I bought strawberries last week and texted everyone that I was making pies when I got home but wouldn’t you know it, my friend Kathy texted me and asked me out to lunch because it was her birthday. I thought this was a pretty interesting coincidence because strawberry rhubarb pies are one of her favorites and I didn’t remember it was her birthday but had felt spiritually moved to make the pies so…..of course I went out with the birthday girl, but I didn’t get a chance to use up the strawberries that day and the family ATE THEM ALL in one evening.
Meanwhile, the rhubarb was growing and sending out invisible vibes to my mind; “I’m almost a pie…..I’m almost a pie……” “just come and cut me down and chop me up and add me to strawberries……” “put me in pastry!…..”
Every spring Rich, I swear, is determined to accidentally plow up the rhubarb patch. I guard it with my everything but still in the spring of 2017 he helpfully plowed up the garden when I wasn’t home. Later I stood by the side of the garden and silently looked down into the freshly tilled earth, hoping and searching for any sign of rhubarb. I picked up a piece of bruised and uprooted sprout, reburied it, my heart aching. I was sure it was all destroyed.
Let this be a lesson to remember from the rhubarb patch; There is always hope. Plants can still be alive underneath the dirt. Things can still grow and thrive after a near death situation.
Rhubarb is quite a marvelous plant with huge poisonous leaves– but once those are removed and carried out of the house and into the woods by a helpful child, we are left with crispy sour stalks and still that invisible voice (that must live in the stalks) saying “I’m almost a pie”.
Caleb says we should plant a strawberry patch. Wouldn’t that be nice?
There are thousands of recipes for using up rhubarb but I found an intriguing recipe for pie in a Taste of Home cookbook that called for an egg in the filling. Since we have a flock of hens and a never ending supply of eggs, I decided to try it.
I doubled the recipe and had enough filling for three small pies.
Topping: 3/4 cup flour, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup oats, and 1/2 cup butter.
In a large bowl, beat egg. Beat in the sugar, flour and vanilla. Gently stir in the rhubarb and strawberries. Pour into pastry shell.
For topping, in a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar and oats; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over fruit.
Bake at 400 for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350; bake for 35 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on wire rack.
RECIPE SOURCE: Taste of Home Baking Classics, page 107
There is currently one pie remaining. (The family loved it.)
This was my breakfast piece this morning, along with a book I found yesterday at Goodwill for 50 cents. It was one that I had discovered at Barnes and Noble and added to a running note on my phone “to look for at the library”. . . . I was happy to find it at Goodwill and can’t wait to read it.
This is my current book which I have to finish first:
He has been with me everywhere I have gone. Genesis 35:3
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. Job 5:9
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to you be the glory. Psalm115:1
The friends and pleasures of which you speak cannot compare with the joys which I seek. Christian, in Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan
If you love me, feed my sheep. John 21:17
*****
Sarah’s last school program for 1st grade. Next year she will be moving on to the bigger elementary school in town. (my baby!)
On a flower the size of a dime. Sarah and I made baby sounds at it because it was so small.
The tree we planted from Grandma and Grandpa (Rich’s dad and step-mom). The children never forget about this tree and love to check on it. “It’s growing, Mom!”
Lady’s slippers in bloom
We found a small toad….. I took this picture moments before she started jumping around (similar to a toad) because she’s trying to be brave holding it in her hands….but she’s really feeling rather squeamish.
~Buttercups and guess what? We all like butter, very much. Especially on toast and popcorn.
Gentleman Gray walked with us. I had to carry him back, he’s not a cat that enjoys walking in the heat through tall grass with a strange dog “over there”.
While I had Gentleman, my sister randomly texted me a picture of herself with her fur baby.
Sisters!
Tessa’s Jr. Prom! She invited Ethan, of course.
They’ve been dating almost 2 years.
It was so hot outside. I did a five minute photoshoot on the driveway before they left.
Aren’t they good looking?
cuties
They didn’t get home until around 1:30 in the morning so I didn’t sleep very well. Mom-worries, you know. 🙂 They had a wonderful time, so happy.
Lots of baseball games for the boys!
