A Peek Into the Past few Days

As I was downloading pictures from my camera earlier this morning I was wondering what I was going to do today's post on. Nothing earth shattering is going on and life is going by as normally as can be! So, let me share several pictures and maybe you can imagine the rest!

"A Sick Little Boy
A cold is beginning to make its round through my family. Sayre and Sawyer were the first victims but they made the most of it by making nests on the sofa or yellow chair and watching goofy videos like Buster Keaton or Andy Griffith.
Yes, Sawyer wore that look for several hours Friday afternoon! It was quite cute!

"Progress"
Trevor is almost to the point where he can start the plumbing and electrical! Today he is putting the decking boards down on the porch and I do believe that he has the windows in! I can only imagine the sense of satisfaction he has when he steps back and observes what his hard work has done.

"From the Hill"

About halfway up the hill, the trees open up and you can see Trevor's house... it's a wonderful site to see! The camera cannot even begin to capture the picturesque setting; you just have to see it in real life!

"Preparation for the Fence"
Tristan is still digging holes for the wooden corner posts. He's been at it for about four weeks now and I know he anxious to get it done.

"Antics before Sunday Dinner"
Sawyer loves to be roughed up and messed with! He will "come and get you" just so that you will come and get him (which means he gets tickled!).
I think he had been messing with Collin right before he got picked up by his belt!

"Sunday Dinner"
As we walked in the door from church, the smell of Sunday Dinner hit you. Ahhh, Momma had fixed Bar-b-que pork, Green Bean Casserole, Corn, and Iced Tea! Oh, it was wonderful!
Since Momma had kept S&S home from church she had time to make sure that dinner was extra special. Grandma's china was used, candles were lit, and coffee cups were on the table! It felt as if it were Thanksgiving or Chrismas!
We had a wonderful lunch; one that I will remember for quite some time!

"The Boys"
Can anyone tell me what is unique about this picture? It might take some close observing... no, it's not the shoes Sawyer is wearing!

A Hymn for Sunday

What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Words by: Joseph Scriven
Music bt: Charles C. Converse

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Ev'rything to God in pray'r!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Ev'rything to God in pray'r!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in pray'r.
Can we find a Friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness;
Take it to the Lord in pray'r.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our Refuge!
Take it to the Lord in pray'r.
Do they friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in pray'r.
In His arms He'll take and shield thee:
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Fall Musings

This past Monday was the first day of fall and I have to wonder if we are finally in this season. The hot weather seems to be winding down as we have been enjoying temperatures in the mid seventies to the lower eighties. We have shut the air conditioner off and are enjoying the wonderful breezes that find their ways into the house through the open windows, and the nights are cool with a blanket as a must with early morning devotions!

"Fall like Colors"
As you look around you can see that the leaves are just beginning to change colors. The maples are usually the first to change with their vibrant colors spicing up the scenery as you take a walk.

The farmers have begun to cut their fields and are preparing themselves for the hay that will be "harvested".

Observing the farmers in their hay fields reminds me that preparations for winter are taking place and I yearn even more for the weather to cool off enough for us to have a fire.

Tristan has been baling hay at Happy Cow and Collin has been helping our neighbor, "Mr. K", bale his fields. Both of them are learning allot that they will hopefully be able to implement into our place.

As Fall draws even nearer to us I am reminded of all the family memories that we have of fall. Apple picking in the mountains, raking leaves and then jumping into the massive piles, everyone baking cookies or trying to get their finger into the cookie dough... just the fellowship that we've had in the past. I've been challenged to take this season, fall, and make more of an effort at being a better sister and friend to my brothers. There are not many falls left before most of us will have "flown the nest"; I hope our "older years" are as full of fond fall memories as our "younger years" were. As I heard earlier this week, "why don't you be the one who makes an effort at being a better friend?"

Happenings

Many things have happened since this time last week!! Trevor's house has gone from a foundation to something resembling.....

THIS!!!
Actually, this picture was taken last Friday so the framing is almost done! The rafters are on, the sheeting in, house wrap applied, and I hear that there is a porch in the works!

Sayre has been faithfully helping Trevor frame the house and is really enjoying the time spent with his older brother. It's so neat to go over there and see them both up in the rafters or working together to get sheets of plywood up. It is a perfect example of siblings working as friends.

This is looking out from where the front porch will be. Someday soon there will be cattle grazing in that field!

"Thelma's Art"
Picked and arranged by her own hands.

"Trevor Art"
This seems to be normal for him!

On Friday I headed out to watch these children for an entire three days! Oh what fun we had! We spent Friday afternoon getting "reacquainted" with each other and finally decided that it had been about two years since we had last been together.

After Caleb's' ball game on Saturday, I brought the kids over for "The Grand Tour". We walked around the property, peeked into graveyard, and showed them the things that you would want to see if you keep up with my family!

