Fall Fest!

 Every year we host a fall fest on Reformation Day.  When it is not on a Sunday, we have everyone come in the late afternoon, roast hot dogs, have a bonfire, look through Grandpa's telescope, and generally have a good time.

 With Reformation Day being on a Sunday, everyone came over after church!  We had soups, stews, yummy breads, desserts, hot cider, coffee...we ladies even managed to be all inside at the same time today and enjoyed tea time together - along with a few sweet little sisters.  The younger one who is 3 years old was so thrilled to be having a "tea pah-ty."  


Tim gave hay rides in the pasture!  This was a hit and probably the highlight of the day! The boys and some of the men had a good football game this afternoon...then we did some English Country Dancing, then another hay ride!  After that it was time for hot dog roasting and s'mores!

 What a wonderful day we had...it was such fun.  It is such a delight to see new families come into our church and feel at home...

 During the hay rides Sandy and Cheyenne would run after the trailer - trying to get to the hay...anytime we stopped they would be eating off the bales!  Crazy!

 Lots of fellowship with lots of ages of people....just how we like it!

 I love this girl!

 Pretty fire...the weather was a bit breezy but otherwise so beautiful!  We were so thankful for such a wonderful day!

 Kamryn had a great time, too!

 Here is the wild hay ride driver!  I love this man!

 Miss Sue was not mad...she and I had a great time together on this ride...we laughed and laughed!  She was holding onto Molly who had a great time, too!

 Even the "big boys" had fun on Tim's hay rides!  Rachel kept telling me it felt like when we were on the boat in Canada...she was right!

 Here are two photos from Saturday....our little coop that looks like a Swiss Chalet...we are going to clean it and paint it to match the barn...

Our Rhodies on their way to their new home!  They have settled in very well...we even got an egg today!  I will try to get photos tomorrow...

Have a lovely day!

We Are Getting Chickens!

Rhode Island Red Hens - images.google.com

I live a very good life.  God has blessed us with 4 acres of land and we want to use it to our benefit.  For a few years we have been talking of getting some chickens.  We have friends who have chickens and love them and love the fresh eggs you get from them!

Our good friends the Eldredge family are doing some farming in the manner of Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms. 


They out grew their first chicken coop years ago and have offered it to us!  They also are going to give us two Rhode Island Red hens!  They are so sweet to do this...We are going  to pick it all up today!

 Buff Orpington Hens - www.allposters.com

Once we get all set with our Rhodies then we would like to get a few Buff Orpingtons.  Our friends the Westbrook's have some of these and really like them.  Then we also would like to get some of those Easter Egger's because it would be cool to get eggs that look like this:

 images.google.com

I'm just saying....

I will let you know how it goes...hopefully we will have fresh eggs everyday!

Help Please!

 Marcia!  I love you!  Thanks for the suggestion to google how to get back to the old templates!  That's a "Well, Duh!" moment for me!  I fixed everything in about 5 minutes!  Hurray! 

You can find the link of what to do here!  I am posting it here, because I just may need it again...as my Grandma Lily used to say "You just don't never know!"


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All I wanted to do is change the background on this blog.


I found a new background on The Cutest Blog On The Block and applied it.  No problems!


However you couldn't read the post titles or the smaller writing under the blog title...so I wanted to go in and change it.  With the old template layout stuff it was easy peasy.  Not so anymore!


I got confused thinking that in order to get to the font colors that I would have to go in through a template.  But then it applied the template we can't get it to remove etc.....


Anyone have any suggestions?  

Bedtime Snack

Kyle enjoyed some Triple Berry goodness for his evening snack...

Check out Mama's Fixin's.

Thanks, Friend.  We are still being blessed by your gifts!

A Warm And Welcoming Room From Cast Off Furniture

 I like the feel of my living room - it feels pulled together but the furniture doesn't match at all.  I had a guest this past weekend comment on how well see liked our home, and said "You obviously have a knack for decorating."  It was a nice compliment.  Since I was a girl I have always been interested in decor and furniture - I was ALWAYS moving the furniture around in my small 10x10 bedroom - just ask my Mom!


