One with Dirt

Jon, A & W in their John Deere sweat shirts they received for Christmas.

Jon, A & W living up to the slogan on their sweat shirts.

And when they were done planting the garden--the tub was also one with dirt!

Amazing Party!!

Grace and Ashton have been the best of friends since Ashton, who at 4 months old had the forsight to get started on the relationship right away, visited Grace in the hospital the day Grace was born. They have shared most big and little events in their lives, it was so fun that they shared their graduation party. So many pictures of them growing up together it was hard to pick and choose for use when doing the decorations. Hats off to: Ashtons' Mom, Dawn who picked up alot of my slack; their Aunt Kaye and Cousin Kaydra baked and decorated the cake; Grma came and baked bars for 2 days; Aunts, Uncles, and Grma's worked kitchen duty; and Ashtons' Grmpa as the offical bar taste tester. Not only does this family love to have a fun party they are more than willing to work to make it happen!The Dads doing pre-party prep, the chocolate fountain was a big attraction. It usually makes an appearance at big family events. My handsome husband is pouring the chocolate--it doesn't get any sweeter, my obsessions combined!
Our 5 kids. I may be biased, but--they are fine looking (this is where having a handsome husband pays off)!! Warms my heart having them all in one spot at one time.
Randi and Melissa started off the after party-party with some trick scooter riding. They are considering hitting the local parade circuit.
Avery providing more after party entertainment. When he showed up on bike wearing a biking suit I said look its Lance Armstrong. Ave then proved how "arm-strong" he is!

I leave you with a bit more sweetness. Our Randi and her boy at the end of a very fun day!

You Are Amazing Grace

Artistic
Memorable
Angelic
Zealous
Incredible
Noble
Giving

Gracious
Radiant
Ambitious
Caring
Eyes of brown

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-"Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do Amazing things among you."
Joshua 3:5

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“For the law was given through Moses, but Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”
John 1:17

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Tales from the Duck Side

Every year a pair of wood ducks nest in the maple tree right outside our back door. We have never seen the babies--until this year!! Jeremiah our son-in-law stepped outside and yelled back in to us "Hey there's baby ducks falling out of the sky!!" Some landed on the ground, and some on the deck. they literally launched out of the maple tree, and found the mama who was waiting along the side of the house. The kids put the babies that landed on the deck where they could find mama duck. One got hurt in the fall but waddled to mama just fine. She then led them under the veranda and waited for us to go away before leading them to water (pictures taken by Graci).

We had a busy weekend with Grace's grad party, a surprise visit from our daughter and her family, having all 5 of our kids home for a couple of days, and Jon's mom staying here and baking for the party. Childhood pictures and graduation pictures in piles and on display boards, my mind goes back and I think about the launched, the launching in process and future launchers.

I think about that Papa & Mama duck and I take a lesson. The nest is higher than a second story window, they chose safety for the first stage, knowing that the next stage would be a long drop. My brother told me they have to drop in order to live, an Internet search proved and disproved this. Either way us parents have to release them for the launch. I wonder if the launch and fall is an adrenaline rush for the little ducklings. The mama duck quacks a few times and just waits, she's not all frazzled and racing around making sure the landing is soft. When the ducklings have all found her she gathers them around, waits for them to all settle down and away they go out into an even bigger world.
Two of ours have left the nest. The first one launched successfully, although loss has touched her life she is swimming in the big pond, building her nest, touching lives and tending little souls. The second one launched, fell hard, and has chosen to not follow the leader. In the picture above he would be the one climbing the wall, another one is looking up to him. This is where I really need to take mama ducks lesson and not panic, just call and wait until they all settle down and lead by example. Now the third on stands on the edge, ready to leap. She will launch "Grace"-fully. Two left in the nest, and here I am learning lessons as I am trying to teach them!

Dream Chickens

I have dream chickens like some people have a dream house or a dream car. When I find pictures of a new chicken that I haven't thought about dreaming of owning one day, I clip them out and put them in my "dream" 3-ring binder. I also have dream eggs, these are the eggs I want to gather someday. I love it when the chicken of my dreams matches the eggs of my dream. I found this photo of dreamables on line and skyped it. Skype basically means to borrow without asking-we said it when I was a kid so it's probably not even a word. I google searched for it but found it not--this maybe the beginnings of a post about the made-up words of my childhood. ANYWHOO back to dreaming! These Cuckoo Marons are a total dream package, dark brown eggs laid by some of the prettiest black and white chickens.

By now you may be thinking just get some chickens and get it over with!! I can't. I had a test run a few years ago that didn't look to promising. Jon's brother had gotten baby chicks from farm & barn or as Barbs husband calls it "Mans Mall". When they were done playing farm (cuz they can) in their back yard, the chickens came here so I could butcher them. They were waiting out their last days in the pen (dog kennel) when the police man that lived across the street came and told me someone had complained about my 5 chickens in the dog kennel. It is against city ordinance to have chickens in town. Here's where I really go off!! The back of our lot butts right up to the county fair grounds, behind that is a dike, lake, then cows!! So for 5 days every summer I wake up to cows mooing, roosters crowing, one year a horse in the garden, and demo drivers pounding on their cars. Its hill billy heaven back there! But this decedent of real moon shining hill billy's can't have chickens! I am very close to petitioning the city for permission to have just 4 chickens like they do in Madison WI. It may be on my list of fun things to do this summer!


