A Garden Pose

More of my Tribe. And this is Father's Day. I'm so glad they're mine.

Happy Father's Day to the guy who is my partner in this bumpy, ridiculously fun ride called parenthood!

Grabbing Country Living Where You Can

I've always been a country girl at heart.

When we moved out of the city, my heart longed for land but knew it had to settle for a large lot in the suburbs. The need to leave the city, find a new home before our fourth child was born, to land close to family and church all superseded the need for land.

So we looked for the largest lot on a cul-de-sac. The home we found was on the back side of a golf-course neighborhood and was bordered by one of the original farms of our area. Our backyard of nearly an acre snugged up to a farmhouse and barn built in 1907 and eighty acres of corn and woods.

It's been delightful to look out our back windows and see the old barn and chicken coop and pretend it is mine, watch the tractors and other farm equipment drive by as they work the farm. In the middle of the night, during planting and harvest you can hear the rumble of the giant machines that cultivate the ground or pull in the bounty - see their headlights as they work in the otherwise still, sleepy night.

Additional blessings came with the realization that the farmer knows some of my family, worked as a volunteer firefighter with my uncle for years and my dad worked with his son years ago at a lumber mill. It filled me with a sense of security.

Over the few years we've lived here, we've spent hours chatting over the rusty farm fence. I could talk with him all day as he shares memories of a time long past. And let me tell you, he has some wonderful stories.

This past winter his brother died in the farmhouse.
He's retired from active farming.
The farm equipment is being auctioned off.
The house is being torn down.
There's a quiet sadness about our farmer now. His era is coming to a close.
We talk a lot more than before.

But with the end of the old, there's been wonderful new. For us anyway. And I like to think it's been good for him too.

He's taken Noah under his wing and taught him how to drive one of the tractors.
Noah mows his property immediately surrounding the farm house and barnyard, just up to the woods. He's allowing us to use his chicken coop for our chickens.
He gives me tips about my poor garden.

I'm still longing for land of my own. And horses. I really hope for that before I'm too old to enjoy it. But for now, I'm content where God has me and happy he's giving me this little taste of country right here in the suburbs.

Skate

Balmy Christmas

If you've been reading long, you know how I love a white Christmas. Last year, though harsh was amazing and I loved it.

It seemed so promising when we had a beautiful white Thanksgiving this year.

However

This year we endured enjoyed a very balmy Christmas. The whole Advent really.

My parents surprised us with a professional photo shoot with our favorite photographer, Brittani Renee. 

It was a truly wonderful day. Warmth of weather. Warmth of heart.

 

everyone together. all of my siblings, their spouses, children. my parents

and grandma 

 

Dressings

Dressing the tree while my mechanic looks under the chassis.

A New Lens Again

She's at it again, our sweet friend Sini.

Here's a sneak peak of the 2014 fall shoot.

South Paw

1 in 4 people are left handed. 

His paternal grandpa and maternal great grandpa are also lefties.

A New Scholastic Year

Back to school picture day is more fun this way

Advice From a Singer Sewing Manual from 1949

"Prepare yourself mentally for sewing. Think about what you are going to do . . . Never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically. Good results are difficult when indifference predominates.

Never try to sew with a sink full of dirty dishes or beds unmade. When there are urgent housekeeping chores, do these first so your mind is free to enjoy your sewing. When you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible. Put on a clean dress. Keep a little bag full of French chalk near your sewing machine to dust your fingers at intervals. Have your hair in order, powder and lipstick put on. If you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband will come home, and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy your sewing."


This just makes me happy.

Winterscapes

The Great Skate

So thankful for hockey playing friends who can help. 

And . . . that's a wrap.

Mermaid Tails (or is it Tales)

because everyone has tails drying in the loo