Building a Pond: Planting Grass To Prevent Erosion

Today, I want to give you an update on our neighbor’s enormous pond project.  This picture is taken from his back yard, looking towards our woods.  The red you see in the distance is our tent currently set up in our back yard.

A little over a week ago, he raked, seeded and strawed the banks to get some grass growing.  Until the pond fills with water, there is a danger of erosion and the grass will help to keep the walls of the pond in place.  

They rented a machine (which you see above) to spread the straw.  For a project this large, spreading straw by hand would have taken a big chunk of time.  But with this machine, all they had to do was drop one bale at a time (minus the twine) into the blue “barrel”  and it chopped and blew the straw out the shoot.  The job went fast and the coverage was easy to control.  Plus, it was pretty fun to watch!  As long as you were up-wind!  Lol!  

Below, you can see the grass growing around the banks very nicely!  We still have lots of finish work to do on our side.  The recent rains and dense shade are keeping it too wet to do the finish grading and planting grass.  But we are anxious!  Once we get it graded so that the water drains towards the pond, it will be such a nice place to picnic and camp!  It is already a far cry from the swampy bog it was this time last year.   

Our neighbor still has a big job left to do on his side, too.  Somehow, he has to dispose of all that dirt which was dug from the pond basin.  In the mean time, anyone for a game of King of the Hill with my boys??   This ridge of dirt extends far beyond what my lens can capture!

Our Ticket to More Play Time!

Say hello to the newest tractor in our fleet.  I say fleet, because this brings our total number of blessed lawn cutting machines to a whopping three!

We really and truly don’t need three.  But, we found it on Craig’s List and decided to pick it up so that both boys can now help me mow.  They are delighted, of course. 

Well, maybe not so much.  But when we suggest selling it off again and letting one of them use the push mower, this here little machine is suddenly priceless.  And cool.  And awesome, Dude. 

It has cut down our total mowing time by another hour!  Wahoo! 

My thoughts are this, if we divide and conquer, we’ll have more time to frolic as a family (did I just say frolic??), O.K., how ‘bout play soccer…in the freshly mowed lawn. 

Working together so we can have more family play time is a finer thing!

You can check out more finer things at Finer Things Friday.

A Table…Errr, Tree For Two Please?

Or how about four?  Because that’s how many of these big speckled woodpeckers were actually pecking on this tree! I TRIED to get them all in one picture. Because I knew you wouldn’t believe me would want to see it.  But I couldn’t.  They kept pecking their way in circles around the tree so that two or more were always on the back side.  It was kind of like trying to take a picture of my kids, actually.

Do you remember playing Chinese Fire drills as a teenager?  You can admit it.  I won’t tell your kids how wild you were. 

We used to play them on youth group scavenger hunts.  As I recall, it was significantly harder to do them from the back seat of a two door sports car!  And doing them in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, you had to watch where you were running, or you might get a foot full of something a horse and buggy left behind!  Not that I would know. Lol! 

For all I know, Chinese Fire Drills are probably illegal now or something.  Anyway, I digress.

My point was (I know you were wondering how I got on the subject of Chinese Fire drills when I’m posting a picture of woodpeckers), I wonder if these guys were having a Chinese Dinner party?

Whatever they were doing, I sure was happy to see them dining at this tree and not on the side of my house!  For those of you who are new to my craziness here, I had a pretty spooky experience a while back with some knocking, thanks to these guys (or girls).  I have no idea how you tell the difference, btw.  But maybe one of you can enlighten me.  That is, if it won’t make me blush.

Linked to:  Friday Foto Finish Fiesta, and Photo Story Friday.  Come join the fun and share a picture with us over there!!

Cutter SKINSATIONS Insect Repellent

My five year old son came stomping in the door this afternoon scratching about a zillion mosquito bites on each arm. 

He was spitting mad and wailing something like, “I’m never going outside ever again because those little bugs keep eating me over and over and over again and it hurts and they won’t leave me alone and now I’m going to itch forever!!” 

He had slipped out the door without me spraying him down with insect repellent.  Ooops.  Another bad mother moment.

I know that everyone thinks their backyard has the most mosquitoes.  But seriously, folks, we’ve got the meanest baddest lowdown blood thirstiest mosquitoes I have ever witnessed. 

EVER. 

We have the regular kind, the ones that come out at dusk and eat you alive.  But at least they pretty much leave you alone during the day.

However, we also have these mosquitoes with black and white stripes that are Evil. 

They hour of day means nothing to them.  Morning, noon, or night, they find you. 

A simple walk to the mailbox requires speed, evasive maneuvers, and battle attire. 

Because they zoom in like heat-seeking missiles.

They land and bite instantaneously.

By the time you know the little devils have found you, you have multiple welts and are jerking around.  Saying things you shouldn’t. Smacking desperately at thin air. Because they’re FAST.  

And to make matters worse??  The heavier you breath, and the hotter you get doing your evasive maneuvers??  The more you attract their buddies to the feast!!

Like I said, they’re Evil. 

Well, if you are facing your own bunch of mosquitoes, I have a great news!

I can’t make you a faster runner.  And you’ll have to develop your own evasive maneuvers.

But I can recommend a GREAT insect repellent!  No one has put me up to this or paid me a dime.  I’ve simply found a spray that works.

