Veteran's Day

Today's is Veteran's Day. A day set aside to honor those who have served our great nation, at home and abroad.

Army. Navy. Air Force. Marines. Coast Guard.

May we never forget their service and their sacrifice, in the name of Freedom. And may God bless America.

"It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it." (Thomas Jefferson)
**

Star Spangled Banner
by Francis Scott Key

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the Rockets' red glare, the Bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our Flag was still there;

O! say does that star-spangled Banner yet wave,
O'er the Land of the free, and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,

Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country, shall leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From the terror of fight or the gloom of the grave,

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the Land of the Free, and the home of the Brave.

O! thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their loved home, and the war's desolation,
blest with victory and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land,
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - "In God is our Trust;"

And the star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave,
O'er the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave.

Leaves

*
"The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn."
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)
*

And so as not to have a thousand forests
growing in our yard, we are cleaning up leaves
from the floor of the wooded area of our yard.
*
Some leaves are moved (via tarp) to our garden spot
and into flower beds.
*
Autumn's leaves are God's garden fertilizer.
*
And others are moved (via tarp) to the thicker
woods across the road, where they can
break down and feed the trees.

And some leaves are simply piled high,
in HUGE piles,
for the sole purpose of
jumping and playing in them.
*
(Eventually, this pile will be moved to the garden spot too,
once the first layer has settled.)

Grumbles

We spent yesterday morning doing our school lessons, amid complaints from the Cherubs. And we spent much of yesterday afternoon raking leaves and picking up sticks, in preparation for a Camp Out to be held here next weekend. As we raked and cleaned up, the Cherubs grumbled about the arduous task.

Philippians 2:14-16

"Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain."

It was so frustrating for me --- God gifted us with a beautiful day which was perfect for these tasks. It was beautiful -- the yard, strewn with so many rich warm colors that will in turn be used to nourish the soil on which we will grow our summer's bounty. Rakes and wagons were working in harmony with strong backs and able arms. This little piece of land that God gifted to us just a few short months ago, filled to the brim with Autumnal splendor. His Masterpiece, shining in the sunshine, under a clear blue sky.

1 Peter 4:9

"Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."

The grumbles of our Cherubs spurred my memory. You see, many years ago when we had only 3 children under 3yo, I was feeling particularly overwhelmed. And it was then that I got into a horrible habit. I too was grumbling about some mundane task set before me ... dishes ... or laundry ... sweeping ... a yard in sore need of attention ... or something. I was complaining and was resentful of most tasks during this time. And it was during one of my grumble sessions that a lovely older lady (friend) shared a precious bit of wisdom with me which I have carried to this day. She said, "You can set about these tasks with grumbles and complaints. Or you can give them to God, recognizing these jobs as a blessing rather than a curse, because it is in doing these small things with a servants heart, as a wife and mother, that you give Glory to God." She shared with me how, for example, as she scraped leftover food from plates to be washed into the trashcans, she gave Thanks to God for plentiful food enough that scraps were left behind. She praised God for the plates on which it was served, for the kitchen and running clean water with which to clean them. She asked God to strengthen the bodies that consumed the meal while cooking or cleaning up. While doing laundry, she thanked God for the grass stains or garden dirt on the clothing and for the healthy bodies of her family - thankful that they had energy enough to work or play, and that their yard was a safe place in which her children could play. She thanked God for the glorious plot of land which they called their home, and the four walls that protected them from the elements. As she folded or mended the clothing of each member of her family, she prayed specifically for that person, lifting them into Our Father's hands.

At that moment, I was truly humbled. What a brat I had been. I immediately repented. And I have been putting into practice that incredible wisdom, day in and day out, for many years now.

But yesterday, while listening to the grumbles and complaints, it pained my heart. I have tried to pass along that same wisdom to my own children, as it was once given to me. But lately it seems that the lesson has been lost. There is far more grumbling and complaining than giving Him glory. Grumbling and complaining are nearly constant these days.

Jude 1:16

"These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage."

You see, our children have been going through a phase, as all children do. This particular phase seems to have brought about a lack of "remembering". A lack of "thankfulness". And a lot of laziness. The Cherubs have taken on my old habit -- taking all things at face value only, forgetting that all things were created OF God, forgetting that all things can be seen as a blessing or a curse. It seems, of late, that the world is pulling quite hard on our Cherubs, and that in the pulling they have forgotten to Remember .... remember to be thankful .... remember to be gracious .... remember to think of Him .... remember to pray to Him .... remember what it means to have a servant's heart .... remember to give Glory to God in all things.

