A Fall to Cherish

 Fall has arrived!  The shakers, sweepers, and pickup machines roared in here bringing dust,the happiness of harvested almonds...and pure joy to little boys...even my 15 mo. old liked to watch!  Look - you can even see the almonds falling into the nut buggy.


With fall comes the fun of changing decorations. 

Sharon bought some "fun" pumpkin seed for us this spring.  See the fruit that come from the planting?  Beautiful blue/green pumpkins.  Thank you Sharon...Thank you David...Thank you Lord!

 So, I'll admit here that I always feel challenged when decorating.  I lack vision in this area.  I never know what I'm doing ahead of time....just kind of do it as it sort of comes.  Sometimes it stresses me a bit, b/c it's just "hard".  There are so many of you who do such a good job....my sisters...Kara, Jill (by the way, Jill, I am in total agreement with you about threads....can't stand unclipped ones!  =)  Deborah (loved her recent poetic post on wind) Melissa....what do these pictures scream to (any of) you that I need to incorporate?  Yes, I did add some small gourds to the pumpkin...I know that much (smirk)  Anyways...any advice would be lovely and much appreciated!

David's parents arrived a few days before John's 7th Birthday.  Great was the anticipation of the arrival of their vehicle....and all the cookies that came along. ;)

I love how Stephen just knows that they belong.  He's not been with them since Feb. except for a few hours in Klamath Falls this summer.

Because John's birthday was on Sunday and the family was all coming...and I know some of my limits...well, we had his birthday blueberry pancakes on Sat. the day before.  It was Sat. and my boys have some overalls that they *get* to wear on Sat.  Of course Grandpa brought his along!    We had a smashing crew that day, the house got pressure washed, gravel blown free of leaves and wetted down, and the windows were made to sparkle.  Happy smile!


Sunday - Birthday Celebration!  Since Grandpa and Grandma are here, and Aaron (whose birthday is in 3 weeks) is getting a "friends" birthday party this year, we combined their celebrations for the first time.  John got to pick the cake theme, and the birthday food.

Mary kindly read while we all wait for meatballs and mac cheese to get ready.

 He was tooo fast for mom to catch him blowing.  "TOOT, TOOT"

 One of our "requirements" is that the birthday card is read before the gift is opened.  The boys both received cowboy boots and flashlights.  Hmm...sleeping? In bed? With a flashlight?  *fun*

 Derby hats...and a watch.  Little brother has one too.  I'd better watch out, or my cousin Susanna might come steal them for a day =)

Last but not least...the "bruder" backhoe.  Has your child ever poured over the little catalogs that come with some items?  My boys brought home a Bruder catalog from Wa...and did they ever "brood" over that thing!  =)

Early the next morning, I caught my son outside looking like this.... a new mitt will do that to you.

this picture was why he was "sent" outside....I don't CARE if you don't plan to let go of the ball =) We have too many large windows in our living areas!


This made me realize that my children are growing up!  I've never seen them all playing any type of sport together, and Aaron and John were trying to teach Sarah how to catch the ball.  Makes a mother's heart kind of *sing* =)

Monday...we also did laundry...and Jon and Chris came over in the eve for supper.

 Sometime, I still want to do that comparative laundry stain remover post.  I'm working on documenting the evidence.  We are NOT in short supply of available pieces for treatment. ;)

One of Sarah and Stephen's favorite games is "Hide and Seek behind Mom's dresses"  Giggles galore and entertained children...what more could I ask for?

Not sure how I'm feeling towards my Brother and Sister-in-law.  See that multicolored object in my daughter's hand?  Her older brothers have one too.  And Stephen learned how to blow on them.....
WHISTLES!  all the way from France.  "Outside! or downstairs with the DOOR SHUT" I proclaim.  Gracious...someone has to maintain my sanity...or else!  =)  He he, who knows, maybe I'll offer $ to the first one who can make their instrument melodic?


So, we've been busy, but a good busy.  Tomato soup and shopping.  Skyping with the cousins.  And in the midst of it all, trying to tame my brain that says...I want to accomplish this...and this...and this... and this... Reality!
Limitations,
desires,
dreams,
duties.
Life is a balancing act.


And in the midst of it all, a phone call.  Reminding us that we have no promise of tomorrows.


That we must cherish the todays.


The sweet sharing between siblings, the cuddling of a sleepy 15 mo. old (LOVE!), and those ordinary goodbye kisses. 


Thought question - what are you cherishing today?

What a Corny Title - "The Corny Day"

Our first batch

So you think you're just getting into a farm/corn/garden post that will tax you not the least.  If you've read my blog before, you'll know my proclivity to try to incline you to answer my "Thought Questions" at the end of the post.  Just warning you....you may want to stop right here, close the browser and avoid thinking overmuch.




Ohh? Still reading???  Then you will be one of the ones to post an answer!!!  (smile)




One of my husbands favorite things to do is to provide us with lovely rows of delicious corn.  The challenging part is trying to "guess" when it will be ready and corresponding that guesstimate with opening up a day to process said corn.  We planted 3 crops this year.  The first one came off the weekend we went to Klamath Falls to visit A. Virginia.  So we sold it to a friend.  (Hi Jessica!)

