There are four

and they squeak!

Sweat Pea on the vine

Flowers should be cut every few days to encourage continuing bloom, a certain delight! Flowers can be put right into a solution of lemon-lime soda (sugar and acid) and water for a longer vase life. Use 2 parts water to one part soda.

Blue

Blue is my favorite color and yet I don't have much in my home. But the more I looked, the more I found. In the more public spaces I tend to decorate in warm, welcoming colors. In our more private spaces I use cooler, more relaxing colors. So blues have found a home upstairs in Noah's bedroom, the master bedroom and bathroom. (The girls' room is green).

Post a comment if you've accepted the challenge and I'll come take a look at your beautiful blues!

Annabelle's eyes

The pillows came with the couch, but I don't like them - too modern for my taste. I'll be recovering them soon I hope. I'm thinking something stripy but that's all I'll give away.

Handmade pottery by an artisan in the family.

Afghan lovingly crocheted by a cousin for our wedding. Snake not included.

The wall paper in my kitchen. The kitchen is blue and yellow, thanks to another family but when it is finished it will not be blue anymore.

Blown glass vase which reminds me of the crystal candlesticks I carried back from Sweden's Orrefors. But they are packed away - because I didn't have much blue to go with them - so they are a picture for another post.

Tea for one, or for three young.

Curtains I made for Noah's icy blue room.

Bathroom accessories for when the project is completed.

blue vase with pussy willow in my bedroom

slate blue coverlet

A dormer for reading or cuddling

My newish vacuum cleaner because what is a domestic engineer with out one?

Speak the Truth

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10

Do not be intimidated by anyone, but speak forth My Word as I give it to you. You have written freely and fearlessly. Now speak in the same way. Your spoken word must be brought into conformity with the work I have done within you. This you need for your own personal sense of unity. This you need for your own strength. For the house divided against itself cannot stand; neither can you so long as you bear one testimony in your heart and another with your lips. 

You are not pleasing Me but trying to please men. They will detect your inconsistency in spite of your best efforts, for in one way or another, the truth will break through. You need not say all that is in your heart, but you must either speak the truth or be silent. If you cannot bring yourself to speak the truth without apology, then speak nothing.

Let the life and witness of Jesus Christ be your guide. If you are willing to attempt to emulate His honesty, I will come to your aid to give you the wisdom also; so that the answer may be not only true but forceful. For you wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the unseen opposition of satanic forces. These may at times be arrayed against your soul even through your dearest friends, so that you may have to reply as Jesus did to Peter on one occasion (see Mark 8:33).

Do not set out to convert the world to your convictions but rather to hold you own convictions inviolable against the forces of the opposition. I will be with you and will guard your mouth. Trust Me.

~ Come Away My Beloved

Sunset on Wednesday

I love how the sun sets in my music room,
bathing everything in golden hues. 

Of course it helps that the walls are painted a sunflower kind of shade.

Unexpected Guests

These lovely winged creatures showed up across the street in the church's courtyard this week.

I think they are delightful!

Annabelle reflects

Cooper and Riley do too.

I have planned ahead for you

You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel. Psalm 73:23-24

Behold, am I a God that is afar off, and not a God that is near? For in the midst of difficulties, I will be your support. In the darkness, I am your Light; there is no darkness that can hide My face from the eye of faith. My beauty and My radiance are all the lovelier in darkness.

In grief, My comfort is more poignant. In failure, My encouragement the most welcome. In loneliness, the touch of My presence more tender. you are hidden in Me; and I will multiply both the wisdom and the strength in due proportion to meet the demands of every occasion.

I am the Lord your God. I know no limitations. I know no lack. I need not reserve My stores, for I always have a fresh supply. You can by no means ever exhaust My infinite resources. Let your heart run wild. Let your imagination go vagabond. No extravagance of human thought can ever plumb the depths of My planning and provision for My children.

Rejoice, therefore, and face each day with joy; for I have planned ahead for you and made all necessary arrangements and reservations. I am you guide and benefactor. Put your hand in Mine.

~Come Away My Beloved

Through the Bible week 6

Mon: Lev 16-18, 2 Chron 31-36, Ps 37-39, Acts 16-18

Tue: Lev 19-21, Ezra 1-6, Ps 40-42, Acts 19-21

Wed: Lev 22-24, Ezra 7-10, Ps 43-45, Acts 22-24

Thur: Lev 25-27, Neh 1-6, Ps 46-48, Acts 25-28

Fri: Num 1-3, Neh 7-13, Ps 49-51, Rom. 1-3

Sat: Num 4-6, Esther 1-6, Ps 52-54, Rom 4-6

Sun: Num 7-9, Esther 7-10, Ps 55-57, Rom 7-9

Have a good weekend . . .

And don't forget to brush!

Looking at Noah

Wacky Wednesday

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A few months ago, my friend Kay emailed this cute video to me and probably other homeschool moms she knows. Last week it showed up on my Jody's blog. It is so much fun I thought I would share it with you. 

Before you hit play, you'll want to scroll down and pause my music so you can hear the video.

Juicy summer days

each one more delicious than the last!

