Lavender and Rosebuds

Eleven Months

2012-01-20T21:53:00.000-05:00

Christmas Tree Hunt 2011

2011-12-20T21:17:00.000-05:00

Cut, carried and decorated by the Yoders small. Merry Christmas to all!!!!

Ten Months!

2011-12-20T20:55:00.001-05:00

Hannah Banana

2011-12-12T21:47:00.001-05:00

I really want that banana!!
We laugh at this now...

That doesn't taste quite right

Mmmmm.... Delicious!

And that's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown

2011-12-10T23:06:00.000-05:00

Today Ella went out on her own and picked out a Christmas tree for the children's room.

Then she oh so lovingly helped Gabriel make ornaments for the tree. Together they decorated it, and put up the lights.

Ella even put up lights all around the boy's beds.

I had been tempted to tell them to clean up their room before they started decorating, but I'm so glad I didn't!

First Time at the Lanes

2011-12-09T22:50:00.000-05:00

Ella bowled a 105!

Joshua bowled a 93!

Gabey came in at 70!

And Hannah bowled (and nursed) too!

My Somebody

2011-12-03T22:28:00.000-05:00

2011-12-01T21:11:00.000-05:00

Sometime, somewhere back, I read about dyeing wool with koolaid. I even bought a couple of koolaid packets that then sat on my pantry shelf for months. Whenever Gabriel saw them he would ask, "when are we going to dye?" (and of course I always thought he had said "when are we going to die?"). Anyhow, our DYEing day finally happened!

You first soak the wool in a vinegar solution for 15 minutes.

We used pieces of felt, yarn, and a small amount of wool roving. Turns out that our felt wasn't 100% wool, because the color didn't stay in it as well as it should have, but our results were beautiful!

Gabriel really saturated his felt!

Santa bibs helpful, but not necessary.

To set the dye, you pop it in the microwave for two minutes covered in plastic wrap. When it comes out, you let it sit for two minutes. Then, if the water in the dish is clear, you are finished! If the water is still colored, you microwave it for two more minutes.

The yarn turned out most beautiful of all! Next time we will dye more yarn and use more colors!

Remarkable Ginko

2011-11-23T17:51:00.000-05:00

Thought I would inundate folks with an overload of pictures from our fun under this extraordinary ginko tree on the UVA grounds. We "dropped everything" to meet Bee here on Monday. I am so glad we did! There is no time like the present, especially where tree color is concerned! After playing under the golden canopy we walked in some of the gardens, which are mostly bare this time of year. We did find some tasty rosehips, and a fruit similar to an apple that had the bite of a lemon! Cheers!

Nine Months!

2011-11-19T22:05:00.000-05:00

I can't believe another month has passed, and here we are again celebrating another of Hannah's birthdays! This morning was busy with back to back soccer games (last of the season), then going to the library and grocery shopping. Then coming home and putting away groceries and library books and playing football (always more and more football). It wasn't until I was relaxing on the sofa when the sun was going down that I realized that today was the big nine month birthday! So, I grabbed my camera and took the little girl out for a quick photo shoot. She was only too happy for a bit of fresh air and to watch her big brothers play football. (She cracks up when Gabriel says "down, set, hike!) A beautiful evening, a beautiful girl, and beautiful brothers and sister that love that girl so.

Eight Months!

2011-10-19T23:00:00.000-04:00

This is quickly becoming Hannah's birthday blog! We celebrated today by going to Emmanuel Episcopal church to visit this Remarkable Tree and mushroom hunt. I forgot Hannah's hat, and it was raining, which explains the pair of pants on her head! She certainly doesn't seem to mind!

Here is Hannah at the base of the oak tree next to a previously harvested (not by us) maitake. You can see her one little white tooth if you look closely.

Hannah held onto that bagel for over an hour~ we had her favorite lunch- Bodo's bagels:)

We played in the nursery too. This is the first time Hannah had ever been in any kind of bouncy toy seat~ she had a grand time!

Seven Months!

2011-09-19T22:42:00.000-04:00

This is the only picture I took of Hannah on her seven month birthday! We all, including the littlest miss, have minor colds. Outside was cool and cloudy today so we snuggled up to watch some Harry Potter. Hannah was happy to just be a part of the gang.
I do have a backlog of very cute Hannah (and other little people) pictures, like these two, Hannah's first dip in the ocean!

Six Months!

