Today’s Feats

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Shanda

Hello!

As many of you know on Fridays my mother posts one picture called “this moment”. However, today we’re doing something a little different.

My name is Grace and many of you have watched me grow up over the years. I am now 15 and this is my first blog post. in the future I hope to maybe start a blog of my own. First let’s see how I do with this one.

When I woke up this morning the first thing I realized was that the house was quiet. Very quiet. I walked around to find my mother, Seth, and Sarah outside reading and I was promptly informed that today was to be a day of NO ELECTRONICS. “So if you need to text any of your friends to let them know you’re not available do it now.” (David just now sat down next to me “what are you doing?” “I’m writing a blog” “YOU??” he says)

Soon after Emily came over we all packed books and games and everything we deemed necessary and set off for a neighboring park.

As we arrived mom told all of us to sit down in front of a tree saying that she, “wants to take a selfie.” This was met by a chorus of, “it’s not called a selfie!” “It’s called a groupie,” Jacob explained.

Yes, David is wearing a hat. There is a section in the park for skateboarding and Dave brought his scooter so he could do tricks. Mom told him that he must wear a helmet for such dangerous activity. Apparently we have no helmets and so mom settled for this winter hat. He says it made him feel weird but at least he didn’t get a concussion.

Right after taking this “groupie” I left the group with Sarah as a little tag along. We walked together until I started climbing trees and then she lost interest.

I love exploring.

I walked around the old abandoned high school that is now used for drills by the fire department. There were trees and stone walls and fences to climb and a river to follow. I found a waterfall just past the road and settled down to sketch it with my charcoals.

I was content.

Luke 12:27 – Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

When I finished I noticed that over an hour had passed since the group had last seen me and I made the decision to head back in case they were concerned.

They were not.

“What do you want to do when you grow up and when were you saved?” Emily asked me when I walked up. “I’m pursuing a career in deaf education and I was four.” “Oh, I asked all the others as well. We were talking about it.” Everyone was lying on a blanket except mom and Sarah and I asked where they were.

No one knew. Oh joy.

When they did appear (I think they went to look at the shops… I still don’t know). Mom started helping Seth and Sarah with the cartwheels.

When mom was my age she had the natural ability for gymnastics although she didn’t have professional training. She could do everything but backflips which she would only do when someone was spotting her. One time her gym teacher told her that she landed lighter than anyone he had ever seen. Her feet never made a sound.

Emily and I felt put to shame as we watched her on the other side of the field demonstrate a perfect roundoff but we soon were distracted by other things.

Ethan was on top of the dugout.

Immediately everyone else wanted to be up there too. Mom gave consent to everyone but Sarah. Sarah didn’t mind. She didn’t want to be up on that high high thing anyway. Then began the difficulty of how to get everyone up.

Jacob, for he is rather tall, handed Seth up to Ethan and then gave Emily a leg up. He jumped up himself and from there gave a hand to David and me. Problem solved.

“Okay, Jacob,” Mom called from below, “Now one without the pose.”

David began worrying about how he was going to get DOWN now that he was UP. Mom told us to relax and stay up there. She pretended to get ready to drive away. We were not very amused. One by one they all dropped down until it was just me reading and Seth as happy as he could be.

Down below we observed mom photographing David’s new talent.

Isn’t he something?

We tricked you! You see, those two feet actually belong to Caleb who is lying on D’s back. Mom took a similar photo years ago with Jacob and Ethan.

After Seth and I got down (with much help again from big brother Jay) we began on the next feat (pun not intended but now I’m amused) of the day. I’m not sure who’s idea this was…

After asking for permission, David, Caleb, and I set off to look around the shops. We went into the thrift store and Rustology, a store dedicated to old and rusty objects. David loves this store. He bought a coke bottle from 1923 that he wanted to add to his collection.

The store I wanted to go to was on the other side of the road and we spotted Jacob and Emily sitting together on a bench. “Be safe!” Jacob called across the street to us as we crossed traffic. What a fine young chap.

