at the present time

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Shanda

“forever is composed of nows.” Emily Dickenson

Now: recovering from a mild concussion, “pink shorts/don’t care”, having fun with a neighbor-friend (who arrived wearing his shirt), fried chicken party from mom in the kitchen, swimming in the pond, lacrosse in the yard.

Now: another summertime for romance

Now: with a little adoring sister who loves her, too.

Now: freedom to soar, to fly, to play

to laugh.

Now, with a faithful furry friend or two.

Now: time for graduation parties, a dear cousin, a loving family, and yummy food.

Now, sisters.

Now: contemplating a secret recipe, sleuthing, enjoying.

Now: for oops and for trying your best to recover what you lost.

Now: innocent childhood, cousins, holding hands, exploring magical places.

Now is the time for youth, skipping stones, bare feet, a mama who adores you.

Now: a tire swing hung from an old apple tree, and glow stick bracelets, and soft green grass.

Now: a trip back home to where your Dad grew up, climbing trees, flowers in the garden.

Now: for memories, for listening, for fathers and daughters.

Now; driving four hours to get back in time to watch your boy play baseball.

Now; cheerful friends, watching the boys play, music, blazing sunshine.

Now time to go home and fall into bed with that delicious “by God’s grace I did it all” feeling, and “it was very good”.

*****

And now it’s time for me to do lots of laundry in a ponytail, shorts and bare feet, with a dear son at home, thinking of the children at school taking finals, planning a graduation party, looking forward and not backward, reading and praying, talking to Jesus, a song or two, thankful always, with love all around. . . . . . .

Philippians 3:13 “… I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on. . .”

Posted on June 9, 2017 by Shanda

I slept so good last night, finally, after a week of having the world’s worst cold ever. I made it through the day yesterday with no nap (feeling better!), plus five miles of walking outside in the fresh air, two baseball games at the end of the day, trip to town for errands, weeding in the garden, cough medicine before bed, yes indeedy it all made for a wonderful night’s sleep. I woke up with my face glued to the pillow I had slept so heavily. It’s 8:30 and I still feel sleepy. Delicious..

Kids are all in school, their last day is the 20th.

There is so much going on in my life. So I haven’t been able to blog as much this week because I’m very distracted. However, I did take some photos here and there throughout the week so I thought I would make myself sit still on the couch and post them this morning. They are mostly nature photos. The sun has been shining bright and we have two lilac bushes in bloom attracting the most beautiful little creatures. . . . . . .

So I sit in front of the flowers in a lawn chair with my camera and it’s just the nicest time in the sunshine and perfume of the lilacs.

I love the tips of it’s antennae.

wildflower I smiled to see

the purple ones smell like grape koolaid. I’ve picked them and put them in the house for the most lovely of smells. . . ..natural air freshener at it’s best.

The peach ones smell good, too. Thanks to mom for sharing her irises with me.

Getting off the bus one day.

I sit on the bench on the side porch with a book and my camera next to me, ready to shoot anything interesting that comes along.

Ugh…gypsy moth caterpillars are everywhere.

This is a pretty little bird, my flash went off and the picture came out nice. I like it’s eye and beak.

A community of mourning doves at the end of the day…they were roosting together and cooing.

see the green grasshopper on the pansy?

It was raining outside, I was in the house on the phone with Tara, and took the photo through a window and porch railings. Not bad!!! I love these birds (Northern Flicker). They have stripes, polka dots, red, yellow. . .so pretty! They eat ants and beetles and have been visiting our front yard to find food.

so lovely (see the blue on it’s wing) –such beauty in a small bit of nature. . . .it’s wings flutter so quickly at times it’s hard to see the details, which is a nice benefit of photography!

Sarah got new clothes, she picked them out of the miniboden catalogue. I love their clothes and Sarah likes wild cats, reading about them, playing with her toy cheetahs and lions, so when she saw this shirt she just had to have it. So this is what she wore to school yesterday, and even though she’s not partial to a top knot, I fixed her hair in one. Adorable. She didn’t know kitty was coming . . . and then was so sweetly happy to hug him.

Back of the shirt. cute, right?

HUMMINGBIRD MOTH, one of my favorite visitors!! They flap their wings so fast they are a blur.

I threw something out on the porch at 8pm the other night and was surprised to see one “working overtime” in the dusky evening shadows flying around, dipping into lilac blossoms.

The bumblebees were most amusing…there were so many the became territorial. Flying, hovering, making contact with each other in the air, buzzing around. Pollen looked like gold dust. Wings as purple as the flowers.

