TrEeHoUsE UpDaTe

Notice anything here...

That's right. Nothing.

The shed that once was....is no longer!

Years ago I was asked my opinion regarding adding a large building to our nearly 3 acres. It was a necessity, really. We have a home-based business that demands it. So I was promised that ALL of the extra sheds around the house would be demolished.

This building would replace all of them. Problem is, one persisted. The ugliest one. (of course) Finally this weekend it was torn down....for.....drumroll please......lumber for the treehouse!

Along with the salvaged slide from my Dad.

The BeSt of "the remains". R.I.P.

So we have progress.....and again we wait.

O the fun of Summer~!

Being a bit silly here, because I usually groan. But it tastes sooo good in the winter. NOW I can claim that I'm also green and saving the planet, (among other virtues!). Can you say e.t.h.a.n.o.l.?

Of course I can't do it all without a lot of help! DH was the very best , amazing after a long day of hard physical work, he still has energy and desire to help!

But there was nobody around to help clean up!

Favorite Photo of the day!

What a goose!

Visit to Michie Tavern

We just returned from a family weekend to the Charlottesville area.

On the way home, we stopped by Michie Tavern, since we had visited Monticello and Poplar Forest in the last year or so. We are studying the history of our country in school.

Isaac coming out of "The Necessary". We also visited the "Secret", where we learned one would go to "pluck a rose".

We learned about minding one's beeswax. Where "tending bar" came from, and other interesting facts! We danced the Virginia Reel, but I had to put my camera down to do it!

Here are my little "revolutionaries". RML fell in love with the dress and wanted to purchase it. They were very well made, locally, so she will have to save her money for awhile. Although little men would not have carried a sword, it was a NEEDED accessory for this photo.

I promised my eldest daughter not to publish her photo, but she looked very much the beautiful young lass! I will include some color photos for the grandmas.

For my fellow local home educators, note this: Michie Tavern tours are free for local residents. (a savings of over $30 for our family) Although the dress-up time was not part of the tour, but of a visit to the Clothier's shop. The costumed employees are very helpful and seem to really enjoy what they do. Everyone was happy and pleased to be of service. It was her idea to dress up our children and take them outside (you can't take a photo in the store!) for realistic photos! It was a fun time for all.

The Return Home From Friendly Town Virginia

Our sightseeing trip to NYC was a result of chaperoning a group of children to their home in NYC for the Fresh Air Fund. They each stayed with a volunteer family from somewhere in the Shenandoah Valley for up to two weeks. It's fun to ride back home with these children, as we get to know them for the few hours we are all traveling. I've always looked at Fresh Air from my perspective, how it affects my life, and my family's. Riding the bus gives me the bigger picture, I see how it affects the life of the children.

My wonderful husband visiting with a group of kids on the bus, they so loved talking to him!

This little girl was visibly saddened at the prospect of going home. She cried on and off for hours. She stayed with one of the Mennonite families in our area. You would have thought she experienced a great deal of culture-shock, and yet - she apparently was more impacted by good old-fashioned unconditional love she had not experienced before.






This little guy had a neat album of photos of his trip. "This is me getting candy at the parade", "this is me playing with the water hose", etc, etc. What a nice memory for him to share with his family and friends at home.























These two girls chatted on and acted as if they had been best friends forever. NOT! They never met before Friendly Town...but the same couple invited both of them (they had no young children of their own!) and now they are great friends! (there goes another excuse!)








This young lady taught me everything I know about french manicure. She made it seem so easy! You should have seen her nails! She's going to be a pro one day!






This little six-year-old wore all three adults out before he finally wore himself out a few hours later! What a doll!

If you've ever considered Fresh Air, and you live in an area within a day's drive of NYC, find out more about it. Pursue it. If you think there's a reason you can't, then you probably don't understand the program. Believe that you can. You will make a difference for the children.