in the studio

We just wrapped up regular dance classes for the school year and I was able to sneak in a few pictures on their last day.  Competitive Step Dance has had such an unexpected impact on our family life this year – good friends, incredible opportunities, significant investment of time and resources.  It is not for the faint of heart!  Their self-confidence and self-discipline have improved tremendously. But mainly and most importantly, they are happy.  Oh so happy. 

 studio

dance

 studio

studio

dance studio
 studio

studio

dance
fun fun fun : ) 

The children launched into the world of European Feiseanna this month as well.  Will share some pics tomorrow.  I hope your summer is fun-filled and warm in every way!

without hurry or flurry

"If you could once make up your mind in the fear of God never to undertake more work of any sort than you can carry on calmly, quietly, without hurry or flurry, and the instant you feel yourself growing nervous and like one out of breath, would stop and take breath, you would find this simple common-sense rule doing for you what no prayers or tears could every accomplish."

– Stepping Heavenward

Just something from this oh so wonderful book to try, especially during busy seasons.  Many times, it may well be that we are not lacking in virtue so much as exhausted or overcommitted. We do no one any favors that way. 

Gap of Dunoe bridge

Barns

This week's theme at Snapshots Around the World is 'Barn'.  Sue was saying the German barn looked too nice for animals.  The barns in this part of Germany DO look similar to the homes.  In fact, many of them are connected to the farmhouses and form one long unit. I dug through my phone and files to see how many I had pictures of and came up with a few. 

barn
In the picture above the farmhouse actually is just offscreen to the left coming out at a 90 degree angle from the barn section.

 barn

The older barns are made of crude bricks like the ones above and below. 
barn back

They are usually covered over in stucco and whitewashed or painted to match the house.  (the house is off left of this pic below as well)
barn

Many are used as garages today though others still house livestock. In fact the place two doors down from us has a little herd of goats in the paddock right now mowing their lawn. : ) 

2010 Steinwenden barn web

This farm below has a separate barn (shown) which was huge but the same brick/stucco construction as the others.  Unlike the others it is in the country.  Darned if I wasn't happy to see those Oberhasli's that day. : ) 

2010 Trippstadt goats barn web

Just over the border in France the farms look entirely different. Whereas here the farmhouses and barns are right in the villages and the farmers commute to the cropland and pastures, in eastern France little farmsteads dot the countryside much like rural communities in the states.  They also have pole sheds there which are largely absent from this area. It is fascinating how different the world is.  

Check out the other barns around the world linked at the Snapshots blog and leave us a link to one in your part of the world. 

The 3 Amigo’s this week

They have been moving at top speed this week.  Lots of giggling, running laps in the yard (and the upstairs and the living room and…), funny voices, loud singing to 15 renditions of Old MacDonald played on the piano by Brendan. 

I looked at the three of them in mid-flight today – hair all wild, faces erupting with smiles. You just have to smile back.  Happy like that is contagious.

Jun

We did settle down for some stories today. 

Jun

Some with Mom.  (pic by Brendan ; )) 

Jun

Some they read to each other. 

Jun

And sometimes you just close your eyes and soak it all in.  Summer is good.