half an hour

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Shanda

On these small cares of daughter, wife, or friend,
The almost sacred joy of home depend. Hannah More

Grace and I were folding the latest load of laundry when I happened to see the boys playing basketball together through the window….made me smile….so I grabbed the camera and wandered around with it for half an hour.

Ethan leaves to go back to college tomorrow.

Seth’s joy as he plays with Ethan touches my heart.

Meanwhile, in the front yard, Sarah was making soup with pond water and various bits of grass and sticks.

I heard her say, “Thank you tree, for the pine needles,” quite sweetly.

When she got back to her pot, Parker the dog was carefully pulling sticks from the soup which she thought was very amusing as she was not able to get anyone else to try the soup.

Grace and David joined the game.

The chair under the basketball hoop was the “penalty box”. They used it, too.

Caleb was sitting in it for something he did that the rest of the kids agreed was a penalty.

Back inside….cooking shows were playing quietly on the television.

While Rich listened to loudly blaring 1970’s country music while fixing the upstairs toilet.

“Wait, take another picture!” he requested.

Making me laugh.

The only place the cat can eat his canned food without the dog stealing it.

“It’s kinda busy around here this morning, I think I’ll nap with my eyes open.”

thrifting finds

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Shanda

This picture doesn’t go with the rest of the post but I wanted to slip it in. I am enjoying the birds every day, and yes we had snow on April fool’s day. It’s all gone now.

*****

I drove to Vermont on Friday to get Ethan from college. He is home for the week. You may have seen the photo I put on instagram of all seven of the children. I’m glad the older ones are starting to do their own things but there is nothing like those moments when all the family is together again. It’s been even busier than ever at my house, hence not as much time to be on the computer.

This morning after getting the kids off to school and cleaning up spilled evaporated milk from all over the fridge, I had to go to the Post Office. I asked Ethan if he would like to go along with me. He insisted on waking up Jake and the three of us went.

17545325_10154952371166343_1996168428623030299_o

We went to the coffee shop first and I read them trivial pursuit questions while we enjoyed lattes and Jacob had a sandwich. It brought back good memories of homeschooling. I could sense myself slipping into that “mama teacher” feeling.

17834333_10154952371536343_749652197282972380_o

We walked to the Thrift store to see if I could find any treasures. The boys didn’t just walk, they jumped up on bridges and things……

17807544_10154952372156343_4266803479968924709_o

They can finally do what they wanted to do when they were five years old *but Mom would stop them so they didn’t kill themselves*. I kept having flashbacks. (By the way, Jacob is currently 20 and Ethan is 19).

BACK HOME after thrifting and mailing books out to my friends…..

…..and here are some photos I took of *some* of my thrifting finds from today. I was most excited about the framed needlework that I found, which I promptly added to my collection (after hunting house and garage for a nail.) I used a rock as a hammer.

The collection is growing slow because I am very particular. Not only does it have to look right, the price also needs to be right.

If you are observant, you can see the word “mom” written in red by my bedroom door. What you can’t see is the “X” next to it. When I asked little Seth why he wrote “X mom” by my door he said, “Because you weren’t in your room.” Made sense to me! I can’t tell you how many smiles I have gotten out of that simple red sharpie “X mom” scribble by Seth since he wrote it a few years ago.

Ceramic Bunnies!!! They say 1983 on the bottom and the woman’s name, Eve, who painted them. The lady at the thrift store said ceramics were a trend during that time period and there used to be a ceramics place in town. Aren’t they so cute and perfect for this time of year?

I didn’t even look in the book when I chose it, I just saw the words, “Holly Hobbie” and knew it was for me and added it to the books I already had in my hands…….here is a look inside at some of the illustrations;

I love them all so much. Holly Hobbie has been a favorite my entire life. This book was published when I was a year old. And I also love nursery rhymes. It will be fun to read this book out loud to Sarah and hopefully even the boys might listen and enjoy.