"Touring Trevor's House"
"Left to Right~Christian, Sayre, Caleb, and Lauren. Oh, that's part of Trevor's' arm hanging off the ladder.

"At the Rabbit Cages"
Caleb has the and imagination that rivals Sawyers so he was able to get right down on Sawyer's level to help shoot the bad guys or the deer!

"Christian and Sawyer"
Sunday found all of us attending my family's church in Abbeville as well as a delicious dinner at our house! I was so glad that I had brought the kids over the day before as I felt that they were more at ease with us on Sunday.
I can remember Christian holding Sawyer when he was several months old, and not letting the girls hold him! Thank goodness there was another baby in the church for the girls to hold!

"While We Wait for Sunday Dinner"
Lauren and Sawyer became fast friends on Sunday. While they waited for us to finish lunch preparations the read books and played with his toys; it was sweet to watch.
I hope the kids had as much fun as I did last weekend! It won't soon be forgotten!

So what have I been up to since Sunday? Well...

...combatting fleas has been my top priority lately and I put all my energy into ridding us of them yesterday. ALL four dogs received baths and a powdering of Diatomaceous Earth (DE) when they were dry. I sprayed my room, washed all their bedding, put down DE where Buck sleeps, and dusted the clean bedding with DE. You would think that all that would be enough to cause the fleas to pack up and leave but I'm still going to be dusting the dogs with DE everyday as well as giving baths more than once a week inf necessary! I HATE fleas.
Today is a beautiful breezy day and I will be spending the afternoon outside with the dogs, in the garden, and maybe over at Bull Run! Have a wonderful afternoon!

A Hymn for Sunday

Rejoice in the Lord

Words & Music by- Ron Hamilton

God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.

O rejoice in the Lord. He makes no mistake.
He knoweth the end of each path that I take.
For when I am tried and purified, I shall come forth as gold.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Saviour instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.

O rejoice in the Lord. He makes no mistake.
He knoweth the end of each path that I take.
For when I am tried and purified, I shall come forth as gold.

Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.

O rejoice in the Lord. He makes no mistake.
He knoweth the end of each path that I take.
For when I am tried and purified, I shall come forth as gold.

"Truly the BEST Brownies Ever"!

For years I have wanted to have a wonderful brownie recipe that was both easy, quick to put together, and absolutely delicious... I think I've finally found it! Not only is it everything that I wanted but it is also the only brownie recipe that I've made that comes out with a flaky top! Flaky tops are like the icing on the cake to us! It signifies that the brownies are exquisite!

Without any further ado let me give you the recipe.

I wish I could have gotten a fresh from the oven picture, but I can't seem to remember to do so. This is taken AFTER everyone has partaken of a brownie or two.

1 c. Butter
2 c. Sugar

4 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
3/4 c. Cocoa

1 c. Flour
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. Salt
2T. Instant Coffee
1/4-1/2 c. Chocolate Chips.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9x13 inch pan with no-stick spray and set aside. Melt butter. Add to sugar in a large bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and coffee. Add cocoa powder. Mix until just moistened. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Add to sugar mixture. Add chocolate chips and stir until just mixed thoroughly. Pour into greased pan and bake for 30-35 minutes.

"Learning the art of stirring without flour erupting everywhere"
One thing that I have been doing differently is to melt the butter and the sugar together on the stovetop; until the sugar crystals have broken down somewhat. I'm pretty sure this is what gives the brownies a flaky top, but I'm not sure. Experiment and see what you think!

I am spending this weekend watching some children that I haven't seen in several years and I think we are going to have a wonderful time! We have allot of catching up to do! I would appreciate your prayers for us (me and kids).
I shall return Monday with a "The House that Trevor is Building" update, hopefully, and maybe even have a few other things to share. So until then, have a wonderful weekend!

A Few Things

It is a cool day with an overcast sky that occasionally lets down some drizzle, but I'm warm and cozy inside enjoying the quiet of this time of the afternoon.

"From the Gardens"
A small portion of yesterday afternoon was spent choosing zinnias that would play a part in several flower arrangements. Since today is cloudy, I'm so glad for the time I spent picking these "rays of sunshine" and sprinkling them throughout the house!

"The House that Trevor is Building"
It has been about two weeks since I was last over at Bull Run and allot has been accomplished! Trevor has taken the rest of the week off and is going to be working on his house. I wonder what it will look like by next Sunday...

"A Pile of Wood Needing to be Cut"
His plan for today is to get the floor laid.

"His Handy Helper"
When Sayre found out that Trevor was going to start framing his first words were "Can I help!?" to which Trevor readily replied "Yes! I'm starting at seven-thirty in the morning!". They both have been out there since then and I know they are having a blast!

