Yesterday's Storm

The Storm Yesterday had some high wind gusts... and some moments of downpours that made it difficult to see the other end of the yard... there were tornado watches up for our county and most of the counties around us...

Last year our yard got rocked with a freak snowstorm in October...

this year we only lost one branch, but it was a rather large one and right across our driveway...

We were VERY lucky it was a work day and Steve had his car at work... the branch landed right where we park his car. The branch was perfect sized... it took up the entire length of the driveway but missed hitting the garage by inches. There was no real damage just inconvenience...

I was thankful my car was in the garage to keep it safe.. it wasn't till afterwords I realized that I was not going to be able to move the branch with out help... and once Steve got home I realized WE would not be able to move the branch with out help... making it impossible to get my car out of the garage... GURRRR!

Strong Man helping me pull branches and stack logs

the start of our pile

My "helper" to pull the branches out by the shed

Our finished stacked logs

My Dad came up with a chainsaw and a truck to help us cut up the wood and remove some of the smaller branches...

I guess we will have some wood for a bon-fire for the fair next week...

~Momma

Its Monday again...

For some reason I feel the need to do "everything" on Mondays.. the cleaning , laundry and any projects I come up with... I think the projects are there to distract me from the chores...

Over the weekend I went on my first "Pick" I don't know if you would consider it a real pick since it was my grandparents barn... I found some neat stuff to decorate around my house... best part is I didn't have to spend a lot of money.. the best kind of shopping!
I found and old window sash, no glass left .. and old chicken water bucket and best of all some rungs used when planting corn... the star I bought at a store it was only $5.00

I am also working on another sign idea using wood from a free old pallet...

I loved the look of the old  corn planter parts...they were so buried in the dust on the barn floor I almost missed them...

I took them home and hosed them off and now they make a nice addition to the wall in my living room...

I believe I have put off my chores long enough, time to hang out some sheets...

Happy Monday everyone!
~Momma

School Starts

As this week comes to a close I am excited to take a deep breath and relax this weekend....
Monday was Connor's 1st day of Kindergarten and boy oh boy was he excited to go!

His education was always very important to me and I was seriously considering home school for a long time, till Connor asked to go...

This made my letting him go much, much easier than I anticipated! If he would have been scared or asked to stay home I may have wavered...

He had this beautiful excited smile on his face the entire time.... The bus was about 10 min. late so we were out there for awhile!! 

 

our crew waiting for the bus

Finally the bus was comming...

 

Connor stepped right on up didn't even say/wave goodbye...

I sat and watched the clock all day Monday... then I piled everyone into our car and went and picked him up at school. He was very excited, he described the day as awesome! and even jumped with enthusiasm.

Riley has not been so thrilled... He misses his big brother like CRAZY! he cries and throws himself down and tries to run onto the bus... yelling he wants to go to school with Connor...

3 days of that and then today Thursday he is content to stay home with me... We have been do all kinds of fun "big boy" activities at home like reading the books he wants to read and playing tick, tack, toe... I am learning more about his abilities and that he can't even hold the pencil correctly... Connor being away gives me more one-on-one time with Riley...

I do miss him.. it is quiet here...

While he is away I pray that Connor would choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26
Heavenly Father you kow our needs even before we ask you, Lord, and you promise to work in all things for the good of those who love you. Handpick each one of Connor's teachers, and surround him with classmates of your choosing.
Matthew 6:8; Romans 8:28

This Friday My in-laws are picking up my kiddo's and spending the weekend with them, so I will have some time to process my thoughts...

What a week!

-Momma

Fun Finds on Freecycle

I have been irritated by my kitchen recently...

It has dark cabinets.. and only 1 window... and NO prep space!

 SO I thought I would make some... I took two boards from the garage, sanded them down, put them together and used the same process as my kitchen table to make the wood food safe...


 Ta-Da... Workspace! It may not look the best but I actually have room to work without balancing tray's and cutting boards on the burners of the stove...

 I got  this great UGLY tray on freecycle and my Husband laughed when I brought it home...

I had an idea that I would use some left over chalk board paint...

 I added some braided handles and some fruit... It is great and so far the paint stays on nicely... can't wait to use it to serve food for the holidays

the more work I do the more I want to do... Can't wait till I have the time/ courage to paint the cabnits... I am picturing a nicely antiqued white with new butcher block counter-tops... dreams....


Hope you have a happy Friday!

Momma

Monday, Monday!

Hello Monday!
Hello Tomatoes!
Hello peppers!

Hello to final decision time... Home School or Public...

Hello to Home! we had a good vacation with family at the beach, but it feels great to be home!

 Hello to learning how to boogie board and Connor loving every moment!

 
Hello to a Very Special 3 year old...

Hello to Captain Connor and his vampire teeth...

Happy Monday to everyone!

Hello Monday { Barnstormers }

Hello Monday!
Hello to the week before we head to the beach! sooooo much to do!
Hello to school starting in 5 weeks!!!!
Hello to warm muggy weather...


Hello to the end of a great Sunday with the family...
My Husband was fortunate to win tickets to  Barnstormers baseball game... the boys had fun! Momma not so much.. Baseball is just not my thing... The one thing I was impressed by is all the seats had backs, I would LOVE to have seats like that in Beaver Stadium!

It was a great evening, the sun came out and was very warm HOT! all in all great baseball weather!

Connor had his glove with him and was very excited to catch a fowl ball... (none were hit our way much to his disappointment)


The boys had hot dogs, french fires and of course ice-cream... Riley was content while we were eating... other than that he was really fidgety... better than last year.. but still not quite ready to WATCH a game.

Hello to a crazy, crazy time to be a Penn State Football fan...

As for me... I am not upset about a statue being removed, after all it is just a statue, it is the memories that count.. the memories of tailgates with family... making friends with people around you... feeling the comradely with everyone watching and rooting for the same team to win... The time spent walking around State College and enjoying the fall... the warm games.. the FREEZING games... the games where it rained and everyone sat there anyhow...
These are my memories and why I enjoy Penn State football... Where does Joe fit into these memories, only because he helped the team win, the college kids with passion and excitement play the game of football... Joe Paterno was never the reason to watch the game, it was a football team that I was interested in...




But taking away a season?!?


Hello Monday everyone! Hope everyone has a great start to the week!




~Momma


Linking Up with Lisa Lenard

Thoughts from a Mother's heart: How to make boys into leaders

The other evening on my way to work I heard this song, maybe for the first time, maybe not. It was just the first time I actually heard it..





Love stories are my weakness... This song is a love story of a Husband and wife, Father and his children, and Son to his Father God. The lyrics in this song are amazing, truthful and honest...
Every day I am thankful for my husband.... I see strength in him, love, and patience...  I know he is our leader...

Oh, I can hear her saying

Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone


I want my boys to grow into men like this... I want them to be leaders of their family... I want them to know to go to God when times are tough... I want them to find women who are willing to be lead. I want their hearts to ache for the Lord...


So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh Father, show me the way
To lead them

Won't You lead me?


The lesson that I need to teach is a tough one, the world view of strength come from never asking for help, from taking care of yourself and only yourself. The truth in this song is man is only so strong alone... true strength comes from vulnerability and seeking the Lord.

Today's prayer:
{Dear Heavenly father let Connor and Riley find a wife who is worthy of respect, not a malicious talker but temperate and trustworthy in everything. Let her be willing to submit to her husband as to the Lord. 1 Timothy 3:11; Ephesians 5:22}