy heart. And Michael looked so nice in his suit as he and Jacob visited before the service.

7v5hhWh8Qai6NSjdZvsi2w

We watched two Christmas movies that afternoon, the second one being The Polar Express which is a memorable movie for Sarah and I because we watched it more than once together three years ago when she was in the hospital. So we snuggled as we watched it at home and I couldn’t help but be thankful. Also I made a huge amount of boneless chicken wings. Michael and Jacob cut up the chicken for me. Its a meal everyone loves and we had enough left over for later that night for snacks.

Z0xNrhKLS4SsHrZFakIy7w

As is our tradition, I baked up some pillsbury cinnamon rolls, too.

Rich and I didn’t put the presents under the tree until almost midnight and we enlisted Jacob to help us get some of them out of the basement, which was the first time we allowed a child to help us in this secret time.

ydcHWn6jTii0ARWP3fj63Q

I got the idea from a friend to use zip ties to hang the stockings on the stair railing and that worked nicely. Rich got heavy duty ones though so it was a little hard to cut them down. And Rich’s was the top one so I had to keep climbing the stairs to add to it.

PuUCVlOETRKnbQYqwJZOPw

((((BEFORE)))) everything is under the tree

The next morning I sent the boys back to bed because they had tried to get up at four. We all went back to sleep and got back together at 7:30 and this year we took our time opening gifts and didn’t get done until about 10. It was such a wonderful family time.

fullsizeoutput_4d6b

We let Caleb pass out the gifts this year (but this is Seth, who kept trying to commandeer his brother’s job)

fullsizeoutput_4d82

fullsizeoutput_4d87

z9HLs21UQn60h8LUTh703Q

As Santa and I suspected, this noisy chicken was a big hit with Seth, from the movie Moana (one of their favorites).

Jacob being surprised by one of his gifts.

We got the boys a Keurig for their dorm room which thrilled them to no end.

EHWK8sWDSyKeAglUWc%rPw

The children all really love getting shoes for Christmas. They all received a pair, all but poor Caleb, and he was sure to let me know later on that he was left out but then quickly said he didn’t mind.

fullsizeoutput_4da9

Sarah’s favorite sneakers are Scetchers.

fullsizeoutput_4dae

Sarah studying her new shoes; Seth about to open his Hess truck.

NUpkd+IdRmiKYjFD5TWMrg

Sarah trying them on; Seth pulling his Hess truck from the box.

fullsizeoutput_4db2

This is the second year he’s received a Hess truck from Santa. How long will Santa keep up this yearly tradition only time will tell.

UqrUmwkPSR+zn0bIvKBq7A

Rich, I mean, Santa, also gave the boys a remote control car that can go in the pond this summer and take videos.

SmZtclzeQTubYgDpfjrTmg

One of my favorite photos of the morning. Taking a time out to listen to Dad explaining their new gift.

10Amg+kmSiueMHTwifzCzw

Rich always gives me a romantic card and this year it included my itinerary for a trip to Alaska.

fullsizeoutput_4d53

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Z1PA7Rm1QHOce85BthG88g

The boys received new Eddie Bauer boots which they will need for the rest of winter in Vermont. (It’s currently -17 in Castleton). Ouch!

(they go back today)

h7vZDVA7RGaiPAPmXR0Row

One of Caleb’s favorite presents was a Patriots Patriotic hoodie.

S2P34QztT2m8vYz%I2sdMw

Rich told a super funny story about being sucked into the amazon lightening deals. He ordered what he thought were apple wireless earbuds to give to me for 20 dollars and only when he wrapped them up on Christmas Eve did he realize that they were NOT made by Apple, there was only ONE ear bud, and it was made for a Giant Ear.

I told him I loved it even more than the Apple ones because I won’t have to stress out as much about losing it. It worked just fine, too.

AFq3LChrTrWrbR+PcMY0Fg

Seth bought Caleb a poster about a month ago at the school book sale and had to wait and wait to give it to him– so this is the moment when FINALLY Caleb opened his new Patriots poster from his little brother.

Hj8wmLBbS+CqmzRBOk11EA

fyjq67yZSj+ZMnoZGQA%0w

He opened a Giant Mug from his sister Grace which for some reason struck him as extremely funny.

(Grace was so thoughtful in giving each family member a gift this year for the first time, as she had her own money from her grocery store job.)

2fF5BghBSles9aP+fXXF+w

Ethan opened up an iPhone X. And his world was filled with happiness.

xAq+W6zuRJuKFCdf7dzdiw

These two were together all morning on the end of the couch. I was out of earshot which made it all the more sweet to my mother-heart. What were they saying? What were they smiling about? Only they know. . . . ..

Jacob’s well organized gift pile.

