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. 🙂

{this video moment} art time and tunes

Video

{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

I was working on dinner and just had to stop to record this precious moment between my oldest son and youngest son.

(The ending is abrupt because my phone ran out of storage.)

a smile throughout

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Shanda

I took Grace to get her finger x-rayed and while I was there I continued reading my book, Kristin Lavransdatter. I got to the part when the black plague struck and I took out my phone to look up “black plague” and read all about it, never saying a word to Grace about what I was researching.

HOURS LATER, we were home and I was cleaning the sink in the kitchen as Grace was reading in the recliner. All of a sudden she piped up and commented on the book SHE was reading, “Oh. How sad. Her friend just died. Of the black plague.” I stopped what I was doing and stared at her. “Did you know I was researching the black plague today?” She laughed and said no. She was telepathic. (she said) We laughed that we were both reading books that contained information about black death. Of all things!

Her finger is fractured. Sprained and fractured. She feels much better knowing exactly what condition her finger is in. It’s all wrapped up in a splint. The doctor said it is such small injury that it will heal on it’s own.

I finished my 1108 (approximately) page book and I feel lost. I’ll tell you more about it in another post.

Grace and I took Seth and Sarah on a walk in the woods this morning and I picked a tiny bouquet of sweet white violets. They were tiny and beautiful, if I had time I would try to paint them. I cooed over them in the forest, they were growing in a community together, and thanked God for small blessings like violets.

When I put Seth and Sarah to bed for naps I left and went to get my hair done. A color and cut.

Grace and Ethan just left for youth group.

David is folding an origami boomerang.

I want to post pictures from Saturday, when my Mom and Dad were here.

That morning, while we were waiting for them to arrive, we went to the ball field for Caleb’s game. Rich and Jacob were throwing a football back and forth, they like to throw it hard and fast at each other and Grace jumped in to intercept. She jammed her finger and almost passed out. We settled her down with her head in my lap while her Dad left to get food and drink for her. Although I was sad she was hurt, it was a sweet time to baby my teenager. As I stated earlier, it turns out the finger was fractured. We are tired of the finger now. It’s been the main attraction in Grace’s life for too many days. 🙂

A picture of the girls after Grace started perking up: Oh dear, I’m noticing that Sarah Joy was in bare feet again, Nicole.

Jacob:

Caleb looked smart out there in the field. Later on, I received a text from his coach asking me if it was okay to put Caleb’s name in the little local paper for being a good hitter. 🙂

I began feeling anxious that mom and dad would get to the house before we got home but praise the Lord we got there with 10 minutes to spare. They brought Christmas presents because would you believe we haven’t gotten together with the family since Thanksgiving? I was spoiled with new fiestaware and an adorable Vera Bradley apron.

I was mainly feeling spoiled just because THEY WERE THERE.

Mom painted Grace’s fingernails red and then I did Mom’s toes out on the porch.

Dad and Rich talked in the kitchen. The curtain you see was given to me by Joanna.

Ethan is the blur. I’m feeling terrible right now because I didn’t get a good picture of them (J and E) with their beloved grandparents.

The new apron is hanging of a cabinet knob on the bottom left edge of the picture:

Then, Dad and Ethan played guitar together. I love this picture.

Dear Dad.

When I was in Jekyll with my parents this spring I admired my Mom’s Vera Bradley bag. I kept my eyes open and as soon as I saw one I liked just as much, I bought it…..this was the first time they got together (our purses)…mine is the one in the back. Isn’t it funny that they are so alike, yet different, just like Mother and Daughter?

Mom and I amused ourselves by going outside with the children…..Sarah never wanted Mom to stop swinging her.

Dear Mom:

With her little Sarah friend. (frameworthy)

And, with the Caleb, too. (another beautiful photo) I love seeing LOVE.

