raising monarch butterflies

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Shanda

I invite you to gaze upon my caterpillar nursery! I put it together for myself and the family and anyone who comes over to visit. . . . . . .

Year after year, indeed for the last 11 years we have lived on this property (four acres boarding state land), I have kept watch in the later summer days for monarch caterpillars. (They are only ever on milkweed). If I see a caterpillar, I collect it and bring it home to raise on the counter in a big jar or a fish tank. (We used to have a different fish tank but it broke when someone tried putting rocks in it).

We were fortunate to find perhaps 4 caterpillars, and sometimes none at all. This year, however, this epic summer of 2017, we have found over 20 of them. If I were more scientific, I would do a precise count, but it is rather difficult and confusing to try to count caterpillars when they are all over the place and in various sizes.

I am a busy mom and wife, it’s a wonder that I have time to sit and watch a caterpillar nursery at all….or write a blog! But these things give me much needed rest and enjoyment, they are interests that I have……and no matter what your interest and passion is….big or small….it should be pursued and nourished.

I picked these five off their milkweed (which was almost gone) and put them on the floor of the tank so I could give them fresh food. They looked so cute all in a row that I had to take a photo of them.

Every couple of days I replace the leaves from the three small bud vases I have in the tank with fresh milkweed from the garden, which is conveniently right outside the kitchen door. Caterpillars are naturally very hungry and grow quickly. It’s fun to watch their little heads go up and down the edges of the milkweed like tiny machines. I bet if it were quieter in my house I might even hear them chewing.

Can you see the difference in this caterpillar? Grace and I found two of them on Queen Anne’s lace down by the pond. We are almost positive that they are the caterpillars of Black Swallowtail Butterflies.

An urge that I have so far neglected this summer is to get out colored pencils and draw these beautiful patterns that I see. . . .(maybe today?)

I clipped some cut-to-size screen (from an old window) to the top edge of the tank with clothespins. When the they have eaten their full and are “ready”, the caterpillars go to the screen to “dangle” for a day or two, before bursting their caterpillar skin to reveal a most beautiful green and gold chrysalis beneath.

This one’s small but they start out even smaller…..

I have to laugh when I go out to collect fresh food for them because I inevitably end up bringing inside even MORE caterpillar babies. David says, “Mom, how many do you NEED?” He is probably the child who is most interested in them and I love to see his face peering into the tank.

“Oh no this one looks different, what’s wrong with it?” I watched it closely and realized it was molting. It was gripped to the leaf with it’s “end” and wriggling the skin down, rather like when you or I take off stockings with our hands, and “stepping out” fresh and clean.

Almost done!

Ah, it feels so good.

“fresh and clean”

An empty chrysalis next to six green ones.

This caterpillar is getting ready to “dangle” by finding the perfect spot on the screen and attaching itself to it with its homemade silk. The children get nervous if I move the screen, they are afraid the chrysalises might fall off, but they are firmly attached and “just think, outside they would be safe even in the winds and rain”. So I move the screen in confidence.

This one had attached itself to a milkweed leaf, which wasn’t a good choice, because eventually the other caterpillars ate the leaf causing the chrysalis to drop down to the bottom of the cage. I picked it up and dangled it over the edge of the tank. When I hear the children say, “Mom, one of them is black!” I know that we will soon see a butterfly.

In fact, as I am writing this, a butterfly has newly hatched right in front of our eyes, and three more black ones are ready to come out any minute.

Why just put milkweed in the tank when you can also add flowers?

They make lovely strands of silk. I took a picture right after this caterpillar molted. You can see its bunched up rag of old skin up at the top of the photo.

They eat so much I wondered what I would do if we ran out of leaves (it won’t happen this year) and then I noticed that where I picked the leaves off, new ones are growing!

new leaves!!!

I know, this is a simple gardening concept, but I never thought to apply it to my milkweed! The resilience of growing things is amazing.

Milkweed grows outside the kitchen door, mingled in with our lilac bush.

And more milkweed (tall stalks with long oval leaves) is in the side garden.

I had to laugh when I saw a chrysalis outside in the lilac bush, I guess I missed bringing this one inside!!

I can move the chest of drawers around to get a better view, or better lighting for photos.

It stays like this most of the time. Better than any TV show.

It’s fascinating to watch them split, revealing a bright green underneath.

These changes are done so silently and quickly that we miss it most of the time.

It wriggles in such a strange fashion and the bunch of skin drops to the bottom of the tank.

I did a short video while I was blogging this post.

They first come out with their body much bigger than their wings. I always think of origami when I see them emerge……it’s sort of like reverse origami. Only God could package something up like this and have it come out as beautiful as a butterfly…

The butterfly hangs and dries, once in a while a drip of fluid will fall. Once I see them opening their wings for the first time I will take them carefully outside on a stick and put them up on the lilac bush.

