“If we ever get into the money I am going to have a kitchen where everything is my height, and none of this pigmy stuff, and maybe 4 ovens, and 12 burners all in a line, and 3 broilers, and a charcoal grill, and a spit that turns.”  ~Julia Child’s dream kitchen, from a letter she wrote to Avis DeVoto in the early years, before cookbook, before fame.  She was over six feet tall so I imagine stooping over regular height counters and stoves got to be tiresome at times.

My own dream kitchen is coming along nicely.  The double oven has been installed and I have used it several times.  There is now crown molding above the cabinets, which I think is so pretty.

A cabinet detail of “where the garbage will be” (to answer Joanna’s question).  There is a bin for the trash and one for the recycling.

A picture of the island before the countertop was installed.  There are 2 big drawers, and four smaller ones, and 2 big cabinets with pull out shelves.

The master bedroom is a shambles, full of kitchen items and livingroom stuff (while it is being painted).  I have so much to do to get the house in order.

This was the day the granite was installed (I think it was Monday).  The couches were in the middle of the room for painting.

The granite was installed and the sink was put in place.

Scaffolding was put up and left in the livingroom for several days.  The children loved it.  Meanwhile, Rich and I had to take everything off the walls to add to the piles in our bedroom. 

We had rain yesterday but during the other days the weather was beautiful.  It was so dry and warm that we could keep the doors and windows open, which was very nice when dealing with dust and paint fumes.  It was also nice to take Seth and Sarah outside in the mornings to stay out of the way.

Caleb, Seth, and Sarah ate popsicles on the scaffolding.  It was taken down yesterday and they were all sad.  So cute.

Yesterday the wooden top was put on the island and the faucet was put in place.  I spent some time putting some things back.  It’s starting to look lovely.

I gave Sarah a bath this morning and then she played at the sink.   The new sink is a stainless steel single basin and deep.  When we picked it out Rich said it would be nice for me to give babies a bath in.  When I started to swoon, he quickly said, “Not that you’ll have anymore of your own, but you will have grandchildren.” 

((2009, baby Seth in the kitchen sink))

We still need the dishwashers and range top installed, stools to buy for the island, and the granite back splash put in place.  We also have under cabinet lighting, hardware, a new light fixture above the sink, and the trim work to do before it is completely finished.

I started putting my fiestaware in the open shelving.  Doesn’t it look pretty?

We are so thankful for our fresh new kitchen!

Once the new addition is done, the table will be out of the room which will give us plenty of space to use the kitchen and island. 

Despite the chaos, I still try to keep flowers or a candle sitting pretty on the table, because beautiful things are so uplifting.  Today I have an old blue mason jar on it, with a simple twig of pinky-white wild apple blossoms, which I picked the other day from the edge of the woods.

1 abundant blue sky 

2 (or more!) busy little kids

1 cheap plastic golf toy

1 box of chalk

2 balls (one Princess, one Thomas)

lunch

drinks

kindle (for mama)

Stir all together on a big grassy lawn and let bubble for two hours under a 70 degree sun, or until someone starts to get burned. 

Seriously.  The sky was this blue. 

We were downtown.  There is just nothing like that hometown joyful feeling of “this is MINE” “THIS is where I live!”

It’s supposed to get into the high 70s today.  I’m glad I took the kids out this morning before it got too hot.

We have Kevin here working on the house everyday from 8-3 and it’s best to get away for a few hours (out of his hair).

The children have been climbing on his scaffolding, which is set up in the livingroom, so yeah, we needed to leave until naptime.

I could hear toads calling in the canal nearby which means they are on their way, hopping, to our ponds.  It’s a springtime ritual.

We  had such fun at the park, Sarah peed her pants but thankfully with a dress on it didn’t matter much.  She was THRILLED with her new pink princess ball, “I’ve ALWAYS WANTED a princess ball!” she breathed (we made a stop at the drug store for supplies on the way). 

(At the drug store Seth dumped an entire bottle of bubbles out in the aisle right next to me, behind my back.  Oh that Seth.)

Subway lunch with a cherry coke for mama.

On the kindle:  As Always, Julia:  The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto, by Joan Reardon

I started it last night and I love it because of the friendship the two of them formed, simply by writing back and forth.  They became friends through their letters before they even met face to face (reminds me of blogging/penpal relationships, too)  The letters are fascinating, and as I have read My Life in France, and also Dearie, it was only a matter of time before I found and read this one.  Avis was influential in getting Mastering the Art of French Cooking published and a great encouragement to Julia. 

Some quotes from the first few chapters when Julia was still in France and Avis was in the States: 

“Paul reads to me in the kitchen while I’m getting dinner.”  ~ Julia, about her husband, I thought this was so sweet.