As I drifted off to sleep last night, I was thinking of all of the blessings God has bestowed on our family ... and, as most mothers can understand, I was particularly concerned about the six Cherubs which God entrusted to us. Where had the pulling overpowered the wisdom ? Did they ever hear the message ? Why were they grumbling -- was the task too much for them, or were their hearts in the wrong place ? And what to do about it all --- isn't that the question of all mothers when things are not going as they should ?

I prayed first a prayer of thanksgiving -- for the honor of raising 6 Cherubs. I prayed for each of their hearts, that they might remember Him in all things. I prayed for their bodies, healthy and strong. I prayed that the "ant" come into their minds ... and that they would rediscover their servant's hearts. I prayed that they would renew their commitment to seeing the blessing rather than a curse. And I prayed for wisdom -- that God would make clear the steps I should (or should not) take in that redirection. That He would give me the words, if there were any to be spoken.

Matthew 20:1-16

Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' So the last will be first, and the first last."

This morning I awoke with a renewed sense of peace, a sense of direction, several passages of scripture relating to grumbling, and with this beautiful song by Mark Shultz on my mind.

Remember Me
In a Bible cracked and faded by the years
Remember me
In a santuary filled with silent prayers

CHORUS:
And age to age
And heart to heart
Bound by grace and peace
Child of wonder, Child of God
I'll remember you
Remember Me

Remember me
When the color of the sunset fills the sky
Remember me
When you pray and the tears of joy
fall from your eyes

CHORUS

Remember me
When the children leave
their Sunday school with smiles
Remember me
When they're old enough to teach
Old enough to preach
Old enough to leave

CHORUS

Age to age and heart to heart
Child of wonder child of God

Remember me

Age to age and heart to heart
Child of wonder child of God

Thank you Lord, for hearing my cries. Thank you for blessing us, often in spite of ourselves. Please hold our tongues. Guide our steps, Lord, that we might be a light unto the world, and that we might bring Glory to Your Holy Name in all things.

A Chilly Morning

Photos taken in our yard.
November 6, 2009
7:30am

First Frost

The first, although scattered, Frost for the year.

Ode

Pale in her fading bowers the Summer stands,

Like a new Niobe with clasped hands,

Silent above the flowers, her children lost,

Slain by the arrows of the early Frost.

Richard Henry Stoddard [1825 - 1903]

Extra ! Extra !

READ ALL ABOUT IT !!

The newest edition of the
Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival
is hot off the presses.

Enjoy !

Recipe: Pumpkin Pancakes

Cherub 3 made delicious
Pumpkin Pancakes this morning for breakfast.
A wonderful Autumn breakfast !!
*
Yield: Serves 8.

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 cups mashed, cooked pumpkin
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium-sized bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and sugar. In a large bowl, beat together the pumpkin, eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and blend thoroughly. Pour 1/4 cup batter on a hot greased griddle. Cook until the bottom is lightly browned and bubbles form. Turn and finish cooking on other side. Serve with hot syrup.

Horse'n Around

SunnySocks
Born June 9th
(nicknamed Little Miss Fancy Pants by our trainer)

Tuesday:
R.G., our Horse Trainer,
working with Sunny
and Estrella

When we moved, we encountered some serious issues with Estrella. Being new and inexperienced horse owners, we apparently were not good "leaders" according to our Momma horse, and so she took over. This resulted in her behaving rather meanly (biting, kicking, ear pinning, herding, running "at" us) toward our family members. At first, we thought it was aggressive behavior.

Our vet of 12 years, concerned for our safety first and foremost, recommended that we find Estrella a new home - fast.

However, we loved her too much to just give up. So we hired a horse trainer that came highly recommended.

This trainer, R.G., came to evaluate our situation. And she explained that because we were not "good lead mares" ourselves, that Estrella had stepped into the role in order to protect herself and her baby.

R.G. has been coming here twice weekly for some time now -- mostly to train the humans more so than Estrella and Sunny. HA !! She has helped us determine the issues with Estrella, and to modify how we work with her to accommodate her fears and reservations so that she can work through them better.

The method of Horse Training that R.G. is teaching us is called Horsemanship By Feel -- there are no whips, no intimidating, and no "respect by fear" that seem to be the norm for horse training. Instead, the training works toward a mutual trust and mutual concern. (The above link is to a website for another professional trainer, who also had a big part in training "our" trainer. the methods are described in this website.)

We have learned so much from R.G., and have begun to build a delightful relationship with both of our horses. This relationship is based on mutual respect and mutual trust. Our horses are flourishing under the guidance of this trainer (esp Sunny, who lovesssss R.G. and is excited on training days to see her arrive !), and all residents of Beck's Bounty are truly enjoying being horse owners and are dedicated horse lovers.

