Four nights ago, thanks to a text from my neighbor, we were able to see this amazing lunar halo around the moon. It was so wide around that I almost couldn’t get it all in the picture. It’s a beautiful sight that I won’t soon forget. I learned that these halos mean that a storm is coming and indeed the children did have Friday off from school for a snow day and we have a storm coming tomorrow.
“It was a long cold winter for the birds and animals on the hill, but the little old man and the little old woman put out food for them until the warm spring came. And that was the end of the BIG SNOW.” ~ The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader
I aimed my camera through the windows of the dining room, watching the birds, thinking thoughts.
“Well lived days are completed years, and the years well lived as they come make a life beautiful and full. In such a life no special preparation of any kind is needed. He who lives thus is always ready. Each day prepares for the next, and the last day prepares for glory.” JR Miller
“And is this heaven? And am I there? How short the road! How swift the flight! I am all life, all eye, all ear: Jesus is here–my soul’s delight.”
~Isaac Watts
And today? The children are at school. Bright sun is shining but coldly and tomorrow we expect a snowstorm, another snow day?
These are the last frozen offerings of winter weather which will make the springtime thaw even more welcome.
There is a spot on the eaves which constantly drips, and it’s so cold outside that we have not a burning bush, but an ice covered one! It’s so pretty when the sun shines through it.
Happy Monday, friends.
You are loved.
“Here in the shadow of God’s love forever I’ll abide, So glad, so blest, so sure, so safe; so more than satisfied!” Elizabeth Prentiss
off in the distance I see lighting that I have never seen before.
I head up, briskly, to the field. The sky opened up above me and I am surrounded by marbled blue and gray.
I see a white birch tree, a solitary tree amongst so many…..a single white line, and I marvel that I had never noticed it before. I’ve always loved white birches.
birds flew away from the gray clouds…..hurrying.
I stand with the wind whipping around me as it suddenly begins to hail.
My heart rises with the birds.
Tiny bits of hail, about the size of baby peas landing with rapid pits and pats on the earth. I look up, I look down, I pick some up to study. They are perfect little pieces of frozen nature-art. I eat some. crunch crunch. I walk home in the hail. I feel alive.
“The awareness of life’s passing makes the now sweeter and more important.” David Budbill
This morning before school Sarah read me her reading assignment. It was a book by Gail Gibbons about the sun.
It became an unexpected sacred morning moment; a small girl tucked up beside me reading in her sweet voice.
“The sun gives all living things energy and strength in order to grow.”
Ah yes, thank you Jesus, the Light of the world and only Son of God.
“Without the sun, there would be only darkness and nothing could live.”
…..he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
What a dark and deathly world it would be without His presence.
All of humanity benefits from his warm and life-giving light.
I see Him everywhere, I know you do, too. There is no need to force a religion (laws and rule keeping) when you truly believe and love Christ. He opens your eyes to see Him, He puts a longing (hunger and thirst) inside of you to know His beauty, and the whole of life blossoms and flourishes because of the relationship you share with Him.
Since Sarah read me her book, an old hymn has been keeping me company for the morning; written by Philip Bliss, the author of many of our favorite hymns:
The Light of the World is Jesus
The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee; Sweetly the light has dawned upon me; Once I was blind, but now I can see: The Light of the world is Jesus!
No darkness have we who in Jesus abide;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
We walk in the light when we follow our Guide!
The Light of the world is Jesus!
No need of the sunlight in Heaven we’re told;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
The Lamb is the Light in the city of gold,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
*******
After getting Sarah on the bus, I went for a short ramble all by myself in the snow. I was still wearing my pajamas but it wasn’t too cold thanks to a sweatshirt, a sweater, and shawl.
Orange fungus growing on a dead tree;
I noticed snow covered cobweb wisps everywhere on the trees (why?)…….
reflection of the stream;
texture of slushy icy water;
black and white;
There is something magical about being outside in the woods while it’s snowing.
Inside the chicken coop;
I was thrilled to find a half dozen eggs!! (the hens haven’t been laying for over a month)
I rewarded them with a bowl of snow.
Which they appreciated very much.
******
And now for a recipe.
This recipe is “blog worthy” because the whole family loves it. It’s different; there is no milk or cheese in the sauce, the mayonnaise gives it a richness.
Scalloped Potatoes and Onions
5 large potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
3/4 cup chopped onion
6 T. butter
1/2 cup flour
3 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Preheat oven to 325. Grease a baking dish.
