Mountain Musings

Together Again!

Celebrating Father's Day Weekend on Niantic Bay in Connecticut 

left to right: Micah, Sarah, Jonathan, Hannah

Visiting Grampa for Father's DayHope your Father's Day Weekend is one of making many happy memories. That's what we're doing!

~Deb

Ten years!

Ten years ago today, Jonathan and I graduated from high school! I have been joking about having a 10 year reunion and this week decided to make a little cake to celebrate. It was a good chance to try out Swiss meringue buttercream for the first time and use up the egg whites we had in the fridge. :)

Not very pretty, but it was yummy! Peanut butter cake with chocolate frosting, and blue and white sprinkles to match our graduation gowns.

That's how homeschoolers celebrate reunions! :)

~Sarah

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ June

FOR TODAY...Sunday, June 8

Outside my window...a beautiful and sunny Sunday afternoon. The thunderstorms will be arriving later this evening...great rain for the garden!

 

I am thinking...that I should always take a house key with me when I leave the house. I never do because someone is always home to let me in. Today Granny and I were locked out for two hours! Even though we live in the country, thankfully the closest Burger King bathroom is only ten minutes away!

 

I am thankful...for all the work that's been accomplished in the garden recently!  So much more to do before planting the squash and black-eyed peas, but we've come a long way!

 

In the kitchen...Sarah made donuts for National Donut Day on Friday! Yummy! All gone now!

I am wearing...church clothes: navy skirt, white tank, fuschia blouse, silver sandals.

 

I am going...to a Mennonite concert this evening. We attended one of these concerts another year, and it was quite enjoyable.

 

I am praying...for Tom's dad who recently learned he has lung cancer and could be in the last stages of this disease; we'll find out a prognosis on Tuesday. Please pray with me as we plan a trip to see him. Here are Tom and his dad together in healthier times:

I am looking forward to...my sister arriving this coming week. Hopefully, we can fit in some antique shopping before she leaves...uh, oh...and takes Granny home with her!

 

Around the house...Granny's been busy making baskets! She worked on three custom orders this week, including one for me! I had asked for a Gathering Basket with red strips for my birthday next month to gather asparagus and cut flowers from the garden. 

 

Here's Granny lacing up the top, and then she'll criss-cross and lace the bottom to make it doubly strong:

A recent excursion: Granny and I headed out for Raleigh, NC, last month to meet with the man who pulls these long strips of wood from trees which she then uses to make her basket handles. She orders 25 strips in a bundle which will make many handles once they're soaked, bent in shape, and stapled to the right size (Sarah's job!):

And here they are together. Mr. Thomas has supplied her with "sticks" for many, many years:

I am pondering...if we'll go strawberry picking again this season. We've gotten some great berries at Middle River Farms. They're sooo good with Granny's pound cake recipe! I'll have to post a photo and her recipe when we make another one. 

 

A favorite quote for today...found in a little garden shop earlier this year in Saluda, NC:

One of my favorite things...I saw a yellow bird in the garden this week perched on one of our feathery asparagus branches, and it was the highlight of my morning.

You can read other Daybook entries over at The Simple Woman's Daybook site.

~Deb