2011-08-19T23:26:00.000-04:00

Our baby girl turned half a year today! Seems like such a monumentous birthday! Ella, Joshua, and Gabriel photographed our misty morning banana muffin picnic. Hannah now tries to eat everything in sight!

2011-08-14T23:20:00.002-04:00

2011-08-09T21:26:00.000-04:00

Gourd Love

2011-08-07T23:36:00.000-04:00

Fisher Folk

2011-08-06T22:41:00.000-04:00

Bike Boys

2011-07-20T23:14:00.001-04:00

Today Joshua was waiting out in the van while I got our things ready to go to Crozet. When I came out he said, "You know, we could live in here. We've got air conditioning and lemonade. We could just drive around and this could be our house." He was quiet for a moment and then said,"Oh, but what about he Christmas tree?"

Joshua has rescued my bike from its lonely state in the basement and has been cruising around like a madman. He just astounds me! This is a BIG bike for a seven year old to be riding!

Gabriel, meanwhile, has upgraded to Joshua's bike! I have to keep reminding myself (for many reasons) that he is only four.

FIVE Months!

2011-07-19T23:13:00.000-04:00

Pear upside-down cake, candles, cards and balloons to celebrate our happy five month old!

Best of all was tonight at bedtime when Hannah looked up at me and started saying ma ma ma ma.

Baby Baker

2011-06-25T23:27:00.001-04:00

Fishin' for a baby

2011-06-23T23:23:00.000-04:00

Someone's mastered the art of pulling hair:

HAPPY DAD'S DAY!

2011-06-19T23:13:00.000-04:00

And Happy Four Months to Hannah Mae!

Spring Valley Orchard

2011-06-18T22:23:00.001-04:00

MMMMM... Cherry picking! These hedelfingens were so lush that they practically fell off the limbs into our bags. We came away with almost nine pounds! Joshua converted most of them into cherry jam, Ella dipped chocolate cherries, Tucker dehydrated some, and of course lots were popped straight into our mouths.

I was really taken with this stone wall surrounding an old family cemetery. The orchard is just eleven miles from our house and the stone in the wall is the same type as the stone of "our" church, and the stone in our fireplaces.

Joshua's Catapult

2011-05-24T22:51:00.000-04:00

Hooray! Joshua fixed the kinks in his catapult with great success! At first he was trying to load ammunition into a yogurt container attached to the end of the arm. Then he hit on this idea, which is a rope tied to a potato and looped (loosely) around the end of the arm. He tried launching water balloons too, but they kept bursting before they were launched!

Today was...

2011-05-23T23:32:00.001-04:00

Rollerblading and scootering Joshua has taken over Gabriel's scooter, although apparently they have traded. Joshua gave Gabriel his old bike and his bucket of soldiers (with the army tank!) for exclusive rights to the scooter. Ella has been practicing her heel-toe move on her rollerblades. Looks like she also get towed along by Joshua.

Sweet dreams in the grass. The sky was overcast and the air cool earlier in the afternoon. Just right for reading stories cuddled up on a blanket.

Waking up to kisses!

Joshua started making a catapult today too. There was quite a bit of frustration in the building of the throwing arm, but I think he's got it almost worked out.

Ella has started a new blog, me and my sister. She is really excited about ideas for her coming posts, so stay tuned!:)

Three Months (yesterday)

2011-05-20T17:35:00.000-04:00

We love love love our sweet, happy girl!

Picture review of the last two weeks

2011-05-18T23:19:00.001-04:00

Ella and Joshua have figured out how to climb into the lower branches of these towering tulips. They wedge themselves in between the two trunks and scooch on up. Ella is up in the tree in the top picture.

I had to include this series of shots, Ella and Joshua are such good buddies:

Another pair of great buddies. Gabriel reads to Hannah, plays stuffed animals with her and here he is weighing her as part of a game that he has made up.

A jersey all her own

2011-05-03T12:42:00.000-04:00

Long ago when Ella was a little tyke, a friend brought her back this soccer uniform from England. She wore it. Lots. Then Joshua wore it. When Gabriel grew big enough he wore it too. Now, I'm no longer sure that we have this snazzy outfit, though it could be hiding in a box somewhere. Anyhow, Joshua heard me lamenting over the fact that Hannah will not get to wear this, and set about making her a soccer jersey of her own. He cut out the red stripes, and asked me to cut out the number eleven for him (Not just two lines, Mama! Real ones!) We sewed them on together using the machine. Hopefully he will have better control over a gas pedal when he learns to drive than he does over the presser foot! Joshua is really proud that his little sister can now be a part of all the soccer fun happening over here!