I turned to Rich and silently mouthed, “Take my picture!” seventeen times before he got it. I had to be sneaky because if Seth had heard me he would have run off — he likes to tease me. This boy…..we rarely see him during his brother’s games but every once in a while he’ll come visit me. In this case he was coming to say, “No one’s working the food booth today. If you had a key would you work the food booth Mom?” Maybe he was hungry. Or wanting candy. Look at his outfit. Batting gloves, knee high Garfield socks. He’s so cute!
But what I love the most…..is he is still so much a Mama’s boy and loves to come close for some obligatory lovin’ . He knows it’s his duty so mom doesn’t get lonely and sad because her children are growing up.
Grown up Jacob came to the field after work.
The little kids spent most of the time up in the unused announcer’s booth watching the game from up high. Sooooo cute. Rich and I could see them from across the way.
The little league fields are our “home away from home” these days, we are there almost every day. If I drove a horse and wagon I wouldn’t even have to direct the horse….I would just say, “Take me to the ballgame” while flicking the reins and off we would go in the wagon.
Our rabbits are not caged, they live free in the chicken coop and when I let out the chickens they are also consequently free to roam. Number 1 bunny never hops out, but number 2 bunny is more adventurous and we were highly amused when we came home from the game and found it talking to the cat.
Sunday night dates, we love Pinkberry and Auntie Anne’s pretzels at the mall. And each other. Rich says, “I don’t even want to buy anything I just love walking around with you.” He’ll stare at me while we eat our treats and say things like, “you’re beautiful.” or, “I love that hair color on you.” And he’ll walk behind me five steps as we go upstairs and whistle. You know, regular & comfortable married couple stuff like that.
We went to Barnes and Noble and I took a picture of books I want to look up at the library.
Sunday evening walk all by my lonesome. I picked a few wayward lily of the valley (they spread through the years and I found some fair game– in the ditch) one of them pulled right up with it’s roots attached so I transplanted it in the garden back home.
I found a feather on the side of the road. I also got scared by the neighbor’s little vicious white dog.
{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
“Real love creates a generous openness. Have you ever been so caught up in something that you just had to share it? When you are walking alone in the woods, something takes your breath away–a sunset, a waterfall, the simple song of a bird–and you think, ‘If only my beloved were here’. The best things in life were meant to be shared.” The Sacred Romance, by John Eldredge
I do so love to share life with you here. We had a full and happy weekend and I know you did, too. Isn’t it grand? Air to breath, faces to smile, good food to enjoy, family, friends, sports, hometown plays, children, grown ups, secrets?
beautiful things don’t ask for attention
open your eyes and notice (be on the look out!)
often life brings me to tears
lovely things are silent
Lovely things are silent…. Rosebuds waxing bloom, Shadows stealing softly In a darkened room; Dragonflies on rushes, Stars in dark blue skies; Hatching, fuzzy birdlets, Love in sweethearts’ eyes.
Lovely things are silent. . . Rainbows in the sky, Violets shedding fragrance, A soft breeze waltzing by; An apple tree in blossom, Sunsets all aglow; Moonlight on the water, Falling soft white snow.
Lovely things are silent. . . Foam clouds in the sky, Hummingbirds at flowers, Butterflies gliding by, A spider’s dainty spinning, Wild flowers on a hill. I bow my head in silence And in my heart I’m still. ~Betty Fox Solberg
It’s 44 degrees at our place this morning and there is a cheerful fire going in our wood pellet stove. I’m still in my comfortable clothes, with thick socks and slippers on, too. Jacob is getting ready for college and work, our chocolate lab is snoring at my feet. Cat snoozing on the windowsill behind me. The house is quiet and peaceful.
Outside purple and white violets are still in bloom. Some of our town has lilacs open, but mine are not flowered yet. I worry about the trees because last year’s gypsy moth eggs have hatched, there are tiny baby caterpillars everywhere. Baby turtles were found on the bank of the pond this weekend, a miracle in miniature.
‘Tis the season of shivering as we watch our boys play little league baseball.
My husband preached yesterday in church. The whole service did something to my heart; softened it. Love was in the air.
