Shirley Goodness and Mayhem

Learning to Adore

2012-02-10T09:58:00.000-05:00

{Dominican Flowers}

I've been at a loss for words, but still longing to share what the Lord has begun leading me through. Well, an email popped into my inbox last night from one of my favorite blogs, a blog that generally leaves me teary-eyed and greatly encouraged; filled with stories centered on a family and their journeys of adopting their four beautiful African kiddos. And last night's post just simply said everything that I hadn't known how to say. If you're dealing with an angst of being perfectly content in the Lord and where He has you, and let constantly longing for more...of something; I think this post will be a great encouragement to you as well.

Our New Lambs...

2012-01-30T11:13:00.001-05:00

While playing with our camera, and my video software, I came up with this little glimpse of our sheep herd. :) It was mainly supposed to be an experiment to figure out a few things for another project I've been working on, so I only spent about 15 minutes on it - but it turned out to be a good way for you all to see how cute these little guys are. :) (Please excuse the mud. They do have options of drier places to go...it's just that their favorite patch is pretty waterlogged after these days of rain we've had.)

Going Back.

2012-01-24T13:11:00.010-05:00

I fell in love with the Dominican Republic the first day I spent there. (And that day was just a little over two years ago now - one week after the devastating earthquake in Haiti.) I think it might often be shrugged off as just a tourist spot, a cruise ship stop; I know I was guilty of thinking that once. It is truly an amazing place - banana trees, ocean, a rugged mountain back drop, and a fascinating eclectic mix of Spanish and African culture, in the food, music, and even the distinctive look of the people. I felt so blessed to be there once, and hoped, but hardly expected to go back. But I did.

My Grandpa, little brother, and I just returned this past weekend from 10 days there.

Our mission was to finish up construction on a local church building.

In a funny twist of providence that only the Lord could

have planned -

it turned out to be an enlargement project on a church my

Grandpa had helped build 35 years earlier.

He hadn't expected to ever find that church again,

let alone return to work on it once more with

two of his grandchildren.

It was amazing to be able to work alongside

the pastor, and even his own small grandchildren,

as we improved and repaired their home and church.

l-r: Missionary, my little buddy- Aylin, and I.

I knew absolutely nothing about tile and grout;

but after three days of non-stop tile work,

I feel pretty proficient. ;)

Despite the fact it's a country hidden in the Caribbean mirage,

it's still a hurting place.

As much as I struggled with the Creole accent last time,

I truly didn't expect to understand much of anything -

(I certainly haven't studied any Spanish in the past two years.)

So it really struck me as a blessing from the Lord

that my comprehension, and even ability to have basic

conversations was so much greater this time.

I love it when the Lord makes it so obvious that it's Him.

Not me.

My brother and I found photographer backdrop heaven...

And we found the propane guy again...

And we still complain about gas prices?... ;)
(That may or may not be in Pesos...)

The increased ability to communicate, along

with lots of insight from a local missionary couple

helped to expand my understanding of this beautiful place.

In the area we were working,

the clinic down the road receives several

cholera cases a week.

Sanitation, especially unclean water, contributes to this.

"Dengue Fever" and other mosquito borne illnesses are also

a somewhat common issue.

The Haitian communities especially, are struggling.

Extreme poverty continues to hide in the shadows

of nearby resorts.

And yet...

The Church is alive and well there.

What a blessing it is to worship alongside Dominican Christians.

Their joy is vibrant.

It doesn't matter how little they have,

or what struggles they are up against.

They testify that their God is greater -

and He continues to show Himself faithful.

A little friend at a local Haitian Church.

And as I've said before -

it becomes more and more evident,

it's when you have nothing else -

that you discover that He is truly all you need.

A 3rd trip seems unlikely, but my Grandpa's been back

8 times...

So we'll see what the Lord does in the future.

On the tearful morning we all parted,

the message exchanged was:

"No Adios, Hasta Luego!"

(Not Goodbye, See you later!")

10 year old Aylin, (pronounced Ilene) and I.
Work buddies. :)

Meanwhile,

We're back home;
at the moment. :)

Two Years.

2012-01-04T12:28:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends!
Perhaps you noticed the season of unannounced silence that descended on Kate's little nook of the blogging world? Has it truly been five months!? Well, I sat down to put together some sort of explantion half a dozen times I guess, but eventually decided to indulge in the mystery of simply disappearing. Today though - marks two years since Shirley Goodness and Mayhem's inception, so I'm back for an update.

Truth is, it was conviction about Time that called me away from blogging for awhile. The Internet was truly stealing my life away with moments here and there, and the Lord's pricking, (and eventual pounding over the head) of this realization brought me to a choice. As if there was really a choice to be made. :) It was becoming more and more clear that it mattered very little what I felt I was "accomplishing" with my days. Striving for a sense of "time-well-spent" was proving to be a complete waste, my delight must come from abiding in the presence of my Savior, not checking boxes off of my self-compiled lists. So, I deactivated the Facebook, unsubscribed from lots of things, and yes, stopped blogging. I've been looking for an adjective to describe these past five months, and gave up. :) It truly is a peace, (and joy) that passes all understanding.

{A daily miracle; sunset over the lake.}

The timing of my Internet "fast" was perfect. (Like everything the Lord leads us through!) It was within the week just after all of that, when the Lord made the next step I was meant to take very clear to my parents and I both. I have been nothing short of completely satisfied (and thrilled) to be right where the Lord has placed me with my family for this season, but when the opportunity came - the Lord gave us so many assurances that this time of seeking Him intensely was part of His plan.

{A day at Lily Lake. Yep. Sun spots.}

That was the week I applied, and was accepted to spend nine weeks at a place called Ellerslie. I knew next to nothing about Eric and Leslie Ludy only a year ago. I recall hearing about them only a few times before a friend of mine went last Fall. Soon after that another friend introduced me to the treasury of sermons on their website, which my family has continued to be greatly blessed with in the year since. I also saw Depraved Indifference for the first time around then. (Of course, I definitely think you should watch it if you haven't!) A year later, it suddenly became obvious to us that Ellerslie was meant to be more to me than just an online resource. They have plenty of information available on their website if you want more details about what a semester there is like, as words now fail me in describing that too.

I've been home for three weeks, and think I will simply continue to always be awed at what God has done. My time there seemed so short, and yet I'm amazed at what the Lord packed into my life in just two months. If you've been blessed by Wrestling Prayer, Bravehearted Gospel, Set-Apart Femininity, or others of the Ludy's books, then you have had a taste of what we were encouraged with there - definitely an overwhelming blessing. But even in this short time of being home, the Lord has only continued the work that He has begun. It has all grown so obviously clear, and though I think I knew it before, I know now, that it's not about me, or Ellerslie, or my life, it's just all about Him. All.

{Then sings my soul: How great Thou art.}

And thus I've begun 2012, chastened each day by the smallness of my view of the Creator of the Universe, but Daring to Ask for More, seeking His face, surrendering all. Trusting Him to bring to completion the work He's begun.

I'm not sure if I will make a complete return to blogging or not. As you can imagine, with a five month break, there is plenty to be shared, so we'll see.

In the meantime, I'll just finish up with these few snapshots of my Colorado adventure, and thankful praise of God's faithfulness in all that He does. His timing is perfect. Down to the second, perfect.

{The Lake}

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are My ways higher than your ways,

and My thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:9

{A snow covered campus.}

"Forbid it Lord that I should boast,

save in the death of Christ my God!

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood."

Why Sheep need Shepherds...

2011-08-01T07:30:00.001-04:00

A sheep will be a sheep;

that's all there is to it.

So while it might be a little disappointing to find the patriarch

of our flock in this predicament, it's not all that surprising...

Well, hey - Woolly smelled some yummy chicken feed,

and there was nothing else to be done.

As you can see, it backfired for the poor guy.

The rest of the herd ran from him like he was some

terrible monster. Pretty funny.

The best part had to be his "amplified" bleating for help...

Good thing we noticed though...

he would've been mighty thirsty after awhile.

And we are like Sheep...

Where would we be without our Shepherd?

Foto Friday: Sunsets

2011-07-29T07:30:00.017-04:00

I've been a frequent visitor to Renaissance for...

yikes - a couple of years now, I guess;

and have often contemplated joining in the fun

they have over there on Fridays...

I enjoy photography,

but feel that I have a few too many hobbies

in my life already to label anything else as such...

My camera is simply my means of capturing the

moments that I don't want to forget about,

I don't aspire to much beyond that.

Still, getting to share my unforgettable moments

each week sounds rather delightful,

and having a theme to inspire where I look for them?

That sounds lovely too.

When I saw that the theme this week was sunsets,

I figured today was as good a day as any to begin.

I'm fresh back from Florida you know,

and my do they have sunsets.

That last one is my official favorite. I think.

(Definitely go visit Rebecca at Renaissance if you haven't before.

Her blog is such a sweet, happy, and inspiring one. :)

My Room...

2011-07-28T07:30:00.001-04:00

These aren't the best possible photos

(natural lighting in my room isn't the greatest)

but I thought you all might like to see how my room turned out.

My new orchid in my window.

I promised updates on our new house months ago.

Thus far...I believe you've seen the bathroom... :)

So, without further ado,

a very undetailed glance at my new room.

I went with Robin's egg blue, and white for the main colors.

The view from the door.

My extra-wide window sill is one of my favorite things;

I really don't like clutter, but I find myself decorating with unusual objects.

For instance, there's "Wellington", my knitted monkey that a

friend made for my eighteenth birthday :), (he gets moved periodically-

right now he's in my window along with my orchid), a teacup full

of buttons, a tiny bust of General Grant,

a rock from Little Round Top (Gettysburg),

and a Polish pottery mug of my favorite drawing pencils.

Spencer knocked this teacup off a few months ago...

It's full of cracks and glue,

but it works great for my button collection. :)

And here's my desk,

or shelf, rather.

