last night

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Shanda

a simply lovely life

Caleb, our eight year old, had his chorus concert last night so I made him take a shower. I slicked his hair back good and used gel to make it hold.

Doesn’t he look handsome?

Even more than his Dad’s good looks, it’s what I see coming from his eyes….his gentle, sweet soul…..

Rich was at Jacob’s track meet (J got fourth in Javelin) and Grace was at youth group. Ethan sat in the back of the auditorium (he had baseball practice so I brought him dinner on a paper plate) with Dave and I sat up toward the front, with Seth on one side and Sarah on the other.

During the performance, Sarah whispered into my ear, “Caleb was being a good singing.” I immediately sent that one to Rich. (kid quotes)

During the performance, Seth whispered into my ear, “I’m so so hungry!” Come to find out, I had completely missed giving Seth his dinner. (large family problems).

When we were leaving the school he asked, “Mom? Can we go someplace to eat?” I said, “Sure! Home!”, to which he replied indignantly, “That’s NOT A PLACE! IT’S A HOME!”

It began to rain and we saw a big rainbow.

Rich was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher when I stepped in the house. We hugged for a long time.

loving others

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Shanda

“When life is a weariness and escape impossible, it is wonderful to have a friend who can bring us peace with the touch of a hand.”

“Those were the good days. They were serene days and quite undemonstrative, like the best days in one’s life; the boy never forgot them. Nothing happens; one simply lives and breathes and wishes for nothing more, and nothing more.”

Independent People by Halldor Laxness

new dress

striking a pose but has a wedgie

“what are those brothers up to now?”

two toy cats, one in each hand, named Stacey and Jessica

I held her cats as she crossed the stream.

how I love this daughter of mine

with her big brother, they look so much alike

What a blessing it is to have older children to help arrange days of fun with loved friends. As parents, we desire and delight that the children *want to bring their friends* to our home. It lifts the soul to talk and laugh together with a house full of happy people, comfortable and relaxed in our relationships.

Today is the delicious feeling of a good healthy TIRED, the result of yesterday’s full day of fun, and memories. Oh how we need one another, our friends, our community, our families. I watched with contentment in my heart as children from multiple families ran in and out of doors, ate their treats, teased, laughed, got dirty, and had a wonderful time of freedom and beautiful wildness. All the children had dirty feet by the end of the day.

Kathy, Caroline, and I went for a little walk, talked, and discovered wildflowers; two simple activities which are like therapy for the woman’s heart. A good talk about all of life’s happenings, and the eyes to see and notice the beauty of the world around us.

“Come in the evening, or come in the morning:
Come when you’re look’d for, or come without warning.
Kisses and welcome you’ll find before you,
And the oftener you come here the more I’ll adore you!”

Thomas Osborne Davis

“The more I think about it,
the more I realize there is
nothing
more artistic than
to love others.”

Vincent Van Gogh

for dave

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Shanda

His birthday is tomorrow.

He is a steady support in my life.

We text almost daily. We talk often.

He’s the the type that will fight for you, support you, do anything for you if you have a need.

I am beyond grateful for my family, and this brother has been there every step of the way.

Dave, I hope you enjoy this little slideshow I put together for you.

for dave

catch up day

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Shanda

“Hold my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” Psalms 17:5

I am feeling somewhat more human this afternoon since I decided to cancel the plans I had this morning in favor of staying home to catch up with things around the home-place. It has been days and days of activity and I needed a catch-up day for my soul. I am much more at peace now that I put new sugar water in the hummingbird feeder, took the time to hang the loads of laundry on the clothesline rather than throw them in the dryer, watered the houseplants, caught up on the dishes, washed the fronts of the ovens and dishwashers, cleaned the upstairs bathroom, gave my darlings Seth and Sarah baths, washed my hair, spent a lot of time outside, admired ducks and toad tadpoles, put dinner in the crock pot, and took a cat nap.

I discovered this morning that one of my hens was consumed yesterday by what Seth believes was a FOX. All that remains are some lovely gray feathers in the green green grass and a firm belief that life is easier when one does not become to attached to one’s hens.

I read some Dr. Laura Schlessinger this morning and came away with these quotes:

“If you determine to SEE value and feel gratitude for what you have, you will not be consumed by envy and disappointment.”

