A frog, in the woods under a log.

A sammy (what our Davy calls all salamanders) under the rock and leaves,

a snake, in the field,

lots and lots of crickets,

and us.

Rich and the boys are in the process of building a tree house by the stream and were down working on it.  The little ones and I made our way to visit them and after I had properly looked and admired, since we were all together anyway, we went for a little stroll.

It was warm and humid, but the mosquitos are a problem, so I dressed Sarah in long pants and sleeves.  Big brother Davy (almost 9 years old!) took a turn helping the littlest one along.

Grace, David, Caleb, Seth, Rich with Sarah, myself, Jacob, and Ethan.  The ground was still soggy from all that rain last week.

I gave Seth a haircut this weekend.  I think he looks particularly cute (with a mischievous expression) in this picture.

And, our big boy/little boy Caleb.  He’s at that age when at times he seems very young, and other times I get a jolt of “he’s growing!” in my heart……he is about to start school for the very first time, first grade, and it will be very strange, indeed, to let him go.  He is ready, though, of that I have no doubt whatsoever. 

I love, and am very grateful for, my family.

Hope my friends are having a blessed and refreshing Sunday.

I just found this quote.  The generosity, the huge ABUNDANCE of God is a wonderful thought;

God is a sun ever-shining; He is manna always falling round the camp; He is a rock in
the desert, ever sending out streams of life from His smitten side; the rain of His
grace is always dropping; the river of His bounty is ever-flowing, and the well-spring
of his love is constantly overflowing.  ~Spurgeon

Rich and I took our 15 month old, Sarah Joy, to Virginia Beach with us almost three weeks ago.  The timing couldn’t have been better, as the week after we went, this area was hit by hurricane Irene.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the people recovering here. 

Our favorite breakfast spot when we were there became CITRUS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.  It was a bright, busy, and happy eating place that my iphone handily informed me was a favorite of the locals.  I had eggs benedict the first morning, with grilled shrimp and parmesan crusted tomatoes(!), and a crab omelet the second morning.  The coffee was great, and we even tried fresh juiced watermelon (sweet!) With breakfasts like these, lunch is not necessary.

Lunch is not necessary, no, but a brisk walk afterwards, is.

After breakfast on that particular Monday morning, knowing that we had an afternoon of flying ahead of us to get home, Rich and I decided to visit an interesting park (also handily found and highly rated, on my iphone) for an after-a-large-breakfast-constitutional.

MOUNT TRASHMORE PARK

With a name like this, you wonder, is that big hill, that small mountain drawing our eyes to it like a magnet, in the park, really made of TRASH?

Yes, yes it is.

You just HAVE to go up it, you can’t help yourself.  This is my husband on top of the treeless Mount Trashmore.  It was overcast and windy with a hint of rain in the air, when we visited.  There were many other visitors as well, all intent on walking, jogging, or other athletic pursuits.  In fact, I noticed one very limber man clothed only in his wind shorts and bare feet, RUNNING up and down the grassy hill, over and over.  (This was a big hill!)  Some people are just very enthusiastic about running around outside.  Bless them.

My husband, I know, would have loved to run.  But, he matched his pace to mine and we enjoyed walking together around the perimeter and up and down the hill.

He did stop to do a few beautifully executed chin-ups. (that’s the hill behind him)

We admired the ceilings in the picnic pavilions, handsome, yes?

The walking trail was lovely…..I found some (what I thought were) tiny champagne grapes dangling from the trees and had Rich taste one.  He spit it out and asked was I trying to kill him?  As we laughed, I was reminded of Eve and told him that the men really should learn to stop eating strange fruits given to them by their wives. 

I saw a huge cicada bug in the trees, and got a close look at it, only to  have it fly out and hit me on the side of the head.  I controlled my sudden impulse to run, screaming, and instead calmly walked to Rich and asked him to check my hair (no bugs).

After that, I stayed on the walking trail.

Aren’t park benches inviting?

