Summer

We aren't a family who make summer plans to go off for a family  vacation or fill the summer with camps every week for the kids to give them something to do. Mainly because we can't afford it, but also because summer gets busy all my itself. And this summer has been no different.

We had some friends come and visit in the month of May and Gracie had her friend sleep over, then at the beginning of June we had some very dear friends from Denver stay with us for a week.

The girls had a 3 day bible camp at church that also took place in June.

Then......

                                               Father's Day at our favorite beach

     The following weekend was my birthday and we went to Cummerland island. I have always wanted to go there. We had a great time and saw some wonderful creatures that GOD created.

We all agreed we want to go back, but will wait for it to cool back down before we go.

(I have a lot more pictures that I could post.)

The next weekend was the 4th of July.

We had my family over for Taco's!

              I know not the food one thinks of when celebrating our Nation's Birthday. But it was SO good.  For dessert we celebrated  with more of the traditional foods, cupcakes and ice cream!

  We had planned to go watch the city fireworks, but it rained. So we had a box of left over fire works
that our friends from Denver gave us before they left a year ago. My husband shot those  while it sprinkled. The shots above are from the few my neighbor shot off. His were way better than ours.
Ours just fizzled.

                         
The following weekend we took apart our classroom to make it a den, since the the kids are going
to school this year, and we painted. Well, I painted and he built a new and different desk that will fit better in the room.

Then it was my hubby's birthday. We didn't do much for him, I still feel bad about it, but he didn't want much. So we got ice cream and ate left over cupcakes that were in the freezer from the 4th of July.

If you add the occasional orthodontist apt., errands, doing book reports for school that are due on the first day, and other misc. stuff called life, our summer had been busy. That is why I haven't blogged for 2 months. The kids would probably tell you different, that we did some fun stuff, and stayed home alot. But, I know different!

                                                  I hope you all have had a great summer!

My Mother's Garden

My mother's back yard hasn't always been what it is today. Everything must start from the beginning,

and my mother has worked hard in her yard to get it where it is today.

It is a place where there weren't many trees and the ones that started there aren't there anymore because of old age. My mother has had vision's that were brought to life in her backyard.

She has pool parties with her granddaughters when there wasn't a pool in her yard. She used her

galvanized metal buckets, at the time they were the right size for a personal pool that

didn't have be shared.

My mother has had many other parties in her yard. She has thrown a graduation party for her

youngest son, father's day brunch, many family Christmas's, and  fourth of July

get together parties.

All of the gatherings have been well thought out and every detail has been planned by my

mother. Having her family enjoy her surroundings have always been a blessing

to her. She has lived for her kids, for they have brought her much joy and laughter.

   Now that joy and laughter is blessed by her grand kids.

She loves all of her grand kids. She shows it by knowing what they are interested in and then

she shops for those particular interests. She doesn't spoil them,  because she doesn't believe in spoiling a child, but it is an expression of her love.

My mother has been having much fun lately as she has been shopping for two of granddaughters. Gracie and Laci have mentioned and shown much interest in gardening. She has had

discussions with each of them about what they would like to grow.

My youngest has had much interest in roses. Gracie wants to grow anything.

I am very grateful that my mother lives close by and knows much about flowers and roses. She

has the green thumb and I do not. I pray that my girls learn from their grandmother and inherit

her green thumb. She has lots of knowledge, in many areas, to pass along. She is a wise woman.

My mother's garden hasn't held a party in a while, but now it is used for something else.

It is used for teaching.

If you walk through the garden there is much to be heard and much to be seen.

Entering into my mother's backyard  is where one can be filled with a since of calmness, peace,

and love. For everything she plants is an expression of her love to grow things.

 It is where you can find a comfy chair and sit in the shade, feel the breeze and have a quite conversation or close your eyes and doze.

It is a sanctuary of relaxation.

My mother's garden has many fun areas to explore. She has a goldfish pond in a big galvanized cattle feed bucket. She has a sitting area in a different part of a garden that is shaded. This allows her to

view  her garden from a different angle and have a chair to sit in when she needs to take a break

from the heat.

 

 

 

 

My mother's garden is a place where she can teach and I can express my new found love.

