Farmhouse photos

I fell in love with this place the minute we drove up the gravel driveway, that was months ago and I whispered to Paul, "this is it".  We had been looking for over two years and our patience served us well.  Well, I have to admit it was mostly Paul's patience as I was the one begging him to share my vision on some pretty run down properties.  I'm glad he said no when he did. 

Here is a side door entrance to our new home.   

And here is the kitchen. I love the earthy feel of it, it is finished with a combination of redwood and marble counter tops.  And I feel completely spoiled to be working on a Wolf range.  

Here is the old farmhouse pantry.  Plenty of space and even a pencil sharpener on the door (I'm kind of a sucker for those random details)!

The living room.

Master bedroom and upstairs hall.

I'm not the most creative or technical photographer but I simply shoot when my hands are free and the moment arises.  Paul suggested I take these before we bring too much of our "junk" in, that way when it is really messy I'll remember what a beautiful home this is.  

I am grateful to the previous owners who put so much love and care into the restoration, it has good vibes and you can feel it in the walls.  This is a great contrast to some scary foreclosures we tip toed through.

The house is not too big, but not too small.  It will work for us because so much of our living will be extending into the endless yard.  This was the real selling point for me.

We spent the evening out there in the grass talking about the changes ahead and all were given a change to express both their excitements and concerns.  

I'm still speechless in joy and my biggest concern is I'll never want to leave. But until we get this homestead up and running I'll at least be running "in to town" to the grocery store because all the garden is producing so far is garlic and weeds.  Here is our very first harvest.

Movin' In

After weeks of waiting we are finally settling in at our new farm.  

The garden had weeds up to my shoulder so Paul got on the tracker and mowed them down.  I'm anxious to plant what I can this late in the season but I'm also tempted to take some wallpaper down and paint, maybe I should first focus on setting up the kitchen.

Yikes, I'm both giddy and overwhelmed with the amount of projects ahead of us.  Having moved several times before I recognize this move as very different from the rest, this is a shift in lifestyle. 

Let the adventure begin, and may I not be too exhausted to keep a good record of it.

Summer Nights

There is something about living in Michigan that makes you savor every bit of sunshine, even the bit of it that's lingering way past normal children's bedtimes.  

This summer has been exceptionally pleasant, even a bit dry with fewer mosquitos and manageable humidity.  We've mostly been out playing and swimming but have also enjoyed a few of the community events.

Here Clara is up top Daddy's shoulders at Ann Arbor's Top of the Park.  There was a small circus act called Strange Fruit that the girls are still giggling and talking about.

The boys were less impressed with Three Belles and instead found more entertainment in wrestling in the grass.  We all enjoyed the live music but being out with 7 children in a large crowd can also look like a circus act.  Many people stopped to ask if they were all ours and I caught even more nodding their heads in counting heads.  We just smile and nod back because it is fun to be out as a family on such pleasant summer nights.

4th of July was celebrated with a few cheap boxes of grocery store fireworks.  They were up close and simple and the kids loved it!

There were colorful smoke bombs, snappers and expanding snakes.

And of course boxes of sparklers (only a few burnt fingers but we just picked some plantain at our feet, mashed it up and wrapped the burns - it worked).

George starting screaming at the first bang and was happier in bed.  The girls enjoyed a safe distance and the boys of course enjoyed lighting the matches.  All the while I was trying to figure out how to use my camera in new ways (still figuring it out).

We also had a chance to see our favorite local singers Gemini play at the library.  We've listened to them for miles on road trips and I even remember them visiting our elementary school years ago.  Maryanna got to go up and perform with them. 

George enjoyed bouncing along as I sang along to every song, I may be a bigger fan than any of the kids.  And of course we had to pick up even another one of their Cd's to sing along to in the van.  My siblings will all remember the famous "I'm gonna tell".

When we are out on summer nights Paul likes to just walk the streets.  On one occasion I was pushing the double stroller behind and Clara dressed in her favorite puffy princess dress got the skirt tangled in the wheel.  The stroller came to a quick halt and both her and Henry fell to their knees in the middle of the street we were crossing.  There is now a new no dress-up rule for our summer evening outings.

