The world’s big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.  John Muir age 74

Which way to the black and white moth?  I shall give you directions.

Go up the trail and through the meadow.  There is no need to hurry; gather a bouquet of wildflowers to carry in your arms.  Travel into the woods, through the ferns big and green, by and through the meandering stream.  Look for a big broken tree, broken from last October’s snow storm.  There is a boulder nearby, with a coat of moss.  Lean against it, without thinking of moths at all, and look down, it’s right there.  Something never seen before.

Caleb and I went for a walk yesterday afternoon.  I wanted to go….alone….(for I had a headache and was out of sorts) but he begged to go with me (thinking of, not time with MOM, but “perhaps I will see more snakes”).  I complied and off we went, holding hands.  We didn’t see any snakes but we did make another discovery; a lovely black and white moth.

                flower from the milk weed plant

                bumble bee sipping a “crown vetch” blossom

                                 my pretty flowers

                  hiding in the ferns

           in the stream

D  I  S  C  O  V  E  R  Y

 The moth was quite hidden, it was amazing that I even noticed it.  (a “thank you, God!” moment)

I believe it was a brand new moth, just out from it’s cocoon.

I hadn’t seen anything like it before, a new discovery to document for my nature journal.  (yes, I was excited!)  I looked online and I think it might be a Giant Leapard Moth.

I lifted it carefully from the moss with a stick.  I think it’s front legs have little hooks for hands, it was so firmly attached.

But, in lifting it, I discovered it was wearing blue jewelry.

I left it where I found it, but I sure would have liked to see it with the wings spread out.  I would have taken it home in a box, to see it in the evening taking it’s first flight.

Caleb and I made our way home, stopping to take one more photo…..of our lovely wildflowers, which are now in a fiesta vase in the livingroom.

It had rained on and off, just a sprinkling, during our adventure, but as soon as we were safely indoors, the skies opened and it poured. 

Refreshed.

The little cares that fretted me,

I lost them yesterday

Among the fields above the sea,

Among the winds at play;

Among the lowing of the herds,

The rustling of the trees,

Among the singing of the birds,

The humming of the bees.

The foolish fears of what may happen

I cast them all away

Among the clover-scented grass,

Among the new-mown hay;

Among the husking of the corn

Where drowsy poppies nod,

Where ill thoughts die and good are born,

Out in the fields with God.

~Elizabeth Browning

pictures from the weekend

The kids have been playing monopoly a lot.

Sarah tried on my shoes.

Davy read his book in our bed.

My brother Dave sent the children some used books…..these are just some of the wonderful titles he chose for them.  Summer reading!

We sat on the porch together, watching the rain. 

But then the thunder got loud and someone ran back indoors:

Seth didn’t feel good on Saturday so we made beds on the porch.

As we snuggled, I could look up at the hummingbird feeder.  I couldn’t resist getting my camera……..

What an amazing little creature.

Rich planted a rosebush for me.  It has yellow flowers and smells so good.

Jacob had a baseball game.  He played well and was eager to tell me about it.

Seth

Caleb lost his two front teeth!  He looks so adorable.

Down at the stream, we found a dead crayfish and the boys studied it.

Caleb, David, and I went for a walk on Saturday and we found four snakes.  The first was only a skin……

The second is what we think is a MILK SNAKE.  Caleb almost stepped on him and he slithered away into the woods.

I’ve mentioned this once before, but I’ll write it again:  CALEB LOVES SNAKES and studies them from books and the internet. 

The third snake was a crispy corpse.

You can tell by their expressions that they were disturbed.  “Poor snake.”

The fourth snake was alive and we almost stepped on this one, too.  We aren’t sure what this one is, do you?

Caleb was so excited about finding four snakes (in about a half hour time) that he named the day SNAKE DAY. 

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.  Rachel Carson

The days are clear,

Day after day,

When April’s here,

That leads to May,

And June

Must follow soon:

Stay June! Stay!

