"Big Brother Ezekiel" and Cousins

Ezekiel loves to wrestle with Gabe and keep up with cousins Gabe and Lydia together. We can't get enough time together, and the partings bring voice to the sad emotions, "I don't want them to go." "We don't want to go!"

Meeting Silas

Marshal took the family on a weekend overnight to meet our newest nephew, Silas Benjamin, two weeks old today. When I take time to hold a newborn, I can't help but marvel at his individuality, forever unique body and soul, in the image of God, with the breath of Him that gave him life. Silas is lean, muscular, and strong. He sleeps contentedly in long stretches. He snuggles into your shoulder and sucks his little fist when hungry. He stretches and pushes his little feet when cradled like he wants to hold himself erect, his neck, back, and legs straight and taut. He prefers to avoid eye contact, but then he'll grace you with gazing eyes in a peaceful study, as I caught him looking at Grammy from her lap below.

Winter Pansy

I yanked out the leggy petunias on the deck and planted winter pansies in the pots for Fall. I thought this pansy was such a golden representative of the season. The setting sun enhanced its colors that evening.

Celebrating Names and Birthday

Gabe and Lydia welcome and celebrate the birth of another cousin this week! Congratulations to Uncle Caleb, Aunt Katie, and cousin Ezekiel for the awesome birth of a son and little brother!

Crossing the Atlantic

Making wind and sailing three vessels across the Atlantic Ocean.

Thankfully, we weren't rewriting history, for the sinking of the Niña brought tears enough at the edge of the tub.

Back to School

We've had year round school, you could say, as our schedule was a bit lax last year; but we brought our 1st grade year to a close mid August so that we had a three week break. We are back into school full-swing since post Labor Day Tuesday. We are excited and enjoying the second grade "Adventures in My Father's World" with the theme of U.S. History and Geography. We have doubled our hours in the barrage of subjects: Bible, Spelling, History, Science, English, Reading, Math.... We finish each day with an art lesson, and the week with a Charlotte Mason inspired nature walk. Ballet for Lydia, Guitar for both, and Soccer for Gabe round out our week. Then I take myself to school this Saturday for a year long course in Nutritional Therapy offered at Seattle Central Community College. Whew! Learning is fun!An Art lesson in straight lines.

I delight to see the spontaneous creativity of my son as demonstrated in his boat. He put the boat together, on his own, in the "in between" times. He picked up the little wooden base at the Labor Day weekend rummage sale with a vision in his head. ...Just like his Grammy.

I inspire to be better about "Nature Walks" this year. We embarked on our first organized walk of the school year Friday afternoon. We didn't make progress on the journals, but boy did the kids successfully enlist Dad to create some smokin' sling shots!

Summer Spider

I took this photo through the side window panel that frames the front door. This spider spun her web here, and Gabe adopted her as a sort of pet. He trapped small live flies and ants in his bug vac and then released them into her web for days, watching her encase them in silk and appreciatively suck their nourishment. She is a sign that the summer days are closing quickly and we are moving into the fall flurry of webs and spiders everywhere.

Growing up!

Marshal commented on how his kids are growing up.

Liddy and Tirza
Lydia asked if Tirza could be her dog since the arrival of the new puppy. We are all one family, but it is nice that she has voluntarily taken more responsibility of Tirza's care.

A young hen, hand raised as a chick, allowed petting and holding at a neighboring small homestead of a friend. Lydia and Gabe had the chance to ride bareback on a chestnut mare that day. Lydia was so excited to ride and had dreamed many hours of owning her own pony. Alas, she found herself allergic to the horse! We had to hurry home for a dose of oral liquid benadryl to calm her chest pain after she'd washed and calmed the sneezing, snot and sore throat attack! Mercy!