It was a lovely walk and such a treat with Sarah.  When we put her down, she didn’t run away, she didn’t throw herself into the lake, no…she simply stayed put with mama, or practiced stepping up and down off the paved trail.  The difference between the older brothers and herself never ceases to surprise me. 

More Information:

World-renowned Mount Trashmore Park is 165 acres, 60 feet high, over 800 feet long, and was created by compacting layers of solid waste and clean soil. Recognized for its environmental feat, the park features the Water Wise demonstration garden that boasts xeriscaping where you can learn how to create a beautiful garden with minimal water requirements.

Park is open from 7:30 a.m. until posted closing time. Facilities include picnic shelters, playground areas, volleyball courts, parking, vending machines and restrooms, plus an extensive street course Skate Park which includes a seven-foot deep bowl and a massive 13.5 ft tall vert ramp.

The park also has a walking trail that measures approximately 1.45 miles. Trail maps are available at Park Office.

No private boats are allowed on this lake, but fishing is allowed.

from the Virginia is for Lovers website

(This is just a very long, rambling post about our four day experience with no electricity.  I just want to try to remember some things for myself and I love to type here, so…….)

Things are so crazy around here!  We lost power on Sunday morning because of hurricane Irene.  We spent the day watching the storm out the windows…rain, rain, rain, and wind.  Thankfully, we only had one tree-friend fall down, by the chicken coop.  Also, a few branches broke off the tree at the end of our driveway.  We lit candles that night and the children all slept in the livingroom.

Rich left for work on Monday, bright and early.  He is an executive at an insurance company so he was very involved throughout the whole storm and even now, on calls and things, to try to keep the company doing all it could/can do for the insured.  I was home with the children and we went to the Crackerbarrel for breakfast that morning.  We had a good time at breakfast and then at the Old Sturbridge village, for a few hours.  When we came home the power was still not on. Rich came home Monday evening and we all went to the Marriott for a chance at some hot showers.  I packed up the children and we drove separate vehicles.  We had two rooms side by side at the hotel.  The first thing we did was go check out the pool, all nine of us.  You have to imagine it, it’s Rich and myself, plus the seven children..there is movement, talking, laughing, and monkey-business going on at all times.  Getting on and off an elevator involves many decisions:  Who gets to push the button?  Is this the elevator we want to use to get to the pool?  Why did Seth get to push floor 16 when we wanted floor 22?  And so on.  We looked at the pool and then went back to the elevator.  There was a nice decorative display of some large bellied pots with small mouths.  While we stood, waiting for the doors to open, Ethan (during all the other chaos around us) got his finger stuck tight in a decorative pot.  None of us could believe it.  I said, “Ethan better just pull his finger out as hard has he can right now!!!!” and thankfully, he did, and turned around red in the faced, shaking his head, and laughing.  We got in the elevator as he said, “Good grief, I am never going to forget that!”  As a mom, I have learned that it is best to just pull fingers straight out of the objects they are stuck in, to get it over with quickly.  It may hurt a bit but it will teach the child not to do it again. 

The kids went back to swim, Rich and I watched them.  They had about 45 minutes of fun before we had to leave.  Then, Rich went back to work until 9:15 that night.  The poor man is working lots of overtime, like so many other people are after this weather.  We stayed in the room and ordered room service.  The children and I sat around the rooms eating grilled cheese, fries, mac and cheese, and chocolate milk in scary glass goblets.  (amazingly, no spills!!)  Meanwhile, you know how busy and active toddlers are, there was no rest until they finally fell asleep in their pack n plays that night.  And then darling Sarah talked in her sleep half the night……little sleep for mama.

Next morning, TUESDAY, (YESTERDAY), Rich left for work and I had the job of packing us all up, taking the children to breakfast, and checking out of the hotel.  The older children are such helps, and so wonderful.  The hotel restaurant lady said she was honored to have us there eating and that the family was getting lots of compliments.  I had a headache from it all, but was proud of us for maintaining our manners.  But as you all know, it is constant work, my friends, constant…..keeping kids safe, clean, loved, cared for, needs met, happy, etc…..all on my mind (constantly).