I bought an antique pair of twin candle sticks and the lady gave us all a seashell. Mom picked us up at the coffee shop.

We are now sitting in the living room. Dad is home on the couch and listening to a sermon. David is looking at cars and J and E are playing a video game. Mom is in her room. She has told me that she needs to read what I wrote before I can publish it.

So long, friends! Thanks for reading.

short but sweet

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Shanda

This is why Colleen and I are at home at each other’s houses. Because we have a touch of the crazy in us, and so do our husbands and children. Crazy good times happen.

Colleen is my Aunt and we grew up together as next door neighbors on a quiet farm road in New York. We went to the same school and the same church. Like all good family, she is a lifelong gift from God. She and her husband have four girls who are about the same ages as my children and what a fun time it is when we can get together.

The kids really want to be with us most of the time, but once in a while we can convince them to run off to swim or jump on the trampoline or what-have-you.

Rich and I live four hours from our families and honestly, I was feeling quite lonesome and homesick for “my people” the other day. I am very content being here in Connecticut but there comes a time when a woman just needs to be with her mom….or, an aunt. To sit and visit, talk about all the memories, relax, forget the housework, and be together again.

Colleen’s visit this week came at just the right time. Uncle Roger was on a business trip so she came to see us.

She and the girls arrived yesterday and we sat and talked on the porch, made dinner together, sang hymns, and watched a little TV. Today we talked on the porch, went downtown to the coffee shop and thrift store, had lunch, visited some more, and then she and the girls left for home again. It was a short but very sweet visit.

(We missed her daughter, Madelynn. She was busy doing her summer missionary work with children. My Jacob isn’t in the pictures, either, because he was sick.)

Molly’s shirt says, “Bacon: just another reason why I know Jesus loves me.”

They brought their little chihuahua dog, Reese, with them. Seth, Sarah, and David could not leave the dog alone, they fell right in love with him. He was such a good and patient dog.

(day one)

(day two)

Dave was a good boy, talking to Aunt Colleen all about turtles and the fact that on September 27 he has a birthday and wants his parents to get him a tortoise. “Once you see a tortoise eating a strawberry, you’ll want one, too” he assured us. He came to the porch with a female garter snake. He has Aunt Colleen convinced he will be working in a zoo one day.

Dave was trying hard to get Reese to love him so he put peanut butter on the bottom of a glass.

My aunt brought me some homemade blueberry jam made from Candy L’s berries, and some bread n butter pickles, too.

She gave me this pretty painting that she did of “my peaceful place”. I told her that Rich would be finding me in front of it very often.

The flowers looked so pretty in the early morning sun as I left to take Grace to her babysitting job this morning at 7 a.m. On the way home I picked up 2 dozen donuts to go with breakfast. Okay, I admit they WERE breakfast.

The children played in the warm earthy pond together just like Colleen and I used to swim in our old pond, too.

We took Molly downtown with us and bought iced teas and an entire bag of books. (2 dollars for the books!)

forever friends

Meg showed us Reese’s tricks. He sat, he shook his paw, he rolled, he practiced playing dead. He did a great job.

Marissa, Dave, and Meghan

Today I am extra thankful for all my crazy family!

They are my best friends.

“Should I live a long life, bless me with my true friend to take the journey with me.”

wild flowers

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Shanda

The Queen Anne’s lace is exceptionally tall this year.

{this moment}

Posted on July 17, 2015 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.

pictures of mostly kitchen doings

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Shanda

My husband arrived back from his business trip safe and sound. All is well.

As soon as the sunflower was done blooming a smart goldfinch began eating the seeds from it. I took a picture of it through the kitchen window this morning, through glass and screen.

Listening to this song over and over and dancing as I cook. Cute, happy song from Jacob’s H.S. graduation.

Made a blueberry/blackberry coffee cake, Grandma’s recipe:

1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 cups blueberries

Preheat oven to 350. In a mixing bowl shortening and sugar together, add egg and beat until fluffy. Mix in the dry ingredients alternating with the milk. Spread in a greased and floured 11 by 7 inch pan or two 9 inch pans. Sprinkle the top with 2 cups of blueberries.