Lastly, a couple baseball books for Seth. I also bought two books for myself. The bunnies, the needlework, and the books cost me 3 dollars.

I bought potted hyacinths at Trader Joes last week and they bloomed. They smell of springtime.

Still watching the geranium buds…..

Kitchen window display of things that make me happy.

“I don’t really collect, I’m attracted to certain things, I get them, and they accumulate.” ~Natalie Gibson

I just cried a little

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Shanda

17626292_10154933480691343_2659208735809490452_n

Brother Dave sent me this text last night: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ !!!

We texted back and forth, playing “wheel of fortune” style but with only one letter guesses like every hour or so and none from 9pm-7am. He was very strict. If I tried to sneak in extra guesses I got a big huge red “X” back.

After all those hours, I finally ended up with this: happy _a_ _ !!! and then while I was down taking care of the chickens waiting for the time I could guess again, the answer popped right into my head.

So then the mail came and there was a package. I ran to the house, opened it up and saw a wrapped present, which revealed neatly folded yards of fabric: one of cherries and one of cats. Two things I ADORE.

This is from my brother. He’s turning 40 in a month. What 40 year old motorcycle riding manly man with a big beard and tattoos does this??? My brother that’s who.

He had driven our mom to the fabric store over the weekend and as she browsed, he selected and bought the fabric for me, took it back home with him, wrapped it in pretty paper, and mailed it.

I’m crying over the thoughtfulness and text him a big thank you.

He writes me back, “It’s the little things that mean the most.”

everything is this, now

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Shanda

I cannot tell you how happy I am

to see the sunshine this morning!

Dishwasher’s a hummin’, the dog’s a snoring’~

it’s going to be a nice day, I can tell already.

This picture is from a few days ago when it was raining. We had a squirrel come to ~~visit~~ stuff his little cheeks full of sunflower seeds.

I never realized how brown their heads are. I though they were all over gray.

A delegation of mourning doves.

“Hour one”

I took a few hours to admire our sleeping buddies yesterday. They were on this chair together for most of the day.

“hour two”

“hour three”

“hour four”

David arrived home from school.

“Dave, you’re wearing all black today”

“Yeah, but I wore my blue hoodie to school instead of this black one because I didn’t want them to send me to guidance thinking I was depressed.”

This boy thinks of everything.

And he made the middle school baseball team! We are all so proud of him and can’t wait to see him play.

Parker the Dog is flat on the couch snoring as I type–tired from the morning. He helps get the kids off to school, you know, by barking when the bus comes and stealing their breakfast bagels.

This morning’s gently clouded striped sky.

This morning I attempted to scrub a marker drawing off Seth’s arm, “It’s not coming off,” I muttered, “Put it under the water,” he tried. No such luck, but it is lighter at least. We stood in front of the mirror and I styled his hair with rosemary gel as he squirmed and groaned. He’s wearing his baseball shirt; ’tis the season. And this is truly his technique; he either misses entirely or it’s a good big hit. “Don’t over swing, Seth!” is the advice he gets from his coach repeatedly.

We finished The Children of Noisy Village, by Astrid Lindgren. It took us a very long time to get through it because we had misplaced it for about a month and forgot about it; such is life.

A very dear book, however.

On the last page.

“TEN IS MY STUDENT NUMBER!” she explained in a loud voice.

“OKAY, THAT’S FINE,” I answered in like manner.

Our next book? One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Hope is a geranium about to flower for the first time in a year.

I started a new book last night and LOVED this quote:

“Children don’t know the meaning of yesterday, of the day before yesterday, or even of tomorrow, everything is this, now: the street is this, the doorway is this, the stairs are this, this is Mamma, this is Papa, this is the day, this is the night.” My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante, page 29

collaboration

Posted on March 28, 2017 by Shanda

Good morning friends! I just had a bowl of oatmeal with a tablespoon of chia seeds on top. I don’t know what possessed me to buy them but they’ve been in the cupboard for months. I rediscovered them this morning. A serving has 4 grams of fiber and, although I had concerns, they did not detract from the overall taste of my oatmeal. With just a tad of coconut oil and a splash of maple syrup-yum! I love eating a good healthy breakfast.