I am able to walk around the school grounds and take pictures of the things she loves.

She loves to have things that remind her of childhood that can also be made into a memory for her grand kids.

My mother's love for flowers, roses and collecting neat things bring so much uniqueness and character to her garden.

 

With all of that love that she pours out into her garden, she is rewarded with so much beautiful color.

 

 

The color is constantly changing from week to week. Something that wasn't there before, it is now.

I am so privileged to be able to use my mother's garden as a canvas for my new hobby.

I see the hard work she has put into it.

I see how she is blessed by watching new things grow. I see how blessed she is when she shares her garden.

So now I am privileged to share some of  My Mother's Garden with you.

 

 

 

On a personal note:

I love things that are already grouped in threes. It reminds me of my

three girls.

Shells

 I have mentioned before that going to the beach is therapy for me. This past Sunday, we went to the beach and the whole family got a nice long therapy session. The beach was doing some dredging. For those who aren't familiar with this process, it is where a large ship is off shore and sucks sand from the bottom of the ocean floor and it flows through a pipe to the shore. You can watch the sand fly from the pipe, from a distant is looks like water pouring out of a water hose.

 The reason this done is to help build up the shore. With the never ending tide, and the summer storms that will be approaching, the shores are washed away. Leaving not much room for beach goers to sit and to enjoy the scenery. We are particular to a specific beach and will drive a little farther and pay the fee to get onto this state park/beach. The sand is white, there are no buildings around, one has room and space to sit and enjoy. Even when the parking lot is full, you do not fill crowded on the beach.

 We have been out at the beach before when there is dredging but, we must have been out there at the right time because they were so many shells. Typically, this beach doesn't have many shells, which is another reason why we like coming here. They don't hurt the feet when walking on the shore or when the girls are boogie boarding. It doesn't feel great when you  fall off the board and are dragged through a bed of shells. The girls have come home with many scrapped knees, hips, and backs. But this day we found a pot of gold!

  I watched many people walking along the shore with hands fulls of shells. Some were pretty big, that is rare. A lot were partially intact, but still, people had hands full of shells. Shells are one of my husbands worse nightmares. With three girls, they gather alot. They can become easily attached to things quickly, and it can be hard for them to let go of things. My husband sees a shell and says,"Yep it a shell. Looks like every other shell Ive seen." He doesn't get excited about shells. My girls can see the beauty in each shell and can tell you what is different about the new one she just found. It never fails that we ALWAYS come home with shells, doesn't matter what beach, and from what state. A shell has to be brought home. I know some where someone would tell me, that it is good luck. I don't believe it that kind of stuff, and if I did I would be very disappointed by now.

 After we got set up, my husbands first words were, "We aren't bringing home every shell you see!" I was very supportive of this, and really encouraged the girls by asking them, "Is this shell really different than any others that we have?" "Do you really need this shell." I let Laci make a small pile of her findings and planned to ask her when we left which one, and only one was her favorite?
She had a small pile of big broken pieces, she was thrilled when she found a piece of coral!

  I had ventured down to the shore a few time and found a couple small round swirled shells. (I don't the name of the shells. I know shells have a scientific name, classification names (those are easy to pronounce) and then there is our version for naming it.) I also found a tiny unicorn shell. (You'll see one later, my oldest named it.) I would put them into my pocket so I wouldn't loose them, and because I didn't want to hear my husband say, " We aren't bringing every shell you find home." I had my argument ready, I rarely bring any shells home, so I was due. Well, after going for a walk with the girls, we walked back to the tent with both hands full of shells, at this point I don't know how well my argument would have stood up. I do have to say, that I was carrying shells for myself and the girls. I think I only had 2.

 We put our findings down and encouraged Chuck to walk down to the tide pool with us. On the way back down I found 3/4 of a sand dollar that I almost stepped on. It was pretty much intact, until it snapped in my hands from the wind, this gives fragile a new definition. I taught my oldest how to scan the horizon ahead for things. I shared with her that my father taught me the same thing and that is why I am always spotting things along the highway. It took a bit, but she eventually found her shell. We stopped at some point at a bed of smaller shells and she and I really examined the bed to see what could be found.

