March Snowfall

 

Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow!

That song is running through my head ever since I woke to a beautiful blanket of white snow. 

I sent the children out to play because I know spring is coming soon!  

 

Finishing touches

 

 

Just chatting (and eating a little snow too :))  So fun to have a cousin spending the rest of the week with us. 

 

We had the privilege of visiting beautiful Florida the last couple of weeks (and maybe I will get some pictures posted?!), so this temperature sure is a change for us.  I think the days of 80 degrees and sunshine were just enough to help me make it through until it warms up here!

 



Around the Yard

Little man peering through our fence around the {very weedy!} garden.  We had to put up this fence to keep out our hens.  They apparently like asparagus as much as we do!  We will have a gate so they can get in when WE want them too! 

The hens. 

Some of them are molting, so they look a little bedraggled these days.  We are planning on getting some new chicks next week. 

Our third year rhubarb.  Hopefully we can pick as much as we like this year.  We did snag a little for a teeny rhubarb crisp last night.  Everyone got just a little helping.  Oh, it was so yummy!

Blue colored treasure I found in the chicken house!

Blooms on the strawberries already.  I'm not sure how long from bloom to berry...but my mouth waters just thinking of frest strawberries.  Even though picking them makes me itch..itch..itch!

And last but not least...asparagus.  This is only the second year for our asparagus, so we've only been able to pick a few of the bigger spears.  We all {well, most!}  like it, so it gets gobbled up quickly!  I found directions to roast it with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese.  Very easy and saves trying to stir fry it and keep it the perfect doneness all at the last minute.

And that is what all is going on in our backyard!

Chugga Choo-Choo

You probably didn't know we had a train track running through our backyard, did you?

A Weekend Away

Remember this place?
We just can't stay away!

We spent a SCORCHING weekend with our cousins/friends...the little air conditioner and fan sure were appreciated!

...ditto on the pond...

I'm not sure how many times he jumped..but by the end of the weekend he was diving/flipping off of the dock. Swimming lessons sure helped him this year!

Thanks guys for sharing your vacation spot!

Campin' Out

Not sure their camping gear is enough for extreme conditions...thankfully we had a beautiful night this weekend. They begged, I gave in, they stayed out all night.

~My campers~

I don't know when my two oldest got big enough to camp out in the backyard alone. Maybe it happened the last time I blinked. sigh. My children are growing up.

Fourth Fun

{Exploring the woods along "grandpa's" river}

{Who knows how many Oreo's}

{Sparklers that grandma found tucked away in the cupboard}

{..and a picture of the box they came in...just cause I thought they were neat!}

{Croquet}

{Lots of bubbles with the cousins}

We had an old-fashioned picnic down by the river. Fried Chicken..Potato Salad..Watermelon..and Brownies.

We did go into town to watch fireworks. No camera, No pictures!

In The Hills of West Virginia...

We made a quick trip out of town for a dear aunts funeral. On the way home through West Virginia, we stopped at a Blueberry Farm.

We were here once before {5 or so years ago!} on the way home from a family reunion. We have good memories of stopping with my husbands family and spending a couple of hours picking berries. Since it's blueberry time in West Va...we decided to continue the memories.

I think she's in her own imaginary world, probably pretending she's from long-ago times...finding berries in the woods!

We came home with 12# of these beautiful, yummy blueberries! There is something rewarding about picking fruit....somehow the memories return when you're eating the fruit in the middle of the winter while the snow flies! {that is, if any make it to the freezer before being eaten by my hungry boys!}

As we were leaving, the owner asked if we liked peaches. Her neighbor had picked them and she didn't know what to do with them all. My husband laughed and told her "My wife would never turn down a gift of fresh, homegrown fruit!" {He knows me well!}

Snow Fort

We have had inch after inch after inch of snow the last 2-3 weeks. In all the hubub of pregnancy and new baby, I haven't gotten any pictures posted. The snow is melting quickly away...amazing what a little bit of rain and now temps around 40 will do.

She worked for hours on the walls...yes, hours! One day she was out from 2 till 7...with only a quick bathroom break. And then we had to finally say it was time to come in for supper and bedtime.

{yes, these were taken through a screen...lazy me!}

This is what it looked like the night before it got rained on.......

Room for the cousins too! yes, my children normally wear coats...they ran out to catch a picture as their cousins were leaving. I thought they were shoeless too, but they somehow managed to each find some shoes on their way running out the door!

Frosty The Snowman

We got our first snow on Friday night/Saturday morn...our children were beyond excited to have snow when they woke up! They pulled on their snow things over their jammies and headed out!

Who needs hills when you have a big brother to pull you around?

The beginning of Frosty...

She was a careful crafter!

Soon after they finished we needed to leave for a family Christmas. By the time we pulled out, Frosty had already fallen apart! But we have the memories :)

R&R and A Few Chigger Bites!

We were blessed to be able to spend a long weekend with my family. We stayed in some very nice, clean cabins (with A/C!)

Our Cabin - The Pioneer

Gathering around the map to try to help the late-er comers find their way. In the end, we weren't much help....this time the gps was better! The cabins are way back in and can be tricky to find!

Lots of canoe rides were taken on the private pond...thanks uncle and grandpa!

The girls hangin' out on the rafts...catching some rays!

Jump!

This is where the little boys spent the weekend...dumping sand into the water :)

We had a fun weekend together...lots of eating, swimming and R&R. If you ever need a relaxing getaway...I can give you a phone# and directions. This is our 3rd time to visit and we hope to be able to go again sometime!

Family Campout

We went camping this past weekend ... and had the opportunity to do lots of fun things!

Using our Christmas gift tent.

A Birthday hat contest...competing for a Marion's gift certificate.

Lots of bike riding.

S'mores! Yum. Yum!

Plenty of snoozing.



Multiple trips to the pool.

Fun with cousins in the sandbox.

God Food

We had the privilege (and yes, it's work...but a privilege!) of picking raspberries last evening. It was a nice cool evening and we had the company of great friends.

BigM picking away...by the looks of his mouth when he finished, I think he may have sampled a few!?!

Doesn't she look like she's having fun? You could visit her blog and tell her how much you liked her picture!

Definitely not a clean job!

L had the camera and took most of the pictures. I had to include this not-so-flattering photo to prove that I at least picked one berry!

The berries we brought home! I know these will taste so yummy this winter. Smoothies...cobblers...on ice cream...on oatmeal..! I'm thankful that I was able to pick some. I just couldn't make up my mind about going because I felt busy...now I'm so glad that I took the time.

And of course, it only seems fitting to make a spiritual application (don't bloggers seem to do that? :))

As much as I desired the natural fruit, I should so much more desire to let the Spirit produce these fruits in me: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

I don't quite know how to explain it. But I do know that I'm learning that I can't muster up enough gumption to produce ANY of these fruits on my own. It is only Christ in me. My righteousness is as filthy rags.