If the kids are lucky the night will end like this:

And if we are lucky our summer nights will end like this:

A Special Day for Clara

With our move date pushed back and the boys away at Nanny and Poppy's for the weekend, Saturday was declared at Clara's special day, a one on one outing with mommy.  When I asked her what she wanted to do for her special day all she could come up with was "buy some Calico Critters", or "go to Build a Bear".  I tried to explain to her that a special day was not about "buying" but doing.  She quickly responded with "okay, let's sew a princess dress". 

Clara's been eyeing a pile of sparkly pink fabric in my stash for months now.  I actually bought the fabric in 2009 with the intention of sewing some dress-ups for Christmas but was unable to hide it from the girls.  I'm glad I waited because I found it to be more fun to design and sew alongside a very excited girl.  

So just after breakfast Clara and I pulled out the fabric and she drew a little picture then wrapped the fabric around her to explain exactly how she wanted it.  I drafted the pattern right on the fabric with a black marker and Clara was off playing before it was even cut out.  She'd check in on me occasionally to make sure it was puffy enough and to play with the scraps at my feet.  She brought her baby doll down and convinced me to sew a matching dress. 

The two have been wearing their dresses ever since.  Clara's dress was intentionally made a little big, the back has adjustable snaps, but at this rate I'm not sure it will hold up for as long as it was intended to.

When she first put on the dress she was swept away into dreamland, she planted herself in front of the van bumper and sang and danced into her reflection.

I took her for a little outing, actually they were just regular errands but wearing her new dress made it special.  We first dropped off  some bags at Salvation Army and Clara requested we go in and look for some summery dresses for her.  I agreed and we quickly found a nice pile of barely used dresses (we have a fantastic thrift stores here)!  Next to the dresses Clara found a princess vanity set.  I'm sorry she couldn't convince me to bring it home but I did allow her some time to play with it.

That and of course all the other junky toys that were about.

Our next stop was Whole Foods.  In the parking lot a little girl pointed out Clara and said "I want a dress like that mommy".  Clara started skipping, but then she tripped so the dress met its first little tear.  But Clara pulled herself up, held the skirt up high and quickly trotted on.  Inside the store she walked about more slowly, soaking in every smile and compliment until she bumped into a stand of berries.  She kept on her best dimpled smile and created even more smiles along the way.

Our last stop was going to be for an ice cream cone with sprinkles but she fell asleep.  Here she is just before I carried her out of the van.

I still owe her a trip to the ice cream shop.  Until then, everyday feels special in a puffy pink princess dress.

Never a dull moment

We are well into summer without too many blog updates.  We haven't been up to much but our days have not been boring.  Here's a report:

I've packed up most the toys so the kids have become creative with what is out.  Pictured above is the tricycle and wagon trailer the boys rigged up.  When things are really quiet I know they're up to something and in most cases it is just good creative play, but not all the time.

I just posted about the hair cutting episode but I have to say the girls have not been the only trouble makers these past couple of weeks.

Peter has really taken to the spirit of adventure this summer by first putting all his suction cup arrows through the pencil sharpener.  Luckily no one was injured with them, not even when a couple boys were caught climbing all over the roof retrieving arrows.

Peter keeps his bow and arrows ready in the back of his pants but the front of his pants are usually bulging at the pockets.  I knew something smelled fishy one day so I ordered a pocket check and discovered he emptied a can of sardines, wrapped them in a paper towel and stuffed them in his pockets just in case he got hungry on his adventure.

