EKjourney Backup

Dancing Oaks Nursery is a lovely place owned by friends of my parents.  They hold a fundraiser every year for the local charter school with music, vendors, and pie and ice cream. Three of the little Kellys  With Grammy  Firstborn  Evi  Now stand here and try and look directly into the sun at Mama! Chartreuse  green (the locust on right) is probably my favorite color.  Exploring with Grammy   Grampy and the youngest Grandchild  Lillies  Flowering trees  Pokers 

This is just outside of Dallas.  I adore farm country - rolling hills, the smell of sun ripened grass, fields in bloom, shadows cast by the clouds, and trees neatly tucked into the landscape.  I think perhaps heaven might look a little like Oregon Farm Country!            

One year ago, shortly after midnight, we welcomed this sweet little girl into our family.  She is such a blessed delight!  We all adore her. It seems every little one year old is a bit mystified by the glowing candle coming toward them.  Yum.  I am ashamed to say that birthday cones are a standard around here.           Opening presents. And this is what B was doing while Glorielle nibbled her gifts... Charming 

Yogurt face I was bound and determine to get this little section of the garden weeded and the languishing kiwi planted.  I had to laugh at all the help.  My tools were occupied, weeds were yanked out with the roots left in.  Bugs, worms, and the like were collected at every overturned soil.  BUT...I am pleased that my children want to be with me and do what I am doing.  It isn't always easy but I know its best! I wonder what the neighbors thought as this lavender color went up (primer)...  I made elderflower cordial!!  It is delicious.  I mixed sugar, water, lemons, citric acid, and elderflowers and let it sit for 2 days.  Then, I strained it and bottled it.  Now we can make out own soda with seltzer water and splash of cordial. Working on the roof

I wonder if Phil can remember a time when he used to rest.  LOL!   Poor Evi, there are not enough nap times during the summer.  Unveiling of the trim color.  I call it green. Phil calls it blue.  We have a really nice orange that I picked out for a secondary trim color but we are still trying to figure out how to make that work.  I was thinking maybe we could get some very small trim pieces, prepaint them, and then put them up next to the white part of the window.  Speaking of hard work...I wanted to share a bit how the Lord has been working in our lives.  First off, I realize (once again) that if I am not in the Word and keeping my focus on Christ, I will eventually crash and burn.  I will become discouraged, struggle more in my areas of weakness, loose sight of my priorities, and cause rifts in my marriage and with my children.  Not good!  Thankfully, I have a forgiving and patient husband who wi...

We so needed a day of accomplishment!  How wonderful to be able to look back on the day knowing we got so much done!  I think getting up early and cool weather helped immensely. Phil made a trip to town (for a new sprayer) and was back home in time for breakfast and out painting before 10:00.  The first section of the house is painted (3 coats!) and he got the soffit up and caulking done! I pulled out the peas and the children stripped the vines.  I cleaned up the garden beds and planted carrots, beets, and leeks.  I tied up the shrubs on the side of the house so there is an aisle for painting.  The children picked most of the gooseberries for pie.  We managed a chaotic zucchini bread making session right before dinner.  Amazingly, I was able to follow two recipes and direct 4 children at the same time without losing my mind or making a big recipe mistake!  And, four little Kelly's had baths! Peas out, leeks in.  The rototiller woul...

We are plugging away at our projects.  It is a bit slow going.  Doing anything with five little ones seems to be that way! Phil finally managed to finish the new siding!  It looks great!  Now time to prep and start painting.  It amazes me how long it takes to just do the little odds and ends jobs that need to be done.  I thinned and tied up my tomato plants the other day while Phil organized and cleaned up a small section of the backyard and it literally took all day! My first real needle felted project.  This was a bit ambitious.  I don't like the faces very much but that was the best I could do.  I tried to sculpt with small pieces of wool and after hours, I cut the head off and tried again, this time with seed beads and wool for the smile.  I am finding that the projects are very fuzzy.  Steam ironing helped a little but I am not sure how well they will wear if they are played with.  Truly, some of the needle felted pro...