Barn Charm #25

I still have more barns left to show

from that drive on Rt. 40 East from Dayton, Ohio.

I hope to get out on the back roads around my small town

and take more photos of local barns.

I love this hilly terrain--the foothills of the Appalachian Mts.

The barns and farms that I have been showing are certainly nice;

I just miss the quirkiness required to build a barn into a steep hillside.

I was several fields over on a side road that bordered

one side of the property,

when I took these photos.

I didn't have my camera, so I don't think these photos are my best.

I took a photo of the cows that would have been wonderful on my camera,

but they looked cartoonish with my husband's old one.

So you don't get to see the cows.  Sorry.

For more barns click below for Tricia's site.

The One who holds it all together

Dear Lord,

I cannot hold everything in my life together

and keep it from spinning out of control.

our Word says that You have the power

to hold all things together,

so I'm putting it all in Your hands.

Amen.

by Sandy Lynam Clough

He was before all else began

and it is His power

that holdS everything together.

COLOSSIANS 1: 17 TLB

It was a tough week,

but I am okay.

Praying for a better one.

Blessings to you all as you begin the new week!

Mother and Daughter

These were taken the day after Christmas.

My daughter Sara and her family had come back over for another visit

before they went back to Texas on Tuesday, the next day.

I got the privilege of giving Abigail her bath.

She did well,

but there came a time when she wanted her mama.

She had recently learned to clap

and was quite pleased with the action.

Abby does not sit still for long if not fastened into a high chair or car seat.

She loves to explore.

She smiles readily for Grandma and her camera.

Actually, she smiles for any camera.

I love her feet sticking out of her jeans

and just an ear, a patch of hair, and a touch of face showing.

My husband Mike, son-in-law Jory, and two-year-old grandson Aaron,

and I had gone outside.

While we were out, Sara rocked Abby to sleep.

I very quietly snuck a picture.

Having a mother who loved me deeply and sensed when something was amiss,

having a daughter with whom I am like my mother in the above sense,

and seeing the love evident in this next generational relationship,

I find truth in the following quote:

A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart. ~Author Unknown

 

I love the way this photo came out--the softness especially.

I think the following quote fits nicely here.

The best conversations with mothers always take place in silence, when only the heart speaks.                                                  

                                                              Carrie Latet

Abigail Elizabeth has inherited gorgeous blue eyes from her paternal grandmother, Kim.

Kim is blond. 

Abigail has light-brown hair.

That makes these incredible, blue eyes even more startling.

I cannot take credit for this photo; a friend of theirs took it for them.

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.

Author Unknown

Thinking of my mother, my daughter,

and my granddaughter and grateful for all three.

Blessings to you as you finish up your weekend.

 

Corner View: Black and White

Here are two of my favorite examples of black and white.

George is now nine years old in people years.

Tasha has been gone eight years now.

One of the top priorities when we get the next home

is to rescue another dog like I did Tasha--actually two.

By the way, Tasha was named after one of my favorite illustrators: Tasha Tudor.

For more corner views check out Francesca's Fuoriborgo.

(Francesca's is a bit unusual this time esp. for this Ohian.)

Peeking out

Just as George is peeking around the corner,

I am checking out what's out there for me:

changes in curriculum;

looking at house plans;

knowing I need to progress with my other blog--

---the one on chronic illness;

figuring out what to do with this blog;

contemplating Face book so I can see pics of my Ohio grandkids;

To Kill a Mockingbird or Lord of the Flies for advanced freshmen English;

writing some letters--what to say.

So much to decide.

I made the decision for George:

he is not an outdoor cat, so I called him back inside.

But I also have someone looking out for me--

--actually three: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Blessings.

(I'm enjoying our day off from school.)

Corner View: Ring out the Old; Ring in the New

These are some of the shelves in the library at the school where I teach.

The library is small, our funds are limited, and some of the shelves sparse.

However, we have a super librarian who stretches her dollars well.

She also can order from other libraries most any book  a student or teacher wants.

I check out most of my books from my small town library.

I carry a tote in and lug it out full of books.

I have resisted a Kindle or Nook,

because I wanted the feel of paper under my hands.

But during this past holiday's shopping trips

when I would take a break and sit,

I would think how nice it would be to have a Kindle,

because it would fit in my purse.

The book I was reading at the time was big and heavy

and thus waited in the car for me.

