This weed.

Sharing curiosity I say. Just wanted to follow up and let folks know this plant is called jimsonweed, and is very poisonous and a hallucinogenic! It's nickname is also Jamestown weed and this is why:
"As told by Robert Beverly in The History and Present State of Virginia (1705): "The soldiers presented "a very pleasant comedy, for they turned natural fools upon it for several days: one would blow up a feather in the air; another would dart straws at it with much fury; and another, stark naked, was sitting up in a corner like a monkey, grinning and making mows at them; a fourth would fondly kiss and paw his companions, and sneer in their faces with a countenance more antic than any in a Dutch droll.

"In this frantic condition they were confined, lest they should, in their folly, destroy themselves - though it was observed that all their actions were full of innocence and good nature. Indeed they were not very cleanly; for they would have wallowed in their own excrements, if they had not been prevented. A thousand such simple tricks they played, and after 11 days returned themselves again, not remembering anything that had passed."

Info here

So we are GETTING RID of all the seedpods and are now FULLY educated with its dangers. I don't remember this plant at all while I was growing up and I'm not sure why it's made a sudden appearance on the banks of the driveway. I would think it was funny if it wasn't so scary! (But I don't mind if you laugh a little. It would kind of make me feel better.) This is home education at work!

Sowing Seeds

This busy and slow season of hanging with my little guys is gifting me with time to think. Well, kind of :) I guess it's a season of paradox. That's the best way to describe it. I know it won't last forever, so sitting on the swing with my little Grady, while watching the other ones play ships and kracken on the slide and trampoline, and letting the dryer turn cool is something I'm working on accepting. Naptimes are special times for Bannon and I as we curl up reading his books alone together. It means time to myself is less. Jeremy and the big guys return late every day leaving long stretches of time I am the sole source of care, oversight, and counselor (you must know what I'm talking about if you have more than one who need you to help them learn to work things out.)

I have a couple of books I'm enjoying, and I wanted to leave a couple of thoughts here as they have been a help to me, and maybe encourage someone else.

"Our photo albums from those days are full of pictures of birthday cakes and holiday celebrations, vacation trips and family adventures, piano recitals and baseball games. But the memories I find myself sifting through the past to find, the ones I would give anything to relive, are the ones that no one ever thought to photograph, the ones that came and went as softly as a breeze on a summer afternoon.
..............................................................
It has taken a while, but I know it now-the most wonderful gift we had, the gift I've finally learned to cherish above all else, was the gift of all those perfectly ordinary days."
pg 124, The Gift of an Ordinary Day, Katrina Kenison

Elizabeth George encourages in her book, A Woman After God's Own Heart, we have so many things as tasks we must do anyway, why not make them special moments?

So I stitch a seam, sow a seed, pray a prayer.

Little touches on plain meals.
Owning the messy corners to make a man smile.
Using the bread machine to make bread.
Praying those prayers of faith that are in my heart for my loved ones.
Letting children explore and sharing in their discoveries with enthusiasm.
Speaking His words as we go about our days.
15 minute power naps do wonders!
Lighting candles, playing old time music for a very happy atmosphere.
Biting my tongue.
Saying sorry when I didn't.
Letting them pile and smush around me.
Taking pictures of the "ordinary days." :)

Over in the meadow

in the sand in the sun
lived an old mother turtle
and her little turtle one
"Dig," said the mother
"I dig" said the one
So he dug and was glad in the sand in the sun

art project. Oh the sun. Is there anything like it in all the world?

Bagels best enjoyed with Pooh and Tigger. Mouths are eating, ears are listening, bellies are laughing.
"To the world, you are one person
to one person,
you may be the world."

Satisfy Me

Psalm 90:14 Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

(pictures of our day's nature discoveries)

Abby shares: "First we found some nuts, and we found some burdock. We found a spider web with a little guy. And then we found another spider that had a circle web, and she was waiting for a different bug to get on so she could work, and dig and eat it. We played on the trampoline. We went in and had some lunch. I did my schoolwork, then I went to sleep."

