dave and maria went to paris

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Shanda

(music for listening!)

Hello, dear friends! It’s about 55 degrees here with sunshine….I should be outside, but after a busy weekend and busy morning I am perfectly content to be in comfy clothes (baggy sweater, yoga pants, socks), inside my cozy living room, with curled up sleeping cats on the couch with me. It’s quiet! Sarah is napping.

I had a nice chat with my brother Dave this afternoon. He and his wife Maria recently returned from two weeks in Paris. He had promised to share pictures with me and he’s already sent me over one hundred digital photos….I looked at them all several times….feeling sort of, envious, but mostly heart-happy to have world travelers in the family. Can a mom of seven be a world traveler at this point? No. But I can live vicariously through Dave and Maria. They had such a good time, I love the photos, and Dave said I could share them here with you. Enjoy!

*****

Notre Dame Cathedral

The Louvre Palace and the Pyramid

He said the Mona Lisa is still attracting people like a rock star. They got up to it, took a couple quick pictures and then continued on…….

so fun

Catacombs of Paris, very sad place indeed.

the majestic Versailles::

Marie Antoinette’s bedroom:

my personal favorite picture of Dave:

and favorite picture of Maria:

The Sarcophagus of Napoleon Bonaparte::

Rodin Museum; The Thinker Statue

The Thinker statue

more wonderful art

onion soup! Dave said he had it (his favorite) about 6 times…..delicious, outside by the street, with a bottle of wine in an ice bucket and his beautiful wife, how can life get better in a moment like this?

black cat in a cemetery

Thanks to all the miles and miles of walking he said he didn’t gain any weight even with so many Paris treats.

(this is where I was envious)…..fabulous bookstore “Shakespeare and Company” !!!!! ^^

Tomorrow I will share their pictures from Belgium. xo

PLEASE FORGIVE any errors in this post, I am not a *City of Paris expert* and I quickly googled information to go with Dave’s fabulous photography.

Have you been to Paris?

PS. Thia, I wrote you back (and mailed) today!

and, Joanne, I received your letter! thank you!

how I go to the woods, by Mary Oliver

Posted on November 8, 2014 by Shanda

Ordinarily I go to the woods alone, with not a single friend,
for they are all smilers and talkers and therefore unsuitable.

I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds
or hugging the old black oak tree.
I have my way of praying, as you no doubt have yours.

Besides, when I am alone I can become invisible.
I can sit on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds,
until the foxes run by unconcerned.

I can hear the almost unbearable sound of the roses singing.

If you have ever gone to the woods with me,
I must love you very much.

fifteen

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Shanda

Grace had a birthday yesterday. She turned 15 and woke up early to hug her Dad before he went to work. None of the children had school yesterday which was a treat for her….to have the day to celebrate. Just after 9a.m. her big brothers finally woke up and she could open her stack of gifts that Seth and Sarah had helped me wrap.

She received a candle, three fabric mesh bags for treasures, a book on nail polish styles, socks, a sketch pad, an art book, and a necklace.

Then we sat around trying to figure out what to do. She wanted me to take her shopping so we decided Jacob and Ethan would stay home with Seth, David, and Caleb. Grace and I took Sarah and picked up Aunt Cassandra on the way to the mall. It was a beautiful day. After our day of ice we had a day of 65 degrees. Grace sketched in her new sketch pad and played tunes for us, as we drove along.

We ate a nice lunch at California Pizza Kitchen.

Sarah needed to use the bathroom and I surprised Grace by asking her (even though it was her birthday) to take her little sister to the restroom. While she was gone I took the opportunity to flag down our waiter (whom Grace was in love with) and order her a piece of chocolate cake for her birthday. The girlies came back and after a while, Grace was surprised with a piece of heavenly cake with ice cream on top, placed in front of her by the charming waiter.

When it was just the four of us again she asked, “How did he know it was my birthday? Did you tell him or did he overhear something?”

There were four long handled spoons so we could share and it was DIVINE. Cassandra only had one bite because she has been overindulging in leftover Halloween candy.

Grace bought herself a new ring and a belt with her birthday money and Aunt Cassandra bought her some thick comfy socks from GAP (Grace has a thing for nice socks).

We left the mall way too soon because the boys needed to be taken to practice and Grace needed to go to Drama rehearsal. Before we left the house for practices, I took a few “Look Who’s Fifteen Now” pictures to document her special day.

Aunt Cassandra helped me with the children at the playground so I could get my Bible study lesson done and then we headed home so I could start dinner and make some phone calls. I picked up the boys at 5:30 while the rest of the family watched Tangled with Aunt Cassandra. Back home again (busy day), I finished Grace’s special requested dinner, chicken Alfredo. Uncle Isaac arrived and Rich picked up Grace at 7:30. We were all singing a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday by 8pm.

