And. . .He's. . . .Safe (The Adventures of Fatty Bolger)!!!

Home Sweet Home!

Dear Friends,

Thank you for coming by today~ We are all coming out of our "End of the Warm Weather Funk" that was hanging around the past few weeks. Some year we KNOW that we will remember to take it easy when the weather starts to change, as our bodies crave rest, and our spirits crave comfort during this time. :) From reading others' blogs, I suspect that I am not alone in this feeling! 

It is easy to get so caught up in all of the activities of fall (and in the back of our minds are the upcoming holidays),  that we forget how busy we have been all summer, and that we need a little down time before we can shift gears. Driving ourselves harder, however, does not give the hoped for results, but instead drives us into bed with a cold or fever. Then we HAVE to slow down and take care of ourselves, et voila! we feel better. :) 

If you are in a "funk" right now, and feel like you're liable to spin out into space, you have my permission to take a hot bath, listen to some beautiful music, and write down all the things you accomplished this past summer (or year, if you have time), and what you wish you could have accomplished. Writing things down is greatly therapeutic, when you don't know what it is that is the matter. Remember that the tide always comes back eventually, no matter how long it may seem!

Blessings to you all, dear friends!

With love,

Marqueta

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Out in the Fields With God

The little cares that fretted me,

I lost them yesterday,

Among the fields, above the sea,

Among the winds at play;

Among the lowing of the herds,

The rustling of the trees,

Among the singing of the birds,

The humming of the bees.

The foolish fears of what may pass,

I cast them all away

Among the clover-scented grass,

Among the new-mown hay;

Among the rustling of the corn,

Where drowsy poppies nod,

Where ill thoughts die and good are born,

Out in the fields with God.

~Author Unknown

A Visit With Friends, and to Amish Country

Dear Friends,

A blessed Sabbath to you! Yesterday the temperatures warmed up enough to make a perfect day to go visit our beautiful friend Emily from Desert Rose Homestead. She and her family were visiting Missouri, and invited us to join them for a picnic at Adam-Ondi-Ahman (a spot that is sacred to Latter-Day Saints).

Mr. Graham was nice enough to chauffer the troop, and as we left Kansas City we whizzed past the Sports Center, as well as Worlds of Fun.

The traffic decreased as we traveled north, and we knew we weren't in the city any more when we had to cautiously pass this combine!

We also passed this tractor supply store, and Frankie informed us that he would own every single tractor when he grows up~

A farmhouse with a windmill in the front yard told us we were close to our destination~

 

And finally we were there!

Emily and her family were patiently waiting for us when we arrived (we misjudged the driving time by almost an hour!), and everyone had a wonderful time catching up and munching on the goodies provided.

There were lots of uninvited guests at the picnic, too, including lots of ladybugs and spiders!

There was just enough time to play "Hide and Seek" while we put things away,

And for making a fairy house in the big oak tree!

Though we wished we could have stayed together longer, it was finally time to part ways, until the next happy day when we could visit again. One thing that I love about Emily's family is that they are at the same stage we are, of dreaming about that piece of land and working toward making it a reality. We've been so very blessed to make so many wonderful friends through blogging!

We spent some time absorbing the peaceful spirit that prevails at this special spot, and collected a few rocks and seeds to remember it by.

Some of us decided to rest on Father's shoulder instead!

We then decided to drive through Jamesport, the largest Amish community in Missouri. Although it was definitely a tourist attraction, it was a wonderful thing to see the buggies and wagons, and not be the only ones who are stared at because of their apparel! ;)

We found a little store that we selling apples, and bought a bushel of Red Delicious and a peck of Honey Crisps for $10 each; what a bargain! The owner of the store, Mr. Yoder, took time to come out and talk to us, while swinging on one of two porch swings out front. Not quite like shopping in the city!

We felt truly at home in Amish country, and it was a little difficult dragging ourselves away and heading back to "civilization." Seeing all the farmhouses along the way, and picking up a local small town newspaper and perusing the "farms for sale" section helped to fuel our dream of finding our own place beyond the sidewalks. We know it's out there somewhere!

Thank you so much for coming along with us today, and may all your worthy dreams come true.

Love,

Marqueta

Dear Friends,

Thank you for coming by our cottage today; we have the heater going and a pot of tea, just for you!

As unbelievable as it seems after such a hot summer, we are going to have freezing temperatures here in Missouri. Time to bring in the houseplants from their summer vacation outside!

 

Just a few days ago, we were enjoying the beautiful blue skies of Indian Summer~ Perfect for an at-home picnic (note the blanket on the lawn). 

We also enjoyed hiking at Cave Spring Monument in Kansas City, which is part of the Santa Fe Trail. We are amazed at the history which is all around in this area!

We have also been helping out at our favorite thrift store, and rescuing cast-off linens and dolls (we named this lady Marie Antoinette, while she waits for a new elastic to re-attach her head)~

Today we made baked tortilla chips by cutting corn tortillas into wedges, coating them with oil, then baking int he oven at 350 tll crisp. They're so much better than store-bought!

(They of course met with approval of the kitchen clean-up crew, but that's not saying much!)

We painted a picture of Mrs. Dashwood, to which we are going to add the words "Calm. We must be calm." as a reminder to not rush throughout our day~




And we found a lovely blue fascinator to add to our vintage collection of hats~

And last, but not least, may we introduce you to Fatty Bolger, our resident ground hog, who loves sunflowers as much as we do! He has proven himself a dynamo at squeezing under shed doors and removing the lids off of chicken feed buckets, even with "heavy" bricks on top! But he is so cute, we can't get too mad at him, can we?

We hope that this week brings many blessings to you, our dear friends. Your comments and friendship mean so much to us!

Love,

Marqueta

"I am Content" by John Burroughs

Dear Friends,

Sometimes we come across a poem or quote that says the things we are feeling so much better than we can, such as this gem by John Burroughs. It seems so appropriate for this gorgeous time of year! Enjoy~

"The longer I live the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and wonder of the world. . . . .

I have loved the feel of the grass under my feet, and the sound of the running streams by my side. The hum of the wind in the tree-tops has always been good music to me, and the face of the fields has often comforted me more than the faces of men.

I am in love with this world; by my constitution I have nestled lovingly in it. It has been home. It has been my point of outlook into the universe. I have not bruised myself against it, nor tried to use it ignobly.

I have tilled its soil, I have gathered its harvests, I have waited upon its seasons, and always have I reaped what I have sown.

While I delved I did not lose sight of the sky overhead. While I gathered its bread and meat for my body, I did not neglect to gather its bread and meat for my soul.

I have climbed its mountains, roamed its forests, sailed its waters, crossed its deserts, felt the sting of its frosts, the oppression of its heats, the drench of its rains, the fury of its winds, and always have beauty and joy waited upon my goings and comings."


Love and blessings,

Marqueta