“I look upon a year lived as a year earned; and each year earned means a greater treasury of experience and power laid up against time of need.” Anna Botsford Comstock

“God created the heavens and the earth to be experienced, not just read about or lectured upon.” Bob Schultz

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tasha tudor book finds

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Shanda

“When I’m working in the barn or house I often think of all the errors I’ve made in my life. But then I quickly put that behind me and think of water lilies. They will always eradicate unpleasant thoughts. Or goslings are equally comforting in their own way.” ~Tasha Tudor

Jacob is doing fine in Vermont, he is so busy we don’t hear from him very often but all his texts end in that happy LOL face — yellow circle with a big grin and laughter-tear eyes. He’s very busy with football; conditioning, practices, and meetings. I read the group text this morning in which he confessed that he finally put the sheets on his bed…after three days. He read the blog post I wrote and had to text me and say “great I’m crying right before my meeting, Mom.” oops. He’s coming back home next Sunday to get Ethan but Rich and I will be in PA getting Grace settled so we will miss seeing him. Vermont is an easy state to visit from Connecticut, I honestly LOVE the drive to the college because I pass several very nice antique stores and the Vermont Country Store, which is an amazing place to shop for unique items, including food.

So anyway, back to when I visited Aunt Colleen two weeks ago now. We had an afternoon just the two of us. Her girls babysat Seth and Sarah (they are the best babysitters). I wish I had taken more pictures with Colleen that day. We stopped first at an antique store that was inside of a big huge old house. We had just as much fun seeing the inside of that house as we did searching for treasures.

Then, we found a consignment shop basically in the middle of a very quiet shopping plaza, one of those places that you hesitate going inside because they don’t seem to have much business. However, we entered the store and had a simply delightful time prowling around and I was very excited to find Seth a Derek Jeter tshirt for only 2 dollars AND……..(this is most exciting)…..on a shelf of children’s books I found……

TASHA TUDOR BOOKS! THREE OF THEM!

This was the one I was most amazed by….because when I opened the cover I saw….

….that it was signed!!! (swoon)

My friends, it was ONE DOLLAR. ONE DOLLAR.

The first one was published in 1971, and this one was written in 1997.

“But then Caleb thought his end had come: He tripped over a taunt rope in a clump of hemlocks where he had thought to conceal himself. He fell flat, giving his chin a nasty whack. He just managed to retreat, undiscovered, to the shelter of some rocks that were covered by bushes.”

Naturally, the fact that there is a CALEB in the books makes them even better, as that is the name of my own dear fourth son, who is currently 12 years old.

The third book I bought (they were each one dollar) was a copy of Tasha Tudor’s Fairy Tales, and as it was very similar to the Bedtime Book (already tucked away on a shelf at my house in CT), we promptly left it with Aunt Mary, on her porch, with a note. She loved Tasha before I even did (as did my Mom).

When I got home I pulled all my books out of their various places in the house to take photos of them. It’s been too long since I last READ them (I’m currently reading Harry Potter #3) so I plan on doing that very soon, while wearing a long skirted old fashioned dress, a kerchief on my hair, while turning off the electricity in the house, seated next to a huge dollhouse I made myself, with lit candles, a stuffed owl, and tea that I brewed also myself in old English chinaware! Oh and I cannot forget the big vases of flowers from the garden, using homemade goat fertilizer to make them bloom extra lushly.

(dreams, only dreams)

This book is a treasure for lovers of old fashioned gardening.

“Daffodils are an optimistic flower, and foolproof. You know what Shakespeare said:
“Daffodils,
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty.”

…I plant them in big clumps with a trusty shovel. I make several large holes all around and put quite a few in. That’s why it makes such a spectacular look when they bloom.” ~Tasha Tudor

Mother Goose book (of which I have two copies). . . . .

(all these books have been found in my wanderings through library book sales and second hand shops)

(She passed away in 2008 at 92 years of age)

“You should see my corgis at sunset in the snow. It’s their finest hour. About five o’clock they glow like copper. Then they come in and lie in front of the fire like a string of sausages.” ~Tasha Tudor

Another page of her delightful drawings. I have a print which I really need to get framed one of these days…..its of a small girl holding a chicken.

This newsletter/catalogue was tucked inside one of the books.

Joanna gave me this cookbook for Christmas in 2001, she is also a fan. All the cool girls are. (wink) If you haven’t seen her work, I challenge you to find her books at the local library and enjoy a quiet hour or two turning the pages, you will be whisked away into another world for a time, and come back gently with a soft smile on your face, determined to maybe try a few of the things she loved so much; her pets, cooking, gardening, drawing, creating.

*****

This huge hawk sat at the top of our old dead pine tree for well over an hour early yesterday morning. As soon as I woke up I found myself down by the pond, in a soft rain, trying to get a good photo.

