Summer Fun

A friend dropped off this canoe for the children to use in our small pond. 

Perfect timing because we have been spending so much time working on our house that this has been wonderful for them.

And if you stopped by our home, the children would pick you some fresh peas to eat right

out of the pods.

Tonight both older sons are coming for dinner with the wives.  I can't wait!

A Celebration

On Tuesday we met my father in Woodstock, Vermont to pick up Isaac.  He spent five weeks working construction with my dad.   We missed him but it was a wonderful opportunity for him to see family, visit some new places, go to a Red Sox game, work hard, and earn some money.

Yesterday we celebrated his 17th birthday!

Thankful Today

 

Men from church helping Mike with the roof

Children drawing at the table while listening to Adventures in Odyssey

A fresh pot of coffee brewing

A beautiful day

A little girl that likes to wear sundresses

An abundance of vegetables in the gardens

Wildflowers in Mason Jars

Lots of wool yarn to knit and crochet with

What We Are Up To....

Knitting ... Boothbay from Hannah Fettig's new book, Home and Away

The patterns in this book are wonderfully simple but timeless and the images are beautiful.

Painting ... Last week I began the project of painting our entire bedroom - something that has been needed since we bought our home six years ago.  So with lots of caulking to fill in the cracks, holes, etc and then a couple of coats of paint - I have painted the ceiling, walls, floors, and am finishing up the trim.

Gutting ... The two upstairs bedrooms and putting on a new roof over those bedrooms (it is about 1/3 of the house).  Because of water damage the walls have mold in them and need to be completely gutted, insulated, and sheetrocked.  The roof we will be stripping (2 layers of shingles and 1 layer of metal) and then shingling.  Since we are doing it ourselves, we should be good and tired for the next three weeks - but it is all good.

Coloring ... The children are enjoying color-by-numbers right now, simple ones for the younger ones to really detailed books for Sarah.

Enjoy this day!

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Beauty Found Today

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I Have Missed Being Here

 Nolan surprised Mike for Father's Day by rebuilding the trailer that had pretty much rotted out.

When Emmy saw it, she couldn't stop asking for a hay ride and Mike obliged the other day when we had to go buy more hay from a neighbor.

 Emmy has made it obvious that she is our next performer, taking after her oldest brother.

She walks around the house signing loudly and dancing  - usually a song from Annie or Frozen.

Looking forward to being back to share bits and pieces of our family's very simple life - which although simple, is not easy.

Looking forward to connecting again with you.

Warm wishes,

Tonya