  This is where we found the real pot of gold. We found all of these neat little shells. All so different. Each time the water rushed upon the shore you could see something new. It was always changing with so many unique surprises. She found many of the unicorn shells, several olive shells( actual name), and others I have no names for. I think she and I could have spent hours in one spot gathering tiny shells.

  Many times I have thought about how people are like shells. We all come in many shapes, colors, and sizes. Some of us are prettier than others, some of us are tall, short, round, and thin. Some of us are shinier than others and like to be in the spot light. Some of us are dull and are quite, some of us are plain, alot of us are fragile and some feel lost, overlooked, or forgotten.

(The little pointed ones are the unicorn shells.)


  Many people were walking along that shore with the bigger shells, but, how many of them walked by and didn't stop to notice the smaller shells. As I told my oldest, alot of people are always looking for the BIG ITEM. It is easy to walk past someone and not notice them, or be the one who feels unnoticed. I reminded my daughter that there will times in life that she will feel that way, I know because I have felt that way. But, I also told her that I have to remind myself that I am not forgotten and I am seen!!

 Have you ever stopped to look at how many shells are on a beach?? There are alot! Have you ever thought about how many people there are in the world?? Each person having a different character and trait. The thing is we as people are unique, we are all different, but we are all "fearfully and wonderfully made" by the same GOD (Psalms 139:14). There is a creator who made people and shells. Being that HE created everything, nothing is hidden or over looked. HE sees you, me and everyone else in the world.

HE sees every person the way my girls see a new shell. HE can see the beauty in each one of us!!

                                              ( notice the shells within the shells)


It is very hard to find a perfect shell, some piece of it is missing, broken, or snagged. We are not perfect, just like those shells we are broken and rough. We have tendencies to hold onto feelings and not let go. We cram thinsg in. There is only one who is perfect! Here is what is so amazingly awesome, HE wants us to to turn to HIM. HE wants to have a relationship with us. He will surprise and bless us every time. HE never changes like the tide of the ocean.



We are to go before HIM and lay our burdens down before him(Matthew 11:28). HE will give rest and strength to all of us if we ask. Through Christ we can do anything.(Phil.4:13)


There are many tools used when it comes to the dredging and rebuilding of the shore. I don't know how many nor the names but, we to have tools to help build us up. GOD gave us the biggest tool, The Bible. This is our blue print, here we can read scripture that tells us what GOD wants for us.  Friends are a tool, they can pray for you, lift you up and encourage one another. Songs on the christian radio are a great reminder of what GOD has done.

I tell you this, if GOD wants to bless you as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on a seashore, and sends HIS only SON to die for you and me, then you are not forgotten and you are not over looked.(Gen. 22:17 & John 3:16)

We are different from one another just like the shells but, YOU are loved more than you know!

Math

This plus this.....

plus this........

plus this......

plus this.....

equals one big blessed family!!

Black and White and some Sepia

The Title says it all.....

What is all the hubbuzzz????

Many people this year in the United States have experience a warmer winter. Where I live, we didn't have much of anything to call a winter this year. I got to wear my jeans some this year but, we definitely didn't get our super cold freezes like we typically do.

I have to say I didn't mine not having the freezes this year. When we do have a freeze warning, that means I get to drag out the tarp and sheets, and cover our tree.
It is a family affair when we have to cover this tree. It is big and round, tall, and thorny. Doing this job is not our favorite thing to. It usually is bitter cold and windy when step outside to cover this tree. We all want to do this as quickly as possible so we can head back into the house to get warm.


But, when it does get warmer, that means spring. Which came in February for us this year.



Spring means flowers that bloom.



Flowers mean.......








................BEES, and lots of them.

They swarm between our lovely tree and the azalea bush. It does make it hard for sitting outside for lunch or for the girls to play out front.


But.... this.....







...........equals this and.........










.......and this.










Can you guess what kind of tree it is? I know you are curious and are wondering what
it is that we cover????

When the fruit on the tree gets bigger, people who visit mistakenly think and guess that they are grapefruit or even avocados. But there not.....










This fruit usually starts to change color in October and are ripe in November and December. It usually is not the time one would think to have a lemonade stand.