Notes:
~The top picture was taken when Gabriel was two weeks old
~Gabriel had just gotten his first buzz cut in the picture of him weating the uniform
~Joshua took the number eleven picture (11 was his jersey number when he played soccer last fall)
~Hannah is lying on her brand new blankie by Bee in the last picture!

2011-04-27T23:57:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago we watched a YouTube video of a man making a soccer ball out of a fruit bag and newspapers. Today, upon receiving a load of junk mail (those coupon newspapers that fly to pieces by the time you have brought them back to the house), Joshua asked if he could make one. He is SO happy with his handiwork! There was one setback, when he got his ball stuck way high up in the Catalpa tree after pretending it was the death star. However, he remedied that by cutting down a tree (Yes! A whole tree!) to retrieve it. Joshua could not quite lift and maneuver the tree to get his ball down. I was giving a valiant effort when lo and behold Daddy materialized mid afternoon and heroically saved the newspaper ball before the rains hit this afternoon.

Two Months

2011-04-23T14:39:00.000-04:00

Pictures from Hannah's two month birthday, April 19, 2011

2011-04-16T22:41:00.000-04:00

When Gabriel was all done splashing he said, "I'm really proud of myself for getting all wet".

2011-04-15T23:50:00.000-04:00

Heart melting

2011-04-02T22:10:00.000-04:00

This smile I just LOVE! Can you get any cuter than that perfect little dimple on her right cheek?

The fuzziest thing in the world

2011-03-31T23:09:00.000-04:00

And this picture especially for you, Ma. Ella and Hannah playing Pioneers

2011-03-30T22:11:00.000-04:00

Hannah is happy enough to participate in one of Ella's games. Evidently eating pineapple out of a jar while rocking your baby is a necessary part of playing mama.

Dressed as spies...that's what they told me! Joshua was hiding a camera made out of a block under his hat. I guess the drawstrings are tied up for extra security? Ella looks so inconspicuous, no? The gloves of course are so she will not leave fingerprints. And Gabes I think was dragged into the whole thing, maybe to make them appear "normal".

2011-03-25T22:22:00.000-04:00

Dear Hannah- the bread was ready and you got plopped in the laundry basket:

Ella put on a "puppet show" for us using her hand painted scenery:

2011-03-23T22:19:00.002-04:00

Nature Notes

2011-03-22T22:14:00.000-04:00

Picked some beautiful yellow flowers on a yet to be identified shrub

Glimpsed one striking fox streaking through the trees

Identified a Cooper's hawk using this fantastic website

Found one crane fly larva (pictured below)

One Month plus One Day

2011-03-21T08:43:00.000-04:00

I posted pictures for one, two and three weeks and somehow I neglected the big one month post! So, here we are, one day late with some pictures from this past week.

Three Weeks!

2011-03-12T22:45:00.000-05:00

Yep! Our growing girl is three weeks young today...and so happy to be out in the fresh air and sunshine!

Two weeks!

2011-03-05T21:28:00.000-05:00

Hannah smiling in her brand new birthday crown! Thank you Doe!

2011-03-03T22:08:00.000-05:00

Asleep in the vegetable patch

sucking her thumb!

counting baby toes

smelling baby toes

kissing baby toes

fresh from the bath

Just Pictures

2011-02-28T21:35:00.000-05:00

One Week!

2011-02-26T21:32:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Hannah's first week today!

She had her first bath, which after the initial surprise she loved.

Day 3

2011-02-22T19:41:00.000-05:00

Our little Hannah Mae, three days old, and changing every minute!

Hannah's best trick; the one-eyed wink

2011-02-18T21:39:00.000-05:00

2011-02-15T21:26:00.000-05:00

My Valentine from Joshua:

Joshua makes these beer cap creations on and off when the mood strikes him. He takes one of his collected caps, fills it with glue and then puts in bits of treasures from his treasure box. He says they are really hard to make because they take a long time to dry and you have to prop the trinkets up just so. I love this one so much because he made the paper heart purposely to put into his creation.

Ella and Joshua tickled my heart this morning whe they decided they needed a museum for their Lego town! Some of the displays include,

Stuffed owls behind glass

A knight in shining armor, next to a bat (also behind glass)

Trophy with a gun ( I need to get the story behing this one)

Civil war cannon behind a "velvet rope"

Love to All

2011-02-14T22:02:00.000-05:00

On this wonderful, warm, windy St. Valentine's Day!

