The wonder and the YES! of watching the golf ball roll right to the hole…
the laughter as we, all 8 of us, try and get around the golf course without holding anyone up…
and the funny names of the holes…
so very Minnesotan, yah! ;)
and just the great time had by all, laughing and putting the balls into streams, bushes, other holes, down ramps, on sidewalks, and all of us all laughing and chasing them everywhere-
just happy.
I can see the front of the brick school, the flag hanging motionless in front of the doors.
My mom was standing right outside those doors, waiting for me.
I asked, only a first grader, why she was picking me up instead of me riding the bus home.
She shook her head slow, and said, “Planes crashed into some buildings today, and I wanted you to be home with me.”
I nodded, not really understanding, just happy to be with mom.
The TV was on all afternoon and late into the night- my dad came home fast from school.
I remember lots of tears all over the nation, hearing and recognizing the man they called President Bush asking for prayers- many prayers.
It was the day that our nation fell to its knees.
And today we remember-
10 years later.
And I pray that our nation would again seek and find the God that we sought so fervently that day-
and realize just how marvelous and beautiful and patient and saving He is.
That His promise then is still true today-
‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you…’
After a day kayaking, racing, and enjoying some DQ, we decided that the final touch would be to paddle and pontoon out behind the island and enjoy a while enjoying the lake.
I had decided not to go swimming and spend some time floating in the kayak…
However, I only lasted about 10 minutes when there were suddenly splash bombs and water balloons flying, and in I went.
The dogs weren’t too happy about this whole idea of not being able to touch, so after a while they landed up on the boat. Maggie-tude didn’t want to come out of the water- she is so funny! She doesn’t like not being able to see all of her kids. So for the first time ever, she climbed up onto the back of the pontoon- on guard and her eye on each of us.
Perfect end to a busy day at the lake…
Many thank you’s to Granny and Grandpa for taking us to K Farm!
Here’s our day spent farming in the 1890’s…
There is a beautiful farm near us now that is stuck in the 1890’s.
There are threshers, farmers in straw hats, a garden the size of our entire property, and so much to see and chores to be done.
One of the few places where you pay to work. :)
But what fun! To be a pioneer for a day…
and our first stop was to feed the cows.
Like Daisy, the dairy cow.
Arriving there just as it opens has its perks- like seeing the animals in the barn and having a gracious farmer show us around.
Here are three of our pioneers perched on a fence, wowing at the sheep.
R especially loved these guys because they were soft, small, and unintimidating. They even followed him around!
We collected some fallen and shelled acorns and fed them to the pigs. Phew! They were the stinkiest animal there!
After feeding the pigs, we wandered back up to the house to see what we could assist with. They were close to threshing time, and the treadmill and thresher were out, just waiting to get used. While walking back up, a farmer stopped us and asked, or, really, told, us to go let the sheep out- they hadn’t eaten yet.
M, Cousin I , and R all ran down, glad to be of help.
They propped open the gate, and WOW!
Those sheep can RUN! They took off straight for the woods to munch on leaves and whatnot.
The farm also hosted a LARGE chicken coop full of chickens and two roosters, one of which spent the morning strutting around the front yard.
Up on the porch, a lady sat with a large bowl full of mango melons fresh from their extremely large garden.
What is a mango melon, you may ask? And what on earth do you eat it with?
Well….
Mango melons were grown solely for the purpose of pickling. You slice a V shaped slice out of it and dig the seeds out. (they look like cucumbers on the inside) Then you scoop out the seeds and sew the V shaped part on, making a little lid.
then, after letting them soak a while in salt brine (extremely salty water), you fill the inside of them with tomatoes, garlic, onions, anything tasty with flavor, and you pickle the whole thing.
YUM!
While we were there, they were also picking their onions and beans. Here are just some of the onions they picked…
After helping out on the porch, we wandered through the GORGEOUS house feeling very Jane Austen-ish :).
The root cellar was very interesting, and I couldn’t help but picture all of the pickles, tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, and barrels of other things filling it very soon.
After this, we took a quick break for lunch, then came back, and found, to our delight, that the trolley was running!
They needed to wear out the horses so that they would be gentler that night when they had a bunch of little kids coming out, and we were happy to help them :).
After this, we all split up to go help in various places- the kitchen, the garden, the barn.
L and I pulled weeds in the potatoes, M and Cousin I and Cousin K went down to the pump and the barn.
On our way out, the Big Blacks were out to pasture, and M, who would simply LOVE to be a farm vet or a farmer was able to make a friend-
What a perfect day!
Thank you again Granny and Grandpa!
Kaye
song by Chris Tomlin that we are listening to this Sunday…
a reminder of the faithfulness of Christ in all circumstances.
(reminder: pause the music in the left hand side bar before listening… thanks!)
Enjoy!
life has sped up quickly and poof! school has started again.
and spending 3 hours a day on the computer with school is…
enough.
So when my time tapping keys lessens,
more posts will be coming!
Thanks for your grace!
Kaye
This one made me smile… “All tanks”… the simplicity and earnestness of a little boy’s prayer…
And I love this one! Maybe to print out and put on your fridge??
A song to make you smile, and remember to do everything for His glory…
Courageous- by the same people who did Fireproof and Facing the Giants comes this great story about family and heroes…. one I can’t wait to see this fall!
and a quick trip to the pharmacy, perhaps? check it out over at my other blog, Birdhouses and Bandaids…
blessings to you this weekend!
Kaye
