the back hallway

The southern exposure of the back stairway is welcomed on sunny days, full of dancing shadows and bold glares as one traverses up the red-carpeted stairs.

Many will ask me if our home has all the bedrooms located upstairs. The answer to that is yes, all the bedrooms are upstairs.I guess they are thinking of aging and what stairs might mean for future mobility or maybe unexpected health issues making stair climbing difficult for a time.

But I like going up the stairs to get to my bedroom. But I am never one that does not think ahead for future possibilities, so there is a room downstairs that could be converted into a bedroom if ever needed.  

 

"All right I think we've been down here in the dark long enough. 

There's a whole other world upstairs. 

keeping the fire

 Keeping:  the act of holding, guarding, maintaining and supporting

While living at the farm over twenty years ago, we owned a wood stove. I was never partial to having a wood stove in the house because of the mess created with all the bringing in of wood logs and the resulting ashes. But my husband has always loved the warmth and look of a burning fire. While an open fireplace is my preference, he likes his fires in a wood stove of some kind because of its practicality.

How things do change. One of the things we planned to have when we moved here was a wood stove. We even had the chimneys checked prior to closing so we could be assured a wood stove was not just a dream doomed for failure. Since it was to be in our living room we decided that this Vermont Cast Iron insert in the majolica brown color would be perfect for doing what we desired. It is a beautiful stove to say the least and works beautifully too. I am presently sitting by it now enjoying its warmth and coziness on this drizzly cold afternoon in mid November.

Yet another thing to keep: the fire. It takes a certain amount of time, attention, and maintaining; I like that it is not automatic like the thermostat heat and must be tended to throughout the day. It slows me down and provides focus and a routine that I seem to require during this season of my life.

"There is no place more delightful than one's own fireside.

Nullus est locus domestica sede jucundior."     -Cicero

Yesterday afternoon after the ladies left from our Precepts Bible study and lunch fellowship, my husband and I drove down the road a bit to a neighbor that gave us some bags of aged cows manure, black garden gold. We spread and tilled it into the prepared garden spot and then planted three rows of garlic. I ordered two varieties from Mad River Garlic Growers, Doghouse and Italian Purple. Several dozen of daffodil bulbs were also planted on the edges of the newest garden bed in the backyard. 

Sourdough bread is rising, a whole chicken is roasting in the oven, and leeks are sitting in a "waterbath' for the soup I am about to get up and prepare for cooking.

I'm keeping my home. 

 

autumn around the homestead

 The autumn of 2022 was breathtaking in its beauty.

I looked around and I grabbed hold of it as much as was humanly possible.

One Sunday afternoon Witt arrived with three of these precious ones. While they cut and split wood with Don's wood-splitter, Breanna, Gordon, Violet and I just enjoyed life together.

Another afternoon, after picking green beans from my fall garden I sat down on the back stoop to snap them for dinner that night. Here Myrtle enjoys my loving and her smile is contagious.I find rubbing a cat calming. Do you?  My little flock of chickens have literally acres and acres of land to free range, but no, my brick patio and all around the house is their desired preference. That entails frequent clean up!

What do they do on blissful days like this,

These who have no God?

When autumn sets a torch to every tree,

When ecstasy all but bursts its heart...

What do they do...with no one to say "thank you" to?

Mrs.Myra Scovel

precepts, a luncheon, and a tornado warning

Bible studies are varied in their approach, in their content, and in their depth of study. And this is only mentioning an airplane view of the many types of Bible studies that are on the market today. Some studies are good, some are okay, and then there are those that are excellent, fully realizing that it depends greatly on what you want in a Bible Study too. What I look for in a Bible study is the use of the scriptures as the sole study, and this would particularly mean a single book of the Bible using cross references for study. I was a participant in Bible Study Fellowship(BSF) for many years and that has remained my ideal when I want to do an in-depth study of a book of the Bible.

Precepts Ministries Inductive In- Depth Bible Studies provide materials that use the observation, interpretation, and application process of Bible study. Even though I am not a novice to the Word of God, still the richness and careful, intentional study of verse by verse keeps me growing in the knowledge of God. I am only going higher up and further in.

 I co-lead a group that meets every Friday morning from 9:30 to noon and we are completing the final lessons of Genesis Part Two. As a way of celebrating we decided to have a meal together and these ladies were willing to make the hour drive to my home.  A planned menu including Shepherds Pie, a fresh fall salad, and muffins were to be served with a fruit pizza for dessert.

I set the table yesterday and prepared what foods I could make ahead of time. As I got up this morning I was thinking of each step and praying for focus to get it done timely. 

But the one thing I had not accounted for was a Tornado Watch in our area for the entire day, stretching over a wide area of counties and cities. After praying  the decision was made to call off our getting together until Monday. In years past this would have caused a bit of an upset, but these days I am content to trust Him (a great benefit of getting older😊).  I am not in charge, but I know Who is.