It’s Cutter’s SKINSATIONS Insect Repellent with ALOE AND VITAMIN E, (and 7% DEET). 

I buy it in the pump.  It goes on light and refreshing like water.  Not at all oily.  But the best part is IT KEEPS THE LITTLE DEVILS AWAY!!  Seriously, moms, it works well.  For hours!  And lets your kids enjoy the outdoors.

As an added bonus, it smells really nice.  Not at all like a bug spray typically does.  I hate smelling like bug spray almost as much as I hate getting eaten.

We've found it at Meijer.  So, if you don’t have a Meijer, you may have to hunt around.  But you can also find it online at Drugstore.com. 

Not feeding the mosquito population works for me!!!!

Check out other great tips at We Are That Family’s Works For Me Wednesday!

Delicious Zucchini Cupcakes: Stocking The Freezer For Handy Lunch Box Snacks

My boys have recently developed a crush on Zucchini Bread.  So I’ve been making it and freezing it while the Zucchini is in season. 

Today, however, I made a triple batch of batter and filled two cupcake trays along with my normal bread pan. 

Quick Breads (like Zucchini, Pumpkin, and Banana Bread) freeze well.  Plus, the cupcakes make handy lunch box treats!  Tonight, the boys were thrilled to find some in the cooler after soccer practice.  (I freeze them in baggies of three and just grab a bag on the way out the door.  How easy is that??)

Zucchini Bread recipes abound, but this one is deliciously moist!  Here it is, my favorite recipe, adapted from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book:

Zucchini Bread

• 1 1/2 Cup flour
• 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon (I add just a little more)
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Baking powder
• 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg (Again, I add just a little more)
• 1 Cup sugar
• 1 Cup Shredded Unpeeled Zucchini (I put mine in the food processor because my boys don’t like to “see” the zucchini)
• 1/4 Cup Cooking Oil
• 1 Egg
• 1/4 tsp Finely shredded lemon peel (I use a squirt of lemon juice)
• 1/2 Cup chopped walnuts (My boys won’t eat nuts, so I skip this)

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet ingredients in another, then combine.  Pour batter into greased 8x4x2 inch loaf pan.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 55-60 minutes, or till tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Do not over cook.

For cupcakes, I cook them about 30 minutes. 

To freeze the cupcakes:  Remove them from the cupcake tin to a cookie sheet and freeze overnight.  Then seal them in baggies in convenient numbers for your needs. 

Also, I like to spray cooking oil in the pans and then use a bit of sugar to coat the bottom and edges.  It works the same and gives the bread a hint of sweetness that my boys enjoy! 

Check out what else is cooking at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday! and Tasty Tuesday!

What Will Be Your Legacy?

When you teach your son, you teach your son’s son. 

The Talmud.

Our pastor shared this quote with us a few weeks ago in order to make us think about the impact our lives have on our children and grandchildren.  About our Legacy.  And think, I have.

No matter how much we hope our children learn from our words, they will no doubt catch how we live, and pass it on.  So one way or another, our lives impact our future generations to come. (Quite a sobering thought! )  

The challenge is this:

How do we actively shape our legacy into something which builds and reinforces the blossoms of a living faith in God? 

The pastor brought us to Deuteronomy 6 for a clue as to how we can do this.  

Hear, O Israel:  The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

The Israelites were told to teach their children of God constantly.  It was commanded, largely, to help future generations know God, and in turn, trust His truth for their own lives.   

We, too, can help pass on our faith by sharing stories from our lives about God.  About how God has worked.  And about how He has answered our prayers. 

One of our homework assignments was to think about stories from our lives, like this one, and how God might use them to encourage the faith of our children.

When I was in junior high, my father had major back surgery.  He had already been off work for months, and it eventually became clear that he wouldn’t be returning to work.

So  we began the long process of applying for disability.  If you, or someone you know, has ever applied for disability, you know that wading through the red tape can take months, if not years.  And all the while, the families struggle to make ends meet.  Such was our case.

We stretched every penny, and bought nothing new.  But still, we had needs that were growing.

As the holidays approached, we found our wood for our wood stove (which we used to heat our home) nearly gone, and our freezer about empty.  We didn’t have a clue what we would do. 

But we prayed.  I don’t even remember what we prayed.  I just remember feeling anxious as I watched the lines of worry in my mother’s face.

Then, the week before Thanksgiving, over the course of just a few days, we watched people from our church pull into our drive.  One after another.  And every single one of them brought a turkey.  A BIG turkey! 

It got to a point where my brother and I would peek out the window to watch (and laugh) as another turkey emerged from a trunk.  Mom would shoe us into the other room because we couldn’t stop laughing.  And then she would answer the door.

She graciously and thankfully received every one.  All SEVEN of them (If I remember correctly).  Our freezer was filled to the brim with big turkeys--till not another would fit.

And then, a pick-up truck pulled into the drive…

With a full load of fire wood tucked in its bed!

It still brings tears to my eyes to remember the tangible feeling of God’s love and provision.  Those people had no idea just how much we needed their gifts.  But God did.  And he provided a feast, which lasted all winter! 

Those turkeys and that wood left a deep and permanent impression on my life of His ability to answer prayers way beyond what we ask.