What’s your morning routine? I usually get up around 6:30, hopefully in time to see the older kids before they get on the bus. Seth and Sarah need to be up by 7 at the latest but they are usually awake before that time. This morning the house was quiet when I went directly to the coffee pot and got shot at…thankfully the nerf bullet missed me. I turned around and scanned the room but saw and heard– no one. So, I teasingly whined, “You’re a meany, Seth!” hoping for giggles and guess who popped out from behind the basement door? A giggling Miss Sarah. She was having a nice morning time of target practice before getting ready for school.

On a typical school morning, I oversee Seth and Sarah getting ready. They need a healthy breakfast, too, plus clean clothes (underwear…why do little kids try not to wear it??–how many times have I asked the question, “Do you have underwear on?” so embarrassing–not for them, for me!) I get them clean socks from the basket on the dryer and they locate their shoes and put them on. Together, we make sure they have a snack and their homework in their backpacks. Seth’s bus comes at 7:30 and then Sarah and I sit on the bench by the door and read out loud from our current book. We only have 2 pages left. We read and wait for the bus and when it comes I have to walk Sarah right up to the door of it. I watch her go up the steps and then I turn around and wave to all the little faces looking at me. There are a couple boys who smile at me and sometimes they even wave back.

Since I already have shoes and a jacket on, I go to the chicken coop and let out the hens. Lately they are free-ranging and it makes me nervous that they will be attacked, but right now their fenced in area is still covered in snow and the poor things don’t like walking in it. The ground in front of the coop is clear but rather muddy, and they have a path to walk on which leads down to the pond. They like to go there and drink. They move in and out of the coop as they wish.

Then I head back to the house and proceed with my morning; cleaning, showering, treadmill, laundry, daily bible portion, and…..blogging. I do have the freedom to mix things up, or leave things out, but for the most part this is my routine.

I keep finding more and more chia seeds in my teeth.

******

extremely humbling

One of my friends just sent me some happy mail. I found it in the mailbox on Saturday and opened it up so excitedly. I read the card out loud to Rich and the children…..it was a lovely letter from Lois, someone who has read this entire blog and enjoyed it so much that she sent me a painting of a peony photo from it.

I will treasure it always. Thank you, dear Lois. And what a reward to meet kindred spirits in this way.

A collaboration! God’s masterpiece, my photography, and your painting.

Eyes to see and admire the world around us.

painting

I put the painting in the living room on an end table by the rocking chair in front of the window. There is a flower calendar next to it, a candle, the lamp, and a small rose fiesta vase. I’m working on making a pretty little display and will post a picture when I have it to my satisfaction. (you know–pinterest worthy). 🙂 Isn’t it fun to feather a nest?

“Since you are like no other being ever created since the beginning of time, you are incomparable,” Sarah Ban Breathnach

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God–you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
Psalm 139

blessed

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Shanda

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth…….
You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in this world.
God is not a secret to be kept.”

*****

We went to see Beauty and the Beast. We ate lots of candy and popcorn and sat in a long row on my sister’s birthday. Spectacular. My favorite part was at the end when all the castle inhabitants under the curse were brought back to life – the way it was supposed to be, through true love. I thought of how we are also born under a curse, but then, in time, Jesus makes us new again. “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature; old things are past, behold all things are made new.” Oh how He loves us.

*****

We took the children to their elementary school to watch a movie. We watched it among a restless sea of children, hardly able to hear, and then took home an extra one (friend of Caleb) to spend the night. After the movie we joined the crowd walking in the dark to their cars, carrying their blankets and pillows, and agreed it had been a nice event for the kids. A good small town treat. We appreciated the calm of the night sky.