For now I will pacify my self with this hen and little chicks, thrifted on our annual Mothers Day garage sale shopping trip. And I will console my self with the thought that at least these won't run out onto the highway.

My Little Corner of the World

This is where I read my Bible, nourish my soul, sew on buttons, crochet, chat on the phone, chat with the love of my life, enjoy a cup of tea, think, plan, cry. Everyone knows it is my corner, but everyone knows I love to share it. I love sharing my world, every little corner.

Grace has made her way my to little spot in life, she's reading Robyns Table Chat, a newsy little local paper filled with old photos, old facts, and people around our small town.
Avery has made him self comfortable, reading The Hobbit, and snuggled in his Vikings blanket.

There are many perks to sharing my corner, such as, holding baby dolls, and a real life doll, drinking tea, and ...

...many times when I find my way to my little corner, there is a little Blessing to enjoy!

Sauer Braten = Happy Germans

Sauer Braten is a German pot roast, it has a sour taste to it and when cooking it you can really smell the red wine vinegar. We really enjoy it, if it's been a while since I've made it my family requests it like this: We better have Dad (or Grmpa) over for supper and you can make Sauer Braten. They all help-alot, and are more than willing to peel alot of spuds.

Sauer Braten

3-4 lbs bottom round roast
4 tbls. oil
salt & pepper to taste
4 cloves garlic-finely chopped (I use a garlic press)
2 large onions thinly sliced
2 bay leaves
1/2 can tomato paste
1/4 cup ketchup
1 cup red wine vinegar
2 cups red cooking wine
2 cups water
1-2 tsp. Lawrys
1/2 cup sour cream

What you see below is a doubled recipe--feeding teenage boys. When I double this I don't always double the cooking wine, I just use 1 bottle of red wine vinegar and 1 bottle of cooking wine. No one has ever noticed the difference or complained.

Braze the roast, 2 tbls. oil, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Slice onions very thin.

Saute 2 tbls oil, garlic, and onions in stock pot until almost golden, but not to tender.To the stock pot of sauteed garlic and onions add: brazed roast, bay leaves, tomato paste, ketchup, red wine vinegar, red cooking wine, water, and Lawrys. Simmer 1 hour, turn roast, and simmer 1-2 hours.

Remove roast and slice a bit less than 1/2 inch, return to stock pot, bring to boil then reduce to simmer for 1/2 hour. Most of the onions will cook into the mixture.

Add 1/2 cup sour cream, stir in well. You can pull the bay leaves out if you wish, I don't bother.

Serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles, my family prefers mashed potatoes . I have never served instant potatoes with Sauer Braten, I think they would be to mushy. I mash the potatoes on the dry side because the sauce is not thick and the potatoes will get soupy. This meal is worth the work. Sometimes I will prepare it part way, refrigerate over night and then finish the process the next day, especially if we have it for dinner (dinner as in the noon meal).

Covered in Love

This is not the first time I have been covered in love, I talk about it here, and you can see me covered here. My very dear friend Barb has covered me once again--as she has so many times over the years. Barb and I met at a home school group 19 years ago. Our daughters are friends. We have hauled home a bunny, kitten, buckets of soup, pans of rolls and bars, from their log home in the hills near Winona, but mostly we hauled home the love. The love of the pure and simple, the love of their Savior that is fleshed out in word and deed. An example that has challenged me and caused me to say on many occasions "I want to be like Barb when I grow up." She has shared her heart, wisdom, home, books, beads, patterns, and more. Together we have watched our children grow, went on home school field trips, women's retreats, and ridden in an ambulance. We have laughed until we cried and cried until we laughed! I love my Barb, and am blessed in more ways than I could count in our friendship.
Here I am all covered in my new apron that Barb made for me. The fabric is me through and through. When I tie this on I feel pretty. I feel in touch with the many women in history who tied on an apron every morning like a uniform and began the work of caring for, and sharing the fruits of their labor.

And look, Barb also covered Grace in some love!

Thank you Barb.

Five Nomad's Visit cont.

The General sounding the drums...

and preparing the troops.

The Princess, tickling the ivories...
...and her aunties heart!
(I have worn out my kids with crafts,
when I get to craft with someone else's child it makes my day)

Chocolate dog by his side and chocolate milk with J.J.

--his two favorite things at our home.

Tami calls him Bubby.
I call him Bubby-licious!

Five Nomads Visit

My sister of Five Nomads-here has been visiting for the past couple of days. They are back on the trail westward. I will post pictures in a day or so...

...I need a nap!

The Nomads have left the building. The drums in the garden shed are quiet. The piano in the dining room is quiet. The pencil sharpener is quiet, no snip-snip of craft scissors. The Star Wars dudes, American Dolls, and Cars are packed and gone. No discussions on weapons and baseball, no ballet pirouettes to entertain me while I'm in the kitchen. No little curly haired 3 year old bossing the 80 lb. dog or telling me that there is shiny grass in heaven. The Nomads are gone and for a few short hours our home is empty.

My heart is full.