11 Acre Wood Blog

I took this picture early yesterday morning as the sun was coming up. Daddy spotted the rainbow stretched across the sky over the pond. It’s sorta hazy because it appeared behind a layer of clouds. Isn’t it pretty?

 

One week night our church threw a shower for Noah and Dorothy. It’s been so amazing the way people have gone the extra mile or just invested their time to bless the newlywed couple.

 

 

Quite the spread.

 

Somehow the ladies “talk circle” always includes several children and babies being held.

 

Love it!

 

Gathering to pray.

 

The most gorgeous baby. Ever. And the most fought over too. LOL!

 

Conversations with Brandon.

 

I love everyone’s summer shoes (even the neglected green ones, too.)

 

Couples.

 

Father & Son.

 

“Yeah, seriously. I never even see my baby once we arrive at church.” LOL!

 

 

A couple questionnaire game proved quite entertaining.

 

Each couple got a question about their spouse.

 

“Owwww Charlie. That really hurt.”

 

 

As an engaged/newly married couple you probably open more gifts than you’ve ever opened before in your life.

 

“I need one of those in my kitchen.”

 

Everyone was so thoughtful.

 

Grace and me in our little corner watching…

 

…or maybe taking self-portraits.

 

Zach (older bro to the cute baby).

 

Pigtails are in.

 

Bob, Dee, Ab & Graceo.

 

Can you tell who was taking the pictures? It reminded me of that scene on the second “Love” movie where Grant T. says, “I’ve never seen something so lovely through my transit before.”

 

“Smile girls, smile!”

 

Just gor-gee-ous!

 

Bye for now!

 

Ok, so can any of you married folks remember the one gift that tons of people thought you needed, when you were getting married? Everyone knew Dorothy loves to cook, so she got quite decked out in kitchen serving dishes (but over the years so many of them get broken that you can never have too many!)

Since Noah and Dorothy had a “small” wedding, different people have done some post wedding receptions and showers in different areas for them. One Sunday afternoon we had a drop-in at Daddy’s office building for the friends down in that area to have the opportunity to congratulate the new couple and meet Dorothy. Here are pictures from that day:

 

The honored couple.

 

The place little boys hang out.

 

We tried to keep the food simple and tasty.

 

Getting things set up.

 

Table decorations.

 

Need to quench your thirst?

 

Water…I need water!

 

The hangout place (of course it also happens to be where the food is kept too).

 

Boys, are you working or eating all the chocolate?

 

We got everything set up and then there was still a little time before people were expected to show up.

 

So little boys find all kinds of cool treasures in Daddy’s office.

 

Wonder if it was still unkinked by the end of the afternoon.

 

Better not get too close. He’s slinky armed!

 

Sneaking off to the flower arrangement room after butchering the landscape out front. LOL!

 

Married 3 weeks and 1 day.

 

“Did you really just take our picture?”

 

Grandmother and Granddaddy had spent the night with us and were able to be there on Sunday.

 

Taking it all in.

 

We don’t normally have a picture of us together. So we took one.

 

“How are you, sir?”

 

“What’s your name little boy? Are you related to Noah?”

 

“Ummmm…”

 

Next “couple” arrives.

 

“HEY!!! Oh….you’ve gotten so big!”

 

“”It’s was nice seeing you again.”

 

“Mommeeeee!”

 

Don’t be embarrassed, Bud. See look…we’re all crazy!

 

Pirate Bugle Eye. “I see a corn ship on the horizon!”

 

Their suggestion for what to do while waiting.

 

Oh….might as well say “art” as everyone expects on a picture such as this.

 

We actually had a steady stream of people drop in that afternoon. Noah and Dorothy were so blessed.

 

 

 

 

Techno-kid.

 

 

 

“I can’t believe I’m eating packing material!”

 

 

Neighbors….

 

….and bee keeping friends.

 

 

“I’m just here for the food”.

 

 

 

 

Mr. James checks out the crowd while his wife is signing.

 

 

“Yeah, I remember Mr. C. would just come and pop up in the kitchen window and scare us as we washed dishes.” LOL!

 

 

Avoiding the little boy paparazzi.

 

“Yes, the exit is the same as the entrance.”

 

 

 

 

On a sugar high.

 

“What a l-o-v-e-l-y day!”

 

 

Dr. Doyle and his wife.

 

“Yes, I’m a married man now.”

 

Sweet Mrs. Libby, our neighbor when we were little, who was like another grandmother to us.

 

“Don’t look at me. I wasn’t hiding anything associated with the word chocolate.“

 

We had envelopes we’d already bought that went to thank you cards so people could sign their own name and address on it when they left a gift. That has saved Dorothy so much time!

 

 

Granddaddy.

 

“I love my pillow!”  For some reason this picture reminds me of those scenes in movies where you see a lady wake up in bed and sit up with her hair perfectly done and make up on. LOL! Our remark is always like, “Yeah, we always sleep with our makeup on too.”

 

Momma has been working hard to get this tower of book boxes unpacked and organized on shelves.