*****

The children fished for the first time this year. Rich called me out to the porch to admire the cuteness.

*****

Church yesterday. Reminded me once again of the only thing that truly matters. Everything else (and there’s so much “everything else”) is icing on the cake.

*****

I made lots and lots of cookies.

*****

There was an epic nerf fight.

*****

I got happy mail!

*****

Matthew 5

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”

those “Jesus, take the wheel!” moments. When you finally let go.

“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.”

(dreams? expectations? a person? a home? a job? health? youth? )

“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are–no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.”

Contentment to me means peace inside.

Contentment to simply be.

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.”

soul food–delicious and satisfying

“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full’, you find yourselves cared for.”

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world–your mind and heart–put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”

ah, yes

“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.”

This is the number one job of a parent of more than one child. LOL

“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.”

*****

Sarah was the official bread runner to the house for bait. She stepped back when the fish appeared but Caleb’s friend Collin was able to get her to touch it….I could hear her from across the pond, “It’s slimy!” she laughed.

Lots of commentary about the poor fish who ate the hook all the way down and it’s poor eye and getting it free, and putting it back.

Seth was the most frustrated. He spent a great deal of time trying to get the bread to stay on his hook. He never did catch one. But it was good for him.

cherry bars

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Shanda

The path to the chicken coop is getting easier to trudge. With all the snow we had last week it became a little annoying to wade through it multiple times a day to check on things. We still have snow everywhere but our footsteps have stomped away most of the snow on the way to the coop so it’s easier to walk although I do find myself getting grumpy at times. “Why did we put it so far from the house?” “The snow is blinding me!” “Oh I just got some in my shoe” “I hate snow” “Slip” “Fall” “trip”. I spent more time down there this morning simply because although the wind was blowing quite a bit, the sun was shining and there was an actual warmth. I said hello to the rabbits and the chickens said hello to me. I sat down on the feed bag and a chicken hopped on my lap. One sat on the rabbit cage right behind me and softly pecked my hair. They are curious birds.

Invariably, we have a cat visitor or two, as well. The chickens become nervous.

They like to sink down into the hay to lay their egg and I always think to myself that they seem to enjoy the time spent waiting for it to arrive. I watch them fuss and arrange the hay strand by strand and get as comfortable as possible. If another hen comes too close, the one sitting makes an ugly caw which means “Get away from me!”

They do not fancy the snow and do not go far these days. I prop the door open for fresh air and they hop in and out of the coop.

A favorite egg laying spot.

another curious cat visitor

He ended up with no where to go, so he had to back shuffle until he could jump back down. It was cute because he stirred up dust along the way.

Some of the hens melted down to the floor in the sleepy sunshine. They stretched out their wings to soak in some healing rays.

As soon as a hen was done, I took her egg and put it in my pocket. (They would rather me let them eat them). I have over a dozen saved in this way. What to make?

How about Cherry Bars?

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 almond extract
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 (21 oz) cans cherry pie filling

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the extracts. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture just until combined.

Spread 3 cups batter into a greased 15 by 10 by 1 inch baking pan. Spread with pie filling. Drop the remaining batter by teaspoonfuls over filling. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until done. Cool on a wire rack. Combine *the glaze ingredients; drizzle over the top. Cut into bars. Yield: 5 dozen

*THE GLAZE
I cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2-3 Tablespoons milk

recipe source: taste of home baking classics cookbook pg 370

spring again

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Shanda

17390484_10154903732876343_3528994584830708622_o

“Listen to His voice, and cling to Him” Deuteronomy 30:20

Good morning! I’ve been contentedly puttering around the house. The children were sent off to school and I have been doing dishes, laundry, and general organizing and home keeping. There is always a lot to do around here to keep me busy. I also journaled and wrote a little letter to Marcia.

We were away all weekend and then Rich worked from home yesterday so I have not been on the computer…….

