The last time we had a complete family picture? Much to long! I need one for the wall, but would prefer one where the kids are clean and the clothes are ...... planned. But I still really like this one, maybe because it's how we usually look. :) Jeff and Larissa came for the weekend and we had a great time with them. Jeff helped Steve with the mowing at church and the graveyard and Larissa showered the kids with love and helped me cook. Saturday afternoon we went to Swallow Falls.
Wonder if anyone knows what they are doing?
Try taking a picture of these two- first you get this.....
then this....
and finally!
When we got up to the top, Antoine ran out towards the edge of the rocks and my legs turned to jello and I screamed desperately. Thank goodness Steve was closer and could grab him. I don't think he had any idea what could happen.
Here's another thing boys do....make ears behind anything getting it's picture taken. It's a toad, by the way.
A quiet moment with dad...
I think this must be the best way to go hiking


monkey see....
monkey do...barefoot. And then needed help getting down!
The girls are amazed.....something doesn't look right...
That's more like it!
We stopped to eat on the way home, we were all tired and hungry. And stopped again after that for soft ice cream. Which was the second time that day for a select few. That's what happens when there's an ice-cream stand so close to home! Jeff and Larissa, it was great having you. Do come again. :)

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On a completely different note, yesterday and today we had a little girl here who had not been here before. I guess Antoine wanted to make a good impression. He knew exactly what he wanted to wear and when it took him a little while to come back downstairs, I went to check on him. He was standing there in his room, thinking. He couldn't find the right shorts so I helped him find some others. He smiled a little as he was getting dressed then looked at me and said,"Mom, I think Lizzie is going to like how I look!"

Oh dearsy me!

They were fast friends....

~ellen

What to do when it's late afternoon and you haven't had drop of coffee all day and your exhausted and you have four hours to drive and your sisters are about to head off in different directions? Take the advise of two nieces (thank you, Cherie and Christy) and go to a wonderful coffee shop. At least I think this is the one they said. Wallhouse in Sugarcreek. Inside the first set of doors you are greeted with heavenly aromas and two urns filled with coffee beans. Step through the next doors and swoon! The coffee was great and the ice cream..... my choice was Mocha Monkey.....and it almost made a monkey out of me, it was so good. Do try it if you ever get a chance...you'll not regret it!

Raw coffee beans ready for roasting....
My poison of choice.....
chunks of brownies and peanut butter cups, topped off with espresso....
rain outside and good friends inside...... for some reason I didn't get a picture of Lori and Andy. I was to taken up with my Mocha Monkey I guess...

Liss and I... we both look tired.

I tanked myself with coffee and started my four hour drive, which turned into five and a half. Jumping Jacks in the rain and vigorous walking through a closed mall (how fun is that?) and more caffeine and gross fries. Only to finally get home and crawl into my soft, warm, dry bed and my zapped brain would not let me sleep. But thank God I got home safe- I hate driving in the rain.

~ellen

Last evening I went with Victoria to a dinner for young authors. From all the schools in our county, there was one winner in each grade for poetry and one winner for short stories. Victoria's short story won in the second graders catagory. So the Garrett Reading Council had a dinner and awards ceremony for the winners. Author Anna Egan Smucker was there to speak and sign books and hand out the awards. Victoria was really worried that she would have to read her story to everyone there. :)
Anna Egan Smucker's book 'Golden Delicious' was signed and given to the younger winners. The older winners got a gift certificate to a local book store.

Not all of the winners were able to come, but these are the ones who were there. Swan Meadow was well represented!
Victoria also won this basket of Junie B. Jones books, which she loves!

I was just thrilled and proud of her for winning the contest. Actually, I'd be thrilled and proud of her even if she hadn't won. I think reading and writing is so good for you in lots of ways.
One thing Anna Egan Smucker told the kids was not to get discouraged if publishers send their work back with a 'no thanks'. Dr. Suess (who doesn't know and love Dr. Suess) had his first story sent back 27 times! I'm glad he didn't give up....

~ellen

Mr. Postman, look and see. Please, please Mr. Postman,
I've been waiting, Mr. Postman, so-o patiently,
for just a card, or just a letter
sayin' she's comin' home to me.
So Mr. Postman, look and see.

So many days you pass me by,
till the tears stand in my eyes.
You don't stop to make me feel better....


My attempt at a representation of a Beatles song. :)
~ellen

Antoine's expression here is just like it was when he got the puppy for his birthday. Adoration and happiness.

What's more fun than giving your puppy a bath on a hot summer (spring) day? Especially if two of your most favorite aunts are in on the fun.
Annie calmly accepted her punishment. She seriously had a 'whipped dog' look in her eyes and didn't realize this was fun. :)

A little resistance here....

And she ran straight for the camera here and shook herself viciously. And proceeded to go bury herself in the leaves and dirt. I think little boys and dogs have something against being clean!

~ellen

Taking another jog down memory lane...Gramma's house just has so many memories. I sat and watched her many times using this sewing machine. She used to sew 'mutza' for men in church and if a dating boy showed up at Gramma's house (which was in plain sight of our house- just across the yard) then us kids were in on a secret. Engagements were not announced until two weeks before the wedding, but no suit coat and vest and pants could be sewed in such a short amount of time so they had to be ordered before the two weeks prior. And I remember feeling just a little smug that we knew something no one else did. I was (and still am) amazed at the precise and straight seams she made with her machine. In my younger years I didn't think anyone else even knew HOW to make those suit coats. I can still hear that needle going up and down and hear her foot pumping on the foot pedal.How sad that handwritten letters are becoming a thing of the past. Seriously, an email is just not the same! Although I do appreciate those. :) Another treasure from Gramma's house....
And her lamp still sits on this shelf by the window. The winter or two that it was my responsibility to keep her woodbox filled I saw this a lot from outside. Glowing in the window...nice and warm inside where she often had something for me when I was finished. Most times it was a piece of bread with jam.
And this last picture is actually not Gramma's house, but another empty house. I just love the wooden porch floor and the old chairs. And it kinda' fits in with these other pictures. :)

~ellen

I love seeing dads play ball with their boys. Especially when that dad is my hubby! Not really loving the grass stains in the pants. But really, I guess I don't even mind that all that much. Antoine's getting big enough that swinging the bat doesn't topple him over anymore!




Best Buds....

Those first boquets in the spring are so sweet and delightful..."I picked these for you, Mom. Aren't they beautiful?"
And a few more lovely signs of Spring in this cold windy little corner of the Earth...

Yesterday may have been almost 70 and 'hot' (according to the kids who so badly wanted to go barefoot), but today was rainy and windy and colder, then this evening it started snowing. Oh joy...! I love Garrett County. (I do, I do)