 I thought my husband would laugh and tease me

if I asked for one for Christmas (not maliciously).

I'm not the brightest bulb when it comes to technology,

so I thought he would raise an eyebrow 

since I've yet to master all the apps on my phone

or figure out every little detail of my camera.

Alas, he surprised me.

Totally.

A mutual friend, who was a 'diehard' book fan,

succumbed to the Kindle and loves it.

His wife used his, loved it, and got herself one.

If voracious reader Leo prefers a kindle over a hardback,

well, that was enough for Mike.

I was puzzled at the wrapped package,

then dumbstruck,

then thrilled.

He bought an attractive cover for it.

Now, I will not be needing to head up to the library check out counter.

Of course there will be those books that I will want to write in and cherish,

such as Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts,

so Barnes and Noble will still get some business from me.

But for the most part when it comes to reading novels,

it's out with the old and in with the new.

For more on this theme, check out Francesca's.

Thanks Renee, for the topic.

Barn Charm #24

Here is another Mail Pouch barn

that we found on our drive from Dayton.

I took the photos from across the road.

The light wasn't the best

and I was using my husband's old camera;

I had let the battery run down on mine.

But I think you can still see some of its charm.

As you can see, it has several out-buildings on the slight slope behind it,

and there is a road running from Rt. 40 up into the farm.

It was probably there before Rt. 40 was built.

I wonder what the owners thought of the 'new highway' being built

so close to their barn.

They probably 'lost' some land in the deal.

For more barns, click below:

Some Emerson wisdom

From our Ireland photos archives:

in the Conemara region

WHAT LIES BEHIND YOU

AND WHAT LIES BEFORE YOU

ARE TINY MATTERS COMPARED

TO

WHAT LIES WITHIN YOU.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Blessings.

Barn Charm #23

We discovered this barn on that trip from Dayton, Ohio on Rt. 40.

It was off the road and down a hill,

but I was still able to get some good shots

from where we were able to park.

My husband got a kick out of the advertisement for Mail Pouch

being on top of one for Red Man tobacco.

Both ads are old,

but the Mail Pouch one is still in good shape.

Off to the side of this barn were these barns (one is most likely a shed).

My zoom captured a glimpse of them.

Nature is taking over these buildings

and reaching them would be a tough hike in unknown territory.

I passed on that challenge. 

For more barn charm, click on below.

Recap of Favorite 2011 photos

I took an idea from Mari and adapted it for me.

I chose a favorite photo from posts of each month,

featured them, and wrote a little something about them.

Here is the recap of  favorite photos from my 2011 posts:

January

This is the door to a shed/garage on my husband's aunt's property.

I like the texture of the wood and the rusted hinge.

I like how the neutrals blend yet hold their own.

February

The park lake/reservoir: you can glimpse the ice through the trees.

I like the 'peek-a-boo' effect.

March

Although this was taken several years ago, I featured it in a March post.

I think it is Ash Cave. I know it is from Hocking Hills in southeastern Ohio.

April

I was exploring the exceptionally early Lily leaves with my new camera,

and discovered a spider and a lightening bug fighting.

I am not sure of the outcome, but I would bet on the spider.

May

This was for a "Corner View."

It's one of the bulletin board displays in a teacher friend's room.

June

I love this snapshot of love in action: my husband building me the low wall

that I wanted beside the back walkway.

July

They came in June: my daughter, her husband, son, and daughter.

However, I posted this photo in July.

This was actually my daughter's second visit close on the heels of the first,

and Mike and I got to babysit two-year-old Aaron and four-month-old Abigail'

while Sara 'trouble-shooted' at the family company.

This was the first we had seen Abigail.

I love her blue eyes and her attentiveness.

August

George claimed my slip-ons after I had been out watering the plants.

They smelled of all sorts of plants, bugs, earth, --all scents he adores.

September

This is the display two students and I put up for

the ten year anniversary of  the September 11th terrorism.

October

This is one side of my front porch which is decorated for

the annual Pumpkin Festival.

November

This is the park lake/reservoir again;

this time most of the leaves have turned although not all have fallen.

December

I featured this quite recently.

We had not seen Abigail, Aaron, and their parents since June.

My, how she has grown!

I love this photo of her sound asleep in her Uncle Doug's arms.

I have some thoughts about the new year

that is now on its second day.

But I will save them for later.

