Mr. Reiche's Party

Well, I guess I am a little behind on posting, but having decided that it would be a pointless task to try to update you on all our goings on for the past three weeks, I would like to present you with the earliest big event that I would be very remiss not to tell you about.
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Almost exactly 5 years ago, soon after we had moved into our current home, we were helping out one of our new friends with a graduation party for their oldest son.  While there, we met one of their acquaintances, a man by the name of Neil Reiche, and our lives were changed infinitely for the better.
We soon found out that Mr. Reiche was a wonderfully caring, patient, humble man, who is always interested in whatever you are, and ready at almost anytime to go somewhere.  Over the past 5 years, we have gone on numberless hikes together, he has helped us out on numerous projects, and we have even gone on a few long adventures (like down to TN, or the EIC, and others) but more than all of those, Mr. Reiche always seemed to be available to just come over, we have enjoyed many meals and even more desserts, and just time together.   I could go on and on and on, about how this wonderful Christian man has impacted our lives, but I must get on with my story.
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The amazing thing about Mr. Reiche, is that not only did he spend so much time with us, he also had about a dozen or so other families that he always seemed to be there for as well!!!  So we decided to host a surprise party for Mr. Reiche near his birthday and invite all the families that he has impacted throughout the years, to show him how much he is appreciated.  

Well this plan was a little more ambitious then we thought, as we realized how much yard work we needed to accomplish before we could pull off such a gathering, but nothing good comes without some labor and so we began.   The Arbor and fence were re-painted, and we finished cleaning up the garden, and putting everything in order, as well as burning the large brush pile that had accumulated out back.

Then, as the day approached, we began preparing for the games and activities that we had planned.  Mumsie is always so creative and all the games were centered around one of Mr. Reiche's interests, and believe me, he has many of them.

Soon the living room and dining room were littered with paper and paint.

The carpet was overrun with little cars, and stamps were scattered about the couch.

I was given the job of sign maker extraordinaire, and had a box full of them ready to be put to use that Saturday.

As usual Faith was busy in the Kitchen making a multitude of little "loaf o'golds" to be eaten with Strawberries for dessert.

Saturday morning dawned cloudy and drippy, and inside the Sauve house it was like a bee hive.

The kitchen table was overflowing, and everyone was whisking around finishing up last minute projects, and praying that it would not rain.  Because this was to be a surprise party, the plan was that Josiah, Josh, and Faith were to go for a hike with Mr. Reiche that afternoon, everyone else was scheduled to arrive around 3:30, and Mr. Reiche was to come back at 4:00 "for dinner."  Of course we were all worried that if it rained, they would not be able to go for their hike, but God worked all the details out, and despite a few drips here and there, nothing definite enough came to discourage our plans.

The time arrived and Josiah, Josh, and Faith ran off to meet Mr. Reiche, while the rest of us kept on running, trying to get everything set up.

One of the things that Mr. Reiche is known for is making trails, so Faith made a neat little trail for everyone to run around, complete with a bridge and a bench.

Before we really caught our breath the guests began to arrive, and I trotted along putting up the last of my signs and decorations.

This particular sign was in remembrance of our Tennessee trip.  Extremely amusing.

There are so many things that Mr. Reiche has done at our property so I made up signs to mark out the different items he had cut down...

... and built up.

Mr. Reiche is also known for spending time with children, and taking them for rides in wagons, thus the "red wagon water bottles" :)

We tried to make everything with Mr. Reiche themes, even the snacks!!

4:00 slowly approached and we all gathered apprehensively on the deck, waiting for the man of the hour.

There was a slight moment of worry, when Mr. Reiche decided to go into the house to clean up before he came out back, but with some quick convincing a slightly confused Mr. Reiche came through the door and was thoroughly surprised.

He began to look around and notice all the different families, and soon began to make his rounds.

Volkswagens were hung here and there in honor of Mr. Reiche's very own VW.

We were very pleased that Mr. Reiche's children and grandchildren were able to join us as well.

Everyone was telling stories and milling around looking at everything in the yard, and just enjoying each other's company.

Mr. Reiche's grandson Grayson was just too cute NOT to take pictures of!! :)

"Grandpa and Grandson"

(The Beverage table)

We had enough time to do a few games before dinner, and the first one was a VW race!!

Everyone was divided into teams, and the teams lined up with little ones in front.  

The point of the game was to run down to the cones, circle them, and come back and hand off the car to the next person in your team.  Trying to see which team would make it through first.

The problem was that our little cars weren't made quite as sturdy as the German models, so by the end everyone was holding on to the two sides of their car and just running that way.  Still fun though!!!

We also did a stamp collecting relay before heading up to the deck to eat.

Before prayer, each one of the families told how and when they had met Mr. Reiche and some of the memories they had made with him.

Then we all dug in.  The rest of the evening was spent in delightful fellowship, talking, laughing, playing.  

And eating dessert!  We had "make-your-own" Strawberry shortcake, and a chocolate cake decorated with a license plate (another one of the items that Mr. Reiche collects)  We are ever grateful for Mr. Reiche and how he is always ready to go together with us, and pray that we might have many more multiples of 5 years to do things together.
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Here is a picture of the cake before it was cut, taken by my dear friend Megan, as I wasn't around at the time.

~Chs

Flora and Fauna Fotos

 As spring progresses the flowers and wildlife become more and more abundant.  I thought I would share some of my nature photos with you.  I hope you enjoy!!