Crumb topping:

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter

Mix together with a pastry blender or a fork until crumbly and sprinkle on top of the berries. Bake for 30-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

I like making recipes that my Grandma made when she was my age, and older. I think about her and feel like we are connected.

Amish Macaroni Salad recipe here. (I made as written except reduced sugar to 1/4 of a cup.)

First photo of Rich, Sarah and Seth was from last night. All the rest of the photos were taken by me this morning.

Happy Thursday! (I love you!)

these days

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Shanda

phone dump post ahead!

dedicated to the ones I love…….

This was about a month ago at a little league game. Rich brought one chair and eventually we realized we had both decided on the ground so we could sit really close together.

Seth was in the garage and dropped something (he said it was a hammer-thing) on his pinky toe. He came in the house to show me his painful swollen and bloody toe. “I saw my toenail fly off. I couldn’t find it.” For some reason this struck me as hilarious…the thought of my six year old ignoring the pain and taking the time to search for his toenail, like maybe he thought it could be reattached. This is a picture I took of it about a week later, when the nail started growing again.

Mitch and Ethan stylin’ at Jacob’s graduation.

The cake I made my Mama for her birthday.

Singing Happy Birthday to Grandma on June 19th.

At the end of the day…Jacob’s graduation party.

Caleb’s last little league game and his 4th place trophy.

Sarah and Seth with their new backpacks FOR SCHOOL!

A few weeks ago Rich and I snuck away for a night at a hotel together. Alone. This was part of the view from our room. We had such a good time knowing that nobody was around who needed us….we could lock the door and never mind the world.

This is the summer of working toward driver’s licenses for the boys.

I am not very proud to say that I am scared to death in the passenger seat. I feel that this is an indication of a control-problem on my part. I eventually realized that going on my phone or reading a book helps to distract me from panic attack and/or from distracting the driver.

Teenagers arguing over who has to sit in the backseat. Ethan: “I was here first” Zac: “I’m getting dropped off first. Emily: “I don’t want to sit in the back, it’s harder to get out and I want to jump right out when we get there.” Jacob: “I’m the firstborn.”

(they stayed put and rode just the way they were….squished)

Jacob and Emily at the coffee shop. I thought it was so cute that they held hands like that.

The day I took these kids to the movies and Target.

A week later…another movie morning.

Grace and her book at the movies…..

This cat was sound asleep in/off my favorite chair on the porch.

Boys playing video games….Emily painting.

In the coop!

Seth microwaving!

Sarah learned a trick.

Our cat Samantha.

Pretty braid.

At church.

I’ve been making jars and jars of my Mama’s Raspberry Jelly!!!!

From berries on the side of the road!

The very first jar. 2 cups

picking more berries a few days later

I held up one of the briars and it was covered! These treasures like to hide and it truly is a feeling of treasure seeking and finding as I pick. I just love it. Some of the kids find it boring! I don’t understand!

The next two jars! 3 cups

Yesterday’s batch! 4 cups! I kept some of the seeds in this time…I’m going to use a jar for raspberry bars today and perhaps jam thumbprints soon, too. soooooo happy

This is heavenly! Plain greek yogurt with a spoon of homemade jelly— nothing but pure berries and sugar. The recipe is so easy and quick…instant gratification.

Seth does slow down at times. And when he does I stand and stare at him.

R.C. —Jacob and Seth playing with their cars.

Grace laughing over Alyssa’s son’s instagram.

Boys wrestling party at our place this weekend!

I love it when I go in my room and shut the door for a little peace and quiet and this man of mine comes without knocking in to lean over the bed to tell me random things. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

Sherlock helping me watch my chickens….we lost 5 last week to a raccoon so I’ve been keeping them locked up unless I am right there.

The list I left for the kids on Saturday morning when Rich and I left to get stuff for the wrestling party.

