*a revisit to LOVE

From time to time I am able to take a few minutes to see which post gets the most hits. As I was looking this morning I thought I would re share this post since it is on top of the most hits list this month. I suppose since this month is focused on God's love for us, and the gift He gave, it may be appropriate for such a time as this.

 LOVE

May your days be filled with love. May they be filled with thanksgiving. May they be filled with forgiveness. May you find that each day you are able to give out of an abundance that was given to you!  Merry Christmas.

*Deja vu

 The last few years here on the Gulf Coast, the winters have been rather cold. This past year we experienced a winter that was not far from what we were used to experiencing in North Carolina. This year, however, has been a different story. While we have had about a weeks worth of low 20's temps throughout the "winter season", I have only used my winter coat a few times. I am not thrilled about this one way or the other. This time last year the temps were less than desirable! But, spring is definitely on its way.  Every morning I hear the birds singing praises to their King!  The grass is peeking through, ok so most of it never left this year.  Flowers are blooming, trees are blooming, our strawberries are blooming, the dew berries on our property are blooming, the daffodils and azaleas are blooming! Last year the sweet daffodils bloomed around the 24th of February, they are almost a month ahead this year.

Last year this time I was starting to gleefully raise our first chicks for egg production here at Erilyn Farm.  It was really a lot of fun the first time, not so much this time.  I am excited to raise more pullets, don't get me wrong. 

Remember we had a hen to go broody and hatch out 9 chicks AND we picked up 9 more in Samson at a small hatchery last weekend?  We have all of them together now, yes that means Rebel is NOT raising her chicks but me instead.  We felt it would be best if we integrated the little chicks all together early on.  We had some gang issues last year when we finally put our two different groups of hens together.  So I tried to give all of the chicks to Rebel to raise.  Firstly, 18 is a lot of chicks for her little frame.  She is a Buff Leghorn and really a rather small hen compared to our other hens.  She seemed to be confused when I first put all of them in with her, she took them in or so at first I thought she did.  Later in the day I went out to check on them. She had her chicks in her small wings warming, but she was pecking towards the others as they drew near to her.  I made a decision to take all of them away, bring them inside and put them in the brooder so I could take them under my wings...   Rebel, our still broody hen now has 5 more eggs she is sitting on.  We made efforts to research if it was possible to put more eggs under a broody hen AFTER she had hatched out eggs she had been sitting on for 19 days.  To no avail we were not able to find any information at all on anyone who had removed the baby chicks upon 48 hours or so of hatching out and giving more eggs to the broody hen.  We have done it. She is sitting on the eggs as if she just went broody. I am hopeful that she will continue to sit for at least 19 more days. Sometimes broody hens can loose the desire and leave the nest completely.  I have moved her food so she has to get up and stretch her legs, get a drink and POOP outside her nest. I believe it was my fault that she was pooping in her nest as it is. I mean really, if someone brings food to your mouth and you don't need to get up for anything else why not just poop where you are?

January 2012's chicks

So my January and February are akin to 2011's January and February, it is important to add new birds to your flock every couple of years because their egg production will start to slow down after a few years of production. I suppose I will have those deja vu moments in January's to come. 

*to skate or not to skate that is the question

We are spoiled, let me just say that. Earlier this week I took the boys and Kierstyn to an ice rink at the Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.  It was a rinky dink.. can I say that?  We were terribly disappointed, well Kierstyn was grateful, most grateful.   Kierstyn was the only one who skated.

Then! Then I found out that the Civic Center in Pensacola had ice skating open to the public for a few days this month.  The boys were delighted! I can't say that I blame them really, for not wanting to skate at the smaller one.  By the time they stretched their long legs out on the little rink at Baytowne Wharf they would be at the other end already!

Some how ice skating feels like part of the holiday season to us and I am so glad we located a rink for them to skate at this year!  Our boys had this privilege often when we lived in North Carolina.

I hope you all are enjoying some holiday festivities along the way this year, whatever it might be!   Three days left, are you ready?

*seasonal changes

Today I took the funky fun pillows from the back porch area and dressed them up for the fall season.

  When the fall season has passed I will simply loosen the stitches along the top to remove the seasonal cover.

  Precious has made this her lounging place, she is thrilled that I decorated her bedding area with fall colors!

  Happy Fall Ya'll!

*out and in

This has been our first summer on the Gulf Coast, the summer has been no hotter than we had become accustomed to in North Carolina. The humidity now, is a different story. I have never been one to perspire, however this past spring and summer when I would go out in early morning to work in the  vegetable gardens, my brow would be dripping with sweat and I attribute that to the humidity.

I have to confess I got a bit giddy again a few minutes ago when I heard that the early morning temps this weekend are to dip into the 40's.  The time is coming... time to be out with the summer weather and in with the fall weather.  I have laid my welcome mat out, how about you?

Here are a few pictures I took around the property this week, things I wont see much longer this year.  The summer season brings such beauty and will soon go to sleep. I shall miss the colors of summer, but as for the heat - I shall like a little break.

Precious is ready for some cooler weather as well, not freezing mind you, just cooler.

What are you doing to enjoy the last days of summer feeling weather?

~Lynnie

*hints of fall

There is this one thing I am know for, well there may be more than one thing.. but in the Hawkins family (my BFF's Family) they know that come August this girl will be pulling out her fall decor.  It could be an early cool August, or a long hot summer August - either way I get a bit antsy and start pulling the beautiful autumn colors into our home with my fall decorations.  I do love each season in it's due time, but I think fall is my favorite!

We have already had a week or so of high 50's and low 60's night weather, bring a crisp morning as a bonus!  It has been picturesque to sit in a rocker on the front porch, watching the sun rise while sipping on a cup of coffee in the cool weather.