2OGLmxvUSrqRwBbT%O7RbA

Sweet Grace.

abYCrm3%QcmOj7jMWPNkTQ

David was thrilled to get one more big box from Santa and he felt very special like maybe…….he was the favorite. (It was clothes from Dicks clothing and Sporting goods; a long sleeved blue shirt that he said he had just looked at the last time he was there, a pair of skinny joggers, and a Nike jacket)

VTpqPiqnRJupFXh5f%Dz6g

Seth in a new Panthers shirt (his favorite NFL team), I asked him about that and he said that years ago his first favorite team was the Patriots “until I found out that Tom Brady was a cheater.”

He is also wearing new sneakers.

fullsizeoutput_4dba

((((AFTER)))) nothing under the tree.

outside:

inside:

2LTwS2g8SnGRNqFbHG0qhA

Sarah got help from Big Brother as she set up her Safari set.

upSiIt%ET0CSkJHXVflJCA

David began using his new whetstones to sharpen every knife in sight, causing me some bouts of anxiety.

KwFs+GaYQNmbfnKWBLLMLA

Ethan set up his new phone.

4xmEnD%iToWiDEihYR0TwA

“We are new to this family and we are so scared.” ~Black Cats

LZJL%7M1Rm6oMnKt4fUzkA

“Let me outside so I can bury my big Christmas bone that Dad gave me.” ~Parker

fullsizeoutput_4d3f

MERRY CHRISTMAS from our house to yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and a happy New Year, too!

******

As I wrote this, Tessa and Ethan made pancakes for us all; Rich, Me, Jacob, Brittnee, Grace, Caleb, Michael, Ethan, Kylee, David (only one still asleep), Caleb, Seth, and Sarah. And yes they used your recipe, Mom.

There was also a small Nerf war as I typed.

The house is a happy DISASTER.

So Rich is working on putting all the Christmas-time garbage in big trash bags.

When we woke up it was -3.

It’s 10:00 now, and 1 degree.

And thus concludes yet another Christmas blog post. More to come!

MUCH LOVE TO MY FRIEND AND FAMILY WHO FIND THEIR WAY HERE TO THIS HUMBLE LITTLE CORNER OF BLOG-LAND………

christmas time happenings

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Shanda

fullsizeoutput_4c79

“I don’t have any good photos to blog with,” I thought.

“Well you do have some on your phone,” I replied.

“They aren’t that great of quality though,” I continued.

“But they are priceless and of great value, since they capture the moments authentically,” I said wisely.

“Oh fine,” I sighed.

And then got all emotional looking at them because there were over twenty photos, twenty moments during which we were living life and I grabbed the nearest camera, my phone, to record something quickly and easily. I honestly LOVE this stage of life. My youngest is 7 and without any toddlers daily life is much calmer, however with seven children it is still busy enough to never be boring and to always have that feeling of “what’s next” — you really can’t prepare, there are surprises every day and lots of laughter.

fullsizeoutput_4c88

Handsome son Dave, who was dressed in his High School wrestling clothes for the first time in his career. And, by the way, this door used to be a curtain hiding our laundry area, but the laundry room has been moved downstairs and now this is a big spacious closet just off the kitchen. I’ll take photos eventually because I really like how it turned out.

fullsizeoutput_4c8a

Sarah Joy arriving home from school. “Christmas Porch” with a wreath, and a snowman flag. She made me and her dad an ornament made out of a glue/cinnamon dough that smells so good.

fullsizeoutput_4c8b

LOOKING FOR THE PICKLE IN THE TREE

fullsizeoutput_4c8f

fullsizeoutput_4c92

I gave him the present; a chocolate fish and a card that I had prepared for the Amazing Pickle Finder.

“Keep looking for hidden treasures your whole life and you will be amazed at what you will see and discover.”

“I am really good at finding things,” he agreed. (debatable, I thought)

Sarah was holding back the tears because she didn’t find it.

fullsizeoutput_4c93

SHOPPING WITH MY SISTER

We had SUCH a good time. We got manicures ; my nails are so pretty now, a deep red with red sparkles similar to Dorothy’s shoes on the Wizard of Oz.

We talked and talked and laughed and just felt so comfortable together; “This is good for my soul,” she mentioned.

fullsizeoutput_4c95

fullsizeoutput_4c98

We had bison burgers and freshly cut french fries for lunch. I indulged in a diet coke.

fullsizeoutput_4c99

There was a giant Christmas tree at the outdoor shopping center. We did a little shopping and I bought Caleb, Seth, and Sarah some nice warm mittens/gloves for outdoor play at LLBean and they liked them so much they literally spent HOURS until dark outside everyday until our snow melted a couple days ago. Wise purchase even though the line was long. With a sister/friend the lines go fast. More time to talk!

fullsizeoutput_4c9c

My dear Hannah sent me and my family a Christmas box. She lives in Alaska and has visited me 3 times and I haven’t visited her yet.

