Some smudges should be left

Laughter is the sugar that makes the medicine go down!

We are a little unconventional around here.
If you haven't been reading long, you may not know that we live up a mountain in the far north of Idaho
where we bought a piece of land with nice southern exposure, trees, and a year-round creek.
And... a shack.
With no power or septic or running water.

That was a full three years ago, and at a time when we thought a summer retreat would be fun.
Since then, we decided we love it up here so much, we'd rather call this unusual place home.
From the beginning of this venture we have been making "improvements" of all kinds;
things like power we now have (in the form of generator, and solar battery), also light in our main living spaces
via gas lamps.  We have water running.  IN our house which means easy dish washing, hot showers and baths,
laundry in a real-to-goodness washing machine - the kind you use at YOUR house,
not a tin wash board in a galvanized tub!
But even our water is something special - a gravity-fed affair from a tank at the top of our hill
which is filled by the excess overflow of an artesian well further up.

If you're thinking of going "alternative" whether from a dream, desperation, or illness (just kidding!),
I'd suggest starting from nothing because it's easy to get inventive when you have nothing!
There are a few things I would look on as absolutely essential to a crazy venture such as we have undertaken.

1) A dream and an ability to dream.
    If you don't own a vision and aren't passionate about it, it probably won't survive long.

2) A willingness to not only accept the parts that are uncomfortable but embrace them.
    They are the things that build character, and the things that make your story your own.

3) A love for living!
    The experience being something to enjoy and savor.  Blessings and "haves" counted,
    "have-nots" disregarded as unnecessary to happiness.

4) A sense of humor.
    I can't put enough emphasis on this!  You HAVE to be able to laugh at yourself,
    your failures, and the many MANY strange things you are bound to encounter.

There's more of course, like a good shovel and plenty of toilet paper(!)
But seriously, most the world doesn't live like modern America, so remembering that is helpful at times.
We like the pace that comes with this way of living.
At times we are surprised to find we miss some of those things that were "hard" once we've "improved".
We found that we love candles for lighting, coffee reheated over a wood stove, reasons for having to go outside all seasons and times of the day.
We laugh at each other wearing headlamps around like  fashion accessories.

We laugh a lot actually, which brings me back to the humor thing again; this is a sign I made for our
"toilet" room.  The one tiny room pictured above - a custom built composting toilet built attached to
our house but just outside the back door.
Being unconventional is very common up here - in fact, our brand is pretty decadent - but there are those
who visit us from modern, conventional, standardized, unimaginative America.
We have to prep them a little bit :-)
We don't call the toilet a "bathroom" but tell people to expect something more like a pit toilet, and they
are pleasantly surprised when they don't find a smelly outhouse in the woods.
(I'm sorry friends, but a lot of our humor is supplied by you!)

Our throne room, while usable, is still a work in progress, but there are a few uh, rules necessary to consider.
AJ has been wanting a kind and gentle warning, so on a day when I got a wild hair and found some of my
"fun" (albeit somewhat vulgar), this is what I came up with ;-)

So, just a little background to help you appreciate why you should grin - even a tiny bit - at this
unorthodox art project.
It may be mountain folk humor, but I had hoped it wouldn't be exclusively limited to folks with our illness ;-)

9 month reflections

I can't tell you how nice it is to have only a few small mirrors in our house and poor lighting!
There are such perks to not seeing yourself in  FULL - LIVING - COLOR every day.
We have just enough mirror to ensure that hairs are in place and teeth are clear of spinach;
to keep from scaring off our neighbors and giving our friends too much to laugh about.
As you can see, a glass door will suffice in a pinch :-)

This belly hasn't seemed humongous to me.  The rest of me feels humongous, but the belly seems
indicative of a petite babe.  I like that, even though there comes a point when a baby of ANY size
will seem large ;-)  That's just a little observation I've made with some experience behind it.