Our daughter Grace is a senior in High school. There is nervousness in the family because we know “last times” are happening and happening fast. In the fall, our three oldest children will be going away to college.
This weekend was “the last school drama production”. I cried and so did she. Oh how she has loved being part of it all. . . .
Grandma and Grandpa came to watch her. We had time for a ramble in the woods and a trip to town, too. Ice cream cones, laughter, games of catch for the boys.
* * * *
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory.”
“. . . .this happened (life itself?) so that the work of God might be displayed.”
girls visiting before getting ready for the play on Saturday; Brittany and Grace
our family pianist
Grandma’s here!
my mom, my friend
we enjoy the same things; home decorating, kitchen life, family, and nature, birding. . .
I ran the baby turtle back to the house to show the children. A wonder and a marvel.
thick grapevine growing up and into a tree
marsh marigold, ferns growing
crossing the stream with a handful of apple blossoms
garden flowers
granddaughter and her grandma
the brothers were practicing baseball and grandpa couldn’t resist joining in
I think ofttimes as the night draws nigh Of an old house on the hill, Of a yard all wide and blossom-starred Where children played at will. ~Author Unknown
coffeeshop
street bench
little lady with her grandpa, eating chocolate
ice cream
Grace’s last high school drama production: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
dancing in the middle of the stage with the boy in white shirt
“Old bamboo” number
scene at the beach song and dance
very old inventors “The Roses of Success” song and dance (Grace is in the middle)
teamwork song (second to end, next to her friend Jenna)
“The Bombie Samba”
final bows
finale
a touching tribute to their beloved director, as this was her last musical
after the show on Saturday night
lots of hugs
with her proud Grandpa and Dad
after the show on Sunday
many tears were shed
Dad with his precious daughter; we are so proud of you, Grace.
Happy Monday friends!
thankful for:
friendship
love notes on the counter from an older brother
little hands touching my hair
questions from curious minds
my husband’s embrace
my husband going to the gas station to get me cream for my coffee this morning
a caring school nurse calling to tell me Sarah has a sore throat
purring cats
warmth inside when outside is shivery
guitar clips via text from Ethan, who is coming home this week
the start of a fresh new week; may God bless us everyone!
“And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water.” Isaiah 35:7
Time to be, time to dream, time to do nothing but wander in outside, free, in nature.
It’s invaluable for young and old.
Doesn’t the red winged black bird remind you of an English Guard?
There is beauty abundant in each ordinary day……and it often stops me in my tracks.
Tom the Turkey.
We wanted to see a Tom with his feathers all fluffed out but it didn’t happen during my visit at Mom and Dad’s until I was on the highway leaving Albany and I saw one on the side of the road with a hen.
*****
“Then there were long, lazy summer afternoons when there was nothing to do but read. And dream. And watch the town go by to supper. I think that is why our great men and women so often have sprung from small towns, or villages. They have had time to dream in their adolescence. No cars to catch, no matinees, no city streets, none of the teeming, empty, energy-consuming occupations of the city child. Little that is competitive, much that is unconsciously absorbed at the most impressionable period, long evenings for reading, long afternoons in the fields or woods.” Edna Ferber
Today is a “catch up day” on the ol’ blog of all the photos I want to share from the last week and a half. I have 46 photos in this post. Life is good, full, beautiful, cherished.
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” — Willie Nelson
I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 1:9
Mom, as she always does, made homemade meals when I was visiting; soup on Friday.
pumpkin bread on Friday evening; I grated the nutmeg and ground the cloves.
pizza on Saturday night
with homemade sauce preserved last fall from her own garden tomatoes
It was so good I was almost crying as I ate it. Tears of joy and of sadness because I can’t make pizza like she does and I have been trying for years. Mostly joy though, I ate three pieces.
She showed me how to make breadsticks using leftover pizza dough. She divided it into pieces and we rolled it out thin (like a snake), drizzled lightly with olive oil, and then twisted it and pressed it through a sprinkling of spice mix of mom’s own choosing on the counter. I remember smoked paprika, fennel, sesame seeds, pepper, poppy seeds. We put them on a cookie sheet to bake and they ended up delicious and fragrant. The next day Mom and I each took one and used it as croutons on salad by crumbling it on top of the greens.