So guess what I asked Rich to give me for Christmas?!

We spend time together like this every chance we get. In fact, he’s next to me as I type and he’s rather insulted because a laptop is on my lap and not him.

fullsizeoutput_4c9d

COLLEGE SON ETHAN IS HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As of two days ago!

fullsizeoutput_4ca1

AND COLLEGE SON JACOB my FIRSTBORN is here as well, the person I gave birth to 21 years ago at just this time of year. CHRISTMAS and JACOB’s BIRTHDAY are all wrapped up in my heart during this season.

fullsizeoutput_4ca3

Uncle Dave always sends cards for the children under 18. The rest of us get a family card. So now there are “only four” in the tree waiting for Christmas morning even though they keep asking me if they can open them NOW.

fullsizeoutput_4c64

WRESTLING MEET on Wednesday, two days ago. David was .5 over so there was a little bit of unwanted stress in making certain he made weight and then come to find out he had no one to wrestle in that weight class. (he did make weight, however)

But eventually they did exhibition matches (which don’t count in the team scores) and Rich bumped him up to give him experience. I could see Dave giving a little shake of his head “no” but Rich didn’t give him a second glance and got him right on the mat with someone who weighed 5 pounds more than him…..and Dave won.

RrlBqK67STerS8Ahq3H+jw

He won right in front of his big brothers who also wrestle for college.

fullsizeoutput_4ca4

Right in front of his big brothers AND their girlfriends.

fullsizeoutput_4cae

AFTER THE MEET it was time to play. Ethan wrestled with his little brothers but what really gives me joy in this photo is Bruce the man on the left just walking out of the camera frame with a smile on his face. He’s one of the custodians of the school and is ALWAYS so quietly kind and friendly. We notice he turns a bucket over and sits on the side of the gym during meets, we think he must like wrestling.

fullsizeoutput_4cb0

^^ Jacob and Seth on the left and Ethan pinning Caleb on the mat. And it took me a long time to get that sentence out right. (names LOL)

fullsizeoutput_4cb7

Seth’s turn to wrestle with E. It was such a fun night. We were only missing Grace because she was at work.

fullsizeoutput_4cb1

We are forever trying to hug Dave and he is always this reluctant, but we know he secretly enjoys it. Tessa is a good sport. Such a dear girl who, along with her sister, has grown up with my own children (they live nearby) and is in love with Ethan. ❤ She’s a senior this year, while David is a freshman so she sees him now and then and tries to get hugs. You can tell (sort of) that he’s warming up to her. (no, his arm never got higher than it is in the photo).

fullsizeoutput_4cb8

HERE SHE IS! She got back on Tuesday (thank you to Michael who went to get her from college). Yesterday she and I went shopping with Ethan and we took this photo as we were waiting for him to finish up his hair cut.

(I prefer myself with bangs but when I am too lazy to deal with them I pin them back).

fullsizeoutput_4cbc

When Seth got home from school yesterday he had a sore by his mouth which immediately freaked me out (internally, I didn’t show it to him) because it wasn’t there when he left in the morning. He complained that he thought his jaw was broken and his cheek hurt. But he pointed to the sore spot by his lip as the place where it hurt. (I don’t think he knew what “a jaw” really was) I was thinking “Oh my goodness my child caught a contagious skin rash during wrestling” and took him to the docs who told me it was basically NOTHING. I mean, it was infected slightly (like a pimple actually but he’s too young for them just yet). She gave us a prescription for an antibiotic cream but Rich didn’t get to the pharmacy in time so we just rubbed neosporin on it and this morning it looked much better. I’m still picking up the prescription though, don’t worry Mom. I’m sure it will come in handy. Seth has had chapped lips so the Doc thinks he was touching his face with dirty hands. (8 year old boys are generally dirty) I do tell him to wash but when he’s at school who knows. . . . . .

The whole experience ended up giving us a nice time together. His appointment was at 6:10. WHY is it SO DARK he kept asking. We agreed that it isn’t a pleasant feeling to be going to the doctors when it’s dark outside. Scary.

I took him to Dunkin Donuts after, it was just a short jaunt down the sidewalk from the office. He ordered himself a bacon egg and cheese on a plain bagel, toasted, and five glazed munchkins….and a hot chocolate and he looked so cute as he waited. He didn’t want help carrying his treasures. He ate and drank everything. He hugged me.

fullsizeoutput_4cbe

We went to the Goodwill store next and he and his bright eyes saw a wrestling head gear for Caleb (who needed one) for ONLY A DOLLAR. Jacob said they are twenty at the sporting goods store he used to work at. So Seth got the deal of the day. Grace scrubbed it with antibacterial wipes this morning.

fullsizeoutput_4cc0

Then we met Jacob, Grace, and Sarah at the pet store. WHAT are the girls looking at, you ask?