Painting stuff, camera, knitting stuff,

and a clock to keep track of time...

This is my knitting corner...

The portrait I painted of my cat "Favorite"

keeps an eye on my bowl of leftover yarn.

In the corner is my converted picnic-knitting basket,

and there's the computer chair that goes with

the desk in the last picture...

And there you have it. :)

Hello There!

2011-07-26T07:30:00.000-04:00

I'll admit, it can be a little fun to go faraway,

and not really tell anyone that you're gone.

Faraway.

That's where we've been.

Harbors. Boats.

Fireworks. Family.

Silly Seagulls.

Family Feet.

Photographs; just waiting to be taken.

Amazing Nephews. Angry Skies.

Bait stealing Birds...

Reminders of our Creative God. Everywhere.

Islands. Benign Pirates...

Sunsets. Together.

Memories. Old ones; and new ones too.

Piers. Fishing Poles. Baby Sharks...

Reminders of God's detailed attention to the littlest of things.

We're home now.

More blogging soon to follow...

21 years...

2011-06-30T23:00:00.000-04:00

It's so hard to believe.

I'm not 20 anymore;

and I won't ever be 20 again.

Time just never stops, does it?

Every long once in awhile I find myself wishing that there was

a pause button, or even just a slow motion button,

somewhere.

Actually, I'll be truthful;

I find myself wishing that more and more.

I was thinking about those silly dandelions again,

and how the breezes of life and time come and scatter

the delicate little parachutes of my days, months, and years.

They aren't wasted, they have their purposes,

but they won't be back again.

A vapor, a flower that fades,

this life goes oh so quick.

21 years were just a blink.

I don't even want to consider how quickly the next 21 years

could come and go, if the Lord grants them to me.

I so badly want to make them count.

It's only by God's grace that we can find any meaning in life,

that anything about this short journey can be truly worthwhile.

Truly Eternal.

My prayer in this season continues to be:

that when my moments here are gone -

that I will have held back nothing.

That there will be

nothing left,

that I wished I'd done, or given up,

in pursuit of the Lord's perfect will for my life.

That it will all be poured out -

for the glory of Christ.

Thanking Him for 21 years.

Cheeez :D

2011-06-24T11:17:00.001-04:00

You know those once in a lifetime shots that just happen?

My nephews and I were out visiting the sheep dog "Barclay"

yesterday morning; and I got one.

Wes was smiling for the camera,

and I was trying to get the big silly puppy's attention,

when all of the sudden he looked right at the camera

and flashed the cheesiest grin.

Of course I immediately toppled over, laughing,

and it wasn't long before two little boys took a look and joined me.

What's especially hilarious

is that this dog is almost harder to photograph than Spencer;

he just won't sit still.

So to have him suddenly pose so perfectly

was incredibly funny.

It looks so fake.

I think I have a new favorite photo. :)

a dairy, a bottle calf.

2011-06-23T10:15:00.001-04:00

My niece and nephews will be headed home soon.

(Does it bug anyone else that their isn't a plural word for niece

and nephew such as "siblings," etc. ?

"Nieces and Nephews" can be a mouthful.)

((And there aren't gender distinctive words for "cousins";

that bugs me too...))

Moving on.

One day last week, we were able to take the kids to a dairy

run by a farmer friend of ours.

He has a new batch of baby cows.

And most wonderful of all,

they are bottle calves.

One in particular is so very tame.

Having had lots of bottle babies of different species

in seasons past, I wouldn't ask for such a responsibility -

but the kids were absolutely delighted to have a short visit.

You should have seen this girl eat.

She chugged her breakfast down almost faster

than I could get pictures.

And for the remainder of our visit,

she drooled sticky, milky, calf slobber all over us. :)

It dried pretty fast though...

When I got back to the van,

and pulled out the hand sanitizer...

Advice:

if you ever find your hands coated in dried calf drool,

and you are far from running water and soap -

skip the hand sanitizer. :)

It brings the icky-stickiness right back to life,

and that's about all...

Just view the trip to Wal*Mart afterwards

(smelling like a herd of cows)

as a memorable moment in history;

in a good and humorous way of course.

The other highlight of our trip...

Visiting "Spot" -

known to us as "Buster Jr.".

He really is Buster Jr. too.

His momma was a Great Pyrenees that lived about a mile from us.

I'll never forget the day we drove by and saw all of those

black and white pups rolling around the yard...

When we met Spot a few years later,

we thought we knew where he was from;

and we were right. :)

It's so sweet to see Buster's brown eyes again.

Yay for dairies, and cows, and unplanned pups.

and Niechews. ;)

The latest...

2011-06-16T11:21:00.001-04:00

The garden decided to grow all of the sudden.

It has gone from this:

To this:

We added the gravel paths too.

Boy, don't want to do that job again...

And I guess you know by now that every post must be

interspersed with the faces of adorable dogs...

So here you go.

The potatoes looked good like this:

But they've pretty much taken over at this point...

We've been picking peas too.

I always end up wondering if they're worth it...

Oh. Another dog.

Weeding goes so much quicker with all these little

helpers around!

(And Spencer doesn't count...)

Want a glimpse of my next daunting project?

We have to convert this:

into a potting shed of sorts.

For 12 years, it was the goat shed,

and it has seen a lot of wear.

That's it for now!

a Girl and a Kitty

2011-06-14T12:57:00.001-04:00

Yesterday,

a little girl I know discovered a wonderful thing;

a fuzzy, friendly, orange ball of fluffiness.

Who needs a baby doll when you've got one of these?

Our little Squirrely cat has been waiting all of his life

for a little girl like this one...

I know it looks sort of painful,

but trust me on this one.

He's eating it up.

Sometimes I wonder if God didn't create happy

orange kitties just for the sake of little girls.

There's something about a teddy bear that

purrs back at you.

They helped make my girlhood a happy thing,

and I think my niece would agree -

they're pretty amazingly wonderful.

Even if you're just five years old,

there's a little mother in you.

And every once in awhile,

you just need something cuddly to lug around.

Something that loves you back.

Something that's not too breakable.

That's why I think little girls and orange kitties are

a match made in heaven.

When God made the world;

He thought of everything.

To be a kid again.

2011-06-09T06:30:00.005-04:00

My sister's kids are visiting us here on the farm

for the first time in a long, long, while.

Having three kids in the house has been a sweet reminder

of how wonderful childhood really is;

and for two weeks - I get to relive it.

Day One: The Creek.

My brother and I almost grew up in this creek.

Picnics, "fishing," rock collecting, "panning for gold"...

I still make frequent visits to the creek,

but I hadn't truly been in it for awhile...

There's something about being between five and ten years old

that makes the world so wonderful,

little adventures so thrilling,

nature's wonders so enthralling,

and God so infinite and utterly in control.

I wish that wasn't all so easily lost.

One day you grow up and think you know everything,

and sometimes you never realize just how much

you've managed to forget.

So, today we waded,

we wondered,

and let ourselves be astounded by nothing much at all.

We laughed uproariously at a crazy dog.

We got wet.

We sniffed flowers,

and then we picked them and put them in our hair.

(Well, at least the ladies did.)

Even Huck had an afternoon to remember what

being young felt like.

We imagined snakes in every bush,

and crayfish under every rock;

'cause every adventure needs a touch of peril.

Then we headed home,

wet, tired, and already plotting tomorrow's escapades.

It's always good to be a kid again.

Hi....

2011-06-07T22:23:00.000-04:00

Thinking back, this little unscheduled break I've

taken is probably the longest lull in the action here since this

blog's beginning...

Sorry.

It finally stopped raining around here,

and things just got busy.

Truthfully, I've found myself wondering if I

should actually refocus on posting here more often,

or back off again, more purposely.

Life is short, time is precious,

and the reality of that weighs heavier on my heart every day.

I've never been much of a blogger in search of numbers,

I just like to write, and tell stories.

But I am definitely thankful for each of you that take

the time to visit, and comment,

and make blogging the lovely thing that it is.

I'll keep writing here,

but I'm not planning on pushing it this Summer.

I'll be writing only when the inspiration strikes -

and those inspiring moments typically laugh at any

form of schedule or regularity...

So, I'm back. Maybe. :)

Faith like a Dandelion

2011-05-19T10:31:00.001-04:00

The dandelions have already come to grace our lawn with their faithful presence. Some have even already spent their blooms, and are prepared to complete their little flower lives by spreading the joy. The neighbors will be so thrilled, I'm sure.

I took a moment to admire these little guys one sunset a few days back, and for the first time in many years, I was filled again with the wonder of a dandelion. Just for a moment. It's my belief that dandelions are a child's right-of-passage into the world of rejoicing in God's handiwork. One of the first objects to be noticed. I've never met a little one that didn't think that they're just marvelous. We all picked them for every soul we knew, and proudly so; and those that survived in the yard to full maturity had their tiny parachutes blown to every corner and beyond. (I'll never forget that hot Summer day when some thoughtful little friends of mine filled my car with them as a sweet "Thank You." Ever... :) Heat does amazing things to dandelions...) Perhaps we'd love them so for the entirety of our lives, if the day didn't always come when someone finally gets the heart to break it to us:

"Sweetie....Dandelions are...actually...weeds."

For just one moment, pretend that your mother never got around to sharing those harsh facts with you. Imagine that those bright sunny faces are meant to be liked again. That's what I did that dusky evening. I wondered, I admired, and I got to thinking...

What a miracle it truly is, that such a teensy soft little thing as a dandelion seed, could fly so far. (Over 100 yards.) What a wonder that something so tiny-small could survive even long winters, and live to put its roots down so very deep, and grow so sturdy, so strong. To thrive, no matter where it lands. Even when so much effort is poured into stopping them; they cannot ever be completely overcome. Their name means "Lion Teeth." So strong, and ferocious.

And it crept over my consciousness:

"What if I had faith, like that?"