The Orioles have come in force, we might even have a pair nesting in the maple tree out back.

 We have at least four to six Robins' nest all around our property.  This particular one we found once the eggs had already hatched.  They went from above to...

this!  Two of them fledged one evening leaving this last baby in full possession of the nest.

The next morning he too headed off for his own adventures.

Another Robin couple made a nest in our pine trees out back, and have three beautiful blue eggs residing in the structure right now.

 Blue skies and Dandelion fluff.  :)  

 Josiah now is a collector of wild flowers, and he can identify almost any Michigan wildflower in our area.  If he doesn't know it, you will be sure he will before 24 hours is up.  He dug up these gorgeous wild geraniums from the side of the road and transplanted them into the glade out back.

 A beautiful blue butterfly.

 Sadie Rose loves to chase after lids/frisbees (which we call "rabbits"); she will do it for hours!!

 This duck nest was found in our neighbor's field; there were 11 eggs all crowded in a cozy nest.  A couple of days ago when I went to check on it again, the ducklings had hatched and left already!

 One of my favorite wildflowers of this season (and I use the term "favorite" loosely because I have MANY!) has to be the Dame Rocket.  

 You will see it flowering in profusion along the road side, spreading its purple and cream beauty all about it. 

 There is a particularly gorgeous patch beside the Pregnancy Resource Center where we volunteer, and so last time we were there I had to go out and take pictures of it.  Multitudes of pictures.

 Of course a bouquet came home with us as well. :)

 Our front flower bed has done wonderfully this spring, most of the flowers came back from last year and have multiplied themselves.

 Our poppies, which we were very surprised survived transplanting last year, have bloomed and faded, as have the Lilly of the valley.

Right now the Columbines are dominating the front flower bed.  We have ruffled ones, plain ones, pink ones,

and Faith's special pride and joy, her long spurred Columbine!

 The other night I was out taking shots of the flowers, and I was just about to click the shutter on this one columbine when the most darling bumble bee landed on it!!!!  I LOVE when things like that happen. :)

 Out back the Blackberry bushes are in full bloom (much more so than in the above pictures which was taken a few days ago). We are delighted and are looking forward to piles of blackberries come late summer. 

In the garden there are flowers too.  Chives.  Chives in abundance.  So many Chives we are giving them away.  As many as you like! 

 But they are pretty flowers and the bees love them.

 Some one gave us a huge bouquet of these lovely lilies and they have lasted for a week now, beautifying are dining room table.

 The mallow came back this year, spreading throughout the bed, and brightening the landscape.

 And to end this rather lengthy picture post, here is a full view of the front section of the flower bed.  So many things have been happening around here, and if nothing else happens I promise to post soon about the things that already have, but I have a feeling that is a false hope! :)

~Chs

Early Garden Work

 This last couple weeks we have been very busy with a variety of projects and events, including but not limited to: attending a wedding, Faith, and I (separately) spending a few days with our Aunt Carmen after her knee surgery, all our normal volunteering, and last but not least preparing for a surprise party (which I will be sure to tell you about in detail later).  But somewhere between all our scheduling we were able to work on some gardening.  

 Faith had started a half dozen or so early tomatoes as an experiment, so two weeks ago, not without some trepidation, Faith planted them in the garden.

 There were a few nights when we had to cover them, but they managed quite well, and I would say the experiment was a success, because we now have tomato plants which are already flowering in the garden!  (now to just plant the other 100 or so tomatoes :)

 Over in the strawberry patch things are coming along nicely, and there are bunches upon bunches of little thumbnail size green strawberries which are continually growing and just barely beginning to get a pinkish cast.

 Back in the big garden the lettuce is coming along nicely, as are the peas, and...

 the radishes.  We really don't eat radishes very much, but they grow so quickly and are so cheery and bright that we just can't help but plant them!

 Now all the beds are cleared in the garden, and this past week we planted pole beans, bush beans, carrots, and beets, and in the garden patch out back there are potatoes growing, and three rows of corn planted.

We are very thankful for the garden that God has allowed us to have, and are trying our best to use the time that we have wisely so that we can keep up the yard work as well as enjoy life and help others.  Sometimes we wish there were more hours in the day, and then other times....

~Chs

Triplets!!!

On Tuesday, May 8th, after a few days of watching and waiting, our Nubian goat kidded. (for those of you who do not know goat terminology, this just means that she had her babies, it does not mean she told a joke :)

Since this was her first time, we expected only one kid, but because of her size, we were hoping for two...... We did NOT expect THREE!!!

That is correct. After minimal labor Java popped out one beautiful dark brown headed darling girl. Then, not even a minute later another girl, this one with gorgeous butterscotch colored, long delicate ears entered the world.

It was nearly 10 minutes later when the third kid came.  A very large, very adorable boy.

So now we are the extremely proud owners of three adorable kids.  

The happy family of four.

The babies are ever so healthy and energetic, even more so now than when these pictures were taken,

And Java, despite our forebodings, has turned out to be a wonderful mother.  I love her low voiced little momma nicker.

The triplets are now a week old, and they are bouncing around like crazy, especially since Puella has officially transferred back to live with the big goats.  She eggs them on, and seems particularly fascinated with the little boy.  Those two are butting heads almost constantly!

We are very grateful to God for the easy and healthy birth of Java's kids, and are constantly asking for wisdom, as our "little farm" becomes bigger, and bigger, and bigger......

~Chs