Monday, October 31, 2011

light and life



 "For God, 
who commanded the light 
to shine out of darkness,

hath shined in our hearts
to give the light
of the knowledge
of the glory of God
 in the face of Jesus Christ."
 I Corinthians 4:6
***

 Schoolwork fills our mornings lately, and usually spills over into afternoon.  
Where does this leave time for blogging?  Baking? Stacking firewood?  
Doing something with all those apples!  
It's a crunch to get anything done 
after the school chores end and before the dinner chores begin
I'm not complaining; 
I have lots of help at the ready!  But I also have 
half finished tutu's on the couch, felt in a bag on the wood-box designated 
for Aloria's Christmas stocking, 
pounds and pounds of apples blocking the front door so it only opens part-way, 
folded stationary needing to be tied up in ribbon, 
a gift awaiting tissue paper and some postage stamps, 
canned pumpkin on the counter 
hoping to made into something yummy....... 
There's no shortage of fun things I can't quite get to!  

Tonight I had big plans for making bread, folding laundry, reading to my little Bugs, 
maybe even checking off a few things on the list above.  
Alas, 8 in the evening finds me completely without steam.  
The starch (if you will) is taken right out of me.  
It was a full day that started dark and early with crisp fall chill followed by crackling fire; 
a hot morning bath and quiet, uninterrupted Bible reading time; 
it was a day that saw much accomplished, 
and also not enough.  
But now....
Now I could start the next thing and instead I choose bed.  
A prudent decision, but not without some regret.
Tomorrow starts off with the same list of things to do, and probably more.  

The good news?
All my long list will be there to chip away at tomorrow!  
That same tidbit of reality is both the hard fact, and the sweet hope.  
Tomorrow is a new start, with (hopefully) new energy, 
new inspirations, and it's own hiccoughs that I can't predict.  
(and I'm glad for that!)

Tomorrow looks promising.
And so does bed.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

window mouth.



































No more apples for YOU, young lady!!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Just a regular day

When I stop and pay attention, there are so many things in a "regular" day that make it a "favorite" day.
It's important to look for those things though!
Here are a few of the favorites in my regular day :-)
















































































The boys (and today the girls too) have been working really hard at getting firewood split and stacked
in the woodshed.  I promised them an apple pie if they stuck with it.
Sometimes follow-through is the hard part......... and that's true for all of us.















































My job description of Mother has taken on a new facet: that of facilitating and supporting
a couple boys as they become men.  Building not only a friendship with these guys, and not
just being their mom, but being a woman who listens (a lot of this listening business),
laughs with them as peers, and encourages their dreams as well as labors.  I hope that one
day they choose brides that are better women than I, but until that time arrives I'll endeavor
to set the bar high, and try to instil a zeal for life in my men - even if it involves hard work!

(and perhaps more than a few small messes - it has been said that pie-making is messy!)
























































It was a joy to watch Carolina Truth apply "jewels" onto her crown
(a gift from her brother Clayton).  It took some coordination and fine
motor skills and even more of that follow-through I was talking about!


































Finally time to light up my wood stove - MY wood stove.   Somebody loves me :-)
























Among my most favorite things are these two favorite people enjoying a growing friendship.


































An this little one heard her sister enter the door behind her.
Craaaaaaannnnn.... "I see you sister!" says she.
























































Another favorite ':-)
























It's particularly wonderful to me that we live in a place where golden trees drop their golden leaves
where my children can scoop them up by armloads.  It's just perfect.























Wheeeeeeee-HAH!  It's still fall here and the Tamaracks haven't even turned yet!


























friday favorite things | finding joy

Thursday, October 27, 2011

autumn splendor









I promise pictures with people in them next post.  
I never was a scenery and landscape picture-taker..
until we lived here.

O' marvelous Marvel Hill.
You do color so nicely!
~



Wednesday, October 26, 2011

"Momma, what does "spoiled" mean?"

It means that rather than
teach my children good habits
and proper behavior,
I say instead:

"Awwwwe, how cute he looks 
sitting on the couch 
with a pile of carrots in his lap!" 



In Bug history this would NEVER have been allowed. 
Never.

But we don't seem to be apologizing do we :-)




Monday, October 24, 2011

Fall Color in the Waving Country

Join us for the Fall Color Sunday Afternoon drive we took together!

My friend calls this "Waving Country" because when you turn off on our dirt road, everyone
waves when you pass, when they pass, when anyone passes really.
It's only neighborly to wave back!
























































































































































































































































































































































































See the Grouse?  Susie spotted him.  He was eating the Elderberries and didn't seem to mind us!

































































































































































































































































Thanksgiving Dinner:  Coming Soon and Crossing a Road Near You!




















































































It's not New England, but I think we give the eastern side of the United States a run for their money.
I'm caught hook, line, and sinker.  If I wasn't already in love, I would be now!

Thanks for sharing the scenic drive with us.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

My own little Goldfinch...

Turning 4.  Not allowing me to push the pause button, she keeps growing up.


































Thank you Lord!  For my Carolina Truth!!!




























Happy Birthday precious daughter - you are so very loved!