Equestrian Studies --- this was not a planned subject for study this year, but has certainly been a wonderful "elective" addition to our homeschool as well as to our lives. Our Cherubs have learned so much about caring for our horses and about interacting with them. Feeding, brushing, hoof care, leading, and now we are easing into leading them (on a line), and will eventually head into riding. What a blessing !

Estrella
(Our 4yo Momma. Her name is Spanish for Star)
Grazing in our upper pasture.

It's That Time Again

We're running a bit later than usual
this year, but finally it's time
to get out the warm woolies.
*
Swapping shorts for pants,
short sleeves for long,
bathing suits for mittens and gloves.
*
The days are getting cooler,
the nights are getting colder.
*
It's nearly time to break out
the tea cups, and begin anew
our traditional warm herbal tea
served during bedtime reading.
*
Thanksgiving is right around the corner ...
turkey and all the fixings ...
a time when our minds focus on all
of the blessings God has bestowed
on our family and friends.
Our Father has been wonderful
to us ... a new home ...
dear friends old and new ...
good health ... DadToCherub's job ...
He is so good !!
*
Then it won't be much longer after that before
LET IT SNOW will be uttered nearly daily,
as the Cherubs hope for fluffy white flakes
to cover everything.
Being a bit higher in elevation
at this new house,
perhaps the chances are better now.
*
The holiday season will blow in like a whirlwind,
as usual, bringing with it visits with dear
family and friends, and all of the beautiful traditions --
baking cookies, decorating the tree,
pondering deeply on the story of Christ's birth,
singing carols, and evenings by the fireplace
sipping warm tea and perhaps a treat while reading
our favorite wintertime books together.
*
I can hardly wait.

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis

* I snapped these photos last weekend. This fellow was circling,
watching the Cherubs and I work on the pasture fences.
An impromptu Nature Study ! *

The below information about the Red-tailed Hawk came from enature .

Family: Accipitridae, Hawks and Eagles

Description: 18-25" (46-64 cm). W. 4' (1.2 m). A large stocky hawk. Typical light-phase birds have whitish breast and rust-colored tail. Young birds duller, more streaked, lacking rust-colored tail of adult; they are distinguished from Red-shouldered and Swainson's hawks by their stocky build, broader, more rounded wings, and white chest. This species quite variable in color, especially in West, where blackish individuals occur; these usually retain rusty tail.

Habitat: Deciduous forests and open country of various kinds, including tundra, plains, and farmlands.

Nesting: 2 or 3 white eggs, spotted with brown, in a bulky nest of sticks lined with shreds of bark and bits of fresh green vegetation, placed in a tall tree or on a rock ledge.

Range: Breeds throughout North America, from Alaska east to Nova Scotia and southward. Winters across United States north to southern British Columbia and Maritime Provinces.

Voice: High-pitched descending scream with a hoarse quality, keeeeer.

Discussion: The Red-tail is the most common and widespread American member of the genus Buteo, which also includes the Red-shouldered, Swainson's, and Gray hawks, among others. Like other hawks of this group, it soars over open country in search of its prey but just as often perches in a tree at the edge of a meadow, watching for the slightest movement in the grass below. The Red-tail rarely takes poultry, feeding mainly on small rodents.

Fall Back

Did you remember to "Fall Back" ?
*
We managed to set most of the clocks
back last night before going to bed.
*
And this morning, depending on
which room you are in, well,
you might be early ... or late ...
*
Hummmmmm.

For The Peepers

Looking down the driveway.
Looking to the left of the front porch.

View from the Dining Room windows.
View from the side yard.

Plenty of rain, cooler temperatures ....
perfect ingredients for spectacular fall foliage.
The trees here are changing, a bit at the time,
and the colors are brighter than we can remember
them being in several years.

The colors ... the smells ...
the crunch of leaves as you walk ...
the bonfires ... the preparations ...
apples, pumpkins, and gourds.

Autumn has arrived !!

Prayer Request

In the side margin of our blog, we requested prayer for L.U. and for her family, who live nearby. Below is the story, written by L.U.'s father, concerning his daughter who was involved in a single-car accident almost 2 weeks ago. (I took the liberty of replacing names with initials.)

She is a miracle -- and while resting in the loving arms of Our Father, continues to improve.

Won't you please pray for her, and for her precious family ?

