Barn Charm # 7

I pass this 'farm' every time I go to our place at Seneca Lake

here in southeastern Ohio.

The first photo shows you the old barn, out buildings,

and the old house.

All are abandoned.

Here's a close-up of the barn with its out buildings.

Two slightly different perspectives of the same barn.

Here is a photo of the old farm house.

Here is the 'new' farm house.

These smaller sheds/buildings look to be in use---

well---maybe.

Finally a view looking back at it.

You can see the driveway between the two houses.

There are cows there, so someone is still doing something

(if that makes any sense).

Part taken in July and the rest in August of 2011.

Barn Charm

Change and Patience with the Scripture of the Week

 It has been a long weekend.  Mike and I
had three of the grandchildren Friday night
at the lake.  Doug picked them up Sat. morn.

It was decided then that Doug would bring the
kids to our Barnesville home around 5.  While
I watched the kids and fixed supper, Doug and
Mike would load some of our furniture into
a covered trailer for Doug to take back to his
new home in Cambridge. 

School starts for Cambridge in two weeks,
so Doug is working against the clock to get
this house ready.

The above pic is half of his back yard at his cottage
at the lake. It is quite tiny.

The pic to the right shows the kitchen in the cabin.

The picture below shows the eating area, the living
room, a peek of the 'master' bedroom, and the door
to the bathroom.  There is one other bedroom to
the right of the bathroom door.  The 3 youngest kids sleep in it with Colton sleeping on the couch in the living room (his choice).

This was fine as long as it was Mindy and Doug's summer cabin.

The size and set-up became a problem when
this cottage became Doug's home with Mindy
getting the 9 room farmhouse with 3 baths and
a 3 car garage on an acre of land.

 He's not contesting that.  He hated it when
his dad and I sold the home he grew up in
as part of a solution after our divorce. 
He does not want his kids to lose their home.

This is the kitchen (done in late 60s or
early 70s style) in the new house. 
His dad and step-mom bought it
as an investment.
His rent will go towards the buying of it or
if on down the road he decides he doesn't
want to buy it, they will 'flip it'.

He made a tough decision that was at least
two years in the making (the problems have
been longer).  Yes, they went to marriage counseling at his insistence.  But it takes two
to save a marriage and he finally concluded he
was the only one who wanted to.

To the right is the table area of the kitchen.  Right
now he's using our card table and folding chairs.

The ladders are there as part of the painting crew
(his step-mom, her sisters, and him) and the cleaning
crew (him and me).

This is the living room with the dining area to the left of that high window.  The floor is still covered with the matting.  The carpet was removed.  The hardwood floors are in great shape and will be revealed soon

now that the painting is done.

 This is a shot from the front of the living room
looking back into a family room that he is making
into a master bedroom with a connection to
the laundry room and small bathroom that are
on the other side of the left wall of that room.
That opening is the door into the kitchen.

                                               Below is part of the completely painted living room.
                                     Our dining room table and chairs now sit under that chandelier.

This is his bedroom now.  The paneling will be painted white and the youngest, Addy, will call
it her room.  She is presently sharing a bedroom
with her older sis.

This will be Doug's bedroom.  That side door will be removed.and a wall will be built between

that room and the living room. 

This is the mudroom/laundry room with the door on the right opening to a small bathroom that

contains a corner shower.

Here are Mike and Doug loading our extra set of washer and dryer from our Cincinnati home.

This was done earlier in the week.

I wasn't able to get pics of the furniture loading process.

                                              His new backyard taken from the far end.

His new home. 

This house sat empty for a year. 

 It needs a boatload of work inside and out.

It has to have a new roof immediately (leaks noticeably).

Eventually a new furnace/air conditioner will need to be purchased).

The old deck in back had to be torn up first thing

because it was a hazard to the kids.

I could go on.

But the house has great bones

and it was a bargain price.

Mike and I wish we could find something comparable here.

Still, I think Doug was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed especially

when he priced furniture.

But he sent a pic via his phone Sunday morning.

It shows our dining room set, our couch and love seat,

my parents' end tables, and my mom's recliner

in that L-shaped living/dining room.

He texted his thanks and that he was finally feeling

like he had a home.

He has a long road.ahead. 

She's angry.

She wants him to come back and go on the way they had been.

He can no longer live that way.

I carefully wrote the above because I needed to put order

to at least some of what's swirling around

in this mother's mind and heart.

Plus this gives far-away family an update on his living situation.

As for how I feel about divorce, that may be for another post some day.

I have learned that 'sticking it out' for the kids' sake,

as my parents' generation did,

isn't always the best for the kids or anyone else.

Scripture of the Week

(at the beginning of a new week)

I WAITED patiently and expectantly for the Lord;

and He inclined to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it,

and the patient in spirit is better

than the proud in spirit.