Faith is on my mind incessantly right now. This exhilarating process of learning to believe what God has said, not just with my mind, but with my life. And not just with little sections of it, but all of it. Perhaps that is why this picture comes with such clarity right now.

I suddenly long to have faith, such as that. At this moment in my life, so many of the Lord's promises may seem so tiny and delicate, and even unlikely to the doubting eye. But as I examine this intricate design of His, I'm reassured: those little fluffy things will travel so much further than even I imagine, some may even land in the most unlikely places, but they will grow. They will thrive. Those promises will grow strong, deep, roots - and they will defy the poisons that are intended to destroy them. They will leave their eternal sunny stain on all that comes in contact with them. :) And in due season, they will spread, until there isn't even a corner of my life that isn't brimming with the Will, the Grace, the Mercies, and the overwhelming Faithfulness of my Heavenly Father. That's what I long for.

Perhaps that faith of a child that Jesus spoke of has a little something to do with a child's attraction to these "weeds". As we give up our wonder over the little miracles like dandelions, we seem to give up our complete trust in the one that created them.

I'm seeking for that simple faith again, the faith that takes God at His Word, and is willing to risk all for His sake.

Faith like a dandelion.

"And Jesus said unto them...

If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,

ye shall say unto this Mountain:

"Remove hence to yonder place;

and it shall remove;

and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

Matthew 17:20

"Whoso therefore shall humble himself as this little child,

the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."

Matthew 18:4

My Mom

2011-05-18T09:40:00.001-04:00

I know, Mother's Day was ten days ago...

but any day would be a good day to write about my Mom,

it's something I haven't done here much.

Where to start?

She's my best friend; always has been.

She has always been there for me whether I need to

laugh, cry, or just sort things out.

She's hilarious.

We laugh until we hurt when we get started.

It happens a lot...

She's one in a long heritage of exceptional cooks.

She can make recipes up on the fly, and they still don't flop,

it's almost always from scratch,

and 97% of the time; it's very healthful too! :)

She's one of the most creative people I know...

Always teeming with inspiration.

We don't always agree on those things -

it can be interesting having two right-brained,

artistic types in the same house sometimes. :)

One of my favorite things about my Mom is

her Adventurous spirit.

She's always up for something new and exciting.

Sometimes it cracks me up,

sometimes it scares me, badly, ;)

but it has made me willing to be flexible in life,

and I'm so very thankful for that.

Not to mention all of the incredible memories I now

have from all of those days that we just "went for it."

I've met some pretty interesting people,

visited some fascinating places,

and have lots of great experience in all sorts of crazy things.

Whether just a trip to the store,

or a trip across the ocean to visit my sister in Germany,

each moment together has always been memorable;

and I love that.

I might've even caught that Adventurous spirit in the process...

Most importantly,

my Mom loves the Lord more than anything;

and that is so very clear.

There has never been a moment I've gone through,

where she didn't have a Scripture to encourage me,

or a minute to stop and pray.

There has never been a time when those weren't the first answers,

and I'm so especially thankful for that.

I'm thankful for her wisdom, her grace, her daily

example of selflessness.

I'm so thankful for every single day working with,

learning from, and being blessed by her.

I hope I'm a lot like her someday. :)

I love you, Mom!

a visual explanation

2011-05-14T06:30:00.001-04:00

I haven't been the best blogger of late,

because life has been keeping me busy.

I thought you all might enjoy a brief explanation,

in photo form.

Potatoes, Cabbage, and Sage. A happy trio.

First off, the garden.

A few short months ago, all that existed of our new

garden area were some sketches on paper, great ideas from friends,

and lots of dreams in our heads.

The whole process of building, filling, planting,

and general moving, transplanting, and landscaping -

has been a lot of hard work.

As we continue to shift the focal point off of our previous house

and begin arranging a new garden etc. based on our new home.

It's going to be completely worth it though.

I love being outside, so no complaints here! :)

Here's a little section of my herb garden that I just finished

building (using bricks from the 100 year old school house down

the road that is in the process of falling down.)

I'll have to get a photo of the whole area once it's finished.

Then there are always the animals.

You've seen the sheep plenty, but wow -

my little chickies have grown up since their last blog appearance.

One of our little meat birds. They grow so, so fast.

Those chickens have been quite the little project.

Moving them around, and keeping them confined is

almost a full time job.

I'm trying to do a better job of keeping these tame,

(just less flighty and easier to manage.)

As a result of a long list of circumstances,

a bunch of them were loose and running around last night

just as it was starting to get dark.

(The cute little things don't like the dark, so most of

them came running to me. :)

I finally had the last two in my arms and on their way

back to their house (running from mosquitoes)

and one crazy little hen bit me; and would not let go.

Since my arms were full of chickens,

there wasn't much to be done about it.

Lovely little beak mark on my arm...

Makes me wonder if all of that taming and

classical music business did them any good at all...

I'm feeling very betrayed at the moment.

Chickens.

That's about it for now.

The rain is taking a break around here,

and we're taking advantage.

I've been snapping pictures like crazy though,

so there are bound to be more posts soon.

Have a great weekend!

A word from Pollyanna

2011-05-10T18:12:00.006-04:00

Well, actually several words; she has quite the vocabulary you know. I took the opportunity to video her on the sly one afternoon while she was having one of her talking fits. It was brought on by a lovely instrumental CD that we were listening to. For all of her own obnoxious squawking, the bird does have quite the musical appreciation. Violins especially, make her very happy indeed.

So, without any further ado, here is three minutes of proof for you all that our little green fluff ball does truly speak. I'm interested to see if anyone else can understand her without it being interpreted... You can definitely tell the point in the movie when she spots me - as she begins asking for crackers, and then when denied, progresses to laughing at me before completely relapsing into the typical bird behavior... Preening when we actually want her to say something. :)

I'll do some interpretation if nobody is able to figure any of it out. :)

By the way...the clips on her doors are there for the purpose of keeping her in... You would be surprised.

(Later: Some of you are understanding her pretty well! For the rest that are still wondering, she is saying: "step-up", "come on", "good boy!" "I love you!" "Meow" "Here Kitty, Kitty!" "good girl" "pretty boy" "wanna cracker?" "huh?" "pretty girl" and at the end she is giggling to herself and muttering "really..."

a promise in the sky

2011-05-03T11:40:00.007-04:00

Friday afternoon, the storm clouds parted for just a moment -

and in the east, we spotted the biggest, brightest rainbow that

we had seen in many, many years.

It had begun to fade a bit by this point...

I was immediately reminded of God's promise.

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and

it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears

in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and

you and all living creatures of every kind.

Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it

and remember the everlasting covenant between God and

all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

Genesis 9:13-16

If you live anywhere in the Midwest right now,

you might need a reminder of that promise too. ;)

It's beginning to seem as if the rain will never stop!

But, for a little bit Friday, and then Saturday -

we had a short reprieve.

Time to work in the garden, and enjoy the apple blossoms.

Today,

it's raining again...

but I'm learning many lessons about trusting

in God's promises in all areas of my life.

He is good.

Sheep Shots...

2011-04-28T07:30:00.000-04:00

Well, I guess I warned you;

Here are more of the latest from the woolly ones.

Sweet momma sheep.

Galey and Samantha. :) Born the same year (2006); and like sisters ever since.
How can those two be five years old now?!

Hey, smart little thing she has there...

Ah, and here is our special surprise lamb of the year.

Not a speck of any color on her - she's solid black! A first for our flock.

And there she is with her sissy.

I must say... that's a pretty adorable little face she's got. :)

That's it for now!

Gerald the Babysitter

2011-04-26T09:07:00.003-04:00

Gerald;

That would be the big guy in the middle.

Don't ask me how he got such a title,

it was one of those things that just seemed meant to be...

it fell out of my mouth one day in his direction.

"Gerald"...

(The dark sheep to the right is Gerald's sister too.)

And...

for reasons unknown to the human among us -

the eight of his tiniest half-siblings...

(who might as well be octuplets -

they were born to four different mothers in just three days!)

well, they are pretty crazy about Gerald.

You might even say they pester him.

A lot.

Napping in peace is part of Gerald's past.
(Hey, at least they weren't tap dancing on his back at the moment.)

I wish I had gotten more photos when they were itty-bitty,

but our little lamb set is still pretty cute.

Does it look like we might have enough?

Gerald thinks so too.

Enough sheep pics?

Ha. I've got plenty more where these came from...

Just Wait.

be not weary

2011-04-22T13:56:00.002-04:00

It's cloudy again today, rainy, cold.

Sigh.

Between some pesky animals (with digging paws),

the cold spells, and "endless torrential floods" of rain -

it's easy to feel that all of my hard work on our new garden

has thus far come to naught.

If the seeds weren't completely unsettled by the cat

and the dog, surely they must've been frozen or washed away.

Discouraged.

A few days ago,

I was in the process of miserably staring through the

rain-streaked windows at my pitiful little garden.

So much hard work, so little reward.

At that moment, every situation facing me seemed so difficult;

I was sick of putting so much effort into projects,

only to have my work destroyed, or not appreciated.

I just wanted to give up.

For a moment I was tempted to doubt that it was worthwhile.

Those are always the instances when the Lord gives

me some hope; and this moment was no exception.

As I stared at that drowning garden,

and allowed myself to become frustrated and weary,
of all those areas that just don't seem worth the effort right now-
the Lord graciously brought a verse to my mind.
Just the sort of promise that I needed to be reminded of;
a verse that suddenly applied in a way I hadn't considered before:

"Be not weary in well doing:
for in due season ye shall reap,
if ye faint not."

Galatians 6:9

What a perfect verse for this time in my life.

One I've often quoted before,

but never soaked in quite as fully as I am now.

I'll admit, as a single young woman who has chosen

to stay with my family and under my father's protection -

it can sometimes be easy to see this phase of my life as

a lot of tilling hard ground, planting seeds,

and working through some rainy Spring days -

without a whole lot of substance to show for it.