"In the Sand pile"
Sawyer was oh so excited to be going to Bull Run after lunch, but as soon as we arrived he laid eyes on the sand pile and well... he forgot all about helping Trevor. He did ask him if he could dig in the dirt!

"My Patient"
Buck has been under orders to "take it easy" for a week which means that he has to stay inside (in the shop) only going outdoors when someone is there to watch him. So I've been taking care of him and I'm beginning to wonder if he has decided that I'm his new owner. Yesterday he crawled into my lap as his way of begging for more attention

"New Shoes"
Tristan got new boots last night but Sawyer thinks they are his. He tromped around in them for quite some time and was very loath to give them up!

The rest of my afternoon is going to be spent cutting a new denim skirt out and maybe I'll fit in a chapter or two from the book I'm reading. I love these cool cloudy days in which I can work on the quiet activities that get pushed aside during the sunny days.
Have a wonderful afternoon!

A Hymn for Sunday

Wonderful Peace

Words by-Warren D. Cornell
Music by- W. George Cooper

Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial like strains it unceasingly falls
O'er my soul like an infinite calm.

Peace! Peace! wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever,
I pray, In fathomless billows of love.

What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away
While the years of eternity roll.

Peace! Peace! Wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.

I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus' control;
For I'm kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul.

Peace! Peace! Wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.

And me-thinks when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Author of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom shall be:

Peace! Peace! wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.

Ah! soul, are you here without comfort or rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark.
Oh, accept this sweet peace so sublime.

Peace! Peace! wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.

In the Gardens and Around the House

Have you ever had one of those days where you have to go somewhere, or get something done, in addition to somehow manage accomplishing all of your housework? Every single day this week has been like that for me! From running a stray dog to the Humane Society one day, giving piano lessons the next, taking another dog to the clinic-breaking down and getting home at lunch time- the following day, and then picking the dog up from the clinic the next day; it's been "just one of those weeks"! I'm so glad that today is Friday and I've been using to catch up on all of those things that "didn't happen" because of all the running around!

"Isn't the way that these cumulus clouds are sandwiched between the flat clouds neat?"
We have had several nice days that alternate between rainy to cool and cloudy. Gardening is wonderful on these cool cloudy days!

"Okry"
It is very common to hear okra referred to "okry" by the "old timers" around here!
The Okra plants that Daddy had planted early this summer are now bearing fruit! We had given up hope on having any this year as it just wasn't growing. The rain that we have received over the past month or so must has really helped these plants. We've had fried okra already and boy was it good!
The plants are waist high and the okra itself can get huge!

"The New Walkway"
My own garden has been doing wonderfully lately. I finished the walkway and I have started on the never ending task of pulling weeds and trimming bushes. I planted my pansy seeds and I have begun the process of getting the lavender and poppy bed ready for the fall scattering of seeds.

"Wildlife in the Garden"
It's not a common thing for me to find lizards in my garden but this little guy was really enjoying the caladiums one day. It was so interesting to see him jump from one leaf to another.

"Velvet Queen Sunflowers"
The late crop of sunflowers are blooming in full force! Their colors are so cheerful and I love how their heads droop down.

Moving on to the "around the house news"; Lila has taken to perching herself on top of the dirt pile all day long (upper left hand corner). I'm not sure if she is using the dirt to keep herself cool or if she's trying to send me a message about Maggie!

"Not the normal exercise for cow face to impose upon herself"
Sayre has a mining operation going on on top of the dirt pile- that's what all the logs and rocks are about- and as I was examining them yesterday I heard the sound of hoof beats. Imagine my heart rate as Moo Cow came charging up the dirt pile directly at me... watching seven hundred pounds come straight at you is not exactly something that I want to see everyday, so as she paused to sniff the dog bowls I charged the gate which was kind-of-sort-of nearby! Upon further observation I deduced that she was just "feelin' frisky" or maybe the flies were getting to her. Either way, I don't trust an animal that is allot larger than I am and is not easily scared away by me.

"Our most "Prized Possession""
This is an honest to goodness outhouse that sits out on the edge of the field. It's a "double seater" and I think it would make a good potting shed or a nice place to keep livestock accoutrement's.

"New Fabric"
I found this fabric at Hobby Lobby and I'm agonizing over what I should make out of it. I originally was going to make a skirt but then I thought of making an apron.

"Close Up"
The skirt pattern I love has not only side seams but also front and back seams, so I don't think that the stripe would line up at the front and back seams. What do you think? Would it look to odd?

It would make a cute apron...

" To be Read"
These books are what I'm reading at the moment. "How to raise Horses" is being read because most of us talk about getting a horse (and because Daddy bought it for me to read!), "How to Be You Dog's Best Friend" is being read because I'm trying to teach Maggie some good manners, and "Cobwebs and Cables" is being read because it's next of "my Lamplighter to read list"!