Free

The best things in life

are things freely given...

My boys gathered sunflowers and leftover wheat stalks.

They know the way to this Mommy's heart!

Fair Time

 Our county fair is so small town,  so rural,  so po-dunk.

But we love it.

This was the first year that we entered the
"Veggie Character" Contest.

We had so much fun being creative with what we had...

Braden's guy ended up with quite the scowl...
and his purple sheen was so handsome!

Ian's Potato Snowman had a zucchini head,  and peas for buttons. 

(Later we added purple beans for arms).

James enjoyed the fair....he just loves to be outside,
anytime!

The food....always overpriced,  always delicious!!

Here's the highlight....the hair,  the moustache...the quirky personality...

and I'm still talking about the veggie dude! 

I do think he reflects quite well on his creator,  though,

don't you?

I entered quite a few garden vegetables and some flowers,

earning $23 in winnings.   I am trying to decide what to spend it on:

clothes shopping or a hydrangea bush for our front step.

Can you guess which way I'm leaning??

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.  

Preparing

Go ahead, give me....

Lemons!

My aunt gave us this lemon tree earlier this summer,

and we have watched it excitedly as the lemons matured.

(I can't believe that my boys resisted the temptation to pick one early!!!)

Just this week, we finally picked the first one.

The juice and zest made it's way into some cranberry biscotti,

while Ian finished off the rest.

More Harvest

With the generousity of friends

and the help of little hands,

this is now 3 batches of jam:

sweetness!

New J



It thrilled my heart to hold the littlest J
before she was even 24 hours old.

Here she is 4 days old,  and wearing a sweater that I knit for her.

You know,  babies have a special place in my heart.

It's just such a wonderful thing:

God has answered!

Harvest

As I worked in short shifts to get my peaches canned this year, there were many comforting thoughts for me to meditate upon. Who knew that the sights and smells of canning would have such a place in my heart?

I feel connected, rooted. I grew up canning with my mom and siblings....peaches were always a grand effort, done all in one long day. But even farther back, these golden delights have a tie to my great-grandmother, Grammy, who served them fresh on her homemade ice cream.

I feel postive about the future. By lining my pantry with bright and beautiful jars, I am providing nourishment and comfort for my family during the gray days of winter that are coming.

{Proverbs 31:25}

I feel hopeful. Fall is a time of abundance, the harvest. The God who governs the seasons of earth, giving harvestime after the summer of labor--- He is the God of my heart. He will bring fruit into my life again, if I do not become weary in doing good. {Galatians 6:9}

p.s. I'm now 14 weeks! Not that anyone's counting!

Giving

Back in December, my mother~in~law

gave me my first ever amarylis bulb.
The boys literally shriek with delight
over it's developement:
how tall it is,
how the blossoms are opening,
how red they are!
I've enjoyed every minute, too!

Cherry Pie

Our sour cherry tree, which Mr. Wonderful guarded jealously this year, both from frosts and birds, has rewarded us with our first harvest. Enough for three pies....

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.....

Scenes from a Happy Place

we traded:

photos for yarn.

A good deal.

Missing

..... A tiny jeweled star.....

I bought 4 of these last year

one for each child,

in expectation

of Ellie's

first Christmas.

How I miss her!

.

.

.

Christmastime is so bittersweet....

trying not to get so caught up in the hard memories

and "what-ifs"

that I miss what's in front of me today,

three precious boys whose childhood Christmas

memories are NOW!

Their innocence and eager anticipation

remind me to be a child again,

to see Jesus through their eyes.

Baby Blessing

Offering hospitality for my mom and sister's birthdays

came with a side benefit today....

my nephew Brogan (5 1/2 months old already!)

taking his afternoon nap

on my shoulder.

How is it that one hour

with this precious little man

fills my heart so?

One hour of tiny sighs, dreaming with a smile,

tiny fist on my neck, his eyelashes curling,

and ears so sweetly formed.

Oh, how I'm feeling it...

the blessing of baby love!

Glorious September

The colors get me every year,

leathery purples and reds,

giving way to juicy, soft yellow.

Reasons He's Wonderful, part 1

His pleasure is in ours....

Blooming

One of my favorite things about our old house

is the feel of mature age that comes with the big shade trees.

We are also blessed to have beautiful large shrubs:

this white spirea is clothed with

dainty white every spring.

Secret Signal

As unlikely as it appears,

this is the secret signal that Ian and I share.

Sometimes he starts it, sometimes I do....

but it always means

"Smile, I love you!"

New

Fun new bits come together with old things to inspire this nesting theme.........

Vintage Treasure

Meet my new assistant....

an antique dressmakers adjustable form....She needs a name.....

While she keeps Grace company!