(Not counting the obvious blessings of being with my
precious family - you know what I mean.)

It takes so much Faith.

Each decision, each step of sanctification and surrender

to the Lord, and His will for my life,

each act of obedience in the tasks I've been handed -

are like little hope-filled seeds.

And I'm called to keep planting them,

to keep cultivating them,

whether I can see the fruits immediately or not.

It's all about being faithful in the "little things" right now.

The cloudy days do come in life,

the seasons when you feel like you sacrifice so much -

and your efforts to human eyes seem a mockery,

or even a complete waste.

But for the Wisdom of a loving Father,

and His precious Promises.

I thought perhaps there is another young lady "out there"

who might at times find herself weary in well doing.

Don't be faint of heart or spirit,

we shall reap in due season.

Never forget where your treasure is.

Those seeds that I felt would never amount to anything,

have now emerged in the garden as tiny seedlings;

they didn't come up exactly where I planted them; :)

but they are there.

And with time, there will be a harvest.

The Lord has promised.

a heart that breaks {reposted}

2011-04-13T16:51:00.002-04:00

{If you've been reading my blog for at least a year, you've most likely already read this post - but it's a topic and story that still weighs heavily on my heart, so it seems to bear repeating. What follows is a story that I wrote/posted here exactly one year ago today - about an experience I had on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic in January 2010.}

It has almost been three months since I was riding a bus through the streets of Santiago, Dominican Republic with my grandpa. It was one week after the earthquake in Haiti. Our mission trip to the DR had nothing to do with Haiti (it had been planned months in advance), but Haiti was on all of our minds. The very slight tremors of an aftershock woke me up early one morning, and 120 miles really didn't seem so far away.

Being in Santiago for those few days gave me a connection to Haiti, and - Haiti has served as a reminder of Santiago ever since. Santiago; the second largest city in the Dominican Republic. Big, busy - but still hurting.

There's a certain street there that I remember most of all. I can always tell when I'm making a memory that will last forever. It's almost as if it's burning into my brain - and I'm conscious in that second that it is something I will never forget. Time seems to stop, as my mind hurries to pull in all the details, details that will give that moment life in years to come.

As we bounced along that Santiago street, approaching a busier side of town - I noticed a few things. The increased honking of horns, and truck exhaust, the very same fast food restaurants as back home, and the children on the street.

At every stoplight, the children ran and ducked among the cars - throwing wet soapy sponges on car windows - their somewhat forward way of advertising a car wash. Some sold water, some would offer to shine your shoes, some washed windows. Anything for a couple of Pesos. And as they swarmed, racing for time before the light turned green again - I found myself stunned and overwhelmed. The missionaries warned us to watch our belongings. These kids were quick. My camera went back in its case.

We went another street deeper, another light caught us. We were further back in the line of traffic, it didn't look like the children on this corner would make it back to us this time.

I wasn't the first to see her, someone else pointed her out. I caught a glimpse of her as she ducked behind the car next to us, she spoke a word or two to the man inside - and then moved on. She was frail, tiny. By my American standards I could have guessed her to be six or seven years old - but chances are she was older than that. Her dusty hair was held in place with little pieces of colorful yarn and her stiff denim jumper was dirty and worn. As we watched her leave the shadows of an overpass to our left and come our way, I knew she was different from the children I had been working with that morning. I knew she was one of those moments I would never forget.

I still can't imagine why she chose me, perhaps she could read the pity in my eyes. For whatever reason - it was my window that she chose to approach first. She stopped, and she looked straight into my eyes. I've seen eyes with hurt in them. Pain. But I've never seen a child with eyes like these. I felt that I was actually peering into the depths of darkness itself. It was almost as if her soul was right there - right behind those empty black eyes, and its lostness, its ache, all of its needs - simply poured from them. I was already holding the tears back, stunned, distraught. And then she whispered: Pesos? - while holding out her hands. Everything hit me full force then. The language barrier, the fact that I had no money to give her (it was a holiday, thus the banks were closed, thus no dollars exchanged for pesos yet) we had actually been instructed to not give money even if we had it - others on the street were watching, and if I had given her anything, it might have put her in danger. I knew all this, and it poured through my head as I looked at her. Pesos? She implored with me - knowing that time was short. There was literally nothing I could do for her, and the weight of that broke my heart. Lo siento, was all I could say. Lo siento; I am sorry, so very sorry. Her eyes flickered - and then she was gone; she ran to a few windows more, desperately trying for what time she had left. None of us had money. The light had turned green, she knew she had to get out of the way before traffic ran her down. But there was one last thing for her to do. Her little face lit up with an evil smirk, a look even more frightening than the hopelessness I had seen before. She walked down the row of bus windows - and at each one she spat a word. A Spanish word I didn't recognize; but the meaning was clear enough. And with that she was gone. She dashed to the guardrail - put one hand on it - threw her little body up in the air - balanced for one moment in a one hand head stand - flipped in the air - landed on her feet - and disappeared.

That's when we spotted the woman waiting for her. Her mother, maybe. It was clear she had been sent for money by her. Money for drugs? Money for what? Others on the bus were more familiar with these types of things then I was. But when I saw her do that little hand stand, that little flip - I knew she had been waiting under that overpass for a long time - this was her life. The bus moved on, life went on, even though it felt as if it shouldn't.

I realized at that moment that my heart had broken; and at that moment that's what I wanted. A heart that breaks. Orphans crying in Haiti, a little girl begging for money in the street, a little boy that I just heard of recently - a little Dominican boy - who was dumped in Haiti by his parents. Parents that wanted to get rid of him, and thought no one would ever notice him amongst all the chaos and confusion. These are the things that should break our hearts. But what about our neighbors? There are truly some in America that are just as hopeless, just as lost. That should break our hearts too.

I'm yet to forget that little girl - somewhere under an overpass in Santiago. As I've shared her story - I've wished for a picture of her; but didn't have one. Just the one in my head.

A few weeks back, another team member sent me a CD of photos from the trip. This one was blurry, I scanned over it, almost deleted it. Didn't even notice who it was, until a couple of days ago. Muted, anonymous, just as I remember her.

Please pray for her,

God knows her name, and where she is.

And ask the Lord to give us hearts that break.

4 step study in sheep sagacity

2011-04-06T10:29:00.001-04:00

sa.gac.i.ty: noun

having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment...

1. See an object; ie: a moody cat.

2. Approach said object with much timidity and trepidation...

and then get much, much, too close.

3.Get cat-slapped.

Jump away wildly, in fear of your life -

blinkingly violently (and rather adorably, I must say.)

4. Repeat.

We've seen something similar out of this cat before...

(You can relive the moment Here.)

Poor Nickle really is a sweetie; she's just touchy. :)

Catastrophe. On a minor scale.

2011-04-04T17:50:00.001-04:00

Thankfully this post doesn't have anything to do

with my last post...

If this had happened to my Basil...

Well; I'm happy this didn't happen to my Basil.

I had twenty-eight cups planted with three

different varieties of heirloom tomatoes this afternoon.

And then Spencer happened.

It stretched my patience;

and yikes does that hurt...

I Spy; Spring.

2011-04-01T16:17:00.000-04:00

My Basil sprouted today.

That's a good sign.

Closing Buster's Book

2011-03-31T07:00:00.010-04:00

I'll admit, I've been putting this off.
Somehow not thinking about it, and especially, not writing
about it, seems to make the whole thing not so true.

I've dreaded what this would be like for a long time.
I remember the day I first thought about it -
I was nine years old, and mom was reading Laura Ingalls'
stories to us, when she came to the one about her dog Jack.
About the morning when Laura found her faithful old
gray dog all curled up behind the door;
her sweet dog that had been through so much with his "family."
That morning Jack didn't wake up;
and I vividly remember getting all teary-eyed as she read.

Partly because I was pretty attached to Jack,
and partly because my vision went fast-forward to a day when
that sad young woman would be me.

Our Buster-boy had aged so much in this past year.

He finally stopped chasing cars,

his white whiskers multiplied,

and he completely lost his hearing.

This past month, we watched our old dog fade,

and on March 19, he fell asleep under his favorite tree,

and didn't wake up again.

After my cat Madeline died this past Summer,

Buster was our oldest pet, by far.

He had been here almost since day one on the farm.

He watched Joe and I grow up.

Joe and I with Madeline and Buster (the day he came home) 1997.

There isn't a story to tell or a memory to be had,

where Buster isn't right there in the background;

because he was here, and always had been.

Every picnic,

every walk to the creek,

hike through woods,

or journey to the very back of the property -

Buster was with us.

We couldn't imagine life without him,
and really didn't want to try.

This past week-and-a-half,

we've relived almost every moment with Buster.

The day he was the silly puppy that killed (and ate) a chicken...

and got himself in huge trouble with dad.

He was guilty about it for weeks;

and never even looked at a chicken after that.

There's another day, when that same goofy puppy actually made

his Border Collie genes work for him as he corraled and

saved a runaway goat kid (that we'd been chasing for three hours...)

What a hero he knew he was that day.

That was the only day Buster's Border Collie-ness did us any good.

Most of it went into rounding-up angry bicyclists...

We've remembered what a soccer-dog he used to be;

and how he had a way of running off with our basketballs

and never bringing them back.

This past year - as we watched him begin

to look so very old, I took photo after photo of him.

I found it humorous how few turned out.

Buster never liked having his picture taken.

It's funny how that fits his personality though, even

though he couldn't really have a clue what cameras were about.

He was a shy old dog.

And Huck, poor Huck.

You've never seen two friends like Buster and Huck.

It will take us forever before we can say one name without

accidently slipping the other.

Buster and Huck.

That's just how it always was.

Huck has grieved more than any of us,

and that's a hard thing to watch.

But despite all the dreading I did about these days -

these days of letting go of things I'd rather hang on to;

they're still beautiful in their own way.

