This Week

There were times this week that I could forget that a virus is swirling around us. The fact that the news has turned to racial injustice and riots has helped that feeling, I’m sure. 

Helping turned out to be a theme this week. We helped Laura with some yard work. Aliza used a push mower for the first time. It was fun to make a big visual impact and encourage my sister. This is an after picture. 

Anna couldn’t wait for me to start her blanket after finishing the top of Aliza’s. The second one came together more quickly then the first. Anna did a lot of sewing. I even walked away a few times. 

Anna couldn’t keep her hands off of it. She used it right away. Currently it is right beside her pillow, along with the backing, waiting to be finished. 

We spent a day with my mom and Janell. In the morning we picked strawberries. It was great timing. The berries were delicious. Then Janell and I used Grandads garden to plant pumpkins. We also planted squash and green onion for him. Aliza was sure to point out that Janell was digging the holes, Josiah put the seeds in and covered them and I basically did nothing. It was an accurate assessment. 

Then Aliza went shopping with Janell for the rest of the blessing bag supplies and Josiah and I helped put the bags together. That was a fun project. I delivered one bag on my way home and the recipient was so grateful. There’s not much more fulfilling that doing something kind for someone else. 

I got a little obsessed with the space shuttle launch to the International Space Station. The launch was amazing. We watched 11 minutes and by the time all of the rocket boosters had detached and they were in orbit, my eyes were a little misty. Something about it was moving. 

Then today we missed the docking by 15 minutes but I ended up watching it off and on for a couple hours until the men entered the ISS. The attention to minute detail, the communication and watching them work in space in real time just captured me. The girls were about to strangle me when I wanted to watch the welcome ceremony too! I assured them that *someday* they would be so glad that their mom made them watch history. Lol. 

We ended the weekend with s’mores. The children were LOUD and crazy but in the end (they were still really loud) they were laying on the blanket looking at stars and watching bats fly. 

Normal Doesn't Feel Normal

With a couple exceptions, our life pretty well went back to "normal" this week. We met in person for Bible Study--keeping distance and being very aware of our space and having conversations about how to live life while being wise and safe. 

I brought some sourdough starter home with me last weekend. I had zero confidence that I could actually make it work.

 I fed my starter pet and it grew...

...and it produced an edible loaf of bread! Later in week, I also made sourdough pancakes. I'm not sure what will be next, but I have a bit of starter saved in the refrigerator.

 The next thing to navigate was a family gathering--not my whole family, but 3 sisters, a brother in law, Mom and 8 cousins. And my brother stopped by. One of my sisters was visiting from out of town and, of course, you see family. It was a *chilly, windy* porch visit. I tried to arrange the chairs with some space and we ended up with a nice visit together.

 Aliza had youth group. They all wore masks, spaced the chairs out and played games that did not involve any sharing of cards, dice etc. It was SO good for her.

Jeremy ended up mostly doing this project for me: He spray painted this table on the porch. 

 I had some leftover spray paint from another project so did not labor over a color decision. I plopped the handful of silk flowers that I've collected into a vase and I love it! The porch has become my favorite spot. I can't believe I rejected that porch as unusable for so many years! I'm sure there is a life lesson in that!

We Left Town!

As soon as Aliza finished school on Friday (yay!!!) we headed out to see Jeremy's parents. This weekend has become a traditional visit as it is usually the Garden Tour weekend. We celebrate school being finished and just relax a bit. We had crossed it off the list of possibilities and then on Tuesday Jeremy mentioned something about going. I thought about it for a day. Then we made sure that we could find an open bathroom in case we had to make a stop. Finally, I shocked Karen by asking her if she would let us come. She was thrilled to have us.

On the way out of town, the children got their promised school-is-finished Cook Out milkshakes. We had a really quick and easy trip, driving the whole way without stopping. There was no rush hour traffic slow downs in the places we normally expect it. Traffic was noticeably lighter.

We had our own Grandma's House Garden Tour. This young lady is officially a high schooler!!!

Grandma had some dahlia tubers that needed to be planted. Josiah dug the holes. 

We also had the Garden Tour Tea except it was at Christie's house. It was just delightful to see her in person. My new favorite spring/summer tea is Passionfruit Peach by Oliver Pluff & Co

Then we made good on our second school-is-finished promise--Japanese for supper. Those 2 promises (Cook Out and Japanese) were made before we decided to go to WV.

It was good to get away. I think we all felt refreshed when we got home. Now we will proceed with life with wisdom, but also with being with people in person.

The Lastest Project

Mom said I was really scraping the bottom of the project barrel when I told her what I was doing this week. Once I had a plan in mind, it really came together easier than I thought it would. I also had Janell on facetime a couple times to talk through my ideas. I do not trust myself when it comes to cutting and sewing!

I have a bag of baby clothes packed away for each of the children. The plan being that I would make a blanket out of the clothes some day. The day arrived... I made templates for squares and rectangles (2 squares) and started cutting. The squares piled up a lot faster than I thought they would.

