{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}~ June 30, 2013

This week was definitely lacking in the picture-taking department, mostly because I've injured/pulled/wrenched my back and am somewhat immobile, though doing better.  However, I did get a few pictures before my mishap.

{Pretty}

This is the view out of the window over the kitchen sink. It's a double lot (actually triple~the area behind the white fence to the left is also part of our yard), so you can see all the way to the street behind us.  Beyond that is a field of corn.  Some of our raised beds are in the middleground.  The big maple tree shades the swing set/climber, and Dave is going to make a picnic table to put under it. 

If you look a little to the right out of the kitchen window, you can see the patio.  Those are raspberries on the left, and boy, are they ever producing this year!  This is where we eat dinner, weather permitting.  We've planted climbing roses that we hope will get the idea to climb up the lattice and over the top.  Wouldn't that be pretty?  This is only their second year and they still have a long way to go!

 

 

 

{Happy}

 

 

 

While driving on a country road, I persuaded Dave to stop and let me pick some of the wildflowers.  A long time ago I used to teach preschool at a small country church, and I'd often stop on the drive home and pick black-eyed Susans like these.  

 

 

These are such sweet, simple, and wholesome flowers.  They speak to me of blue skies, country lanes, fireflies, starry nights, and all things summer.  And they last forever!  These are week old and still going strong!

 

 

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The Hidden Art of Homemaking~ Chapter 2

I did not mean to start this series and immediately drop it, but I always forget that the end of the schoolyear is super busy.  I just did not have the time to continue it until school was out and travels were over.  Maybe I'll do better now that it's summer?  Hope springs eternal.

In chapter 2 of The Hidden Art of Homemaking, Edith Schaeffer says that she believes that everyone has some area of hidden that could be developed if given some time and energy.  For me that is sewing.  I've always wanted to learn to sew, but first I lacked a sewing machine and now I lack time, but I plug away at it in any extra time I can eke out.  I'm not very accomplished, but I know more than I used to and I am growing in it, and that is Mrs. Schaeffer's point.

Here are some things I have made over the past several years~

My first attempt to sew clothing from a pattern.  Youtube was my friend.

 

One of my first projects.  Everyone starts with pillows, right?

 

A skirt for Hannah that does not require a pattern.

I made this for Arane for Christmas.

 

I made this quilt in 2009.  Here it is in the bedroom in our old house.  This is by far the biggest project I've attempted.  It was not hard and I'm pleased with how it turned out.  I used scraps mostly.

 

 I learned to make this tote bag early in my sewing endeavors, and I've made several since.  This one was intended to be a small diaper bag suitable for quick trips.

Another skirt for Hannah.  This is her favorite skirt style and I've made so many of them that I've gotten pretty fast!

 

Join Cindy at Ordo Amoris for the Hidden Art book club!

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}~ June 23, 2013

June has been a month of travels for us.  First, we visited Dave's parents in Missouri to help them celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary.  Dave's brother and his wife and Lizzie, Justin, and Arane were all there too~ all of us, together! On the actual anniversary!  It was a miracle.  It was fun seeing everyone again and watching the interaction between the four generations.

On the way back to Illinois, we stopped to pick up my mother so she could go with us to Arane's first birthday.  But of course, all the Missouri relatives wanted to have their own birthday party for her.  Only my mom had seen Arane before then, so there were lots of new faces and people for Arane to meet. . . and lots of presents for her to open. :-)  One of the best things was that we got to meet the two newest babies in the family!  We have a regular baby boom going on right now, and another one is on the way!

After a quick breather at home, we headed (with my mother) to Appalachia for Arane's birthday. Lots more fun! 

{Pretty}

Arane and her great-grandmother (my mother)

The mommies and babies (one on the way!)

Pretty baby!

Hannah with the newest arrival

 



{Handsome}

The dads and the grandpas with their baby girls

{Happy}

Anniversary Dinner~ Four generations miraculously together from opposite ends of the country and points in between!

Arane loved this toy her doting grandparents brought her.  She happily pushed it around and around and around.

{Funny}

Grandpas play the silliest games!

 

 

{More Pretty and Happy}

In other news, our gardens are doing well!  Look at these turnips, strawberries, and raspberries!

 

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{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real}~ June 2, 2013

 I've been remiss in the picture-taking department this week!  Here's what I have:

{Pretty} and {Happy}

We ate our first strawberries this week!  Yes, what you see here were grown by us in our own ground by our own labor.  And golly, did they ever taste delicious!  The best strawberries I've ever had (being used to store bought ones).  The best part is this is only the beginning!

Our first harvest

A day later there were enough for all three of us to have for dinner.

 

 

There are lots more to come, which means I'll be busy preserving them this week.  And don't they look pretty in the blue and white bowls?

 

 

That's all for this week!  Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter for more {phfr} fun!