2011-02-10T23:11:00.000-05:00

Coloraddo

2011-02-09T22:07:00.000-05:00

Over a year ago, or maybe two, I found this game at a thrift store. There were no directions in the box and I wasn't sure whether or not all the pieces were there, but I thought that the colored tiles looked like fun regardless. I bought it and brought it home to a nice resting space in our game cupboard. I couldn't find the directions online, but did email several contacts I found through a google search. Weeks later, some kind folk at Front Porch Detroit emailed me back with directions! I downloaded the file to our desktop where it sat until today...

Then curious hands picked Coloraddo off the shelf, directions were printed, read aloud, and the Yoders had a new game in their repertoire. Our first game was indeed a fun and clever challenge (and Gabriel was very happy because he won); but the best part? Discovering we had two missing tiles, and then deducing what color patterns were on those two tiles. Amongst the seeming jumble of squares we sorted and counted and classified until we determined exactly what colors were missing. Then the two boys completed our game by reproducing the missing pieces.
Joshua has been clamoring to play again.

And because this makes me smile, Gabriel eating his lunch today:

Burst of Brightness

2011-02-08T23:21:00.000-05:00

Overheard from my closet (the pioneer cabin):

Ella: Joshua! You're supposed to be out toiling in the fields!
Joshua: But you're just snuggling!
Ella: Yeah! I'm a WOMAN!

2011-02-07T22:26:00.000-05:00

Ella discovered some bulbs poking up out of the leaves! Hooray!!

Getting ready for baby

2011-02-04T23:25:00.000-05:00

A quick peak at some of our baby handmades that are pililng up around here.

I whipped up this pair of britches out of a felted wool sweater yesterday. Just cut off the two sleeves and sewed them up with elastic in the top.

I had done most of the knitting of this cobblestone vest as my little bit of solace while we were moving, but just recently sewed on the buttons. This is so cute I might try to knit a bigger one soon.

Quite an outfit for a little baby:

These booties might be my favorite so far! So quick and easy, just two pieces to sew up. Of course I have no idea if they will fit, or whether they will even go on a baby's foot, but they are so cute! I see lots of these in our family's future.

Hot off the presses today; a wee pair of leprechaun pants. I was hoping the ribbing at the top would hold them up, but I think I may need to add a bit of elastic, or else bring the sides of the ribbing in.

A trio of hats! It seemed everything I cut out left the perfect amount of fabric for a cap, hence this set. Green and grey cashmere, white lambswool.

Wipes! Forty of them to be exact. Surging these off is a little addictive. The blues are out of an old flannel sheet from my grandmother, the pink floral from some old pajama pants, and the sweet one in the middle is made out of a square of the nightgown Grandmom was wearing when she died.

My first attempt at wool pants. I made these by using a pair of newborn pants as a pattern, but I think I prefer the two sleeve method.

And I must mention out new laundry detergent! I started out making it for baby clothes, but decided I loved it for all of our laundry. I did go to the trouble of costing it out; $0.12 a load! It is so fresh. Our first batch was lavender and Ella and Joshua just made a peppermint batch tonight. How many 9 and 7 year olds can say they make their own laundry soap?

Raising Monkeys?

2011-02-02T22:29:00.000-05:00

Don't these guys look like a bunch of monkeys playing soccer? We had such an amazing day; it's hard to believe parts of the country are getting hit with serious snow storms!

Ella, Joshua and Gabriel played outdoors all afternoon. I hung out load after load of laundry (lots of baby stuff :) ) and spring cleaned with the windows open.

lunch alfresco

Indian camp

Its the Simple Things

2011-01-18T23:12:00.001-05:00

Today was such a fun, out the ordinary, surprising sort of day.

We walked all around the Rotunda, inside and out. Slipped through the gates into walled gardens, touched statues, and watched construction.

Appreciated this Remarkable Ginko (from the Remarkable Trees of Virginia) in her winter glory.

Went out to lunch and lingered in one of my favorite used book stores. ( I found a treasure: Holling Clancy Holling's Indian Book. This is one of Joshua's favorites that we used to check out of the library when he was just four).

Balanced across a pond, cracked ice, chased ducks,

found freshwater clams with the living clam still inside.

Discovered Ancient ruins!

And do you know what?

When we got home I asked Joshua what the best part of his day was. He answered that the day wasn't over yet. I asked him again at dinner, and he said it was playing a game with me (Destruct 3), but that the day still wasn't over. When he was all tucked into his bunk, I asked him again. This time he said that the best part of his day was reading a story. I had read him part of The Indian Book at bedtime.

