Advent is moving swiftly! We put the tree up yesterday and will finish decorating the house today. Jacob, Elizabeth’s fiancé, is coming for the weekend and I’m going to try to get a group picture of all nine (including AJ, Eleanor’s fiancé) tomorrow. Rain and perhaps thunderstorms are moving in by midday but it gave … Continue reading Advent Updates
children
Living life
We’re firmly into summer here which means a lot of staying indoors except in the early morning or evening. It’s just too hot. Yesterday afternoon the temperature was 98 with a heat index of 108. It was like a sauna. The little girls have a wading pool in the back yard but they’re only permitted … Continue reading Living life
Saturday morning
My rosebud is opening up. Another bud is starting to open too. It’s been a busy couple of days, but in a way it feels like I’ve gotten nothing done. Don’t you hate that? So much of the work is intangible: taking care of small children which involves a lot of “watch me, Mama!” I … Continue reading Saturday morning
Wednesday Collage
Growing things I’ve never had a rose bush before. I discovered that there was a small, barely alive one mostly hidden by the front shrubs and I decided to see if it could be coaxed back to health. I aerated the soil and added some rose fertilizer but as the weeks went by nothing really … Continue reading Wednesday Collage
Catching minnows, wildflowers, racing swallows, and a picnic
“Heeeere fishyfishyfishyfishy...” Swallows were flying just above the ground.
Comfort
Indiana and mutual comfort
Review: Spyridon’s Shoes
This new book by Kh. Christine Rogers was wonderful! I had so enjoyed her book, The Road to Golgotha, last year and was delighted to learn she had a new book being published. The first thing I noticed when beginning this story was how easy it was to engage with the characters. They are wholly … Continue reading Review: Spyridon’s Shoes
Path to Pascha Tabletop Garden
During Cheese Week we got our tabletop garden ready to use along with the readings from Tending the Garden of Our Hearts. [See my review and links here.] It's very simple, actually. I used a plastic tray and covered it with packaged sheet moss. We planted a few tiny pots with grass seed and also … Continue reading Path to Pascha Tabletop Garden
Review: Tending the Garden of Our Hearts
I was excited to receive my long-anticipated copy of Tending the Garden of Our Hearts in the mail yesterday afternoon. So excited that I have already finished it! During the last Advent fast my youngest children were old enough to participate in Welcoming the Christ Child: Family Readings for the Nativity Lent. I found it helpful as well, … Continue reading Review: Tending the Garden of Our Hearts
Bits and pieces
Father has wanted a fish tank forever. He decided to get one for his birthday, and Wednesday (his actual birthday) he got the first eight fish. Everyone has loved looking at them. We've been treated to some lovely sunsets lately. Here you can see the crescent moon too: Moppet has been longing for a BIG … Continue reading Bits and pieces
Praying With My Feet 