It’s beautiful.

(Sarah was wearing her sister’s glasses). These three were cute yesterday, visiting on the porch, so I had to get a photo.

They brought me my camera, “We took pictures outside,” they explained, “he’s in the trash can.” ooooookay…….

Apparently they were pretending that he was Bugs Bunny (which explains the teeth) and because they didn’t have a proper rabbit hole, they used the almost-empty garbage bin. Yuck!

“I enjoy doing housework, ironing, washing, cooking, dishwashing. Whenever I get one of those questionnaires and they ask what is your profession, I always put down housewife. It’s an admirable profession, why apologize for it. You aren’t stupid because you’re a housewife. When you’re stirring the jam you can read Shakespeare.” ~Tasha Tudor

efforts on the last day of summer

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Shanda

“….a little boy grows up so fast….”

I was secretly calling Saturday the last day of summer because it was our oldest son’s last day at home before leaving for college the next morning. So I made the effort to take some photos of the ordinary family living that I hold so dear to my heart, knowing deep down that while life will go on just as beautiful and ordinary as ever, parts of it were ending and beginning anew in other parts of the world…….not too far, thankfully. Jacob and Ethan will be at college together in Vermont this year (3 hours away), and our sweet Grace will be in Pennslyvania (about five hours distance). As the children grow up, things within the home change, but the bond we have stays true, and the love we share will never die, and indeed, my deepest desire and hope is that it will continue to grow up and out as our family grows up and and out.

So these efforts were made by me in the realm of photography, and the only other effort I made personally was to be “hands off” on the day and let it be as normal as possible, because I have finally learned that while deep in my soul I am in a type of motherly mourning for the fleetness of the years, no one else in the family necessarily needs to know. 🙂

So what did we do? Jacob headed for work, sicker than a dog, and Rich left for the chiropractor’s with Ethan (they are both getting work done on their backs) and Caleb (who needed a hair cut after the doctor’s appointment).

Confession: somehow, even though I was truly trying, I just realized this morning that I took not one single photo of Grace, so I am inserting this one from last weekend, when I caught the sisters sharing a moment over pancakes. In reality, Grace was so busy on Saturday….she had driver’s practice in the morning, and then worked all afternoon until 7pm….that I somehow didn’t take any pictures of her.

The brightest red wildflower is in bloom down by the banks of our stream. It’s like a jungle down there so I can’t get as close as I’d like……

I watched busy buzzing bees collect pollen all over the wild and tall Joe Pye Weed and then, saw the most beautiful dragonfly I’d ever seen…..

RED! DARK RED!

with shimmering wings! I admired it until it flitted away.

Next to the garage we have a tiny wild pond where bullfrogs hang out all day. I enjoy sneaking around to spy on them and they always freeze like this and stare at me. I want to sit down there sometime and see what they REALLY do……

And then, the guys finally got home and went to work on Rich’s car. Yep, that was the real theme of the weekend; “Put The Motor In”.

Rich has been itching to do it all winter long and had big boxes in the house which were all delivered and saved carefully for The Day.

Nice haircut, Caleb.

Now get to work!

Nothing makes Rich more annoyed than not being able to find his tools because the children have been running off with them and not returning them to the proper place. Nothing that is, except maybe water running through the ceiling because Seth didn’t have the shower curtain in the bathtub and was getting water everywhere on the floor upstairs…..ask me how I know this…..so the first thing they did was find Dad’s tools, while Rich and Ethan organized and Sarah cleaned.

The car is under the tarp. Waiting for it’s motor.

I’m pretty sure this is it. 🙂

Sarah was very conscientious about sweeping the floor.

Seth wasn’t as conscientious about finding Dad’s tools.

David

Oh and Jacob was able to get out of work a little early and he went straight to bed, spending his last day at home SICK and asleep.

(I think it’s amusing that the dog is in a lot of these photos being ignored. But he gets his revenge later.)

Bringing the boxes out of the house (finally!) and into the garage.

Finally they were ready and the younger boys snuck away. David was called for duty now and then, but Ethan was the main helper of the entire day all the way up until it was too late to visit Tessa and he was secretly annoyed.

I mean, as his mother, I could sort of tell. But Rich, as his father, certainly didn’t care. He needed his son and Ethan has vacation days coming up this week to visit his girlfriend. (It reminded me of when Rich and I were dating all those summers ago and he had to bale hay all weekend for his dad while I was left to my own amusement at home…..so I took pity while Rich just felt like it was the only natural thing to do; helping Dad…there’s no way out of it, not even girlfriends.)

The younger boys hung out on the patio between the house and the garage.

And I found Sarah had vanished to her room to play the DS. So I sent her right back outside to enjoy the beautiful day.

They made a cake.