This is Aliza's blanket. It was fun to look through the clothes for myself and she did enjoy it too. Anna enjoyed cutting a few blocks.

Janell is a good one to have around when doing projects. While she was here for an afternoon, I finished cutting. Of course then we had to lay the blocks out to see how it would look. When it was all laid out we couldn't help but sew a few blocks. She helped sew two rows! After that kind of jump start, I had to keep on going!

Part of my plan was to teach the girls to sew and iron while making these blankets. They were very willing learners. That was fun, but also made me twitch and stretched the patience. I thanked Janell for bringing me a Starbucks chai the day before. A special drink helped the patience level.

I took the job of sewing the rows together. The first 3 rows went really well. The 4 row was crooked. The 5th row was even more crooked. I tore out those 2 rows and then went to pinning before sewing and they all lined up just fine. I know, I know. Next time I will start pinning from the beginning.

I never set out to make a perfectly blanket so I'm ok with the imperfect lines. Aliza loves it and can't wait for me to get a back on it so that she can use it. And Anna is very anxious for me to start her blanket.

Social Distaning Week 8

I wonder if I will realize when "social distancing" ends.

My porch is open for visiting. 

We spent an afternoon with Janell and her girls to celebrate Renee's birthday. More of that will be happening.

This week's project was painting the stair rails--the vertical spindles. I think Chrissy painted them many years ago when we covered up the yellow color.

I had helpers at different times. They did a good job. I didn't lose my patience too badly.

Now they are white and clean and making the stairs and walls look really bad!

Sisters

I started this post and never came back to it. Oops! Last weekend would have been the girls dance recital. They were very disappointed, but I'm glad they were still willing to put on their costumes, do hair and makeup and take lots of pictures. They had so much fun doing this photoshoot together. Yay for a Daddy who takes great pictures!

This heart is for their teachers, Kristen and Barbara.

Aliza's jazz dance was to Rain on My Parade. The costume included a yellow umbrella.

Ending umbrella pose

Anna's jazz dance was to Smallfoot. This was her first year in jazz.

Lyrical dance was to Undone. It was the most dramatic dance that Aliza has had so far.

This was Anna's 3rd year in ballet and tap.

Our year was gorgeous for pictures!

Tap.

These two. They are beautiful inside and out. I love who they are each growing up to be.

Joy Dare::April (Quarantine Edition)

7051. Be still and know that I am God. (Quite appropriate for a calendar page that will remain empty.)

7052. Josiah pulls a chair into the kitchen to talk while I'm making supper
7053. All the planet discussions and then seeing Venus
7054. Grass mowed
7055. Anna had the best time using the Shop Vac to vacuum the car
7056. Special mail
7057. Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

7058. Josiah helping make supper
7059. Hard work
7060. Isiah's constant chatter while he helped
7061. All the couch snuggles
7062. More projects
7063. Sunday rest
7064. Peaceful monthly money meeting
7065. Seeds in the mail
7066. Heard: "I want to be like Daddy when I grow up."
7067. Another successful grocery shopping trip
7068. Making memories through work
7069. Taking a drive to reset
7070. Big sister to motivate little brother
7071. Surprise in my inbox
7072. Making a couple deliveries
7073. Seeing Mom and Janell
7074. Made it to Friday!
7075. Aliza finished science!
7076. Talking to Christie
7077. Easter preparation
7078. Dogwood blooms

7079. Celebrating Easter
7080. Beautiful spring day
7081. Holiday dinner prepared and served
7082. Meeting Meghan at the check out
7083. All 4 have a subject finished for the year
7084. Facetime play date
7085. Challenged by forgiveness
7086. Aliza has a project that is giving her purpose
7087. One flowerbed weeded
7088. Lilacs

7089. Visiting with Mom
7090. There is always someone to reach out to
7091. Taking plastic bags to HALO
7092. The Friday feeling
7093. Sean so happy to play outside
7094. The "pit" is neat and organized
7095. Jeremy took care of supper
7096. Worship time
7097. Sabbath
7098. Successfully did grocery shopping with a mask on
7099. Another cupboard organized
7100. My people
7101. Hammock time
7102. Afternoon storm
7103. "Shame Off, Grace On"
7104. Our weekly post office and bank drive
7105. A good laugh
7106. Hyssop seeds sprouting
7107. 3 children naming and playing with worms
7108. Talking to Grandad
7109. Facetime talks
7110. Letting the girls stay up late together
7111. Jeremy to my rescue
7112. Freshly cut grass
7113. Isaiah listing everything I should get at the grocery store
7114. Freedom to go to the store
7115. Josiah and Jeremy cheering Joel on
7116. Reading time
7117. A teapot of my own
7118. Friendships that solidify quickly
7119. Blue skies, green leaves, white dogwood flowers...still blooming!
7120. Got to see Dad
7121. Planted all the flowers
7122. Planting helpers
7123. Warm sun and walks
7124. Aliza got to see a friend for a few minutes
7125. Dad happy and relieved
7126. Thursday night is the new Friday night
7127. Tears
7128. Family Minecraft night = quiet evening for me