on the farm :: fruit

I am going to be a very busy woman next year....applesauce, apple pie filling, dehydrated apple rings. You get the picture. This year we didn't get as many apples as there normally is because of the spring weather we had. Even so the kids and I have taken great pleasure in walking out to the yard and picking an apple off of one of the seven apple trees that we can chose from. Seven! We are so loving that.

 

 There is also a Ginormous (!) grape arbor. It is amazing...Lewis really built things of quality when he lived here. It looks like a large chia pet gone crazy doesn't it. Someone has been secretly feeding it miracle grow. Add learning to prune a grape arbor to my list of new things to do. Not too much pruning though because I am clearing out the weeds under there so Sophie and Hannah can have a secret place to play. It really is that big under there and they will have so many great memories.

fall

 Fall is here and one of the signs of fall to me is to plant mums

Mums, Mums, Mums!

Been busy cleaning out the beautiful landscaping here in our new home. I did an initial trimming and clearing this spring. 

Boy, do things grow fast! 

I was a little timid this spring in trimming and thought that I would kill things. 

This isn't the first time I had trimmed things mind you, but the first time I am trimming landscaping that is mature and I sure didn't want to be the one to do it in. 

Just found out that the tree above is a fig tree...go figure.

  Many, many treasure to be discovered...and much history of this house and the area of Melbourne to learn.

Weekend

photo courtesy of recipe.com

This weekend found most of us sick...yep, it even got the mama. Snuffly noses, sore throats and headaches. Lots of popsicles, naps and endless tv was the kid's medicine. Along with 2 big batches of homemade chicken noodle soup made by my girl Tessa. Good medicine.

Amidst the sickies I lost the main set of keys to the van and the replacement set wouldn't work. We all looked through my purse...over and over and over. Two days later Zack looked in there and they were there! I have not experienced God placing something somewhere before, but He sure did that with these keys. Amazing!

I have started painting the kitchen cabinets with this great tannish/gold color that was off of a magazine photo that I have had on my fridge for 2 years. :o)

I will share photos in the next few days

Hope your Monday is a good one!

Lori

blackberry season

 { 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.

More moments over here: SouleMama

 

::  fresh blackberry sauce on hot pancakes  ::

thinking of ::

 This morning my mind filled with all sorts of thoughts...feels like someone has the remote controller and they just keep switching channels. Probably because there are soooo many things to think about all at once~

* A dear friend is a grandmother for the first time..what a new beginning of a whole different kind! Congratulations Lu!

* We are nearing the end of buying this home, but uncertain if it will come under the fiscal year cut-off of Sept 30...if not we are in Congress's timeframe for releasing USDA loan monies.

* We have started a new avenue with our homeschooling and are under the supervision of a charter school. There are many emotions involved with this. ..frustration and at the same time excitement.

* This is the first day of fall! Cooler mornings and evenings, fall colors, soups for dinner, soccer games...ahhhhh.

thinking a big hot cup of caramel-cinnamon coffee and watching a Beth Moore Bible Study online may help this brain of mine to quit flipping through the channels this morning...

off I go!

New Strings

Aliss saved up her Sweet 16 birthday money this past month and bought a beautiful guitar from a local music store. Hannah has followed in her older sister's footsteps and has just gotten in the mail her first "bought with her own money" guitar.

pink

pink

PINK

 Grand total of instruments in our home now is:
3 guitars, 1 upright grand piano, 1 bongo type drum
AND lots of singing! :o)

edited:
I stand corrected-Tessa reminded me that we also have:
1 viola and 1 violin
How could I forget such beautiful instruments? ~grin 

Riding in the rain

 { 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.

More moments over here: SouleMama

the future

:: { Daydreaming } ::

*Work*

removing 1 tree
rolling back pasture fencing between 2 posts
fencing in the corner of pasture
rototilling

*Play*
putting in an english style garden around the edges of new garden
medallion garden in the center
mixing in perennials and seasonal produce
creating an arbor to walk under in new opening

:: { Daydreaming } ::

As we are heading into winter I find myself wrapping up outside projects that are still in the works in anticipation to move onto indoor projects in the colder winter months. The projects that haven't come to fruition now become daydreams for next summer....I love daydreaming in the winter.

How about you? Have anything you will be daydreaming about until the next season?

in the pasture

This morning

I had to share how serene the boys looked laying the pasture. Don't the neighbor's flowers look so perfect behind them?

I had a little visitor following me around the yard too :: Pixie is Hannah's baby.

roosters crowing
leaves falling
steer lounging in the pasture
apples ripening on trees

Autumn

Hannah :: 11

Hannah chose the roller rink as her party scene this weekend. She turned 11 on Thursday, got breakfast in bed, yummy family dinner with her choice of foods...she chose enchiladas and banana cream pie.
YUM

there's something about the roller rink,
sounds,
smells
and the memory of skating to
The Village People singing YMCA

this moment

{this moment} - Hang on tight!

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. More moments over at SouleMama

***

the drive home

For the past 4 Saturdays we have been bringing home mill ends for fire wood for the winter. It is very unglamorous work so I won't put you through an unending yawning marathon by showing you large piles of wood and people stacking it into their vehicles.

I thought I would share one end of the loop of Melbourne Road with you. When I was a little girl my mom would bring us down this road to visit Lewis & Carol who lived in this house then. I still feel like that little girl entering a peaceful place that is hidden away.
As I turn off of the highway onto Melbourne there is a quieting that I feel...the world slows down. My first instinct is to roll down the window and I sigh... Yes, really.

Berry picking

I haven't been blackberry picking for a couple of years. When we took walks in town I would nibble as we saw them, but out here it is relaxing to go out and pick. No worries about pesticides here. Have I said how very blessed I feel to be here? ~grin~I want to be able to savor blackberry pies and cobblers in the middle of the winter months. Hot berry concoctions with melting vanilla ice cream dripping off the top....can't wait!
We picked along the fence line in the pasture and then went for a trip down into the slough area of our property. It's like a magical forest land down there...so peaceful.


What are you enjoying in this beginning fall season?

summer :: trimming progress

This has been a summer of tremendous physical work...so very well worth it. I am so blessed to be living in this beautiful home. It is a work of love to be trimming the same bushes and caring for the same lawn as the previous owners Lewis & Carol. I am honored to be cleaning up the past neglect from when Lewis couldn't care for it anymore and making things fresh again.



I only hope it will shine as it once did, but differently for my family. The many rhododendrons, fruit trees, and grape arbor are getting tended to with loving care. In the spring this home is so colorful with just about every color of rhodie that there is....I feel like I am living in a state park.

So blessed...

You know the best thing after working hard is a treat right? Use up tons of calories working and drink them back up in a yummy coffee ;o)

I love caramel coffee with cinnamon and whip cream....how do you like yours?

sneeking away

trying out new goggles

Zack saving Bear when the current was strong for him

We snuck away to the river for a picnic yesterday...since we have moved it is only about 20 minutes away.

picnic foods, squealing children, swimming dogs and sun on my face...
sigh....