Eventually, hours and hours later, I picked the camera back up to take a picture of CHICKEN that I grilled myself……

And this is where the dog got his revenge for being “ignored//neglected” all day.

After we all ate, he stole the leftovers off the kitchen counter, eating the chicken and neatly leaving the sticks on the carpet in the living room. We all got mad because that was really good chicken and I had made a ton so we could enjoy the leftovers, not feed them to the dog.

We ended our day by watching TV on the couch in the dark, all tired out.

*****

This is where things get sad you might want to turn away.

I woke up at 5:30 on Sunday morning to see my son off. Rich was already awake and in the garage with his car but the rest of the family was asleep as Jacob finished packing his car to leave, although I did hear Seth stir and call out, “Bye, Jay!” from his bed, as he will greatly miss his big brother, too.

I followed him around, back and forth to the car and house, not unlike the dog, silently and with wishful eyes.

We hugged twice. We held it together.

It was a beautiful morning, with bits of pink in the sky.

I looked at his dear possessions everywhere in his car, that say “Jacob” to me in so many ways……his collection of hats from working at “LIDS” all summer….his new sneakers that I bought for him during a quick shopping trip we had together last week.

His music, his new fridge, all his clothes and books (he took a big box of books, which made me smile and touched my heart…I remember when he read them all…and sister Grace struggled with sharing some of them..namely the JRR Tolkien books…), my dear 20 year old son, how thankful I am that I had all of these years with you before you moved on to new adventures taking classes and playing football at college. I am blessed to call you son and friend. We’ve had such good times together, haven’t we? Your downstairs room in the basement is too quiet and still already but we’ll keep it ready for those visits back home!

“So the life of the true home flows on, sometimes in the bright sunshine, sometimes in the deep shadow; yet whether in the sunshine or in shadow it brings blessing. It shelters us in the day of storm. Its friendships remain true and loyal when adversity fails and other friendships are broken. It lays holy hands of benediction upon our heads as we go out to meet life’s struggles and duties. Its sacred influences keep us from many a mistake. Its memories are our richest inheritance. Its inspirations are the secret strength of our lives in days of toil and care. Then it teaches us to look toward heaven and the great Home in which all our hearts, hopes, and dreams shall be realized, and where the broken ties of earth shall be reunited.” JR Miller

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trip back home part 2

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Shanda

For the rest of our stay, we lived next door to Aunt Colleen and her four girls. The girls call me “Aunt Shanda” because Colleen (my mom’s baby sister) and I are practically the same age. The girls are creative and busy and are so good with little children. Seth and Sarah love visiting there. They have a wonderful back yard with lots of room to play, AND a swimming pool, so the kids went swimming every day.

Seth with his “bugs bunny” teeth, being kissed by mama.

We piled into the van one afternoon for a trip to the park.

It was a hot day so we splurged on coolattas from Dunkin’ Donuts for the kids and iced coffee for the moms.

Reesy (the kids love him but he nips so they couldn’t get too close).

Aunt Colleen removed Seth’s stitches over his eye. She’s a nurse. And awesome.

Molly painted the cool rock that Seth has his hand on.

We went back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house one evening after mom was done with work. Seth relaxed on the hammock.

Mom took this photo. Dave looks strong and manly and tough and he is, but he’s also a super-sensitive and caring guy. We text each other at least once a week. He’s great. He and Maria are devoted to their nieces and nephews, too.

We saw a mother deer with two babies when we were driving back to Colleen’s that evening.

Perry’s ice cream is the best!!! There is a stand right down the road from Colleen’s house and I think we went there 3 times over the week.

Blueberry sundae for Sarah Joy.

Perched in a perfectly splendid apple tree. This small bird. 🙂

We sat together on the wooden swing for a while one evening. Such a dear girl.

I wandered throughout one of my favorite local shops one morning while the kids were at VBS and had to take a photo of one of the “corners”….Mary Poppins, Little House, hello sacred life, markers, Beatrix Potter, all such good things. The shop owner is always warm and friendly, and while I paid for my selections we had a nice little chat, I told her that I visit every time I can and how much I love her store. With tears in her eyes, she gave me a free chocolate for being an awesome mom and told me to “Rock On”. We even hugged over the counter.

We met Mom for lunch on Thursday. Seth and Sarah gave her flowers, too, which I had picked up from a florist.

Outside the courthouse where his Grandma works.

As we were walking from the courthouse to Boscovs (where I had parked the car) I ran into a friend from High School!! I hadn’t seen her since graduation! (The skirt I’m wearing is one of the things I bought at the General Store…it’s organic cotton, so comfy! and my favorite color, too.)

