Sisters Making Mud Pies

Isn’t mud the right subject for the month of March here in NY?

Notice Abby’s happy smile in that block of clay…

Our friend Christina came to give us lessons on hand-built pottery.

I’m going to make a casserole dish, about 11x7”.

 

Abby is going to make a coiled bowl.

Learning to score and sludge it, I mean “slip” it, it looks more like it should be called sludge, to use as glue.

Mom is washing dishes all sparkling, and we are spreading mud.

One casserole dish taking shape.  The walls are still sagging, I have to keep encouraging them to stand back up.

Now the challenge of making handles that match (!!!!)

Abby is carefully watching the overall shape of her bowl while she directs each coil into place.

A damp sponge helps to smooth the uneven spots.

See the cute little handles she added?

Now what happened here?  This was going to be a smallish casserole dish!!  I’ll be able to feed lots of company with this size.  I know they shrink when they bake, maybe it will downsize to a 9x13??

Happy Valentines Day

 

This is Penny, Becky’s traveling clothespin doll.  She has been all over the world in her travels and is starting a website of her own to share her adventures with you.  We invite you to visit, and to meet her cousins too!

 

www.adventureswithpenny.net

Glorious Snowy Morning

 

This is the view from out the front of the hay mow looking toward the driveway.

Such an amazing picture!!  Look at the shadow of the Black Walnut tree streaming across the snow.  Also notice the sun dog, that little bit of rainbow off to the right of the sun.

Critters enjoying the sunshine.

Overwhelming Beauty everywhere you turn!!

The Arbor and snowed-over vegetable garden.

The Twin Hickory Trees.  Such a Very Blue Sky.

Fencepost caps out on our hike.

Caps and Beards

The Barn, and a snowy fence, and hay tedder.

The head of the driveway, now our hike is over.  So much beauty, how can a camera capture it all?

It seems the angels were singing “Glory to God in the Highest”!!!

Snowman Mailbox

Here’s the latest joke on our mailman, thanks to the idea given to us by some of our supporters (his family). =)

Scott’s job just got busier back in November when Jonathan Kranz and I started courting. Our families met 14 years ago when we were 8. Since then our two families have enjoyed many things together. The two Jonathans have been best hunting buddies and the girls and I have enjoyed great friendships in many other areas as well.

Jonathan and I have enjoyed doing many things together the past 2 months, doing siding on their house, going to Christmas concerts, visiting people, praying, reading the Bible, hunting, butchering turkeys, talking, writing, playing games, playing pranks, spending time with our families… and so much more! =) Teasing our mailman has been great fun as Scott has known Jonathan’s dad since college and is making sure our envelopes are properly decorated (with hearts) and complete with LOVE stamps. =)

We would appreciate your prayers as Jonathan and I continue to seek the Lord’s will and glorify Him in our relationship.

Christmas Joys

Dad and Mom on Christmas Eve, Dad polishing the sleigh bells, and Mom making popcorn.

So many treats have come out of this kitchen and found their way into many homes and tummies.

We gather on Christmas to honor the birthday of God’s dearly beloved Son, come to live in skin among us.

 

Two Dart brothers with their precious littlest ones.

The children help to pass out gifts, and add much joyous confusion!

Ben snuck this horse collar out of the barn to Tim, who cleaned it up and added a mirror, something that Dad had always thought would be a good project to do sometime. Merry Christmas, Dad!

Two little farmer boys get fleece blankets in camo colors with John Deere emblems.

Emma loves “Kigers”, and making blanket tents to crawl under.

What is in that huge box for Mike??

 

Jess made this barn shelf to hold Mike’s model tractors.  Sweet little wondering faces watch.

Jonathan and Hillary have a new pet, Little Jenny, a warm, squirmy, busy friend.

And Emma really enjoys the box, isn’t that the best part of a gift??

Peter and Amy gave Dad Hershey’s Syrup lip gloss.  He’s known for consuming syrup.

Now Mom can get a Hershey Kiss every morning!!

Its of no interest to Little Jenny, she’s dreaming of how fun little children at Christmas time can be.

So many mysterious packages to investigate, What’s in your Interesting Package, Abby?

Amy gave me this beautiful blue box, inside were many treasures, among my favorites were these warm wool socks and my own personal private box of four assorted Whitman’s chocolates!

Jess brought the matching rainbow quilts she made for her girls, all the children danced on them in great glee!

Audrey Elisabeth has her name embroidered on the back of hers here with character traits to match her.

 

Time to head home! Boaz and Ethan are so pleased with their new shiny boots!

It had been a very special holiday, with all the ones we love best!!