(praying for eyes that SEE the real and true!)

“LOVE is about awe, admiration, respect and appreciation.”

(thinking of my dear husband and these feelings I have for him.)

“If you’re looking for true happiness with another person, you first need to be reasonably mature, psychologically sound, and able to deal with truth and reality.”

(thankful that although we married young, much grace was given for our immature years, growing along together.)

Things are by no means excellent around here, but the reality of the matter is, when raising seven children you must lower your standards of cleanliness unless you can hire a full time housekeeper. All we need is love and understanding to cover over the messy parts.

Seth is currently standing on the counter throwing bacon dog treats to Parker, it makes him so happy to be nice to the dog.

Wind chimes are singing.

Sarah is napping.

My mom started these green pepper plants seeds from a pepper she ate and liked the taste of! My mom is awesome and an ever-source of inspiration to me.

My dad is awesome, too. He has a drum set in my old bedroom, right where my little sister Amanda’s bed used to be. He takes drum lessons every other Saturday! He practices every day! He loves it. How wonderful it is to do something for YOU, no matter who you are or how old you are.

His arms were flying so fast that I told him to freeze so I could take a picture.

In the living room, by the window, he has a practice drum and a music stand. He listens to the metronome through his ear phones and practices technique.

It’s a challenge. Mom says she loves to listen to him drum, she also loves this song:

“Like a drum my heart never stops beating for you.”

David asked me if he could make a chocolate cake and whenever it is possible, I say YES because I used to make the same recipe when I was 11 years old like him.

Wacky Cocoa Cake

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
3/4 cup oil
2 Tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla.

In a mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients like a mountain, with baking soda on the tippy top. Pour water and oil carefully around the bottom of the mountain. Pour vinegar on top of the baking soda to watch the bubbles! Add vanilla, beat until smooth. Pour batter into 9 by 13 pan, bake at 350, 35-40 minutes. Lick out the bowl.

His confidence grows and grows with each baking.

Well I hate to tell ya, our cat caught and ate an entire butterfly this weekend.

While Davy-do caught a fish.

(seth is in the other room and I called out to him, “are you getting into mischief?” “NO!” “What are you doing, then?” “Oh, I’m just sitting in a chair. holding a guitar pick. and thinking about God.” I laughed my way to him and gave him a hug. “Really, Seth?” “Oh, I don’t know what I’m doing.” Kiss kiss on the cheek, back to blogging.)

This young dragonfly landed on my shirt, Sarah was worried it would bite and asked me if she could kill it, and we put it gently on a bush. “No-No! Don’t ever kill the dragonflies, they eat mosquitoes!”

The mallard ducks came back. One of the boys came to get me and I snuck down with my camera. They were in the stream, and the stream was overflowing and fast. It was fun to watch them in the rushing water, I wonder if they enjoyed themselves as they dipped and bobbed along?

It was hard for Sarah to keep her eyes on the female duck; she blends right into the stream!

I think he was trying to keep his balance.

He was about to go down the “rapids”.

****

Her face, when I came home from a date with her Daddy:

“Sarah, Sarah, where are you? I have a surprise for you!”

“You do? I hardly believe it.”

“Well, what is it? What is it, Mom?”

“NEW SHOES!!!” (this was her wondrous face as I said the word “shoes”) :::

“For reals? You’re awesome-sauce, Mom!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“May I just get to the end of my road and say, I have done this important thing in my life, and I have done it well.” ~Tessa Kiros

“When love and duty are one, then grace is in you and you will enjoy a happiness which passes all understanding.” ~The Painted Veil

“Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (If you are a believer than you are pleasing to him because YOU HAVE the FAITH that He has given you!!)

Grace just came home from school smiling and singing because she is learning sign language with Larissa at 3:00.

masonville general store (upstate NY)

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Shanda

~a simply lovely store~

When I was back home visiting my family I was glad to have some extra time to visit one of my favorite little shops. The Masonville General Store has a lot to offer in the way of unique, earthy, fair trade, organic goods. The store also includes a small cafe. There are groceries, cosmetics, jewelry, cards, chocolate and candy, clothes, and gifts for any age.