It was a Reese’s peanut butter ice cream cake.

*****

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer. ~Author Unknown

Grace is an adorable, well adjusted 15 year old teenager who loves school, family & friends, sign language, reading, her pets, Jesus, singing & drama. She is a responsible and capable teacher’s assistant to her beloved chorus and drama teacher. She is in Honors English. She knows what she believes and she is not afraid to share her beliefs in a loving, respectful way. She has her tough days but has good friends to talk to. She is very loving and likes to give out hugs. She hates to see people she loves hurting and would do anything to help them. She likes texting, pinterest, and instagram (at home on the iPad). She is a jeans and cute/casual top, with sneakers or UGGS kind of girl. She has lovely long hair and pretty brown eyes.

I am thankful to have a daughter GRACE LILLIAN, watching her grow is a blessing and a joy.

She said when her Dad hugged her the morning of her birthday he called her a little girl about five times. She understood what he didn’t say, “I don’t want you to grow up too soon.”

three days in

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Shanda

It’s November 3rd and on my way back from the chicken coop I saw the first ice. It was on the patio in a plastic slide and I sighed because they were in school and would miss it. The first ice (and first snow) has always been so exciting for them. I made my way back into the house, ran Sarah her bath, cleaned her all up, dressed her, did some laundry and cleaning, and …… Sarah went outside to get a cat and discovered the ice all on her own. She giggled with joy and promptly ran inside to get socks, boots, coat, scarf, and mittens so she could COMPLETELY and THOROUGHLY enjoy it. She ate it, skated on it, insisted on sharing some with me (to eat), and because it was melting and her siblings were not at home, we bagged them each a piece. It’s waiting in the “white frozen refrigerator” (her words) for them as a surprise for later.

Despite freezing temperatures, there is still plenty of beautiful green parsley in the garden.

Seth is learning how to read and write by leaps and bounds in Kindergarten.

We just wish he would restrict himself to paper to practice on. He’s getting better about it now.

This artwork was done by Sarah Joy.

PUMPKIN COOKIES

1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup nuts (I didn’t add nuts)
1 cup chocolate chip (I used peanut butter chips)

Combine pumpkin, sugar, shortening and egg. Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together; add to pumpkin mixture alternately with baking powder, dissolved in milk. (I did not do this, I just mixed the wets and then added all the dry and mixed with the KitchenAid). Add vanilla and chocolate chips. Drop on greased cookie sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.

This recipe is from a 1972 Pennsylvania State Grange cookbook. If you happen to have the same one, it’s on page 239. The cookies are a moist cake-like texture. I made them on Saturday and they are still fresh in a big ziplock bag on the counter. Unfortunately, the children don’t seem to like them……..I have to walk around and hand them out to get them consumed.

{this moment}

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Shanda

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

orange

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Shanda

There is a pumpkin taped to the side door, made from orange construction paper by one small five year old. Beyond the glass of that same door there is a garden flag hanging from the porch that has an orange fabric pumpkin sewn to it, and beyond that there are glowing orange trees. At this time of year, orange seems to be everywhere.

This is a blog post about a handmade orange Hobbes. My boys love to read Calvin and Hobbes comic books and David especially has such a fondness for them. After reading the comic books for a while, David thought he would make himself a Hobbes. He didn’t think about trying to purchase one, because he watched a documentary about Calvin and Hobbes and learned that Bill Watterson didn’t want companies making Hobbes or other merchandise that goes along with the comic. “I made Calvin and Hobbes as a comic strip. That’s all I want them to be.” David knew if he wanted a Hobbes he had to make one himself.

First of all, he needed some orange material. He had just the thing in his dresser.

For Hobbes’ white belly he used……another shirt from his dresser.

The next thing he needed was a pattern.

After drawing his pattern, he set to work. He had help in threading the needles and taking out knots. He used a black sharpie to give Hobbes his stripes and then took a break to scrub ink off the wooden floor in the master bedroom, where he worked. He had various other problems, and even put Hobbes aside for a month or so, but eventually completed him last week. He had him on his shoulder for a day and then unfortunately his little brother somehow ended up with him. When David finally found him, to his horror Hobbes’ arm was hanging off by a long string and a seam had opened, exposing stuffing. He was tempted to throw Hobbes away but put him back on the sewing table instead, to work on after his emotions cooled.

David is home sick today and as a surprise, someone who loves him very much reinforced Hobbes’ seams. David was sound asleep when it happened, so when he woke up, he was surprised to find Hobbes on his pillow, ready to spend time with his boy once again. They are currently on the couch watching Wild Kratts.

ramble

Image

“The day was beautiful and the way was beautiful.”
Anne of the Island, L.M. Montgomery

***

Late this morning I took little Sarah on a short walk through the woods and into the field, wandering about, going exactly where we wanted to go. Underneath our feet were brown pine needles and crispy leaves. The sun was shining. Everything was bright, fresh, and lovely. We ate a few wintergreen berries and Sarah talked about nothing and everything while I dutifully listened and took snapshots.