Boscovs sells fiestaware so naturally………

Also, a note about Seth’s shirt. He collects baseball cards and recently sent one to Derek Jeter to sign. He wrote a fan note that began, “You’re my biggest fan……” (SO SO CUTE). While I was out shopping with Colleen one day we found a wonderful second hand store where I found the Jeter shirt for only 2 dollars. 🙂 It was fun.

The new color is that yellow in the bottom left…DAFFODIL…I took home two of the smaller bowls.

Seth and Sarah were invited to spend the night at Uncle Nate and Aunt Melissa’s house on Friday. Seth adores Tyke, their little doggie, and by the look on Tyke’s face the feeling is mutual.

At the playground with cousins.

The cousins went to VBS, too, so these kids had lots of time together last week. What a blessing!

Saying goodbye to VBS!

They absolutely loved it. On the first morning Seth said he was nervous but when we left after the last day he was sad “because it was only five days long”.

a good report for Sarah

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Shanda

*****

The nature photos are from the ambling walk I took yesterday evening after dinner (chicken parmesan) and Rich had fallen asleep on the couch….

*****

Worry weighs a person down, an encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12:25

Good afternoon! This is the first chance I’ve had to sit and blog today because first thing this morning Sarah, Seth, and I got ready and went to another one of Sarah’s follow up appointments for her kidney. Remember last year she had surgery? Well, I am happy to report that after an ultrasound today on her kidney everything looks great and they don’t need to see her in the office again for a year. (She will be taking a 24 hour urine collection test next month to see if we have been able to increase her water intake and her citrates. But they will call with the results). We are praising God for this news!

waiting room selfies

Isn’t it fun when you’re put in an exam room and left to wait and wait? No, we didn’t think so, either. But we did read a book and color and count the change in my purse and that was sort of fun.

As soon as the doctor came in Sarah became anxious, had a threatening face, slapped a high five as hard as she could, and HISSED. The man said he used to be a marine and he could take it and was very patient with Sarah. Sarah was a little less anxious when the women came in. (She had three appointments back to back; radiology, nephrology, and urology). It was interesting to see that she still had some fears lingering from her lengthy experience a year ago, but all in all she did very well today and of course any doctor’s appointment with “no shots” is a good one in her book.

Visiting the gift shop is always a treat after her appointments. They each picked out a fidget spinner.

And then we ate lunch downstairs in the cafeteria where Sarah got a hamburger, Seth a slice of pizza, and myself a salad.

Last but not least, a stop at the store and then at the farm stand to get a dozen ears of corn, “Corn AGAIN?” Sarah asked. Yes, I’ll be buying it constantly while it’s in season! It’s so good this time of year.

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11

“It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace.” Hebrews 13:9

HE LOVES YOU!

1, 2, 3

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Shanda

And the third? Coming soon. 😉

*****

I liked this quote:

“I never saw my mother sleep. In fact, she only sat down during dinner and later for about three minutes in the tub of our one bathroom. Although Mom was perennially pregnant, she was always on the move–a blurry blue Sears housedress topped by a wavy blond perm and supported by two sturdy speed-walking legs. She had bulging varicose veins that grew with each child, and I was always worried they were going to pop, but they didn’t.
“On any given day, Mom could be found in one of two places: the outside landing, where she hung the laundry, or the kitchen, where she jogged between the ironing board and the oven. It seemed my mother could do a hundred things at once, all the while keeping at least one of her blue eyes on her ten children.
“‘Watch yourself, Eddie!’ she’d shout down from the landing to my oldest brother in the side yard. ‘Remember, you’re a born leader and all the boys are watching you!’ Then she’d vroom down the fourteen wooden steps, hip the laundry basket through the banging screen door into the kitchen, and dump it onto the table.
“‘You’re the absolute best helper, Ellen,’ she’d say as my eager sister did the folding, ‘You’re going to make a wonderful mother!’
“Shortly after noon, Mom would begin preparations for dinner, served nightly at six o’clock sharp, ‘Barbara Ann!’ she’d yell down the basement stairs as she peeled potatoes. ‘Come on up here and take Florence, Tommy, and Mary Jean. They need some entertainment and if you’re going to be a star, you’ll need to practice.’
“And that was my mother’s genius. She kept her house going by putting her finger on the special gift she saw in each of her children, and making each and every one of us believe that that gift was uniquely ours. Whether it was true or not, we all believed it.”

~Barbara Corcoran, in her book Use What You’ve Got

boys on stilts

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Shanda

I smashed the screen of my iPhone last night when Rich and I were walking. I had whipped it out from my back pocket to check my steps for the day and it kept flying right out of my hand, landing face down on the road. It still works, but after a day of looking at it covered in hairline fractures it is a relief to be in front of my computer screen. The computer screen is so perfectly NOT broken!