Ecclesiastes 7:8

[I will be full of joy now!]

I will exult and triumph in my troubles

and rejoice in my sufferings,

knowing that pressure and affliction

and hardship

produce patient and unswerving endurance.

And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character

(approved faith and tried integrity).

And character [of this sort] produces

[the habit of]

joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

Romans 5: 3-4

I will not lose heart and grow weary and faint

in acting nobly and doing right,

for in due time and at the appointed season

I will reap,

if I do not loosen and relax my courage

and faint.

Galatians 6:9

I will be happy when the way is rough,

because it gives my patience a chance to grow.

So I will let it grow,

and not try to squirm out of my problems.

For when my patience is finally in full bloom,

then I will be ready for anything,

strong in character, full and complete.

James 1: 2-4

Blessings.

Reaching out. . .

I guess when these lilies reach out to us, we should be careful how we respond!

Note below:

Question:
Does anyone know how to get a stain out caused by that red stuff on the end of a lily stamen? I brought a bouquet home from work and now I have terrible red stains on the front of a pink cotton sweater.

Answers:
The pollen problem
Some consumers dislike lilies because pollen on the lilies’ anthers rubs off easily and can stain clothing. Florists can either remove the anthers as the blooms open or spray the anthers with a fresh flower sealer or fixative.
Following are tips for removing pollen from clothing.


1. Do not brush the pollen away with your hands; oils from your skin will set the stain.

2. Let the pollen "dry," then carefully brush it away with a dry, soft brush, chenille stem, or facial tissue. Adhesive tape also works well; gently dab pieces of tape on the fabric until the pollen is gone. Do not use water or a wet cloth; this will spread and set the stain.


3.If some pollen remains after completing these procedures, place the item in direct sunlight for a few hours; the stain should "magically" disappear.


4. Pollen stains can often be removed from washable fabrics by pretreating them with an enzymatic detergent such as Era.
The International Flower Bulb Centre


What about Pollen Stains?
Be mindful of pollen. If you remove all the pollen-bearing anthers just as the buds begin to open, your flowers will last longer, and pollen cannot stain tablecloths, or your guest's nose.
Should pollen brush upon clothing, it can stain if not treated correctly. Resist the temptation to mearly brush it off with your hands, for the natural oil on your hands will spread, and set the color. Simply use a medium stiff hairbrush, and if the pollen grains have not been smeared, you can safely knock them off. If noticed too late, use a washday pre-treatment before laundering, and hang the freshly washed clothing in bright sun for several hours, which usually bleaches any remaining color.
Snow Creek Gardens


Other sites suggested using scotch tape, and/or a vacuum cleaner nozzle over the pollen to "lift" the pollen off.
Whatever you choose, they all warned against our natural instinct to immediately attempt to rub or brush the pollen off!
I work in a flower shop where we routinely remove this pollen as soon as the lily opens. When we get on clothing, we use Shout or something similar to get off clothing. I agree that you do not try to brush off. It only makes it worse. Also, if the pollen is pulled off as soon as the lily opens, it should be "firm" or not fuzzy and there will be little or no "fuzzy" stuff to get on hands or clothing.

(These and more are found here)


I didn't realize the pollen could be such a problem.  I did get some on me, but it was an old, stained, garden work t-shirt, so I didn't care. 
Happy Friday!  (I am getting that basement clean, honest!  See previous post)

Ruffles Made by Nature

A sample of a few of my lilies from my side yard.

When playing around with this post

(I wanted to feature my lilies a bit unconventionally),

a saying started sashaying through my mind--

you know--- the kind that drives you a little nutty.

Well, I thought it was "Ruffles with Ridges,"

and that it was a slogan for RUFFLES potato chips.

Nothing would do, but that I look it up--

whatever did we do before Google?!

I found a bunch of sites--some strange ones--

but the following is what I stuck with.

It's by Frito Lay for their now famous RUFFLES potato chips:

"Chip lovers have come to know that “R R R Ruffles Have Ridges!” The thick ridges of RUFFLES® Potato Chips help hold more great potato chip flavors and stand up to the thickest dips."

I wonder if this applies to flowers---Do the ridges in the lily petals have a flavor or smell distinction?
Hmmm. Perhaps another google search for another time.

Can you tell that I don't want to go clean the basement?!!!

Corner View: Trios

A trio.

Three best friends who were brothers in a sense.

They were three of seven Mikes

 in a group of friends in our small town high school.

Thus, all were given nick names.

   

From front: Paul Michael --- Hoghead,

Left back corner: Kenneth Michael --- Woody,

 and

Back right corner: Robert Michael --- Orrdog (my husband)

Humor was a huge characteristic and asset for all three of them.

Each one of them could have you laughing harder

than you thought imaginable---

Together they were extraordinarily funny.

