Today was So Good... and Scripture Picture

Hi friends,

Thought I'd share a few snapshots of our family yesterday 

celebrating Father's day.  -- Happy Father's day to all you dad's out there and

those of you who have lost your Dads or never had one ... or have an
it's complicated relationship... I feel you.  It can be hard I know. Especially 

if you are missing someone.  I know an ache like that and just want you to know

you're not alone.  I thought of all the people I know ... in my past and present 

who's father's are gone now.  I send you a six foot hug.  

Back to the farm here... it really felt good having our kids all here.  

My husband and sons work closely together every day so we're really

blessed to have that.  Not many men can probably say that and making

it all work... that too is a blessing.  But like most people;  having gatherings;

has been put to the back burner.  Yesterday we had them all over though and had 

a barbecue.  It felt so good to be together.  I think we all needed it.  

Anthony our youngest took his little daughter to walmart yesterday and she got her very own fishing pole and pink tacklebox.  She wanted to go fishin!  That's what everyone wanted to do really!  Trent brought a few extra boys with him and they too wanted to fish so everyone brought their fishing gear.  Blakelea in the photo up above was pretty patient for a three year old watching her bobber.  I had to get that shot of her... it really cracked me up seeing her sit like that.  

She loved her new tacklebox but it was pretty empty.  Next thing I know she kept going over to mine and taking the pretty baits out of mine and putting in hers.  She went for my sparkly baits and pink bubblegum flukes.  I'm pretty sure... my box is about empty and hers looks "pretty inside" now. Cracked Papa and me up watching her set up her own box.   I may need to 

"borrow" some things from her once in awhile.   

 This is my baby boy.  

They don't really care when I call them that.

Both of them would probably tell you they

are Momma's boys.  

 I think  everyone caught quite a few fish. 

 I love this shot of him  and his love Michelle.  

 Papa caught a nice catfish.  Our pond's  gotten so weedy 

and has so many briars around some edges that it's hard to get a fish out of the water in some places.

Of course we didn't bring a net but ...who needs one when you have a helping hand. lol

I love this ... not only how Mike's hangin onto Tony so he does't fall in... but also...

Blake had been up to the house and came back wearing pink high heels. I think she needs a strand of pearls to go with her fishin outfit.  

 It got kind of hilarious for a bit coz Mike was trying to get down the bank without falling in...and kept holding onto Tony's shorts.  Tony was having a time holding them up. haha  

 But when it came time... he had a strong helping hand.  

I love this shot.  Mike  got that slimy catfish too by the tail!  

 Blakelea was sooo excited to see her Uncle Trent.  

He's such a kid magnet... and always has been!!

Kids just love him.  (So does his Momma.) 

 This heart feels so full.  

And Papa; he had a really good day.  After they all left last night... we fell into the loveseat..and 

just sat back and looked at eachother... thankful.  We both kept saying

today was so good. I'm so tired... but today was so good.   

 You know it's good when Blakelea is almost crying because she doesn't

want her family to leave.  

I will treasure these moments in my heart always.  

I hope myguy looks back on all this fullness and 

just feels so much love.  Because he is.  His sons adore him

and I'm so blessed to get to be his helpmeet.  

Mother Teresa said, "If you want to change the world,
go home and love your family. "  

See... It's all about the love. 

 This morning we overslept.  

Myguy wasn't late for work but boy did we scramble.  

I just had  to catch up around here today.. 

 You know how it is after you have a houseful.  

When I got all the outside animal chores done, I put Mrs. Potter in the 

goat enclosure with Olaf.  We should have bunbuns in 29-31 days if the moon and stars line up just right.    Won't they make beautiful babies?  

I looked up patron saints of rabbits and discovered there is one!  St. Melangell patron saint of rabbits and hares.  How awesome!  

Yall I'm loving this studying of saints.  

So many people get attached to one particular saint.  

I don't know enough of them yet to decide on one... but learning about them is wonderful.

My grandmother loved St. Francis and because of her I am so fond of him myself but

I think I need my own saint... 

I wish one could just pick me.  

If you have one ... I'd love to hear.  

At some point today,  I need to figure out what to do with my creeping charlies.  

See the brown leaves?  A friend of mine thought maybe too wet... but he dries out really fast especially in the green house.   Maybe he just needs a bigger pot?  I started some new cuttings of him just in case.  

He's one of my most favorite plants ever.  My sister told me to get rid of him and that creeping charlies are CREEPS.  It's gotta be a different charlie coz this guy is awesome.  

Now: one last share: 

 Look what I found on ebay.  

I've SO missed going to second hand shops and flea markets since the pandemic.  

So I searched some things on ebay.  I got this beautiful antique holy water font yesterday!  The auction that is.  

I messaged the seller and asked more about it and he said he buys from estate sales alot and this was actually hanging on the house of an older home and the people would bless themselves when they'd go out.  It's going to go inside the greenhouse near my little prayer bench.  Don't know where I'll find holy water?  It seems weird buying holy water doesn't it?  I just dunno about that... it feels wrong.   

Lastly, this St. Catherine is also coming to live with me.  

Is she not just adorable?  I love her flying nun hat.  

Okay sorry for the long post... 

If you made it this far... here is a knucklebump *

********

I sign off with this scripture picture.  I hope you can read this font... it's one of my favorites but 

it really is a little hard to read.  

O come, let us worship and bow down; 

Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker!  

Psalm 95:6 

Have a great day yall!

Until we meet again

<*(((><

Counting Gifts With Gratitude...

"Here Grammy I picked it for you!"  

 Daisies in our hair..... 