 

Burying the basement drain pipes.

 

After covering the pipes Daddy sowed grass seed.  We’ve been watering the grass seed every day. Tough job getting anything to grow in this intense heat.

 

Momma giving Dorothy lessons on how to cut Noah’s hair.

 

Rest time (a.k.a Hannah’s art).

 

I came downstairs and found these activities goin’ on in the kitchen.

 

This must be what happens when Facing the Giant soundtrack is playing. LOL! You should try it sometime.

 

After I took all the pictures of them dancing around the kitchen, Hannah insisted on getting one of me.

 

“Pop……goes the weasel!” ~Tim Hawkins

 

“Ethan, you’ve got a servant’s heart, dude…Start stacking chairs.” ~T.H. again. Can you tell what we just watched?

 

Do I want to know what’s been going on in the kitchen?

 

“Hmmm…wow. A twenty foot snake found in the middle of the road. That made front page?”

 

Sweet buds. Nehemiah: “Move over Manuel, this is my picture.” LOL!

 

We partied every night Hannah was here. Talk about sugar overload and lack of sleep, but it was so worth it! Here we are at 11pm with our butterfinger milkshakes.

 

After two weeks it was like we added another sister. It was hard when Aunt Barbara and AA (who were down South for a wedding) sweetly came by to pick her up. We’re very glad her family shared her with us, though. Thanks y’all!

A couple weeks ago we had a couple days where Momma and Bekah and Abbi were gone so I was to stay home and hold down the fort. Also, that day we had a quite a lot of baking to be done. (Please don’t laugh) So, Momma gave Hannah and me a list of things to bake- and well I will just let the pictures tell the story! I don’t know if this is going to be a post of “how not to cook” or what-but I hope you enjoy!

 

Ok- so I was trying to grind wheat and I guess I maybe put too many wheat berries in the hopper. And, I come back to turn it off and the whole pantry is just in a cloud of flour blowing everywhere and flour all on the wall and floor and counter, it really was funny and everyone was laughing, but then I had to clean it up. I guess I have a bad history with flour messes-like the time White Christmas came on the radio when I was adding the flour into my cookies I was making, and yes it was late at night. Yeah. There was flour all over the kitchen floor by the time the song ended. But that one took longer to clean up. Anyway. On to the next pix.

 

At first everything was going well, the chores were done, the chocolate chip bars that Ethan had made for us were baking in the oven, music was playing, and Hannah and I were starting to make the muffins. And then Ethan asked me to take the bars out of the oven so I did, and well in the process because they #1 were not cooked all the way and #2 were missing some ingredients that Ethan had forgot to add (it was an accident) , they all slid to one side of the pan. Ok, so we are standing there looking at these awful looking bars and then find out we added too much baking soda to the muffins. That was when I wanted to scream.

 

Hannah thought the screaming idea was a good one and tries it out. -We miss you Hannah!!-

 

Yes, that is me right there and yes, I’m stirring muffins.

 

This is Hannah and Ethan starting the second batch of bars. We opted to eat the messed up pan. They look like they have been in the kitchen a little too long.

 

Oh yeah- and in the middle of this all I realized we were out of salt, like totally out of salt and so we were cranking salt out of our table grinder in a bowl. Then it fell on the floor. Everyone had said it was going to be a disaster with Hannah and me in charge of the cooking, but I didn’t believe them. I do now.

 

Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!

 

Yes there was victory with the second batch of bars, ands actually everything turned out fine in the end- I promise.

 

I don’t know how many muffins we ended up making, because we added too much of one of the ingredients, so we had to like triple the whole thing and, well we had muffins for lunch. Oh, and if you are wondering when in all this mess we had time to take pictures, its a good question. I think we finally realized that this was just crazy and when something turns crazy, what else do you do but take pictures. And y’all please believe me that I CAN cook, I actually love cooking and do it a lot. It is just those certain days when I’m in charge that everything has to explode. Now, since I have been honest with all of you and shared some of my crazy cooking experiences with you, I’d love to hear some of yours!!

 

   I hope you all have a blessed weekend, ours will be busy and I am looking forward to it. -Grace

 

One day we decided it would be fun and special to make Momma and Daddy’s supper for their “date night”. We sent out email invitations to Daddy and Momma.

 

It was so much fun choosing the menu for just two people. You can do more gourmet cooking for just two.

 

A local chef (who buys our farm eggs) shared his favorite way of cooking a steak with us that we tried.

 

Grace and Hannah made these soft, fluffy, wheat rolls with garlic/herb dipping sauce drizzled over the top. Then some caesar salad, fruit cups and twice baked potatoes and of course, sweet tea, finished out the meal. Pie and sparkling grape juice were for dessert.

 

The cooks.

 

Momma waiting for her other half to arrive home from work.

 

Once everything was set, we kids went down to the basement with our little picnic basket of food and a movie. Momma said Daddy was pleasantly surprised (since he didn’t check his email that day) when he walked in the door to a quiet house, music playing and wife waiting. What fun!