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

******

I typed all this at the end of the couch at Ethan’s feet. He sleeps on the couch when he’s home even though he has a perfectly good bed in a bedroom upstairs. I think he finds it cozier to be on the couch. He’s sound asleep. Listening to him breathe gives me joy. He stretched his feet out and pushed against me, waking up just enough to look down at me and say sorry. I said, “I like it.” and gave him a pat on the leg.

Merry Christmas!

common hours

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Shanda

Write it down, when I have perished:
Here is everything I’ve cherished;
That these walls should glow with beauty
Spurred my lagging soul to duty:
That there should be gladness here
Kept me toiling, year by year. . . . .
Everything thought and every act
Were to keep this home intact.
Edgar A. Guest

24991218_10155694582416343_8645630681534709611_n

Saturday morning I woke up and Rich wasn’t in bed with me anymore, he was out on the couch. Sometimes if he can’t sleep he will get up and move into the livingroom. ESPN was on, quietly, and he was sound asleep and looked so peaceful. I made some coffee and tip toed back to bed. Shortly thereafter, Seth came in and got into bed with me. We read stories on my blog for a while and then Sarah came, too. I love these grateful days of having children small enough to still get into bed with me on a lazy weekend morning. . . . . .

We decided it was a good morning for pancakes.

Cornmeal pancakes and corned beef hash. Rich ate the whole pan of hash himself….the kids kept saying, “WHAT IS THAT SMELL?” as it fried. I haven’t made him hash in years.

Seth had the only complaint, “The pancakes are chewy.”

“Do you mean gritty?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s because they have cornmeal in them.”

I happen to adore cornmeal, and in case you do too, here is the recipe:

Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes

1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup cornmeal

2 cups buttermilk
3 egg yolks
3 T. butter, melted
3 egg whites, beaten stiff
1 cup blueberries

In a large bowl sift together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl combine the buttermilk, egg yolks, and butter. Add the mixture to the dry ingredients. Fold in the beaten egg whites. Pour 1/4 cup batter onto the griddle and sprinkle with the blueberries. Cook the pancakes until bubbles firm and start popping. Turn only once and cook until done.

I used blueberries that I picked myself this fall at my parents’ house. I had forgotten them in mom’s freezer and she thoughtfully brought them to me in a cooler at Thanksgiving. I was sparing with them in the pancakes as I am hoping to make my four bags of blueberry treasures last until next fall when I can pick some more.

24993245_10155694582021343_6163175798106591580_n

fullsizeoutput_4bdf

Happiness is being able to sit on the couch and take photos through the window of your bird visitors at the feeder.

Also legwarmers. Leg warmers are happiness.

fullsizeoutput_4be0

The children were ecstatic to see snow coming down and bundled up in their snow boots to go outside. Sarah danced down the driveway.

fullsizeoutput_4be4

Seth was pensive.

fullsizeoutput_4be5

Rich and David went to get our 2017 Christmas tree.

At first, they sent me this photo:

25158249_10155694580601343_8342074134161303113_n

But they really came home with a nice large sized tree.

fullsizeoutput_4be8

Thank you, guys!

fullsizeoutput_4bec

I made tacos for lunch.

Rich and I went downstairs to find ornaments.

Later that evening we watched Elf and let the children decorate the tree. Only three of them decorated this year. It was amazingly non-chaotic and I must say, lovely.

Rich and I must be getting older because as soon as the Christmas tree was completely done we said to ourselves, “It’s like it never left.” The time between trees is all too brief now.

fullsizeoutput_4bee

Our three tree trimmers.

Rich hung the lights. I think I hung up one ornament, my glass camera one. I still have to hide the pickle (I’ll do it as soon as I’m done blogging). . . .

fullsizeoutput_4bf2

fullsizeoutput_4bf1

Sarah was excited to find her Sarah ornament but was very confused when she found the one that said Isaac. WHY do we have this one??? “Because he’s my brother and I like to think about him at Christmas!”

Truth be told, at the end of the season when the ornaments all go on sale I buy the ones I can find with our siblings/family names on them. It’s fun and meaningful to have them hanging on our tree. Someday Sarah will understand, too.

fullsizeoutput_4bed

The first Christmas card tidings received in the mail this year were from our old neighbors.

fullsizeoutput_4c0c

fullsizeoutput_4c11

We were trying to get a photo of the children in front of the tree when Parker slinked over and sat in front of them. One wonders how long he was in the background watching before he became brave enough to join his children.

fullsizeoutput_4c19