Personal stories are powerful.  They can’t be argued away, or discounted.

And our children need to hear them.  Often.

We pray to the same God who parted the water for Moses, and provided manna in the wilderness.  Do our children see Him as a character in their Sunday School stories?

Or, are we showing them by our lives, and through our stories, that He is our living, loving, Heavenly Father?  Who stands waiting to meet their needs, and wanting to be part of their lives, every single hour. 

I’m so thankful for this series of sermons.  It has been incredibly convicting. 

Dear Lord,

Help me to do a better job of setting an example.  And of teaching my children. 

Help me to live a life worthy of being caught.  In spite of myself. 

And help me to encourage their blossoming faith by the stories I tell, and the faith that I live.

Watching a Master Craftspider

This time of year, there are FAR too many spiders hanging around.  Their webs are everywhere and it seriously makes me wonder if spiders learned to spin webs as a result of The Fall.

When I mow, I absolutely HATE going under or between trees for fear of picking up a nasty thing across my face.  Ack!  It makes me shiver just to think about it!

However, this one, busy at work, caught my attention in a ohmygoodnessIamsogladIdidnotwalkintothat!!!!!! kind of way.  Seriously, I would have danced a jig-and-a-half and the whole neighborhood would have heard me. 

She was absolutely amazing in how quickly she was constructing her perfect web.  So amazing, that I went in and got the boys and my camera.

We watched her for a while and I even took some video at the boys’ request.

My oldest had to position himself in one picture (which I’m not showing you) with his mouth wide open so that it looked like the spider was dangling over the cavern.  WAY TOO DISTURBING for me!  However, it is sure to become his new favorite screen saver.  Boys can be such an oddity.

But of the two photos I’m posting, I’m trying to decide which one I like more.  I’m just not sure.  What do you think?

To see some other photos and their stories, or to share some of your own, visit Camera Critters and Photo Story Friday at My Chaos My Bliss.  It’s a ton of fun!

When God Interrupts

We hustled and bustled to get to soccer practice on time last night, only to have a dark storm meet us there. 

With no better place to go, we parked and waited in the row with everyone else. 

Just waited. 

Each in our own cars.     

Not quite enjoying the show.  But rather awed by the fury.

Feeling the wind rock the car, and watching it carry the sheets of rain across the landscape, we waited. 

For a good fifteen minutes.  We chuckled at how we had rushed.

And then, like a finale at the fire works, we were WOWED by a rainbow.  Which later became a double rainbow.  Which impressed the socks off the spectators in our car.

It occurred to me, that God’s fingers prints were all over this storm.  It was as though He had brought our crazy lives to an unavoidable halt, and given us front row seats, just to remind us of His presence.   His power.  And His promises. 

God is like that.  Thankfully. 

Aptly reminded, the boys ran off to play soccer on a freshly washed field, and I was left to contemplate how God gets our attention.   Ashamed that He should need to.  And amazed that He would want to.

Linked to: A Thousand Words Thursday, and Thankful Thursday

Making Hoop-Lahhh

I had to do it.  I had no choice.  My oldest complained earlier this week that his brothers got “big deals” made over their birthday, and we wouldn’t be able to make any “hoop-lah” over his.  Because it came on a weekday.  And that wasn’t fair. 

Is it just me, or did that sound like a challenge?

No, I definitely think it was a challenge. 

So, I put on my thinking cap and decided to make some hoop-lah over his birthday.  And to make it in front of the largest crowd I could think of off the top of my head.

The bus crew.  The same bus load of high school students which he reminded me the other day were watching while he got off the bus.  I figured it was the perfect captive audience to make some hoop-lah in front of.  Because effective hoop-lah needs lots of people. 

And I was right.

The bus hadn’t even come to a stop when I saw the bus driver laughing and waving and talking into her mirror. 

Windows came down like a wave in a baseball stadium, and cheers followed my son up the isle and down the steps.   I have to say, it was THE biggest birthday hoop-lah I’ve ever seen.  I dare say he thought so, too.

Because his face wore a huge goofy grin, and he kept shaking his head. 

I refrained from taking his picture, though.  I didn’t even get out of the car.  Because he told me having his mother take pictures of him was embarrassing.  And we wouldn’t want to embarrass him. 

No sir-REE.

I learned my lesson. No taking pictures in front of bus loads of high school students.

But once they left, I got out my camera.

Boy, that was fun! 

Making HOOP-LAH works big time for me!  As does letting my son know I love him, TOO.

This post is being linked to Works for me Wednesday, Wordful Wednesday, and Wordless Wednesday.  If you are new to these memes, why not join in the fun?

Boy’s Twelfth Birthday Party Ideas

Twelve.  Did I really just say twelve??  But I was just rocking my first little baby boy to sleep last night.  And just last week I had to keep removing his tiny fisted fingers from the dirt of my planter.  Little bugger.  And clean the dirt out of his mouth.  And it seems like only a month ago he went off on first day of kindergarten.  Sigh.  Twelve… Look how he’s grown!

What does a mom do to make a boy’s twelfth birthday special?  Especially when it comes in the middle of the week?

For starters, you can make the morning special. 

