Starry Sky Ranch

Fence Friday

It's Fence Friday on Flickr 

Captured in Bernkastel-Kues enclosing an historic home. 

Easy as A, B, C

keep moving

‎"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."
~ Albert Einstein

ht to our friend Monica for the quote.  Following this excellent advice and spending this three day weekend outside.  Go walk. : ) 

 

 

the train

The train took us to Neustadt this weekend for the annual winefest and crowning of the National Wine Queen.  Or princess or some such royalty, which judging by the campaigning was a really big deal.  The wine princesses from the various city fest's go through a number of competitions to reach this one, which involves lots of suits and heels and noisemakers 

and music

and of course, wine.  When in Rome....

 

or well, Neustadt at harvest time, you sample some Neuer Wein, literally New Wine, which is like lemonade with a kick.  Or so I am told.  My taste runs more along the Jones Soda lines truth be told. 

There was a fantastic vintage carnival.

and stroll through the city.

After which we hopped the train back home. A very good night. 

{this moment}

girls on the sidelines of their brother's game

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Amanda's. 

Fence Friday

Fence finding has become a sort of obsession since joining this group. ; )  Amazing what you notice when you start looking for something out of the ordinary.  This is the bridge over the Moselle River during the winefest. 

Happy Fence Friday on Flickr

Simple Woman's Daybook

(more daybooks at Peggy's )

FOR TODAY Oct. 7, 2010

Outside my window... Heavy fog.  The days usually start with some fog but the forecast assures me it will be sunny and clear by soccer.  I have now seen this transformation enough times to believe it. Though, at this point it is far foggier than the sample below.

  

I am thinking... about this line:

"When we receive all things as being sent by Providence, and when we live in a state of entire abandonment to all that this adorable Providence wills, we never meet with any vexations." - Rev Hamon  

Never is a big word, but necessarily the only result of truly believing God is in charge.  The girls and I were talking in the car about an old Mother Angelica quote - essentially that you are not responsible for your first thought but you are 100% culpable for those that follow.   How many thoughts does it take for our fiat to finally emerge?  I am letting this be my current personal challenge.  Every time.  God has graciously contributed LOTS of opportunities for practice. I don't say that sarcastically.

I am thankful for...  creative friends, the view out my back window, evenings with my husband, and that pinkeye is thus far contained to one child.

From the learning rooms...   Lots. of. work.  If you are using a certain large, well known, Catholic correspondence program and think you are working darned hard - you are. This is hands-down the most schoolwork we have ever attempted and heaven knows we have run the gamut of the other curricula available. It is nothing if not thorough and packed with information however and they are learning a great deal.

From the kitchen... we switched up the alfredo sauce last night.  I have discovered once again that my family does not like 'switching up' their food.  I am making a two week menu for their handful of favorites and shopping list for our new local stores and calling it good.  Simple works best here. 

I admit that the biggest hit this week was Duncan Hines brownies.  Husband and sons maintained they were the best brownies they ever had.  Yes, the box. They all survived. : ) 

I am wearing... black denim boot cut trousers, blue and charcoal button down blouse and black clogs. 

I am creating... up-cycled outfits for the little girls from places like this. I am on a tear now <g>  Nothing in the give away bag has escaped my scissors lol. Pics to follow. 

I am going... on a little adventure this weekend. 

I am reading... Jumping Ship   It definitely gives a much fuller and more balanced picture of the Pearl's parenting ideals which are less about discipline and more about rooting out personal hypocrisy. If you think you know who the authors are and what they believe about children and parenting based upon an overt campaign against their first book by Amazon commenters I encourage you to read the rest of the story.  It is refreshing to discover their motto is the same one I have been reiterating to myself (if not perfecting...) for many years - 

Be what you'd like them to be.  

It would be hard to put this book into action and have hearts remain unchanged - yours and theirs.

I am hoping... for peace and clear direction as our young adults make some monumental choices this week. 

I am hearing... Brendan humming, breakfast noises. 

Around the house... there is still artwork to hang downstairs. 

One of my favorite things... iron cleaner. Everything gets very hot here. Sister Jean-Marie told us this would be the case due to voltage or something.  Perhaps our water mineral content combined with this makes for gunky iron surface. I wish I had found this cleaner years ago!

Here are pictures for thought I am sharing...

 out the kitchen window.  Can you see the deer past the top of the feeder?

Without grumbling

This month's Mom's corner is especially relevant since we have been working on Phil 2:14 this fall. While Teri acknowledges all the valid frustration we experience she still encourages us to take EVERY thought captive and give thanks always.  Even when there is pinkeye.  Ok she didn't actually say that, but I am inferring. ; ) 

"..ask the Lord to point out each negative thought or word. Then cry out to Him for His strength and grace to replace those words with positive ones that express gratefulness and thanksgiving. How much better it is to praise than to murmur. May we be women whose joyful words and attitudes cause others to want to be around us."

- Teri Maxwell

 

 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. - Prov 16:24

Hold, please : )

So I decided I am going to put my life on hold a sec and tick off one challenge at a time until I am all caught up and everyone is crisis free.  Then laundry and dinner and library books and diapers can resume as scheduled. Sounds like a plan to me!

Yeah, I know.  It was a delightful, if impossible, fantasy.  Likely the diapers and laundry and dinner are what keep a person sane during challenging times anyway.  It's that here.  Nothing insurmountable.  Some rather large like national security threats, some rather small, like figuring out how to set up the girls cell phone. Many in-between-ers like trials back home and pinkeye which just made itself known in this house. All of which take up considerable chunks of time and brain cells. 

So I am here wiping and calling and driving and diapering and thanking God I am able to do it. And looking forward to the next reprieve. Those are coming in little spurts making all the rest possible.  When they do, I will check back in here. 

 

Calling all baby lovers

Don't miss this blog.  If you haven't heard of Mila's Daydreams just go.  Now.  Seriously.  This is the cutest thing I have seen in a long time.  Guaranteed smiles. Mila's momma has been staging fairy tale style background scenes and snapping shots of her sweet sleeping baby within them.  Priceless.

(photo from Mila's Daydreams as outlined in her usage terms)