"It was a typical Tuesday! We were going about business as usual and making preparations to leave town on Thursday for a five day trip. When my wife, A, got that fateful call informing her that our 21 year old daughter, L, had been involved in an automobile accident, it was not the callous voice of a law enforcement officer she heard, nor was it the indifferent official notification given by a medical professional. No, when A received that call, it was the caring and loving voice of a dear sister in Christ who shares our love for L, and who has children of her own. Her words were tempered with wisdom and prudence, giving A the information we needed, but leaving out details which could have only added to A's anxiety. In this simple way, our Lord was so kind and merciful and it was truly the voice of Jesus A heard.

Shortly after the accident occurred, two men arrived on the scene. They had responded from the CW Fire Dept. They did all they could to protect and sustain our daughter until the ambulance arrived. These men were not simply doing their jobs - they are volunteers. They did this because they care, and in this way they are in Christ-like fashion, laying down their lives for their brother.

One of the paramedics from the ambulance, recognizing the possible severity of L's injuries felt compelled to offer up a prayer on her behalf. Yet another expressin of our Lord's love and compassion for His people.

There was a young lady who happened upon the accident scene as the paramedics were extricating L from the wreckage. She did all she could to assist and comfort our little girl. It just so happened that this lady, a complete stranger, is a qualified first responder and the ambulance crew allowed her to ride with L as they transported her to a location where the helicopter could land to meet them. The ambulance crew had apparently recognized that this lady was truly ministering to L's needs, and they wanted her along. Again our Lord, in His abundant love and kindness had sent this angel - a true minister of Jesus!

I was overwhelmed as friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ dropped all they were doing to gather around us in the hospital that first night. We were absolutely surrounded by love and concern ("As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so Yahweh surrounds His people"-Ps. 125:2). These angels sent by our loving Father prayed with us, encouraged us, and did all they could to bear our burden with us - and again - they were the hands, the feet, the voice of Jesus.

My dear mother arrived at our house at hardly more than a moments notice to care for our children while A and I were at the hospital. My big sister (yes, she still is!) showed up a little while later from out of state to help my mother help us! Yes - again - the hands and feet of Jesus!

Words cannot express the thankfulness which fills my heart for all that I've witnessed as days have rolled by. One brother retrieved our wrecked van and completely handled that part of the ordeal so that I didn't need to lift a finger in that regard.

Friends have rallied around us from around the country and abroad to keep L in constant prayer. Our Lord's precious servants have shown up at the hospital in a never ending stream to encourage and pray with us. Many have brought food to the hospital ministering to our physical needs as well. Some of our brothers and sisters have been so committed to "being there" for us that they have spent nights in the hospital with us. I have joked about their determination to share our pain, because sleeping in the waiting room recliners usually leaves me craving chiropractic therapy.

Other friends and brethren are taking turns preparing and delivering meals to our house for our family there. Such thoughtfulness and kindness comes from the heart of our Lord, Jesus.

Even the youngest of our Lord's servants have participated by sending cards, letters, pictures and various sorts of notes of encouragement for L.

One brother delivered hay to our home for L's horse. He knew that it was needed and I had not had the chance to take care of that - so he did! A man delivering hay? No - the hands and feet of Jesus - Hallelujah!!!

A sister established a website so that anyone who desired could keep a constant vigil on L's condition. This has enabled everyone to know exactly how to pray at any given time. It also has greatly reduced the amount of time A and I must spend on the telephone giving updates. Yes, we know who inspired that!

We have truly been ministered to in every way - spiritually, physically, and even financially. Every need has been met and we have only been praying for L's healing! Yes, I have seen Jesus in this.
Jesus has shown up to minister to us in the hospital regularly. I have seen Him in the faces of strangers who have heard of L's need through emails and prayer chains. They have taken time out from their busy lives and make the trek to the hospital to pray for our daughter, and to encourage, exhort, and edify us. His mercies are new every morning!!!

Believe it or not, it gets better. After the initial emergency surgery, the marathon began. The team of surgeons had dealt with L's internal bleeding by removing her spleen and packing the liver in place. She had multiple punctures in her lungs from her nine broken ribs. Other injuries were relatively minor for the most part. However, a substantial contusion to the left side of her head caused concern. A CT scan revealed no brain damage and the spinal cord was intact. The doctors counseled us to be prepared for what may be ahead. There could be blood clots, infections, pneumonia, or other potential hazards.

