JEEPERS! Kate's a Grad-U-Ate!

Graduation week began with Erin's 6th grade graduation ceremony at the Intermediate School. She is now an official Middle Schooler- yikes! (I have no idea why this is all underlined, and can't get it to go away! sorry)

Erin and Megan

Papaw arrived on Thursday, having driven up from Texas. We're so glad to have him here for the festivities! Here he's taking pictures in our yard to show Charles.

Kate, in fact, the whole family, worked feverishly to complete the mosaic that she began in art class. She used our coffee table, at my request, and the top is now far more beautiful!

Since the air conditioning is down, and then the ceiling fan lost a blade, Dad bought us a new ceiling fan which he and Jim installed before the graduation party. They even resorted to reading the directions!

Isaac and Papaw face off over the chess board. Dad has played his whole life, and Isaac seems to have a natural gift for the game- it was close- really!

Bekah put up the badminton net in the back yard- what fun!

And the board swing, designed by Jim, and patiently coated with urethane- layer by layer, by Bekah, is finally hung from the big tree!

Kate finishes one of the many coats of lacquer on the mosaic tabletop. The sunset beach scene comes to life under the shiny lacquer, the shells on the beach portion looking as lovely as when we first plucked them from the Florida sand.

Kate and Papaw, on the way to the Baccalaureate service, which Kate participated in organizing.

Kate and Laura stayed up all night assembling these memory posters for the class of 2007.

Brigette, Kate, David and Laura after the service- on the march towards graduation!

Dairy Queen in honor of Erin's graduation! Yum!

Last day of school the younger three dye their hair- Isaac's idea...

And it stayed like that all day...

Erin's so blue!

The dye washed out and all dressed up, we wait for the High School Graduation to begin!

Kate received her diploma, wow!

Photos with everybody afterwards- what an exciting night!

Kate and the Germans, Laura and David. Sadly, this highlight also marks the end of their stay here...

Laura with our whole family.

Out for a special lunch with Papaw and the graduate.

It's official! Kate has graduated from High School. Praise the Lord.

Early Summer Beauty

While trying to keep my mind off of the new contacts in my aching eyes, I thought I'd share some of the photos we've been taking in our yard. As Summer approaches it is growing lovelier every day and we are discovering new blossoms and plants all throughout the property.

First, on the porch, is the herb garden in pots right outside the kitchen windows where they are handy for quick snipping while cooking.

We bought two half-barrels from a Mennonite farm in order to plant some tomatoes and peppers on the deck . These barrels smell like they did have whiskey or some such spirit in them before being cut for planting!

The view from one of the flower beds in the upper yard, looking down to the lower yard, in the early morning sunshine.

White Peonies are opening all over the place- I always wanted peonies!

The pink peonies the kids gave me for Mother's Day.

One of the varieties of Iris blooming thus far.

The azalea that I planted next to the mailbox, as well as my Mother's Day azalea, have the biggest blossoms I've ever seen on an azalea! This one is pink, the other is coral- gorgeous!

There are so many colors of Columbine in the yard, through the wooded areas as well as in the flower beds. They are so delicate and fairy-like. Random chance or design? No question!

I purchased this Iris on sale at the nursery. If it's a perennial and on clearance- why not?!

More Columbine, dark purple this time.

And now light purple...

and pink!
Down at the end of this wooded path we found the biggest surprise yet...

A GIANT Wisteria! (the photos simply can't do it justice) In the evening the whole lower yard and the woods smell of this wonderful fragrance. I had been telling Jim that I so wanted a wisteria once we prepared a spot for one, and now we find that it's the biggest blooming plant in our yard!

Except for perhaps this tree, covered in delicate yellow tulip-like flowers.

It may not be blooming, but there is life here. This cute little birdhouse was hanging in one of the shady areas when we bought the house and we left it alone. Walking past it last week I was startled by a tiny bird flying out of it! There is a nest, so it will remain right where it is!

That's all for now, what the photos can't capture is the near constant birdsong from a thousand birds, the fresh air and the singing of my heart. We are so very blessed to be able to live here surrounded by such beauty. If all creation sings God's praises, then our two acres are lending to the chorus quite sufficiently.