Sarah pretending she is a cat named “Hawaii”

Sarah swimming. Now is the time to get those Land’s End suits on sale for next year! This one is size 6, a little big on her…but so so cute.

Jacob and Emily napping on the couch.

Seth and I had to wait for Jacob at the college last week….

He was hitting mushrooms like they were golf balls. Using a stick as a club.

We had a coffee/pastry treat as we waited, at a wonderful Italian bakery.

I made Caleb’s birthday cake myself…David in the red shirt took one bite of it and yelled “YES!” As I jumped in my seat next to him he continued, “This cake is moist! I love it when the cake is moist.” LOL!!

Everyone was full of it.

sooooooo happy with these people of mine!

Micheal and his watermelon. Parker was watching his Dad through the window. One of my sunflowers got broken so I put it in a pitcher by the piano.

Yesterday Caleb got the last football cards I will ever buy him! The complete set purchased with his birthday money and a loan from Mom. “Mom, can I borrow 13 dollars? It would make me really happy.” Okay then.

We went to the movies and Subway for lunch.

I got my ears pierced! (2nd hole)

We went to the library last night for a magic show and then Seth got his first library card! I die.

SOOOOOO cute

“Why does it say Seth W on it?” “That’s your middle initial” “Oh, I remember! William!”

I wrote this post with Parker at my feet.

Happy Summertime, my friends!

after berries

Posted on July 12, 2015 by Shanda

savor ~ to enjoy food or an experience slowly, in order to enjoy it as much as possible

*****

“If she were seen holding a stem of beardtongue blossoms to admire their color or stooping to touch the spikes of jimson leaves, some would solemnly call her mazed in the head not to know beardtongue when she saw it, and others would wonder, grinning, was she so wit-scoured as perhaps to eat jimson? Gossip had it that she went about with a notebook and pencil and would stare at a thing–bird or bush, weed, sunset, mountain—and then scratch at paper awhile as if she were addled enough in her thinking that she might forget what was important to her if she did not mark it down.” Cold Mountain, page 77-78

I was walking around the pond and picked the stems of three daisies to gift to little Sarah, who was playing at the water’s edge. I thought she would enjoy floating them in the water like pretty little boats. I happened to see a tiny struggle going on underneath one of the blossoms. A small red bug was pulling and tugging at a worm smaller even than one of the white petals. I put it gently on the ground to watch. A miniature little scene, something real and active, yet silent and easily missed. Neither one of them wanted to let go…the bug holding the worm, and the worm holding the thin edge of the daisy petal. But shortly the worm lost it’s hold and the bug moved fast to carry it away. Of course with the daisy now topsy turvy, it took him a quick second to realize that what was “down” was now “up” and the bug had to run back down from the top of the cut of stem to move off the flower and onto the rock, heading for the sheltering grass.

With a basket on my arm, I later wandered away from the house alone in the golden ending hours of the day. I was after berries. I found a cup and a half of blackberries around the house and garage and wanted to see if I could find more. I had an idea of where some might be, and perhaps even some blueberries, but the bush I thought was likely blueberry turned out to be something unidentifiable. It had little white blossoms on it that looked like the blossoms for blueberries, but no berries, instead, little hard seed pods. I stood in the twilight, letting myself settle into the very quiet of the beaver pond. Three golden birds sang by with their wings fluttering.

I was wearing flip flops which were now soaked with water but as I looked a short distance down, I thought I could see a blueberry bush, so once again I picked my way through tall grasses, rocks, and branches, basket on my arm, heavy camera around my neck. Smiling a little smile.

I tasted a berry, there weren’t very many, and held a thin branch of blueberry bush in my hand. The bark was rough and strong.

Under the bush was like a shelter. The branches were over hanging, all leaning toward the right, making a roof of green leaves overhead. I imagined taking the time to gather in under them, to watch the water, the little bugs skimming on top, the birds flying by not knowing I was there.

The path that I took to get to the bottom of the hill, with the water of the beaver pond.