It has been one long day to me, so I'm not sure of time, but the blood and fluids were drained from the injured lungs, and other procedures were constantly performed. As sedation was withdrawn, doctors and/or other specialists gave L stimulation tests. She would move her legs and feet, even her head, but not her arms or hands. Eventually, when she should have been awake, she didn't seem able to snap out of her drug induced slumber. Another CT scan was administered and revealed several blood clots had made their way to L's brain. These blood clots had prevented oxygen from reaching areas of the brain. These areas atrophy, or die. The neurologists explained that these areas were in the front, rear, left and right regions of the brain. These "dead spots" in the brain were strokes and would result in neurological deficiencies. Just what functions and/or how many bodily functions would be impacted would be determined as L regained consciousness. We should be prepared for long term disabilities, possibly rehabilitation, etc., etc.. L would probably need to re-learn some things, and could have some disabilities for life.

But Yahweh GOD - the One who created L - the One who designed her body, had different plans for her. The Almighty One, who spoke the cosmos into being touched L's body, mind and spirit. Those circuits in the brain have been either re-routed and/or repaired by His hand. He has done what no surgeon made of flesh can do!

As L regained conscientiousness, she was mentally alert and responded to us. In short order she was moving her arms and most of the rest of her body. By the following day, not only could she move her hands, she could squeeze my fingers in hers. By the next day her strength was greatly improved and when she squeezed my fingers then I could only speak one word - HALLELUJAH!!! Jesus, my Lord - Yahshua (Yahweh's Salvation) had shown up again!

L has continued to become more alert and communicates better as time goes by. Because of tubes in her throat and so forth she can't speak and we are forced to attempt to read lips. She is sometimes frustrated when we can't figure out what she is saying. Regardless she has regained her smile and is mentally sharp!

My little girl has been returned to us whole, intact, restored in mind, body and spirit - HALLELUJAH (Praise Yahweh) - for His servants who have been so faithful to do His work. And Hallelujah, Praise Jesus for His Healing Touch!

Yes, from the very beginning of this ordeal until now, my Lord has been faithful. He has provided every need from the most basic and simple to the most profound. Through His loving body and ultimately by His divine touch He has abundantly supplied my family's needs. He healed my daughter and He calmed the storm in me!

If I had not believed in Jesus before, I would believe now. If someone asks why I believe, I can smile and say - I saw Jesus today!!!"

UPDATE: Saturday 10/24:
Well, it is Saturday! Hard to believe!!
They moved us into a real room this morning at 4:00am!! Shortly thereafter a doctor blazed in and removed L's trach!!! Today they have stopped all her remaining meds. She is down to her feeding tube and one central line. They will probably keep the central line a little longer because it is a way to draw blood without having to find a new vein each time.

L has really done well at at advancing daily. She has been out of the bed at least a half dozen times today. Each time she grows stronger.

A friend came today and polished her nails!!!

One interesting thing today . . . L was complaining earlier of her ear being stopped up and feeling pressure in it. When the doctor came in to check to see if maybe she had an ear infection he found a fairly good sized piece of glass in her ear canal. We were all amazed. He is going to get an ENT (Ear, Nose, & Throat) doctor to make the necessary examinations to make sure there is nothing else in there.

She is counting the hours until her swallow test . . . she mentions eating several times a day!!! Love you all and keep praying! A

UPDATE: 10/29:
L.U. was discharged yesterday from the hospital. This morning, she is at home !! PRAISE GOD !!

Please continue to pray for L.U. as she adjusts to being at home again, and as she continues to recover from substantial injuries and also any residual effects from her strokes. Please pray for L.U. and her parents regarding decisions about potential heart issues resulting from the accident and surgeries.

L.U.'s progress thus far is nothing short of miraculous !! Our God is an awesome God !!

Also please continue to pray for the U family, for L.U.'s doctors, and for friends & family who have provided (and who continue to provide) help for this precious family.

10/29: A Message From A.U., mother of L.U.:

Psalm 29 -
Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in holy array.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The Lord is over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful,
The voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
And He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox,
The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve, And strips the forest bare, And in His temple everything says, "GLORY!"
The Lord sat as King at the flood;
Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.


It is so wonderful to be home and yet again I am overwhelmed. While I have been at my "home away from home" the last 22 days . . . this home has been fully functional and then some!!! The amount of food in the house is amazing. I can't begin to thank all of you enough for your generosity!!!

Thanks to the C family, we have all the equipment we need for helping L to be comfortable here.

The kids are so happy to have Sissy home! G could not get close enough to her yesterday . . . of course, we were trying to keep him from getting "too close"!!!

I admit I have battled some fear as we are here and I try to get back to some amount of normalcy. And then, I "happened" upon the above Psalm this morning . . .

What an awesome Father we serve!!!
I HEAR you, LORD!!! Loud and clear!
And thank all of you yet again for the HUGE part you have played in this.

One More Mouth ....

