Just Whatever

We brought the potted plants indoors this fall before they froze. I had started marigolds from seed and that tall one grew and grew all summer but never bloomed until it was inside! 

It was appalling how iced up and dirty the freezers were. We cleaned them out before we butchered the steer. How wonderful to once again have clean freezers, though they are half empty. 

We didn't have a fruitful year in the garden. Sometimes I think it would be nice to live in Lancaster, PA where the Amish raise food that one can buy for reasonable prices.

Christopher working to get the ice off the sides.

Christopher decided one day he wanted to refinish this little table. He promptly did just that.

 Reference the picture below for the former appearance.

On December 17 my sister, her daughters and I spent the afternoon at Mama's place, in honor of her birthday (the 18th). We had a tea party and played a game together. Poor photo, I know. I'm not a pro at sellfies.

The cute nephew who came along, sitting in a cute little rocking chair.

The same little party got together for my birthday on the 10th. We had a tea party and a sugar free, gluten free, yummy cake! Not something I get very often. And Verina gave me an Instant Pot! That is also not something I get very often. Ha ha. I'm having fun learning to use it.

Austin gave me this nice, big mug for my birthday. The I in HIS is an arrow pointing up, to indicate the mind of God. Okay, you want to know how old I am? 46. (I just used the calculator to make sure that's correct!)

Christopher carved a heart out of a cedar shake and put it in the fire. See how it glows in there?

A contradictory church sign we saw during one of our recent trips.

Please come.....worship with us

This is hard to see, but in the top photo the house windows glow with the sunrise. A few minutes later they're dark (bottom photo). 

Okay, that was a bunch of random stuff. None of it worthy of a post of it's own, so there! 😀

Flower Show -Lilies

There are some pretty lilies hiding in the weeds around here.

 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? Matthew 6:28-30 NLT

Life in May

 My parents, sister Verina, uncle Lloyd & I went to Alabama for my uncle Elvin Yoder's funeral. It was good to see family again. Because of the lack of ladies in our house, I almost never leave. It is rather disastrous when I do go. Lots of things piled up for when I come back.

 There was lots of road to travel.

We were impressed with the handmade furniture where we stayed overnight with the Lowell Brennemen family. They have talented sons.

 Must have been a space museum here. ???

  Melvin and I cleaned the pantry. He had an elevated position.

Much time was spent preparing for the spring school concert. I shot a few pictures during the final awesome song, God is an Awesome God. The lights were dim and they had a slideshow going behind them of colorful and artistic nebulae.

L-R Matthew, Austin, Stephen, Christopher, Melvin (circled)

 So many flowers blooming now. I was intrigued with this one RED peony.

 This sight thrills my heart. Our dyslexic son buried in a book! 

A normal sight for the one below.

How has your May been?

What is planned for the rest of the month?

Warmth

Oh, I think spring is my favorite time of the year! Sunday morning there was a surprise snow covering everything. But the rest of this week has been warm or warmer. 

I love the bird songs this time of year. And the spring peepers. The flies and mosquitoes aren't quite so welcome.

The daffodils are beginning to bloom.

The boys are doing their lessons outdoors.

The anemones are blooming.

Crocuses.

The boys had an extra brother a few days this week. Their cousin Mervin stayed here while the rest of his family went to Ohio. They worked together on everything. And slept outdoors even though there was frost on their pillows one night.

The boys enjoy cutting, splitting, hauling and stacking the wood we got recently. Hopefully they can get it off the grass before it kills it. You don't even have to ask them to do wood. Somehow they enjoy it more than other work.

We were nearly out of wood and kept wondering when this promised load would come. Now that it's here we don't need it. Well.... maybe we will yet. But we haven't needed a fire for a few days now. 

Song of Solomon 2:12
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land

Hebrews 6:7
For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: