Guess what!!! We have baby chicks!

We participated in the “Chick it Out” program available to schools in our area. I was amazed that the program extends its offer to homeschoolers too. Best of all, it doesn’t cost us anything but our efforts in turning the eggs three times a day and maintaining the right temperature. Read the rest of this entry »

Every spring I almost swoon over the wonderful aroma of the lilacs. We don’t have lilacs at our house. Years ago I transplanted a lilac twig in hopes of growing my own big ol’ lilac bush. But after several years of staring down at the twig and it’s leaf, it finally fell over and that was the end of it. So, no lilacs here. But all over town they wave their purple or pink or white blossoms and I roll down the car windows to get a whiff of their perfume.

Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday, Nathan said, “Can we go for a walk?” Well, I have been trying to get outside more now that the weather is nice, so I agreed. Then it occurred to me–I really wanted to walk down the street to the empty lot where the wild flowers grow! Christie keeps talking about wildflowers, but my neighborhood is full of nice, green lawns, with hardly a wildflower in sight.

So, off we went in search of wildflowers. When we got to the empty lot, I sat down amongst the dandelions and showed Josiah how he can pick the tall white ones and blow the seeds into the breeze. He was thrilled! So as we sat there I got to thinking about how it’s kind of like blowing bubbles, except without the soapy mess.

“Flower bubbles,” I said to myself, “just another wonder of God’s creation!”

So, what do you do when you’re stuck inside on a rainy day? No doubt you have lots of ideas, and I’d love to hear them! Here is what we’re doing today: Read the rest of this entry »

Since we’ve already established the fact that I’m a bit odd, I feel comfortable sharing with you that I do love rainy days! The best part about them is knowing ahead of time that rain is coming. That always inspires me to go plant things, knowing that I can let the rain do the watering. Read the rest of this entry »

In trying to think of some clever, witty, inspirational post for today, I got sidetracked by thoughts that are less than witty.

I was telling Michael just the other day that I wished I was more sunny and upbeat and cheerful all the time. I wish I could be classified as “perky”. But I’m just not! I think about sad things. I mull over life’s impossibilities. I see the sorrow embodied in a pile of clean laundry. I like to watch documentaries about boring things. Read the rest of this entry »

4:00 4/24 - Everything should be working as expected now

*We are currently experiencing technical difficulties. It’s not you, it’s us. Check back again for the podcast!*

In our second podcast, we mention the following things…

Mystery of History, by Linda Hobar

Balance that Works When Life Doesn’t, by Susie Larson (Amazon Link)

The Way Home, by Mary Pride

Egermeier’s Bible Story Book, by Elsie Egermeier

Those of you who want an MP3 version of the podcast can click here

When I got to the farm, Nathan was out in the back pasture trying to catch a horse that had escaped! Earlier this morning, while he was taking his riding lesson, three horses had broken through the fence and had been rounded up. Later on, Cooper decided to take advantage of the hole in the fence to escape, too. Well, I watched for a little while as they tried to catch him, but then I decided that we should leave so we could get back into town for Christie’s birthday lunch.

As we were leaving, Nathan mentioned that he had been planning to help Kim mend the broken fences…and then it occurred to me…he could stay and help! His grandparents own the farm, he knows his way around, and he’s a very good worker. We turned the car around, asked Kim if she wanted him to stay and help, and of course, she did!

After I left, Sarge decided to break through the fence again. Now they had two horses to catch! After they mended the fences, they were both very tired and hungry, so they went to eat lunch at McDonald’s. After lunch, they spent the rest of the afternoon trying to catch Cooper and Sarge. Finally, when both horses were safely in the barn, and all the fences were mended, Kim brought Nathan home.

He was covered with dirt and as happy as a ten-year-old boy can be!

It wasn’t unusual at all to hear the fire truck rumble past our house. They do that all the time since we’re just a few blocks from the fire house. But today I found it odd that the big truck stopped very quickly in front of our house. I walked toward the front door to see what might have cause such a sudden halt.

I couldn’t believe it! Our miniature Dachshund, Mac, was in the middle of the road barking his fool head off at the huge ladder truck. Someone (who shall remain nameless) had left the front gate open, and Mac had decided to let that fire truck know what he thought. Mac is all of six inches tall (and probably three times as long as he is tall), and could have easily been squashed flat without the big truck even feeling the lump in the road. But the watchful driver had considerately stopped for the little dog, and I ran toward the road hollering at Mac to get back inside. Mac ran to the sidewalk, so the truck started moving again. But as soon as it did, Mac took off after it again. Obligingly, the driver stopped again and I finally caught up with Mac. I chased him back into the yard, waved and apologized and thanked the firefighters who seemed to be amused by all of this, and with Mac safely behind bars, the fire truck was finally allowed to be on its way.

I mused over this all later. Mac went after that truck, and didn’t even care about the fact that it was so much bigger than he was. I had to admire his bravery. I may not like a lot of things about that little dog, but he has some definite qualities that I admire. Not only is he gentle with the children, and too small to knock anyone over, but he is an excellent little watchdog.

So how do you know the difference between bravery and stupidity? I suppose I don’t know. Someone has said, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” But there is something to admire about those who are willing to go out on a limb and put their neck on the line.

Thanks to good brakes on the fire truck, Mac lives to bark another day. And I am left to wonder at how I might be just a bit more willing to stand up to something that might squash me.

Josiah is so lucky! Even though he doesn’t have a sister, he does have a girl cousin who just loves to “mother” him! At my sister’s house today, little Amelia (age 4) took it upon herself to tuck Josiah (age 2) into bed for his nap. A couple of hours later, when I brought him downstairs, she said, “Oh, I was going to get him up from his nap.”

How cute!