• Have a special breakfast.  Make Donuts, Danish, French toast, or whatever he likes. 
• Set a card on his placemat. 
• Tuck a note in his sock drawer (provided he ever wears clean socks in the morning…Lol! 
• Give him a hug first thing.  (Or twelve of them throughout the morning.)

Pack some special treats for his lunch.  Something he loves… 

• I picked up a box of the pizza Lunchables to send along with his lunch.  We don’t normally splurge on these little things.  But I figured he would have fun hamming it up at lunch with his friends. 
• BIG fudge rounds. 
• Honey Buns. 
• Brownies with sprinkles. 
• Chocolate pudding. 
• A Reece’s Whips bar. 
• Twelve Hershey’s Kisses.

Tell his friends that it’s his birthday.  He may be getting older, but he still likes a little fuss. 

Do some decorating while he is at school.  I used a bunch of colored electrical tape to create a fun place to come home to for my middle son in May.  You can check out those ideas here.

Go pick up some balloons and be waiting at the bus stop with a big bouquet.  I might do that if I have time.

Cook his favorite meal for dinner.  We’re having tacos tonight.  And chocolate milk.  :)

Make or buy a special cake.  Don’t be boxed into the traditional cake, though.  If your child prefers ice cream, make sundaes and plant a candle in the top.  If he likes Key Lime Pie, I recommend Edward’s brand.  There is nothing like it on earth!  But don’t be afraid to be creative.  We’re having red velvet cake with cream cheese icing. His choice.  YUM!!

Make the evening fun.  You could…

• Go out to eat. 
• Go out for ice cream. 
• Watch a movie. 
• Have a family board game night. 
• Make popcorn.
• Go for a family bike ride. 
• Have a soccer scrimmage in the yard, kids vs. parents. 
• Play around the world in basket ball. 
• Spend time looking through his baby pictures and family albums.

The important thing is to slow down the normal schedule, and spend time focusing on him and all the ways he is growing up.

Make gift time special.  Our son got a bike as his early birthday present.  So I only have a few remaining small things to give him tonight.  Most of them accessories for his bike.  But I plan to wrap them in comics, stash them around the yard, and make a treasure hunt out of it.  I’ll make up clues to put on index cards.  (Don’t forget to make a master list of the stashes so nothing gets left out there!)  We’ll probably invite the neighborhood gang to join the hunt, and then have cake afterwards.

Another idea if you do a treasure hunt which just came to me…  I’m thinking of calling a few neighbors (who we know well :)) and asking if they would be available to be a stashing place.  It would be fun to have him have to go over and knock on their doors to get his presents.  We’ll see!   

If your extended family lives too far away to come, gather their cards as they come in the mail and save them for his actual birthday. Make calls to the grandparents to give them the opportunity to wish him well.

Go ahead and plan a big party for a non-school night when he can have a sleep over, camp out, late movie night, or whatever he wants.  We’re planning to have some of his friends from school over Friday night. 

And finally.  Don’t forget to hug him and let him know how glad you are that God entrusted him to you.  I know, at least at our house, that doesn’t get said nearly enough.  

Now I must hurry to get the gifts wrapped and hidden for the hunt!

If you have some more ideas, I would LOVE to hear them.  I’m always trying to think of new ways to make birthdays special!

Taking Care of BEEsiness: Killing a Large Hornets’ Nest

While out mowing the other day, I noticed this giant hornets’ nest in a bush behind our mailbox.  I’m so glad I saw it before any of the kids accidentally disturbed it. 

This type of nest must grow pretty fast, because I mow there every week and only just saw it.  It’s in a place that is pretty open, right about thigh high, and in a perfect position for me to see from the garden tractor.

The first thing I did was walk the boys out to show them where it was.  I reinforced that this nest is pretty serious business.  Not something to poke, or throw a rock at, or go anywhere near. 

The bees were very active.  While I was taking this picture, there was a steady stream of hornets buzzing to and from nest.

Usually, when we find a nest of ground bees, such as yellow jackets, the fix is pretty simple.  Wait until night time when the entire bee population is settled in for the night.  Then pour a quart or so of gasoline down the hole and plug it.  The vapors kill the bees.

When I discovered that yellow jackets had made a nest in the wall of our house about five years ago, the removal process was a little more complicated. 

Yellow Jackets had entered the wall under some flashing, made an extensive nest, and eventually worked a hole through the insulation and drywall.   We didn’t know they were there until they began to enter the house.  Yikes! 

When I discovered we were being invaded, I, being the red neck queen that I am, instinctively took duct tape and covered the hole till my husband could get home and figure out what to do.

He used a stethoscope to listen to the wall.  (Yes, it was pretty funny to watch!)  But he was able to determine the size and location of the nest from the hum in the wall.  (Pretty smart, eh?) 

Then he drilled tiny little holes in the wall and attached a tiny straw (like what comes with WD40) to a can of Wasp and Hornet Killer.  This allowed him to focus and deliver the spray directly into the little holes. 

I was amazed.  I never would have thought of that.  It kept the damage to the wall at a minimum, and all I had to do was patch the tiny holes and touch up the paint. 

This hornets’ nest will need to be hit with Wasp and Hornet Killer, too, after the bees have all settled in for the night.  We figure a little after dark, we’ll head out.  With a nest this size, taking along more than one can would probably be a wise idea.  Yes? 