Layer potatoes and onion in prepared baking dish.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add broth, mayonnaise, salt, pepper; cook and stir until thick and bubbly, about 2 minutes. Pour mayonnaise mixture over potatoes and onion. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
Bake in preheated oven until potatoes are tender, about 1 hour 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes more. Cool slightly; serve.
(I double this for my family)
Also, the original recipe doesn’t call for ham, but I do add it whenever I have leftovers to use up. Enjoy.
The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world’s joy. Henry Ward Beecher
“According to the attention restoration theory, spending time in nature relieves the stress and metal fatigue caused by the ‘directed attention’ that work and city life require.”
from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine (January 2016)
It was a rather sluggish sort of day, blah and tiresome.
But then I read the National Geographic article and thought, I need, I really really need to get outside. I put on my warm layers and went for a walk.
When I returned home, I was delighted and surprised to see a rare flock of blue birds by our pond.
“Should I bother getting the camera?” I wondered.
I quickly made up my mind, walked up to the house and grabbed the camera, half expecting the birds to have flown away, but praying that God would give me the opportunity to take a few nice bird photos. He gets all the glory……..for His gift to me, and now to you, in seeing and admiring the pretty little birds he made and provides for.
Bird photos are tricky but the nice thing about them is they take some concentration and determination, both of which are good for pulling oneself out of ones thoughts and cares of the day, and into what is seen through the lens. Getting manual mode just right, the lighting, seeing the shadows and sunshine fluttering and falling, watching for a bird to land in just the right spot.
You give to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good.
Psalm 104:28
See the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not of much more value than they? Matthew 6:26
It wasn’t all bluebirds, either. I saw robins, juncos, a titmouse, finch, blue jay, and goldfinches. They were eating the seeds off of the dried autumn grasses and bushes.
“Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!” Matthew 6
In my deepest troubles, I frequently would wrench myself from the persons around me and retire to some secluded part of our noble forests. John James Audubon
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…….
Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Matthew 6:26
Thank you for the egg.
Thank you for stopping to say hello.
*****
Samantha was covered in glittering dusty dirt! Have you ever seen a cat roll around in dry dirt puddles? It’s very cute. I watched her walk in the sunshine after a nice roll-around, she was twinkling and sparkling proudly….nothing like a good dust bath.
Today is a very important day. Today I figured out how to shoot sun stars!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really like listening to podcasts while I’m walking. (I walk daily) And one of the ones I listen to is about hobby landscape photography. The hosts were chatting about sunstars the other day and I was like, “wow, that’s a thing!” and looked up more information online. It seemed rather straight forward and although the effect is much better during *the golden hours*, I was way too impatient to wait until then.
I put the f-stop to 18 and partially blocked the sun behind a tree and held my breathe.
CLICK.
It worked!
I know all you professional photographers out there are laughing but this was such fun.
Eventually, I was seeing stars myself! Rather blinded by the sun, you see.
This one was ridiculous. I decided to look for other things to “shoot”. Like this old rose:
And this squirrel:
running away from me like I was something out of his nightmares. SO insulting.
It has an acorn in his mouth. I do so like to crunch acorns under my feet as I walk, so satisfying.
I carried two home in my pocket, along with a pinecone. I’m giving them to Joanna when I see her on SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Life is just way too exciting.
Take no thought for the morrow, for the time to come. Be not anxious for the future, how you shall live next year, or when you are old, or what you shall leave behind you. As we must not boast of tomorrow, so we must not care for to-morrow, or the events of it. God has given us life, and has given us the body. And what can he not do for us, who did that? Matthew Henry
There was a chill in the air that could only mean one thing……snow. Here, the green grass of yesterday has been drifted over with a covering of wet snow.
After reading by the fire for an hour, with a cat on my lap, even though I was determined not to get cold again, I found myself bending down to get my boots out of the closet. Warm vest, warm down coat, and a camera. Alone because the boys wanted to go outside later when there is enough snow on the hill to go sledding.
Wood is stacked on the side porch, ready to be used in the fireplace. I pick up sticks from the woods when I go for walks, to use as kindling. The fire is such a mesmerizing thing, with wisps of smoke, cracking, popping, in high notes and low notes.
On a snowy day it is rather cozy-like.
Turtles and frogs are hiding under the mud in the ponds, not to be seen again until spring.