I went with Dad to his drumming lessons with Kubla the dog.
And for several walks with my parents.
And a nice long walk by myself on a sunny Sunday.
Sunday morning we woke up to frost and a pileated woodpecker! God knew what would get us outdoors in that kind of weather…Mom and I quickly pulled on our coats and boots and had a lovely walk before church, birdwatching. In fact, come to think of it, I do have more photos of that morning but they are on another memory card so I’ll have to share those maybe tomorrow, if ever.
It was a thrill to see the pileated woodpecker; they are the largest woodpeckers in our area and so pretty with the red hat on top.
Mom and Dad’s cat Asian.
Mom’s vegetables started at the window. She uses cut down milk cartons to transplant the tomato seedlings into as they grow bigger.
Dad keeps busy doing wood and keeping the fire going. Even this is picturesque with the wood sheds and rock path, wood smoke, forest in the background, and Dad in his pop of orange.
Sunday afternoon was fun. The frost had melted and the temperature had risen enough to make being outdoors the very best place to be. We worked in the flower bed by the driveway. Mom has a “Rusty Garden” with a collection of old rusty things that she uses as decoration. It’s a fun theme. We took everything out and threw it behind us on the grass.
You can see the different objects she has, most of which came from her Dad’s farm and land years ago before they sold the property.
We cleaned up the edge of the bed and thoughtfully replaced everything in new spots. By the end of summer the plants will fill in among the decorations and be so pretty.
Back at my own home; last week was The Week of the New Lens. The first day it came it was raining outside. (sobs) But then the weather cooperated and I was able to try it out. (cheers)
I was quite far away from these birds and I am thrilled with the photos.
Baltimore Oriole! I stood and listened to it’s beautiful voice before I finally saw it. It was hard to take a photo through all the tree branches–my camera didn’t know what to focus on.
It’s too bad that the roof of the car was in the way but nonetheless, I was so happy to get this photo of a female cardinal and her mate. In my peach tree.
And then on Friday there were four ducks on the pond! I sat on the bench and snapped bout 50 pictures with perfect ease. 🙂
I texted Rich “this lens is awesome!”
He texted back, “I love you, too.”
It’s so funny when they go “bottoms up”.
quacking!
Rich was on a business trip and sent me this selfie! 🙂
Thursday was “take your child to work day” and Seth was the chosen child this year. He went to work wearing clothes just like his Dad wears and with his hair slicked back all handsome. By bedtime he was asking/begging me (and not Dad) to tuck him in and I understood he had had a huge dose of Dad that day. His little love tank was full to overflowing.
Which leaves us with photos from Saturday; Little League Opening Day! It was hot and bright all day long. I went to Home Depot before the game and to my sister’s house. I picked up Naomi and Weston so they could watch the games, too.
The photo of Seth is from the National Anthem. Rich took it with my new lens.
Caleb at bat.
I was sitting on the bleachers!!! So happy with my camera!
After making a double play!
This boy is very verbal and keeps his attention on EVERYTHING, encouraging his teammates and getting them ready and watching for the next plays. He gets VERY into the game, even at home it’s all about baseball with this boy now.
(By the way, he’s a Yankees fan) LOL
I’m going to get him that black stuff that you smudge on your cheeks.
POOR SETH!!!!!!!! He gets TERRIBLE allergic reaction to the dust; his eyes were so red and swollen by the end of the day. Bless his heart. I’m giving him allergy medicine and eye drops now. He’s a good ball player, too, and got to pitch for a few innings.
And that dumb string was dangling all day long. I never did get close enough to tell him to put in inside his pants where it belonged. 🙂
Isn’t he so cute!?!?!
Last, but not least; DAVE! He is 14 and on Juniors this year. He’s known for his speed around the bases, he runs around them just as fast as his dad did when he played. He’s like the Flash (his favorite show on TV).
LOOK at that face of intensity!