Much as we now miss our sweet and faithful dog,

I hadn't realized how much we had forgotten him already.

Somewhere in the middle of looking into those faded eyes,

and stroking that salt and pepper head,

and telling him things that we knew he couldn't hear;

we had forgotten about the bright-eyed, happy, fun, bouncy-pup,

that we had known for so much longer.

And now that every moment with Buster has been had -

we can finally summarize the gift that he was,

and view the blessing of his life as a whole.

As the precious memories of all that is past come pouring back,

the old graying dog disappears, and we can now remember

all the things about him that we loved best.

From beginning to end.

We're thankful to the Lord for thirteen-and-a-half years with Buster;
and a lifetime of never-to-be-forgotten memories.

Snow Babies...?

2011-03-30T14:44:00.002-04:00

Yesterday;

new life on the farm looked like this:

A little chilly, sure,

but the sun was shining.

Today;

new life on the farm looked like this:

Brrr.

(And they thought they were scheduled to be Spring lambs...)

(Um, yeah. Us too.)

I had marveled prematurely about my success in avoiding any

snow lambing sessions this year...

Obviously, the ewes couldn't let me get away with that...

Congratulations ladies.

You nailed it.

And as to it snowing the last week in March...

I'm just going to stay inside now,
and pretend that none of it happened.

Okay?

March Madness...

2011-03-25T11:28:00.001-04:00

I've watched very few March basketball games thus far;

but I guess we can still say we've had our own share of madness...

There's a lot that needs to be caught up on around here;

I'll be getting to it all eventually - in the meantime,

here's a glimpse of my latest project.

Yep. I have 36 chickens; in my room.

Thankfully, they are confined to a rather large box.

They're happy little birds - and growing so fast.

I've been leaving classical music on during the night to see

what it does for their mental development... :)

(Just so you know, I'm not expecting much.)

Now, we're just looking forward to the return of Spring

so that they can move outdoors...

Poor Spence is going to miss them,

he would watch them through the side holes for hours...

I'm not exactly sure if it's just a general curiosity or something

a little more malignant...

We keep an eye on him just the same.

And that's update number one.

The other news hasn't been quite so fun;

and is much more difficult to write about -

it's coming soon though.

Virginia; at last.

2011-03-17T11:34:00.001-04:00

Ever since I discovered that my furthest back "traceable" ancestors,

(who happen to be the ones whose last name I share)

once came from England and settled in a place called Virginia -

I've had a dogged determination to find my way there one day.

It irritated me greatly, that despite many visits to NC, and even WV,

I was yet without reason to cross that state line.

Until this past week...

A trek over to North Carolina on our way to the

Family Economics Conference in Raleigh required a short drive

through the thus far elusive state;

and I couldn't have been happier over something so simplistic.

It rained and rained as we drove that day,

but I didn't think it ironic at all to see the clouds part -

and the sun glint off the car window rain droplets as the

Virginia state sign came into view.

So fitting.

And so ridiculously dramatic...

To add to the mental commotion,

Virginia brought my list of visited States to 30;

and seeing as I have a childhood goal of making it to

all 50 of them before I'm that many years old -

I find being 10 years ahead of schedule as something to celebrate.

(Please don't laugh... Trust me, I do have bigger goals in life...)

And also seeing as Dad and I have had quite the debate

over what exactly constitutes having been in a State...

(all those pesky hours spent in airports that don't count...)

having a picture with a sign was very much necessary.

(Though he has conceded that touching the ground with

my feet is enough to make it official.)

My short little drive-by glimpse of the land of

my forefathers only left me more determined than ever

to go back again...

What a beautiful, beautiful place.

But hey, at least I can finally say I've been there.

And even Dad has to agree.

Rain drops...

2011-03-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

It's raining again.

I've hardly bothered stepping foot outdoors;

I'd be ankle deep in a muddy puddle if I did -

like a little dog I know.

A little dog that likes to go in and out a lot...

Something about rain leaves me rather dull and uninspired;

so I'm afraid all I have to offer in this meager little post

are a few photos of the view out our back window.

Spring. Please come soon.

Remember...

2011-03-05T21:49:00.000-05:00

It rained all day long;

and more rain is exactly what we don't seem to need...

It's on these cooped-up indoors days that I tend to get

very retrospective - and going through some of my photos from our

family trip to Texas last week, I became even more so.

If you haven't noticed yet through reading my blog,

I absolutely love history, always have.

Especially the moments of great courage and bravery,

men willing to stand, and families willing to sacrifice.

An outlook that is needed so badly today;

more specifically in a spiritual sense.

So it was very special to get to go back to

the Alamo last week, especially in the middle of

the 175th anniversary of the famous battle there.

We did the usual tour during the day, but then

were able to come back as dusk fell, for a special reenactment.

We definitely enjoyed seeing the characters in costume

and hearing the story told in such a dramatic way;

but my favorite part came afterwards.

The constant milling crowds were gone -

and it grew comparatively quiet.

It was easier to imagine the incessant cannon fire,

-one after another-

for almost two weeks straight.

(We were there on the anniversary of siege day three.)

We took the time to visualize the original boundaries of the

fort, in an attempt to imagine how big it was -

how few the men were that defended it,

and how greatly out-numbered they found themselves.

As the sun rises tomorrow morning, it will be 175 years.

May we always remember the Alamo; and places like it.

latest painting...

2011-03-02T16:09:00.002-05:00

It had been awhile since I've completed a painting;

a long while...

Since I'd never attempted a portrait of a dog before,

I thought it would be fun to photograph the stages.

Even if the photos didn't turn out all that well...

they give a good idea of how I layer paint. :)

And there she is - all finished.

Though technically in my mind, nothing I paint is ever "finished"

there's always something else that could be done.

I like the Leonardo da Vinci quote:

"Art is never finished - only abandoned."

Or something like that...

Where'd she go?

2011-02-18T11:14:00.003-05:00

Yes, I've been a really bad blogger lately; I've noticed.

Not that I don't have anything to post about,

I'd be surprised to see if that day ever comes...

I guess I've just been busy. Really busy.

In my spare time, I've been working on a new painting project

(and discovered that painting is something I still remember

how to do, which is a good thing to know!)

And this little green bird of mine has been driving me nuts,

criticizing every move I make, and laughing at my frustration.

It amazes me everyday how something so cute

could be so cruel...

She's quite the character.

Beyond that, I know I never bothered to mention it...

but I think several of you have already noticed that I opened

a little Etsy shop a few months back for my knitting.

Wait... well, all behind my back - the bird just managed to escape

from her cage, scoot around the outside...and shove the spray bottle

(that we discipline her with) off of her table... It busted.

Spilling water all over my floor, and electric heater...

and then she just cracked up laughing.

Okay, so where was I? Yes... Knitting.

Here are a few of my projects from the past few months...

A lace Alpaca stole; probably one of the hardest things I've tried.

It has sort of fallen to the wayside since my shop opened.

And then there are these fingerless gloves I made for my

oldest brother - who is a telephone lineman.

They weren't easy either, but I like a challenge now and then.

(You just have to love Spencer jumping on dad mid-shot,

with who else but the lovely Foxanne in his mouth...)

As for my Esty shop, I'm slowly beginning the transition to Spring -

Here's one of my first (nearly) finished projects.

I love how the "leaves" are actually bobble buttons. :)

(You can find my Etsy at:

www.etsy.com/shop/woollywhimsy -

I'll warn you though - there isn't much in there right now!)

At the moment,

I'm actually knitting a doily for a wedding present...

I can easily see this as being addicting - it's just way too much fun.

That's the update on where Kate's been...

I hope you all are enjoying the pre-Spring thaw outside!

Thankfulness in Winterness

2011-02-12T23:34:00.000-05:00

I'm tired of Winter.

(Between you and me - I was tired of it before it started I think...)

Not much about it appeals to me;

snowmen and snow ball fights lost their charm long ago.

(Unless enjoyed with little people, of course,

but they're not an everyday luxury of mine at the moment.)

I do find plenty to be thankful about it though;

there's quite a list in fact.

At the moment;

I'm thankful that there's snow when it could just be brown deadness.

I'm glad that hot tea tastes all the better for being truly needed.

It's nice to have the wood stove all fired up;

and sweaters, and scarves. Especially scarves.

I think most of all for me these past few months -

there is a restfulness.

Just a quiet peace about staying inside,

and taking the time for projects that are forgotten all Summer long.

There's a coziness about sitting next to the fire with a

knitting project, or some paint brushes,

and working away; without the distraction of a weedy garden.

Yes, it's true - this year I haven't been the one

lugging buckets of water to the shivering critters outside.

We haven't had any sub-zero lambing sessions;

or run-away cows, or power outages...not yet.

So I'll be thankful with Winter while the sentiment lasts,

we'll be looking at those garden catalogs in earnest before I know it.

my jasmine vine

2011-02-05T13:46:00.002-05:00

Maybe one of these days I'll post more in detail about my new room...

But for now, as the snow piles up 'round our ears,

I thought I'd share my little bit of green life that keeps

my window sill looking cheery (and smells incredible...)

My jasmine vine.

It's growing so quickly... it will need a new pot soon.

I found this lovely little thing at Trader Joe's

last week. I've been searching for just the right plant for awhile -

and was overjoyed to finally bring one home.

(Trader Joe's is indeed a wonderful place...)

So that's my little prelude to Spring for you;

now for another weekend of being snowed-in;

and knitting. :)

a world of ice

2011-02-02T19:10:00.000-05:00

The dogs and I ventured out this evening for a look at

the damage caused by two days of freezing rain...

Not bad considering.

We're very thankful (and surprised) to still have power.

Sweet old Buster and Huck...

Here's a giant Spencer among a sea of icebergs...

Keep warm everybody!

And if the weather is above 65 where you live -

I don't want to hear about it. ;)

Cuteness...