It was quite a challenge to be fast enough to focus my camera on a hovering bumblebee.

last but not least…..I was at the edge of the woods at the end of the lawn and saw a chipmunk.

It was busy eating a dragonfly!!

****

As I was typing the last sentences, and before I had time to edit, the school nurse called because Dave had hit his head in gym class. He hit heads with a classmate, causing the classmates glasses to cut the classmate (he feels so sorry for that) and then fell on the floor hitting his head a second time. So he has a headache and has to rest in a quiet room today. . . . . . .

I just hopped online to edit and publish again. Happy Friday!

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what the boys are up to

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Shanda

Actually only four of the boys were photographed on this day (last weekend). . . .this one is David. 14 years old. Eighth grade.

He does flips all the time–front ones and back ones. Last Friday his class went on a special outing to an amusement park for the day and they had freedom to wander around, go on all the rides, and in David’s case, attract girls by doing flips. He was approached and asked for his Snapchat (nonexistent) and instagram (currently defunct) by the girls. He was proud to tell me the story, however.

David is on the Juniors baseball team and has the highest batting average of the kids there. He is known for his prowess in stealing bases.

David watches The Flash every day, he has seen each episode more than once (or even twice?). I complain but secretly credit the show for his relentless need for speed. They sometimes call him Flash during baseball games and practices.

He will enter High School in the fall. Sometimes he jumps off the upstairs landing on to the couch below…..he’s been wanting to do that since he was 4. He likes music, playing the piano, and playing video games with his big brother Jacob. He is a night owl and typically on a Saturday morning we will forget he’s even home because he sleeps in so long. He is a natural born pessimist and can find something negative about any situation which at this point only makes us laugh as we try to help him see the better part of things. He’s also possessive about his stuff or things he believes belong mainly to him. He only lets his dad hug him because I am “a woman.”

He was straining so hard to flex every muscle he possibly could.

Seth is the youngest boy and still a mama’s boy. He loves it when I’m right by the fence keeping my eyes on him and only him during baseball games. Part of this is because he knows sooner or later I will be gone……over at the other field to give his brother a turn, too. Seth is almost done with 2nd grade and does really well in Math. Reading and writing, not so much, although I have noticed that his actual penmanship is improving. He has reading homework every night so these days I get the bedtime story. He reads to me about presidents, owls, money, sharks, or volcanos. RARELY does he chose a story, it’s usually a educational book about different topics.

He is very light hearted and energetic. I heard his coach reprimand him several times last night for his energy and impatience and goofiness during practice. He is a well rounded athlete and does very well in each sport he joins.

He is easily influenced. If he watches Garfield (one of his favorite shows and book) he has to eat pizza. If he watches a baseball movie, he doesn’t last the first 10 minutes before he’s outside with a ball and glove. As soon as his brothers took their shirts off (out of vanity), his came off as well (out of imitation).

Caleb read the most books in his class this year. He thought he would win a kindle and spent the entire year working toward his goal. He wanted that kindle so much. Imagine his dismay at the final awards assembly and only ONE kindle was given out, and by a raffle no less. The child who won it had only read 2 books all year.

Rich and I bought him a kindle.

Caleb loves burying himself in his pillows and covers when he sleeps and always appears in the morning with amazing bed-head. He’s 11 so I have to remind him to change his clothes—he can’t be bothered—he has stuff to do. Mainly sports—football being his absolute favorite. Yesterday Seth had practice at 6 and Caleb had practice at 7 so with his extra hour he played a pick up game of football with 7 other boys. I like to walk around the park while I wait and I smile as I watch Caleb playing with his friends. He is a good friend.

Caleb can’t forget about things. He worries. For example, if he has a game in two days and the extended forecast is rain—he will constantly check the weather, ask me about the weather, ask his Dad about the weather, wondering if it really will rain. It’s a sign that he cares deeply about his likes and dislikes. He’s sensitive and wants his loved ones to have everything they want. When I make dinner he will always say he loves it, unfortunately I don’t ever know if he is sparing my feelings or telling the truth. He keeps his Christmas toys and legos pristine because he wants us to know he liked them and so we won’t be sad to have them get lost or broken. If his Dad wants to go to Pinkberry and I say “no” Caleb’s heart hurts for his Dad and he feels so sorry for him. Poor Dad. He wanted pink berry and mom said no. And then I feel like a jerk (in this case he only thinks of one person’s feelings–his dad’s).

The other day I was standing at the couch folding clothes when Caleb walked by and remarked, “I’m almost as tall as you are Mom.”

Caleb is in the band and it makes my heart so happy to watch him count the beats. He’s a percussionist.

