Vignettes From A Day of Shopping

More Spring Photos by E.

(The fourth photo, by the way, is of his camp in the woods.)

Cross-stitching in the Rainy Season

Because of the rainy season here on the farm, Caleb's been stuck inside more than he likes to be. While digging through a drawer in his armoire recently, he got re-inspired to do some cross-stitch. Caleb, being the inventor that he is, likes to come up with his own designs versus someone else's in kit form. So, using the sampler a friend did for us as inspiration, he's using it as a model to create his own sampler of our farm.


It looks exactly like our house . . .

Love that.

A Blessed Easter to You

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures

I Corinthians 15:3-4

A Pail of Easter Pansies

The Avocado Adventure is Born

I'm so excited to share that my sister has finally started a blog! After a time of nudging by the Holy Spirit and a little gentle (?) prodding from me, she's taken the plunge and begun The Avocado Adventure. Her profile, photo and first post are up, and I hope that you will love her writing as much as I do.

I'm so proud - yeah, Jenna!

A Tea & Herb Talk

As an early Mother's Day gift, I recently took my mom to a Tea & Herb Talk done by Eli's art teacher, Elva, at her Barnyard Art Studio. The two hours passed quickly, and we very much enjoyed the program Elva put together. There was hot peppermint tea and chamomile lemon balm tea - the dried herbs for the tea coming from her garden. While her cousin talked about planting a pizza garden and the various herbs involved in that, we enjoyed homemade morning glory muffins and crackers made with an herb seasoning mix that Elva put together. We then enjoyed doing a paper craft of a sweet little birdhouse with chocolate eggs in the nest. Last but not least, she did a springtime chalk talk on the beauty of flowers in God's creation. A sweet way to spend a morning together. (Forgive the poor quality of the photos, I didn't have my photographer with me!)

Go Back to Bethel

Remember. Remember. Remember.

Time and time again, all throughout Scripture, God tells His people to remember. Why? We are a forgetful people.

I read the first half of Genesis 35 on Saturday afternoon. Jacob’s sons had just committed a grievous act in response to another grievous act. His daughter was violated and her brothers take manifold vengeance. Jacob is grieved and afraid that his enemies will gather together and kill him, as well as his entire household.

God steps in and tells Jacob to go up to Bethel.

Bethel?

Now wait, there’s a connection here. Didn’t I just read this? Jacob’s been to Bethel before. The last time Jacob was in trouble and running from someone (his own brother, Esau) in fear for his life, he ends up meeting God in Bethel. What did God tell him then? Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you. (Genesis 28:15)

And now, once again in fear of his life, Jacob is told to: Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother. (Genesis 35:1)

Hear the reminder to remember? God’s telling Jacob to go back to Bethel – to the place where God comforted him and encouraged him. And not to just visit Bethel – but to dwell there. To dwell in the place of the promise.

Does Jacob catch it? Does he realize what God is trying to tell him? I think so. Look at his response to his family: Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone. (Genesis 35:3)

Jacob remembers. He remembers God’s promise in Bethel. He remembers God’s faithfulness to him. And Jacob knows that God is trustworthy. Jacob knows that God keeps His word and if He says to go up to Bethel, Jacob’s going up to Bethel.

Remembering God’s past faithfulness makes obeying God’s commands easier in the future. For Jacob and for us.

Find yourself in trouble? Remember. Remember God’s faithfulness and get back to Bethel, the place of promise.

Marshmallow Peeps Show!

Sunday after church we drove down to visit M.'s parents at the conference center where they live and volunteer. After a lovely dinner at The Butterfield Inn, my mother-in-law told us about a fundraiser that the Carroll County Arts Council was having - a Marshmallow Peeps Show! Various individuals and groups put together displays using Marshmallow Peeps, and you could buy vote tokens and place them in your favorite display's container. Some of the exhibits were SO clever as you'll see below. We had a good time chuckling over people's zany ideas. Besides the exhibits to see, you could purchase Peeps-themed snacks - Peeps Ka-Bobs (several Peeps on a skewer alternating with large gum drops), Chocolate-Covered Peeps, and Peep Punch (juice with a Peep floating in it). Nothing sounded too enticing to me, but I did appreciate the Arts Council's creativity!

Seedlings in the Greenhouse

The seedlings in the greenhouse are doing well. I planted Rutger's Tomatoes, All-Summer Cutting Zinnias and Fruit Smoothie Zinnias at the end of March - as well as small pots of oregano, basil and parsley. (Next year I want to start everything even earlier as I'd like them to be further along. I did get a late start because I failed to leave the plastic cover off the flat after the plants sprouted. This resulted in a double greenhouse-effect as it got really warm one day and literally fried the seedlings! The greenhouse gets really warm. I then had to re-plant everything. Live and learn!) Anyway, the seedlings stay out in the greenhouse in a flat all day and then get brought it at night. They could probably stay out overnight now that the weather's warmed up a tiny bit. At night I bring them into the schoolroom and sit them under our fluroscent light. Hopefully, they'll continue to do well.

Everything is behind this year - usually we have onions and potatoes in the ground the third week or so of March. Due to the continually cold and rainy weather, we haven't even bought our stuff yet. The garden has just been too wet to get into. Hopefully the weather will soon take a turn - I don't know how much more winter-type weather I can stand!!!

Skunk Hollow Craft Club - Watercolor Eggs, Spring In A Jar, & Hidden Surprise Eggs

We recently enjoyed our last Craft Club for the season - as things are slowly beginning to warm up and get green, the garden and outside work will keep us busy in the evenings. We plan to start Craft Club back up in the fall when the weather turns cool again and drives us indoors. For our last Club night, we had some guests - my sister and her six-year-old son asked to join us and made the evening even more pleasant!