Through the Bible week 5

Mon: Ex.35-37, 1 Chron 19-24, Ps 16-18, Jn 17-19

Tue: Ex 38-40, 1 Chron 25-29, Ps 19-21, Jn 20-21

Wed: Lev. 1-3, 2 Chron 1-6, Ps 22-24, Acts 1-3

Thur: Lev 4-6, 2 Chron 7-12, Ps 25-27, Acts 4-6

Fri: Lev 7-9, 2 Chron 13-18, Ps 28-30, Acts 7-9

Sat: Lev 10-12, 2 Chron 19-24, Ps 31-33, Acts 10-12

Sun: Lev 13-15, 2 Chron 25-30, Ps 34-36, Acts 13-15

The oak tree

This grand oak is just perfect for a tree house. Look how it's just waiting there with its arms raised.

Another full weekend

When the days are full of going and coming it is so sweet to stop and enjoy moments like this.

We stayed over night with Liz and Mason and had a nice slow morning. Liz made a delicious breakfast including scrambled duck eggs. I was a little girl the last time I had duck eggs! They taste the same as chicken eggs though. Now I think I'm going to pick them up at the market a little more often.

The kids played outside in the spacious clover filled yard. After getting all of the wiggles out, we packed up and headed home, stopping at IKEA or a few hours of course. You can't be that close and not stop.

Happy Birthday today to Julie and Katie!

Over tired

Taking Mason back home today. What a full, fun week we enjoyed.  I think we're all a bit over tired. Have a good Summer, we'll see you again soon.

friends

Noah, Blake and Mason

Cooking 101 - Mama's little helpers

First, procure two cherub chefs and don you aprons

Togue optional, but very cute

What is a chef without the tools of her trade?

Ready, set . . . cook!

Don't you know that dinner tasted especially wonderful tonight?

Inflatable Mason

I don't think he'll sink, do you?

Finding fun

You can't keep these kids out of the water. While waiting to go swimming at the neighbor's pool, they sloshed through the rain puddles left behind from the storm that passed through earlier in the day.

Celebrating Freedom

Tradition holds that George Washington proclaimed, "We take the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing Liberty."

Photo by Imago Dei Photography

 
We had such a wonderful holiday weekend, full of memory making activity, but very laid back. Friday the 4th we enjoyed swimming, eating shish kebobs, making apple sauce, watching a puppet show and fireworks.

Annabelle's first time (since her birth) in a pool. She loved it!

Bronwen, Aunt Jayme, Noah and my niece Madelyn

Surf's up!


In the evening, Jayme gave a puppet show - Handsel and Gretel

Finally it got dark enough for the sparklers and the neighborhood displays of fireworks. (Still trying to get used to the day light savings time.)

It was so hard for Bronwen to stay up so late. When we came inside to watch the Boston Pops, she asked if she could go to sleep.

Saturday we said good bye to Jayme and after taking her to the airport, lingered to watch her plane take off.  Then we said hello to Mason who will be with us for the week. 

Sunday after church was a sweet, relaxing day at home with the children. I was able to sneak off for a little while and welcome my cousin's new little baby, Peyton. 

And today we went to the beach. Sadly, I forgot my camera so I missed Annabelle giggling as the waves tickled her toes for the first time, Noah being buried up to his chin, Bronwen playing in the sand, Mason trying to move a giant rock and a turtle trying to cross a busy intersection. We turned around and waiting for a break in traffic, carried him to safety rescuing him from certain death. 

Our four day weekend was very low-key and just what we needed. Hope your holiday was just what you needed too!

Reading through the Bible week 4

Mon: Ex. 14-16, 2 Kings 3-8, Lk 20-22

Tues: Ex 17-19, 2 Kings 9-14, Lk 23-24, Jn 1

Wed: Ex 20-22, 2 Kings 15-20, Ps 1-3, Jn 2-4

Thur: Ex 23-25, 2 Kings 21-25, Ps 4-6, Jn 5-7

Fri: Ex 26-28, 1 Chron. 1-6, Ps 7-9, Jn 8-10

Sat: Ex 29-31, 1 Chron. 7-12, Ps 10-12, Jn 11-13

Sun: Ex 32-34, 1 Chron. 13-18, Ps 13-15, Jn 14-16

The days are just filled

Jayme is still home and we have enjoyed spending as much time with her as possible. It feels like maybe she won't be able to come back again for awhile, so we have squeezed lots of fun into the last two and a half weeks. Sharing many late nights with her, our brother and our mates at a wedding, a sibs night and two different girls' nights with mom and Christine has sent me to bed quite late too many times. (My apologies, I'm very tired now and that sentence doesn't seem like it is constructed too well. But I cannot figure out how to fix it.) I never can go straight to bed, but must unwind for awhile with the Bible, a good book or a movie.

One of the best parts of her visit, Aunt Jayme spent one day with each of her nieces and nephew - the best gift she could give them, her undivided attention.

On Noah's day last week they played miniature golf and ate corn dogs and root bear. Yesterday, on Bronwen's day they did each other's hair, visited the make-up counter at Macy's, walked through the pet store and had lunch and played at Chick-filet. 

I don't yet have pictures of those days, but here are some other things we've been up to this week.

Yesterday Noah and Annabelle and I had a picnic at the park across the street.

Today we visited a friend's farm and helped to exercise her miniature horse Honey.

And we said goodbye to a favorite spot which will soon be destroyed to make room for school bus parking.