What's one more pet, right ?
So far we have 18 hens, 2 horses,
2 dogs, 4 cats, 1 guinea pig .....
and now we have a
teeny tiny goat.
*
But this little goat has a story.
*
It was spotted along a road,
nearly hit by a car.
And then was there the
next day ... and the next.
Just wandering.
DadToCherubs spotted her
the first time, and it was
"goatie love at first sight."
*
DadToCherubs, incidently,
never had a pet of his very own.
There was a poodle once,
but it was really his mothers dog.
Not a goldfish, turtle, cat,
or dog of his very own.
And into adulthood,
he liked animals alright,
but never "loved"
a pet of his very own.
*
Until a certain little goat
caught his attention
one afternoon while
driving home.
*
He watched ... and watched ...
and she was by
the roadside day after day,
early and late,
rain and shine ....
nearly getting hit by
multiple passing cars.
*
So, after confirming that
she did not "belong"
in that area ....
well ...
he did what any
grown man who loves a
cute little goat would do ...
he brought her home.
*
He rescued her.
*
Upon her arrival,
she had a good (much needed !) bath,
and was dried with warm towels
fresh from the dryer.
She was given a nice little
stall in the barn, and
by day plenty of green-stuff
to munch.
She is as happy as
a goat can be.
She baaaaa's and baaaaa's
for him while wagging
her tiny tail.
She likes the rest of the family,
but she seems to know
who to thank for her rescue.
*
Her name is ZOE.
*
Our vet happens to be
coming in a few days
to give immunizations
and trim hoofs and claws ...
so we'll add her to the list of patients.
(She is having some
digestive tract issues.
Maybe worms ? And a good
check up will be in order too.)

What's another mouth to feed, right ?
And it's such an adorable little critter.
HA HA HA !!
Who said dogs are man's best friend ?
The man of this house has
a special place in his heart for
a little tiny brown goat named Zoe.

Our Busy Scouts

Cherub 6 is a Tiger Scout now.
Isn't he just adorable ?

Cherub 1, Cherub 3, and Cherub 4
are Boy Scouts. They love Scouts.
Each of our Scouts spent Saturday
working on a Service Project at a
local Fall Festival. They were selling
popcorn, and making/selling stamped
leather arrowheads.
We hear they are fantastic salesmen !

They also helped generally at the Festival.
Carrying items for people, picking up trash,
and other helpful duties.

We'll post photos of all 4 of our Scouts
in uniform just as soon as the older
boys uniforms arrive.
So, stay tuned ...

Help Needed: Tree Identification

We have a group of 3 curious trees
in our back, moderately wooded pasture
which we cannot identify.
And what makes it curious, you ask ?
It is blooming NOW ... and it's AUTUMN.
*
This are of the pasture is mostly (80%) shade.
*
The soil is rich woodland soil, although
it is rather rocky (flat "stack stone" type rocks).
*
Our home is technically "on the line"
between regular and "higher elevation"
according to the local Forest Ranger.
So identifications of natural things
can be from either "area".
(We are in SE Tennessee.)
*
Above: Looking up into the tree's canopy.
(large leaves, nut clusters, and if you look very closely
you can see that there are a few purple
blooms still attached)
*
Below: Leaves (Cherub 1's hand for "size")
The leaves are very smooth
but not slick on the front.
On the back side, the leaves are
covered in a fine fuzz -
not soft, but not rough in texture.

Below: Closer photo for tree bark detail. The bark
feels rather smooth despite these markings. It also
appears to be very thin (not think like an Oak).

Below: Cherub 1 and Cherub 3 standing in and beside
two of the trees in this cluster. These trees are not very big,
yet they have fairly large canopies compared to their small
size. And when closely inspecting damage and "injuries"
on the trunks, we definitely came to the conclusion
that these are mature trees, albeit small.
*
(Note: We cannot find any more of these trees
in the other wooded areas, nor anywhere else
in this "patch" of woods. But according to neighbors,
this pasture has been "just" pasture
for 30 years or more.)

Below: This is a cluster of nuts found not far from the
base of these trees. The shells are all open, are very dry,
and very brittle. Also, their "hulls" are rather thin,
although they are stronger than we expected.

Above: half shells from a single seed pod.
*
Below: This tree is dropping light purple trumpet-shaped
blossoms. And at the base of each blossom is a soft
tan-brown "container" that rather looks like
a puff-ball mushroom (it feels almost like soft suede).
The tan container is very soft and supple -- not hard.

Above & Below: Close up images of some blossoms
that have already fallen to the ground.