I’m so proud of my baseball players. There is practice and/or a game every evening but it’s all worth it. We get outdoors, talk to friends, and watch our boys do great things. In every game there are impressive catches, scores, etc. The moms laugh and try to keep track of everything. Even when the team loses it’s fun simply because they are working together and learning so much. Pastor says baseball is a spiritual sport because “you’re trying to get home”.
ALSO: in pond news: the toads came and mated and then left again (leaving their long strings of eggs behind to hatch and grow on their own)
I had a moment of peace on Saturday evening down by the pond with the toads.
I hope blogger soulemama doesn’t mind! She was the original mastermind behind these posts and a whole bunch of us were following along and had great fun. Alas, she discontinued her “this moment” Friday posts a while back now. However, I missed the opportunity and the fun it was to be on the look out for that “something sweet” to photograph and put on the blog~with no words. She intended it for sharing so I don’t think she’ll mind if I once again take advantage of her generosity, so without further ado;
{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
I love mornings. I rarely blog at night, if I did I’m sure all that would come out would be zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
It’s Thursday. 43 degrees. Sarah is outside riding her new bike and Seth is upstairs taking a bath. Caleb just woke up; everyone else is still sleeping. It’s 7:40.
Are the duck photos neat? I took them first thing yesterday morning. I stood stealthily behind a pine tree by the pond and watched this duck. It wasn’t so much concerned about anything but looking around and quacking. I guess he was looking for his female?
As I mentioned in the previous post, this is Spring Break Week for the children. Yesterday was “Buy Sarah a New Bike Day”. I left the house at 8 with her and Seth and we went to Target. On the way we stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts. Sarah wanted “a donut that was filled and it would be jelly inside.” She is quite wordy.
On the way there they explained to me that they were Odie and Garfield. Sarah was Odie and Seth was Garfield. I played along and they decided I was John.
“I’m going to be John the man?” I asked.
“OH, I know! You can be Liz! Liz is in love with John and John’s Dad!”
That didn’t sound right.
“Liz is in love with John AND his dad?” I asked.
“No, John IS Dad. And you love Dad.”
Oh. Okay. I get it now.
So we played pretend for a while until I got tired of getting yelled at for accidentally calling them Seth and Sarah.
They had their donuts and we proceeded to Target and found a nice bike for Sarah and a few shirts & ties for the boys for Easter.
What beautiful tulips!
On the way home there was a garden center, a nice small independently owned one, so I stopped to buy some pansies.
Here they are sitting on the floor of the passenger side…..aren’t they beautiful? They have little ruffled edges.
Guess what? I don’t have a photo of this but when we pulled in the driveway, the duck was in the other pond with his female! 🙂
Nice big brother Jacob did some work on Seth’s bike but ran out of time. He had to go to college and work. But Seth was okay; he still had the scooter to ride.
And Sarah was so cute riding around on her new wheels.
This bike is a bit taller and it took her a little practice and a few falls to comfortably get on and off of it. She could ride her new bike for hours at a time and unlike the boys, she’s content to ride the same path over and over again. She talks and sings to herself as she pedals.
Sarah even shared her bike with Seth until he ended up crashing it and said he wasn’t going to ride it anymore. “First it went in the garden and then it crashed!” he said, without taking any of the blame. It was all the bike’s fault.
I used to watch Jacob, Ethan, and Grace play EXACTLY the same way. It’s like deja vu.
One sad note: Before I could do anything to stop her, Sarah butchered the pretty streamers off her handle bars because “they were distracting her.”
My pansies at home. I also had 3 six packs that I planted in pots. Two of them are on the front steps and one is by the side steps in the garden. They are cold weather pansies so even if the temperature drops they should be okay.
The potted geranium on my windowsill bloomed!
RANDOM PHOTOS:
My friend Lea Ann texted me this picture of her Texas wildflower bouquet!
I saved it as my phone screensaver.
Seth in the dentist chair. I was reading my book but also watching and listening. Very entertaining. No cavities!
“Mike, will you show me your airsoft gun?”
“No.”
“I’ll give you a neck massage.”