We left the hotel parking garage, and I drove us home.  I left the kids at home and promptly took Caleb to a doctor’s appointment.  He had to get a shot so he could start school. Caleb was so happy to have his shot over and then we went to the shoe store but didn’t get any shoes.  We went home.

Next, I had to take Jacob to the library so he could type up his summer book report, since it had to be done online and we had no internet.  I had to just leave him there at the library to fend for himself.  

When I got home, I made myself go outside for some sun.  I took Sarah with  me.  We went to feed the chickens and that was when our rooster attacked me and nailed me in the foot, by my ankle, with his talons.  He punctured my foot by my ankle, very hard, and when I stepped down, blood ran down into my sandal.  I was so upset.  Sarah was with me, even, in my arms.  Thankfully, the rooster ran off, and I was able to sit down and call the children to help me, and they did.  Ethan, Grace, and Caleb.  I limped my way to the house.  Roosters are aggressive and we are getting rid of ours.  I will never keep roosters here again around children.  I can’t say enough about this.  Seth says to me, with wide eyes, “George attackle you, mom?  You need a hug?”  and then he hugs me!  Even at this moment, my foot is very swollen and very sore. 

I got settled on the couch, wrapped up in blankets, shivering, with my leg up.  Ethan was so good.  He was working on his book report and got right up without me asking him to, to take the children downstairs so I could rest.  As soon as I closed my eyes, Jacob called me to go get him from the library.  At that point I really didn’t think I could even drive because I had injured my “driving foot”.  I tried calling my neighbors using my cell phone but of course they could not get my call with the phone lines down.  So I got up, put my shoes on, and went to get him. 

As soon as I came home with Jacob (who did a great job on his report), I had to take Caleb back to school, so he could meet his teacher.  School was supposed to start TODAY (WEDNESDAY) but we found out that it was canceled until tomorrow.  I limped around the school with my aching foot, and met Caleb’s teacher..she was nice, an older lady with grandchildren, and very experienced.  I was happy and Caleb absolutely loved seeing the school bus.

When I got home, I was pretty tired out.  But, after a while I got up so I could get more stuff out of our rotting and stinking refrigerator.  Jacob walked down to see the neighbors and to buy some cucumbers from his veggie stand, and he took Seth with him.  AND WHILE THEY WERE GONE THE POWER CAME BACK ON.  I was so happy!  I cleaned out that fridge while listening to music and Rich came home while I was doing it.  Unfortunately, I had to get down on the floor to scrub and wash the bottom, and when I did, I pulled something in the already sore and injured part of my foot.  The pain was bad, and it was quite disappointing.  I had to stay on the couch for the rest of the night.  Rich had me soak it in salted water and he rebandaged it with neosporin and bandaids.  He had to give the little ones their baths and put everyone to bed.  But, he also fixed my stove (I haven’t had an oven in almost 2 months!).  We were so happy to have power but I was somewhat DEPRESSED by my own negativity (and I’m not about to beat myself up for it, any woman who has a large family and a power outage with no running water or way to cook or do laundry has my full sympathy!) because I was overwhelmed.

So TODAY, I’ve been forcing myself to rest as much as possible, eat, and enjoy the children.  Slowly, I feel myself coming back.  Laying on the couch with little boys in my lap and in my arms is SUCH therapy for me.  Watching Sarah play and having her come over to me to touch me, makes me melt and cry and hold her tiny happy self to me.. and  I can feel her peace soaking into my body.  Just like the rays of the sun also soak into me, and warm me, relaxing me.  Jacob said, “And we don’t even have cake to cheer you up!” as I laughed, Caleb said, “Dad and Jacob need to go buy you a cake!”  I wonder, what made them think CAKE?  Are we always happy when we eat cake?  Quite likely.