If only we could  stop the moon

And June!

~ written by the wonderful Christina Rosseti (from an old book of children’s poetry that my brother Dave sent me!)

I have a houseful of very happy children and this mama has a very contented heart.  We’re all home for the summer, no more school, the last day was Tuesday.

The *first day of summer* went by so fast.  I had to go to Agway in the morning for chicken supplies and Davy needed fishhooks.  Then, we spent the whole day at home until we left at 2:15 for Ethan’s orthodontist appointment.  We couldn’t get that close to TARGET without visiting, so we went there, too.  I stocked up on some fresh fruit; apples, grapes, cherries, bananas.  The kids got a few little things to play with outside at the pond; water guns, pool noodles, and batteries for the bubble machine.  Later on, Jacob had a baseball game.

Lots of stuff happens at home that excite us.  Bugs, boat rides, our dog learning to stay home with the hidden fence zapping him, swimming, reading, changes of clothes, snacks, baby toads, garden getting ready, HEAT (close to 100 yesterday, very hot for New England)..just everyday normal family stuff but with seven children!  Hugs, kisses, corrections, talking and joking, music, putting Gracie’s hair in braids….I’m loving it ALL my friends.  This is the good life; with my children all around me.

Did I mention popcycles? 

I kicked off my flip flops to go wading…..and the dog is finally enjoying freedom now that we are training him to STAY HOME.

Caleb was in the garden, hunting for fat peas.

Aunt Phyllis sent me the pictures she took of our visit with Grandma:

Rich loves this picture:

I love this one; with the four of us, and dear Grandma.  We had such a happy visit.

Thank you so much for stopping by….take the time to say hello, won’t you?  And I’ll be back to post a “this moment” picture tomorrow.

I’m off to make pancakes and later on we have friends coming over!  Isn’t summer grand?

xoxo

***************************

After breakfast Grace went out to check the chickies that we had moved into the coop a couple days ago.  Last night I forgot to shut their window and something got in the coop and DESTROYED every new chick.  Not a pleasant experience……….but we’re learning a lesson and NOT giving up.

After coming home from our trip to see Grandma on Saturday afternoon, I went to the library to get a couple of books.  As I browsed the biography section, I discovered a book titled Any Given Day.  It was written by Jesse Lee Brown Foveaux, who was born in 1899.  She had a rich, interesting life, and when she was 80 years old she joined a writing class for senior citizens.  The assignment was to write stories about their lives.  When the writing teacher read what Jesse had written, he was so impressed that he worked to share it with others.  She became a published author at the age of 98 and the book that she wrote for her family (she & her alcoholic husband had eight children) was one I read in one day.  It tells the story of her life, and the ending chapters are letters and words for her family.

As we are in the process of loving and praying for Rich’s dear Grandma through the end of her life, these quotes were all the more dear to me. 

“The main things to guard against as you fight the battle of life are hate, envy, jealousy, and selfishness.”  pg. 252

“Keep playing that guitar and singing; music is good medicine for us all.”  pg. 266

“I am not sorry that I don’t have a lot of money to leave you.  That makes too many problems.  I have watched so many things happen over money while staying with sick people through their last days.  I have seen strange things.  People who had the least worldly goods seemed to be the ones most loved by their family and friends.”  pg. 274

“I am thankful for each year, each month and day I am permitted to be up and busy.  I look back on a life of hard work, and I have decided it was good for me.  I’m just thankful that I was able to get it done.”  pg. 276

“I realize that my happy days can come to an end anytime,

so I shall just enjoy each day.”  pg. 280

Rich’s Grandma, Sarah Lillian, has had cancer for several years.  She is in her 90’s now and in a nursing home.  Aunt Phyllis had a few little things that she gave to the girls and I this weekend.  I love the collection of old handkerchiefs.  They were each folded neatly, and placed in silk fabric folders.