Wild berries as red as anything will soon be gone……as the birds slowly pick them to eat.
The bees, grasshoppers, dragonflies, butterflies, moths, and bugs are all gone. The earth is quiet as it snows. Although if you stand still and listen you can hear the falling of it.
Sarah planted marigold seeds in a paper cup during Kindergarten and we transplanted them into the spring garden. All summer long it was a gift to watch them grow.
I celebrate the last of the blossoms from the garden, what resilient ones these are to survive frosts and snow.
fall turning into winter
green turning into brown
warm turning into cold
“To everything — a season,
and a time to every delight
under the heavens” Ecclesiastes 3:1
To expect unchanging happiness in a changing world, must end in disappointment. To bring ourselves to our state in life, is our duty and wisdom in this world. God’s whole plan for the government of the world will be found altogether wise, just, and good. Then let us seize the favourable opportunity for every good purpose and work. The time to die is fast approaching. Thus labour and sorrow fill the world. This is given us, that we may always have something to do; none were sent into the world to be idle. Matthew Henry
Good afternoon! I took David to the orthodontist this morning which was nice because (does this happen in your family?) as is typical, the car is the best place for my children to open up and talk. We have nice conversations about anything and everything. So I got to hear everything that David wanted to talk about. After his appointment (“What did they do to you Dave?” “They put in a new, thicker wire.”) we scooted into the Goodwill store quickly to look at 1) dishes 2) DVDs and 3) books. Then….Dunkin’ donuts for a snack. He got a mint hot chocolate and a breakfast sandwich on waffles. I got a snack sized breakfast wrap thing and a hot tea.
I dropped Dave off at the middle school (right before he got out he said, “Wouldn’t you rather just take me back home?” and I said, “No, get out.”) and then parked so I could walk and as I walked I talked to my friend Kathy on the phone, and sipped hot tea.
*****
This weekend’s great event was getting up super early in the morning (4), and leaving to drive three hours for a visit to our college boy. Rich and I took the younger children with us, but Jacob had work so he wasn’t able to come along.
We were in terrible moods for half the trip. It was dark and raining and we had to stop at every red light on our way to the highway, which was driving Rich crazy because we were literally the only ones on the road. We also couldn’t figure out how to get the new DVD player in our vehicle to work but eventually David figured it out and the sound of Looney Tunes filled the air. About an hour down the road we all started perking up. We left so early because we wanted to surprise Ethan by getting to him in time to take him to breakfast. He wasn’t even awake yet when we pulled up to his dorm. The dorms are kept locked so I called him on his cell phone to tell him we had arrived. We saw his light turn on behind the blinds in his window as he quickly pulled on his clothes and came out in the chilly rainy weather and into the family car, where we all smiled at him.
We ate breakfast at a very nice, casual place, filled up with nice ordinary people. We felt comfortable and happy and our waitress was capable and pleasant as well. I ordered steak and eggs. We all ate so much food that we were able to completely bypass lunch.
After breakfast we went for a little drive and then stopped at a Norman Rockwell museum. Next up was bowling. We also visited a bookstore in town which was great (used bookstores are my favorite).
We headed back to the college. Grace and I sat and read our books for well over an hour. The college kids had an event going on where you could get an empty Pokemon character and stuff it yourself to make a stuffed animal, it closed with a zipper in the back. It was so cute to see all these big college kids sitting around boxes of stuffing, not unlike sitting around a campfire, talking away as they made toys, of all things. Seth, Sarah, and Caleb managed to each get in on the action, too. The college kids were so nice to them. Grace and I would look over at them and then look at each other and smile little smiles of joy. Rich and Ethan played pool downstairs together, and David joined Grace and I and put his head down on the table to take a nap.
We began to get hungry so we left for an early dinner. (It was so rainy and chilly–39 degrees!) Ethan was craving pizza so we found a well-reviewed pizza place 20 minutes away which ended up being amazing. The place was a very low key, “hole in the wall” sort of place with an awesome view of the town and the train tracks. Very busy. You had to order at the counter and then sit down to wait for your pizza to be done. When it is done they call your name and you go up to get it (no waitresses). There was a lady at the table next to us who talked to me about our large family. We rarely get the comment “are they all yours” any longer. We used to get it all the time when the kids were small, but now that three of them are taller than me we don’t get that question as often. But she loved the kids and it was a friendly little conversation.