I found a new artist to admire; Nikki McClure. The store had several of her works, including note cards, prints, and this darling little book. We have had a flock of chickens for about 5 years so anything “chicken” related always excites me.

More Nikki McClure; look her up on pinterest!

I gravitate toward the stationary things, but believe me there is a lot more to this place than notepads!

These “Foot Notes” have the actual footprint of common little wild creatures.

My little sign language lover found this ^^ and we bought it; hand signs for the entire alphabet.

This is the little cosmetics area; I bought some lip gloss and admired the dainty earrings~

Isn’t this the sweetest packaging for earrings?

BOOKS!

I bought a natural geode for Jacob (the family rock collector) to break open himself (he loved it), a bar of organic chocolate (shared with Mom and Grace), some note cards, and a few things for Joanna’s birthday coming up in June. Grace picked out a tiger eye stone and a little paper bag of Swedish Fish.

If you are in the area, I also highly recommend Pine Ridge Grocery and Brooks BBQ Chicken house .

(Grace and I ate at Brooks on Sunday, Mother’s Day and we had no wait b/c we sat at the counter. By doing so, we avoided an hour or more wait. The line was out the door and around the building. Also::: OUR FOOD WAS SERVED ON SCARLET FIESTA.)

prom was friday

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Shanda

His father wore a white tux many years ago to his own prom and ended up hating it. He had secret anxiety that Jacob would also feel uncomfortable not only wearing fancy clothes, but brilliantly white fancy clothes.

Yes, Jacob, like his father before him, decided to wear a white tux to his prom and……. he loved it, he told us several times he wished he could keep it.

The day of prom was warm and humid. The class was scheduled to meet at the gazebo at 4 but when it began to lightly rain, they met at the town hall instead.

At 3:30, Rich was running around trying to locate the florist that I had ordered the corsage from, and I was standing in the kitchen putting Jacob’s cuff links on his shirt. Sarah was sick on the couch with a fever and Grace stayed at home with her and the younger boys when we left.

Rich met us in the parking lot with the corsage safely in hand, after all that I never really got a good look at it (except in the pictures, later on).

I hadn’t met Jacob’s date yet. All I knew was that she was an artsy type like Jacob, and that to ask her to prom he drew a message on thick white paper, in calligraphy; “Will you GOGH to prom with me?”

Rich and I waited upstairs with other parents while Jacob waited downstairs at the door with his friends, looking for their dates to arrive. The battery in my camera was dead (!!) so I had it plugged in …. those fifteen minutes of waiting were priceless as it charged. Jacob and his date came upstairs and walked toward us smiling and happy. We were so proud, they looked beautiful together.

The mamas took pictures and forty five minutes later all the young people were on their way to prom and had a wonderful, fun night of food and dancing.

The next day, after getting just a few hours of sleep, Jacob went to his state invitational track meet, threw a personal record in javelin and surprised himself by coming in third place.

It was a great weekend to be Jacob. 🙂

{this moment} goodbye, old friend

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Shanda

A Friday ritual.

A single photo.

Capturing a moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.

Our pets show love and devotion and win our hearts without ever speaking a single word.

Brutus was a black and white puppy that my brother Dave adopted in 1999. Brutus lived with Dave a few years and then spent the rest of his life at my parent’s house and was a constant companion to Dad and Mom. Part of the fun for my children in going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house was visiting with Brutus. They all have grown up with this special dog. My son David’s team won their baseball game yesterday but David said the joy of victory was spoiled for him when he learned of Brutus’ death. He was truly a family pet and we are all sad.

The beautiful picture is of my Dad and Brutus from a few years ago.

He died at home yesterday, looking into Dave’s eyes. He was a good dog and had a good life.

mom’s night out

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Shanda

It’s good to be home but everyone needs a night out now and then!

My aunt’s 40th birthday was last Friday (the 9th). I took my daughter Grace and we drove four hours “back home” (where I grew up) so we could meet Colleen and the others at the movies to watch “Mom’s Night Out”.

There were beautiful tulips in bloom outside the theatre so Mom and I had Grace take a picture of us. Mom is Colleen’s big sister, they are 17 years apart.