Back inside, Dad got a dose of Charlie and Lola, as Sarah relaxed in his arms. I guess the sun was in his eyes by the window. 🙂

At 6 we had to leave to get to the High School for Grace’s play. Jacob, Ethan and David went with the grandparents while Rich and I went to get Grace’s flowers from the store.

I sat in the auditorium with my parents on one side of me.

And Rich (not pictured) and the kids on the other side of me.

Seth and Sarah, of course, were pretty much ON ME the entire time. (slight exaggeration but true).

I don’t really like the lighting in this picture and also it was one of those moments where I felt cute but when I saw the photo I was like “oh, so that’s how it is”. (not cute)

But it’s the only one of Rich and I with Grace, so it’s a keeper!

A cool cloud. Thank you, God.

This was all on Saturday! It was a full and glorious day!

PS, here is some good advice for you moms out there: don’t buy toys. just give them scotch tape and bandaids and the freedom to use them liberally.

Grace’s costumes in Singin’ in the Rain

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Shanda

My daughter Grace is a Freshman in High School and has fallen in love with singing, dancing, and acting in Drama. She is currently (as I type) at the cast party for Drama’s production Singing in the Rain….the last performance was this afternoon. Rich and I went last night to see it with my parents, and Jacob, Ethan, David, Caleb, Seth, and Sarah. Grace’s friends Ethan and Erinn also came (we filled up a row).

Grace didn’t have any speaking parts but she was in several dance numbers and Mom and I greatly admired her in the many beautiful dresses she got to wear.

In black:

In black sequins, clutching the arm of a gent;

Red dress, long gloves, and fancy white hat;

Black dress with swirly white stripes:

Red sequins (she’s on the far right) in the song and dance number “What’s Wrong with me?” sung by Lina Lamont.

(looking at camera)

And, blue with white dots;

a black pony tail holder around her wrist and a bright happy smile on her pretty face;

They did such a good job, we loved the performance. It was very entertaining and we felt proud of Grace and her friends. They’ve been practicing long hard hours for so many months. Grace especially struggled with tap dance, but she finally learned the steps. Well done, Grace!

Here she is after the show, with her Grandpa, Grandma, and little sister.

And flowers from her Dad.

*******

Oh, and by the way she did all this after seriously jamming her ring finger playing catch with her brothers a few hours beforehand….it caused her to almost pass out at the ball field, she lost her vision and was so weak she had to lay with her head on my lap while her Dad went to get food and drink (she had also skipped breakfast). Someone at drama had to cut the ring off her finger and today her poor finger is black and blue and swollen almost twice the size as her other one. She’s a trooper. xoxoxo

{this moment} snake

Image

A friday ritual….a single photo…..no words…..capturing a moment of the week….

first morning in may

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Shanda

“Oh give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.”

Robert Frost

He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. Joel 2:23

It is the first morning of May 2014. Little Sarah went with me to the chicken coop wearing her pink water boots. Oh, we had a lovely time. There were plenty of clear, cold puddles for us to walk through, and a roaring stream to visit, too.

Grace had a dentist appointment at 10am. Our family dentist is right in town so these times are nice. I like to take the opportunity to spend quality time with whatever child has an appointment (last week it was Jacob). Grace has been working overtime in her High School musical, “Singing in the Rain”, the rehearsals are each afternoon until 8pm and opening night is tomorrow. I haven’t seen much of her lately because when she gets home she has to do homework and get to bed and sleep. We had a lovely visit today, she talked and talked to me after her appointment was over. She didn’t want to go right back to school so we went to the thrift store and then to the diner for lunch. I love looking at her pretty face and hair as she talks and laughs. She’s such a good girl, so level headed and secure in herself. She loves school and her *people* (the word she herself uses). I am just so proud of her and who she is becoming.