Listening for Tom Baby

2011-01-17T21:18:00.000-05:00

Legos Legos and more Legos

2011-01-16T13:37:00.000-05:00

Ella took these pictures of her lego set ups and posted them on here.

2011-01-10T11:52:00.000-05:00

Don't these boys look studious?

They're drawing football routes.

2011-01-07T19:14:00.002-05:00

Day 1 2011

2011-01-01T22:25:00.001-05:00

2010-12-22T23:32:00.000-05:00

Wishing you Many Blessings in this New and Peaceful Season

progress?

2010-12-20T23:04:00.002-05:00

The first and last pictures on my camera card, with 163 in between. We have boxed, loaded, driven through freezing rain, unloaded, unboxed, and made merry with friends and family all within a weeks time.

It's starting to feel like home.

November 30...

2010-11-30T21:49:00.000-05:00

In which I abandon the to do list, go out for lunch and spend the afternoon crafting.

Today's highlights:
~Ella being so proud of the mittens she sewed up for herself out of a felted sweater. (this picture shows off the mittens and Caitlin's newly fashioned knitting bag.) I am also very grateful for a generous friend who offers up her cashmere sweater for creative purposes.

~Hanging up the children's Advent calendars

~Joshua surprising me by making my bed

Happy Advent

2010-11-29T22:39:00.000-05:00

I am so pleased with the way our makeshift Advent wreath turned out. I was tempted to have a single Advent candle for the center of our table, but the four candle wreath is a tradition all the children love so much, that I couldn't just do away with it. Finding traditional purple and pink colored candles that don't smell horridly repulsive is a trick, so we splurged on beeswax tapers that smell delicious!

My idea yesterday was to write a highlight of each day of Advent here, in this space, to share (this is especially for you Mother Dear). However, last night I fell asleep early, and blew my plans on the very first night! So, while I won't promise every night, I will post our ITOTMs when I can.

Yesterday was:
~Seeing Joshua outside passing the football with our neighbor

~The three children gathered in a tight little flock at the end of our row in church, arms around each other, watching Father Joe light the first Advent Candle

~An impromptu Chile dinner at Maggie's, followed by malted chocolate cupcakes YUM!

Today:
~Knitting in the morning sun over breakfast

~Watching Joshua and Gabriel playing a *new* version of football together

~Seeing Joshua play football by himself...this is hilarious...it's like he's reenacting plays in slo-mo

Finally finished my "newborn" hat, I'm guessing it will fit our baby in July, just when one needs a wool hat!

Ella thought Star Baby might like to model

Joshua was SO proud of this football field he built today. The end zone says VMI

Gabriel

2010-11-20T22:47:00.000-05:00

After I read yesterday's post over, I realize I didn't mention Gabriel once! Yet he is the busiest little guy in the house! So today, I am focusing on Gabriel, with a few examples of his creations that have popped up on the kitchen table recently.
And as for the sweetness factor, today when he was missing Ella he said, "Remember those wonderful chocolate muffins Ella made for us? That was so nice." She made the muffins at least six months ago when she was on her Jiffy muffin kick.

A set of stop signs Gabriel made all by himself! As in cut out the shape and did the lettering and everything! I guess walking by stop signs everyday left an impression in his mind.

Here he wrote down numbers 4-14. Don't you love the four that looks like a goal post? He said the eight is supposed to look like a bicycle wheel. Once again this was his own idea.

Here he made an eight out of cuisinaire rods, then a nine. Then asked what eight plus nine was. I told him seventeen, which he made in green! I tell you this kid astounds me! He is fascinated by numbers, especially the concept of doubling numbers as in "what's 1+1? , 2+2? , 4+4? , 8+8?" etc...

November 19

2010-11-19T22:05:00.000-05:00

I realized that I never posted anymore "scenes from New York" so I thought tonight would be a good night to add one. Two men were blowing bubbles with gigantic wands made out of bamboo poles and string. The wands were exactly like the bubble wands the kids and I made this Summer out of dowel rods, only bigger. And of course these guys had a much bigger crowd and a hat out to collect cash!

Notes from today:
Finished this book. Highly recommended.

Helped Ella make a hat for her friend out of a felted wool sweater. She was VERY pleased with the way it turned out, which was great because in the beginning she seemed close to tears.