I'm waiting.
I'm not feeling anxious,
but I'd forgotten that I do become introspective and somewhat hermit-ish.
I do not feel creative. Or funny. Or fun, for that matter.
But during this time I find I am more and more ready to make the acquaintance of my baby.
My baby... what sweet words those are.
I am not one of those people who thinks it's easier to maintain life within the womb.
I much prefer to juggle a living being in the crook of my arm, or on my hip - even while stirring dinner.

With each pregnancy, the obvious has occurred:  9 months has passed much more quickly.
Busy-ness overtakes a household buzzing with daily life and all that pertains to it.
Even though all my babies are less than 2 years apart - most about 18 months -
this ones appearance struck me rather as "I JUST DID this!"
It was deja-vu :-D
I am learning that there are new ways to appreciate pregnancy and new life,
not so much for novelty any more,
but the wonder of the privilege when so many people are unable to carry life within.
Also I wonder at the privilege because God has seen me mother the children I already have.
He knows my failings and yet...
And yet He blesses me again, and again, and again.  His favor just overflows my cup!
THAT is a wonder.

Then there is this time of the final days of preparation.
Beyond the neat stack of clean baby clothes,
birth supplies,
eensy-weensy newborn size diapers,
corners that have been dusted,
drawers that have been organized...
there is a momma heart that begins to long for another baby.
How convenient!
Not only do I have the baby itch super-duper bad, I'm going to get one!
(and, I might add, it's a good thing to want a baby badly at this point,
because I'm going to need that motivation to carry my physical body through another
very serious workout!)

Well.  I'm there now.
Ready AND longing for this baby.  To hold, and kiss, and smell....

It IS a wonder - all over again!

I can't help it

Ahhh... some of my favorite subject matter!

I suppose I have other things to take pictures of. 
Other things to write about.
But this is my life.  Cammo and Polka Dots.
Messy faces.
Messy floors.
Brown tinted door jams at that 3-4 foot level
where dirty fingers
leave dirty hand prints on the walls.
Dust Bunnies pop out from under bookcases just to whisper
"we are evidence of a more important work going on here than house-cleaning!"
And when I take time to hear their message, I am actually glad of their presence.

These days at Marvel Hill see the dawn of a new era.
My  number 1 has learned to wash dishes well. 
I am training the second batch of dish-washers now and all parties are excited...
...for this short novel moment.
Zack loves to cook.  He loves to bake.  He can follow a recipe, and can improvise quite well too.
He's learned to clean up after himself, and actually wants to make dinners and breakfasts
so I am putting him on the job.
He's earned it, and it will be good to have cleaner-uppers for the after dinner chores
to take the load off him.
I'm excited too!
Training is hard work.  I don't like the part where I have to follow through.
I have to instruct.
Keep workers on task.
Check progress
and check "completed" work ;-)
But the fruit sure is sweet!  It's nice to have a bite of it now and again.

The younger ones are getting quite good at clearing the table, wiping it down, etc.
Because of these changes in daily dynamic
I am looking forward to this next baby's birth with the easy knowledge
that my home can be run well-enough
people will be fed
and messes mitigated
to a point where I can recover without fear of the house coming down around my ears:-)
Isn't that something?!

Yep.  The more I think about it,
There's really no better subject matter to brag write about.
These little snippets of cammo and polka dot are pretty wonderful.

Even if I do say so myself :-)

3 weeks left

And I am well.

New Tea I like :-)

School and chores keep my time filled completely
and then I nest when I can grab snippets of time here and there.
Purging toys, sorting clothes, putting together birth supplies
washing tiny baby things, dreaming....
And sleeping at night (?!)
If you ask me if I'm ready - yes.
I'm ready to hold this baby in my arms!
But since I am sleeping 8 hours a stretch at night
and not waking with back spasms;
since I am able to roll out of bed in the morning in less than a minute
and can step into the legs of my PJ's;
since I can see my ankles and wear most my clothes still...
I can't possibly be miserable enough to actually go into labor!
I suppose I could become miserable at the turn of one day,
but I'm not hoping (or asking) for it :-D
In the moments that aren't consumed with "doing"
I am trying to grasp the very great honor it will be to
worship my Lord in laboring to bring forth this life.
To remember that He delights in me
and has shown me great favor.
That labor is one relatively short step to accomplishing my hearts desire:
meeting my tiny love.
Not long now!