Tim and I were involved in missions when we met and were married and have always lived on a tight budget.  As the years have gone by, and our family grew, we made the decision to have me at home and for me to home educate our children.  That meant living on one income with a family of 8!


This is where creativity and thankfulness come into play.  We have made due with what we had!  We did buy a brand new couch  and chair once, but the couch fabric didn't hold up well and the chair has seen better days! 


Being unwilling at this point in our lives to spend money on furniture, I had to get creative and cover up those ugly pieces of furniture.  Oh, did I mention we have furniture that was given to us, and one chair that I found by the side of the road?  The bones were solid and good, the fabric - not so much.


Let me show you the offending pieces...

 We bought this recliner many years ago...it is well used, but not by me.  Recliners are built for taller folk than me - the padding for the head always hits me in the wrong place.

 This chair was given to us - it is so comfortable and the one I usually claim in the living room.  Not too horrible but a gold tweedy fabric - yikes!

 My roadside find....this is a comfortable chair to sit in.  And it fits very well by the piano...

 This is our purchased couch...the salesman assured us this fabric would allow you to clean it yourself...not! The padding in the arms in nearly non-existent, too!

 This tan couch was given to us, gently worn, but is so not my own style...

So how to hide the hideous (seriously people!  I have shown you some reality this morning haven't I?) furniture and make the room look warm and welcoming?  I cover it all up!  The green couch has a tan couch cover to be neutral just like the color on the other couch.  The recliner has a white bedspread on it, the gold chair a tablecloth in a Waverly print, the small green roadside chair has a red tablecloth on it!  The tablecloths were just sitting in my closet, no longer in use, after Tim made me my giant table.

So now you know my secret...What do you think?

Rainy Day

I am still recovering from my bout with the bug on Monday.  I felt much better until last evening, then felt bad again.  No illness, but feeling bad.

I am hoping that I will feel much better by tomorrow as I have a co-op class to teach.  I have a dvd clip that I am showing my class, so my helper (Lindsay) could easily run the class if I am unable to be there.

I have had sometime on my hands these days of resting, and I have put my hands to work on crocheting a scarf.  This is a nice nubby yarn, cream colored and I am using a large hook.  It is quick and easy.  Emily said I should give it to her, so maybe it will be a Christmas gift.  I love giving gifts that are handmade.

Lindsay was to give riding lessons today, but the rain that came overnight and off and on today, caused her to cancel.   Emily is at work...she is such a hard working diligent girl.  She gets up early and does her schoolwork or she stays up later in the evenings.  

Lindsay took the little folk to the library yesterday, and they came back with books and videos.  This is a blessing on rainy days to have something new to watch and enjoy together. Sarah who has struggled with reading is starting to gain confidence.  That is fun to see.


I am thinking of all the things that need to be done...one of which is Emily's senior photos.  We are planning a trip to Longwood soon so that Lindsay can shoot Emily's photos.  We also are getting a chance to take a short trip to Williamsburg in late November, so we can always take some there.  With the great architecture there I am sure we can get some awesome shots!

Here is a verse I like: Isaiah 58:11


And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.   ESV

I love these precious words...I trust you will find Him true to His word.

 

Photo by Sarah Rabe - October 2010

I was so sick yesterday...all that nursing of sick members of my family finally caught me.  It was not a good day...and complicated by the worst sinus headache that I have ever had!

I woke early this morning, feeling better and decided to visit blogland.  I have enjoyed my early visits and am now going to go back to sleep for a while.

Busy day a head for the family, but I think I will be laying low another day, to recuperate!

This and That

 I have another budding photographer - Sarah.  It is natural, of course...younger sisters who admire and look up to their older sisters naturally want to do what their sisters do.

