Visit from Wisconson Friends

Last Saturday we all stayed up way past our bedtime cleaning, baking, and setting up, all for one purpose:  A visit from our new found friends from Wisconsin, the Metz family.  Faith and I were blessed to be able to meet some of the older children at the WIT conference we attended in August, and we were delighted that the whole family was able to come up to meet the rest of us.  Following are some pictures from the wonderful (but too short) time that we were able to spend with the Metz.

Elizabeth, Nathan, and Eva have beautiful voices and treated us with some wonderful God glorifying songs before our dinner.

After we ate, Josiah took the golf cart out to show Nathan around our property.  It was quickly filled and overloaded with laughing children hanging on as Josiah drove in and around our paths.

God blessed us with a beautiful day for outdoor fellowship, with blue skies and a warm sun.

Little Naomi enjoyed the swings very much, as did the rest of the children once their "ride" was over,

and the parents enjoyed talking and watching the children from the elevation of the deck.

The tire swing was another favorite (as always) and Josiah was kept busy giving pushes.

Smiles ;)

When we were all tired from our frolic outside we gathered in the living room where we talked and exchanged stories, while Faith taught their Grace how to tat.

We all had a wonderful time of fellowship and enjoyed the Metz's singing talent extremely. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to come visit us Metz!  We hope to see you again soon!!!!

 ~Chs

Raking leaves

 One of the enjoyable occupations that come with fall, is raking leaves (along with making apple cider, which I will inform you of in a later post;).   A couple of weeks ago, our Oak tree dropped its leaves... and I mean really truly dumped them.

"After autumn's brilliant colors and leaves have all been browned,

And beneath the trees in woodlands, they have covered deep the ground; 

While there's still a touch of orange in the tangled bittersweet, 

There's music in those dry brown leaves that rustle round your feet."

~Otis Shirk~

 So Faith, ever eager to spend time outside grabbed a rake and began to make a pile.  Sort of on accident, she ended up burying our tire swing; the pile was that big.

 "Help!!!"  She buried a person too!! :D

 Sadie Rose came out in the front to join me, and absolutely loved the leaf pile!! 

  

She burrowed in it, pounced in it, rolled in it, and in general had a wonderful time.

 I rather think she enjoyed her first ever leaf pile! :)

  Then Sadie was given a ride in the leafy trailer to the back where we were piling them.  *sigh*  So much fun for a little puppy!

 That evening once it grew dark, we gathered out back where we burnt all the extra leaves that we needed to dispose of .

It blazed up hot and bright, and smelled delicious during it's short conflagration.

~Chs

Autumn: Bike Rides, Beckoning Roads, and Evening Strolls

Autumn, is slowly slipping away, and so is October!  So I thought I would post some random pictures as well as photos from an evening autumnal walk, as a tribute to Autumn.

Biking has always been a favorite past time of Josiah and I, so we took advantage of the glorious October days to fit in a couple of biking adventures.

On our second bike ride we took along our friend Matthew, and traveled along back dirt roads edged with flaming trees.

"Oh, glorious beautiful Autumn, with your riot of color spread,

Green and gold and scarlet, underfoot and overhead,

The blue of the sky for background, and on the horizons edge,

The colorful trees in their splendor, ere their leaves begin to shed,

The green of last summer's grasses has all been overrun

With red, white, gold, and bronze, and purple chrysanthemum.

God dipped into His wealth of colors and, with lavish and loving hand,

spread a glowing finger painting to grace our beloved land."

~Marguerite Auvil McCoy~

"Clear and crisp, the days of harvest...

As red leaves begin to fly, spread in breezy Autumn splendor underneath a matchless sky."

"Come walk with me along the country lanes as Autumn weaves her brilliant tapestries;

No mortal hand could blend such vivid dyes nor drape the woods in mantles such as these."
~Mina Morris Scott~

"You cannot hope to enjoy the harvest without laboring in the field."

It was a calm Sunday afternoon, when for the first time since early summer, our family was able to take time for a stroll in the nature sanctuary near us.

The Golden maples were at the height of their glory, and the sun shone down peaceful evening rays.

"Bring the glory of autumn into our souls, the peace of God to our hearts,

We bow our heads in reverent grace for the blessing this season imparts."

 The hikers:)

Josiah: "The Lord saves".  Josiah is our most enthusiastic hiker, always wanting to go for a walk or bike ride. Eager to be continually outdoors.

Christianna: "Follower of Christ".  I too enjoy walking in God's creation, and always have my camera along with me to document the wonders around me.

Faith: "Confidence, belief".  Faith is always the one to first notice the flora and fauna around us.  Her knowledge of wild flowers, and God's nature in general is constantly being used.

"The phrase "working mother" is redundant."  ~Jane Sellman~  This quote perfectly describes our hard working Mumsie, yet she still finds the energy to go on walks with us.

My poet Dad enjoys spending time in peaceful woods, and is always pointing out beautiful objects and interesting angles for me to take pictures of!

 

I love how the trees seem to make a bower over them, and the ponds reflection.

"What if you woke up this morning and discovered the only things you had left were the things you had thanked God for yesterday."  ~Terry Shock

"Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name."

~Psalm 18:49~

~Chs

Of Harvesting Winter Squash and Planting Garlic

 On Tuesday last week we did some harvesting and some planting, along with butchering 40 chickens bringing in a load of goat hay, raking huge piles of leaves and other sundry activities. Yes, it was a busy, busy day.  But this is just about the first part.

 The "Squash patch" out back had done itself proud this year with a healthy crop of Butternut Squash and Pumpkins.  We piled them into the wheel barrow and carted them up to the deck.

 Once there, we set them out beside the other Squash-of-Unknown-Origin (volunteers from the compost pile) to cure for a few weeks.  If the skies threaten a frost, we can easily cover them with blankets.

Praise God for the Bountiful Harvest! 

That task complete, Christianna and I headed over to the garden to plant garlic in a newly prepared bed. After hoeing in layers of composted chicken manure and vegetable compost, I made my shallow trenches. 

Christianna was kept busy breaking open the garlic bulbs (from our harvest earlier in the year) as I pushed each clove into the ground. (point side up:)

 Each planted twice their depth, four inches apart,  93 cloves in all.  (nice even number, I know)

 

 Then I covered it all up with dirt.  A layer of leaves (mulched with the mower) is added - about 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.  It is also a good idea to mark the bed with sticks and bright string, so that people will know that you have something planted there.  Before the ground freezes, I cover the entire bed with straw. (as I do with all the garden beds) 

Next spring, about the time the Daffodils are poking up a few inches, remove the straw mulch.  The garlic might be showing by then, and if not, will be very soon.

There's still time! Go plant some garlic!!

~FaithAnn