Filled up the ipod with Christmas music

Ella made some comment about the "eternal hard drive" which made me laugh. I really hope it is eternal because all of our pictures are stored on there.

Joshua was gone until suppertime tonight after sleeping over at his friend's house last night. I asked him if he missed me at all and he said, "No, I kind of forget about you when I'm doing other stuff."

Patched Ella's new favorite corduroys out of her old pair of favorite corduroys.

And otherwise puttered around doing the usual. Oh, and today marks 27 weeks, but I didn't take a picture.

Also, a lego link for you. Joshua wanted to know both how legos are made and in particular how the heads and faces are made. This video shows both.

Feeling Pressure...

2010-11-17T22:40:00.001-05:00

to post! (from a certain someone...you know who you are:)) No blogging has occurred recently because of one main activity: WALKING! Walking to dance, to Latin, to the library, to choir. You get the idea, our legs have been mobile! Actually, it has been great; good exercise, beautiful weather (with the exception of yesterday when we hitched a ride to Girl Scouts with friends) Really, I enjoy it. The only trouble is we are all exhausted by the end of the day. Which means we all (including myself) are asleep by 8:30. I generally wake up around 9:30, back aching from being in the toddler bed and in a fog. I am too sleepy to DO anything and if I go back to sleep in my own bed then I wake up around 2AM and can't sleep. So usually I stare at the computer. Blogs, videos, emails, knitting patterns; not really coherent enough to put together a blog post or even upload pictures.

However, here is my attempt, rambly as it may be, to put up a few pictures and tell y'all what we've been up to. Without further ado:

A picture of Ella that I like because her eyes look so blue. This was taken today before her last choir practice. I got kind of emotional at her choir rehearsal today. Luci gave her a gift and had all the kids say something about Ella that they liked. She will be singing for the last time on Sunday. (last time in the choir at St. Patrick's...I hope she never stops singing)

Gabriel seems to have grown a bit since last winter:

Joshua working on a spear today. He has been soaking up this glorious weather. Outside from morning till night. Mostly playing soccer, basketball, and a new game he learned called 500. Gabriel follows his big brother around everywhere.

The two brothers again, this time in a band. I think that's pomegranate juice all over Gabriel's face.
Goodnight!

First Frost

2010-10-30T21:13:00.000-04:00

We had our first real frost last night. Not terribly heavy, but heavy enough to do some damage. So long impatiens, zinnias, basil. The marigolds and Echinacea came through as well as most of the nasturtium which always seems so delicate. According to Lavender and Rosebuds, last year's first frost came to Rebel Ridge on the night of October 18. Also last year one picture told the story, this year you get six!

24 Weeks

2010-10-29T21:45:00.000-04:00

So many people this past week have made a comment along the lines of "Wow! You finally look pregnant!" Indeed I do. Today marked 24 weeks, so I took a picture in my most revealing shirt for all to see.

Here's the episode I was going to post last night if I hadn't fallen asleep (in the toddler bed, all the lights on, sink full of dishes and turkey stock simmering away on the stove):
We had such a commotion over what the new bed time read aloud was going to be. Tears, angry words, the whole nine yards. We were all so tired, so very overtired, and I finally said something along the lines of, "Fine! If there's going to be this much arguing I just won't read!" But with that I pulled My Side of the Mountain off the shelf and headed into the bedroom with a wailing parade behind me.
After the first page Gabriel was asleep and Ella and Joshua quietly listening in their beds. After the first chapter, Joshua begged for more. Towards the end of the second chapter I read this, "Fortunately, the sun has a wonderfully glorious habit of rising every morning."
With that we all fell asleep, awaiting our fresh, new day. What a beautiful day it turned out to be!

Scenes from New York

2010-10-27T23:28:00.000-04:00

I have so many pictures from our trip to New York that I thought I'd post a few here and there when I get a chance. Tucker already posted all the yummy food pics on his blog.

Here on a block in Manhattan (down near Chinatown?) we came across these amazing crochet pieces. Are they functional? Are they art? They certainly are intriguing and brilliantly crafted!

Pumpkin Moonshines

2010-10-26T21:21:00.001-04:00

The pictures give away who carved which pumpkin, in case there was any question. To me there is no mistaking which of my children designed which pumpkin!

2010-10-24T20:39:00.001-04:00

Very happy to report that they had some success!

Remarkable trees?