The plan is to start spraying the entrance of the hive and just keep spraying!!  I am usually the official flashlight holder on these adventures, but my husband will don his head lamp this time so I can try to take a picture or two. 

I’ll finish this post when we come back in…

*      *       *

Well.  The nest is history. 

Using the red LED light on his headlamp to see, my husband opened fire on their entrance with the Wasp and Hornet killer.  I tried to take some pictures, but they didn’t turn out so well.  It didn’t help that for some reason he didn’t want to hold still.  It may have had something to do with the vibrating nest!   Lol!   After dowsing the entrance and surrounding paper with one can, he used a bamboo pole to poke a hole in the top of the nest.  That way he could spray more Wasp and Hornet killer inside. 

At some point, he realized he needed more fire power because he took off running for the garage.

He returned with a can of gasoline and poured some into the opening in the top of the nest. That pretty much settled the matter.  The humming stopped.

The vapors will finish off the rest of the nest.  And probably my bush, too.  But that’s O.K.

Mission accomplished!

Sleeping In

After a WHOLE summer of sleeping-in till (dare I admit it???) nearly eleven, we have successfully survived our first three days of getting up at 5:30.  It has not been pretty, mind you.

The first day, we all functioned on adrenaline, and had no problem whatsoever.  I think we were even early to the early bus (6:30), and right on time to the later bus (8:08).  Yes, feel free to congratulate me. 

The second day, I needed to supplement the alarms with a little toe-pulling.  We weren’t quite as early, and my second son fell back to sleep while I was getting my first son to the bus stop.  Thus we kind of finished out the morning in a rush.

This morning, I drug myself out of bed after the second snooze to find that my oldest son must have snoozed too.  Turns out, he took his pillow to the living room to avoid his alarm all together.  Because that’s where I finally found him after I hefted myself up into his loft bed to explore the mound of empty blankets in search of a foot.

So, anyway, my little guy and I were just going over the days of the week. 

I named and pointed to each of the three days the boys had gone to school this week, and then circled Saturday and Sunday.  “Do you know why these days are so special?” I asked, and went on explain, “They are called the weekend and we get to sleep IN!!!!”  At which point I did a giddy dance and song.

He looked at me with only a half a smile, (likely triggered by my near hysteria) and said quizzically, “Sleep in WHAT?”

If you need more laughs, go check out the Friday Funnies at Homesteader’s heart.

Hooked on Black Eyed Susan

It’s been a while since I’ve taken you on a walk, and things have changed in the yard.  The Black Eyed Susans are splashing their sunshine everywhere. 

I could never grow them on our rocky shaded lot in Pennsylvania.  But I’m more than making up for it here!  And to think, I started out with just two little straggly pots that I brought with me! 

They s-p-r-e-a-d and transplant so easily, that I now give pots of them away in the spring.  I feel so RICH!!

Our large front beds are full of Black Eyed Susan and Pink Cone Flower, and against the backdrop of the ornamental grasses, they make a dense and beautiful screening.  No longer can passing cars see us eating dinner at the table.  :)

We also have them around just about every tree in the yard.  Here are a few trees in our back yard with their yellow skirts. It’s what I see when I look out the window by my computer.  Black Eyed Susans have replaced the purple Irises that decorate those places in the spring.

And this is our back patio.  Well, it’s just a stoned in area, but we hope to  pour cement in the future.  Like all my umbrellas?  It gets hot in Indiana!

I even have them back the drive and surrounding our present camp site.  I know, I may have gotten a little carried away…

But, what can I say?  I just love Black Eyed Susans!  And little boys in yellow shirts…Lol!  In fact, they’re two of the Finest Things in Life!

Have a wonderful Friday!!

To see what others are hooked on, visit Hooked On Houses, and don’t forget to visit Amy’s Finer Things Meme today, too!

At Least Your Mom Loves You

Did you ever do something you knew you probably shouldn't, but in the end threw all caution to the wind?

After school yesterday, my friend and I went down to the bus stop to wait for our boys after their first day of Middle School.  Of course we were anxious to hear all about how it went.

She brought her camera along to snap a picture of her son getting off the bus.  And this was roughly our conversation:

Me:  You’re really going to take a picture of him in front of a busload of high school students?

Her:  Sure! Why not?

Me:  Won’t he be embarrassed?

Her:  My son?  NO WAY.  He’ll be striking up poses!

Me:  Are you sure?

Her:  Ye-e-es.

Me:  You could just kind of hold the camera up at the dash board and do it discreetly from in here.

Her:  No WAY.  I’m hopping out and standing right there in the middle of the road.

Me:  I don’t know if I could do that.  B—would kill me!  (I eye my camera between the seats.)

A bus comes down the road, and she hops out of the car.  It turns out to be a false alarm and the bus rolls by.  We giggle, and she sits back down.

Me:  All right.  I’ll get my camera out.  After all, I do have to document that he survived his first day, right??  

I pick up my camera and turn it on, still wondering how much trouble I’ll be in.

Second thoughts roll through my mind as the next wrong bus rolls on by.  As we lean against the back of the car, I turn around and put my camera back inside through an open window.

Finally, we see the RIGHT bus coming (it’s going much slower and has its hazards on.)  The lights begin flashing as it nears our road. 

