"Lessons at Blackberry Inn"

I just finished reading this book tonight. I devoured it. It was so fun to read. It's the sequel to "A Pocketful of Pinecones". The main character is a homeschooling Mom during the Great Depression. It's written as a story, but includes a lot of helpful information if you are attempting to educate your children using the Charlotte Mason style. She mentions many good classic books, includes several poems and recipes, and includes various domestic pursuits such as canning, knitting, and crocheting. I highly recommend it! I ordered it from www.christianbook.com.

A few more pictures from our visit to Kellie's last week. We walked to a nearby park. The kids love to play in the creek. I love the vegetation around there. We made a lot of fun memories. Abigail, Lydia, Carrington, Kellie, and I love to sing hymns and praise songs together. Abigail, Lydia, and Carrington want to learn how to harmonize. :o) We made smores one night on their patio. We roasted the marshmallows over the grill. They were very yummy. Then we played a game of tag in the dark in their backyard. And yes, I played too! They love it when I act like a kid and play with them. Carrington said, "That was sooooo much fun Mama!" Those kinds of memories are precious.

Visiting Cousins

We went to Kellie's house this week, and just returned home last night. We were very excited to see Lily Kate for the first time. She is a beautiful baby. Carrington was in hog heaven getting to hold her. We had a fun visit but had to come home a little early due to Clayton vomiting yesterday morning right after Bible time. I think he may have felt bad from lack of sleep, because he has been feeling fine ever since. But we didn't want to take a chance in spreading germs to a 2 week old baby! We prayed for everyone to be well on the way home, and thankfully nobody else has been sick.

More old buildings!

I love old things.......antique furniture, old buildings, old cars, movies about other time periods, etc. Carrington and I are big American History fans and can't wait to visit Williamsburg some time soon. I love to hear about my grandparents and their ancestors. My Mom recently found an old family tree that belonged to one of her grandparents. We are apparently related somehow to Pocahontas and President Zachary Taylor. We recently bought Disney's version of "Where the Red Fern Grows" with Joseph Ashton as Billy Coleman. It is very clean and a great movie! The time period is the Great Depression. My Mom and Dad came to visit this week and watched the movie with us. They loved it. My Dad could completely relate to the movie, because he was 4 years old when the Depression started. He grew up in the country on a farm and knew all about "coon" hunting. Clayton is having a fit to go hunting. He has been squirrel hunting in our back yard, but so far has been unsuccessful. He has made "traps" that he concocted himself, but the squirrels have not taken the bait. Fortunately we have not ever seen any "coons" in our yard for him to hunt.

More old building pictures!

Fourth of July pictures

A few more 4th of July weekend pictures. Our church had a big celebration including inflatables, food, and fireworks. I love celebrating the 4th of July and what it stands for. I love to read about the founding of our country and the people involved. They had so much integrity and wisdom that could only have come from God. John Adams, George Washington, and Patrick Henry are some of my favorites. I also admire Benjamin Franklin. It has been written that when Benjamin Franklin got up to sign our Constitution, he had tears streaming down his face. At the close of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, when queried as he left Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation, a lady asked Dr. Franklin. "Well Doctor, what have we got.......a republic or a monarchy?" Benjamin Franklin replied, "A republic, if you can keep it." (From The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787.)

Lily of the Valley

A baby girl was born into our family this week. Lily Katherine was born on July 6th to my sister Kellie. She will be called Lily Kate. Carrington asked me today what a lily looks like, so I found these pictures. Gorgeous flowers and gorgeous baby. My kids and I will be going to see Miss Lily Kate very soon.

My favorite town

We went to my Mom and Dad's for the 4th of July. Carrington and Clayton always have a blast swimming in Grandma and Grandpa's pool. On the way home we stopped and ate lunch in the cutest town. I would love to move there!

Happy 4th of July!!!

My kids thought it was so cool to be able to walk on a railroad track. We were definitely keeping our eyes and ears open for trains.

The pictures below are from a small reunion we had with some old friends, a couple of weekends ago. We were all in a Sunday School class together before we got married. It was so fun to see everyone! Two of the other couples also homeschool, so it was fun to talk to them.

Reunion With Old Friends