The Red Door

I've been painting my front door and side lights. We are very excited to be closing in on the renovations. Not to mention the joy of less watering with the cooling temps and harvest near completion.

I have freed close to fifty pumpkins from their vine entanglement. :) They seem glad to have found a home adorning my entry way. I know it makes me smile!

However, Hank has taken a liking to dried corn on the cob. I was saving it for my chickens but he shreds every ear he can get his paws on. He will be a year old on the twenty fifth of October. So much for corn decor. Maybe he will grow up soon...







Two Nurse Children... engagement picts.

Happy Birthday, Theologian! (For Yesterday...)

See! See how busy I have become this past week. I did not forget to wish my oldest child happy birthday, but failed to blog about this remarkable little lady!

Oh, forgive me sweet child. You must know I love you more than my own life. :)

Where does a mother's loving thoughts begin with that oldest daughter. The one she has known the longest out of all her children! The one that kept her company in those earlier years when the dad was out of town earning a living for his little family. The one who knows every word to every early Garth Brooks tune. The one who could read before she could read! The one who understands more than even she understands that she understands.

Is it hard being you, Theologian? Gifts given by God that will not reveal themselves before their time has come. Patience!

You have blessed this family more than words can say. You have loved us all so well with your perfect smile and infectious laughter. You giggle at just the right time, always. You never fail to please... another one of your best traits. You try so hard in every task and I've never seen you quit, unless forced to do so! This determination runs deeper than the strongest of currents. I am just sure you're going to need someday, somehow.

The tears choke my throat, as I miss you terribly and long to hug your neck! I know this road you are on right now doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But, in due time you will see why.

How do I convey how much I love you?

I don't know. But I do. We all love you... a huge cloud of witnesses cheering you on. Run the race well, daughter. It's gonna be worth it.

Happy Birthday, Austin Claire Whitlock Hackworth.

love,
mom

This year's party would have been even better!! :)

time passing...

Oh how the days, like waves upon the ocean, roll by. Like memories, forward and back I play the scenes in my head; rewinding the tape over and over. He said, she said... Undulating, sometimes pulling me downward to despair; sometimes pulling me to the surface for a breath.

Wedding venues? Really? Is it time to let another of my precious babies go into their life of womanhood? Of wifely duties, home care and children of their own. Seasons of life; cycles in every lifetime. The human experience in which all mankind shares. 'Nothing new under the sun' is how King Solomon describes it.

Construction Man has been home since Monday evening. It is so joyful at the start and becomes cloudier as the week progresses. Emotions flare in preparation for his departure once again. I hate this! You'd think after all these years we would be better at good byes. NOT!

He accomplished a good many tasks toward completion of the renovated kitchen this go'round. His handcrafted, concrete countertops are installed with the open, stainless steel shelving in place, full of plain white porcelain dishes and stainless bowls.

The exterior walls are sheeted and receiving their white paint today. No more TYVEK plastic glaring at front door guests.

I am planning for the fall decor at the front door as well. So many pumpkins have matured in the garden out the back gate. I can't wait to get my hands on them and create some MarthaStewartesque scenes!

Enjoy the last notes of summer. September has opened and is already beginning her descent into October. Where does the time go? I ask myself this question often.

Oh, and call your mother if you can. Sorry, Mom! I got carried away with all the wifely duties this week. :)

Tell someone how special they are and that you love them.
It's all gonna be worth it.


Go Martha!

Northern Michigan

Nurse Child and Fiance

Saving the Vineyard

I spent the other night in my friend Baerbell's vineyard. We were rescuing the beautiful clusters of red and white grapes from the robins that were hungrily attacking; methodically stripping the vines of their luscious fruits. Tomorrow she harvests. I have to go to "Chopped" and will not be able to attend the party. DANG!! I have looked forward to this moment since June.

But I am thankful to have been able to relieve her of her vineyard vigil for one night as she returned to her bed in the house for some rest. My friend, her husband and myself slept in our bedrolls right next to the vines only to arise in the morning to find that the robins had doubled their efforts and called all their friends to join in the robbery!

We managed to scare them off time and time again with the shot gun blasts, but robins are not easily swayed. Who knew? We eventually wrapped all the bunches with netting in the hope of preserving them for Tuesday morning.

I can hardly wait to taste the wine. She will transport the grapes to Billings to a vintner there.

Oh the time in watering a pruning has she invested. I only spent six hours one afternoon early on in the season helping with this process and feel like those shiny black and creamy orbs are my babies too!

I will never look at a robin the same way again!

Socrates

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life." ~~ Socrates

In the last year and a half of my life I have proven this statement true by the sheer quietness that surrounds me.