The pizza was incredible. Their most popular pizza was made with their garlic knot dough and was simply covered in garlic, I think it took a full 24 hours for my breath to get back to normal. I had two pieces of it, it was topped with tomatoes and cheese. We bought three large pizzas and simply stuffed ourselves until there was only one and a half pieces left and Rich said, “No more, the rest is for E to take to his room with him.”
Then it was time to drop Ethan back off at his dorm. There were tears shed but all in all it was a most pleasant day! Beautiful. You know, there is just nothing like the feeling of being safe and loved in your family.
Rich had to take it twice. 🙂 family photo at the breakfast place! Isn’t the decor great? I love rooms that are filled with stuff everywhere you cast your eye. Inside the well-decorated bathroom there was a sign which said, “Girls, PLEASE do not steal the decor!” The word please was underlined three times.
I admit I am a little sad that our oldest son is not in this photo, but aren’t they handsome? Seth is 7, David is 14, Caleb is 11, and Ethan is 18.
*same breakfast, same facial expressions*
I’m laughing as I look at it. Their breakfast was called the “gut buster”
beautiful mountain stream
We went to a Norman Rockwell museum, which was a building full of every cover and/or illustration that he ever did, plus little signs giving more information about his life and pictures. There were NO original works, but we have been to the real museum in Stockbridge so we were okay with seeing the many many prints.
my favorite:
Rich’s favorite:
The pizza was so good. Rich even said it was better than Grandes. (the place we go to “back home” all the time, which we’ve been going to for our whole married life).
*************
So I wanted to tell you guys that I’m finally on instagram if you want to follow me here is my link: SHANDA’S INSTAGRAM .
This is going to be essentially a silent blog post other than what I’m typing right now because the photos are so beautiful….I want them to pull you in….I was outside for two hours this morning. I walked over roads and woods and fields. I took photos of every interesting sight I saw, the loveliness pulled me in and as I wandered along on my feet, and in my thoughts, I felt myself getting quieter and somehow, melancholy.
I came home, ate lunch, and this busy mama of seven took a three hour nap.
Restorative is the word that comes to mind.
***** The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want….He restoreth my soul….He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.
You have put gladness in my heart, more than their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will both lay down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.
I took a little road trip on Friday to get our son Ethan from college. He has this whole week off from school and it’s been such a thrill for the whole family to have him back home again. I texted him when I arrived at the dorm and he had a big smile as he walked out to where I was parked. We both did.
I stopped at the Vermont Country store and it was the best store to browse around in. I bought some cleaning supplies and learned from the lady there that my clothespins are coming apart because I have always just left them pinned on the clothesline after taking down the laundry. She said I have to keep them in a tin or a clothespin bag. I’ve been hanging out the clothes for 20 years and never knew this. I thought they just weren’t making the clothespins like they used to. I am still a bit skeptical but I am certainly going to try it and see if they keep breaking. (I use the ones with the spring in the middle). And would you look at this kitchen goods display and all the King Arthur Flour things? I’m going to have to do my Mom’s Christmas shopping here.
Ethan and I also stopped at a little independent bookshop which was fun, too.
It goes without saying that we will be making this trip several times this year so it will be fun to get to know other towns….Vermont is beautiful! I would be happy to take along any friends who might want to join me in retrieving Ethan throughout the year so we can stop at neat little shops. 🙂
Ethan surprised his girlfriend Tessa that night by showing up at her house for pizza with no warning. They were one happy couple all weekend long. He is leaving in a little while to pick her up from school. (they have been dating for a year now) Sarah adores Tessa (the feeling is mutual). When I saw them hugging I said, “let me take a picture!”
Out and about for football games. Seth and Caleb both won their games this weekend.
Ethan and his best friend Zachary….both with a good month or more of college under their belts. And of course Parker the Dog is happy to see his boys again.
Ethan has a bad cold so I’ve been torturing him with cough syrup.
The two of us went on a walk together this morning and I brought along my camera to photograph some of the beautiful fall colors.
The sun is shining for the first time in days. It brightens everything, including our moods.
(just like Jesus–The Son)
I loved this scareCROW on one of our neighbor’s lawns.
looking up into the trees
We saw a hawk and a crow flying after each other (in an argument over something)
We saw a dead toad, a dead squirrel and a dead goldfinch during various times in our walk. Which was sad and rather odd.