“Will send biographies of Simone and Louisette, and a nice photo of a cold decorated fish.”  ~Julia (LOL) made me laugh

“This is to say thank you thank you thank you for the wire whip……”  ~Avis

“I have just sent you three shallots air mail, and hope the girl at the post office didn’t mash them as she hit them awfully hard all over with her rubber stamp.” ~Julia

Life is too short to say no to princess dresses.  Although I had my doubts about it, she managed the slide and the playset just fine in her long fancy dress, thank you very much. 

How do you spell mischief?  “S” “E” “T” “H”, that’s how!

We began our Saturday morning with our dear Seth making a mess.  It was his 2, 214th.  He found my ULTRA SUPER CONCENTRATED window wash stuff and dumped it all up and down the entire porch.  Rich and I were inside enjoying our coffee when he came back inside looking guilty.  “WHAT DID YOU DOOOOOOO?” I asked, and he took me outside to show me.  He got into T.R.O.U.B.L.E.  But, those eyes!  So guilty, so beautiful! 

He was willing to help clean up, though.

The porch floor is clean, completely clean as a whistle, now.

Caleb had found a cocoon about a month ago.  I don’t remember where he found it, but we decided to put it on a dried grass arrangement I had in a mason jar, to see what would happen.  On Saturday, a butterfly emerged!  I found it just after it ‘hatched’, and it’s wings were moist and limp.  It fell to the floor like a damp little rag and we moved it to a bush in the garden sunshine, to dry.

It was a delight to sit and watch it.  The only thing left to do is identify it.

I took a little walk with David and Caleb because David wanted me to see the neighbor’s beautiful flowers (creeping phlox).

David’s funny quote of the weekend, “I don’t get fat because whenever I eat food I burn it out.” 

I made a cake and it was my first experience of baking something in a brand spanking new oven!  It was just a box lemon cake, with lemon icing.  Sarah of the blue eyes, with crumbs around her little mouth, loved it.

I love my oven (pictures to come in a few days!)

My beautiful daughters:::

Rich spent a lot of time this weekend, working on a water pump.  He has enjoyed the challenge of trying to get it started again (no luck yet).

On Sunday morning, I put Sarah’s dress on her and she immediately became a dancer.

Caleb combed his own hair for church and then sprayed a thick, very very thick, coating of hair spray on it.  This face is SOOOOO cute!  I love this big boy of mine.

Caleb’s quote of the week, “Cassie took some of my sliver out and then I bit the rest out myself.”  (it was in HIS BIG TOE!)  (Cassie is the little neighbor girl who comes over to play!)

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

Rich’s secretary is getting married next month and I was able to attend her bridal shower yesterday.  I didn’t know her very well, and only slightly knew one other person going, so it was a great growing experience for me (shy one that I am) to be brave and go.  It was a gathering of family and friends and just a couple of people from work, I felt a little odd going as “THE BOSS’S WIFE”, but the ladies were all so lovely and nice.  It was held at a place by the river, with such a pretty view from the windows.  All the ladies were dressed up and I was happy that I had decided to wear a new dress, high heel wedge sandals, and a pretty necklace.  I put on full make up and then realized later that I forgot to apply the mascara.  I had a mimosa for the first time (yum!) and sat at a round table for lunch with the bride’s grandmother, aunt, and friends.  Totally strange not to be chasing children around.  I just sat still (tried to) and enjoyed the company.  It was almost an hour drive to get there, and then with the ride back, I was gone for most of the day.  It was a sweet, and beautiful afternoon, watching the bride-to-be open all her gifts and enjoying the pretty decorations, the lunch, and strawberry cream cake.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!  –Rich and I had one of “THOSE PARENTING MOMENTS” on Saturday afternoon when we realized we wouldn’t see Jacob and Ethan for most of the day.  They were busy with sports and then a job up the street with the neighbor.  They are getting older and more independent all the time and we felt slightly sad, missing them.  Happily, Rich did take them out the movies that night, with Grace.  They saw Iron Man 3.  But they are gone so much that when Jacob is home I sometimes jump to hear him come into the room and talk…..not used to having a deep talking young man around! 

PS, I’ve been watching Julia Child “The French Chef” shows every night on youtube.  It’s so entertaining!  She truly was one of a kind.

{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. 

This hymn has been running through my head all day so I thought I would sit down at the piano and play it for xanga.

(All the lyrics to this one are good but I’m only singing the first verse here.)

Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
of Thy loving heart.

