Ephemeral

Millie came running from the coop to tell us about the hint of a rainbow.



And Susannah tried to catch it before it faded away.

Another Day

My reason for taking these pictures is buried under the mounds of snow that have fallen since the girls were last able to swing yo-yos on the porch. I had painted their faces that morning, but it was late in the day, and only Susie remained in character (she is Ming-ming here).

Piper, as is customary, was a bear (nekkid).



I want YOU [to get away from my face].

For They Shall Be Called Sons of God

At the beginning, Millie tried, but Smoky and John Wayne remain less than friends.

Manwarings, Unite!

Summertime is family reunion time, at which I take shoddy pictures.

My daughters on a branch


Luke and his bride (They're pretty cute, huh.)



Mopsy and little Jessica, still so sweet and little.



Dad, Mom, Jessica, and Twinnies the First



Debbie, so golden and serene


And, Joel, where the heck are you?! I thought I took a picture of you and was going to post it on here or extort $$$ in return for not posting it, but I must have been mistaken.

Next year...

Chores After Church

I don't know which girl had the camera this time. (Another benefit of a broken camera is that one's children can handle it, and there is proof that I exist!)



I include these mostly because that pesky John Wayne was so cute.

Even when he threatened Piper



and ate the chicken feed...

Beneath the Black Locust

My Dad and Pip get along pretty well.

Because It's Here

I really am posting pictures compulsively. Here! Have a picture of our garden!

Appetizer

Millie and Annie dressed themselves as twins quite often. By the end of the summer, these tank tops were ready for the landfill.



An abandoned baby in a plastic cage.



And my funny daughter, who looked up after I started laughing. She's definitely got John's blood in those veins. Taking a salt shaker out to the garden? Brilliant!

Happy Birthday, Sunshine

You're a sweet little spark.
You give all you have and ask for so little in return.

One year today, Lucinda Hope!
We love you to pieces.

A Harvest Too Great for Arms to Carry

I love little girls who lug winter squash that are larger in size than their combined heads.



I love a wheelbarrow used gratefully, left with the house by a generous aunt and uncle.



I love Millie's gap-toothed grin and her arm around John Wayne.




I love daring interpretations of Lady Liberty.




I love evening light and cheeks painted by Peaches, that short, little lady-clown the girls talk about all year.



But, mostly, I love wearing my husband's sneakers and sweatshirts because I am The Fashion Queen.

'Fess Up, Josephine

Okay, it's time to speak truth.


We've had the internet for several weeks now, wildly whooping on the back of Hunger's wind from my brother's home to ours, and I haven't yet put up a post.

Shameful!

I've weakly begun trying to catch up on people's blogs (What's this?! You lived during the last year and a half?), I've started to remember why the Internet is so darn fun, and I've started to also remember
why I hate it.

I haven't started making even the first of the many Christmas gifts on my wish list for giving, and if I'm really stupid, I'll put up a monster blog post before next Saturday.

Let's hope I'm wise, instead.

Christmas in 11 days!
(I can't wait!!!!!)