Signs of fall

Here it all is in one picture.

Fall on the patio

What tells me it’s fall?

-Freshly harvested onions

-A dehydrator full of the last of the peppers

-A wood box full of wood

-The snowboard bench brought out, to hone our appetite for we know what is coming.

We are reaping an abundant harvest, enjoying marching band, cross country, AWANA, and enjoying the leaves changing. God is very good to us.

Michelle

Raspberry goodness

We have been enjoying summer to its fullest. This year we determined to be home more and slow things down a bit, so we could really savor summer.

Raspberry Jam

I made several batches of raspberry jam this week. It will be a ruby reminder of summer in the middle of winter, especially on a warm piece of cornbread!

Raspberry and Mixed Berry Jam

I canned some mixed berry jam as well. It included rasperries, blackberries, blueberries and huckleberries. I am thinking ahead to Christmas gifts for teachers!

Canning for winter is one of my favorite summer activities!

Michelle

A single peony blossom

Peony blossom

2 years ago I moved all of my peony plants from various places in the yard to 2 raised beds. Last year they did not bloom. This year I have one that has bloomed so far. Peonies (Paeonia hybrids) are one of my favorite flowers. As a kid, we had a large bed full of the dark pink variety, just like the one that has bloomed for me. It was edged with Lily of the Valley, and I thought it was heavenly.

Peony bloom to enjoy indoors

One thing I love about my peony plants is that I haven’t purchased any of them. I have a Japanese style plant that I divided from our first house. I have several from a house we rented in Bonners Ferry. Some were here when we moved in. I keep my eye open for plants at friend’s houses, or at old farm sites. I also wonder how I could get some from the patch that inspired me as a kid. They are such a charming old fashioned flower. I look forward to many years of enjoyment from my peonies.

Blessings! Michelle

Planting time is here!

After a very late and wet spring, I have finally been able to do some planting in the vegetable garden.

Spring garden

It doesn’t look like much now, but I have faith. We gardeners are optimistic types, you know.

Forget-me-nots

The Forget-me-nots are blooming in a cloud of blue. I will not forget them ever, I promise! At our first house, I had masses of Forget-me-nots that bloomed with some red tulips. It was a good combination.

Out to plant some lilac starts!

Michelle

Pysanky eggs

Resurrection Sunday is almost upon us. Last night at AWANA I received these 2 beautiful decorated eggs from one of my girls. They are done in the Pysanky tradition from Ukraine. My clubber and her mom made them, using a special stylus, beeswax and dye. Truly one of the most beautiful giftsI have ever been given.

Pysanky eggs

Have you heard the Good News of Jesus Christ? He will transform your life! Check out Aunt Ruthie at sugarpiefarmhouse.com. She has written a truly inspired Resurrection message. God loves you and wants to have an intimate relationship with you. To do this, He sent Jesus Christ, so our sins could be forgiven, and now we have full time access to the Creator of the universe! Good News indeed!

He is Risen!

Have a Blessed Resurrection Sunday. Michelle

Spring walk

Its light enough to take a walk after dinner now. The men of the family went to AWANA tonight, so the ladies took the dogs on a stroll.

Spring walk

The sky was full of fluffy clouds. The fields are drying out. The earth is waking up slowly but surely.

Spring fields

The wildflowers are back. The buttercups are always the first to venture out.

Spring buttercup

The first snowdrops are up in the garden too. The half-dozen bulbs I planted a few years ago are slowly spreading. We came home invigorated, with rosy cheeks.

Spring snowdrops

God shows His faithfulness to us with the coming of spring every year.

Michelle

Noteworthy News

We knew it needed to be done. A month ago we begun. While we have been doing this, spring has sprung outside!

Living room remodel

The crocus and snowdrops are blooming, and tonight I heard the frogs singing for the first time. Spring is here and we are almost finished with a project much bigger then we imagined! Noteworthy news indeed.

Spring sky

With sore but stronger arms- Michelle

Guess where we are?

Off to the big city!

Dear hubby and I are getting away for the weekend. I have the great privilege of helping my pottery teacher unload his trailer and set up his booth for the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle. So, we are making it a weekend. Truly a moment of luxury.

See you later!

Michelle

Friday Favorite- Pizza night

Tonight is pizza and a movie night! We begun the tradition of weekly pizza night a few years ago. It is eagerly anticipated.

Pizza and movie night

I bake the pizza from scratch. The sauce I can in August, inspired by Barbara Kingsolver in her book Animal Vegetable Miracle. The dough is a no-knead recipe out of Mother Earth News. After years of practice, the pizza goes together quickly. Here is short list of hints to make your pizza night a success-

• Make a breadstick recipe and boil the breadsticks before baking, like a pretzel. Delicious!
• I recommend a movie service like Netflix, for variety and speed.
• A great site to assist you in finding appropriate and enriching movies is pluggedin.com, by Focus on the Family.
• Have the courage to turn off a movie. Keep a backup activity in your mind. No reason to expose your family to unwholesome influences. There are many good movies, but there is junk too. Be vigilant!

Deuteronomy 7:26

“Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.”

Something to keep in mind as we select movies, television and computer content for our families.

Tonight, we shall be watching “Ramona and Beezus”. Some of my favorite movies are the ones from books we’ve read and authors we’ve studied. We love Beverly Cleary!

My little Ramona

Here is my little Ramona at the Beverly Cleary park, in the neighborhood that inspired Klikitat St, in Portland, Or. There is a water feature that has life size bronze statues of Ramona, Henry, and Ribsy. Great fun!

Have a blessed weekend.

Michelle

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day. It has been a day of creative endeavors for me.

Valentine's trees for a church dinner

I was asked to decorate tables for a church dinner. The native red dogwood are so beautiful this time of year, so I made heart trees.

Art for the Heart

The second grades at our elementary school put on an art gallery today, in lieu of a party. They worked so hard to produce works of art that emphasized line, color and texture. I especially appreciate the extra time this requires, as much of the time the teachers have to “teach to the standards”.

The Pink Valentine

Tonight we will enjoy dinner at home, with everyone safe under one roof. I love that!

Have a Valentine’s Day full of love. May we always remember that God is the perfect source of love.

Michelle