Thou has bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

~Jean S. Pigott, 1845-1882

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

Just a little story for you today……

Grace had a field trip coming up and she was told by her teacher that she “HAD” to have a string bag to carry.  If you don’t know what that is, there is a picture of one here.  They are made from thin material, and empty, it lays completely flat.  Instead of thick straps, the straps are typically a cord, or “string”.  It is very light weight and just the thing for walking around during a school field trip.  Anyway, she was telling me every day about this special STRING bag she NEEDED to have, and I listened half-heartedly because I honestly didn’t think it was necessary and didn’t appreciate the teacher giving her the idea that she HAD to have one.  Well, I forgot and forgot until it was almost too late. The night before her field trip, she still didn’t have the bag, the special bag, so I called Rich and he said he would pick one up for her on the way home from work.  I explained IN DETAIL what a string bag was and told him thank you.

Well, he came home and showed me the bag, with happy eyes.  He had fulfilled the mission.  Only, unfortunately what he had bought was a regular ol’ backpack.  “OH MY WORD, RICH, it’s not the right kind of bag!  Why didn’t you call me so I could help you?  I know right where they are in Target!  Grace is going to be so upset!”  He wasn’t concerned but called her upstairs so we could both witness her reaction to all her hopes, dreams, and begging for this special, specific STRING BAG.

She looked at it, smiled, and immediately said sweetly, “Thank you, Daddy!”  “Is it okay, Grace, is it what you wanted?” he asked.  “Yes!”  She replied, to my astonishment.  “Are you telling the truth, Grace, that’s honestly the bag you wanted?”  I questioned, disbelieving.  “Yes, it’s fine!  Thank you!”  was her reply, sounded perfectly happy and sincere. 

Rich left the room satisfied that he knew better than I did, and she laughed with her sweet cheeks plumping up and brown eyes sparkling.  She did a cute girly teenager pose and looked right at me over her shoulder as she held her new backpack.

“What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him.”  she said to me, quietly so her Dad couldn’t hear.   I understood that she really did want the string bag, but more important to her was her Dad’s happiness in the gift he took the time to purchase for her.  No tears or pouting from this girl!  I was put to shame and grateful for the lesson, once again.

1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (NIV)

It was nice growing up with someone like you – someone to lean on, someone to
count on… someone to tell on!  ~Author Unknown

Whenever the children are all home on a school vacation, I miss the homeschooling years.  I get filled up with that contented-mama feeling and say, “This makes me want to homeschool you again!”  Davy really would want me to, he doesn’t like to get up in the mornings and he doesn’t like to work too hard sometimes, but the other children

LOVE SCHOOL.

and have blossomed in ways that have brought tears to my eyes over and over.

Grace sings and her bright personality bubbles over.

Jacob talks and talks.

Ethan exudes confidence.

Caleb has made a name for himself.  (snake boy)

Davy is learning valuable social skills.

And while I love and favor the homeschooling ideals and way of life (so wholesome, so organic), I can’t regret the personal decision we have made in changing up the children’s education experience. 

This is our second year of public schooling, and I must say that this spring break was quite CRAZY busy, I think because I have almost forgotten what it is like to have them all home for days on end.  Practically speaking, I ran the dishwasher four times daily.  There was never, and I mean, never a dull moment.  We had plans that we did not get to accomplish, because we ran out of time.  I still owe Jacob a trip to Savers so he can find clothes like Dr. Who.  And I owe Caleb a trip to the Science Center, too.

The very best part of school break is the time the children get to spend TO.GETH.ER. again, all day long, doing whatever they wanted to do.

Grace gave Davy a lesson on Les Miserables, they listened to the entire soundtract together and Grace explained the storyline.

I had lots of help tending the hens.

Sarah Joy had a hard time finding Mama after her naps.  On this day I was down by the stream, looking for ducks with Caleb.

Davy put his head out the window of the car to make wild hair.   

We went out for ice cream with my sister and her children.

Weston (red shirt), Naomi (yellow), Gracie (black pants), and Abbie (dress)

Seth and Weston, talking (they are a year apart in age).

Caleb (in superman shirt)

Jacob (16 years old) my oldest.

(Weston) 5 years old.

One of my favorite moments came while I was reading outside (while keeping an eye on the little ones dabbling in the pond) and noticed Ethan and Grace sitting together on top of the playset.

One of Seth’s nicknames from his older siblings is “Friend”.  My heart! I love it.

I smile seeing my gang of children still having the best of times, together.  Each moment is a gift.

There is just nothing like the relationships between brothers and sisters, as they share a bond that in some ways even the parents are not a part of.

Children of the same family, the same blood, with the same first associations and habits,
have some means of enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connections can
supply…  ~Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814

Did you grow up with siblings?  Were you close?  Are you close today?