homespun life

some days they surprise you

 

This is how the conversation went –

Emory: Mom, can I clean the windows in my room?

Me: Sure.

 

(ten minutes later....)

Emory: I looooove cleaning windows! It's sooooo much fun! Can I clean every window in the whole house?

Me: Umm... yes!

 

And she did.

 

firsts

 

Yesterday in the garden we were gifted with the first peony...

 

The first rose...

 

And the first (two!) water lilies! All in the same day!

 

Oh yes, some of them most definitely made it into the house!

(I wish you could smell it – it's heaven!)

 

all in a row

 

The garden is fully planted (for now – of course things are always going in here and there as the summer progresses). And now, just like the boy in The Carrot Seed, we water and wait and water and wait...

 

the relief sale

 

So many things to see and taste at the Mennonite Relief Sale...

 

And oh, so many beautiful quilts that inspire!

so... this is what i did today

 

Why yes, I am a believer in whole, natural foods – why do you ask? 

But sometimes (as in a party for a whole gaggle of teenagers) you just pull out the sugar and make candy sushi because, as Elliot reminded me, "Veggie platters don't really go over to well at these parties, Mom". Sigh.

 

(It was kinda fun, though.)

the writing desk

 

The amount of writing that's taking place around here these days is crazy. Lists, stories, letters, letters, and more letters are being penned (or typed) daily.

Newly inspired by Meg's clever writing area (and by Emory's frustration with stamps in one corner of the house, paper in another, and pencils – well, you know how it is – where do all the pencils get to?) we decided to gather all of our wayward writing supplies into one area and make our very own writing desk. It's been a huge hit. Huge.

No longer is the typewriter teetering on a chair in Emory's room. This is a good thing.

Paper and envelopes are in one spot. 

 

All of the writing utensils and even a sharpener (we really had to search the house for that one – I was getting tired of using the pocket knife) together at last!

 

Stamps, stickers, the return address stamp, and postage stamps all corralled. Hurrah! 

 

Did I mention how much her creative writing skills, penmanship, and spelling have improved? It makes a homeschooling mama happy.

 

running free

 

The first day out in the big pasture since the fall!

Emory and I had the privilege of helping a friend on her horse farm this weekend. The big release is always such a fun event with friends and family all gathered together to help. Everyone takes a horse and leads them to the pasture. On the count of "One, two, three!" the lead ropes are clipped off all at the same time. There's a mere split second pause and then...

 

 

The horses take off running and bucking and prancing and otherwise enjoying the new freedom that such a large open space brings.

At least that's what the mares do. The geldings just put their heads down and start eating. Boys – always thinking of their stomachs!

 

the unofficial start

 

Well, would you look at that? I think summer might be trying to make it's way in after all. And just in time!

Happy Victoria Day (also known as the unofficial start of summer around these parts)!

 

this week

 

This past week we've:

.. received and sent letters (snail mail style) to a new pen pal 

.. watched the alliums in the front yard open up in the sunshine and added chive blossoms to our salads

.. noticed all the new life in the pond

.. wondered who left this beautiful note in Emory's plant sale wagon

.. eaten scrambled eggs, quiche, and boiled eggs and started thinking that we need to come up with some new egg creations soon (any ideas?)

.. wondered what to do with our broody hen who is convinced she's going to hatch out some eggs (the fact that we don't have a rooster hasn't seemed to faze her)

.. stocked up the homemade apothecary

.. questioned the sanity of my plan to set the tomatoes out in the garden this weekend due to two frost warnings already this week (honestly, what is going on with the weather this year?)

.. finished a series of books (at the recommendation of my son) that has had me thinking and reflecting all week

.. realized that it's been a long time since a "youth" book has given me such cause for thought

.. decided I'd love to hear his opinion about it

 

a weekend of glee

 

The performances for the spring term of KW Glee took place this past weekend. There was a good mix of songs – ones that made me cry and ones that made me laugh, some oldies and some of that new fangled pop stuff. And, as usual, I was blown away by the talent of this group of teens – both in the singing and the choreography. (You can view a few of the songs over here on my YouTube channel if you'd like.)

Elliot's song this term was "Love Bug" (he's got the solo on the second verse, the one in the purple t-shirt).