These three mushrooms were growing up from behind tree bark; bark which was hanging off an old fallen down log.

Thanks to Aunt Colleen’s inspiration, I am taking up crochet again. I recently made Jacob a pillow and am almost done with a red and black striped one for David. As I admired this tree lichen I dreamed of finding yarn in the same creamy mint color and crocheting a doily.

I asked Sarah if I could put her in a tree and she generously agreed.

We had found a turkey feather.

She ran ahead of me into the field and saw a man walking his dog. I had to laugh as I wondered what he must have thought to see a tiny girl emerging from the forest, talking and laughing. He told us that he walked there all the time and his dog, Bruno, used to be a bird dog. Bruno caught 101 birds but is now retired because he’s old and his hips are bad. Regardless, Bruno was having a great time wobbling around on his loose hips while his owner drank coffee from a plastic mug in one hand and carried a walking stick in the other.

I tucked purple wild flowers and rose hips into Sarah’s ponytails.

She was so pleased with her turkey feather. In fact, as soon as her Dad came home from work she showed it to him. He said it was the nicest he’s ever seen.

While Sarah climbed a boulder, I admired a wavy, curly tree fungus. There were different sizes growing and I pulled a small one off. It was rubbery and strong, I could not tear it in half no matter how hard I tried.

We made our way back home by going down the trail a little ways and then through the woods to cross our stream onto our own property. On our way across, we saw a dear dear friend. I took pictures of Sarah’s face as she cooed motherly greetings at him……..

It was Billy-cat, coming to say hello to us.

After our walk I made Sarah eat ALL of her cheese sandwich including the crust, and then I gave her a chocolate pudding cup for dessert. She had a nice nap, and so did I.

****

We breathe below, but we live above; we walk on earth, but our conversation is in heaven. John Flavel

you are loved

gentle mothering, resting, & walking

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Shanda

Retire O my soul!

from the busy world,

and employ thyself about that

which thou wast created:

The contemplation of God.

Thomas Ken, 1637-1711

Being satisfied in God is our calling and our duty. ~Piper

Put the glory of Christ on display
by pursuing your JOY
in the HOLY JOY
of your beloved.
~Piper

…let me not wander…
…open my eyes…
…make me understand…
…incline my heart…
…turn my eyes…

from Psalm 119

Oh my friends, I have missed being here, I could have used my iPhone to post a note but I truly believed that the computer fix would only take a couple of days. Thankfully, it is has been repaired and my husband went to pick it up for me on Saturday.

How have you been? Here at our place we have been enjoying yet another beautiful autumn season, and the trees are almost bare. There are still bits of color, however, in the few remaining leaves and bright red berries.

Rich was gone the week after Aunt Colleen and Uncle Roger left and whether I was over tired or it was just the wrong time of the month, it was a tough week for me, I found myself a tad short tempered.

Finding myself being *a little too harsh* with a couple of the children that week convicted me once again of my firm belief in gentle mothering. It’s been a nice reminder to keep my eyes on my heavenly Father; he is kind, loving, patient, understanding, and a protector of the weak ones, and that is how I ought to be for my own children. I am thankful for forgiveness and the opportunity to continue nurturing my children, instead of using harsh words and being impatient. The reality is, we will all have tough days now and then, but in general a loving approach to motherhood is what we strive for.

Feeling so rushed and busy also got me to thinking about REST, and amazingly enough the Lord (gently) led me to a wonderful book that described rest, not only as mere contentment in a quiet place, stagnant, but contentment and calm IN THE MIDST OF STORMS because I trust God. This is completely possible in Christ and I think we all know of the supernatural calm in storms that we see in the believers around us who are in various trials.

“Two painters each painted a picture to illustrate his conception of rest. The first chose for his scene a still, lone
lake among the far off mountains. The second threw on his canvas a thundering waterfall, with a fragile
birch-tree bending over the foam; at the fork of a branch, almost wet with the cataract’s spray, a robin sat on its
nest. The first was only Stagnation; the other was Rest. For in rest there are always two elements–tranquility and energy,
silence and turbulence, creation and destruction, fearlessness and fearfulness. This it was in Christ.”
Henry Drummond

I read that quote on the way to church yesterday, and then the sermon that was preached was also greatly encouraging. The title was “Remembering God, or Regularly Scheduled Neglect of a belligerent World for the sake of our own Soul…..” and the main points were from Psalm 119, a long and complex musical poem written by a psalmist who spent much skill, time, and deep contemplation in writing it, by the inspiration of God. The angels long to understand the Scriptures, do I? Do I take the time in deep thought about my God and His Word?