Colleen has four daughters, she brought Molly and Maddie to the movie, her two oldest girls.

Colleen had nieces, sisters, daughters, and friends join her for her birthday movie.

We sat in our big comfy seats, ate candy and popcorn, laughed and cried……the movie was awesome!

Take yourself and some friends out for a night you will remember. I would like to see it again, so invite me, ‘K? xo

PS. I love Trace Adkins.

outside

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Shanda

Sarah’s been doing this bothersome thing for days now where she wakes up in the night and turns her light on to look at books. If we hear her feet (her room is above ours) we get up and put her back to bed but mostly she gets away with it. I know she does it because she sleeps in until about 9 the next morning. Last night she came in my room at 3:30am and said, “My room is too noisy!” I was so tired that I asked her to get into bed with me, which was a terrible decision because she had insomnia in my bed….after about half an hour she asked for a drink and I put her back to bed upstairs. Her window was open so I shut it for her. (she didn’t like hearing the nighttime sounds).

This morning after the big kids went to school, Seth and I had an hour and a half to ourselves before I went upstairs to wake up sleepy head (night owl). She woke up with her hair wild and a sleepy smile…what a way for her to greet the day, with a look at mama’s funny face peeking into her room and a smile appearing on her own. My heart melted as I walked over to her bed, “Sarah! Aren’t you hungry?” She nodded “yes” and let me pick her up.

I forgot to mention that she fell asleep in my arms last night. I was gone from 5 to 8:30 with little league games and Sarah stayed home with her big brothers, so I went in to check on her at 9 (after showering Seth) and she was still wide awake. I got in bed with her (no covers, it was stuffy in her room after a warm day) and gathered her up…..I felt myself relax with contentment after the busy night, Sarah drifted to sleep and I tiptoed back out of her room.

Davy hit a triple last night. 🙂

Sarah had eggs for breakfast and Seth sat next to her for a snack of applesauce. I brushed her hair back into a ponytail.

They currently have the dollhouse on the floor and are making up stories with all the My Little Ponies, the upstairs of the house is standing room only with them.

I cleaned the living room this morning, it feels so good to sit here in a clean room.

Rich didn’t do laundry while I was away so I got caught up yesterday with about 7 HUGE loads. I hung two of them out to dry on the clothesline. One of which is still there.

While I was down on my hands and knees vacuuming the edge of the room this morning, Seth asked me what was wrong with my feet. They are wrinkled, and yesterday when I was barefoot, dirt became embedded in the cracks…he was concerned. “Oh they’re just dirty, ” I explained.

“MAYBE YOU’RE TURNING INTO A GRANDMA,” he offered, innocently (still concerned.)

After my shower I got dressed and put socks and sneakers on, after rubbing thick lotion into my feet.

*******

On Saturday morning Grace went out for breakfast with her Uncle Dave, Uncle Isaac, and Cassandra. While they were gone, Mom and I ate oatmeal outside and then walked around the lawn.

Here are the photos from that morning outside:

Mom and Dad have several feeders hanging on the porch; the orioles enjoy the hummingbird feeder (goldfinch glowing in the bush behind.)

Mom’s asparagus in the garden. When we went to church the next day, someone tried giving Dad a couple pounds of it from his garden, and when Dad explained that they had their own, he gave it to me.

Basket and Gourd (gourd grown by mom) hung up in the trees by the creek.

a purple flower ground cover that I forgot the name of…..

There were tender bunches of dandelion greens all over the place, I told Mom she could be eating it in her salads but she said no thanks. I bent down to gather some as we walked around, and nibbled on it. They are highly nutritious. Nature’s spring restorative vitamins.

Giant willow tree

She’s already tidied up the iris garden.

A lilac died so she had Dad move it out back and later on discovered some of Tasha Tudor’s foxgloves had transplanted with it.

There were white violets all over the place.

Bluets: a lovely delicate flower.

David and Isaac arrived back home with Grace, and Isaac’s fiancé Cassandra, and we walked with them in the blueberry patch and woods.

Grace went barefoot in the blueberry patch, the ground was soaked with water……

Dave has been making stacked rock sculptures all over the place and he names each one “Ruby”.

It’s amazing how he gets them balanced just right.