2011-01-30T15:34:00.001-05:00

We've had more lambs this past week...

We lost one little guy to the intense cold before we even

knew to look for him - thankfully his sibling made it though.

They're rather adorable - as you're about to see;

but that fact really isn't surprising anymore is it?

I especially can't get over this little guy's tucked ear.

Did you know that old tree stumps are yummy to snack on?

I didn't either.

And just to clarify - personally, I still don't.
But the lambies seem to think so.

For an example of how quickly these little guys grow up -

here's a recent photo of the lamb that was born on that

sunny day in November not so long ago.

Check out those little horns!

So we're enjoying these sweet little faces while they last;

and wanted to share them with all of you.

the Artisan in me

2011-01-22T13:26:00.001-05:00

I've always been somewhat of an Artisan bread enthusiast...

The crustier, the chewier, the better - kind of perspective.

I've never had any problem with making an Artisan loaf

from scratch - I just love bread making - but...

sometimes time is of an essence.

Actually, time is usually of an essence...

So, when a friend told me about the book

"Artisan Bread in Five minutes a Day"

it was great cause for rejoicing.

I looked it up on Amazon,

paid for it with Swagbucks;

and have been rather happy ever since.

It literally takes no effort whatsoever,

and yet the bread is turning out better than the more complicated

doughs; (that took literal days...).

I love the way it crackles when it comes out of the oven.

I don't love the way our smoke detector goes off every time I

make it... (You yourself can see it isn't at all burnt...)

I guess it just knows good bread when it detects it.

Soup and Bread.

Mmm.

having a bad hair day...

2011-01-20T12:12:00.000-05:00

I guess it's just that time of year.

The time of year when a small dog starts shedding his hair.

Profusely.

And somewhere in the frustrating combination of having

wood floors, a tiny house, and some bad static electricity,

we've had a bit of a problem on our hands.

So a few days ago,

I decided to quit bothering with the house -

and just vacuum Spence himself.

His reaction (or lack thereof) was pretty cute.

Take note of Foxanne who's always nearby. :)

adventures in repurposing...

2011-01-17T12:56:00.002-05:00

It's been a little quiet around here I noticed...

so I thought I would show you something that I've been up to.

In the process of emptying our old house, I came across

this antique picnic basket.

It's rather on the large side, and takes up a lot of space,

and frankly, we just don't go on that caliber of picnics as often

as owning such a basket would suggest.

So.

It was suggested that we part ways with said picnic basket;

until I had an idea.

I happen to own a plethora of knitting needles,

(which get excessive use)

and as you might have noticed if you have some too -

they are somewhat bothersome to store at times.

Enter the picnic basket...

which happened to already boast a handy little

elastic strip across the lid - for storing picnic utensils I suppose;
(now perfect for needles)
and plenty of room for yarn and projects too.

So the basket lives on.

God's Gift

2011-01-10T10:33:00.001-05:00

Receiving a free Great Pyrenees isn't an experience

that many people are blessed to have;

and we were keenly aware of that when we brought our special

big polar bear of a dog "Haggai" home several years back.

We were even more aware, and painfully so, when we found

him on the side of the road this past July.

Gifts like Haggai only come once in a lifetime.

Or do they.

Saturday, we were blessed to bring home the second

free Great Pyrenees of our sheep raising career.

I suspect he's part Lab, he's not as furry, and has a few tan places,

but that sheep dog is in him, we can see it grinning back at us.

We're calling him Barclay at the moment; (pronounced Barkley) -
I guess only time will tell how well the name sticks.
He's an adorable seven-month-old bundle of gigantic-puppy fun.

Too much fun for head-honcho Huck...

(Huck's neck-fur gave him a standing ovation...)

Upon meeting Huck, he furrowed his brow, buttoned

his goofy ears up on the very top of his head, tongue flopping freely,
and then danced on Huck's shadow - all around the driveway.
Huck was not at all amused.
On the contrary; I took it that he was pretty disgusted.

After meeting Buster and Huck,
Dad took Barclay on a tour of his new assignment.

The "Big One" stared shamelessly.

The sheep also gawked without apology,

but only after spunky young Barclay chased them around the paddock;

so I guess we can't really blame them for that.

Dad had a word with Barclay about chasing sheep;

and he's now working on conquering the urge.

Perhaps Barclay's most memorable moment of coming home,

was meeting a high-strung little terrier guy.

I guess it's true that we haven't acquired any new dogs for quite awhile,

but Spencer's reaction was still a little startling.

(Here's Barclay risking a peek to see where the

other-worldly yodeling was coming from.)

It took us a moment's cogitation to be certain that the evil racket

was really, truly, coming from our sweet little teddy bear of a Spencer.

You'd be surprised how quickly the guy can go from our

smiley, stub-wagging, Foxanne-toting, little sweetheart;

to a fierce monster, with a convincing "junk-yard-dog"

bellow that chills 'possum hearts.

He's definitely a dog's dog.

But that was no way to greet a friend like Barclay.

We're all still in a bit of a process of helping Barclay find

his spot here with us; but we're so thrilled to have him.

And hopeful that this baby-face with the wrinkly-brow and

button-up ears will soon grow to be as faithful a guardian as

the dog whose place he's attempting to take.

Foxanne Friday

2011-01-07T16:12:00.001-05:00

We are blessed;

for many a reason that I could easily point at,

but at the moment I'm focused on the blessing of

a sweet little Fox Terrier, named Spencer.

As you might remember, we found him a new little friend

recently - a stuffed toy named Foxanne.

After about a month with her,

we've learned to find one, by looking for the other -

the two are never far apart...

Spencer has some odd napping patterns...

Mom especially is grieved by the way he seems to attempt

to find the forbidden objects to put his little head on;

like her special afghan for instance...

(He wasn't sleeping so peacefully for long...)

He's slowly figuring out that Foxanne makes a nice pillow too;

and the repercussions from mom are considerably lessened...

Sometimes Spencer sneaks Foxanne outside;

something that he knows he shouldn't do.

One day, he forgot her in the snow -

and when he found her again, she was pretty waterlogged.

We were just a little surprised to see her perched next to the

wood stove not long afterwards.

Especially since none of us humans had put her there...

Spencer is such a sweet, silly, smart little guy.

We really never know what he'll come up with next.

Like a few days ago, when I found him sunning like this...

Maybe the box reflected the heat nicely, or maybe it just happened

to be exactly his size.

My guess is he was just pretending to be a Boxer.

I told you he was smart;

and this is how smart..

The cutest moment yet this past week,

had to be the day we found a rather dirty and bedraggled

Foxanne in the laundry pile;

and nobody seemed to know how she got there.

Well, evidently we didn't get around to cleaning her up as

quickly as somebody would have liked...

and the next day, we found her in his water bowl.

Hint.

Needless to say,

Foxanne has been washed now;

and is almost back to her initial glory.

Ready to show us what else Spencer seems to know.

12 Months of Goodness; and Mayhem

2011-01-04T11:54:00.005-05:00

Well, Shirley Goodness and Mayhem has made it -

through an entire year of ups and downs.

When I was a little girl,

I would often look back on a year that had passed,

and marvel at how slow it went,

how wonderful it was,

and how little life had changed.

In more recent years,

I've been more apt to look back and shudder

at how quickly time evaporates,

how drastically life changes;

and how difficult change can be.

Not so with 2010.

For more than half of it, I was certain that

2010 would prove to be the most difficult year of my life thus far;

and that after being certain that 2009's challenges could

never be topped...

But as the curtains drop, the lights come up, the credits roll,

- the beauty and the fullness of this year overwhelms me.

Not every month was as profound as others were,

but scrolling through my archives there were definitely photos

that could sum up the theme of a month pretty well;

so I have twelve of them.

January - old dreams answered, new burdens born.

All it takes is one glance of this photo for me to be back

in that bumpy bus seat, bouncing down the streets of Santiago.

I had been patiently waiting for my time to go on such a trip

for years; and have longed for another since I got back.

This photo is of the little beggar girl that broke my heart there.

January was a month of fear, stepping out, exhilarating

adventures, miracles, and an aching heart.

And out of all that happened in that crazy month

(not the least of them being the start of this blog)

those dark, hurting, piercing eyes of that little girl in

the street are what will always stick with me.

And twelve months later; they can almost sum up my year;

for their grip on me is stronger now than it was then.

February - Lambs. And more lambs.

New life, frost bite (well okay, not exactly), and parrot-cats perched on me.

What more need be said?

March - Spring on the farm...

More lambs, tulips, and lots of thought over passing time.

Though I only posted about it once, Numbering my Days

weighed heavy on my mind.

April - Skirts for Haiti

April for me, can be entirely summed up in finally getting to see the

end result of a whirlwind project - the sweet faces of little

Haitian girls, and the skirts that we were so blessed to be able

to get to them. Of course I wanted to be there more than anything

else that month. But God dropped an opportunity for us to be just

a little bit of a help to them; and I was grateful for that.

May - an almost perfect month

When it comes to finding a day of beauty and perfection

that can't be improved upon; May seems to offer the widest selection.

At least in my opinion.

June - two decades completed; and Frances.

Remember Frances? The cute little unwanted lamb?

She was only here for a week before finding a new family,

but she sure got June off to a good start.

By the time June was over, I had two decades behind me.

The significance of that fact wasn't lost on me,

(those kinds of significance rarely are...)

My birthday is always a good heart-searching way to realize -

another year is half-way gone.

July - Loss.

I can't even let my mind wander back to the muggy days of

July without getting that lump back in my throat.

Within just a few weeks time,

we lost our big fluffy sheep dog, and among other things -

our house.

We've lost more pets this past Summer than any other year;

Haggai, Madeline, Fiffen, Scooter...

Not happy times, no, but pretty trivial on the list of all that

could possibly go wrong in life.

But losing our old farmhouse seemed further up on that scale.

