Blueberry Blessings

Sadly, blueberry season is coming to a close. However, prior to being a Blueberry Hill helper, that statement would have been completely out of character for me! Those little blue balls I kept weighing in and hearing so much about from awestruck customers had carried no effect on me.

That is, until my mother-in-law convinced me to try one. "Okay, it wasn't bad. I'll try another. Well. Wudduya know. That one tasted a little better...might have another." I was a goner. Even to the honest statement that I would, hands-down, choose unlimited fresh blueberries to unlimited......(I never thought I'd say this)..... Wilbur Buds!

Truly, God is very good to have made blueberries. Truly, God is all-powerful to have converted me.

Though much of my take-home berries were enjoyed as-is, I did manage to freeze some, make blueberry pancakes, blueberry muffins, cornmeal-blueberry scones, and even a blueberry pie (again, out of my character) that Wayne really enjoyed. I mean...really....enjoyed. I think his highest compliment was expressed when, upon finishing a large pie wedge after his meal, he ever so carefully cut a perfect piece to share it in a "proud-of-my-wife" kind of way with our dear neighbor (who usually makes the pies he likes). After he was pleased that it was tenderly and eye-pleasingly nestled on the plate, deep into the piece goes his fork, and he continued "really enjoying".

Hmmm. Jake and Kylie and I were confused. "Dad, I thought that was for Mammaw and Pappaw."

"DOLP! I forgot!"

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FRESH BLUEBERRY SAUCE...FROM PATCH TO PANCAKE

(A tutorial)

Step 1: Enjoy every plopped "plunk" heard from your berry bucket.


Step 2: Rinse 2 cups of berries.


Step 3: No need to annihilate....


.....just crush.

Step 4: Add 1/3 cup sugar.


Step 5: If using fresh lemon juice, give it a hearty roll.


Step 6: Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice. (You may keep the lemon cap on for fun.)


Step 7: Stir.


Step 8: Bring to a boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.


Step 8: Add 1 teaspoon vanilla.


Step 9: Chill!


Step 10: Pour over pancake and enjoy!

Thank You, Lord....

...for my hardworking husband!
(Getting us ready for a hopefully more economical winter by preparing for a chimney for a coal/woodstove.)

Good Night, Sun

The Aftermath...

...of Math
(that little black box is a shredder)

Bath Day!

Before....

After!

A Nice Way to Start the Day

This morning we rode our bikes to buy sour cherries from a little roadside stand to fulfill Wayne's hankerin' for cherry puddin'.

I Never Knew...

that Sweet Peas could bear two colors from the same plant!

A Moment with Pooh Bear...

Last evening Kylie and I decided to swing while enjoying the peace and quiet of the evening and savoring our cold treats (chocolate pudding for Kylie, layers of vanilla icecream, peanutbutter, and Hershey's syrup for me). Afterwards Kylie shared with me some of the parts of The Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh that she really liked. Below is one of my favorites...


"I thought," said Piglet earnestly, "that if Eeyore stood at the bottom of the tree, and if Pooh stood on Eeyore's back, and if I stood on Pooh's shoulders----"

"And if Eeyore's back snapped suddenly, then we could all laugh. Ha ha! Amusing in a quiet way," said Eeyore, "but not really helpful."

Wildflower Walk

Kylie and I collected some flowers along the road.

Deck-orations

My new flower boxes! Heliotrope, Petunias, Lantana, and an unknown purple spikey flower!

Petunias and Celosia

Lavender Tea Cookies

Brianna, Braelyn, Kylie and I tried out a recipe from Susan Branch's The Summer Book. I thought they had a very enjoyable and distinctive taste. I'll be looking for more lavender recipes to try!

A Lovely Thought....

"The scrolled iron gate gives a melodic clang as we turn the rusty handle and step into the courtyard, the air heavy with the perfume of roses. Noisettes, Sweet briars, Hybrid Teas, Chinas. An old fashioned white climber with great glorious blooms scrambles over centuries of red brick. Creamy nasturtiums tangle at its feet. Two stone dogs gaze faithfully on the lichen of ages colouring their backs. A narrow gravel path leads along the golden walk - a shimmering avenue of apricot roses, lemony lupins and orange lilies. Down worn steps, past pillars and urns, at each turn the senses are besieged - a shower of mauve clematis, a curtain of white foxgloves, lupins painted in every shade of pink." (The Painted Garden - A Year in Words and Watercolours by Mary Woodin)

Pot Pie Call!

Mom called over to see if Jake and Kylie would like to help make pot pie, which would get them (and Wayne and me!) an invitation to supper!
A beautiful thing!

A Busy Spring

So far we've....

painted white the trim and doors of our room
decluttered my room, closet, drawers
spring-cleaned Jake's room
spring-cleaned Kylie's room
organized game closet
organized linen closet
had a yardsale
enjoyed Jake's baseball games
hosted a Pooh party
continued history
continued math
played games
went for walks
enjoyed time with friends and family
continued reading Little Britches


The Frey girls sold snowcones at the yardsale.

Enjoying Some New Flowers...

Though I'm a late bloomer in having any desire to garden, I have high hopes for the interest our yard may hold someday! Here are a few new additions to my (very humble) flower patches.

Verbena - "Taylor Town Red"


Blue Lithodora - "Grace Ward"


Dianthus - "Neon Star"

Mother's Day Eve and Mother's Day

Saturday evening I was washing dishes at the kitchen window and spied two of these flower boxes on our deck railing! How did they EVER guess that's what I was hoping to have someday?!

The next morning I was further spoiled by these dear homemade cards, a wooden flower box made by Jake, and a coupon for two backscratches or massages from Kylie. I can't wait to get flowers in all of my boxes! (Amazingly, the above poinsettia, which was a Christmas gift, is STILL alive! I can see what a little regular watering can do as my black thumb begins to turn green.)

A Little Reminiscing for Mother's Day...

Special Stationery

Correspondence is not one of my strengths, but when I had a message on my heart to send a friend, I was tickled with the pretty look of this handmade notecard and was inspired to try a handmade envelope from scrapbooking cardstock. (I had to laugh at myself when I went to lick the "envelope" and found it didn't stick!)

Froggy Fun

This morning Mom captured the Prince Charming that might be eyeing up her pond fish for dinner.

Nature Notes

Today was our first Tiger Swallowtail sighting. Interesting tidbit...this is South Carolina's State Butterfly.

Last year, Jake was able to get this butterfly to stay posed on his face! Here are two of the many photo shoots these cooperative subjects allowed me.

Love those big baby browns!