 I took this photo yesterday when I was out and about.  It is so beautiful in Pennsylvania right now...sunny days, mild weather, beautiful skies...I couldn't get this tree to look right, so I used the setting to add some red and it turned out right.  

 Sarah who took her turn being sick today, took this photo the other day.  I loved the way she captured my favorite clouds.

 She took this photo too.  Sarah has a desire to create beauty, she loves to draw, cut and arrange flowers, set things up...She gets that from her momma...the desire to create beauty in our everyday lives...

 Here is our local dairy.  They added the porch this year, I think it really adds a nice touch.  We get our milk here - it comes in plastic bags and then we put the bags into a pitcher.  I like knowing where my food comes from, include the milk we drink.  They have a huge glass half wall where you can watch the cows being milked. 

 This is a beautiful barn I pass on my way home from the dairy..

 The kids and I took 3 meals out to our friends who just had a baby. Becky, myself and another gal from our church, made meals for Hope Evangeline's family.   They don't need to worry about meals for this weekend, then a family member is coming to stay for a week to help out.  The roses are a gift from the church, paid for by a sweet lady who attends.  I got the fun of picking them out, and delivering them with the food last evening.  Lindsay took photos but I don't have any right now.  This family is the one that Lindsay helps out on Mondays.  They are such a joy to her - the kids adore Lindsay and vie for her attention.  They were excited for Lindsay to see their new sister.

 

 This is the view from our backyard facing the farm across the road.   The tree there is turning now and is lovely to look at.  I think Sarah took this photo as well.  After growing up in Southern California, I find it wonderful to look out at farms everyday or even to see horses in my backyard!

I hope you have a lovely Sunday.  Tomorrow afternoon, our church is going to a nearby school to launch rockets!  This is so much fun, and an activity that everyone participates in either by watching and cheering them on, or chasing them down, or launching them.  It's a great bonding activity!

My nephew is on his way to Scotland to serve here.

This is an exciting trip for him and a neat opportunity.  My girls are jealous...but they have a list of things they want him to bring them....oh, Evan!

So Precious

Meet Hope Evangeline.  She looks like her big brother Caleb...I get to see her today.  I can't wait!

Kyle Helps Dad With A Project

 Where Tim works, they get a lot of parts and machinery shipped in on pallets.  Then the company throws the pallets in the trash.  With permission from your supervisor, you can take the items from the dumpster! 

 His new project is storage shelves for the shop in the basement.  We are in need of a lot of new storage!  We are moving things out of the shop that were stored in there and never used, so we are clearing them out.

 Kyle, age 5, loves to help his dad, and to hang out with him.  Tim taught him to use the crowbar to pull the nails out of the wood. 
 

 

 He showed me how he did it, pulling the nails and putting them into the empty paint can.  He said "It's easy!"  Then he climbed on his bike and took a ride! 

Here is much of the wood that has been salvaged.  To be fair, Kayleigh, Rachel and Sarah all helped Tim today as well.

There is much more to do, but it is such a blessing to be able to get this good wood for free!

Recovering

 The illness seems to have run it's course.  Tim, Rachel, Sarah and I escaped it by the Grace of God...


Emily was scheduled for work today and went in.  She is tired, but she will be ok.  I told her that if she felt weak or wiped out to let her manager know and she could come home early.  They knew she was sick yesterday.  The girls both work with the public and handle money, so we reminded them to use hand cleaner frequently!


I am the hand cleaner queen in public places but at home I use natural cleaning supplies, such as vinegar, rubbing alcohol, non toxic cleaners.  I don't use anti bacterials as a source of a lot of sickness is that people no longer pick up immunities from being around germs.  They don't play in the dirt, or garden.  It is the reason that you often get sick when you travel - you are around "new" germs.  You have an immunity built up toward the ones at home.