My friend jumps up, takes her position, and gets ready to snap her pictures. 

I hesitate.  Do I?  Don’t I?  Do I??  Don’t I?? 

The boys are walking towards the front of the bus, about to come down the steps.  Still caught in indecision, I lurch for my camera…but hang back.

My friend, in all her glorious boldness, is right out there, taking pictures.

STILL, I hesitate.  Do I?  Don’t I?  Do I?  Don’t I?  The photo-op is slipping by fast. 

My son steps down and, upon seeing the trap, immediately separates himself from the pack of kids getting off.  He walks WAY WAY out to the side, pretending he doesn’t know us and avoiding the view of my friend’s camera.

In a split second decision where I realized my friend wouldn’t even have him in her pictures for me to copy later, I raise my camera and start snapping away.

As he approaches the car, my son speaks low and through his teeth in an amazingly clear voice.

 B—:  “Mother, there are High Schoolers on that bus and they are watching! 

Me:  There are? (in my most innocent voice).

B—:  YES!!!

ME:  I’m sorry, I didn’t embarrass you, did I?

B—:  No, you only embarrassed yourself.  Your lens cap is still on!

Me:  Oh, shoot!  (We all burst out laughing.)

So.  Here is a picture of us looking to see what my friend caught on her camera.  Lol!

The boys were groaning at the grief they would catch on their next bus ride if anyone WAS watching…

Me:  Just tell them, “At least my mom LOVES me.”

B—:  No, I’ll just say I don’t know who that lady was.

So what have you done lately to embarrass your child?  And, at what age do they stop denying they know you?

Just wondering. 

Only slightly redeeming was the fact that the map I made for him of the school came in PRETTY DOGGONE HANDY.  Yes it did.     

WAY Cool Glow Stick Application

For my son’s birthday camp out, all the kids got multiple glow sticks/necklaces, and bracelets (all from multi-packs from the Dollar Tree, I might add). 

The next thing I knew, my oldest son had woven them through his bike spokes, looped them around his handlebars and threaded his pedals.  The effect was STUNNINGLY COOL!!!!!!!!

They named his bike The Cyclops, and the rest of the boys were quick to outfit their bikes.  It was hysterically fun to watch the floating and spinning streaks of light as they whirled around in the dark.  And no, no one even hit a tree!  Lol!

Cheap and totally awesome fun works for me!!! 

Check out lots more great tips at Works for Me Wednesday, and find other fun pictures at Wordless Wednesday!

And We’re Off!

To a brand new school year, that is!

Today is the first day of Middle School (Oh, my) for my oldest.  He had to get up at 5:30!  This was him checking his schedule and map of the school one more time before he left. 

We (I) spent some time yesterday charting his class schedule as well as adding color and labels to a school diagram so it would be easier for him to see at a glance where he was, and needed to go.  I think he’ll do just fine.  :) I must say, I was pretty proud of my work!  I should get an “A”!

My middle son is in the fifth grade this year!  Although he knows his new teacher some because of past extracurricular events, he was still pretty nervous.  This was him down at the bus stop.  Although you wouldn’t guess it from this picture, he woke up this morning with enough energy to make a sprinter jealous.  I’ve said several prayers for his teacher, already!  Lol!

Seriously, I have no doubt that this will be one of the most enjoyable years of his schooling so far.

I can’t wait to hear how things went when they both get home!

So, what am I doing with my time today?

Trying to catch up, for one.  The last few days have been hectic, and the house has been neglected.

But I’m also starting preschool for my youngest.  Preschool at home, that is.  We’ve made a desk area by the window seat for him to work.  It’s close to my computer (but separate from my desk, where he usually camps out).  So, potentially, we can both be working at the same time.  Who knows, I might even get to post more often!!  :) The surface is a piece of countertop I found at Good Will for three dollars.  The shelves are an upturned Citrus Punch box (with it’s cardboard dividers) from Aldi’s which I spray painted the outside of.  We’re not talking fancy.  Just practical.  We’ve had fun stocking the area with all kinds of fun school supplies!    

The Lego Clones and Firemen are standard issue to Preschoolers in this house.  In case you were wondering.

Why I’m Glad I Sent My Kids To Camp

My kids are home now.  They got home Friday afternoon, went to bed early, and slept most of Saturday.  :)  Now that they are recovered, I’m back into the craziness of the last few days of summer vacation.

But before I leave the “summer camp” topic, I thought I would put together the top 13 reasons I’m glad I sent my boys to summer camp.  In no particular order.

1.  It gave them a safe place to step out of the nest and stretch their wings. 

2.  They had a boatload of fun!  Literally!  My guys learned how to steer a canoe and kayak.  And incidentally, to get unstuck.

3.  They made new friends, and caught up with old friends from last year, including some pretty awesome counselors.  This is my oldest son with his counselor from last year.  The picture is double-imaged.  But when it’s the size of a postage stamp, you don’t notice too much. 

4.  Apparently, they surpassed their goal on the missionary offering.  As a result they won the honor of turning the guest missionary into a human sundae.  Lol!!