We have scoured our tree books and the internet,
to no avail. We tried Witch Hazels
(blooms are yellow and are quite different
from these purple trumpet blossoms)
and were tried willows of all sorts.
*
We're stumped !!
*
And so we are hoping, now, that someone
"out there" might know what this tree is ?
Or can at least have some ideas that
might help us along in our search ?
**
UPDATE:
A friend from our
Nature Study Group,
Miss P.B.,
identified our tree.
It's a Princess Tree,
also known as
an Empress Tree.
It is not an native tree,
hence
our difficulty with
the identification.
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR HELP, P.B. !!

Carnival

The new
Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival
has been posted.

Enjoy !

A Fall Collage

Autumn Collage
(found online)

Can you believe that today is October 1st ? It seems like only yesterday we were tilling and planting the garden, swimming, and enjoying our longggg summer vacation. Well, it wasn't very long at all. HA !
*
We are settled into our new home. Everything is unpacked, and life is back to normal. One big difference here is the privacy, which we have not had in many years now. We see a car pass on the road out front every few days, and that's it. Oh, of course we also see the Mail Carrier daily. The Cherubs are enjoying exploring -- the barn loft has become their "fort", the woods are full of new treasures to identify (leaves, nuts, creatures), and the open fields are full of spinning giggling children playing ball or tag or some other delightful game every afternoon.
*
The leaves are beginning to change ... as we look over the woods and mountains, we can see tinges of gold and red mixed among the deep green foliage. We are waiting anxiously to see the mountains in their glorious autumnal splendor. It shouldn't be long now.

*
Our dogs are heading to the groomer soon, each for a Day of Beauty. A good bath, nail trimming, and a nice haircut. Daisy always enjoys her appointments. But Bella does not really care for this routine; she is in dire need of a bath however and so must go. HA !
*
Our horses have settled into their new stall. We managed to get the fencing finished on the upper pasture, and now we can visit with them while they graze. There have been some issues with Estrella since we moved, however. We consulted our vet, and then consulted a trainer, regarding Esstrella's aggressive dominant behavior which was more than we could handle. The trainer came yesterday afernoon for the first time. We watched her work with Estrella, seeing the wonderful, sweet dispositioned horse that we knew existed. It seems that the "issues" are ours, and not Estrella's. HA ! We, as human horse owners, have not been good "leaders", and so Estrella took it upon herself to step into the "lead mare" position with her whole 1500 pounds. Hummmmm. It seems the trainer will be coming to train us, rather than to train Estrella. HA ! She will be coming biweekly for quite a while, providing troubleshooting right now, and eventually teaching us horsemanship and horse management. Someday we will get into riding instruction. In the end, it was wonderful to discover that the troubles can be resolved, and fairly quickly, with training and education. And that in the near future our family will again have a respectful trusting and loving relationship with our horses. Sunny was a bit of a brat while the trainer was working with her Momma -- it seems she felt a bit jealous about the shift in attention. It was rather comical to watch, but we will be working hard with her as well to get these behaviors under control before she gets too big to manage. It has certainly been educational !!
*
Our girls are hoping to join a local Horse Club; we are awaiting more information and the next meeting. In the mean while, they are enjoying quiet time with DadToCherubs when the boys are out. They giggle abotu having him alllllll to themselves for a few hours each week (while the boys are at their Scout meetings).
*
And our boys are really enjoying Scouts. Cherub 6 just started Tiger Scouts, and was awarded his very first badge last week ! Cherub 1, Cherub 3, and Cherub 4 have been working on their tenderfoot raink, and on a hiking merit badge. Cherub 1, Cherub 3, and Cherub 4 will be attending a competative event in the near future where they will camp and complete with other troops in the areas of First Aid, Cooking, Knot Tying, and other skills. They are very excited. All 4 boys will be working this fall on a 100th Anniversary Service Project in the Smoky Mountains -- they are super excited about the opportunity.
*
School is going really well this year, despite having taken 2 weeks off while we were moving. Next Tuesday will mark our 5th week of school. The new schedule, schooling Tuesday through Saturday, is working really really well for us. On Sunday we go to church together, and on Monday we spend time doing some projects all together, and ususally manage a full little outing together too, going to the river or to the falls or out for an icecream. DadToCherubs is enjoying our new schedule too -- he actually gets to spend some "quality time" with us other than dinner and the bedtime routine. I wish we had thought to match our school schedule to DadToCherub's work schedule a few years ago. HA !
*
There is a lovely garden spot here, and the soil looks fairly rich, although it is currently heavily overgrown with weeds. We have plans to get the garden spot cleared of HUGE polk berry plants and MILES of bindweed, and then to start amending the soil with leaves and such, for next spring's planting. There should be lots of fall leaves to be chopped (thanks to a push mower with a bagger attachement) and added to the soil. In the mean while, we want to build a few raised beds topped with old windows, so that maybe we can grow lettuces and things through the winter. The raised beds will be rather like hot boxes. We loved the raised bed gardening we did last summer, but growing through the winter will be a new experience for us.
*
Cold season clothing -- can you believe it is time for that again ? Soon we will be sorting through our crates of fall clothes, and then (gasp) it will be time to do some shopping for needed items. (Did I mention lately how much I hate to shop ?!?!) And not long after all of that, it will be time to get out the winter coats, hats, and mittens.
*
That's it, in a nutshell. Now that things are in order, we will begin to take up our cool weather routines -- warm mugs of tea with bedtime readings, bonfires with friends, long leisurely drives in the mountains to see the leaves, sipping warm cider in the cool fall air .... ahhhhhhhhhhh ... 'tis fall.