There is something so satisfying about standing still in a lonely spot of nature for a time, listening, looking, wondering.

{this moment}

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Shanda

opened presents
went to Crackerbarrel for breakfast
put together his lego set
looked at his baby book for the first time
had his favorite dinner at home (chicken divan)
this is a football-birthday for our football-loving boy
Caleb turns 10!!!!!!!

the comfort of God

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Shanda

“A pond without dragonflies darting above it or without the exquisitely iridescent damsel flies clinging to the leaves of its border would be a lonely place indeed.” (this and all following nature quotes are by Anna Comstock)

Dragonflies are common at our place as we have two ponds and a stream. It is always a pleasure to stand on the road and lean over the guardrail to peer into the water of the stream and watch the bright green bodied damsel flies, or to walk along the edge of the lawn where the tall grasses grow and observe the various dragonflies fluttering. And it is always a feeling of accomplishment if I can get close enough to one with my camera and snap a clear photo.

“The grasshopper has some means of defense as well as of escape; it can give a painful nip with its mandibles; and when seized, it emits copiously from the mouth a brownish liquid which is acrid and ill smelling. This performance interests children who are won’t to seize the insect by its jumping legs and hold it up, commanding it to ‘chew tobacco'”.

What delightful and beautiful insects grasshoppers are! Watching them jump is highly amusing, their back legs are like springs.

When I look at this photo of a grasshopper, I am struck by an urge to try to draw it.

This was an exciting surprise. I was hunting the trees along the edge of the field for birds and my only thought was determination to take a pretty BIRD photo in the evening light. And what do I see? A tiny, chubby chipmunk way up high, frozen in fear as I photographed it. Look at those tiny ears.

“The lay of the bullfrog, which like the song of some noted opera singers, is more wonderful than musical; the boom of the bullfrog makes the earth fairly quake.”

Even the bullfrog is lovely with it’s green and brown skin and gorgeous round & golden eyes shinier and prettier than any marble. You can see the sky reflected within it’s black iris. The round circle to the right of the eye is the ear. My sons love to catch bullfrogs and consider them friends of the pond.

Notice anything special about this chicken?

The hydrangeas are continuing to dazzle.

Another surprise! Just one week after seeing a baby chipmunk in a tree, I was sitting on the porch talking to my husband when my eyes landed on this one, way up high in the bush by our porch.

“While the chipmunk is a good runner and jumper, it is not so able a climber as is the red squirrel, and it naturally stays nearer the ground……a second glance showed me that it was a chipmunk lying close to the branch, hanging on for ‘dear life’ and with an attitude of extreme caution…”

So what was this chipmunk doing up in a bush? I believe the answer was this:

Kitty on the porch probably chased it up there. And after giving up on the chipmunk ever coming down, went back to his cozy seat on the porch to take a bath.

A chipmunk observer.

The children played a game of catch over by the chicken coop.

*******

I had many real and imagined worries about the children and their future and by the end of the day yesterday I gathered my journal and my Bible to me like a lifeline…knowing that I needed most of all to saturate my mind with the truth of God, that He is in control of all things and that I can trust Him with my (His) children whom I love so much that I never want to let go of them or these days.

How Does God Comfort us?

Through His very nature, He is faithful. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”

Through His Word. “I delight in your word every day.”

Through Prayer. “Morning, noon and night I complain to you, Lord, and you always listen to me. I rise before dawn and cry for help.”

Through His Holy Spirit. “If we live by the Spirit, let us walk by the Spirit.”

Through others. “Let us stir up each other to love and to good works.”

“I believe, Lord, that as I seek you I find you. You will always show me the way that is good for my life, You will lead me along the right way and I know that you always love me. You pour your love into my heart so that I praise you because of your faithfulness; my innermost being says ‘thank you.’ Through the cross of Christ I have been brought back to you: how I praise you! Through the cross my life is transformed. For Jesus Christ’s resurrection and for my new life I praise you.”

From a little booklet published in 1985 by Gospel Light Publications, “Enjoying God who Comforts”