I've been in the process of letting go, and letting go, for

many years now; but hadn't ever been pushed quite to the edge

of such radical surrender until those dark July days.

I'm so thankful now.

August - Goodbye, Old House.

It didn't all suddenly dawn on me this year;

but 2010 gave so many perfect opportunities to put my life

lessons to the test.

At the end of August, I wrote a post about Madeline;

mainly focused on giving up an old cat friend of mine yes,

but summarizing the truth that - the emptier my life became

of the things I would never choose to give up;

the more room there is for the Lord's will in my life,

and for the presence of the Lord Himself.

September - New life.

September was glorious, it really was.

It was so illustrative of the overwhelming joy that comes

after handing everything to God -

He gave us so much more than we had ever given up.

I wrote the most posts in one month in September;

fifteen to be exact -

it was just bubbling over with blessings, and joy,

and the optimistic hopes of a new beginning in a new home.

October - Texas.

That one word really truly can sum up October on its own;

for the entire month was indeed spent there!

After the dark, depressing Summer I'd just come through -

I didn't know how I could possibly handle Fall coming so quickly,

I felt like I had blinked and missed my favorite season.

But then I was handed a perfect, gloriously sun-shiney month

in a absolutely gorgeous part of an awesome state.

October was a gift.

I still can't believe how blessed I was to have that month spent

catching up with old friends, making new ones, and just

having quiet time to think and regroup.

God is so good.

November - redefining Autumn for me.

It might be safe to say I enjoyed Texas too much, for I was

thoroughly dreading a return to the frigid northern regions...

I expected November to be rude, abrupt, and dead.

The Lord surprised me with the most beautiful, warm,

and golden November that I can recall.

And even if it did snow on Thanksgiving;

I was ready for it.

December - the high water mark

I'll admit, December caught me completely off guard.

Eric Ludy's short film Depraved Indifference knocked my feet

out from under me early on in the month.

It felt like the moment this entire year has been leading up to,

it was a moment of finally being able to hear articulated what has

been keeping me up at night; that I simply couldn't explain.

It has been an absolute tsunami ever since.

First the Love the Church conference, and then faith-testing

situations here at home, and listening to sermon after sermon;

(The majority at the moment - by Mr. Ludy at www.ellerslie.com)

I love this photo above - (taken on the way to Love the Church)

it's how I see life at the moment -

going forward, gaining altitude, and sun spots.

Mr. Ludy talks about our Christian journey being an 'endless frontier',

and personally, I love that. I love adventure.

I've always been a little irked in my mind that there's not as many

'frontiers' left in this world - man has even been to outer space.

So I love that I can spend the rest of my life searching, digging,

and rejoicing greatly in all that I find -

and yet knowing that there will always be more.

I'll never exhaust God's resources,

I'll never cease to be amazed by Him,

this journey will never grow old.

What an awesome promise that is!

Thank you all for being such faithful readers and friends in

my first year of blogging.

Looking foward to another year with great expectation,

Kate

So long, 2010

2010-12-31T23:59:00.005-05:00

"Life is just a little like a ball of yarn;

the closer to the end it gets, the faster it goes."

2010 has hurried past so quickly;

seemingly faster than any other year of my life thus far -

but isn't that how it always is?

Of course I know it really couldn't even possibly

have been any shorter than any other year has ever been,

but it just was.

Yet when I step back, and survey all of it in its completion -

the proverbial mountains and valleys...

the mysterious way that though the ups and downs

don't seem to add up or make sense in the moment;

they've evened each other out by the time it's all through.

Looking back on twenty and a half years,

2010 may very well be my favorite one yet.

It has been anything but easy;

for many months of it - difficulty seemed to surround me completely.

But as I stand on the summit

and glance back on all that this year has held,

the exhaustion of the climb melts away -

and the beauty overwhelms me.

One word describes it -

Glorious.

What a glorious year 2010 has been.

Yes, it has been so very full of adventures,

and journeys to places I had not yet been;

and those moments are ones that the venturesome side of

me are especially grateful for.

But, smiling, I realize that the Lord has so perfectly

led me in a parallel path at the same time -

a journey of continuing to grow in Him, that skillfully mirrors

the visible adventures of these past twelve months.

The same ups and downs,

but the same glorious view.

What an awesome God I serve!

Happy New Year everyone!

earthquake...

2010-12-30T08:16:00.004-05:00

Sounds as if we just experienced a 4.2 mag earthquake in our area... This was the third or fourth time I've experienced one (including a real one a few years ago here at home - and a few aftershocks down in the Dominican in the week after Haiti's earthquake.) If a good thunder storm makes you really appreciate the power of God; an earthquake is quite a step up from there - wow.

days like pearls off a string

2010-12-27T14:17:00.003-05:00

"I believe the nicest and sweetest days

are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful

or exciting happens,

but just those days that bring simple little pleasures,

and follow one another softly,

like pearls slipping off a string."

L. M. Montgomery

Remembering the bearded ladies

2010-12-23T12:27:00.003-05:00

You may be just a little bit concerned over the title,

I can't really blame you for that I guess;

but be reassured, it's not some past circus life that I'm referring to;

I'm speaking of my goats.

Me and a few of our "Boer" goat kids; ten years ago...

On the 19th of December,

I looked back and realized- I had survived an entire year

without my goats;

and that kind of surprised me.

It seems like it has been forever since that snowy

morning when I hugged my last two goat ladies goodbye.

I had pretty much had goats forever before that,

or at least so it seemed.

Velvet and Rosabelle (the first two) became a part

of our new "self-sufficient" lives when I was seven years old;

and by the time Sonata and Dolce hopped into the truck that

frosty morning - more goats had left their hoof prints

across my heart and memory than I could possibly count.

Boy do I miss them.

I can see your eyebrows raising as you read that;

yes, I know.

You think all goats are horned, stinky, and hairy,

and have the brains of a scarecrow and the

senseless cravings of a garbage disposal.

I know you think that...

Especially if you've read

The Little Boy Down the Road...

Push back the prejudice, and imagine the perfect combination

of your favorite cat and dog.

These creatures (when well taken care of)

have to be some of the loveliest farm critters out there.

They are bright eyed, intelligent, and sassy.

They smell of clover hay and molasses.

They detest dirt, mud, and puddles, and

grain and hay that taste even just a little odd.

Our ladies were always a bit of barnyard divas;

so picky.

If their food touched the ground, they were done with it -

even if they were responsible for putting it there...

They have a sense of humor, we're sure of that -

whether turning lights on in the barn (and Kate getting

blamed for it) or opening locks and getting into things they

shouldn't (and Kate getting blamed for that too),

they do indeed seem to have a wild craving for mayhem.

And they thought it was funny. I know they did.

When I remember my bearded ladies,

I'll always feel silky hair, and floppy ears;

smell alfalfa hay and warm foamy milk;

and hear goat voices calling my 'name' morning and evening.

I'll always remember the mischievous escapades to the garden,

the freshly destroyed grape vines and tiger lilies;

the daintiness,

the curly hair and bad attitudes on rainy mornings.

The flustered fits of snorting at dogs,

the moments of silly, silly, dancing down the sidewalk when they

thought that no one was watching;

the most carefree ridiculous bouncing dance you've ever seen.

I'll miss them forever I'm sure;

but missing is sometimes just a part of remembering,

and forgetting them is something that I hope I never do.

adventures in sturdy womanhood...

2010-12-17T10:52:00.004-05:00

Due to some out of the ordinary circumstances, I've

been home alone a lot in the past few days.

While it's hard to get lonely with so much furry company about,

it can get a little overwhelming trying to keep everybody

warm, fed, and cared for.

Especially with five inches of lovely snow.

It has been awhile since I've had to throw haybales from the loft

and carry steaming buckets of water to chickens...

When my goats left last year, I guess I was kind of

retired from the heavy duty barn-chores;

but it has come back in all its glory this past week.

Well, except milking goats in the sub-zero temps.

It has definitely been an adventure in sturdy womanhood;

and I can't say I mind that.

The kitties don't get fed until the evening,

but I found Favorite outside enjoying the snow this morning.

And licking his chops...?...

Busted. We knew he didn't get so roly-poly on his normal rations.

Of course the sheep are always happy to see us;

especially if we have an arm load of hay.

You just have to love the steam coming out of their little noses.

There's something charming about sheep silhouettes with

a snowy forest back-drop.

Or maybe that's just me...

The cow-boys aren't as endearing;

but they sure do eat a lot.

This is the part where a peaceful morning of chores took

an unsettling turn...

I hate to admit it, but I knew that there was a monster in the

old goat barn yesterday. Spencer found him and told me all about it...

The brave little guy sat out there and yodeled at it for

a good three hours yesterday afternoon.

Which was fine by me, since it seemed to help his cabin fever;

and I guess I kind of hoped it would go away after that.
I definitely would have.
(Spencer has a set of pipes...)

Well, the monster (another opossum to be exact)
decided to stay anyways and

committed a dastardly deed in the night.

Out of all our dear little chickies and chicken mommas from this

past Summer, only one lone chickie had survived being

murdered by the horde of 'possums we were infested with.

Dad had courageously terminated every last one of them,

or so we thought,

until this character showed up yesterday afternoon.

And ate the last chickie.

I was so filled with horror and indignation,

I was ready to dispatch him with a pitch fork then and there,

where he was barricaded in the hay bin with what was left

of poor little chickie.

But after listening to him hiss like a snake and howl like

a bewitched hyena all at once -

and picturing him clawing my face off;

I thought better of it.

So I set off to get the pistol;

but, then I thought better of that too.

So I compromised and set the 'possum trap.

It's a comfort to have three such brave and courageous

dogs around to watch my back.

Huck was just awaiting the word to go take care

of Mr. 'Possum.

They'd do anything they could for me;

I just love that about my dogs.

But we all know that sometimes patience and self control is the

sturdiest thing yet - so we're waiting this thing out.