Baking has been on my things to do list for a few days now, so I gave myself to it! Fall invites such things right? Who wants to heat up the kitchen in the middle of the summer? Eat heavy foods when it is so hot outside? So, to day with Fall in my heart, I baked some tasty pumpkin muffins and several loaves of beer bread. I also dreamed my way though a Taste of Home Soup Recipe Magazine, marking many soup recipes that will be tried out in our kitchen soon!

Isn't this pumpkin muffin adorable? A little of the mix some how was slopped out and when the muffins came out of the oven, this one looked like a pumpkin stem. Cute!

Happy Fall Ya'll!
~Lynnie

shared at Homestead Revival

*beach scenes at the end of summer

To me, the beach, early morning is one of the most peaceful places on the planet.  It's just you, the birds, other early morning people, and the rolling in and out of the tide.  That is unless it is late August through late October  on Navarre Beach, then you will be accompanied by stinging flies. I found this out after the fact! I will be going to Destin from here on out until winter sets in!  I hope you enjoy these scenes from the shore.  It was a beautiful time no matter!

Shared at Behind the Camera

*pool season is here

Mom and I have been working tirelessly to keep the pool clean of leaves and oak blossoms and when momma leaves this weekend, Henry will pick up where she left off.  We are hoping that soon we will come into a season where nothing oak will be falling from the sky and into the pool. 

The weather has been dreamy here lately and with that the temp of the water has began to rise.  Henry and his friend Ryan first got in the pool back in February when the water was mid 50's if I remember correctly. Then he and his cousin, Joel got in for a quick dip in February as well.  A month made a big difference in the temp and the pool is OPEN!

Fray is wearing part of  Kierstyn's swimsuit.

She so desperately wanted to play with Kierstyn.  Not so sure about getting in the water though.

*catching up, whew!

Summit, my other son

Summit's drip castle in the beginning...

This is a busy time of the year for me, you and many around us I am sure!  For us, spring break means a fuller house and I couldn't be happier about it.  My other "son", Summit was here last week and time flew right by, before we knew 7 days had passed he was leaving us.  As I hugged him, before he went through air port security, he told me he would see us this summer.  This is possibly the last summer he will come. These young men just keep growing up! Jobs will take priority and responsibility will start taking it's place more which will not allow for carefree travel such as summers spent away from home. 

The day Summit boarded the plane is the very day my sister arrived with her daughter, Kierstyn and our nephew, Austin.  Henry and Austin were like peanut butter and jelly the minute they arrived and have pretty much been since.  Kierstyn gave hugs and shortly thereafter wanted to visit the rabbits and chickens.   Much of her time the first couple of days was spent standing in the chicken tractor with the chicks funny as that might sound, it is true.  She has named several of them and we shall study some famous American women in order to finish naming the other "girls".   We spent some time at Destin Beach today, the weather was just right.  We enjoyed the beautiful outdoors, got just enough rays and then headed back home.

This week cleaning, weeding, sewing, painting, tiling, and all such other things will take a back seat.  Next week will hold plenty of time for such tasks. This week is for investing, investing in my nephew and niece - something I look forward to each spring and summer when they come to stay with us. 

*it's daffodil time!

Awake, thou wintry earth -

Fling off thy sadness!

Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth

Your ancient gladness!

~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

These showed up just a few days ago.. quite a beautiful surprise. This spring will be like gift giving/opening time for me.  All that lies beneath the ground will soon burst forth and makes its grand entrance; I can hardly wait!!

*do you remember

A long time ago, in the mid 70's to be precise, when I was a young girl in elementary school we would make Valentine Boxes several days before the Valentines celebration.  These boxes were usually made of discarded cigar boxes or shoe boxes.  I always loved it when we could get a cigar box because it opened like a hinge which I thought was always more interesting than a lift off shoe box lid.   We would adorn the simple boxes with white tissue paper, red heart cut outs, glue and sparkling glitter.  Lastly we would cut a slot on the top so the cards could be dropped in.

Do you remember this time in your childhood? You arrive at school with your signed Valentine cards in a brown paper bag just waiting for the time to be right so you could walk around the room and drop your cards in your class mates boxes?  Your mother might come with sweet cup cakes or a bag of candy for the class. 

Today I was brought back to that time!  Yes it is a day after Valentines, but nonetheless the feelings came flooding in and filling my mind with sweet memories.   I received this Valentine card in the mail today. Simple Valentine in a simple envelope.  What made it so sweet to me was the fact that this is all that was in the envelope. For a moment I felt like I was in grade school again.  Thanks FranZiska! I think you are neat and sweet too.

h

*love

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.- 1John 4:8 (NIV, 2010)

 

  "Forgiveness is the final form of love." - Reinhold Niebuhr

 

"True love cannot be found where it truly does not exist, Nor can it be hidden where it truly does."- anonymous 

"A loving heart is the truest wisdom." - Charles Dickens

 "The most desired gift of love is not diamonds or roses or chocolate. It is focused attention." - Richard Warren (well unless it is raspberry chocolate fudge.. right FraZiska?)

"Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit." - Peter Ustinov

"You may only be one person to the world, but you may also be the world to one person." - anonymous quote

"Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

"You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly." - Sam Keen

"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love." - Sophocles 

"Attention is the most basic form of love; through it we bless and are blessed." - John Tarrant

Happy Valentines Day to each of you! May each day be a day lived out with the attitude of "Valentines Day" on your heart towards those in your sphere of influence. We may not always be characterized by love, but the Author of love commands us to live in such a way that we might be!