2010-10-23T22:53:00.000-04:00

We took a detour heading home to Lexington from Charlottesville to visit this avenue of sugar maples featured in the Remarkable Trees of Virginia book. Not exactly sure just when we were going to enter this splendid corridor, we had our eyes peeled for stunning colors, when it occurred to us that all these barren trees we were passing through were maples. Indeed they were the very ones we were seeking! We did however have a beautiful drive through the quaint towns of Raphine and Brownsburg, all along listening to the sounds of the wild, hungry, and generally needy children in the backseat

What have we found here?

2010-10-08T21:29:00.001-04:00

What is everyone gazing at so intensely in this photograph? A marvel of nature just as remarkable as our yellow buckeye, that I am identifying as a Rabid Wolf Spider. Check out those pairs of eyes! And do you realize what is covering its back? Yes! Babies! Hundreds of spider babies! Every few seconds one of these babies would jump off ready to be out in the big world by itself.

According to our spider book, the spiderlings ride on the female's back until ready to disperse. The species is harmless to people, but its bite is feared. The yellow and black head stripes are what marks this spider as different from other wolf spiders .

Yellow Buckeye National Champion

2010-10-07T22:05:00.000-04:00

I have been waiting for weeks to go see this tree! Last night I even had a nightmare that it was raining and our car broke down and we weren't able to go. However, the day was beautiful, and we all (me and my chickens and two other families) trekked out to see this tree. Truth be told it wasn't much of a trek. This National champion is minutes from Keely's house and a short walk down a gravel path. I find it astounding that this is the largest yellow buckeye in the country! Finding the fallen nuts in the surrounding grasses was like treasure hunting. Most were still encased in their hull, which was soft and spongy and easy to open. The hollow inside the tree was certainly impressive. Regional legend has it that the inside of this tree was once used for a farmer's pigs.

Plenty of knobs for climbing and vines for swinging. Lots of poison ivy too...hopefully we left that behind.

Our tree crew:

Maggie and Keely, Gabriel, Eli, Ben, Evan, Joshua (not looking!), Emma, Caitlin, Ella

Our Birthday Boy

2010-10-01T23:29:00.000-04:00

Can you find?

2010-09-29T21:13:00.001-04:00

In Joshua's great drawing, can you find...
1. An American flag
2. A British flag
3. A bird carrying a balloon
4. an envelope
5. a rocket ship
6. six spewing volcanoes

play dough and cuisinaire rods

2010-09-27T19:12:00.006-04:00

A few of Joshua's recent creations: Guess who Joshua is here:

Boxerwood Fall Family Festival

2010-09-25T21:43:00.004-04:00

This was our third year attending the Boxerwood Fall Family Festival. There are always crafts, cider pressing and drinking, and fresh out of the fryer cinnamon and sugar doughnuts. That alone is celebration enough to herald in this wonderful season. But the Spectacle is really the highlight of the festival. This year the performance was entitled "The Bones of Boxerwood" and included dancing trilobites and ammonites as well as dancing trees, crows and the gigantic Dr. Munger. ( Dr. Munger is the man who planted over 7,000 trees to transform farmland into this amazing arboretum which Boxerwood is today). All this set to beautiful music, bits of poetry, and a touching narration by K.B. the current caretaker of Boxerwood.

Ella was so sweet to treat us all to Asian Pears.

By the look of this picture you wouldn't think she liked it, but I think it was me taking a picture that she was making a face at.

In the News

2010-09-22T21:00:00.002-04:00

It has been a while, but this called for a post. Ella was in our local newspaper twice this week! First for "learning how to spin wool" at a grandparent's festival, and then for doing a cooking demonstration with Tucker at the farmer's market. Only the Farmer's market picture is online. Too bad they cut Tucker out of the picture!

New favorite swimmin' hole

2010-08-23T22:26:00.001-04:00

See here for lots more

Hull's Drive-in

2010-08-17T16:45:00.003-04:00

Waiting for the show to begin...

2010-08-03T22:07:00.002-04:00

I was picking out the old, dead lilies out of our patch when this little guy scampered out. Turns out he and his three little brothers and sisters (and hopefully a mama bunny) have been living right outside our bedroom window. He was easy to catch, being such a baby and all, and we were so tempted to keep him. However, I know he is meant for the wild, so after admiring him a few minutes we returned him to his family in the lily patch. I hope we see him nibbling at our garden greens.

Skate Park

2010-07-29T21:12:00.003-04:00

Today's post was going to be more butterflies and perhaps maybe a bee and praying mantis thrown in there for good measure, but I decided to spice things up a bit and put on these pictures from back on July 1 of the kids at the skate park.