5.  For making their individual cabin’s offering goal, they got to see their own counselor get his head shaved. 

Talk about motivation to give!!  For the record, he told the boys that ALL great American Soccer Goalies have bald heads.  (Hmm.  My oldest plays keeper, and travel ball starts this week.  I’ll keep you posted on how influential this turns out to be…)  Here’s a picture just after the event…

Isn’t it ironic that theses picture came out so clear?  Lol!  These were definite highlights for the kids!  (My son got no less then thirty-some pictures and four videos of the two events.)

Well, they were a highlight for my kids, anyway!  I get the feeling there are differences between what boys and girls find “cool” at this age.  What do you think?  The face of this young girl CRACKED me up!

6.  There were five campers who decided to be baptized!  PTL!

7.  My oldest is now contemplating missions overseas.  Seriously.  I’ll be watching to see what God does with the seeds that were planted.

8.  At home here, there were three whole days where I couldn’t find enough clothes to do a load of laundry.

9.  And my dishwasher had empty cup places.  All week.

10.  My little guy received some coveted one-on-one time and we celebrated Valentine’s Day.  Because he wanted to cut out hearts and fire trucks, and anything else that was red.111.  At my house, there was no bickering.  No fighting.  No tattle tailing.  No dirty socks stuffed in the sofa.  Or behind the lamps.  No arguments over bedtime, or who gets to use the chocolate syrup next.  No sticky countertops.  No LEGO obstacles.  No missing things from my desk.  No strange odors coming from their room.  And, to my husband’s delight, no missing remotes.

12.  There was, however, a mom who got a reprieve from the daily grind, soaked up the peace and quiet, and arrived (just in time) at a place where she missed her boys.

13.  And finally, the hugs all-around at the end of the week were priceless, genuine, and sweet!

Yep, camp is a beautiful thing.

Sewing Alterations on a Bargain

Walmart has their swimsuits on clearance.  I found this Catalina suit I really liked, in a periwinkle blue color, which I loved! 

The only problem was that they had one one size to small, and several two sizes too big.  But none in my size.  Bummer!  I really liked this one, too.

What to do…what to do…

I could buy the smaller one and hope I lose weight by next summer.  (Noble goal.  But probably not happening.)  Or I could buy the bigger one and eventually grow into it.  (More likely, but certainly nothing to aspire to!  Lol!)  OR, I could buy the bigger one and try to alter it…

I’m not an avid sewer.  But I took a chance and bought one of the larger ones, hoping I’d figure out how and where to take it in.

Let me just say, that I did take it in, and it now fits great—even when wet!  But it wasn’t as easy as taking in the seams.

Stretchy material, especially this slippery material, can be hard to sew.  Harder than I ever imagined!

I did fairly well, until I had to sew a seam that crossed over another seam.  The bulk kept getting hung upon the feed dogs and I ended up with a nest of thread on the underside every time I tried it.

I have a great machine.  It’s a Janome 4623LE Plus.  I purchased it just before we moved from Pennsylvania.  However, with the move, I missed out on the free classes where I would have learned more about all the neat things it can do.  And I must have lost my instruction manual in the move.  Not good. But every so often, when I’m stuck on a project, I call Brubaker’s Sewing Center in New Holland, Pennsylvania, where I purchased the machine.  They have ALWAYS been incredibly helpful, and understanding of my novice questions.  They usually talk me though the steps to solve my problem and I’m on my way in no time.

This time, the helpful woman made sure I was using the correct stretch stitch, and then told me to use a smaller needle, a Microtex Stretch (which I didn’t have).  But I did have a finer needle made for sewing stretch fabrics and I swapped it out. 

Then she said if the feed dogs were still snagging, to apply a stabilizer to the fabric.  Only, I don’t have any of that on hand.  So she suggested I try a sheet of wax paper between the feed dogs and the fabric.  And it worked beautifully!  Once the seam was in place, I simply pulled off the wax paper.

Brubaker’s has a toll free number (.800.466.7315) with live help from 9-5 EST, which makes it even easier to get help.  I’m not thinking you need to have purchased your machine there to access their help, but I’ve not asked specifically.  I have a hunch they would be delighted to help with whatever sewing problem or question you have.

If you live near New Holland Pa, and you like to sew (or even would like to learn), you are incredibly lucky!  You might want to check out their schedule of classes and their incredible inventory of machines, materials and notions.  I have read that Brubaker’s has loyal customers all over the United States, and many even ship their machines there to have them serviced. 

I’m not at all surprised.  Their service is top notch!

Anyhow, getting a bargain on a swimsuit (that you actually wouldn’t mind wearing) is definitely a Finer Thing.  As is actually being able to make it fit right!!  Lol!

Thanks, Amy for hosting Finer Things Friday!

Digging a Pond

Our neighbor started this project over two years ago.  His plan was to dig out the bog which occupies the rear of his property (and actually encompasses some of ours) and replace it with a beautiful man-made pond.  It was a HUGE undertaking, to say the least.

He spent more than a year cutting down and dragging out huge trees, mostly by himself.  Sometimes with the help of his brother, and sometimes even my husband.

The actual digging of the pit began this spring.  And there has been a LOT of digging.  He bought a small dozer and since he has had little work (I think he works construction), he has been working on the project nearly every day.

His back yard is a mountain of dirt (it has to go somewhere!) and the pit is nearly complete, now.  Above, you can see my husband to the left, helping him with the skid loader.  Our property line is pretty much right along the near bank, and I’m taking the picture from where I would love to set up our new campsite someday.  Won’t that be cool??  Seriously! 

