Audra's 6th Birthday Re-cap

 She wanted an old fashioned party. We got out the fine china for BLTs, chips and fruit salad. Aprons were the attire.

 Missing some loved ones, but a fine time she had.

 Cake is a frozen andes mint type cake.  Chocolate on bottom, mint chip in the middle, chocolate on top, chocolate fudge and whipped cream topped.

 Anna-Kate ate a chunk and signed 'more' for another round.

 She got some great new clothes, dresses and such. Folks who love her certainly spoiled her.  The top item is this typewriter, thrifted for $10.00.  I hear the tap tap tap allllllll the live long day, even at 5am. She loves it.

Library Book Sales

No. I don't have a problem buying vintage books at library book sales. YOU DO.


Hello, my name is Jackie and I have done a wee bit of shopping.

Okay, so I'm out of control. BUT, they don't write books the way they used to.  Language is so much richer in the old books. And they teach in story form rather than listing random facts.  Although there are oodles of books, it's definitely not too much. Stuff we'll use in our homeschool journey, for sure.

Above is a combination of two different sales. Just about all were a quarter a piece. I could seriously sell one book on ebay and get all my money back.  But I will not do that because I keep my books forever and ever and ever and ever.

Here are close up of the gems, in case there are other book lovers out there. <3

Now...I need another bookshelf. Or maybe a whole room library.

Chicken math

Justin: "How many chickens do we have?  Maybe, like 30?"
Me: "Probably more like 70 something."
Justin: "Why do we have that many chickens?"
Me: "I don't know, I don't do chicken math."

Thankful for our bountiful supply of eggs and how my children are being raised on homegrowns.

Tractor time

A distinct rumbling.
The kids stop, ears perked. 
Tractor?
Is it?
In our back field?
Tractor?
Let's go see. 
IT IS MAMA! IT'S HAYING TIME!!!!!

And just like that every plan for that day and days coming put on hold, for haying time is a holiday 'round these parts.  Adrian doesn't want to miss a millisecond of it.

And so he watches from his post, until Farmer Rick asks him if he's ready to bale.  IS HE READY?  He was born ready.

 The first day he was invited to hop on the tractor, we had just returned from church. I had not fed him lunch yet. He had no water. He disappeared for 4 1/2 hours.  The mama bear in me worried if he was okay, given the day was a scorcher in temps. He returned unphased, elated and smiling ear to ear.  Did I know he got to DRIVE the John Deere? 

Thanks to Farmer Rick, we have our backyard looking sharp.

 

 Farmer Rick said "You don't mind if I leave my machinery here. You'll look after it for me, right?"

Yes. Absolutely. Adrian keeps tabs on it. You can more than count on him.

 This boy was born with tractors and cows in his blood.  He talks about his John Deere adventures to anyone who will listen.  After haying is wrapped up, I get asked when the Tractor and Engine show is coming, for he knows that's the next farming holiday.

 And this beauty, she goes with the flow and listens to his tractor talk, thankfully.

Thankful for Adrian to have these opportunities in his own backyard.

Sisters

I always wanted a sister.  In fact, I recall asking for one for Christmas more than once.

I never got a sister, but I do get to be a parent to these two sisters.  

I feel blessed to have this duo. The sisterly bond and fun is only going to get better as they grow.

Thrifted.

Two vintage aprons. A John Deere clock, John Deere mug, a tin for planting succulents, a brand new wiffle ball. $5.

Friends thrifted this set and passed it down to us. It's adorable.

And more needlework, each a quarter.

Mama Made Dress

 A friend and I got together to sew. We both made this pattern, different fabrics (vintage fabric thrifted here), for our same aged daughters. Audra loves it.

And my friend gave me this homemade hand me down years ago...still going strong on the third kid.

 Two girls, dressed in handmades. <3  My favorites.

 And my other favorites-these little curls...next to both ears.  Glad I snapped some photos before they grew out. Blessed to have two little girls to love.