Yesterday's treasure hunting leaves lasting thoughts for them and for me.

A Week of Fun Moments

It's been a great week. Really, a Great Week. Loved ladies, took me away for a birthday overnight. The kids slept out under the stars. I'm thankful for it all.

(pictures of our very own backyard campground at Hickory Grove)
Priceless little girl happiness

campfire tales

Sleepy, Sneezy, Happy


Laughter and stories in the morning

(Pictures of my birthday kidnapping taken by Andrea)

Keila and Baby Sarah

Maureen, Keila, My Mom, Me, Andrea

at Noreen's


Bed and Breakfast


the Catskills

I had a wonderful birthday today. Jeremy let me read, rest, while he and the kids took care of things around the house. He took me to a beautiful hiking spot, stopped by the local country food source for yummy hummus, cheddar cheese, foccacia, and he whipped up something wonderful for dinner. The boys decorated and Hannah made me a carrot cake. The Lord of the Rings soundtrack filled up the air and I enjoyed every last minute.

We've begun school at home while the bigger folks all returned to high school. Having all the little ones round about while reading House at Pooh Corner is a love of mine. We all together were chanting "Tiddely Pom" and it made the cool air fill with warmness as they all gathered nearer and nearer to listen in. How things change...and how they don't. I remember feeling weary when I read the chapter books with my first three, and now for the younger crew, it seems more easy, more enjoyable. My expectations were of perfectly still bodies. now I realize my bumbling buzzing bees are listening in as they can, and the slightly older ones draw in closer for a listen. My hair gets yanked by accident by the 2 year old, and I say "be careful," take a deep breath and keep reading. Much different than the me of 10 years ago. I guess it's good, but I long to whisper into that stressed out mama's ears to relax.
They will be beautiful.
They will be smart.
The most important part of them is their hearts.
Reach that, and you have done your part.
Pray for them and love them.
Enjoy the spider webs and finger painting.
The years go really fast.
*Sniff*

Picking Pumpkins

A year of throwing down the chicken house stuff, overturned earth with a shovel by a 13 year old boy, a $1.00 packet of seeds, the hands of a 3 year old, a 5 year old, and a 6 year old, and we have pumpkins! They are a little early, because we didn't take any chances. We overplanted because we didn't take any chances. We have a little mold, but...
Blow the bugle! It's picking time!

Big round orange balls,
that bring in the change of a season.
Chilly nights and warmer days.
The chipmunks scurry and slowly the geese begin to be heard overhead.
The webs sparkle with the morning dew.
Tomatoes hang heavy on their plants.
Happy faces and contented laborers.
Still more to come!
The best use of a dollar and
chicken stuff.

On the Banks of Fox Creek

Summer is nearing its end. Jeremy and the big guys go to school next week, and the younger crew and I settle back into a school routine here at home. We were without a pool this year, so in place we spent time at the creek. As Sophie shrieked at swirling swimming crayfish tonight, "Look at that!" Abby responded, "It's ok, the creek is supposed to be dirty." And I thought that yes, she understands this body of water. It has those creatures that I don't particularly love, but it certainly adds to a person's, big and small, sense of exploration. So here I post our Friday evening, spending our summer's freedom outside.

Not too small to walk the distance. Good for body, good for sleep ;)

The dance they do. It's sweet to watch their little routine: See each other, call the other's name, run, embrace.
There it is! Fun for my childhood, now it's theirs.


Walking together.

Rock islands.
What to see, what to do.

The flowers bloom among the rocks.

Toys float, dolls to bathe and swim.


Baby soothed to sleep.

Boys will be boys. On the way home, the distance observed, chance taken to hit water. Plan succeeds!




Home sweet home.


Mouthfuls of marshmallows, the scent and feel of a campfire in their jammies.





Good night! The crickets will sing, the fire dies down, and sticky fingers are licked and washed clean. The big kids soon return with stories of their time out with the youth group. Mini golfing, friends and support. Isn't summer great?
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."
~Laura Ingalls Wilder