Prettier Than A Cow!

Ok. So, here's the deal. This is a recent picture of myself and my adorable hubby. Now, I admit, it isn't really the most flattering picture of me, but hey, I am with the man I love and I am happy. What more do you need?

Without realizing it, I apparently needed my five year old to have the following conversation with me.

"Momma?"
"Mmm??"
"Aren't cows pretty?"
"Oh, yes. Cows are definitely pretty." (please note, this statement was made by me, but I wasn't really thinking of the true beauty of a cow, I was simply agreeing. But, back to the conversation...)
"They sure are. But, momma, you know what?"
"What, squirt?"
"You are prettier than a cow."
(now, to a five year old, I am sure that cows may seem pretty, but to a mother being compared to a cow, this statement comes as quite a shocker.)
"I am what?"
"Momma, you are prettier than a cow. Cows are really pretty, but you are prettier."
"Oh, thank you, honey." (now, in my head, I am not truly thankful. I am still shocked that my appearance has just been compared to a cow by my own flesh and blood. Still, I try to smile at her.)
When I told my dear husband about this conversation later, I expected that same shock, the same abhorrence at being compared to a cow. Instead, I got this:
"Well, you are prettier than a cow."

Thanks for your support, dear.

Have a great weekend,
Elizabeth

So What Have We Been Doing?

This fall has been a really busy one for us. The busiest one by far. We have been working with some friends of ours at their little country store and got to participate in an old-fashioned apple butter stir. Amanda particularly seemed to enjoy the wood smoke, the beautiful fall day and the tantalizing aroma of cooking apple butter.

Sometimes, we have absolutely worn ourselves out, so we have found that the occasional cat nap is the best way to refresh ourselves before the next task. Cari and her best friend, Rebecca, enjoyed a nap on the front porch of the store on this warm, fall afternoon.

We've also made many new friends along the way. Here is Shannon with her friend, Brianna, doing the unthinkable (at least to us "old" adults!) We had an "Anne of Green Gables" all-nighter a few weeks ago and during the movie breaks, the girls found that they could double or triple up in a sleeping bag and "sled" down the stairs. Just look at the faces on these girls below:

That was Trisha, Heidi and Mary full of exhilaration on their way down! Of course, once Heidi hit the front door at top down hill speed, she was rethinking the whole "sled" down the stairs behavior. But it didn't last long.

There was a total of 14 girls in our home that night. Here is most of them at breakfast, all still in one piece, though some were decidedly bruised.

After church one Sunday, Mark took all of us girls to Fayette Station. This happens to be under the famous New River Gorge Bridge. Laura was in for a few days and so we took advantage of the opportunity to get pictures of the six girls all together.

Oh, yeah, then this past weekend, we had seven puppies. Well, we didn't. Our dog, Fiona, did. But we were right there with her. What a crazy last three months it has been, but it has been good. God is growing us, teaching us and bringing us closer together as a family. We are loving being where He has brought us and look forward to whatever the future may hold with eager anticipation.

Well, thanks for being patient with me. And thanks for being a part of our lives.

Take care,

Elizabeth

Long Time No Been Around!

Hello, dear ones,

I apologize for my lack of anything new around here lately. We have been so busy with school, apple butter making, and managing our home that we haven't had much time for anything else.

I am hoping to get back into the swing of things very soon, so please hang in there with me.

Take care,

Elizabeth

It's Fall, Ya'll!

Happy Back to School Time!

Aren't you excited? We started back to school this week and we are

LOVING IT!

How about ya'll?

More proof of fall! These beautiful marigolds line the sidewalk at my home thanks to Amanda!

They smell as good as they look. Of course, not everyone enjoys the smell of marigolds,

but I do and that's what counts.

My dad got this shot right out of his kitchen window. These birds were

having a great time splashing in mom's fountain before

they realized that they were being filmed while bathing!
Oh, the shock of it all!

I mean, who wants to have their picture taken while bathing?

They obviously flew away after that, quite perturbed.

Here's hoping your fall is going well and that the colors,

the smells and the quiet days of schooling are

keeping you focused on our Great Creator and

all that He has done for you.

Take care,

Elizabeth

New River Youth Symphony and Choir

The girls participated in the New River Youth Symphony and Choir concert over the weekend. It was a terrific experience and very well done. The youth in this symphony and choir are ages 8 - 24. Some of the kids are homeschooled and some attend public school.





The program was started by a few moms who wanted the youth of Southern West Virginia to have opportunities to be in such an organization and learn to play together as a group. Our directors have volunteered their time over the past two years. There is no parent organization that is supporting us. This is just a group of young people who are dedicated to bettering themselves and their skills and parents who are dedicated to bringing the children on a weekly basis for practice. The youth come from as many as 5 counties in Southern WV.





Below is a video of my girls (being the proud momma that I am) doing a trio after a week of laryngitis.





If you would like to hear the entire concert, a CD is available for $7. The concert was approximately 2 hours long. We will ask for $3 to help cover the shipping cost, but the $7 will go directly to the NRYSC. A receipt can be provided upon request.





Enjoy the trio and take care,


Elizabeth

Hey, Hey, Janet Faye!

Here is Evie pulling your name, Janet Faye, out of the cup. You're the winner! Please contact me with your mailing address and we will ship your coiled basket full of goodies to your door (or post office box).



Thanks to all of you who entered to win. I had a lot of fun with this and will be doing a drawing approximately once a month. To answer some of your questions, this basket is a coiled basket. I used a stripped fabric, wrapped around a cotton clothesline type of rope and stitched it on my 30+ year old sewing machine. The braided rug idea might work, but it would probably be a much more time consuming, finger puncturing process. If it works, let me know.

Take care,

Elizabeth

For The Beauty of The Earth

Do ya'll remember this old hymn? Many people no longer sing the old hymns, but this one has been on my heart this morning, so I thought I would share with you.

For the beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth, Over and around us lies;

Christ our God, to Thee we raise This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light;

Christ our God, to Thee we raise This our hymn of grateful praise.

May you glorify and praise the Lord with a heart full of gratefulness this weekend. Enjoy the beauty of the earth. He gave it to us to remind us of His love for us. Who wouldn't be grateful for that?

Elizabeth