“Okay.”
water and wine at the spa
*********
Quote for today: “Faith sees even the darkest deed of all history, the death of God’s Son, as a necessary prelude to the brightest.”Philip Yancey
On these small cares of daughter, wife, or friend, The almost sacred joy of home depend. Hannah More
Grace and I were folding the latest load of laundry when I happened to see the boys playing basketball together through the window….made me smile….so I grabbed the camera and wandered around with it for half an hour.
Ethan leaves to go back to college tomorrow.
Seth’s joy as he plays with Ethan touches my heart.
Meanwhile, in the front yard, Sarah was making soup with pond water and various bits of grass and sticks.
I heard her say, “Thank you tree, for the pine needles,” quite sweetly.
When she got back to her pot, Parker the dog was carefully pulling sticks from the soup which she thought was very amusing as she was not able to get anyone else to try the soup.
Grace and David joined the game.
The chair under the basketball hoop was the “penalty box”. They used it, too.
Caleb was sitting in it for something he did that the rest of the kids agreed was a penalty.
Back inside….cooking shows were playing quietly on the television.
While Rich listened to loudly blaring 1970’s country music while fixing the upstairs toilet.
“Wait, take another picture!” he requested.
Making me laugh.
The only place the cat can eat his canned food without the dog stealing it.
“It’s kinda busy around here this morning, I think I’ll nap with my eyes open.”
This picture doesn’t go with the rest of the post but I wanted to slip it in. I am enjoying the birds every day, and yes we had snow on April fool’s day. It’s all gone now.
*****
I drove to Vermont on Friday to get Ethan from college. He is home for the week. You may have seen the photo I put on instagram of all seven of the children. I’m glad the older ones are starting to do their own things but there is nothing like those moments when all the family is together again. It’s been even busier than ever at my house, hence not as much time to be on the computer.
This morning after getting the kids off to school and cleaning up spilled evaporated milk from all over the fridge, I had to go to the Post Office. I asked Ethan if he would like to go along with me. He insisted on waking up Jake and the three of us went.
We went to the coffee shop first and I read them trivial pursuit questions while we enjoyed lattes and Jacob had a sandwich. It brought back good memories of homeschooling. I could sense myself slipping into that “mama teacher” feeling.
We walked to the Thrift store to see if I could find any treasures. The boys didn’t just walk, they jumped up on bridges and things……
They can finally do what they wanted to do when they were five years old *but Mom would stop them so they didn’t kill themselves*. I kept having flashbacks. (By the way, Jacob is currently 20 and Ethan is 19).
BACK HOME after thrifting and mailing books out to my friends…..
…..and here are some photos I took of *some* of my thrifting finds from today. I was most excited about the framed needlework that I found, which I promptly added to my collection (after hunting house and garage for a nail.) I used a rock as a hammer.
The collection is growing slow because I am very particular. Not only does it have to look right, the price also needs to be right.
If you are observant, you can see the word “mom” written in red by my bedroom door. What you can’t see is the “X” next to it. When I asked little Seth why he wrote “X mom” by my door he said, “Because you weren’t in your room.” Made sense to me! I can’t tell you how many smiles I have gotten out of that simple red sharpie “X mom” scribble by Seth since he wrote it a few years ago.
Ceramic Bunnies!!! They say 1983 on the bottom and the woman’s name, Eve, who painted them. The lady at the thrift store said ceramics were a trend during that time period and there used to be a ceramics place in town. Aren’t they so cute and perfect for this time of year?
I didn’t even look in the book when I chose it, I just saw the words, “Holly Hobbie” and knew it was for me and added it to the books I already had in my hands…….here is a look inside at some of the illustrations;
I love them all so much. Holly Hobbie has been a favorite my entire life. This book was published when I was a year old. And I also love nursery rhymes. It will be fun to read this book out loud to Sarah and hopefully even the boys might listen and enjoy.
Lastly, a couple baseball books for Seth. I also bought two books for myself. The bunnies, the needlework, and the books cost me 3 dollars.
I bought potted hyacinths at Trader Joes last week and they bloomed. They smell of springtime.
Still watching the geranium buds…..
Kitchen window display of things that make me happy.
“I don’t really collect, I’m attracted to certain things, I get them, and they accumulate.” ~Natalie Gibson
Good to be Home 
