Changeable Minds

 A few weeks ago, my hubby's family decided that they need to all trek to NY for a family camp out.
We had planned the cabin vacation for this past weekend and decided it would be too much driving. Twelve hours on the road for about 14 hours of being there. BUT Thurs around 11AM hubby gets the idea that he wants to do the trip anyway. It did not fit MY plans at all, but really, the packing was simple, we were informed that most of the food was at the hostess' house.

So off we went....only thanks to some construction on I-81 we were stuck in a traffic jam for about 45 min. Thankfully no one had a potty emergency! (like on the way home)

 All of his brothers and sisters and any unmarried children  were invited. The weather was beautiful and the food plentiful.

 Faith loved the cow stable and thought she would like a cow or two to take care of.

 The gobbling turkey was fascinating

And the 30-some windmills simply made you feel like you were on another planet.
So tomorrow morning I will tackle the MOUNTAIN of laundry that we somehow accumulated and bake the bread that didn't get baked and then I will start my week of trying to start the Christmas quilt order

Just before I left on Fri I made this. It was time for a new pocketbook.

Cheetah Legs?

No kitties were harmed in the making of these new legs...there's tiger stripes on the inside!
His new legs are much narrower than the old ones.
Got his wish...new legs for school...only one pair of socks rather than the 3-1/2 pr required to keep the old ones in place.
TOMORROW.......SCHOOL!

Our Summer Vacation

 We decided we'd better squeeze in a vacation before school starts on Thurs. We spent the weekend at my parent's cabin. It has hot water and electricity so it is OK that there is no internet connection or cell phone coverage. We were met by some big jumping critters that had managed to get into the cabin.

 The next morning we were finishing a late breakfast and this furry fellow came meandering down the mountain. The two older boys had just came down from a hike along that same path...thankfully they didn't meet!

 Since dad and 2 of the boys went fishing the rest of us were left to our own devices....we went fossil hunting in the rock pile in the front yard.

 Found a few....don't know if you can see it

 Till evening there were some bored boys that decided to make up their own rules to some games.

 One more hand of Rook and then a few of "I doubt It"  (glorified game of lying!)

 Hope made us all pose for a picture. She is trying to take the place of her big brother the family photographer....one of the boys was heard to mutter..."Metri never made us do this!"

 

On Saturday we headed to the Grand Canyon (Pennsylvania)  We decided that everyone is fit enough to hike to the bottom. It was a steep climb and a total of 2 miles. We were a bit concerned about one of the family being able to make it...not the yawning one.

 

 We needed to tell the youngest one to SLOW DOWN multiple times...even on the way up!

 We made it to the bottom...hiked our skirt to the knees and followed big brothers...

 Didn't take nearly as many pictures on the way up...but we did make it to the top and nary a word of complaint from anyone!

Now on to the last couple of days before school and packing for Ch*na...or at least planning. I'm hoping to see the I-800 approval this week

Our Rainbow

Every summer we adopted or were in the process of adoption, I felt that we saw more rainbows than any other summer.
But this summer...I ran out the driveway a number of times (we live in the woods and can't normally see much of the sky) and was disappointed and WET.
I was getting a bit impatient, I like to see those promises, the bow that God set in the sky way back in Genesis for a promise between Him and man. I know that it was about the Flood, but I still think of them as promises.

Well tonite He sent one, right in our front yard! The last time we had one in our yard was when we waited for Joseph.

 Finished 3 of these wall hangings for the shop....got a few more orders that really should be finished before I board that jet plane.

Ginger root? No, that is a potato that couldn't make up its mind.

Faith-ism's

Two comments from Faith that I need to remember...share them with you too.

Earlier this week she came in from playing

"Mom! I ran over a garter snake with my scooter!"

Her brother collaborated her statement...

I asked her what happened to the snake

"It just slithered away real fast"

must have been one strong spine.





Another day

"Mom, why do ladies wear shirts that show their cracks?"

Me: "Um....I don't know."

Baby Gold peaches!

I had two willing helpers for about an hour into my canning chore yesterday. Faith soon got distracted, but Hope helped for quite awhile...took a break and came back to help me finish.

 These are supposed to be the best peaches for canning. BUT you can barely twist the two halves and to remove the stone you need a sharp spoon to slice the stone free from the fruit.

The peach is very firm and looked very nice in the jars. Four baskets will give me 48+ quarts for this winter.

This N That

Can't forget that we also have a new 17 year old in the house. He was easy to please, pre-loaded V*sa card so he doesn't have to borrow mine to fill the car with gas.

For supper  waffles (from pancake mix) mashed  potatoes, chuck roast ( baked in Coke and onion soup mix yumm!)

 Hope decorated her's with cooked carrots

Faith simply needed her plate photographed as well.

I must commemorate my beautiful flowers in front of the house. We normally do not have such wonderful success for the whole summer. 

And since blogger is arguing with me, I will have to post this 'way above Joe's picture. 

We visited the wonderful Dr. Kozin today and he agrees that Joseph is old enough to make decisions about his hand. Even though we lost most of the extension we gained from the fixator last summer. He still is at 90 degrees and since Joe is happy with his hand we will let it alone. Sometimes I'm not so sure that is the best decision because sometimes when kids are in their 30's they will look back and re-think things. But the bottom line is that we will need Joe's cooperation in order to gain more movement from that wrist and yes surgery , fixators, and PT/OT are NO FUN!

 I'm relived that we are not looking that specter in the face... unless of course he (Joe) changes his mind...

So now I can concentrate on other things...how about 4 baskets of peaches to can in the morning! Bring it ON!

 

Twenty-one Years Ago

 I became a mother. Things didn't go quite as smoothly as we'd hoped, so there are no "new mommy" pictures.  A proud and relieved daddy.

 A pleased great grandma

And a few months later someone else actually used the camera :^)
Thanks Demetrius for breaking us in, but that really does not look like 21 years ago!

Travel Group Visit

 Last evening part of Faith's travel group visited our home.

 It is just such a blessing to have these girls in our lives.

 The other day someone mentioned "If you wouldn't have adopted, what could you be doing this school year?"

But if we wouldn't have adopted just look what we would have missed! I don't even have a good picture of the adults that have become dear friends through this wild adventure we call adoption, but trust me, we would not have met if not for these little girls!

Here's to unexpected friendships!

Creek Hiking With Daddy

 This tradition started years ago...I never went along. I think the first time I probably stayed home either because there was a baby or I was on ambulance duty.

 Since then it has evolved into a Daddy/kids thing and I stay at home and prepare for the clean-up.

 I think we had to skip last year because Joseph was in casts and fixator most of the summer.

 But this year he made it...not fast, but he made it!

 Some Fungi growing in a log...("Houa is this oyster mushroom?")

 The spot for a yearly pose...

 They told Faith to look thoughtful...

 They are going to round out the night with a sleep out in the cabin.

 Daddy is in charge of the food...hot dogs and baked beans...not sure what they have for breakfast. This is the first time I joined them for supper...but I ruin it. Every time someone spills something, they look to mom, when they wonder where the cups were packed they ask me. This is supposed to be a daddy bonding time.

See the can of beans sitting on the side of the fire ring?...no kettles to wash. Faith did ask me what time the foxes come out and if they will come to the cabin. I dearly hope that the coyotes don't howl tonite. There has been a fox walking through our yard in the early morning, but I think he is just sniffing the hen house.   Now I'm off to read a book in the quiet...zzzzz.