 

Is this all we get? LOL!

 

Picnicking in the storage room.

 

Cheese and crackers and fruit.

 

Having our own little party.

 

Fun memories.

Gabriel’s welcome home sign on their front door.

 

They got in Saturday night (the week after the wedding) and we had them over for supper on Sunday.

 

They opened up a few of their wedding gifts.

 

Everyday silverware from Indiana family.

 

Who’s this from?

 

Ahhh…the clock from all the Indiana aunts and uncles and cousins. They loved it, ya’ll!

 

The new and improved way to sleep as Nehemiah demonstrates for us.

 

A gift from dear friends via Fed-Ex.

 

Looking at honeymoon pictures on the projector.

After the wedding all Daddy’s family from Indiana came back to stay the night at our house.

Some fishing, jumps off the treehouse, splashin’ Aunts, eatin’ and fellowship was all squeezed in one morning. Here is sweet Uncle Chris who gave up his sunshine daughter to us for 2 weeks. Thank you so much, Uncle Chris!

 

The week after the wedding all the little boys got sick.

 

Hey, sick isn’t half so bad. Smoothies, movie, blankets……

 

The “well” people have eggs to wash and sort.

 

Never fear, Hannah is here!

 

Later in the week most everyone was feeling better except I was then in bed. Some sweet friends dropped by overnight on their way home from a conference. I quarantined myself down in the basement so I wouldn’t be contagious to any of them. Grace and Hannah were cute coming down and bringing me way more food than I could eat and telling me what was going on in the “world of upstairs”. LOL! Love ‘em.

 

Last Spring their family stopped by on their way somewhere and were actually our first visitors in the shop after we moved in. They are always so helpful in just joining in whatever the tasks of the day are. Picking in the garden, baking for market, cleaning out the brooders, washing dishes. Many hands make light work.

 

Cooter bug.

 

 

Saying good-byes.

 

The Youngblood family.

 

Thanks y’all for stopping by! Your family is always welcome.

 

….as my cousin dubbed it. LOL! The week after Noah and Dorothy got back from their honeymoon, we told them “tootles” and left them with the farm responsibilities for the day while we went off on an adventurous outing. It was really nice, we hadn’t been able to go on any day trips in a long while. The newlyweds were just happy to be home and settling in.

 

 

The Falls were our first of several stops that day.

 

A train ride around the place was quite amusing.

 

Little guys thought it was great. Bekah and Grace are thinking the bench seats need higher backs.

 

 

Banana Kid (cousin who stayed two weeks with us after the wedding. We didn’t have too much fun. LOL! We miss her already.)

 

That is quite an energetic strut, Nehemiah. LOL!

 

That’s about how we felt on the actual train. J

 

Snort.

 

Ha! The boys thought it was funny that they would have……

 

……these little creatures at a petting zoo. Most people, I guess, don’t have hundreds of these they have to take care of each day. LOL!

 

What’s in this cage?

 

Ooo….a large Mrs. Bennet.

 

Emu that was taller than the fence it was in.

 

Gorgeous, yet mostly deserted grounds.

 

Ahh lookie…

 

….it’s foxy woxy.

 

The typical “pet this cute little bunny” box.

 

Movin’ on.

 

Cute flower heads.

 

“Eat more beef”.

 

“The man” for the day.

 

The foot just needed to be there.

 

In front of the blacksmith shop.

 

See the bars on the windows across the room? Notice no bars blocking your view. You can pretty much picture that what was behind the lens in this picture was funnier than in front of it.

 

Nifty bridge.

 

The boys had a ball throwing them our chex mix crumbs.

 

I guess all of you have your heads cocked to the side right now.

 

Perfect portrait minus the camera bag strap.

 

Old-ish.

 

Shades, your best friend that day!

 

What’s in here, guys?

 

These rocks were so cool!

 

This would be like the best place to make a movie!

 

Looking over the “cliffs of insanity”!

 

Slippery/jagged + Flip flops = laughable moments

 

Down to the falls.

 

In the deep, dark forest.

 

It was such a fun place to hike. Even in flip-flops.

 

Now, the legend of the Noccalula Falls is that there was an Indian girl named, Noccalula who was in love with a young man. Well, the prideful, Chief Father didn’t think he was good enough. So he made his daughter marry a chief/warrior who had wampum beads to trade and such, against her will. Well on the morning of her wedding, Noccalula escaped in her wedding attire and ran away and jumped over these falls. Death seemed more appealing than marrying the man she didn’t love. So her father named it “Noccalula Falls”. When Hannah heard the legend she was like “Nuh uh!  For real? That’s so sad!” She finally got a brochure before she believed us. LOL!

 

 

Close Crazy Cousins.

 

Almost there.

 

Isn’t the overhang the coolest thing?

 

Bekah and Hannah.

 

Smile….

 

The Sanders Girls.

 

The boys ran around to be directly behind the falls.

 

 

Quick group shot on the rocks.

 

I mean, doesn’t this look like a picturesque island getaway? A picnic would be so much fun down on the bank.