Grace and I went to breakfast this morning after a morning of cleaning the house. Jacob stayed home and watched the rest of the kids. Grace and I took our books, of course. She is reading Mark Twain and I’m reading a biography of Jane Fonda of all things. (I recently read an autobiography by Doris Day, too) I found a new podcast to listen to that appeals to my “memoir” side, the side of me that LOVES learning about other people’s lives no matter how they lived it, which compelled me to pick up Fonda’s book at the library yesterday. The podcast is called “You must remember This” and it’s about first century Hollywood. Like most podcasts, not every episode is worth listening to but the few I have heard gave me a lot to think about in regards to the entertainment culture of that time period. There is nothing new under the sun!

One generation goes its way, the next one arrives,
but nothing changes—it’s business as usual for old
planet earth. Ecclesiastes 1:9

So anyways, we read and ate and then went to Goodwill where she found me a fiesta jumbo mug in cobalt for one dollar. I passed right by it! We shared a hug in the aisles of Goodwill. She found a cute little dress and I bought a few books, too. Then we went to the grocery store to get things for spaghetti because last night Rich came home and was so happy to step through the door into the house……to the smell of spaghetti. His eyes lit right up and he smiled big…….only it was roast pork and corn on the cob. So I promised him spaghetti today.

When we got home I put everything in the crock pot for a good sauce; homemade meatballs and chunks of sausage that David cut up for me, a big chopped onion, spices, and a big can of tomatoes.

Grace had her friends Brittany and Tessa over (who also happen to be Jacob’s girlfriend and Ethan’s girlfriend) to make homemade ice cream and I went for a power walk and was almost bitten by a dog. I was so scared. The owner was a very large man on his riding lawn mower who couldn’t be bothered to get off it and his dog (pit bull?) was not on his leash. The dog was following the man around as he mowed and then when he saw me, he ran full force at me, barking in a very scary way and came so close, I could feel it’s breath and mouth touch me as I clutched myself and stood very still…..I eventually got away while the large man simply yelled at his dog. The dog ran down the road at me a second time, barking. I didn’t know what to do. Should I call animal control and complain? The dog did everything but actually BITE me. When I had to turn around and walk back, I went into the woods to get past his house because I was so nervous. How ridiculous to have to do that!

Safely home now, and blogging from the chair in my bedroom. The house is completely clean; all beds made, bathrooms spotless, because the two maids came today (every Friday), dinner in the crock pot, so it feels extra wonderful to be able to relax. David is watching soccer videos on Youtube and the girls are upstairs now, visiting.

I’m posting photos today that I took last night when Caleb came in to say, “Mom come and see this”. I was tired so I said, as I got up off the couch, “This better be good.”

He was on stilts! Grace got them from Mrs. D at the HS when she helped her clean out the Drama Props Closet.

Thank you Mrs. D!

It was worth it!

David had to try. (you can see a small part of Caleb,too)

And there’s Sarah in her nightie ready for bed.

Big sis and big bro looking on……..

Seth wearing his watch that he got in his Subway kids meal.

Summertime + end of the day playtime outside = the BEST.

Ethan’s turn!

Parker is smiling! with his girl.

Sarah wanted to try getting on the stilts but I said “go put something on under your nightie first.” so she did, happily.

*****

THIS beautiful sunset sky is the reason why everything was pink last night.

Oh, how sweet the light of day,
And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!
Even if you live a long time, don’t take a single day for granted.
Take delight in each light-filled hour…….. Ecclesiastes 11:7 MSG

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like no one’s watching

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Shanda

You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt.,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth.
~William W Purkey

“……YOUR REAL LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD.” Col. 3:3

No one knows the real you, the deep down you. Isn’t it grand to know that there are private parts, secret ideas, thoughts, dreams, goals, passions, smiles, and joy that you yourself might not even be able to articulate? But your Father in Heaven knows, he knows you inside and out, just the way He made wonderful YOU, there is no one on earth like you.

That’s freedom to me.

Being able to be myself; to wander around with my camera, to be with people but only for a little while, to enjoy my family and my community, my church family. . . .not having to explain, or ask questions, thankful that the sacred things of the heart are sacred because they are so often not expressed in words. Waiting for the Day.

“Our true life lies in the other world.” Matthew Henry

We need a little quiet, sometimes, we need a little distance.

We need room for breathing, thinking, being.

Remembering who we are and what is yet to come.

I love mystery and curiosity.

I want to learn skills, subjects, and ideas that make the world a better place. I want that for my children, too. I celebrate those who work quietly, not asking for attention, making a difference in their own circle. Being true.

I want to be busy enjoying my one little life and the many busy, young lives around me each day as we work and grow together as a family.

There is a deep down contentment in this kind of living.

I’m thankful to know so many incredible, unique people who graciously and unknowingly show me the grace and joy of a quiet life lived in trust and expectation of a glorious future in Christ.