Another example of craziness:  I had to call the orthodontist to cancel Jacob’s appointment tomorrow b/c it was the first day of school.  We’ve been preparing today, getting the backpacks lined up, planning lunches, saying goodbye to hanging out together during this summer vacation and then I get about 5 emails all at once telling us that school is canceled until TUESDAY NEXT WEEK!!!  After I told the kids, I called and asked for Jacob’s appointment back!  LOL

Also, a couple of the children had a touch of the stomach bug, too! 

So, whatever.  That’s just a small part of the story of the last 4 days.  I didn’t handle it with complete grace,  (it’s my time of the month, too) but God did give us many many happy moments.  I know there are some families that have things MUCH MUCH WORSE and I hate even thinking about that.  I hope and pray that everyone effected by the hurricane is encouraged that things will get better eventually.  I hope that friends and family members will reach out to those in need and let them know they are loved and that you care, and that you will help them.  We just need to really encourage each other!  If your friend is feeling down and you think she’s feeling sorry for herself, who cares?  Let her wallow around in her pity party for a little bit, you know she’s not always like that!  She’ll come back again, I promise, and your job is to love her to pieces in the meantime.  She’s just tired out and HUMAN.  I’m so thankful for all my friends who are that way with me! 

One unexpected delight during the last few days, has been in watching Ethan and David play together.  They got it into their heads that they had to do everything they wanted to do before summer was over.  They’ve explored new parts of the woods, fished and swam in the ponds, smashed rocks with hammers, started a tree fort, and who knows what else.  They’ve gotten to be good pals.

We had lots of pond water to flush the toilets during the power outage.

Our neighbor who had a generator took a few bags of our frozen foods, so we could save it.

Jacob said, the morning after the hurricane, “It’s like the whole state of Connecticut has been washed clean!”  He was right, everything was bright and scrubbed and the sky was so blue.

I’ve been thinking that it is a good idea to be prepared for things.  If we have plans in place for these types of situations, then it won’t seem like such a mountain to climb.  A wise homemaker would do that.  I regret that I was not very prepared.   I didn’t buy the water or the hurricane lamps.   But, I will be putting plans together just in case something like this happens again. 

“All I want is a dress with puffed sleeves.”   Anne of Green Gables

Sarah Joy

In my humble opinion, the best time to take a one year old to the beach is at the end of the day.  The burning sun is down, the sand is cool, and the hundreds of sun bathers have gone on home. 

Rich and I had such fun watching our doll baby walk around in her beautiful dress and tiny pink shoes.

“Please just let me down!!!!”  ~Sarah

I stood at the edge of the ocean with her and the waves came in, got our feet wet, and then when the water went  rushing back into the ocean Sarah would lose her balance and tip backwards every time….I held her little hand to keep her up.

Sarah had a great time scratching up tiny clumps of wet sand to give to mama.

 Rich took these with his phone.

She was yelling at those big white birds!  (seagulls)

Dear Dawn,

Thank you so much for the pretty dress you made for our sweet girl.  Rich specifically wanted me to tell you that he loves it, and he kept saying all day long that Sarah looked so pretty in it.  You know how I like the Eloise Wilkin illustrations…well, I think Sarah looks like a picture right out of her books in this dress.  

Love, Shan

This was the view out of my window in the plane as we descended into Virginia on Friday evening.  Isn’t it beautiful?  The sun was shining through the clouds, all golden on the water……….took my breath away.

On Saturday morning, Rich and I (and Sarah) ate a good breakfast and then headed to a place that I had picked out to visit;  The Norfolk Botanical Gardens. It proved to be food for the soul with 155 acres of lovely flowers, trees, water, pretty butterflies, and walking trails. 

I loved the rose gardens.  We began there early enough that the dew was still on the flowers.  It always bewilders me to smell a scentless rose, so I spent some happy moments searching and smelling until I found the ones that had that beautiful rose perfume that I love so much. 

It cost us 18 dollars to enter the gardens and after we wandered around the rose beds, we went on the free tram tour.  We like taking guided tours because you tend to learn more information that way.  The tour guide talked about the history of the gardens and pointed out the different trees, sculptures, themed gardens, and flowers.

