11 Acre Wood Blog

Full Friday

8:30 pm on Friday, August 19, 2005

Today we got a late start. Gibbie got Tim up at 8 (“it’s time to eat”) after Tim stayed up painting until 4. Everyone else was slow too (Gibbie made sure they got up). After breakfast, Bible time, and a discussion of what we needed to do, we didn’t start doing anything else until 10:30. We continued painting, worked on door hardware, hauled limbs, started to put back the back porch furniture, shot slingshots, swam, dug worms, tried to light a bonfire, and other things I’ve forgotten.

Improved front door

The slingshot gang.

A snapshot of life at the 11 Acre Wood. Rebekah and Grace created a pretty little sitting area with checked cushion and tablecloth and a little vase with a flower. The blacksmith gloves on the table represent our more rugged interests.

Two peas in a pod (Rebekah and Gibbie rolled up in a blanket).

Rebekah and Grace cooked Snickerdoodles (Gibbie calls them “chiggernoodles”).

“Inchie” (Ethan pretending he is an inchworm).

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Thankful Thursday

7:14 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2005

Today daddy got us all up and we had quiet time together, ate, then started work. First daddy touched up the back doors, I (bekah) pressure washed the front porch, Noah cut more limbs, the boys stacked limbs, and Grace swept the back concrete and steps to the pool. Then daddy (and other people in intervals) painted the trim around the front door, Noah continued to cut limbs, and I recovered one of the pillows that goes in the wicker chairs (see picture). After that we ate lunch and Gibbie laid down (Eman was suppose to). After lunch we tried to remove the front door to be painted, that was an adventure!! First the pin on the bottom wouldn’t come out, then we were going to put the library door in the front doors place while it was being painted but the hinges were switched so that it didn’t work. But finally after some thought it worked out fine. This afternoon some of us played a little and daddy and Noah mowed (finally) thankfully it didn’t rain today. Then we swam and ate BBQ sandwiches that Mrs. Hanson brought us.

The pillow I recovered.(we are going to repaint the rockers).

Daddy painting around the front door.

Noah cutting limbs.

Our “new” front door. L.O.L.

” Hey where’d the brownies go”.

Luv dat hoss!!

” Who’s that guy in the middle?” ( good night mommy).

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Scrubby Wednesday

8:05 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2005

This morning everyone got up, ate breakfast, had quiet time, then worked one the front porch area. We pressure-washed, scrubbed the siding, scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed some more (L.O.L), cut limbs, stacked limbs, played in mud puddles made by hose leaks (L.O.L.), hauled limbs, and sweated. After that we ate lunch and some of us swam. Then we moved to the back again and repaired the screen, painted the back doors, and then ate supper that the Hardys kindly made for us. We had meat-loaf, mashed potatoes, squash casserole, rolls, tea, and jello.

Our front yard and porch.(don’t worry we’re not done yet).

The new screens.

Yep, it’s thundering.

Eman used a little brush and daddy had to smooth out everything he did. But he enjoyed painting what he did.(L.O.L.).

Before and after.

Our supper at Emanuel’s view……………………………………..and our supper at my view.

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Rainy Tuesday

6:18 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2005

This morning Tim went into work and took Ethan. Noah was up, but the others got up late. They did quiet time and cleaned up rooms during morning. Tim tried to get things squared away at work to be at home most of the week.

After lunch Tim went out to work on screen for porch and it immediately started raining. We had a continuing series of thunderstorms through the afternoon. Changed plans and decided to paint the upstairs bathroom. Decided it didn’t need a primer so everyone helped paint the bathroom blue. Later we’ll touch up the trim since this is pretty rough in spots.

Emanuel and Gibbie in conversation.

Ethan and Tim painting the bathroom

Ethan learning to juggle

Our blue bathroom

Blue bathroom from the outside door

Our mostly smiling faces

Another Emanuel picture of Daddy – this time from “far away and get the whole body”

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Diligence Day

9:16 pm on Monday, August 15, 2005

Today was a diligence day. We ate breakfast, had bible time and quiet time, then started on the back porch area. We cleaned gutters, washed all the interior walls of the porch, washed the doors, pressure-washed the vinyl siding, pressure-washed the concrete, removed dozens of limbs from trees, and then tried to get it all cleaned up. We were exhausted and ready for a swim about 5:15 when a huge thunderstorm hit. This evening we went to the Hardy’s for speech class – everyone did well.

Rebekah and Grace worked on the porch boards

Tim washed the vinyl siding and doors (lots of water standing on the floor)

Pile of limbs cut by Noah and others

View from the back porch (notice Gibbie with his swim suit – we didn’t ever get to swim)

The pears get a new “home”.

Pressure washing the concrete – Before…..

…and after

Emanuel wanted to take a picture of Daddy – after he took it he said he just wanted to get the legs

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Day of Rest

5:30 pm on Sunday, August 14, 2005

Today we went to church – Noah and Emanuel stayed here because Emanuel still had a rough cough and Noah still looked puny. The music was good – Foster played violin and they played Be Thou My Vision. The sermon was on salvation by faith alone. This was the most “reformed” or Calvinistic sermon I’ve heard so far – seemed a little defensive and argumentative compared to other sermons. Gibbie did OK even though we forgot his pacifier.

Lunch was corn dogs – we had a nap/rest time after lunch. Noah, Tim, and the little boys took naps. Watched a little golf on TV. (Rebekah wrote the rest of this blog)

For supper we had shepherd’s pie, homemade-whole-wheat-dinner rolls, and cookies (for dessert). Everyone liked it. yuuuummy!!

Everyone enjoyed playing “shops” in the library this afternoon (as well as other afternoons).

Gibbie enjoyed helping make supper.

Molly also enjoyed a day of rest (waiting for a bee L.O.L.).

Although it was Sunday the butterflies stayed busy. Emanuel took this pic.

Two more defenders

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Saturday Highlights

6:38 pm on Saturday, August 13, 2005

Here’s some highlights from today:

Wendi, Abbi, and Nehemiah went to help Lora Lynn and Andrew. We miss them a lot, but we know they are needed there right now.

Rebekah baked bread with Mrs. Hanson. Mrs. Hanson complimented Rebekah on how well she did with the bread. Mrs. Hanson also seemed to enjoy the baking (and the bread).