Mr. 'Possum will answer for his past when Dad gets home today.

In the meantime,

I think I'll make yet another trip to the woodshed for more wood,

and then maybe make a cup of tea with honey and cream.

We've had enough adventure and mayhem for one day.

my journey

2010-12-14T12:09:00.002-05:00

Dad and I made it home Sunday evening.

The long trip back was made so much shorter and lovelier

by the companionship of two dear friends - Sarah and Hannah.

I was so blessed by the time to get to know them even better!

Looking back over the past weekend,

I didn't take many photos, (7 good ones, to be perfectly exact.)

and I didn't take many notes.

I did get to make and meet many, many, friends -
many memories;

and I listened with all of my strength.

I came home feeling very blessed, inspired,

and completely overwhelmed.

Whether attempting to articulate to others, record in

my journal - or even sort in my own mind the many

ways that Love the Church affected me;

I continue to fail.

I came home so strengthened in my walk with the Lord,
and yet so greatly burdened by how far I continue to fall short;
more dependant on His grace then ever before.

This is the mysterious journey of sanctification.
The more I see of the Lord, the more I long to be like Him,
and the more clearly I can see how I'm not.
The further I come,
the further I see I am yet to go.

I'm frustrated in my own weakness today,
but rejoicing in the strength of my God.

(These photos were taken somewhere in the hills of North Carolina.)

Here we come...

2010-12-08T14:30:00.004-05:00

Well, it looks like Dad and I are headed out towards

Asheville, North Carolina sometime this evening to

attend the Love the Church Conference that the

National Center for Family-Integrated Churches is doing.

Anybody else headed that way?

"a date which will live in infamy"

2010-12-07T16:02:00.007-05:00

Just a few days ago, I was rummaging through some coins

that I'd been stashing away in a tin for years and years.

Somewhere in the mix, I found a pretty worn looking "wheat

penny" and knowing it to be fairly old, I squinted at the date.

1941, a year that truly just reminds me of one thing right away.

As I fingered the worn, tarnished coin, and took in

that old penny smell - I thought about 1941, and the anniversary

that would be coming up in just a couple of days.

A date that President FDR said would "live in infamy."

Today is December 7, 2010;

the 69th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Sure, it was a long time ago, and awfully far away,

but as I look at the penny sitting on my desk right now -

it's so easy to hear the Japanese Zeros making their

bombing pass low overhead, and smell the awful smells of

burning oil, and see the terrible sight of sinking, burning ships.

Over 2,300 men died that day in Pearl Harbor,

many upon the USS Arizona.

The Arizona going down

photo credit

It makes me wonder in whose possession this penny was on

this day 69 years ago, and how they were affected by all that occurred.

It makes me remember Pearl Harbor.

Depraved Indifference

2010-12-04T19:50:00.001-05:00

I came across this short video clip in several different places online yesterday; bumping into it wherever I went. So I watched it; and I haven't been able to get it off of my mind since. You've probably seen it already, as it seems to be spreading fast - and I'm so glad it is. It should. And I just have to share it here too. There's a lot on my heart right now, but I'll just let Mr. Ludy speak for himself. It hurts.

our house: part one

2010-12-03T19:20:00.003-05:00

I had one of those ridiculous mornings that started off with the bird jerking me into consciousness with her ear-drum-piercing intermittent battle shriek; which led me to fix her some oatmeal for breakfast (well, I didn't fix it all just for her - but she was a beneficiary). It hasn't really slowed much from there, what with me frantically cleaning (just for the sake of being frantic), and in the middle of it all madly trying to scramble out the locked front door because I heard something loud and noisy (and undoubtedly awesome) flying over the house. I can't help it; thanks to Dad's example - it's just what I do... After three seconds of wrangling the door lock and meanwhile being called a maniac by my brother, I escaped just in time to see an A-10 flying over; and so could consider my scene to be worthwhile.

Somewhere amongst all that, I managed to get some pictures taken of our still rather newly finished bathroom. For those interested in how our new home has turned out; it's a good place to start. It was an interior design adventure of mine, and I'm pretty tickled with how it looks...

The sight from the door; my great-grandma's old "pie safe."

I basically themed the room around this painting I did when I was thirteen. It's the only painting of mine from back then that I still like... I've just always loved the thin, spindly, geraniums reaching for the Winter sun. The red and yellow together are so cheery.

So, I decided on a red and yellow bathroom, and though the yellow is a tad more vivid in some of these shots than reality - it is still a pretty bold combination...

All of the woodwork around the windows and doors is from the old house - sanded and repainted. I'm so glad now that we went through the extra trouble to do that; it adds charm.

More geraniums in the window (another painting of mine from '05)

A French Country/South France style is what I was going for; using the white, bronze, and brown to tone the rest of the wildness down. There's nothing like a French Country interior design book to get you inspired! We love just about anything French right now; well, except governmental policy perhaps.

Another favorite corner of mine that I was able to get a picture of today... It's the little landing where the stairs turn to go up - it's a bright and cheerful spot.

Great for little photo shoots; and...if you look a little closer...

The perfect spot for Foxanne to get her morning dose of vitamin D... I know you all won't believe me - but we didn't put her there... Spencer did. It's his favorite spot to sit and watch the world go by, and I guess he thought Foxanne would agree; so he placed her there - just like that. He left her there all morning, but he went to check on her every now and then.

That dog is getting more interesting all of the time.

Brother is out doing some crazy camping/search and rescue training with his CAP squadron this weekend, so having a quiet evening by the wood stove with some knitting sounds like a good idea to me.

The Lovely Foxanne

2010-12-02T19:00:00.002-05:00

I have high and lofty aspirations of all the things I hope

to write a post on one of these days -

not the least of which is the fact that I still haven't

posted any photos of our finished house...

But on a chilly night like this one,

I'm only up to posting the very silly (and petty) tale

of the lovely Foxanne.

She arrived just yesterday...seems like she's been here

forever already though; much as we've seen her...

I can already hear mom telling me that I've posted

five of the exact same photos...

But they aren't at all the same to me.

Oh great; Kate's taking pictures of me again.

This is Spencer (you knew that),

and in the foreground is the little toy fox that

he received yesterday.

Mom recalled that it's been some time since our poor Spence

has had a toy of his own (there are reasons...he eats them.)

But since he is in fact older, and maybe more mature,

she brought the fox home (perfect for a fox terrier - no?)

and the rest is history.

(Well, 24 hours worth.)

Whoa. Would you look at all that crazy stuff going on right behind Kate's back?!

Trying to distract me... He's a smart little guy.

He as a matter of fact hasn't ripped her little

squeaky 'heart' out yet;

and thankfully doesn't seem to plan to.

He's actually kind of nice to her,

and carries her around everywhere,

and is forever trying to show her to us -

and stick the wet soggy thing into our hands...

Okay Joe, just make her stop.

So, I christened her Foxanne,

(soley because it makes me laugh, which seems

to be good logic for lots of things)

and all we have to do is ask Spence where

Foxanne is, and he's running off to fetch her;

not that we really care to see her anymore...

it's just too cute to see how smart he is,

and the fact that she's still in one piece;

well that's nice too.

Sigh.

She's fairing much better than Adolf did.

Adolf was his big plastic rat.

Adolf looked like a real rat from most angles -

and Spencer had an uncanny way of leaving him places.

We eventually became rather immune to him,

while most of our guests did not...

I took to calling him Adolf after Spencer ate off

all four of his limbs...

Uh, yes, Ate Off... (say that five times fast); thus the name.

I found it humorous.

Let's hope Foxanne's story has a better ending.

Yep Kate, I see you, and I really do love you too.

Camera and all.

Of the cute, and not so cute.

2010-11-29T21:30:00.004-05:00

November's winding down, and I think it's a good thing.

We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner,

two of them to be exact -

but I freely admit once again that I'm not a true photographer...

I love capturing beauty now and then,

but when I'm really making memories,

the camera is typically the last thing on my mind.

On one hand that bothers me; but then again -

I usually decide it's okay to have all the good times stored

away inside of me instead of bogging down my hard drive.

I've discovered that I can either document,

or I can truly delight in the moment;

I'm just not capable of doing both.

We traveled, we savored, and we were thankful,

but I have nothing but wonderful memories to show for it;

and that doesn't bother me a bit.

Back at home...

We have another little lambie running around now.

She blends into the November foliage rather nicely.

She's a cutie.

Now; to demonstrate the antithesis of a "cutie."

I think I've posted this photo before...it's just that it

sums up our little green birdie so well.

Due to our recent move, Polly has been a bit misplaced;

we've tried putting her in several spots around the house

and simply nothing has been working for her.

So; she's been a bit more obnoxious than usual, and

she was already pretty maxed out on the obnoxious scale

to begin with...

Well, somehow the little leprechaun has ended up in my

room for the time being. I had been saying I needed

a new alarm clock, but she wasn't exactly what I had in mind;

it could really use a snooze button.

She squawks like a smoke detector going off;

and is actually almost driving me nuts right about now.

(And then just as soon as I type that - she says 'I love you!',

what am I going to do with this bird?)

Please think twice before welcoming a parrot into your life;

she's worse than a house full of Chihuahuas;

and yet I couldn't bear to part with her.

Funny how that works.

Thankful

2010-11-25T05:30:00.000-05:00

Just a few days ago, we passed a milestone for my family;

391 years since the ancestor that gave me my surname

first stepped foot on American soil.

In late November of 1619, he came ashore not far

from Jamestown, Virginia;

in a ship perhaps a little like this one.

Whenever I'm reminded of my ancestry,

I'm reminded of God's providence.

I'm reminded of what a miracle it is that I'm even here.

Thankgiving 2010 finds me -

so thankful for: my family,

our new home,

all our beloved pets - the old ones, and new ones too.

There's so much to thank the Lord for.

I hope that your Thanksgiving is a blessed one!