Rain

I had to open all the windows wide, where the rain wouldn't come in, so we could hear it.

Smell it.

The perfect way to begin the last day of this week.

The last day of school! (I feel so free!!!)

The last day I am thirty-three!

The last day (I hope) of recovery from the worst stomach flu our family has dealt with yet!

My goals today are simple:

-make a big batch of play-dough for Blue; 

he's been very patient

(and persistent;)

-bake an angel food cake to enjoy tonight 

along with Boot's first real harvest 

of strawberries.

-fill and hang out my hummingbird feeders.

( They are back! One greeted me by the front door a few days ago 

and then this morning, from his spot-of-convalescence on the couch,

Big Brother watched one hovering right above the window!)

Well, I should go get to it! 

:)  

Penny Pockets

She was so frustrated this morning when she found that she couldn't fit her whole hand inside the little pockets of her jumper.

So I told her that such small pockets weren't for fingers. They were for pennies.

All better!

A Little Girl......

So so precious!

She came on the very last day of January, and we couldn't be happier.

Especially Miss Posy.

Because now "the girls and boys are even."

;)

Brown Betty's Been Busy....

Whew! At the end of almost two weeks of a stomach~flu virus that slowly made it's way to each member of the family......all I can say is that I am so ready for everyone to be well again! Forget the chaos in the house, and everything I am behind on.....it will all get sorted out eventually, right?;)

My dear Brown Betty has been such a trooper and has stuck with me through thick and thin! Nothing like hot tea to help make it through rough times. Speaking of which, I should go brew another pot, and sit down with my last sick little one (poor Blue).

Simplicity of Soul...

"Simplicity of soul is one of the prerequisites of sanctity, and it's one of the things our children already possess. We must be very careful not to contribute to the great cluttering up. We must make a heroic effort to rid our lives of all but one motive, that 'impractical' spirituality of the saints, a life in union with God. If this is the undercurrent of our existence, we can expect the spiritual training of our children to bear fruit."

~Mary Reed Newland

Embracing Interruptions

So often I find myself thinking

Of how much I could accomplish

If it weren't for all of the interruptions.

A life free of interruptions.

How selfish.

It is His voice that calls me

Through those little voices.

His eyes that look at me through theirs;

Through tears, through smiles.

He calls, He watches.

He interrupts to remind me

That it is not all about me.

It is not all about what I want to do each day.

And in each interruption,

He gives me a priceless opportunity.

To teach.

To console.

To love.

I want to learn to truly embrace each interruption.

To see each one for the treasure it really is.

For I suspect that it is during all of these interruptions

That I am most truly living my vocation of motherhood.

I Couldn't Decide....

......whether to title this post

How to Put Spare Embroidery Floss to Good Use

or

How to Occupy Your Children Every Afternoon

Without The Aid of Electronic Devices. 

It's all they have been wanting to do!

Fabulous.

I

A Duet?

The piano and I have been very dear friends for a very long time ~about twenty years to be exact! Each of my children, when babies, have had their place on my lap as I would play....and play.....and play!

So now it's Blue's turn. He loves to grasp my wrists, or place his hands over mine gently (usually gently;) while I play.

Priceless moments.

 I want to lock them away and save them forever. 

Boots and my Apron

The poor little guy came down with a fever yesterday afternoon, and when I couldn't be sitting with him, he lay quietly fingering my apron. How I love my sweet boy.
Today he is still fighting the fever, but is improved from yesterday. So lots of resting today. He is bearing it like such a little man, it tugs at my heart. I miss my jolly little Boots!

Blue, Under the Weather...

He came down with a fever yesterday, and we had a rough night last night.
Lots of cuddling today.

Buttons

Miss Posy got her first taste of sewing today. I thought buttons would be a good place to start. There was a  sweet little owl in the box of embroidery projects that I had picked up at a rummage sale years ago...

She picked out two blue buttons for his eyes, and I was amazed at what a little pro she was at sewing them on. I think I will try teaching her french knots, and the back stitch to finish it off.
Just one little bit at a time.
She loves it.
Hmm............. now where on earth do you suppose she gets that? ;)

Psychological Tactics

A few weeks back, Boots informed me that he is,

"The Neighborhood."

(????????!!!!!!)

It is a good thing that I am not intimidated by Neighborhoods.

~The Neighborhood doesn't want to take a bath?

Too Bad. Baths are mandatory around here.

~The Neighborhood wants lunch, now?

The Neighborhood can politely wait.

~The Neighborhood loudly protests against the injustice of naps?

Such protests fall on deaf ears. Utterly futile.

~The Neighborhood celebrates A Festival of Toys (~that's what it looks like, anyway) in my living room?

It is in The Neighborhood's best interest to clean it up. Pronto.

See?

"The Neighborhood" approach doesn't work well with me.

So yesterday, Boots stated that he is "The Dog."

I am becoming suspicious.

Knowing Boots, I am quite plausibly the target of a very complex psychological plot.

But I'm not in the least bit worried.

I'm "The Mom."

Little Moments......

I folded up some freshly washed receiving blankets, and she helped, managing surprisingly well. We talked about the new baby. She wants a little sister so badly, and I hope she is not too disappointed if she gets a little brother instead.......

Chattering away, and perched on the bed in her orange fairy wings......she told me she is an angel. I live for these little moments.

Preoccupied

Yes, I have been quite preoccupied lately. Mostly with my little Miss Posy and a fever that seems to go away, but then comes back! It has been quite frustrating, but now she is taking some stuff that seems to be working quite well. I am praying we are through with it. A few ladies at church said that their kids were down with an intermittent fever for over a week also, so it seems to be going around....... A little bit of a comfort, to know that their kids had it too, and made it through. I am just hoping that Big Brother and Boots don't catch it. They seem to be fine so far.......I'll just keep on praying, right?

Fighting a Fever

After fighting a fever these past two days, it seems that Miss Posy is finally on the mend. The house has not been the same without her sweet little smiling face. I gave her a fresh pillow case and sheets this morning, and now that her appetite seems to have returned, I have a little pot of homemade chicken noodle soup simmering on the stove. Now I am really feeling like I need a nap -the past two nights of having to be up with a restless little girl are starting to catch up to me!