Joshua got the bug to go one of those 90 degree plus, steaming asphalt days. He was so persistent (persistent or pestering?) that I jammed all three bikes in the trunk and we went. Surprisingly, once we got there, Joshua was the timid one and Ella, who usually is not as confident on her bike, was the daredevil. In the end, they both went down the ramps again and again and again. I am happy to report that we arrived home safely with nary a skinned knee, after a dip in the pool which is right next door. And Gabriel? He rode around and did some swell tricks of his own on his tiny two wheeler.

2010-07-28T21:57:00.005-04:00

How happy we all were for the bit of cloud cover yesterday brought us! It felt like Spring again as we skipped over to Kendal to wade through the creek and jump off hay bales. I was so glad I had slung my camera over my shoulder because the butterflies swarming the teasel were spectacular.

First we have the tiger swallowtail:

Next, a female swallowtail in her dark phase:The shy, peaceful looking monarchThe sad tattered red admiralUntil moments later that monarch, much to my horror, attacked the poor admiral pinning it to the ground six feet below! Apparently butterflies can be very territorial.Here is the view I had looking up, quite stuck in the thicket of teasel I had forged into, trying to photograph the butterfly attack.

One of my curious budding naturalists:
Joshua took this picture of us. I am showing Gabriel a dead cicada and he is batting it away with a stick. Here's to many more cloudy days!

And a happy Christmas in July to you!

2010-07-25T13:59:00.001-04:00

Joshua said he likes this picture of himself:

Light Show

2010-07-25T13:01:00.002-04:00

I feel like this needs to be some sort of monumental blog post. Since it has been quiet over here at Lavender and Rosebuds for a spell it is hard to know just how to start back up again. Fortunately I have my camera card to jog my memory as to what we have been up to this past month. So without further ado, our Philadelphia backyard light show. Hosted by Suzy who brought the poi balls, which are light up color changing balls that you twirl around in mesh socks. For a more detailed account of the history of poi, check here.

Summertime

2010-06-18T08:10:00.003-04:00

Pool membership: $200.00
Goggles and sunscreen: $28.00
Watching Gabriel under the mushroom: priceless

Kickball

2010-06-15T22:07:00.004-04:00

After all those fun and games at field day, Joshua still really just wanted to play kickball. So we rounded up some folks (including a couple of honest to goodness league playing kickballers) for an intense game between the bubblegums and the BGBs (aka the bubblegum beaters). We all had so much fun, despite the heat, that this may become a monthly event. Joshua was much pleased.

Gabriel and Joshua seem to have similar kicking styles

don't you think?

Ella and Ella

Field Day 2010

2010-06-10T22:44:00.005-04:00

For today's butterfly...

2010-06-07T22:08:00.002-04:00

We have a pair of Great Spangled Fritillaries. I never tire of watching these beauties. So many fritillaries fluttering in flight on our flowers out front!

2010-06-05T22:47:00.002-04:00

Our best find ( I think) while geocaching this morning. The Zebra Swallowtail. Caterpillar likes to feed on foliage of the pawpaw tree, which must be why I have seen several of these striking butterflies in these parts.

Feeding the Lego Mania

2010-06-01T22:27:00.004-04:00

Ella and Joshua participated in Lego Quest for the first time this week. Checkout the website to see their flag creations and play along with the new challenge. Oh, and Joshua is trying to trade this guy on Legomen Project.

Wishing you

2010-05-30T22:12:00.002-04:00

A Happy Memorial Day!

2010-05-28T22:10:00.002-04:00

Keely brought me this beautiful bouquet this afternoon. Peonies, lemon balm and catnip (catmint?), it had graced her table at the Clifton Forge farmer's market earlier this morning. Now it is resting on our kitchen table, bringing a bit of cheer and peace to end this hectic week. Thanks to Renee over at FIMBY for inspiring Friday's Flowers.

Pastries by Ella

2010-05-25T23:12:00.001-04:00

Star of Bethlehem

2010-05-21T22:17:00.002-04:00

One petal open

Time flies

2010-05-21T21:39:00.002-04:00

This is the picture that has been our desktop background for the past week; I wanted to share the JOY! Joshua at 18 months!

Night Time Magic

2010-05-19T21:40:00.003-04:00

Ella and I just watched an amazing firework display right from our bedroom window. Magical as can be!

Mourning dove with chick

2010-05-18T22:40:00.002-04:00

Nesting on an old pair of work gloves on a tool shelf.