He lifted up a rock and found a community of ants underneath so he settled it back into place, not to disturb them.

Grace re-injured her fractured finger by climbing this tree. She couldn’t resist.

Dave set up my camera with a timer so we could get a group picture. I love it. As you can see, Isaac also had his big camera and he took a great many pictures of his bride-to-be. So sweet.

Trout Lily: “Recognized by it’s mottled leaves, this is one of our most common spring wildflowers; it is found in sizable colonies. The name refers to the similarity between the leaf markings and those of Brown and Brook trout.” National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers

I was most excited to find Purple Trilliums because we don’t see them in our woods here in Connecticut. I’m sure we have them, I just don’t know where they are. We found these in the woods behind my parent’s house. See the happy bug on top of this one?

They sort of droop down, and it had rained the night before so they were wet. Their poor heads were tired.

We found close to 20 of them growing around in the woods.

“This common eastern trillium has foul smelling flowers, which attract carrion flies that act as pollinators. As the genus name suggests, the flower parts and leaves of trilliums are arranged in multiples of 3, typical of the lily family.”

Can you believe that? FOUL SMELLING!! I knew this from trying to pick one as a child. I brought hit home and it stunk so bad!

Grace, in Aunt Maria’s rubber boots now, lifted up the head of a Trillium for it’s portrait session.

“It would be well for the designer of tapestries to study the carpets of our forests for his patterns, for he would find there a new carpet every month, quite different in plan and design from the one spread there earlier or later. One of the most beautiful designs from Nature’s looms is a trillium carpet……..It is a fine study of the artistic possibilities of the triangle when reduced to terms of leaves, petals, and sepals.” Anna Comstock, in her highly recommended Handbook of Nature Study.

Brother Dave was hoping to see an orange Newt, and he found two!

These Eastern Newts begin their lives in the water, then grow air breathing lungs and leave water for land (they are orange at this point and called efts). When they become fully mature they go back to the water to lay eggs and live.

After we put it down on a rotten log, it was fun to watch it push it’s way between tree and bark to get away from us big scary monsters.

Grace looking sweet.

One last picture of the lovebirds who are getting married in August.

*******

“This is my Father’s world
the birds their carols raise;
the morning light,
the lily white,
declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world!
He shines in all that’s fair,
in the rustling grass
I hear Him pass
He speaks to me everywhere.”

Maltbie D. Babcock, 1858-1901

Thanks for going for a walk with us!

You are loved, friends.

time for the yearly mother’s day portrait

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Shanda

Grace and I were out to New York this weekend visiting family. We stayed two nights with Mom and Dad. Dad took this picture of us before church this morning of me and my mom, and Grace and her mom.

After church, we drove four hours home and I got to put my arms around all my children again.

so blessed.

a few of my own thoughts about motherhood, for what they are worth:

Motherhood doesn’t need to be put up on a pedestal. Motherhood doesn’t need to be glorified. It is a special work, but it is what it is because of our heavenly Father. He alone provides what a woman needs to be a beautiful mother to her children: HE GETS THE GLORY. I know I am in a sorry place when I begin thinking too much of myself. I want to feel weak and helpless, because in this way I will run to Jesus and his Word for help and guidance.

I love to have friendships with other mothers and be inspired by them, so I hope this blog does a little bit of that for you, my friends. But always remember that we are all children of God, working in the positions God has placed us.

Practically speaking, there is no set of perfect advice or rules for motherhood. What works for us will not work for other families. You need to work on knowing yourself, knowing your husband, knowing your own children. Do what is best for your own family and you will develop fun, priceless, “weird and strange” habits and jokes that no one else will understand. You will develop a love for one another that is not distracted by trying to follow a book, blog, or some other person’s ideas. Follow the Bible and God’s leading always, but never follow a certain man/philosophy/book unless the advice you learn goes along with your own convictions. Bravely live your own interesting and priceless life in the Lord. Be unique!! Life is an adventure!

Any old “fool” can make a baby, but it takes a lot of hard work and mistakes to raise them up in the Lord. Pray for me and I will pray for you.

It’s all grace, my loves.

I truly love and thank God for my children. I enjoy them all very much. I’m so proud of them I could bust. 🙂