Summer Is...(4th)

Sorry to have missed a few days of blogging that I promised to you all. The last few days have proved to be a little busier and exhausting than usual. I will try to stay back to continue sharing photo's of our summer fun!

So, on with...Summer Is...

The perfect time for a baptism! Especially when the baptism happens in the local pond.

"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4)

Probably about a year ago now Erik and I started to frequent the Baptist church right in our home town. We had been searching for a church (using the excuse that our children needed some sort of religious education and the community would be nice where we plan to homeschool). Little did I know the change this church would have on our lives!

Erik and I both became involved in the church. Both attending Men's and Ladies bible studies (Erik much more dedicated than I...but I always seem to forget...sorry Brenda...). Erik helping with the building project and I started working on the Crisis Pregnancy Ministry that was just starting in the church. We became great friends with many of the members. Many of the families homeschool & have little ones the same age as ours.

Both Erik and I had been saved. Erik much quicker than I to come to the realization.

And we decided about a month ago that we would like to be baptized.

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.” (Psalm 18:16)

What a perfect day we had. Beautiful weather, an amazing service given by a friend of the church from Africa (who became Aiden's playmate at the picnic after), many friends and family joined us at the pond for the baptism and a fabulous picnic after the baptism at Bob and Debbie's home. (oh...and Everyone seems to have pictures of me getting dunked but not Erik!)

Bennett wanted to follow Pastor Bob out into the water but decided to wait for us...then cried when Bob picked him up after and he realized he was all wet...wasn't to thrilled with Mama being wet either.

We are very blessed to have found this church family. What a joy it has been getting to know these wonderfully amazing people and have them touch our lives in so many meaningful ways.

And what a joy it is to see our children loving them as much as we do. And to see that love returned!

What an amazing day!

God bless!!

Summer Is...(3rd)

Spending the day at the beach.



We went to Portland to meet my parents for the day about a week ago. These are a few pictures from our trip there. This was after Bennett fell on his stomach in the water.

The four of us!

The four of us in Bar Harbour. We went out to Bar Harbour while my sister was up visiting for a week in July. What a lovely day! Even though it was a little foggy and our breaks almost set on fire coming down Cadillac mountain! LOL.

Bennett checking out the boats.

Aiden just loves the water. This is Licolnville beach. We stopped about 2 months ago during a day trip down Rt. 1.

Bennett...always so contemplative.

Playing on the rocks with the boys.

Summer Is...(2nd)

Summer is...GARDENING!!

We decided this year we were going to put in permanent raised beds. Below is how our garden has come along since the beginning of this season.

We started with logs we cut out of our 10 acres of wood lot.

Added some composted manure.

A few teepees for the beans & peas.

And then added the vegi's. Let's see...this year we grew Spinach, Lettuce, Bush Beans, Pole Beans, Dry Beans, Tomatoes, Brocolli, Brussel Sprouts (accident...), Kale, Zucchini, Snow Peas, Yellow Summer Squash, Peppers, Cucumbers, Swish Chard, Basil & parsley.

Everything is growing really well. We didn't get much spinach before it bolted but we did have tons of lettuce. And the basil...it grew like crazy. Lot's of pesto making going on!

Picking beans with Gram. I've put up at least 20 pints of bush beans in the freezer (and given away a bunch more. I finally pulled the bush beans the other day as they had really dropped in production and put in some carrots.

Check out the pole beans behind us. That was less than a month ago.

And now look at them. Grew up the poles and are headed back down again. They are going to go to seed soon because there are a ton up top that I cannot even reach. Next year we will not do the poles so high!

And I threw some radom sunflowers into the garden also. We plan to dry them all and use the to supplement feed to our chickens through the winter.

And we are already planning for next year. We need to add beds for Corn, Potatoes, Garlic & many more tomatoes. We also might try some things like eggplant and turnips and rutabega's. We will see how ambisous we are this fall.

We've also been talking about building a hoop house to overwinter our chickens in going forward. Give them a lot more floor space and it will be warmer for them. Plus they can scratch up the ground and get it ready for spring. As soon as they go out on grass in the spring we can start things like tomatoes, peppers & eggplants in the hoophouse. We will see if that gets done also. So much to do, so little time!

How's your garden been growing this summer?

Summer Is... (1st)

Having lunch out in their "clubhouse."
They just LOVE playing in their "clubhouse!" We used some old logs to make them a table and Erik cut chairs out of logs also. We also cut some logs real thin into plates. Once Erik gets a vice he plans to also make some cups and bowls.

Sunflower Houses!!

Our friend, Mary Ann, gave the boys two of the Sharon Lovejoy books. Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots and Sunflower Houses. After reading them through we decided to make a sunflower house. We never did get the morning glories in either but it is really starting to look lovely! And the boys are loving it!

Friends came to visit and got to play in a slightly larger sunflower house.

Now it is much much taller than all of us. I will make sure to post photo's once the sunflowers bloom. That will be a sight!

Aiden enjoying his sunflower house.

Stop in tomorrow for lot's of gardening photo's!

Hugs!

I know...Where have I been!

Lately, everyone is wondering where have I been. I didn't plan to take a blogging break...but it kind of happened that way. One thing led to another and now...I am feeling stressed and behind. My mom is up this week so it is helping me to catch up on a lot that needs to be done.

I have so much to share as there has been TONS of goings on this summer but it would take me ages. I've been inspired by a few other blogs that have done photo posts about what summer is. I think I am going to do that here for the next few days to catch up and then I will post every few days to keep sharing the goings on as our summer winds down and we get into the busy fall season and prepare for winter. UGH!! Can't believe we are thinking about winter already. The summer went by way to fast.

I hope your summer has been going well!

A Nature Walk

We went out for a nature hike the other day, the boys and I. It was so much fun. We didn't go far. Just down around the summer grazing field for the horses. Since the horses haven't been out in it yet Aiden was having fun hiding in the grass.

And Bennett thought it was fun to find him and bang him on the head.

We stopped and said hello to Babe & Reno. They look so nice & shiny!

Aiden asked to take some pictures. I didn't see these till I pulled everything onto my laptop but they came out quite good! He loves to take pictures. I really need to get him & Bennett their very own digital cameras.

Isn't this one neat. Not sure how he did it but it was just too cool to not share.

And a few of the flowers we saw while on our hike.

Any idea what these might be? I thought they might be a low bush blueberry. This is very close up but the leaves were similar to those of blueberries. We will see I guess.

Aiden helping his "Baby Broder" as he likes to say. Bennett went chasing after him to hold his hand and then Aiden helped him up the small incline from the yard back onto our driveway.

And then they held hands all the way back down to the house. It was just too cute!

What an enjoyable time we had! Hanging out and playing down in the field. Didn't see any wildlife other than tons of Dragonflies! We do love the dragonflies though.

Blessings!