In fact, I see park benches here and there, and can almost hear bull frogs through the night…

All that remains of the project is to fine-tune the slopes and banks a little, and grade the surrounding areas so that they drain into the pond.  Oh, and to haul off all that dirt!  Lol!  The very bottom (where you see the backhoe) is as deep as he wants to take it.

That’s a good thing. 

Because that four inches or so or rain we got yesterday?  Made 3 or 4 FEET of water in the pond!  Our neighbor is SO glad to be at a point where the deluge is welcome!  We are happy for him, too. 

That pond represents an enormous amount of work.  I’ll be sharing pictures here and there as the pond fills, and the rest of the landscaping is completed—both on his side, and ours. 

So hopefully you won’t mind being drug along on the journey.  This is what my husband and I LOVE to do.  To take a section of land, and transform it into a beautiful usable living space.  

Stormy Day

Today, we stuck close to the radio.

There were Severe Storm Warnings across Indiana, and two funnel clouds were spotted about a mile away.

My little guy and I watched as the sky darkened and the wind picked up. 

The lightening was fantastic, and the crackling of the close ones was a little frightening.  I scurried around to unplug things and break out the camp lantern as the electric began to flicker. 

By lunch time, the power was out, and we were eating by lantern.  Because it was this dark.  

If it weren’t for the flash on my camera, this one would not have turned out.  And yes, those are snowflakes on my valance.  Consider me early for Christmas.  Or something.

Listening to the radio, I heard reports of how bad things had been hit just to our south, where the boys are going to camp.  I prayed for their safety.

We were much more fortunate than many, who are still without power.  One friend in the area had a huge tree crash through her roof.  After 60 mile an hour winds, and somewhere around 4 inches of rainfall, the only things I saw in our yard were a few sticks scattered around. 

I’ve since learned that the boys, at camp, were gathered in a safe area, and the worst missed them. 

By the time my husband was ready to come home from Indy, the roads had been cleared of trees, and the water had receded. 

Thank you Lord, for your protection. 

You are my hiding place;

you will protect me from trouble

and surround me with songs of deliverance. 

Psalm 32:7

Summer Camp

Yesterday, we dropped my two oldest sons off for a week of Summer Camp.

They will have the time of their lives.  They’ll fish, canoe, swim, rock climb and even do something called the blob.

They’ll make new friends, have devotions with their counselors, and learn more about missions.  All while being surrounded by the prayers of the staff.

This is the second year for my oldest, and the first for my middle son.  They both really wanted to go, and we thought it a worthwhile investment.  It’s certainly not cheap.  But many churches, like ours, offer some small assistance financially.  Some churches may even provide scholarships.  So it is worth inquiring around, if your budget is tight.

I grew up going to summer camps.  The church I attended as a girl offered scholarship money for Bible Memory.  The chapters I memorized for Church Bucks are still with me and remind me of the hours I spent with my mom learning them.  Plus, I have some wonderful memories as a camper, and later as a counselor, and even camp director.

So, naturally, I want my boys to have the same opportunities.

Many of the counselors and staff at this camp volunteer their time, and in some cases, use vacation time, to be there.  I can’t thank them enough for investing so much into the lives of these kids.  In the lives of my kids.

I’m praying that God reaches out this week to the kids and their counselors, and reveals himself in a new and powerful way. 

I’m praying, also, for my  own refreshment.  Let’s face it, a mom’s job is still her job even on family vacations.  So she often arrives home more tired than ever.  Am I right?

But summer camp is different.  And it’s more than just not having to arbitrate fights, do extra laundry, or entertain all their friends.  Though I’d be lying if I didn’t say a break from that is welcome. 

It’s more that I can relax in the knowledge that my kids are well cared for, having the time of their lives, and being totally bathed in prayer by many, many people.  It’s like, for a week, they are totally in God’s hands.  And what could be better?

Summer camp is a wonderful ministry, not just to the kids, but to families, and I’m so thankful for those that make it possible.

It would be fun to hear about your favorite camp memory.  Feel free to share it with us in a comment.  :)

To see what others are thankful for today, visit Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers. 

Birthday Camping

Friday night we celebrated our youngest son’s fifth birthday with a campfire and sleepover in the tents out back.

We adults had a relaxing time around the fire,

while the boys found plenty to do to entertain themselves.

One of my son’s friends brought a Jedi robe for the birthday boy to wear.  Although it was a little big, it was a highlight of the evening.  But later he got this costume… And it became a tough choice!  Lol!

A few BIONICLEs broke up the Star Wars Battles and eventually led the boys into (slightly) quieter play in the tent.

This was the first time we divided our group into two tents.  My husband and I kept the five year old in our tent.  But the four older boys (ages 10-11) slept in their own tent a few yards away.

With all the giggling and rude noises coming from their tent, I was thinking that a few more yards between us might have been a good idea!  LOL!  But I was afraid they would spook in the wee hours of the morning without us nearby.  

However, they DID make it all the way through to the morning in their own tent (in spite of the 2 a.m. cat fight, and several visits from mystery critters a little later.

Next time, there will be more space between us.

All in all, it was a pretty fun party!