You may think that I am always busy, but alas I am not. There is much down time. Time to reminisce. Time to weed the garden. Time to do the dishes. Time to take care of minor details and major ones. Time to write out a birthday card for a nephew or niece. Seems like I am doing more of what I should be doing, and less of what I have dreamed up to please other people.

I feel as though I am coming through the grief of losing family members and that I am ready to embrace the second calling, or second half of my life again. I realize that nothing has changed in the world, but the changes are happening inside of me.

I got off of the carousel for a time. I put an end to the madness. I went back to my roots. Broke a horse, got a puppy to love and stayed home more. This year we really went all the way back to where we began nineteen years ago by coming home to Road 8. I planted a lush garden, got a part time job within our community and received mail in the usual place. I have cooked more again, very much loved on my hubby and kids and basically went back to basics.

I no longer feel barren and cold. I am warmed by the rays of autumn and the joy of an ordinary life. There is peace in being who we are...who we were created to be. I look forward to the holidays. I love the fall. Cool air and warm sun. Reminds me of riding my first horse, Candy, through our woods and by our lake in Northern Michigan. I just couldn't wait to get off that school bus and get outside before it got dark. With no saddle and our dog Pete following along, we'd ride through the crackling leaves, taking in the aroma of the black dirt turned up by my mare's hooves. The lake would be still as the earth prepared for a long winter's nap.

"To everything, there is a season." ~~ God

Everything belongs in this day. God will add or leave out what is necessary. His purpose for us remains: To love Him and glorify Him forever. We do so by simply being ourselves. Season after season of life...

Sunday Stills...

Faces of loved ones.


Our kids in Mexico.

New mama

The Beautician

Duncan... Cowboy extraordinaire

Tristan and his hen

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed." ~~ Emerson

To say that Addy did well on this wagon train would certainly be an understatement. She did above and beyond, fantastically, wonderfully, progressively well in her ability to ride out on the open range and through hill and dale, as if she had been doing so for fifteen years. We practiced our skills learned in the arena: turn arounds, stopping, loping straight away on correct leads, bending, and of course the general rules of leaving the herd, leading the herd, etc.

We even got to round up/chase some cattle that belonged to the owner of the land we were crossing. I honestly believe Addy enjoyed having purpose in her step and I as well, in handling her, when we were on such a concentrated mission to move those cheeky cow/calf pairs over the hill towards the ranch.

I must add that this positive experience has only fueled the flames of my desire to ride such a good horse with more skill, lighter hands and legs.

On towards the end of our three day journey, the younger folks decided to race for the starting point. I joined in the madness at a nice lope ending in a full out run for the roses! This little horse is unstoppable... almost literally! I checked her speed a number of times and she responded well. But in the midst of the wind howling through our ears, and the swirl of dust from thundering hooves, I swear I could hear her laughing with delight at the prospect of fulfilling her potential as a horse.

Horses are meant to be ridden. They are meant to be enjoyed. They are given as a gift from God to man to train, use, care for, and to fill a void deep within our beings. Thus the quote by Emerson.

Of course, this "void" we all have is to be filled only by the love of a Saviour, the Lord Jesus. He alone knows just what we need to enable us to truly live... adventure is certainly a part of the essentials kit!

God's love for us is his grand passion. It seizes a person whole and once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed. I don't think Emerson would mind giving all the glory to God. :)

Wagon Train

The trip has come to pass and everything was fabulous! The preparations were grueling but doable. And it really paid off to pre cook, pre bake and pre pare to feed the masses. We feasted on ribs, beans, shepherds pie, sloppy joes and assorted breads, fruits, veggies, eggs, bacon, pancakes, pbj sandwiches etc...

Everyone ate in abundance, laughed and rode their mounts just the same. We traveled a little over thirty miles in three days and saw some of the most beautiful country. The kids that were in attendance had a blast racing around the wilderness unhitched from computers, video games and the like. They were free to be children in the purest of environments with so much love and encouragement by the adults that were there.

We had folks from England, Australia and Germany. It was great fun trading stories and traditions, and just plain sweet getting to know one another as we rode along following the four wagons hitched to their magnificent teams. (I don't need to tell you how amazing the horse is... One of God's greatest creatures!) It was quite a caravan of thirty five people.

The dirt under my nails will take time to wear off, the bruises on my legs will fade, the sunburned cheeks and arms will heal, but I hope the memories will be vivid and alive for the rest of my life.

EPIC! This is how this trip will be remembered. Everyone safe, home and back to work-- with a plan to do it all over again next year.

You should make a plan to go next time!