Stop and Smell the Hay

The smell of fresh hay is in the air again! 

There is something good about this time of year.

Hot afternoons and strawberry milkshakes 

for everyone.

“Would you like a treat, Grandpa?!”

“Ballad”

We'll walk among the tedded hay,

That smells as sweet as flowers;

While the meadow water winds its way

Beneath the hawthorn bowers.

And when the bright green haycocks throw

Their shadows from the sun,

When thou art weary there we'll go,

And rest, the heat to shun.

We'll to the hawthorn shades retire,

Where blooms the wild dog rose;

And smell the sweetly scented briar,

Where the shining river flows.

We'll talk o'er joys we once could prove,

And blithely spend the day,

For those pleasant dreams of early youth

Can never pass away.          by John Clare (1793-1864)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

 Proverbs 3:5

Drips, Drizzles, and Downpours

When I look out the windows I see dripping drops.

When I listen to the noises at night I hear

"Plink Plink"

on the panes.

Arnold Lobel says it well…

“It rains and it pours.

I’ve got too many chores,

There’s the cooking and cleaning to do.

I’d rather be out on a wet, green hill,

Laughing and dancing with you.”

-- by Arnold Lobel

We’ve had measurable rain for eighteen days straight!!!

But my father-in-law reminded me that it would have to rain

for forty days to actually break the record. J

 After a while you go crazy inside 

and just go out play in the rain.

  

How ironic that we finished school over two weeks ago

(definitely a record year for us!)

 and it’s rained every day since!

But I’m not complaining – April was so dry that the pastures

had pretty much stopped growing and Nathan was feeding hay to the cattle.

Now things are lush and green.

I quickly forget all those getting desperate prayers

 for rain only a few weeks ago.

Rain is a gift!

“Now this is eternal life: 

that they know you, the only true God, 

and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

John 17:3

Tyler and Heather -- Family Photography

Meet this little dark eyed lady named Britton!

We finally found time to make a little

 late-afternoon photoshoot happen with her family.

Britton had a birthday in the winter and was full of the normal one-year-old energy.

I love this age!

I love their wonder and the challenge that brings to taking photos.

And I love the naturally motion filled photos that happen.

 Britton is going to be joined by a little sister, and her mamma brought

some fun props to do an announcement picture.

Congratulations!

I couldn’t decide… Black and White or Color on this one?!

If you have an opinion let me know!

It was great getting to know you a little bit, Tyler and Heather!

Blessings on your family and the little one to come!