The tornado thankfully did not materialize, but we certainly experienced  some rather strange weather all day.

an order of things

There have been by far a plethora of things that have made this return to country living a place of deep contentment. Of course, I had carefully planned how to begin implementing some of the things we had done years before when we lived on the farm. But this time more on a scale of what I could personally handle without the children. My husband helps me with many of the things and we have spent many hours enjoying this mini-homestead we are busily creating. Just one step at a time, orderly and sure.

Back in late August we took a purposeful trip to Tractor Supply and purchased a pre-fab henhouse and ten little chicks. Buying them simultaneously immediately jumped the henhouse construction to high level priority. Breanna, my granddaughter, helped us put it together in basically two evenings, fitting and twisting screws even in the dark.

"Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.”

 –Frank Lloyd Wright.

 

 

I began raising my little flock of egg layers on my screened-in back porch in a round baby pool surrounded by wire. This proved to be an excellent place to keep them warm under the red light and perfectly  safe from harm and any prey. 

That was many weeks ago, my chickens are now twelve weeks old and they are happy to free range for most of the day which is possible when I am home all day. On mornings that I fry or scramble eggs I anticipate  the day when I will have fresh eggs from my own flock of chickens.

 

it is well with my soul

I grew up with a very tidy and sincere belief of marriage. Marriage was forever. Even when the marriage might get tough and the couple do not get along, vows are taken and those vows are taken seriously. 

But as I said this is a tidy belief of marriage and easy to uphold theoretically, but I am not in charge of the universe or what other people do. Especially in the matter of marriage and remarriage.

If any of you have followed my blog for awhile, you might remember me posting about my daughter's wedding back over seven years ago. It was an extremely difficult time in my life, and even the year leading up to that time was heartbreaking to this mama's heart. Marriage is one of the most important decisions we undertake as people on this earth. It is important to God and it is important to us, His church.

But we knew that a young eighteen year old was not ready for marriage and the person she chose to marry was even less ready. It was a terrible mistake, but what do you do? You pray and  you hope, and you pray and you hope. 

So seven and 1/2 years later there is another marriage. I would be lying if I said I have not struggled with remarriage in general and this one in particular because it is so close to me, even with the very obvious circumstances that caused the other marriage to end, which were legitimate. I still believe in the sanctity of marriage and its lasting foundation.

The wedding was a very simple affair in the church with our pastor and a few family members attending.

This was by far the highlight and best memory of the day. My sweet husband ironing his daughter's dress.

We do love this young man who has vowed to love and protect our daughter and granddaughter forever.

I do what every mama should always do, I pray and I hope.

And that is what makes this marriage well with my soul.

 

of delights and joys

A brick-paved patio is currently in progress and my visions for another addition to our new home and back yard is truly happening.

Look at this sky. Rainstorms almost every day roll in and we welcome it since these days continue to be hot and humid. For several days we would just stare at the sky and delight in the cloud formations. 

Yes, summertime.

Several weeks ago on a trip back home we were delighted to drive by the Plow and Hearth store outlet. We quickly turned around and in the very hot afternoon's heat we found new cushions for our screened porch furniture. 

 Considering I have made super changes in my life this summer,  still I have managed several small trips out of town including one week of working at a small Bible camp for 17-23 year olds. 

But this particular week my mama's heart strings vibrate strong. One day my daughters and I went to town together and I wanted to remember the moment with this snapshot after eating our lunch. 

  

Even as I am writing this blog post I am driving back with my husband having dropped the daughter on the left back at college where she is a rising sophomore. She declared emphatically last night she is absolutely glad she is not a freshman ever again! 

The daughter on the right is getting married this Friday; it will be a small family ceremony. Tomorrow I will meet up with my daughter-in-law's mother who is helping  make a lovely fresh bouquet of sunflowers and eucalyptus tied with a black silk ribbon. A dress is awaiting me at home for a few small alterations and a good ironing on the hem that a very dear friend cut and rolled hemmed for us. I get nervous even thinking about cutting off dress hems!

brewing summer teas

“Drinking tea with a pinch of imagination!” 

I  am enjoying a simple task of taking a gallon Fida jar, filling it with fresh water, stirring in a tad of sugar then adding dried hibiscus flowers to brew outside in the sun. I do not simply sip this tea, I gustily drink a glassful over ice.

 

easing in

This move  to another house just an hour away from our last town has not been a happy one for everyone concerned. And since she leaves in August to go back to school, her adjustment will flow along on a more extended time frame.

But she understands.

Her room is now fixed more to her liking even though she does not stay here but a few days a week. She works at her old job from last summer at a garden center and she has managed by housesitting this summer as well as staying with friends.