After the tour ended, we stayed on one more time so we could be dropped off at the butterfly garden.  Rich specifically wanted to go there so that he could show Sarah the butterflies.  I thought that was so sweet of him.

Anyway, on our second tram ride we happened to meet an older couple (the lady was very friendly and started a conversation with us) and we were surprise to realize that they knew exactly where we lived, had lived in our area in the past, and had relatives in our hometown. 

The eastern swallowtail caterpillar looks similar to the monarch caterpillar, but while the monarch eats milkweed, the swallowtail prefers DILL WEED.  I found that very fascinating, and I hope to grow a big patch of dill next year to see what happens. 

After showing Sarah the butterflies, (by the way, the lady at the butterfly place was kind and informative), we decided to walk back and explore a nature trail through the woods.  Being a nature-lover, I really wanted to see some of Virginia’s natural beauty.

(We took a picture with the self-timer.)

I thought these benches were creative—the gardeners used tree stumps for the base.  I guess these benches aren’t going anywhere!  I would like to do the same here on our property at home now.

The night before we left, Sarah was running around on our paved driveway, tripped, and fell right on her little nose.  It was bruised bad enough that we wondered if it was broken and had a big scab for days, poor pretty baby.  It’s all better today, thankfully.

It was about 11:30 in the morning when the sun started burning hot.  We left about 12:30 or so.  We were thankful that we had gotten there early (about 9:45) so we could enjoy the gardens before it was too warm.  Sarah was very patient and appreciated the times we got her out of the stroller, so she could explore, too.

It’s amazing all the things you can see if you just stand still and observe.  Rich and I stopped to look at some big horrid spiders when he noticed this tiny green tree frog.

It sat all bundled up, saying with it’s eyes, “Please. Don’t eat me.”  I think he was talking to the spiders.

We ended our visit back where we started, in the roses.

Visiting the beautiful gardens with my husband and baby was one of the highlights of our little vacation. 

Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

A change of seasons is in the air here in New England.  The mornings are chilly, the air is clear.  Our ponds are sending up wisps of fog each morning.  Although the leaves on the trees are still green, I can feel that fall is coming quickly.  And with it, school time.  The children are very excited to attend our local schools this year, as official homeschooling (which will remain a wonderful memory) has come to an end, here at our place.  Another change.

This morning at 9, Rich’s mom and I are going with Davy to a school orientation, to visit the unfamiliar elementary school. 

After a long weekend in Virginia Beach, I got up early this morning to wave my husband away, down the road.  His is off to work, and then a business trip.   He’ll be back on Thursday night.  My heart hurts a little this morning, with missing him already.

I’m looking forward to things settling down around here in the next month, Lord willing.

As we deal with such changes, I remind myself to enjoy and thank God for the moments.  Breathe the air, smile the smiles, hug the hugs, and walk the walks, with the ones I love best, as I try to keep my heart open and saying YES to the Lord and His will for me and my family.

I hope to post the pictures of our trip to Virginia, tomorrow.  Have a blessed day, my friends!

~Shanda

Once upon a pretty time, a young couple fell in love.  It was an exciting time, youth blossoming into adulthood. 

Plans made for a future.

Young hopes.

Young dreams.

Falling in love with a tall, handsome, self assured blond.

As he fell in love with “a beautiful long haired girl.”

Wanting to be together all the time, for life.

Realizing that we truly, without a doubt, belonged to each other.

It’s 18 years later since the days we fell in love.

We get caught up in every day living and almost forget our story.

Recently, Rich and I went on a trip down memory lane, talking about how we first met, what we were thinking, how we felt.  And as we talked, those early exciting feelings came flooding back.

The story of us.

Rich’s mom is coming out to our place tonight.  She is watching the children so that we can go away for a long weekend.

Rich told me last night where we were going.

Virginia Beach.

We went to Virginia Beach on our honeymoon.

And that’s why he wants to go back.