Lambs

New lambs are sweet!  Here's a video if you want to see inside our barn.  6 ewes have given birth (several sets of twins), 4 more to go!

I put this sticker on my water bottle as we drove home from Ohio to New York yesterday.  It took 10 and a half hours, with just 3 short stops for gas, lunch at Long John Silver's, nursing, diaper changes, walk around a bit and to use the restroom.  Really good, compared to the drive there last week.  I thought it would be a good idea to leave our house at 9pm, but we were SO tired and although the kids slept a good chunk, we had to pull over and sleep some, too.  In all, that took 13 hours. Olivia has earned her RN and next she has to take the NCLEX exam.  Hannah is moving from Oregon to Texas, right now.  She was in California yesterday and in Arizona today.  It was wonderful to have our family together. 

This photo of the 7 of us was taken after her RN pinning ceremony Thursday. My mom, sister, her kids and a friend came, also.

Both grandmothers were there to congratulate Olivia on her graduation, which was Friday.

We spent Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday at our old parish. Both big boys served in the altar.

A friend gave Elijah this icon of Christ as the Good Shepherd. I thought that was lovely as we have sheep! 

Together

 

All our children! They are ages 22, 20, 8, 5 years and 7 months. The past few days have been catching up, eating, talking, going for walks.  We're together for Liv's graduation from nursing school later today.  There was a pinning (the actal pin is attached to the red ribbon around her neck) yesterday. 

Olivia, Hannah and I went shopping for dresses and it was especially nice for me.  I often feel like a mom caring for the little ones, but got to spend time with my older girls.

Elijah tried a pickle with Olivia.  He liked it!

Before we left for Ohio, one of the ewes had twin lambs!  They're so cute.  Our Amish neighbors are feeding the animals while we're gone.

Cookies

These chocolate chip cookies are this recipe for peanut butter cookies, but i made them with gluten-free flour and added chocolate chips to the dough.  We had guests stay in our cottage over the weekend.  Friends from church. This recipe is simple, vegan + did I mention made in  just 1 bowl?

Did you see the solar eclipse last week?  We went to the Syracuse area to visit my cousin and his wife.  She made these eclipse cookies!

Thankfully, we got to see the 1st part of it pretty well because after it got dark as night, the clouds moved in.

Last Tuesday Paul's Godfather was at the monastery for a clergy conference.  It was nice to see him!  The weather was perfect for spring.  The grass is really growing well!

Look who can sit up unassisted now!

Elijah's little friend came over yesterday!

Little things

Trimming tiny fingernails is hard work!  Usually I wait until he's taking a nap and need to put on my reading glasses. I feel quite accomplished after this job.

I'm sipping chaga tea with a dash of cinnamon. This morning while nursing Elijah, I watched this video on thyroid health, and am trying to consume mushrooms, like chaga, less sugar, worry less about pleasing others, etc. We should be God pleasing.

My sister and her family came this past weekend.  I made cupcakes using a chocolate gluten-free box mix from King Arthur, AND made it vegan by subbing ground flax seed and applesauce for the eggs. They were a bit crumbly, but delicious. Here's a video of my niece and baby!

Yesterday, I traced the boys silhouettes.  Here's the end result. I'll hang them up with the silhouettes I did of our girls.

Hope you have a great week!

Sprouts

I planted calendula seeds 2 weeks ago indoors and they sprouted quickly!  We still have a lot of snow on the ground.  I did see flowers at church (purple and yellow crocuses blooming) + at a friend's house (white snowdrops) last week!  Saturday, we got a big snowfall, probably the most we've gotten yet in 2024, although it's spring + no longer winter.  Ha!  The sun has been shining brilliantly Sunday, Monday and so far this Tuesday morning.  It looks extra bright because the sun reflects off the white snow!

We got this mini waffle maker at Aldi yesterday for $7.99 and although it's adorable, already I wish we had a bigger one.  About 10 years ago, we bought a Calphalon one, which broke at the hinge last year (we were able to still use it, until there was so electrical breakage a few months ago).  I've seen some cast iron waffle makers, and would like to get one!  They're expensive though.

I don't think I shared the crocheted cactus 🌵I made.  I stuffed it with baby clothes are were stained.  I also just finished a pair of wool slippers using the same dark green yarn.

All 4 of these guys working on the floor by the official (but less used) front door (to the left)!  We will put slate down next.

Tourist

We like taking out of town visitors to the Tepee shop on Rt. 20.  It's been there since 1950, although there are different owners, they kept it basically the same.  A great stop for tourists. Olivia got some pretty rings. My mom got a pair of Minnetonka moccasins.  Paul and George got knives, under their father's approval and supervision.  We went to a bakery and got some special things to eat.  The weather was warm, sunny in the 50s and 60s.  This week, we've had light snow the past few days!

Olivia and my mom were here for 5 days.  Olivia took many of these photos. My husband beside the wood cookstove, which heats up our whole house.  It's called the "Kitchen Queen," kinda silly name. Splitting wood!

Here are a few more videos: 

Elijah loves to jump with my mom!

Swimming at the pool in the gym, each of the three boys got a one-on-one swim lesson with Olivia!  Happy to be 6 months old and able to go in this cool little swing (I told George not to swing or spin him, but you can tell he wants to)!

And the shower!  I still love taking baths in our clawfoot tub.