The above picture is a lemon that is a late bloomer from this past December. It is just now starting to change color... I was hoping to get a shot of the lemon while it was green.






This picture is from some lemons we had 2 years ago. You are not seeing things incorrectly. Yes, the two outer objects are lemons and the one in the middle is a pear, which is typically about the size of a normal lemon.

I do not feed my tree steroids or give it any kind of fertilizers. It is just big boned... Ok, its not big boned. But, I do nothing to this tree except for covering it when there is a freeze, and on the occasion I trim back the branches that are hanging over into the driveway. It is called a, Ponderosa Lemon, they are a type of lemon that is just huge. They taste like a normal lemon and is not sour. They have a very thick rhine and lots of seeds. It also has LOTS of juice. I can get about 2 cups of juice from one lemon.

I have made lemon bars that have tasted great. I also use the lemons to make a herb baked chicken that calls for sliced lemons on top. I have juiced them and I freeze the juice in ice cube trays, so when I need a tablespoon of juice for different recipes, I have it on hand.

The tree produces about 20-25 lemons each year. I give alot of them away to friends. This past year at our last yard sale, I had people ask to buy them. I sold a few and then told my husband to stop selling them because I had people waiting for the lemons. I could have made more money off of the lemons that day then the things we were selling.


So there you go.... the buzz about this tree has bee(n) solved.

In a State of Mind

In my last blog posting, I told you that going and sitting on the beach is great therapy for me. I am in my own little world and I become very relaxed. I also have found another place that does the same thing for me.

For some it will come as a big surprise. I find it interesting to see the reaction of people when I tell them I love being on the back of my husbands motorcycle. I have always loved going for a 'ride." I have no desire to ride one myself.... I do know my limits. But, being on the back of a motorcycle with a cool breeze all around me, staring at the landscape as it quickly jets past me, I am in another state of mind. I think about nothing. I escape to some where, where ever it is, my name is not being called.

Gracie has an illness that I have never mentioned before. It is not contagious, some say it is heredity, "that it is in the blood." I have never mentioned it to the doctors because when you look at her, one would think she is so normal, there is nothing wrong with that child. But, one has not seen her run before. This child of mine that I birthed has, horse on the brain. What might that be, you ask? It is one who thinks about horses 24/7. The girl tucks her thumbs in, and cuffs her fingers over them as if they were hooves. She doesn't run, she trots, gallops, nods her head and neighs! ( I am not joking!)

She can draw them perfectly. She can tell you about the different movies we have that have to do with horses. If she has to write about horses, they all have names after the horses from the movies. Her favorite is Secretariat.

So when we were invited to go visit a friend of ours who has a horse and teaches lessons, Gracie was definitely in her state of mind.....







Before we were greeted by our friend, Mrs. K. there were a few horses with their heads hanging out the barn windows. My girl, took the time to go visit each and every horse, to say hello. She approached them gently and ever so kindly. She showed know fear, but respects their strength, and size.






She was truly natural handling the horse. She didn't let it get bossy, she told the horse when it could graze and when not too. She was a natural getting on and off the horse.

Her Nana had a horse when she was a child. It came natural to her as well. So, I guess it is heredity and it "is in the blood."





Laci on the other hand, tried not to show intimidation. But, it was clear she was skeptical.






Heidi enjoys horses just as much, but does not have the same level of the illness. She could tell you alot about the gear in the stable and the kinds of horses. She doesn't run like a horse or think about them like Gracie. Gracie has a full pledge level of illness where as Heidi's is moderate.







I hate to use the cliche' The Horse Whisper, but, I tell you, my girl could have a quite conversation with each horse and tell you what they were feeling. She is so peaceful to watch when it comes to horses. I really wish I could be a fly in her brain, just for a moment to know what she truly is thinking. I have tried asking her, but she grins and says, "Nothing."





This one finally started to shed her intimidation towards the end and found a horse she wanted to say hello to. She just went over to the horse by herself, and started petting its nose. She also wanted to say, "Goodbye and thanks for a great day!"

Thank you Mrs. K for sharing your afternoon with my girls, and we look forward to seeing those babies when they are born.