Farmhouse Garden Style

                                                                                     There are times (ok, most of the times)

                                           that I long for a bit more elegance in my life.

                                               Then something like this happens:

 I've planted pumpkins in my flower bed (the sun has disappeared from our back garden plot---thanks to a neighbors elm tree) and they are growing crazy,  so they've been forced trained to climb. They rampantly climb galvanized pipes,  found here at the house when we moved in,  which are tied to the porch posts with leftover bits of wire.

(Good thing that "Industrial" is chic,  no?)

The crazy thing is how much I love it!!  The pumpkin leaves are so huge,  and they look amazing backlit from inside my kitchen window.    Then these feathery, hot pink cosmos dance above the foliage,  and it's a combination that I'm going to repeat.

We are oh-so-green.  

26 weeks and Rejoicing!

Ian took this picture of "the brothers"

while they were trumpeting with wrapping paper rolls.

This is the way it is around here....loud,  blurry,  but still Oh, so happy!

Baby Boy is doing great according to today's ultrasound,

and is up to 2 lbs. 5 oz.

After Ellie and Benjamin, 

this seems so big. 

It is huge.

The New Pet

Do I feel regret over the grimey fingers

or the dirt and the bug on the table?

No,  just that this is his new pet.  

Not a puppy,  kitten or bunny,

but a roly-poly bug.

Temporary

finding temporary {vintage} solutions

to our modern technical difficulties.

Summer Work

I have been meaning to post a picture of everything we've been up to....our garden is doing great, we are putting in a side yard, getting ready for a yard sale, and having a grand ol' time at the county fair....

but we are having serious issues, too! Like 2 of the 3 boys have the stomach flu, and our computer has somthing similiar....it keeps shutting off after only running for 5-10-or 15 minutes. So I...........bye!

Bubbling Over

I had to call my husband today,

just to tell him something he's already begun to suspect:

his wife is a human being again.

.

.

The grief of the last 16 months

left me wasted, completely drained.

My moods were erractic at best

and the littlest things, the normal difficulties of daily life,

would set me on a downward mental track

that I couldn't escape from.

My spiritual stamina and my emotional reserves

were hitting bottom nearly every day.

.

.

Others have said that this time would come:

that I would still cry and miss my Ellie,

but that the sting would be gone.

I had a hard time believing it.

.

.

But today, I am positively bouncing through my day:

Not that it's been a perfect day, either....

just the things that would have ruined me two months ago

are now just minor bumps.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits--
who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with

love and compassion.

Psalm 103:2-4

Welcome Home!

Braden, looking like his dad more every day!
Nathan, lost his first two teeth in two days,
thanks to Uncle Dan!

A camera has found it's way into my hands again!

And wow, what dirty faces!

.

.

.

.

.

broken. completely crushed. wondering if I will ever be whole again.

.

.

.

I found those words, written just 4 months ago. It was one of the hardest days ever....compounded by the fear of never really being happy again. Would I ever feel like smiling again? Would I ever laugh without a hidden cry? Would I ever be here again, all of me, in today, with my husband and children? Would I ever escape the terrible mire of pain?

.

.

.

The good news is, yes. God has been healing me all along, I know. But his handiwork was most visible to me this past weekend. Our camping trip was muddy and soggy, it rained every day. A mess. But I was happy....

See the Difference!

For years, I have vowed to not be a coffee drinker.

You know, one of those people who *has to have it*.

I even worked at a coffee shop

after Mr. Wonderful and I were married.....

and managed to not get *hooked*. But, nearly 9 years and 5 pregnancies later,

with 3 rowdy boys here on earth

and two precious children in heaven,

I am worn out.

Really worn out.

*

*

So, experiment exhibit A:

Can I have a french-press coffee maker in the house,

enjoy a cuppa

every few days?

*

We'll see.....

Giddy over Groceries??

When this trip only cost $29.44,

you can bet that I am more than thrilled!

And no, we will not be eating cold cereal for all our meals....

I'm stocking a pantry!!!

King

Laughter finds its way here.

Sparkle

a little sparkle, a little twinkle,

and more and more smiles everyday.

My husband reminds me gently that the

best beauty tip is the simplest:

smile!

(Sometimes that's easier said than done.)

"Nothing Lost....

....that may not be found, if sought. "

Sense and Sensibility, quoting Edmund Spencer

This past year, much has been lost.

Specifically, the happy memories.

Everything seems buried under a snowdrift of grief.

Many times, I put in the effort, took the pictures,

but sadly neglected to make the memory mine.

So here I begin, to recapture some of the past months

very happy times! Thanksgiving morning, 2008

Our first annual Cowboy Breakfast.

The menu: omelettes and hash browns,

hot cocoa, then apple pie!

The costumes: bought and scrounged just the day before....

complete with hats, neckerchiefs, and plaid shirts.

And for some, boots!

It's all in the Details

My stair-step boys.....

a little grimey,

wearing mismatched pajamas and holey socks,

but with very clean teeth.

Their night-time routine in front of the mirror

keeps me in giggles.

Details

When our "old" vintage oven

(bought at a yard sale 3 years ago for $25!)

started taking 45 minutes to heat up,

we looked online for replacement parts.

To fix the burners and the oven was going to be over $200.

After a quick scan of the classifieds,

we headed to the city to buy this uptown Frigidaire, circa 1952.

For $150, I now have double ovens, a clock that works,

and even a light that clicks on to say "Broil" or "Bake".

(You know my record with the Broil function!)

Everything works, except the timer.

Merry Christmas to me!

In One Word

Where is your cell phone? countertop
Your hair colour? Auburn

Your mother? pretty

Your father? funny

Your favourite thing? sunshine
Your dream last night? stillness
Your dream goal? Joyful

The room you're in? Cold

Your hobby? photography

Your fear? depression

Where do you want to be in 6 years? Debt-free

Where were you last night? Starbucks
What you're not? svelte

One of your wish-list items? Shoes
Where you grew up? happy

The last thing you did? cooked

What are you wearing? coat

Your TV? ick.

Your computer? time warp

Can't live without? Jesus
Your mood? pensive

Missing someone? Ellie

Your car? gas-hog
Something you're not wearing? earmuffs

Favourite shop? Yarn Store

Your summer? beautiful
Love someone? my boys

Love/Hate Relationship? T-Tapp

Current addiction? blogging
Your favourite colour? Brown

When is the last time you laughed? Last night

When is the last time you cried? this morning

Memories from a Wonderful Weekend

It's so much easier to have fun when I'm not alone.....

his childlike spirit is contagious.....

I did this, too!

What's NOT helpful?

The broil function on my oven, that's what.

I should be banned from that knob....

I always visualize gently toasting the bread,

browning the biscuits, or crisping the top of the muffins.

This is to remind myself,

next time I think I'm ready to handle it,

"Just step away from the broiler, Ma'am!"

p.s. they're not chocolate cupcakes, but corn muffins! I bet you would have never guessed, right?

Happy Saturday

This morning, we woke up silly.

Believe me, that doesn't happen very often!

Now, Mr. Wonderful is often very silly,

but I am ashamed to say that very rarely

does the bug cross my immune defense system.

Today was a happy exception!
A day full of fun,
and ending with my favorite meal
*waffles*
and football in the rain!

***note to self *** Be more silly!

(h)ello?

Ian likes to talk.

To anyone. To everyone.

Even to the neighbor's cow,

if no one else will listen.

New Things

You may not have noticed this about me,

but I am crazy to try new things.

Especially if they are:

1. free

2. old-fashioned

3. nostaglic

So I have taken to putting

my hair up in pin curls at night,

reminding me oh so much

of my great-grandmother!