Meanwhile, Seth and Sarah were a terrible twosome and when I came home after dropping their big sister off I had to sit down and give them a little lecture. I can’t tolerate nonsense while shopping. I was at Rite Aid with them while Grace was getting her teeth cleaned and they would not stay with me and would not stop touching every interesting thing they saw. After about five minutes, I put them both in a cart and it still didn’t help, they were full of it. Oh well, it’s all part of the training we must do as mothers, but it does get old after a while. They seem to think going to Rite Aid is right up there with Six Flags. I plan on “practicing” with them here at home by taking their hands and walking around as I go on and on about Proper Shopping Behavior. They will love it, I’m sure.

It rained lightly all morning long, but it has stopped for the moment, the sky is pure white with clouds. The road is starting to dry. I wonder if the boys will have their little league games this evening?

It’s a laundry day and things are humming. I do love the smell of clean clothes.

I finally remembered to buy matches and I have some pretty candles lit in the kitchen.

For the moment it is quiet and peaceful, a nice beginning to this new month.

Happy May!

What would the world be, once bereft
Of wet and wildness? Let them be left,
O let them be left, wildness and wet,
Long live the weeds and the wildness yet.
~Gerard Manley Hopkins

*****

Lavender-Lemon Shortbread

3/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried lavender
1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
3 tablespoons sugar

In a medium bowl, and using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon extract until creamy.

In a separate medium bowl, sift together flour and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until combined. Fold in lavender and lemon zest.

Shape dough into a ball or disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours, or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Using a 2 inch cutter, cut cookies, re-rolling remaining dough only once. Place cookies on prepared sheet, and evenly sprinkle each with granulated sugar.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges of cookies are slightly browned. Cool on pan 1 minute; transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Makes about 36 cookies.

Recipe source: Victoria magazine, April/May 2008

phone pics; little snapshots of life

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Shanda

Caleb, Seth, Ethan, and David were inspired by the Duck boys.

Seth was so cute on a Sunday morning that I asked to take his picture; he struck a pose.

Oh Grace! Why do you want to read that??? (sister of five brothers)

David caught a bullfrog out of the pond.

Seth had a tick on him; I was able to pull it off but it was a sobering reminder of the problem we have around here with ticks. If they are in your area, be diligent in keeping them off your pets and children (and self). But don’t let them keep you out of the woods!

With my littlest love.

Sarah thought the artificial flowers in the dentist office were real, she smelled them and said they smelled “like chocolate”.

Something got this catfish out of our pond and killed it. Rich and Ethan stocked them a couple years ago so we are sad about it.

At the end of the day I used to hold babies in my arms, now I have no babies. However, I do have cats and a handsome husband ready to snuggle.

Boys on couch. Ethan and Jacob have been sleeping in the living room every night, they think it’s cozier than their own bedroom.

Ethan ready for church on Sunday morning.

Billy cat

I finally put pictures in the locket Hannah gave me for my birthday.

We went to the diner for breakfast yesterday.

We had no milk in the house and the boys had dentist appointments anyway. So we ate and then went to the dentist. It was fun.

Sarah and I had a little walk around the ponds together yesterday afternoon; my darling chatterbox. I picked her up several times for a squeeze.

Chickens in the forest sunshine.

I saw this Carl Larsson painting this weekend and immediately wanted to repot my plants into unifying terra-cotta planters.

So satisfying!

Sometimes my heart hurts because life is so beautiful and short. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time. I never want these days to end and yet I know they must someday. Whenever I feel this way (overwhelmed) I think of how grateful I am to have Jesus….and I am not without comfort for the days to come.

“Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:25a

springtime and baseball

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Shanda

It’s funny how the thoughts go back back back to childhood … today was opening day for little league (after church) and I couldn’t help but think so much about my own younger brothers and all the years of watching them play at the fields. Our sons Jacob and Ethan are too old for little league, today we concentrated on David and Caleb….Jake and E weren’t even with us. SO WEIRD. They are growing up and away, little by little. Yes, the older boys stayed after church for the fellowship lunch, and then Wally was going to go over some Javelin tips with Jacob again. Jacob throws for school, and with Wally’s help he beat his own personal record on Friday at the meet.