Smoochy Cheeks

"Where's Bryce" Episode #3

Chocolate covered cherries this time. 
Three left so probably... 2, 3 eaten?
Someone wasn't very smart about where they left them.
Really though, isn't it obvious mom is preoccupied with other things?
I'm just glad somebody benefits!

My Birthday

Me an' Mom (Thank you for my Birthday calls Mom O' mine!)

It was lovely.

I got birthday cards galore from all my children!

And phone calls from:

Grama

Dad

Mom

Courtney

Diane

Dad L

Mom L

Em

Molly, Nick, and Lydi

Kelli R...

I got Starbucks.

And I got to pick up my Beloved at the airport *sigh*

Went to Hobby Lobby (which I didn't know we HAD West of the Rockies!)

And Target.

Tell me, what could be better than that?

Oh yeah, I got a vacuum cleaner!!! (though I think that was more of a coincidence, not so much a birthday present - HA!)

I was treated to lunch out,

and then my day was topped off with dinner at Char and Hannah's!

(complete with chocolate cake resplendent in mocha frosting and 32 candles)

Thank you thank you THANK YOU for all your well-wishes and calls!

I am so thankful for a little more time to 

revel in the Lord's daily mercies :-)

Boy Blankie? CHECK!

I saw this most Marvel Hill-ish material and it spoke to me.
It said "Take me I'm yours!"
This print (and the one following) are part of a collection by Ellen Crimi-Trent called
Woodland Friends II.  I'm in love with the vibrant colors and playful mood.
And the Moose - can't forget that precious Moose!

(So Baby, if you're a little Boy baby... we're ready for you now!)

Also, I've had some fabric intended just for an apron and today?
I decided to make myself a Birthday present!
Yep.  Tomorrow is my birthday and I've had one favorite apron I got at my bridal shower
about 14 years ago.
It's never been my favorite print, but it has been my favorite splatter-guard
and it's been tired out for some time.  This darling new fabric gives me the perfect incentive
and since it calls my name too...
Happy Birthday to ME!

Just a FYI, the bird fabric in my Baby Girl blanket is a design by Valori Wells.
You can even find some lovely Valori Wells fabrics as well as other wonderful
bird prints on Amazon if you type in "Bird Fabric by the yard".

Promise to show me if you create something wonderful!

Aaaaand She's OFF!

Susanna has aced the "Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons"
That means the book is all Olivia's!
She's been waiting for quite a while now, and because I didn't let her start
while Sue was still working through it, she resorted to teaching herself what she could.
"Mom, how do you spell...?"

Strangely, now that we have officially started the book together I find
the girl is bored out of her mind!
Doesn't take kindly to all the repetitive rhyming and saying words slowwwwly and fast.
It's not a game.
It's not fun.
She's heard it all before when Sue did it.
And I am going to kill reading to make her jump through all the hoops
just because that's the program.

Today I decided to make that book work for ME instead.
I let Olivia skip all the exercises and just say the sounds and a few words
until we got to a list of words and THAT made her little heart go pitter-pat!
I especially enjoyed how she wanted to give me a sentence for each word she read:

"SEED... I have a seed I am going to plant!"

and

"SEE... I can see it and YOU can't!  That's bragging, isn't it mom?"

We made it to the first "story" with accompanying picture in lesson 13
SEE ME EAT
and that just tickled her SO much.  Perhaps now we can slow back down
to the books intended pace.  But if not, that's okay.
That book has been a super resource for me, but as with any tool we use in
helping our children to learn new things we must not forget that we are trying
to LEARN something, not complete a checklist.
So... whatever you use, don't be a slave to it.  make it work for YOU!