That was the same day he dialed 911.  He tried to cover his tracks by unplugging the phones from their jacks.  This isn't the first time a child dialed 911 but usually they call right back to confirm all is well.  In this case they could not get through so the police were sent to the house.  By the time the police arrived Paul had kindly offered to take all the kids to the playground so I could take a nap.  I was about 5 minutes into my nap when I heard the doorbell ring and thinking it was the kids goofing off I ignored it.  But I couldn't sleep through the dog's barking so I headed down to see what was going on.  There was a police man walking around the back of the house communicating on a very loud walkie talkie.  I asked him if there was a problem and he informed me he was responding to a 911 call from our address.  He came in to check things out and we discovered the disconnected phones.  The house was a mess with stuff pulled of shelves for packing and piles of dirty dishes only because I was lazy.  I apologized for both the mess and the call then immediately called Paul and the kids home from the playground.  It only took a few minutes for Peter to admit his doings and even less for him to promise not to do it again.

But I'm glad he knows how to dial 911 because on another day James discovered Peter and William trying to build a fire in the backyard.  It was actually a rainy day but they found some dry grass clippings and piled them high under a huge golf umbrella.  They were successful in building a fire but so was James in putting it out when he discovered it only few minutes later.  

The trouble does not stop there.  On another day I spotted a suspicious garbage bag beyond the backyard and into the woods.  I couldn't imagine how or why it was back there, it actually kind of creeped me out.    Then as I was staring at it out the window I catch Peter creeping out from the neighbors bushes and into the woods towards the garbage bag.  Again it didn't take long for Peter to admit his doings, that he hauled the bag out of the garbage bin and into the woods because he was looking for a toy I may have thrown away.  It was a his solar power windmill that George had got a hold of and busted.  He never did find it but he lit up in describing to me how heavy the bag was and how it took him all morning to drag it into the woods. I guess I see all these happenings as normal kid stuff but I'll also take them as a cry for more attention.  

In other news, we've been visiting the neighborhood pool frequently but the kids have also found other ways to stay cool right outside our door.

During quiet time the kids have taken to Scratch and Khan Academy (our homeschool friends introduced us to them).  Thank goodness it keeps them quiet because George needs his rest as he is recovering from walking pneumonia.....and I need my rest after days of boxing and caring for a sick baby.

But mostly we are all getting anxious to get this move over with but frustrated we are stuck working out a little wrinkle before we can close.  Trying to stay calm, trying to stay patient and trying to simply walk through these moments, even the dull and painful ones.  It is not easy for me.  But I'm learning to do it and I think that is what life is all about.  

Modern Bangs

Maryanna cut her hair - she said it was sweaty and bothering her.  I found the pile of hair in the garbage before I was presented with her "new look".   

Looking in the mirror with a frown she told me she was not use to herself like this and asked if it would grow back (unlike the American Girl doll hair that was chopped a few weeks back).  I reassured her that it would and arranged for an experienced hair dresser to tidy it up.  

I also made pile of bows to help.

But what really helps is brushing it to the side as if it was styled that way and of course a smile.  Clara cut her hair too, it is up to her ears.  She wanted to be like the Princess from Tangled after her hair was cut.  

As naughty as these girls are, they remind me of myself as a child. I remember cutting my hair at the same age simply because I got honey in it , and I also remember chopping my hair a few years ago just for the fun of it.       

Dulce de Leche

In cleaning out the pantry I found a can of sweetened condensed milk.  I can't remember what it was originally purchased for but I do remember while living in China some friends and I use to simmer it for hours to make a dulce de leche dip.  That was 14 years ago!  I looked online to refresh myself on the technique because it can be risky if you don't do it right.  Left unattended it can explode and end up all over the ceiling, that did happen in China.

So here's how to do it:

First take the wrapper off the can and place in a small pot.  Cover the can with water and bring to a boil.  Turn down to a simmer and allow to simmer for 3 hours.  Be sure to keep the can covered with water, adding more as needed.  Remove with tongs and allow to cool before opening (if it is hot there may be too much pressure and the dulce de leche will jump out upon opening).  Open carefully and enjoy!

We served ours with apples and pretzels for family night treat.  In China we use to melt in a chocolate Dove bar then dip in all sorts of tropical fruit.

Be sure to have napkins, or even better baby wipes on hand because it is just as sticky as it is yummy.