Ethan is home for the summer and just got his first paycheck yesterday. As I was in a gleeful mood, I got out his baby book and glued it in with much drama. (after it was electronically cashed, of course). I made sure not to put glue on the half that had his signature so that by lifting the end we will always be able to see his name there.

He’s working at the same company as his dad and they ride to work together. (I refrained from adding five exclamation points after that sentence, it just makes me so happy.)

Rich wakes Jacob and Ethan up on M, W, and F mornings so they can go work out together. Yesterday he fell down half the stairs because Seth had left his shoe on the step. He accomplished his goal (of waking Jacob) and thankfully didn’t hurt himself. The three of them have such a good time pushing each other in their workouts and it has really paid off. They are all very buff.

Ethan is staying in shape for college wrestling, Jacob is getting in shape for college football and wrestling. By the way, Jacob isn’t in any of these photos because he wasn’t home at the time. So sad.

Jacob and Ethan are both going to the same college in the fall and will be roommates.

Ethan is at his girlfriend Tessa’s house every chance he gets. He is busy working during the week and doesn’t get home until around 5:30 or 6pm. He is the most quiet of all the boys. He knows what matters, he knows sincerity and good character is important.

All three of the older boys are always making pots of pasta. They get hungry and eat the dinners I make each evening and then make more food around 8pm. The pantry is always stocked with boxes and bags of pasta and jars of sauce.

Showing off.

And being cute.

Rich and I do the best we can with these boys. We make a good team. He tends to focus on their character and goals and I tend to focus on their health, nutrition, and general wellness. I also try to find out all the information I can about their private lives, too. LOL (like, does anyone have a girlfriend that I don’t know about). Caleb told me a girl asked him out yesterday but he said no. Um, you’re only 11.

They make me happy every single day because they end up surprising me to laughter. You can’t be bored as a mom of five sons.

Eventually a normal game of catch wasn’t good enough….we had to throw gloves and make up different ways to catch and throw the ball.

And then they got lost in the woods for a while. After a while, from our chairs on the porch, Rich and I saw them appear again. We watched them walking together and felt so proud of these boys of ours.

We are surrounded by brothers.

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birthday girl

Posted on May 31, 2017 by Shanda

Good morning, how’s this picture of mud for an opening to a blog post? The other day I was outside with my camera and one of the things I noticed that day was little animal prints in the mud by the stream.

The mosquitoes are so bad right now, it’s almost enough to make me stay indoors.

ALMOST.

Actually, I haven’t been outside much lately . . . .so what is keeping me indoors? and on the couch? Cold clammy weather and the world’s worst cold.

This big bug has almost human qualities, doesn’t it? sneaky, large nose, suspicious expression. . . . . .

The neighbor’s cat is frequently seen at our place. If I try to say hello he squats down in fear and then bounds away as fast as his four feet can take him.

Sometimes my cats communicate with it in melodious yowls.

A boy and his dog.

(Parker is sleeping in the same spot as I type, but his boy is at school).

From my sick spot on the couch, nature came to me! I looked out the window in time to see cedar waxwings land in the top of our tree by the garden. My Aunt Colleen and my mom both said they’ve been seeing flocks of them, too. Such beautiful birds.

CSC_1253

I kept hearing a strange bird call . . . .over and over. . . so (even though I’m sure it wasn’t calling ME!) t simply had to look for it and discovered a new sighting (for me) of a Great Crested Flycatcher.

hummingbirds are constant visitors to our feeder (thanks to son David for filling it up the other day)

I bought Sarah’s presents yesterday while she was at school. Michael and Jacob came with me. We went to Target, Costco, and Barnes and Noble. If you visit my instagram account you have seen the picture I posted of Sarah’s birthday requests, written in purple ink on a sheet of paper that I found in an empty room. She didn’t hand me the list, she didn’t tell me she was making one, I just happened to find it on the floor and then, last night and rather too late, another copy by my bed. Rarely do things like this get by my all seeing eyes, so I was especially amused and set to work, determined to get everything on the list, which was quite realistic and humble; a very basic birthday wish list.

Gone are the days (at least for now?) of siblings crowded all around the birthday child. . . .only Seth was interested in Sarah’s presents. They make a cute brother and sister pair when they aren’t bickering.

Sarah had a VERY very busy day yesterday. . .she went to the zoo all day long with her class. Despite being tired she was happy and pleasant for family time and birthday celebrations here at home.

However, I did have to wake her up from a very deep sleep this morning in order for her to get ready for school. Dear girlie. She was so excited for her birthday.