Heavy Rain

So far we have had 4" of rain TODAY ...
after nearly 6" of rain over 7 days
last week. Things are really soggy !
*
They say they have not seen the water
this high on this bridge in many years.
And that they are expecting the water
to top this overpass by the morning.
That will cut off "the falls" and the
upper parts of our area.
*
These first 4 photos are of the river where
we love to play and swim.
Obviously, it's much too rough
to play in today !
*
And the rain from the higher mountains
hasn't even begun to come down yet.
It's going to be rough for a while.

Normally this rope swing,
at the icecream place,
hangs several feet from the
top of the water.
Today it looked to be at least 2ft under.

The roar of the water today was
soooooo loud !!

On Wednesday, some dear friends joined us
to play in the river (at the icecream place).
Some of the older children waded a bit
downstream, going from big rock
to big rock.
*
Those big rocks were no where
to be seen today, as the water
rushed over them.

It rained had like this for most of today --
above is the end of our barn,
with a "waterfall" off the side.
Thankfully, no water made it
into the barn itself.

Heavy equipment on the move in town.

A local restaurant's parking lot
nearly flooded.
And the road into it was
closed with 2ft or more
of water over it.

We were supposed to go to the home
of friend's this evening to play.
But when we stopped for gas
and heard the local "road" conditions
and heard that more flooding was
expected, we turned around to
head back home.
We did not want to get stranded,
unable to get to our home.
*
Hopefully tomorrow we will
be able to get out of town for church.
*
The rain is filling much depleted wells
and the water table after 3 years of rain.
But as of right now, our area has had
over 9" of rain in the last 10 days.
Things are going to be squishy
for quite a while ... maybe
a break in the rain would be nice ?

Investigating Our Natural Surroundings

Could this be an American Chestnut tree ?

Although all of the books say that the American Chestnut was all but exterminated by a blight in the early 1900s, this particular tree, which is most definitely a Chestnut of some kind, does not meet the criteria for being the more commonly found Allegheny Chestnut. The one main trait that sets the Allegheny apart from the American is that the Allegheny has one single nut inside the spiny seed pod -- and the American has 3 separate nuts inside it's seed pod. We have heard there are other non-native varieties (hybrids ?) of Chestnut trees which have been planted in recent years, and still can be found, however, they are not in our Tree book. We will need to do more research before we can make a positive identification of this tree.

In the mean while, this particular Chestnut tree is full of seed pods. (pictured above) And when you are determined and brave enough to crack open the still-green seed pods (and have stemmed the bleeding from the scratches and puncture wounds - ha !), the "nut" inside is actually 3 separate distinct nuts -- 2 smaller and one larger. Very curious, isn't it ?!?!

So, we are going to continue to investigate. For now, we only know that this is a Chestnut tree.

Stay tuned for a better identification.

UPDATE: We have it on good authority from a member of the local Forest Service that this tree is indeed an American Chestnut. They do still grow here ! However, since the blight some years ago, the American Chestnut tree does not grow very large, succumbing to the blight within 5 or so years.

There are many Oak trees here (12+), under which the ground is covered in acorns. And Pecan trees are plentiful at this house, with not less than 6 trees of various ages on the property. (Pictured above are some acorn shell fragments and an unripened pecan).

The Oaks, Pecans, and the Chestnut are all are heavily laden with nuts. It's a "good" nut year ! Yet, the squirrels still find it necessary to fight over the nuts. More than plenty for all, yet they bicker, chase, stalk, and assault one another from sunrise to sunset. It makes for very amusing "watching" at least. And it is a constant reminder for the Cherubs that they should not be selfish.

The leaves are starting to change -- tinges of color here and there.

Rough Stemmed Golden Rod
Solidago rugosa