Starry Sky Ranch

in the studio

We just wrapped up regular dance classes for the school year and I was able to sneak in a few pictures on their last day.  Competitive Step Dance has had such an unexpected impact on our family life this year - good friends, incredible opportunities, significant investment of time and resources.  It is not for the faint of heart!  Their self-confidence and self-discipline have improved tremendously. But mainly and most importantly, they are happy.  Oh so happy. 

fun fun fun : ) 

The children launched into the world of European Feiseanna this month as well.  Will share some pics tomorrow.  I hope your summer is fun-filled and warm in every way!

without hurry or flurry

"If you could once make up your mind in the fear of God never to undertake more work of any sort than you can carry on calmly, quietly, without hurry or flurry, and the instant you feel yourself growing nervous and like one out of breath, would stop and take breath, you would find this simple common-sense rule doing for you what no prayers or tears could every accomplish."

- Stepping Heavenward

Just something from this oh so wonderful book to try, especially during busy seasons.  Many times, it may well be that we are not lacking in virtue so much as exhausted or overcommitted. We do no one any favors that way. 

Black and White Wednesday - See No Evil

First thing that came to mind when I snapped this....

.... alternatively titled "What you get when they are so done with smiling for Mom's camera." 

Visit Lisa at The Long Road to China for more. 

Barns

This week's theme at Snapshots Around the World is 'Barn'.  Sue was saying the German barn looked too nice for animals.  The barns in this part of Germany DO look similar to the homes.  In fact, many of them are connected to the farmhouses and form one long unit. I dug through my phone and files to see how many I had pictures of and came up with a few. 

In the picture above the farmhouse actually is just offscreen to the left coming out at a 90 degree angle from the barn section.

The older barns are made of crude bricks like the ones above and below. 

They are usually covered over in stucco and whitewashed or painted to match the house.  (the house is off left of this pic below as well)

Many are used as garages today though others still house livestock. In fact the place two doors down from us has a little herd of goats in the paddock right now mowing their lawn. : ) 

This farm below has a separate barn (shown) which was huge but the same brick/stucco construction as the others.  Unlike the others it is in the country.  Darned if I wasn't happy to see those Oberhasli's that day. : ) 

Just over the border in France the farms look entirely different. Whereas here the farmhouses and barns are right in the villages and the farmers commute to the cropland and pastures, in eastern France little farmsteads dot the countryside much like rural communities in the states.  They also have pole sheds there which are largely absent from this area. It is fascinating how different the world is.  

Check out the other barns around the world linked at the Snapshots blog and leave us a link to one in your part of the world. 

The Coast of Kerry

So windy, so blue, so green, so wild. 

Oh, for one of those hours of gladness
Gone, alas, like our youth, too soon!

- The Kerry Dance

 

The 3 Amigo's this week

They have been moving at top speed this week.  Lots of giggling, running laps in the yard (and the upstairs and the living room and...), funny voices, loud singing to 15 renditions of Old MacDonald played on the piano by Brendan. 

I looked at the three of them in mid-flight today - hair all wild, faces erupting with smiles. You just have to smile back.  Happy like that is contagious.

We did settle down for some stories today. 

Some with Mom.  (pic by Brendan ; )) 

Some they read to each other. 

And sometimes you just close your eyes and soak it all in.  Summer is good. 

happy dance

 
There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them. 

~Vicki Baum

 

Wildflowers

That is what we are looking for this week at Snapshots Around the World. Tucked into little hands, creeping out between rocks, climbing fences, gracing sketchbook pages, gathered into old soda bottles. Wherever you find them in your world. 

I Heart Faces - Bright and Vivid

This week's theme at I Heart Faces is Bright and Vivid.  There is nothing as bright in my stash of pictures as those from the Fasching Parade this year.  Since I never got around to posting the rest of them I will share another here.  This was my absolute favorite. 

The Streets of Kerry

No time to chatter today so am taking you on a stroll for some window shopping in Ireland instead.