We brought home Grandma’s old dresser, for Gracie.  Grandma was so pleased that we would take it.  It originally belonged to Grace’s Great-Great Grandma.

But we would rather keep Grandma forever than to bring home her things.

Rich lovingly put it together in our daughter’s room, and then came down stairs to lay his head down in my lap and cry.

Being a family that loves reading, I was able to take home a few of her books for the children. 

Rich looked through her bookcase, and found a book to look at while us ladies were busy.  It was a book by J. Vernon Mcgee and it was about different men and women of the Bible.  After looking through the table of contents, he went to the page that he wanted to read……and found a letter that his mother had written to Grandma in 1995.  It was the year he and I were married and we were mentioned in the letter.  He brought this book home with him, along with the letter. 

Some of Grandma’s pretty perfumes and lipsticks, (mostly AVON products) nestled among her scarves, in one of her baskets.

Here at home, we put out one of her handmade hankies, and Grace picked some flowers for the table.

It’s bittersweet, having some of Grandma’s little things, in our home. 

(Aunt Phyllis gave me her old Polaroid camera, too!)

Rich’s Dad called Rich last week, to let him know Grandma wasn’t feeling well.  Rich took Friday off and we went with just the girls, to go see Grandma, wondering if it would be for the last time.

Thankfully, she was feeling much better on Friday, although it was a surprise to me that she is now on oxygen.  Other than that, and a pair of beautiful but tired looking blue eyes, she was, to our comfort, the same wonderful lady she has always been.  We were even able to take her outside in the hot sunshine.  Rich pushed her wheelchair, after jokingly asking Grandma if she was sure she trusted his driving.

We met Aunt Phyllis on our way out and the six of us sat outdoors to visit.  I had my camera but wasn’t sure I would take any photos, until I happened to notice, as the rest of us were talking over their heads, a silent Sarah and a silent old Grandma, together.  Grandma was touching Sarah on the back, stroking her shirt, giving her little pats.  Quietly sharing a moment under the warm sun.

And then Sarah,who is named for her Great Grandma, picked her some flower pedals.  

It was hard to leave her that day, but we are comforted that she has the care and attention she needs, she’s had a lifelong relationship with the Lord, and as we have a big loving family, she is never lonely.  Her 95th birthday is June 30 and we hope to go visit her again, soon.

“So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”  2 Corinthians4:16-18

I just had to share this video of Sarah singing her ABC’s.  (she skips a few)

xo

“Now I’ve sung my abc’s

thank you all for helping me!”

I felt like a criminal yesterday.  Seth and Sarah were napping so I went outside with my camera to wander around.  It’s a treat to be alone, as I spend most of my day trying to keep the children entertained and in one piece.  Enjoying the solitude, I went down to the pine trees around the pond and looked up.  I saw a nest up there with a mama bird peering at me over the edge.  It was pretty high up and I wasn’t about to get myself covered in pine pitch trying to climb, so I left her alone and explored the other trees.  Sure enough, I found another nest and this one wasn’t so high or as challenging to look into.

At this point I did not know what kind of bird it was.  When photographing wild things, there is an ever present urge within me to get “closer” to whatever I am trying to photograph, so I crept higher up into the branches.  Little birdie kept his eye on me.  He was getting nervous but I never dreamed he would fly the nest and almost become someone’s next meal.

It was a baby robin. I got pretty close to it, didn’t I?  What happened next was so disturbing that I didn’t get any pictures of it, although Ethan told me emphatically that I should have.

When I snapped the camera, capturing the picture that I was after, the frightened little thing flew right out the nest.

Keep in mind, as a mom of seven, I have a fully developed mother’s heart.  It’s as soft as pudding, especially around babies of any species.  I would never want to see or be the cause of a baby getting scared or hurt.  I want to take care of babies, to spoil and snuggle babies, not make them (in this case) fly away.