Barnes and Noble does free gift wrapping and the paper was so cute. . .lots of trees and open books and little creatures reading, and a shiny gold sticker on top.

I found Sarah the wolf books she wanted.

AND a book of her favorite Henry and Mudge stories.

She is a fantastic reader.

Meanwhile Seth was busy putting flour in a balloon to make a homemade stress ball. He was tapping the flour down the funnel with a wooden skewer.

Her face when she saw the My Little Pony play set.

She also got her plastic animals (a bear, a wolf, and a fox) and a “cat and jack” bathing suit. The bathing suit wasn’t on the list.

She also received a birthday card from Uncle Dave and Aunt Maria, and one from Grandma and Grandpa. She gets so excited to have money. 😉

The ponies have been a big hit. There are enough of them for her to be creative and entertained by very absorbing make believe adventures. The TV remote is on the floor because naturally she had to watch an episode of My Little Pony, too.

The boys blew up balloons for her and we’ve been having fun playing “volleyball” together.

When she’s playing with her ponies she doesn’t notice anything else happening around her.

Thanks to Michael and Jacob’s suggestion for dinner, I made a big pot of Shepherd’s pie, corn, and salad.

We had our whole family except Grace but with Michael and Zach. (Grace was at school for a Variety Show and missed her sister’s birthday entirely)

Everyone loved dinner and then it was time for cake!

Nice big brother lit the candles after we all had to search for something to light them with because David had left the whole box of matches outside and they were rained on.

It was a huge Costco cake, vanilla.

With chaos and noise all around her (7 boys! crazy boys!) she silently sat with her eyes sparkling, patiently waiting for us to sing.

My favorite photo of the day. 🙂

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

love has the run of the house

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Shanda

God is love.
When we take up permanent residence in a life of love,
we live in God and God lives in us.
This way, love has the run of the house,
becomes at home and mature in us,
so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day–
our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s.
There is no room in love for fear.
Well-formed love banishes fear.
Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—
fear of death, fear of judgement—
is one not yet fully formed in love.

We, though, are going to love—love and be loved.
first we were loved, now we love.

He loved us first.

1 John 4

***

Happy Birthday to Sarah Joy.

She has changed so much since she was born. . . . she used to cry almost every time we had to separate, even when her Dad held her, if she wanted mama she cried.

I wasn’t sure how she would adjust to school. She is in first grade now and I truly believe that going to school is what finally gave her confidence that she can do things apart from her safe person (me). In fact, I’m not her safe person anymore. She’s safe on her own, in a circle of friends, beloved teachers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, siblings and both parents. In all this love there is no fear.

Seven years old today. Bright, cheerful, happy, and a lover of animals, bike riding, and reading. It’s fun to watch her grow. We learn so much from our children, don’t we?

***

“I’m thanking God, who makes things right.
I’m singing the fame of heaven-high God.” Psalm 7

It’s not an easy life, but it’s made sweeter and better with God in our hearts and the ones He blesses us with along the way. . . .family first, and then friends, like you.

Thankfulness & love overflows.

Happy Tuesday!
You are loved.

{this moment}

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Shanda

{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.

(yesterday)

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Shanda

“I’m almost a pie,” said the rhubarb.

Posted on May 23, 2017 by Shanda

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.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb pie

1 egg
1 cup of sugar
2 Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups sliced rhubarb
1 pint strawberries, halved
1 unbaked pastry shell

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:

West With the Night, by Beryl Markham

weekend report

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Shanda

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”.

KYMZ7519

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.

Thus concludes the weekend report.

ct shore beach day with my older kids

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Shanda

It was one and a half hour drive. We stopped at Target and Dunkin’ donuts on the way and brought along a cooler of drinks and snacks. We were at the beach for five hours.

I realized why floppy straw hats are so necessary. I hid under mine all day. You can bend the sides or front down and you’re in your own little world. You can read, look at the mesmerizing waves, or eavesdrop on the conversations happening around you.

Now THIS is a beach read.

He’s going to the prom tonight with a sunburn.

Lobsters and fried seafood platter, milk shake and dr. pepper. Oh my word we made a happy mess.

We also stopped at our favorite “after the beach” bookstore and the boys had coffee while Grace agonized between two poetry books. . . . . . . .

I chose two memoirs, a cookbook for my mom, and a book for Seth and Larissa’s baby.

My grown up kids took turns playing songs for us to listen to on their phones all the way home.

I thought over and over to myself yesterday, “I have grown up kids and I still look fabulous.” (I mean, I was in my swimsuit for the first time in a year and it was the natural time to evaluate).