Oh, and yesterday Rachel complained of not feeling good - it wasn't her tummy, but I was thinking that it was just sort of a pre-tummy issue.  However, around 10:00 pm she tells me, "I feel like I have to pee, but I can't!  It's terrible."  sigh....I am thinking she has a UTI - she had one once before.  I called the on call doc at our family practice and she called in a prescription right away.  These things can get bad quickly if you let them go.  She took her first dose when Tim got home from work.  Slept all night...woke up feeling so much better! 


Lindsay has therapy this afternoon.  Kayleigh got a job at JoAnne Fabric 10 minutes from home!  This is an answer to prayer for her!  She starts tomorrow.  Today she goes to Harrisburg for orientation for her college courses.  She is excited!


I am making Chicken soup for lunch.  It is the perfect food for sensitive tummies, plus it is just yummy.


Well, I should go.  Things to do, people to care for.


I don't say it often but I really appreciate your coming by everyday for a blog visit.  It is such a fun and wonderful community of friends!

Brigette Had Her Baby!

I don't have a photo...I hoped to go see her today, but several of my kids ended up with a stomach bug...not nice.

But on to happier topics!

Brigette was to be induced today if she didn't go into labor before then.  The other kids were all safely tucked away at Grandma's and at Auntie's, and she and her husband Jeremiah were to go into the hospital at 7:00 am.  About 3:00 am Brigette awoke in labor! 

They headed in to the hospital and it turns out she is 8 cm dilated!  Wow!  

However baby doesn't make her appearance until 11:15 am!  Turns out that this baby is big!  10 lbs 3 oz!  

I asked Jeremiah how long she was and he said "I don't know!  Everyone was so excited and caught up in how big she was, I don't even know if they said how long she was!"  I am sure Brigette will fill me in on all the details!


They are all doing well, getting to know each other and settling in.


A few of us ladies are providing some meals for the weekend, before a cousin comes to help out for a week.


I can't wait to see this long anticipated girlie!


Welcome Hope Evangeline! 


Congratulations Jeremiah and Brigette!

An Autumn Day

 Rachel took these photos yesterday.  We worked in the garden, cutting the parsley, picking tomatoes, weeding, cutting things back.

 The Cosmos are blooming and add a bright spot in the front garden.  I have a variety of colors, these are beautiful.

 I made beef stew out of the leftovers of the roast I made on Saturday...Rachel and Sarah made crescent rolls to go with it.  Our friend Denny - Uncle Denny to the kids - came over for lunch...The main reason he came, was I am the seamstress for making parachutes for his rockets!  He and Tim designed a pattern that works really well. He got some new rockets (and gave us his old ones) so he needed new parachutes.  Our church is launching rockets on Sunday afternoon, so it was important that they be done this week.

Kamryn had a great day too.  It is so easy being a baby.

Later in the evening, Kyle got sick to his stomach and one by one our family members, have been getting sick.  So far, Tim, Sarah and I haven't been sick but I don't know how long that will last.  Pray for us will you?  This one doesn't seem as if it is as bad as other bugs we have had...it's something to be thankful for.

My Sweet Friend...

 This is my dear friend Brigette.  She is expecting her 5th child any day...in fact if she doesn't go into labor before, she will be induced on Tuesday.  She is having a 3rd daughter...

 I have known Brigette for about a year and a half.  She is always an encouragement to me!  Not just when she verbally encourages me, but just in how she mothers her precious children.

 They are an active bunch of kids, ages 6, 4 1/2, 2 1/2, and 16 months.  She always is helping them, encouraging them, guiding them.  She gives up time to visit and talk in order to help her kids to have fun.  That has been a real lesson to me.

 Sometimes she doesn't get the respect she deserves from others, either family, friends or stranger, because she has decided to trust God in the area of having children.

 So today, on the eve of the birth of her new daughter, I want to say that I love you Brigette and I respect you.  Both as a wife and a mother.  Your children will one day rise up and bless you.  But until they day that they do, let me stand in their place.

"Many Daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."  Proverbs 31:29

All photos taken today at our home...