"Thank you Papa!"  

 How the scripture from this week's 

bible study... ties it all together. 

 So many resources and it seemed wherever I looked- JOY 

was at the heart of things and ecclesiastes was mentioned.  

I can hear Father Geditz singing I've got that joy joy joy joy..

where?... down in my heart from ... over 40 years ago. 

where?.. down in my heart... where??? down in my heart.   

 Baking prayers into cookies 

just like my Jamie taught me.  

 Going to get eye appointments with Myguy 

masked and temperatures taken.  

the gift of sight

 My three guys who I love with all my heart and 

that the four of us got to spend time together yesterday.  

 Cuddlin on the couch... 

 and snuggling her up coz she's growin too fast.  

 cow kisses.... 

and laughter...

 a fresh pile of eggs in Mama's bluebird house... 

as many eggs as she had kidlets. 

 my hunk of burnin love and how he'll carry babydolls 

and how she has Papa wrapped around her little finger.  

happysigh... 

 Her "Go faster Papa!!!" 

and how he hangs onto her.  

 fishin buddies at dusk

 Magnolia blossoms 

big as your head.. 

 and seeing how they grow.... 

 like unwrapping these gifts. 

 Simplicity of this toybox.  

 Wintered over carrots gone to seed 

and gorgeous flowers to press. 

 wild cow vetch... 

They are not  foe in my garden...

but gift.  

 Sharing worship music  while fishing and singing a JOYful noise.  

 How these jumped in my buggy and 

eating half a jar

completely guilt free. 

 Baby squash... 

and vision of squash casserole soon.  

 Checking peaches on her very own tree.

 Finding heart... even tho broken...

sweet redemption.

 Our ice cream socials... after a hard days work.  

 new lights in the olde shed... 

So many gifts... so much joy... 

Thank you Lord for all these things and so much more...

thank you for my every thing.  

I sign off with the first black eyed Susie in our yard.

It's my favorite wild flower. 

Love, from the olde shed

#sharethelove

Friday Rambles and Update

 Hello from the potting shed. 

It's been a rough couple days with our little Francois here.  

He'll  be 13 years old on June 8th and is such a faithful friend.  

 Sunday evening,  I discovered a weird knot he had on his underside.   

It wasn't slowing him down too much- he was still right smack dab in the middle of things.  

Well, Monday rolled in and I decided to just watch it and see if maybe it might get better? Besides, he didn't act sick, and was still eating and drinking good.  

Because he's so short, I wondered if he got something in it... got poked by a stob, or I wondered snake bit too but 

he didn't  have a fever.  

By Tuesday I knew he needed to go to the vet.  

but ... Doc wasn't in that day.  

Wednesday they said they'd see him ... and Doc thought maybe it was from a tick bite?  

He lanced it and my poor little guy ya'll.... -- It was brutal on him.  He cried... 

and nothing really came out other than a thick jelly like blood.  

They patched him up and put him on antibiodics.  

By the time I got to the lobby to pay out he was dripping blood on the floor.  

They had to take him back in and rebandage it.  

When I got him home it just kept soaking through... 

We dillydally'd around yesterday and I kept thinking it would have to quit.  

He kept licking it though and sometimes would dig at it with his foot.  uggh. 

I withheld food and water after midnight and took him back today.  

Now he's  in surgery.  Doc said he wanted to just take the thing off  and do blood work.  

I'm kind of holding my breath... man I just love that little dog. He and his sister Addie are 

with me all the time.  Constant companions.

I know he's gettin old but ... I hope and pray he stays around awhile longer.  

Okay we must  change the subject.

  gulp

Let's just shift gears and get corny, huh? 

(lame I know... and agree)

 So with all the rain; 

our seeds are now sprouting.  

This is Painted Mountain Indian corn.  I sure hope it does good this year.  

I ran up to the big garden as well and the regular sweet corn is up too.  

I'm so excited.  It's like new babies when you see those sprouts pop out.  

 All the roses have started  blooming too ... 

even this little struggling yellow that I nearly killed with the weedeater.   

Seems like so often when one flower type ends, 

another begins...   

 The wisteria is now finished.  

I picked the last of these blossoms to let air dry. 

 I think I'll make some homemade paper with it  using junkmail,  grass clippings and rosemary.

Then press some of these blossoms right  into the wet paper.  

Wouldn't that be pretty?

I like this color combo:  earthy brown, green, and light lavender.  

I'm seeing plants so differently this season.  

Not only for food; but 

dyes and inks. 

I read this sunflower was grown by the Hopi to dye baskets a dark purply black. 

I hope  to make my own dye out of it for art journaling papers.  

 These two books are in my lap alot these days.  

I never knew there are so many plants you can use for dye!

To me the colors are so organically luscious.

Muted, faded hues ... especially with  frayed or torn edges... 

I'm learning what colors are my touchstones ... indigos are my most favorite... and purples... 

and mustardy yellow... greens.. someone stop me before I go plow another garden.  

Actually ... I really might need to. lol  

 I better sign off.  

If you're reading this and a believer... please lift a prayer for our little buddy: Francois Zacchaeus Star. He's our wee little frenchman.  

... a wee little man  is he...

 I leave you with a scripture picture.  

Thank you for visiting the potting shed. 

Until we meet again... 

#sharethelove

Update:  Look who is home!  He's groggy and
staggers a little but is  sleeping at my feet as I write.
Thank you to anyone who prayed for him.  It means so very much to  me.
I didn't get to talk to Doc yet but they said he got  the whole mass out and
he's all stitched back together.
I'm so happy he's home.
Thank you again!