*****

I am currently sitting on the front porch with the most delicious breeze blowing through the flags and flowers. Cat and Dog at my feet, the sound of my own three children playing in the pond. I’ve missed blogging and my friends here. How was your holiday weekend? Rich went back to work today and now it’s “prepare for Grace’s graduation party” for the next few days. We got a good start on it today. She had driver’s class this morning so I took David, Caleb, Seth, and Sarah with me to Sam’s Club and opened a membership there since it’s in a different “neck of the woods” than Costco and will be convenient to shop there when we are in that direction.

After a busy morning, it’s good to be home. Grace is taking a nap on the couch before work. (we have to leave at 3)

These are some of the pictures I took over the last few days. We had several family walks. I try to spend as much time as I can outside because the alternative is being inside (and cleaning).

It still looks like early spring because of the lack of leaves on the trees. They should be full and lush and green…but thanks to those gypsy moth caterpillars and their appetites they look bare and thin. However, there is a moss on the trees that has killed a lot of them before they could turn into moths and hopefully next year the forest will be back to normal.

They amusingly froze stiff when they saw me creep through the tall grasses to their hidden pond.

Porch Happenings; where we read, drink coffee and iced tea, and put our feet up until we have energy for the next adventure.

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on. – Henry Ellis

afternoon outing

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Shanda

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it ‘The Present’.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

We had thirteen young ladies stay here overnight last night. They were from a NYC youth group traveling into New England to visit Six Flags, Lexington/Concord, and Vermont. We knew some of them from years of camp so it was an easy “yes” to host them overnight. Plus, they ate dinner before they came AND brought their own cereal and milk. Grace very much enjoyed the visit and sat in on their *before bed* devotions. I got lots of hugs this morning as they left in the rain…..thankfully it did clear up later on for their outdoor tour of historical battle grounds in Massachusetts.

After they left it was rather quiet, the maids came to do their weekly cleaning and the girls were asking for macaroni and cheese so I decided to take the kids to the diner just a couple miles down toward town.

David stayed at home and ended up using the time for a long bike ride.

The diner has old black and white photos of the town on the walls and the kids were thrilled to see their friend Logan arrive to eat lunch with his Grandpa, too.

The kids meals came with a free drink so Seth and Sarah chose hot chocolate, which meant they helped themselves freely to my coffee creamers….in no time at all we used up about 10 creamers. I told the kids the waitress should have just brought us the carton.

Waiting for the food is the most difficult part but thankfully it didn’t take long at all and the boys brought things to read.

You may not think so by his face but Caleb has been so appreciative of this magazine subscription….every month I get a thank you.

Grace read a book, too, by one of our favorite authors, Isabel Allende.

Sarah ❤

(I was sandwiched between the girls–such fun)

My lunch (actually, I had already eaten a salad at home so I simply HAD to get my favorite—strawberry sundae).

Sarah ate a pancake with french fries (I had to laugh when she ordered it) and the other three kids got hamburgers and fries.

It became the *thing to do* to keep passing around the ketchup. Seth and Sarah put it on their fries like toothpaste on a toothbrush.

Grace’s lunch.

Sarah had birthday money and bought this animal yesterday so she had to bring it everywhere with her today. It’s name was Lee Ann but she renamed her Rosie.

Seth’s is named Rufus.

I ate all my sundae and then offered “the rest” to Seth….and he completely enjoyed the melted remains (all 1 teaspoon).

Well, we were all happy and silly from a good lunch and decided to go antiquing at a “new to us” place in the next town over. I was thankful to have such fun friends along with me.

Right away I saw some HLC dishes, although not fiestaware, these are from the harlequin line. So pretty.

Seth saw some cool things, too!

I always like these needlework things. . . but didn’t buy any today.

Caleb found a Patriots football pennant and a football coin.

Between the three youngest children I admit I said, “Don’t touch” about 1,000 times which made for a good discussion with Grace on the way home. Did they touch things so much because I was obsessed with them not touching (and kept saying so)? We decided that in their immaturity, they had a hard time obeying my rule, but as they get older they will learn self-control and be more obedient. However, at the same time, there is also a truth that in the act of overstating/overemphasizing rules, we somehow make them more likely to be broken…..it’s simply human nature. (see Sarah’s arm on the right of the photo holding the sharp gardening tool?? yeah…….)

Tiny butter dish for a half stick of butter–so darling (didn’t buy).

This vintage kitchen towel was only 2.50 so I had to buy it (it has a small hole that I can easily stitch). (kids behind me….touching things….) I know I do need to lighten up some, as well.

I found a vintage fiesta lid! (no one understands why I had to get it). But I did!

Caleb’s Marshall Faulk coin (Rams football player).

NEXT STOP….I found more fiestaware but this collection was P86 (periwinkle, yellow, and ivory) and overpriced.