“The Scriptures are to be treasured as from God.”

Listening to the sermon made me think of the book I just read about Grandma Gatewood, a 67 year old mother of 11, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who walked the appalachian trail three times (at the age of 67 and older). In the book, the merits of long walks and hikes are explained. One of the benefits of walking is that it is good for mental health, and the fresh air and easy pace contribute to deep thinking and alone time…..Grandma Gatewood readily admitted that those long weeks of walking were among the very best weeks of her life. What better way to spend time alone with God, in walking outdoors in his very creation?

In short; I am currently enjoying: a renewed spirit within me, a desire to allow the Lord to keep my soul in rest even as I busily care for my family, and a determination TO WALK MORE.

On Saturday Rich and I took the children (Jacob, Grace, Caleb, Seth, and Sarah) on a four mile walk all the way to the local diner, over back roads. David was tired and Ethan had a report to write, so the two of them stayed at home.

It was a beautiful morning to walk and it took us a little over 2 hours.

a fun place to rest

happy little Seth

Caleb in the trees

someone’s pretty flowers by their mailbox

a bright red barn

cherries

bittersweet

cute pumpkin people on someone’s front steps

view from a small bridge

the prize was a nice big lunch at the diner

After Rich ate, he ran the 2 miles back home (on the main roads) to get the truck. The little ones didn’t have the strength to make another long walk back home.

In other news:

my son Jacob, and his girlfriend
at the homecoming dance on Saturday night.

*****

Have a wonderful day my friends!

“Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.” Psalm 119:90

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our heats through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5

you are loved.

long weekend

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Shanda

Colleen is my Mom’s baby sister and we are less that two years apart in age. We grew up in houses by the same dirt road, up on “the hill” in a small NY town. We grew up, not only as aunt and niece, but as playmates, with nicknames for one another, secret forts, snickerdoodles, sleepovers, arguments, family gatherings, church, school, and so much more. We shared every event in life together. We still do.

Aunt Colleen and Uncle Roger have four daughters and the whole family came to our place for a visit this weekend. They arrived Friday night and left yesterday. Our main goal for the visit was to simply be together and let the children play and make memories. We also cooked four pounds of bacon.

On Saturday my brother Isaac and his new wife, Cassandra, came over. My sister Amanda also came, with her husband Jason and their three children. Years ago, Colleen and I were a part of many huge family reunions, we have great memories of running around with cousins, and it was good to see our own children having fun together…..in total there were fifteen children and nine adults. (Michael also came, and Jacob’s girlfriend Emily, too.)

Amanda brought a big salad, Cassandra brought chocolate chip cookies. We made a bowl of punch and Colleen and I made broccoli salad, apple cake, apple crisp, a big pot of chili, and Ethan grilled hamburgers. No one went hungry.

I spy with my little eye; Sherlock the Cat!

Cassandra, Shanda, Amanda

Isaac, Shanda, Amanda

Meghan, Caleb, and Naomi (with the expressions of youth)

After church on Sunday we followed each other through McDonald’s drive thru and both families spent the same exact total. (!!)

Rich, Roger, Jacob, and Ethan went golfing; it was a beautiful afternoon to be outside.

*****

Then, we had all Monday morning to relax. We watched several hours of television with the activity of people coming and going, getting food, having conversations, laughing, enjoying each other, and Aunt Colleen crocheting.

Cozy family togetherness….such a blessing.

Sarah was in heaven, so to speak. I hardly saw her all weekend because she was so busy with the girls.

We took one group picture (only one!) with my self timer before they left to go home. (Rich was at work).

“Kindred spirits alone do not change with the changing years.” LM Montgomery

{this moment} what a man

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Shanda

{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo – “no words” – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

So my dearest is rarely home, works 12 hour days, goes on business trips….and surprise! he decided to work from home today….I was so happy, he was happy, we were all happy.

Yes, praise the Lord, and wow did he come in handy!

1. First, Jacob forgot his homework. Rich took it to school for him.
2. Then, for the first time in years, the dog busted through his hidden dog fence. twice. Rich went up the road to bring him back.
3. I had to do a huge Costco trip this morning. Rich came with me and did all (all) the loading and lifting.
4. We drove by our elderly neighbor’s house and saw him (80 years young) off his driveway, in the trees, lying helpless on the ground with his garbage cans tipped over next to him and his cane out of reach. Rich made an abrupt stop, parked the truck on the side of the road, ran to the man and helped him get his feet under him again. (he was okay, thankfully, but was so feeble, and had been there for a while trying to scoot to a tree so that he could use it to get up).

All these events occurred before 12:30 this afternoon.

He’s walking around the house like superman now, in my eyes. my hero.

*****

I was sitting on the tailgate of the truck, swinging my legs, watching him unload the cart when I took the picture.