We started out with the ever-popular watercolor garland - this time we cut out eggs in Easter colors. This is our third garland - hearts, shamrocks and now eggs. We can't seem to help ourselves! The garlands are so easy, festive and pretty hanging above the archway.


Our second project was Spring In A Jar - I so love this idea and this one could be adapted for any season, too. It was so much fun to make the collage in a jar, but it was also fun raiding my craft drawers and pulling out appropriate ribbons, trinkets and goodies to make them with. As it's a bit hard so see in the photos, here are a few instructions (also click on the link for the original directions). Stuff the bottom of a clear glass or plastic jar with Easter grass or raffia. Then fill the jars with ribbon, trinkets, and other goodies. Some we hot-glued in, some we tied to pieces of raffia and hung from the lid, some we just sat in the bottom of the jar, etc. Experiment - the sky's the limit!



And last but not least, my nephew's favorite part: Snack Time! The day before E. and I made these Rice Krispies Hidden Surprise Treats in plastic eggs. A sticky occupation but definitely worth it -



As usual, my thougthful sister showed up at the door with goodies for Eli and I. Flowers from her yard for me . . .


And festive, light-as-air shortbread treats for Eli from Panera's . . .


Come again, J.!

Ice Cream Social

For a recent Ice Cream Social at church, I had fun preparing this box of toppings - mini chocolate chips, chopped pretzels, and chopped Oreos were on the menu. Some of the other things people brought: homemade hot fudge, crockpot pudding cake, caramel sauce, chocolate syrup, marshmallow sauce and chocolate jimmies. A delicious event!

Indoor S'mores

These are one of my favorite chocolatey desserts, with fond memories attached. My mom used to make them for me to take to Girl Scout camp-outs.

Indoor S'mores

12 oz. box of Golden Grahams
10 oz. bag of mini marshmallows (set aside 1 cup of them)
1 bag of milk chocolate morsels (semi-sweet can be used but aren't nearly as good for this recipe)
5 tabl. butter, cut in pieces
1/4 C. corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla

Grease 13x9" pan. Heat marshmallows (except for that 1 cup), the morsels, butter and corn syrup over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal; stir until well-coated. Stir in remaining marshmallows. Press mixture into pan and refrigerate for an hour or so until firm.

In India

One day this week, exotic music emanated from Eli's room. Upon investigating, I entered the den of a snake charmer - complete with floor pillows, a roped lioness and several menacing-looking snakes.

It was requested by the snake charmer that we recline and read from his schoolbooks. I agreed - so long as he kept his cobras under control.

Things of Spring

(Photos by Eli)

Published!

Eli got notice this week that a photograph he took of a Red Admiral butterfly perched on Coneflowers was used in an article about butterflies in the current issue of Nature Friend Magazine. Needless to say, he was thrilled to see his name and photo in print and is trying to figure out which photographs he wants to send them next!

Pussywillow Wreath

A friend gave me a vase of pussywillows for St. Patrick's Day. After several days of enjoying them on my desk, I decided to see if I could make them into a wreath. The twigs were soaked overnight to make them a little more pliable, then bent into shape and tied with thin, green wire. Small plastic eggs were hot-glued on and a ribbon added. Ta da - a touch of spring on the front door.

Revival Memories

Revival services are over for another year – a good week of blessed services.

Remembering and being thankful for:

* Pastor H.’s bright blue ties, hearty hugs, his nightly updates of his daily happenings, messages that inspired and encouraged, and his obvious love for people and passion for their salvation
* Miss D.’s children’s talk with the ringing alarm clock to remind us of Jesus’ “surprise” return
* the smell of hot fudge wafting up the church steps from the kitchen prior to Saturday night’s Ice Cream Social
* a beautiful duet of two violins playing “The Old Rugged Cross”
* the elementary choir singing Patch the Pirate’s song “Jonah”
* Miss L. teaching me how to make a hankie mouse like her husband used in a children’s talk
* a pile of tenor and bass voices singing hearty hymns
* a cold drink of iced water reminding us of the Living Water
* driving one night to service in an “onion snow”
* nails welded into tiny crosses for the children to remember His sacrifice
* Big C.’s poem recitation about the postures of prayer
* Pastor H. putting his arm around 90-year-old J. and singing quietly with him in the pew after services
* “half” the church getting up when the Senior Choir went up to sing!
* K.’s joyful, tear-filled comments about the recent salvation decision of his cousin
* Four-year-old L. who fell asleep on his knees during prayer
* Two young ladies playing the piano duet of “Only A Boy Named David” which the boys and I sang around the house when they were little
* fellowship with brothers and sisters after every service with varied conversations on goats, flower arranging, wedding plans, new babies and the importance of music in worship
* the sound of the congregation singing acapella – music ringing off the walls
* forming a big circle last night all around the sanctuary, holding hands, looking around and being so thankful for these people of precious like faith

Thank You, Lord, for sweet memories.

Photos From A Sunday Afternoon Drive

Last Sunday afternoon the boys took a drive to their cousins' house. M. and I took a drive across the river.


We found a tiny Mennonite Meetinghouse sitting in a field.


We also found a tiny graveyard sitting by the road - headstones from the 1800's.



Bright green fields of rye, windmills spinning in symmetry, a river sparkling diamonds and a covered bridge to drive through were also ohhed and ahhed over.