And then…..oh my goodness! They wouldn’t sell just the serving pieces (I asked) so I was simply FORCED to buy the whole lot, thankfully I did get a great deal on it.

ROSE fiestaware:

(back at home and unpacked) I am so pleased with these beautiful dishes, Rose is discontinued and so nice to have on Valentine’s Day. The mugs are not fiesta but still made by HLC (maybe restaurant ware? I have to look it up–but its the same glaze).

Kitchen towel, plus a vintage “radioactive” red fiesta mixing bowl (with chips) that I bought along with it at our first stop. They go good together, don’t they?

The kids were great…we stopped at the gas station to get drinks along the way and they watched “Garfield the movie” in the car while Grace and I went into the second shop together. (I couldn’t stand any more begging and touching).

When we got home Rich and Ethan had just arrived. They were able to leave work early and now its the start of a nice long weekend. They don’t have to go back to work until Tuesday. I had dinner ready in the crock pot so I was able to feed the hungry men right away.

David got home safe and sound from his long bike ride, all hot and exhausted. He said he “wasn’t going to do that again for two months.”

Ethan and Tessa are here, but Jacob is still at our friend’s house, as he is house sitting for them this week.

We are watching Little House on the Prairie and it’s super dark outside; a thunderstorm warning is in effect for the next hour or so and it’s raining.

“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.” E.B. White

Posted on June 9, 2017 by Shanda

I slept so good last night, finally, after a week of having the world’s worst cold ever. I made it through the day yesterday with no nap (feeling better!), plus five miles of walking outside in the fresh air, two baseball games at the end of the day, trip to town for errands, weeding in the garden, cough medicine before bed, yes indeedy it all made for a wonderful night’s sleep. I woke up with my face glued to the pillow I had slept so heavily. It’s 8:30 and I still feel sleepy. Delicious..

Kids are all in school, their last day is the 20th.

There is so much going on in my life. So I haven’t been able to blog as much this week because I’m very distracted. However, I did take some photos here and there throughout the week so I thought I would make myself sit still on the couch and post them this morning. They are mostly nature photos. The sun has been shining bright and we have two lilac bushes in bloom attracting the most beautiful little creatures. . . . . . .

So I sit in front of the flowers in a lawn chair with my camera and it’s just the nicest time in the sunshine and perfume of the lilacs.

I love the tips of it’s antennae.

wildflower I smiled to see

the purple ones smell like grape koolaid. I’ve picked them and put them in the house for the most lovely of smells. . . ..natural air freshener at it’s best.

The peach ones smell good, too. Thanks to mom for sharing her irises with me.

Getting off the bus one day.

I sit on the bench on the side porch with a book and my camera next to me, ready to shoot anything interesting that comes along.

Ugh…gypsy moth caterpillars are everywhere.

This is a pretty little bird, my flash went off and the picture came out nice. I like it’s eye and beak.

A community of mourning doves at the end of the day…they were roosting together and cooing.

see the green grasshopper on the pansy?

It was raining outside, I was in the house on the phone with Tara, and took the photo through a window and porch railings. Not bad!!! I love these birds (Northern Flicker). They have stripes, polka dots, red, yellow. . .so pretty! They eat ants and beetles and have been visiting our front yard to find food.

so lovely (see the blue on it’s wing) –such beauty in a small bit of nature. . . .it’s wings flutter so quickly at times it’s hard to see the details, which is a nice benefit of photography!

Sarah got new clothes, she picked them out of the miniboden catalogue. I love their clothes and Sarah likes wild cats, reading about them, playing with her toy cheetahs and lions, so when she saw this shirt she just had to have it. So this is what she wore to school yesterday, and even though she’s not partial to a top knot, I fixed her hair in one. Adorable. She didn’t know kitty was coming . . . and then was so sweetly happy to hug him.

Back of the shirt. cute, right?

HUMMINGBIRD MOTH, one of my favorite visitors!! They flap their wings so fast they are a blur.

I threw something out on the porch at 8pm the other night and was surprised to see one “working overtime” in the dusky evening shadows flying around, dipping into lilac blossoms.

The bumblebees were most amusing…there were so many the became territorial. Flying, hovering, making contact with each other in the air, buzzing around. Pollen looked like gold dust. Wings as purple as the flowers.

It was quite a challenge to be fast enough to focus my camera on a hovering bumblebee.

last but not least…..I was at the edge of the woods at the end of the lawn and saw a chipmunk.

It was busy eating a dragonfly!!

****

As I was typing the last sentences, and before I had time to edit, the school nurse called because Dave had hit his head in gym class. He hit heads with a classmate, causing the classmates glasses to cut the classmate (he feels so sorry for that) and then fell on the floor hitting his head a second time. So he has a headache and has to rest in a quiet room today. . . . . . .

I just hopped online to edit and publish again. Happy Friday!

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