The little thing flew right out of the nest.  Right before my very eyes (which were quite wide), the birdie landed IN THE WATER AT THE EDGE OF THE POND directly on the top of a BULLFROG, who PROMPTLY latched on to the dear little thing WITH IT’S BIG WIDE MOUTH.  Oh horror!

I was beginning to tremble and the commotion in the trees, made by Mama and Papa Robin, was making me feel utterly ashamed……..

Down below, the fluttering of baby’s wings in the water and frantic distress calls quickly came to end.  I was on my way down from the tree, hoping to rescue baby bird from being drowned or eaten by the bullfrog.  I was sure it was being held underwater, but I found the little thing trembling on the bank, trying to hide between two rocks.  I made my way down to it, with Mama and Papa furiously scolding me from the trees, and took the little thing in my hands.  It was rather like holding one of my baby chicks.

I returned it to the nest and in the process scared out it’s sister.  She didn’t land in the water but I never saw where she ended up.  I made my way down to the ground and just sat.  Feeling like a low-down criminal.

Mama and Papa Robin were not done scolding me, either.  They peeped and squawked, made a ruckus, and to my amazement, all their neighbors came flying.  I saw a hummingbird, a pair of orioles, a catbird, a goldfinch, a purple finch couple, two little yellow birds, and others.  They all flew over to see what was the matter!

“I’ll tell you exactly what’s the matter!  That big ugly human down there disturbed my babies!”

“I have a worm so you don’t have to make supper tonight, Mama Robin.  Hope you and the youngin’ feel better soon.”

“What’s happening?  What’s happening?”

After we all settled down, I took my unwanted presence away from the bird community.  With many apologies for the disturbance, I backed away and left them alone to recover.

Hours later……………

Grace and I checked on the Robin family.  The nest was (unsurprisingly) deserted and baby was perched in a branch across the way, next to the stream.

The poor thing had quite the day.  “From the jaws of Mr. Bullfrog and back again”

As for me, I will never get that close to a nest of baby birds again!

H E L L O

Good day to you!   I hope that maybe one or two of these weekend photos will provoke a twinkle in the eye and a pair of smiling lips.  Life is good!

Our little vegetable garden is thriving.  We have four little rows of peas, two rows of red onions, radishes (we did a few rows of them but they are almost done, just a couple left.  the littles loved pulling them up)  We also planted 6 tomato plants and some cucumbers.  Zinnea in the corner.  I have a pot of cilantro already up and waiting to be used in my favorite cold bean salad.  The garden is small enough that I can go out and pull weeds once a day and keep up with it.  My garden makes me very happy.

Aren’t toads adorable?  I read in my nature book that they really do have little personalities and are fun to observe at length.  We haven’t tried to keep one to watch daily, but we always enjoy coming across them outdoors.  Grace and I discovered this one on the trail.  Guess what happened when we picked it up?  It’s skin peeled off.  We imagined that it felt good to him.  We put it down and he hopped away in his fresh clean skin.

When we found this wild rose growing close to the ground, we got right down to smell it…..hmmmm….the scent is a satisfying true rose scent.  These flowers remind me of my mom because they bloom right around the time of her birthday.  I picked a closed bud and it’s sitting in a small jar of water by my kitchen sink so we can watch it open.

We made our way (Grace and I) to the stream in the woods.  We were alone, listening to the sounds of water and wind.

We each chose a big rock in the middle of the stream and got down on our backs with our knees up.  We were quiet (the only time she stopped talking on our walk), rested and enjoyed nature on our moss covered “beds”.  One of my favorite memories of the weekend was sneaking peeks at her, pretty and sweet.

Looking up, we saw green-green-and more-green.  Trees are beautiful, aren’t they?

Like stained glass all in green.

So many different leaves.

They were moving gently, fluttering and waving.

The air smelled clean and the mosquitoes bit.

**The children have seven days of school left.  David is officially mentally “done” with school.  This morning when I woke him up he said, “I can’t stand another day of this!”

Have a glorious day, my friends.  You are loved.