But  I love it when she is able to come for a few days. She has helped shovel the pile of dirt outside the front porch awaiting the planting of the various flowers and shrubs I brought from our old home. She has made suggestions for decorating and hanging pictures, and she has rummaged around in the attic to help me find things that were delegated to the third floor until we discovered we needed them.

And one day she helped me drape several stands of white lights around the screened- in back porch. That evening we sat outside and talked...amidst the echoing orchestra of the cicadas and the high pitched mooing of a cow every now and then.  

But by far the most fun we experienced was the evening we removed the handful of skeleton keys from the large ring  we found in the laundry room cabinet and went from door to door upstairs and downstairs finding its proper fit."So satisfying", she simply said when she found the one key that fit that door.

She must ease in to this place and we are letting time walk its course.

One day this week she arrived with her most longest and dearest friend. As they left the next afternoon, I was too late to grab my camera in time, therefore, the precious picture will  just have to stay in my mind. They were walking down the front paved path to the car, Charlotte with a violin thrown on her shoulder and Laura carrying her bow, arrows and target.  I love every minute I have these girls around me...

 

a new place to call home

 I read within a poet's book 

A word that starred the page: 

'Stone walls do not a prison make, 

Nor iron bars a cage! ' 

Yes, that is true; and something more 
You'll find, where'er you roam, 
That marble floors and gilded walls 
Can never make a home. 
But every house where Love abides, 
And Friendship is a guest, 
Is surely home, and home-sweet-home: 
For there the heart can rest.

                                          Henry Van Dyke, "A Home Song"

It was that time of day just before dusk settles, as the lightening bugs were putting on their most spectacular show. And the thought revisiting swept over every part of my consciousness. It was another time frame, another place, a different family dynamics, but nevertheless, cherith revisiting.  I was in a new home with those fond thoughts once again doing something significant. 

We moved. Not to a farm this time, but to a lovely stately 1930 built home in a rural setting. I call it "my city house in the country" with its large rooms adorned with dental molding around the ceilings, beautiful mantles, original doors- some double wide- with brass doorknobs and hardwood floors. 

 

some simple doings

  Every little once in a while I entertain the unction to participate in a blog community.  Such things as Yarn along and Happy Homemaker Monday presently pop into my mind. Which also brings to my mind a certain blog I would read years ago where a woman would photograph and write about her knitting projects, and she always included a cookie recipe.

 Yesterday as I baked a most delectable cookie I decided I would like to create a post using a similar idea. 

 A post of this sort should  contain a Reading and Cooking/Baking portion. Since I love to work with my hands, it must also include a Gentle Art of some kind. Oh, and quotes, I really must throw in one of those too.

Three of these books belong in my own personal library, two purchased from Abe Books and the other one ordered from another source. Homebrewed Vinegar is on loan from a local library. And speaking of local libraries, Rose and I took Ivy to the library last Saturday.  I realized I had not physically been inside a library in two years!  It was a very arresting moment. I have not realized how much I have missed such a simple joy of the past.

Ever since I read Jane Brocket's book, The Gentle Art of Domesticity, her word for cookies has delighted me and still bounces around happily in my mind from time to time. Rock Buns! I do love Oatmeal Raisin cookies and since we do try to limit our sweet intake, I adjusted the recipe in order to lessen the high amount of sugar. If you eat sweets consider making them at home with whole ingredients and I do not think lessening the sugar amounts makes  for a less appetizing sweets one little bit.

This particular Oatmeal Raisin Rock Bun is a delicious, just sweet enough cookie. 

1 cup of unsalted butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar 

1 Tablespoon unsulphured molasses

1 Tablespoon of vanilla

2 eggs

Beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the molasses and vanilla.

In a separate bowl combine:

1 1/2 cup of unbleached all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon of salt

3 cups of organic oats, not instant or quick cooking

1 cup Thompsons raisins; if you use other kinds you might want to soak them before time. (I am a die hard Thompson Raisin fan.)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Stir until well incorporated.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes. 

I have mentioned my revisiting of the art of cross stitching. Now instead of using AIDA cloth as I did back in the 80's, I stitch on beautiful linen fabrics. I am very happy I found Krista's site, Avlea, because she has outstanding kits to order and stitch. Krista is personal and helpful and she runs her business in the best possible manner, offering to make you satisfied with your purchase as far as she is able. Plus there is the added loveliness of your order arriving wrapped in the most beautiful way. I have had to succumb to reading glasses to stitch on the linen though, but I am thankful for my red trusty ones.

"However, as I reflect on our time I feel sure the basic values of life are not changed, or the basic experiences. We are born, we grow into maturity, we die according to the law of nature. Our highly mechanized civilization has not redesigned the human heart. We find happiness, we suffer sorrow, we make our contribution to the world around us, whether it be a blessing or a disaster. Every man's life is entangled with others."

                                                   Harvest of Yesterdays Gladys Taber