Aren’t you glad I don’t take pictures of EVERYTHING????
looking up again
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
We saw a flock of bluebirds. I wasn’t able to get any good photos because I didn’t have a good zoom lens with me. There were about 10 of them flying about. The farmhouse at the end of our street has bluebird houses which were obviously greatly appreciated this summer.
He walked barefoot because he’s ours country boy. He has a straw in his mouth, too, but you can’t see it.
I rescued this fuzzy caterpillar from the road (lots of things are getting hit lately, as I mentioned earlier)…….
And would you look at this spider? It’s exquisite! I’m so glad we stopped and took a closer look at it.
Just a couple more random photos:
My brother Dave sent me this photo of Dad’s truck full of pumpkins and their puppy! (I like how his white socks are all different sizes)
and……..
Sarah and I finished another book! We read The Adventures of Benjamin Pink and it was delightful.
I read to her whenever we have some free time together and the other children are always welcome to listen with us, too, but she is the only one committed enough to stay snuggled up next to me. The others do their own thing as they listen. We started our third book this morning, it was one that I bought at the bookstore in Vermont with Ethan.
Well, it’s been a busy morning of digging pennies out of the garbage disposal, finding water leaking in the bathroom and calling the plumber, doing laundry and dishes, grocery shopping, taking Grace her purse at the school, cleaning up the house after a busy weekend, texting Jacob after he had a check up (perfect!so thankful), walking 3 miles with Ethan, and getting dinner started in the crock pot. It’s been necessary and nice to sit and blog for a little while here with my friends (and Ethan sound asleep on the other couch). Thank you all for reading along. I pray that each of you who stop by here today has a very blessed and beautiful week. I thank God for my friends and for this outlet where we can share and get to know each other.
Remember….you are loved.
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Rich normally arrives home from work around 6pm but yesterday he arrived at 4:30. I was just taking dinner out of the oven, I had made an early dinner not for the reason I believed (I was so hungry) but because Father-God arranged it that way so we could eat together.
I made a big casserole of about 5 pounds of browned hamburger, plus lots of taco seasoning, a big can of enchilada sauce, a can of diced tomatoes, a can of creamed corn, and cheddar cheese all mixed together. I baked it in the oven until it was bubbling and melty. It was sort of like a thick soup. My thoughts were that we could each have a bowl of it, with a dollop of sour cream, chopped tomatoes, and black olives on top. With a huge bag of tortilla chips, this was a dinner everyone loved. Basically glorified chips and dip.
We had a nice meal together around the table with Dave (14), Caleb (11), Seth (7), and Sarah (6). We were missing the three oldest children but I happily noticed how much David was talking and realized that with the three oldest growing up and not around to eat dinner with us as often, he is able to be the respected, listened to, older brother at the table. It’s all good. In a large family the middle children can let lost (or the youngest….but in our case Seth and Sarah have no problem being seen and heard). It’s that middle one, Dave, who hasn’t had much to say with the older ones in the room. He’s moving up in ranks, so to speak, and it is good.
We finished dinner at 5 and I said “let’s go to the school and go for a walk while we wait for Grace to be done at 6!” The children scattered while I yelled, “Get a jacket !!!” after them, 25 times.
Still, Seth and Sarah had no jackets when we got there.
The only thing I stressed about was that the typically quiet school road ended up being a lot busier than we expected. Every three to five seconds there was a car going by us. We kept the running, skipping, happy, offspring in the grass on the side of the road, trying to reduce their chances of running into the street. Rich was relaxed, but I was on heightened alert. MOTHERS! Can’t relax. *sigh* It’s all good though. (said a little less confidently).
He wasn’t concerned in the least……I love him…..we balance each other out.
Other than the traffic, it was lovely in every way. Cool crisp air, all of us together in a pack, and a nice walk up the hill and down. Great for the leg muscles.
Oh and did I mention Dave was catching Pokemon? He loves that game.
Seth and Sarah’s arms were like ice. Poor babies!!!! They insisted they weren’t cold!
It’s a very rare occasion when Seth gives me a sweet smile for the camera. He looks so handsome (and cold) in this photo.
We picked up Grace and went to McDonalds for 49 cent ice cream cones.
Incidentally, I bought Grace the shirt a week ago and she wore it for the first time yesterday. I said, “Grace, you wore your shirt today!” and she said, “I LOVE this shirt! It made me feel fabulous!” (tip for blue days!)
Even though I went out and had my nails and hair done yesterday, this little family walk was the highlight of my day by far.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
Good to be Home 