WHO'S Making All that Noise

The baby owls aren't so babyish anymore. This isn't a picture of our owls, but this is what they look like. We know there are at least two of them. They constantly holler at night for food. We've become very used to the sound. In a strange way their screaching lulls us to sleep each night. Lately we've remembered to go outside in the evening. The babes are usually out. We shine a flashlight on them and they just stare at us. Eventually, they fly to the nearby orchard and continue their loud "begging". We soon go to bed and listen to the screech, screech all night long. Sweet dreams!

Cherries Galore

So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; Ruth 2:3a

We were invited to glean a cherry orchard. Wade and the kids went right after lunch Sunday. I gave them 1 hour to pick. We had a farewell party for our friends Jim and Mary to get ready for! They picked one whole tree and let me tell you that is a lot of cherries! We took at least half to the party to share, and what I couldn't give away today we set to work on.
All the kids took turns with the stoner. It's really a cool way to pit a cherry. Bret formed an assembly line of bowls. They each took turns filling the bowls. One person was responsible for bringing the full bowls to mom.
I dumped them, washed them, and either froze them or used them for jam.

Can you believe there is more sugar than cherries in this jam? I guess that's why the kids love it! Next time I'll buy the reduced sugar pectin. Did I say next time? I must have already forgot how tired I was when I finished, and how longggg it took me to clean the kitchen! There's one jar missing from the picture - it's in the fridge, or is it on the other counter being sampled by passer bys?

A Birdhouse/Feeder

It began yesterday at the local Home school Swap Meet. A book for $0.50. Would Bret be interested? He was on the play ground watching over Lilly and hanging out with friends. I made the decision for him. It turns out he was very interested, and went right to work while his couch potato siblings took a rest in front of the T.V. (they have colds right now so it's ok)
After about an hour, we both realized someone bigger and smarter than I am would need to be involved. Dad came home and gave Bret a few tips and tools. Bret was back to work.
Measuring, sawing, and pounding!
The wood was thin and some splitting occurred.

Dad stepped in for a bit, and had some new ideas for tomorrow. Time for bed!
Bret was back at his project early this morning. They decided to screw the birdhouse together.
Almost finished!
A job well done!

Kitty in the Roses

The other day, dad came into the house and

asked us to help him find Callie. We could hear

her, but we couldn't see her. Hearing some

rustling in the rose bush, I looked up and there

she was!

Dad rescued her

-Rachel

The good news and the bad news

Lilly: "OK guys, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that when mom is done making the cookies we'll have lunch. Oh, and she picked some nectarines for us eat. Now the bad news. . . well, there isn't any bad news."

What a blessing, a day with only good news! On second thought, I'm thankful that Lilly doesn't even know what bad news is. Bad news probably would have been something like, "we're out of peanut butter and jelly!"

Something Cute

We welcomed our new youth pastor with an ice cream social this evening. Earlier in the week Wade and I received a call saying we needed to set up for this event. OK, but what about decorating - not my specialty. Thankfully the Lord prompted me to call someone from church who just loves decorating. She did a beautiful job! Skittles scattered on the table with orange tulips placed in 7-up bottles. Everyone loved eating the Skittles off the table, and it made the ice cream social all the more festive!

Piano Recitals

Two piano students, two piano teachers, two piano recitals this weekend! I forgot to take the camera to Rachel's recital (very sorry). She did a beautiful job playing Sarabande d'Amour by Catherine Rollin. Afterward we enjoyed punch and cookies to celebrate the end of the year and a job well done.
Sunday was Bret's recital, I remembered the camera this time! Bret played a duet with his partner and two solos. He received awards for Certificate of Merit and Guild. His teacher gave him a gift for faithfully practicing 5 times a week.
More punch and cookies afterward! Piano recitals are fattening!

Bret playing Amazing Grace