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits!

Memorial Day Weekend

What a full weekend, where, oh where do I start?

Friday after school Isaac had his friend, Ethan- who is soon moving to Florida- over to play. The neighbor girls asked Erin to come swim so we all went to enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool.

When it was time for Ethan to go home, Isaac's friend and our former neighbor, Ryan came to spend the night! His family have stayed close even though they don't live right across the street anymore.

Friday night after the younger kids settled in for bed, the rest of us sat down to watch a movie, Flight 93. Figuring this to be an appropriate movie for the Memorial day theme- I'd recommend it by the way, if you haven't already seen it. Our movie was interrupted by Vali making quite a bit of noise by the back door, scrabbling around as if trying to catch something. I paused the show becuse I'd rather kill any spider right away instead of giving it a chance to surprise me later. Low and behold, there sit Emmi and Vali staring intently at a tiny mouse that Emmi had found in the basement, tag-team tormenting the poor thing!

"JIIIIIM!"

Something which husbands are very good at is getting rid of finds such as this...

We resume our movie only to pause again 5 minutes later as we see Milo come up from the basement after his own trick-or-treating run with a second tiny mouse. Only Milo doesn't head for the back door, no, his "comfy place" is our bedroom! Jim is on Milo's heels as our manly cat runs upstairs to finish his prey.

We did finally finish our movie, and it was good and we cried. But the memory of it will always be overlaid with the picture of Milo and his catch in my mind! He needs to stick to his prescription diet for now...


Saturday morning I took Isaac, Ryan and Erin to an Organic farm nearby for a farm tour. The guide was informative and fun, and it took me back to my own organic gardening days, inspiring not only memories, but plans for our yard now.

After the tour we went out to the fields to watch the farmer bring in the cows. What remarkable patience he had as he waited for them to gather at his call before walking them up and through the gate into the next field... nothing instant and fast about it.

Saturday afternoon Jim got down to some serious business around the house and fashioned a top-notch tire swing for the kids! As I mowed the lawns, (my time is improving!) Jim and his assistants installed this very important feature to our yard and I'm glad to say that it has passed the initial testing with flying colors!


Sunday afternoon we went to our friends' farm to celebrate their daughter Natalie's high school graduation. The Nobles have three daughters who correspond in age to our three and they have all become fast friends.

In fact, Rebekah and Erin will be going to camp this summer with Emma and Lillian. Their farm is home to several Alpacas and a Llama, who is quite friendly!

Although Kate and Natalie have known each other for such a short time, they have many interests in common, from the Arts to animals.


Sunday evening another longed-for feature was completed as Jim and the kids finished a fire ring by which many a marshmallow will be roasted and long evenings enjoyed. As soon as it was finished they "fired it up" and started whittling perfect marshmallow sticks when a thunderstorm rolled in and doused the flames, though not the fun!


Yesterday morning, Memorial Day, dawned bright and early with us getting into Mohnton for the parade. Isaac was marching in the parade- Main Street America style- with the Scouts. Jim and the girls and I parked our chairs on a sidewalk near the end of the route and thoroughly enjoyed the festivities.

Afterward there was a ceremony in the cemetery to honor those who have fought and died for our freedoms.

A friend sent me the link to a marvelous video on youtube which is worth a few minutes of your time- grab the tissues though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ervaMPt4Ha0


We invited some friends from church, the Maiolie family, over for some grilling and fellowship later in the day. Jim had spent the afternoon working on getting a rope for another swing in our lower yard over the very high branch that he'd identified as perfect for swing number 2. The Maiolies arrived in time to help test the stability of the ropes and branch after we'd eaten a feast in the lovely afternoon air on the back porch. Today Jim will fashion a seat for the swing, but for last night the ropes were enough for a thrilling ride!

We ended the evening with S'mores after Kate and Laura arrived.

Jim has taken an additional day off of work to finish the swing and work on more shelves for our library. After such a full weekend I hardly know what day it is now! Whew! God is good and has blessed us plentifully with home, family and friendships,... and now S'mores too!