Hoghead and Orrdog still make us laugh.

We lost Woody about five years ago to liver cancer.

These two photos were taken at a mall where we met up.

It was a half-way point for Hoghead, Orrdog, and me

 from this end of Ohio

and Woody and wife Susan from up near Akron, Ohio.

(Hoghead's wife Gretchen couldn't make it that night.)

It was the last time we all got together.

We all have wonderful memories of this terrific guy,

and Hoghead and Orrdog can still tell great stories

of this trio's antics.

Trios:

Three men who have Michael as their middle name,

with its shortened form of 'Mike' as the name they go by.

All three have unique nicknames.

All three considered each other as a brother.

Join Francesca and others for more Corner View

interpretations of the theme Trios.

Barn Charm Southeastern Ohio Style

Last week I featured my husband's mother's family farm.

This week I'm featuring his cousin's farm (at least the barn part).

Her mother and Mike's mother are sisters.

Denise (the cousin) married into a farming family.

She and her husband took over the farm

from his parents

and are raising their children there.

Both girls have been active in 4-H

each year showing pigs at the Belmont County Fair.

Denise and her husband have full-time jobs elsewhere,

so the farm is not fully operational.

But they have kept up the century old farm house

and still do some minimal farming.

We were there a month ago for a family get-together.

I wondered off with my camera.

The following pics are what I took

before my camera told me

I'd reached my max of pictures.

(I had it on a too high setting and that cut my amount down).

Front View:

In the next photo you can glimpse at least one of the 4-H pigs.

This shows the barn from one side.

Below are certain features that 'caught my eye'.

I couldn't get a photo of another older building because my camera quit.

However, I did get one shot of the view behind the barn.

So peaceful.

For other barns check out Barn Charm

.

More Butterfly Pics and Psalms of the Week

This little guy is so busy at work

that I doubt he knows I'm taking his picture.

As for you, you will have to stare hard and close to

really see him.

He's a little bit clearer here,

because

he's not completely up in the flower

Though he's even clearer, he's going to almost disappear again.

In the next photos he's fluttering in a frenzy.

He flew to one bud, then to another,

and then back to the first.

He'd be there seconds only,

then he'd flit between several more blooms,

until he would finally choose one.

Sometimes he'd do acrobatics in the air,

swooping away,

then circling back.

(My camera didn't catch those moments.)

The next series shows him working on the purple blossoms.

His actions are more obvious,

because he doesn't have to scootch into the blossom

to extract what he wants.

I thought about this little guy as I read my devotions

and particularly Psalms.

I thought about myself and the parallels

between this butterfly

and me.

I get absorbed in something to the point

that I can't focus on anything else.

I 'scootch' all up into the task

and not only do I lose sight of others,

but I seem to disappear from their sight too.

Is that good?  Is it bad? 

Can it even be labeled?

Should it be labeled?

Sometimes it seems to me that

the problem lies in the accomplished work

 not being obvious to others.

I can clean out some draws in the dining room,

pay bills,

file the paid bills,

sort through misc. papers,

organize school work,

etc.

and accomplish a lot.

But when I'm doing it,

the work isn't obvious

and unless you look through the drawers and files,

you can't see the end result.

Do you have those days when you've really worked,

but it doesn't show?

Other times I flit from task to task

and can't settle on one.

I'm in a tizzy and the day goes by

and I wonder where it went.

Do you have those kind of days?

Then there are the days where I'm visibly working.

Harder physical labor:

lifting boxes;

wrapping fragile items and tucking them safely away

in sturdy containers;

sorting, folding, and placing clothes neatly in big containers

 labeled spring and summer or fall and winter,

and stacking the containers under the basement steps.

There is also the filling of boxes for St. Vincent and Paul's thrift store;

and then

lugging other stuff to the big trash unit across the alley.

When I work in the basement, the difference is obvious.

I'm moving about,

working up a sweat,

creating neatness out of chaos.

This work is the butterfly's purple flower.

Anyone entering the basement can see my hands in motion,

can see me bend, lift, and bend down again.

They can see that the spaces between areas have widened

 and that organization has been established. 

But---

Is one job more important than the other?

Yet---

Don't we at times judge others by what's

obvious work to us?

Hmmmm.

Psalms/Scriptures of the Week:

From The Mother's Topical Bible ,

"Your Daily Schedule" chapter,

section "When You Feel Disorganized"----

Show my thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

Psalm 25:4

I will instruct thee and teach thee

in the way which thou shalt go:

I will guide thee with mine eye.

Psalm 32:8

The following aren't from Psalms,

but they're in the same section and are relevant:

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all they ways acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5,6

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee,

saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it,

when ye turn to the right hand,

and when you turn to the left."

Isaiah 30:21

Blessings to you all!