 

The 2nd planting ripened at a fairly agreeable time - since A. Margaret was "off work" helping out after the accident, I called her, thinking she might enjoy coming.  Does she show up????? Nooooo, A. Janice comes with Grandma J. (our favorite corn cutter).  (Just kidding, A. Margaret =)) 

Now I knew how busy A.Janice was...but she said she wanted the corn for her freezer. We don't make a habit of turning away help =) We were blessed with Mom's presence - she arrived with knives, bowls and an apron. 

A little gravel doesn't hurt, right?

Now, Guess what...our 3rd planting is ready and we are going away on Thurs...so, my dear husband is going to help me process 1/2 of it tomorrow afternoon.  Shooo fly!  We are selling the rest of it, but I do believe it's all spoken for.  =) 

A. Janice entertaining Stephen

Grandma J. deftly silks our corn

I can never quite manage to get Aaron to look at the Camera

So, in case you were wondering; we planted Bodacious - a yellow sweet corn we've been partial to for quite a few years.  However, for our 3rd planting we planted Silver Queen, a white corn that is 15 days faster to harvest.  We ate some yesterday.  It's good, with a shallower kernel, but not quite as sweet as Bodacious.  As with life...plenty of pros and cons! 

Now for a kernel of Truth from this Corn centered post. God always provides.  We read tonight in devotions how the Israelites had manna given unto them until they entered Canaan and started eating the old corn. I'm pretty sure they were extremely HAPPY to be eating old corn instead of the manna they had been ingesting for their entire life.  There are many things that are hard to comprehend about the Isrealites' experiences from Egypt to Canaan and settling there.  We have almost no clue what life like that was like.  But we do know the Kernal of Wisdom to be true.  GOD PROVIDES.

Here is your thought question requiring brave answers
"What is one way GOD HAS PROVIDED for you?" - even if it's old cornish

Family - Always important...but sometimes they leap the the top of Everything

We all value our family.  We would all say that they are important, and that we love them.  Yet when one member has a close brush with death...why does their perceived value escalate sharply in our minds?  There is your thought question for the day.  Remember, I don't want to lecture, a conversation is sooo much better.  And...a conversation doesn't happen unless you comment.  There...now you know how I feel about all those unexplained page views.  I have a stats board, people, I see the numbers  =)

As you probably know...I reside in a wonderful and quite unique family.  My paternal family all lives out of state.  They are wonderful.  I love them, but when you are out of state, you only spend so much time together.  Especially when plane tickets are (almost) required.  So I grew up more influenced by my maternal family.  My maternal grandfather died when I was 7.  Thankfully, even though I have a legendarily poor memory, I do remember him.  I remember his state-of-the-art-quite-small-MSDOS computer with the green screen commands.  He was an engineer for the state of CA, helped design/build the CA aquaduct, and other major public works.  I loved playing checkers with him, but he never let me beat him.  I know I played in his large garden with him,  but I can't say I remember that, just the pictures of me in the dirt.  Grandma  has been a widow for 26 yrs.  She has 4 daughters, the youngest of which married and had 3 daughters. Lots of women in my family.

Godly women who aren't afraid to teach the younger women.

They remind me regularly to value my vocation highly.

They have taught me how to give, regardless.

They have taught me how to serve the local community...selflessly.

They have taught me how to be hospitable.

They taught me how to antique  =)...oh,  I got so tired of stopping at antique stores when I was a teenager on a trip with them.   Now we drive past with our chillins and I long to just browse...(with 4 littles...are you kiddin' me? )  Go figure.   They've also taught me how to get rid of the extras (it's easy - sell it or give it away)

The list could go on for a long time.  They each have unique personalities and gifts...even if some of you get them mixed up, I never will.  I could list their lovable unique characteristics here, but it might embarrass them. Quilts, flowers, fabric, gardening, little lovely gifts, card making, scrapbooking, cooking up a delicious storm!...they are creative in many ways...brightening their homes and the lives of others.  I often complain that I didn't get the "J" creative gene. I channel mine in different ways, I've learned. (sortof)

Here are some pictures of these precious women.  Pray for them these next few weeks - that A. Virginia will continue to recover her health.  She has several hurdles, pneumonia, a ventilator, etc. Pray for the others as they are under an unusual amount of stress.  Pray for safe travels as people go up and back. Pray for peace in their hearts, and wisdom as they make a myriad of decisions.  Pray for us, that we know "when" to go.

So I told you there were a lot of females, yes?  So my maternal Grandmother has only 1 sister.  She has 2 daughters and 2 sons.  These two daughters are honorary aunts in our family.  They are so kind and always lend a touch of lovely to our family get togethers.

So, just to keep your brain spinning...my father has 3 sisters.  His mother also has 3 sisters. His father had SEVEN sisters (and one brother).  There are 20 of us first cousins on my father's side. The ratio? 15g:5b So you can see why I was pretty sure Aaron would be a girl.  Ha!  I guess our generation is introducing the boys into the works.  No, they are not quiet.  Maybe for a little while, but not for long....hmmm.

Well, I think my essay has been a bit of the wandering kind.  Kind of like my mind this week.  Flitting here and there like a hummingbird.  I saw a hummingbird today in my impatiens basket.  Ok, I'll stop =)