It’s quite chilly outside today so after several hours I asked my husband if he would drive me, Grace, and the little ones back home. I am currently and happily under a blanket with my feet on a warmed up corn bag with Seth at the end of the couch. Grace is on pinterest next to me and continuously laughing at someone’s “funny” board. Sarah Joy is sitting next to her, watching a movie. (“Once Upon a Forest”) Billy Cat is stretched out so softly next to my legs and Sherlock is curled in a ball by Sarah. We all have our pajamas on already.

I was on pinterest and somehow got to thinking about Trailing Arbutus. Do you know that lovely wild flower? I remember my Grandmother liking it, and it grew in the woods near our home when I was a child. It grows close to the ground, but getting down into the forest leaves to smell it is worth it. It smells wonderful, better than apple blossoms even. I haven’t seen the flower in years and years. There were pictures of it on pinterest so I pinned one and then thought about Yellow Violets. As a child, I remember finding them just one time. I had walked deeply into the woods on Grandpa’s property and was thrilled to discover a bunch of yellow violets…at that time I had not known there was such a flower. I picked one and added it to my bouquet. On the way back home I stopped and showed it to Grandma and she smiled. She knew exactly where I had been. It is a nice memory for me, I felt that we shared a secret delight together. I learned a lot about the flowers and things from my mother, who in turn had learned them from her Mama. And now, when I go for walks I cannot help but point things out and tell my own children about them. Beauty from God.

We spent time outside on Friday. It was a beautiful day. I found the children up on the hill behind the house exploring, and then Sammy jumped up on the fence from the neighbor’s side. She was exploring, too. Isn’t she pretty against the bluest of blue skies?

Daffodils are in bloom and the fuzzy buzzy bumble bees love them.

I am amused by the lengths a bee will go in order to collect pollen.

When we walk by the edge of the smaller pond, hundreds of bullfrog tadpoles ripple away, out of the shallow water. Going up closer to investigate will scare the last brave ones from the edge. Once they swim into the deeper water, it’s funny to stay and watch them go up to the surface to breath. There are SO MANY, if they all develop into full grown frogs I am afraid we will have a Biblical proportion of them (like a plague). Parker the dog enjoys the challenge of catching one in his front teeth. He does not let the tadpole touch his lips at all, just the teeth.

He detests bullfrog tadpoles.

After he brings one back into the grass and lays it gently down, he gags in deep hisses.

He can’t resist the urge to pick it up again with quivering lips and dainty teeth.

He plays with it a minute, rolls on it, and then goes back to get another.

No, he can’t bring himself to do it twice. Once is enough.

Tadpoles are cold and slimy, and they disgust him.

We look at wild flowers next.

Sarah likes to ask me if she can pick one. I say “yes”.

Seth goes across the monkey bars and I ask him if he can go all the way. He has to work, and I marvel at the bodies of young children, so light and mobile and strong.

I tried to help him once but he panted, “I want to do it by myself!”

He made it across and was proud of himself.

After throwing tiny pinecones into the long pond and watching the fish grab them and pop them back out of their mouths, we headed to the stream.

A hen came over to see what was up. So very nosey! What a busy-body!

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

The next day, Saturday, it rained and rained all day. The boy’s Little League Opening day was cancelled.

It was today instead. We went to church, came home to quickly change, and then headed to the park.

It was a big to-do with “thank you’s”, dedication of benches (in memory of those who passed away over the last year), trophies, a presentation of the banner for last year’s winners, etc, etc, National Anthem sung, players name’s announced (including our Davy’s) and then….finally….the first games of the season.

Caleb

David. Please keep me in your thoughts as I try to keep these pants white all season.

Sarah had a ring pop.

The movie is over, it is time for me to serve a little something for dinner. It will be an early bedtime for Seth and Sarah tonight.

Have a blessed evening, my friends.

You are loved.

{this moment} two cats & a girlie

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{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.