Sunshiny Smiles From the Zoo

I’m moving on from the Friday series of posts (at least for now, in this venue). Too dark! I felt like I was reliving it all over again. I’m unspeakably grateful for family and friends who prayed us right on through those years. Some sunshiny smiles are in order… The kids and I went to the zoo last week for the first time since we moved. It was swelteringly hot,... Read More

My Birthday

This past week we celebrated my 35th birthday. Mom and Annie brought brunch one morning. We ate gluten-free so Mom could enjoy everything, too. Annie made peach bread with a gluten-free flour. The texture was amazing! (Click here to read more or leave a comment on My Birthday)  Read More

Planting Fall Mums (While Cooking Stuffed Pasta Shells)

The last few days I’ve occasionally felt a slight chill in the air! Maybe I’m just imagining it. Either way, it seems to me like sufficient reason for planting fall mums. A couple evenings ago, I started up some stuffed pasta shells, in my new quest to have sit-down family dinners more often. I boiled the shells, browned the onion and ground beef, mixed a pack of cream... Read More

The Farrier's Visit

Monday evening a farrier came to our house. (Update: I found out on his next visit that he is not, in fact, a farrier. A farrier trims hooves for the purpose of affixing shoes. This guy is a barefoot hoof trimmer. It’s a different style, intended to make the hoof flat against the ground and to help the hoof become calloused, similar to wild horse hooves. I’ve changed... Read More

Infertility Posts: Index of Posts

This summer and into fall I am writing a series of blog posts telling the story of our infertility journey. (Click here to read more or leave a comment on Infertility Posts: Index of...)  Read More

Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches with Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Macaroons

In the middle of our hectic parties, traveling, and unpacking this month, the kids sometimes get lost in the shuffle. Last week I decided to ignore my mile-long to do list and spend some time baking cookies with my daughters. This oatmeal macaroon recipe has been in the family for ages. My mom made these cookies with her mom. I made them with my mom. Last week my daughters made... Read More

Summer Evening Reverie

Summer evenings make some of the most nostalgic memories. We’ve been soaking up the evening play time, when the heat has relented a little, bedtime is still an hour or two away, and the light starts looking magical. The kids love it… At least, I think they do. Sometimes I wonder about the littlest. But they all seem to enjoy themselves, in their own ways… even... Read More

Lowly Worms

I’ve been feeling low, in a “nobody likes me, everybody hates me” kind of way. (You know that song?) I know it’s not true, just feelings. (Click here to read more or leave a comment on Lowly Worms)  Read More

Welcome, Baby Gerber!

Annie and Drew’s baby was born late Wednesday afternoon! They’ve taken dozens of fantastic pictures already. I’m sure they’ll post them after they’re settled in. Some are up on facebook now. My husband and kids and I visited late Wednesday evening and tried to get some pictures in the dim hospital light. My new nephew is a perfect, sweet, healthy baby,... Read More

Cowgirl Wins a Prize

This heat is getting to me. It’s getting to the animals, too. It’s getting to the grass that’s turning yellow in their pastures. It’s getting to the grasshoppers that eat the grass that’s turning yellow in their pastures. Actually, it’s not getting to the grasshoppers, but I wish it were. Thursday morning I spied several cattle grazing on our... Read More