House for sale!

We listed our house last week and accepted an offer.  It's been our home for 15 years!  I will miss it, but am ready for a bit more land.  These photos above were taken by the photographer who works with our realtor.

We've told some people about the place we plan to move to, but for now, I will keep it private. The house we put an offer down on, a few weeks ago, is not definite, as I believe it is a foreclosure, it has to be approved by the court.

Our hibiscis flowers are blooming and looking beautiful! There's a wee bunny who has moved in under the shed, can you see her under the pink hibiscis?  Our pears look lovely.  I wonder if we will get to eat any, or the squirrels, or the new owner. The thunderstorms the past couple of weeks brought a lot of wind and we lost a couple of limbs off the peach tree. 

A speckled egg from our barred rock hens today!  Hope you have a nice weekend.

Summer

Two 2 year olds just hanging out together.  I admire the beauty of the avocado pit, similar to the color of the wood beads in my bracelets.

Fresh cucumbers from the garden!  Thanks to my sister for sharing them with us.

Those giant hibiscis flowers are beautiful, aren't they?  My mom and Paul at the concert in the park last week, above, and an old cool car.  

Three boys all ready for Sunday!These are my grandparents.  I've been going through photos, such a joy to me.  

A lot of thunderstorms recently and beautiful skies. One daughter and I got NEW driver's licenses.  Our other daughter took the boys out for ice cream.  Guess what flavor George had...

Hope your summer is going well!

Little bicycles

These guys like to ride their wee bicycles.

We got sparklers to celebrate the 4th of July.

I had my Piper sandals resoled!  Dave and John Piper are a father and son team in San Antonio, TX who make these sandals.  

Rhubarb and flowers from a friend who lives on the street behind ours.  We made these muffins:  https://thymeandlove.com/vegan-rhubarb-muffins/

More sparklers, with friends.  We caught fireflies, too, then set them free before the evening was up.  Summer is my favorite season!

Apostles Peter and Paul

Today starts the Apostles fast, which culminates on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. We abstain from animal products, and hope that we may draw closer to God.  I picked black raspberries while at the monastery in Hiram, OH.  The monk, Father Nectarios, gave us a tour of the place.

There's the chapel in the back, near the cemetery.  Inside, it's mostly wood and quite beautiful in its simplicity.  We hiked through the woods.

This is the main church.  It has many icons of saints from all over the world covering the interior walls.  My favorites were the saints from Ireland and Wales.

We brought Somalian frankincense home with us.  It was only $20 for a half pound jar.  Large raw chunks that were scraped from a tree and then dry.  Its scientific name is Boswellia Carteri.

I've made more bracelets with olive wood beads and amazonite to sell!  And here is a little icon of the Apostles Peter and Paul that I cut from a catalog and glued to wood.  

Fisher of men

Jordanville, NY has one of my favorite monasteries.  This is the dining hall, with a beautiful mural of Jesus Christ and the fishermen who became his disciples.

My mom at my dad's grave.  Such a pretty day!

Below is Father Theodore, a monk who is from Scotland.  Another monk, Father Paul, gave our youngest some of his bread and then a wood beaded bracelet with a cross.  Many smiles.  Little kind gestures.

My sister's Godmother, Margaret, her son and granddaughter.

After the meal...I talked to many people I haven't seen in a long time, it was nice to see them.

This is Father Iov who drove the tractor while my dad worked here and helped with the farm work.  He's in his 90s, a dear old monk. One of the other monks, Father James, helps take care of him.

My mom with two of her friends.

Yesterday, we had a father's day cookout with friends.

Stewart's ice cream after...the boys rode up the driveway on their father's lap.

That's Pauline holding her baby sister, Edith.

Perfect weather for barefeet. New friendships.  Many good people.

Happy summer to you!