There is much to do on this last day of holiday break!

School resumes tomorrow.

Blessings!

Family Christmas Review

Sara, her husband Jory, and her two children arrived first.  They wanted to get two-year-old Aaron down for a nap before my son's 'crew' arrived.

Here is Sara with Abby.  They wanted Abby to take a nap also, but held out little hope for that. (Previous blog shows how it finally did occur.)

 In a 'snug' home you improvise.  Abby had dinner in her car seat (the booster chair was at the lake place where it is most used) on top of a cooler full of pop, water, and juice.

This shows how this tiny house managed five adults and five children for a holiday dinner on Christmas eve.
From bottom left clockwise: Aaron, Jory, Peyton is hidden, Mike, Doug, and Addy. Peyton is Doug's 8-yr.-old and Addy is his 4-yr.-old. My seat was between Jory and Peyton.

 Here shows the opposite end.  We moved out the recliner from 'my grading corner' and expanded the table with two leaves.

Doug, Addy, Dillon-his 6-yr.-old, Sara, Abby hidden on the cooler beside Sara, Aaron, and Jory. 

I did not get fancy.  The pots went directly from stove to table. Paper plates were used as well as a paper tablecloth.  The whole idea was for me to be able to relax and enjoy being a part of the celebration with little clean-up required.  It was a success!




                 This photo documents a momentous occasion! Aaron got to eat a cookie. 
   He has not had dessert except for a tiny taste at his birthday party and once when his Uncle Doug
        (visiting them in Texas)gave him some Reese cups not realizing he wasn't supposed to.

 Here Aaron watched his cousins grab cookies, then he chose one, held it up, and asked, "What's this?"
                             We laughed and told him it was a cookie. 
              His parents allowed him to eat it and a Buckeye (an Ohio favorite).

This is the living room before all the presents were open.  Mike and Jory moved the couch against the fireplace so we would have room for everyone.

 Each child took a turn at opening a present beginning with the oldest then going clockwise:Peyton, Addy, Dillon,  Aaron, and  Abby.

Aaron's big present from us was a Tonka bulldozer complete with movement and sound.

 Uncle Doug was a favorite go-to person for both Aaron and Abby.  Aaron took the truck to Uncle D. to open for him. (Of course Daddy was video-taping it all, so his hands were full).

This is the big moment for Doug's kids.  They were to open their big present at once.

I had ordered a twin fleece blanket made for each of them in a favorite patten.

A lady at the Barnesville Farmer's Market makes them

and she had waited and bought the copyrighted material when it was on sale.

She then made one for each of Doug's kids and his step-son.

His kids like to wrap up in regular blankets to watch TV.

Peyton has been using a queen-size one

that I had given them when Doug set up his own household.

I tied the string a little too tight, so Peyton was the first to get hers out

(with my help).

It has peace signs and hearts on it in several pink shades, and lavender, and blue.

                                                 Dillon's is from the Cars movie.

Addy's is of Disney's princesses.

Dillon pulled his over his head. 
Each one has a solid fleece background sewn onto the back of the print.
The lady does an excellent job
and her blankets are a popular item especially at her Pumpkin Festival booth.

Not shown is Colton's Ohio State one.
Doug's stepson was unable to be there.

 Peyton wasted no time wrapping up in hers. Addy draped hers over her legs.
 Aaron came over to touch and admire Dillon's.

This is after all the children's presents had been opened

and before the paper was picked up.

Aaron found a free corner and proceeded to play quietly with his new toy.

This is a view from the front of the house and front part of the  living room

towards the back and the dining room.

The couch is normally facing this way.

Mike is opening a present from Doug, his girlfriend, and his kids

                               Here Doug has taken on the challenge of rocking Abby to sleep. 
                                He is determined to succeed and show off his prowess at this.
                                             He did succeed as my previous post showed.

                    That's a recap of our Christmas Eve celebration with my kids and our grandkids.
                    It was hectic, chaotic,and truly wonderful and we all were blessed to be together.



                                                               Tonight is New Year's Eve.
                                            May you all have a safe and happy celebration
                                       of the end of one year and the beginning of a new one.
                                                                   Blessings to you all.



                                        For last year's words belong to last year's language
                                            And next year's words await another voice.
                                             And to make an end is to make a beginning.


                                                         ~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"



We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential.
                                                                 ~Ellen Goodman