Uncle Roger’s funeral was on Saturday. I haven’t mentioned here that he passed away from cancer at the age of 44. He was a Christian man who loved his family most of all, spent his life devoted to the same church congregation, and quietly and contentedly lived. He and Aunt Colleen, along with the girls, visited us often through the years and it was always an Event for us and always blogged about. Such fun. He will be missed.

All of this has given me so much to think about. Things like being sincere, being quiet, being yourself, remembering what really matters in life, and the love of family. The way Aunt Colleen has handled this journey has made me respect and love her all the more. What a grace-filled woman. Never asking for attention. Just living life and letting God lead, open to His will, sad, yes, but full of hope in Jesus. And she took such good care of her husband……. I pray God’s richest blessings on her and the girls now as they continue on.

On Sunday we went to church at the place I went to all through my growing up years. (The same one Uncle Roger and Aunt Colleen have attended, too.) It was wonderful to see and hug many old familiar friends.

We were able to visit Mom and Dad after church (I posted a bunch of photos on instagram). And oh that was just the best…just to be together.

17426056_10154906645166343_5025832465083578948_n

Yesterday afternoon we went to Costco and then to the grocery store (because Costco doesn’t have cayenne pepper or organic apple cider vinegar). While we waited for Rich to come back out, Seth climbed a tree. Very fitting for the first day of Spring, right? Caleb and I were standing underneath him and this picture is of Seth looking down at his brother who was worried he might fall down and reminiscing of a time when Seth was showing off and consequently hurt himself. I said, “It’s only a tree, Caleb, quite safe.”

Look at the design of the branches against the blue sky.

17426240_10154906644921343_2001087524131910777_n

Who is Michael? At first glance, he is simply a Very Large Young Man. He’s over six feet tall, 27 years old, and weighs about 400 pounds. So when he’s in the room, his presence is hard to ignore, if not impossible, and you just don’t know what to make of him. Years and years ago (about 5) we met him at our *new to us at that time* church. He and Jacob became good enough friends that he started to come to our house on a constant basis. Although slightly awkward at first to have him always around, after I got to know him I realized that Michael is an extremely friendly, willing to help, people loving, witty, extroverted, goofy, Christ-loving, theology-curious, writer of epic letters, fun person who has carved a niche for himself into our family. He works at a home for troubled boys and is PERFECT for his job. He spends almost every Sunday night -Wednesday morning at our house and sleeps downstairs with Jacob, Caleb, and Seth, on his own blow up mattress. I have talked to him about everything from raising kids, church life, depression, to bodily functions (quite reluctantly on my part because I’m a lady). I can say anything to this guy without fear of judgment. Rich and I love him to death, and so do the kids. He went to Costco with Rich and me and the kids yesterday because he wanted to buy some seltzer water……..so to answer the question “Who is Michael” is kinda hard. He’s Jacob’s friend is the answer in a nut-shell. But so much more. He’s been such a gift to our family. A brother in Christ. I’m so glad Jacob has a friend in him.

“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” Mark Twain

Dumping the entire bag of sunflower seed on the driveway has continued to be a very wise decision on my part. We are getting so many more birds now. And I don’t have to keep track of the feeder!

Mourning doves are such lovely birds. I love their black eyes and the way they waddle.

“There is an unreasonable joy to be had from the observation of small birds going about their bright, oblivious business” Grant Hutchison

17361981_10154906627816343_4573090600705774500_n

(journal)

As I putter around the house I stop to gaze out the window at the birds.

I find my cats doing the same thing.

I have an orchid in bloom!

I’ve kept it alive for several years and it always blooms around this time.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old is has gone the new is here!”

woodpecker

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Shanda

I counted and there are 70 more photos very similar to this one left on my camera card.

Apparently this was a very exciting moment in my day yesterday.

*****

If we should be so lucky as to touch the lives of many, so be it. But if our lot is no more than the setting of a table, or the tending of a garden, or showing a child a path in a wood, our lives are not less worthy. ~Kent Nerburn