by the old mill stream

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

For real that is where we were this weekend. The girls and I grabbed the leashes and headed down to the trail late afternoon. The woods are coming alive again. They have not completely thrown off winter as you can see by the trees. But, it's starting and it's beautiful.

This has been a week of outside which is awesome but I have barely had time to bless myself as my Gram would say. About half (ish, sorta) of my household to-do list is being done….as the painter has no doubt noticed. Still, the sun is shining. Who can stay inside long?

The stream and path alongside run behind a neighborhood whose homes back up right to the water's edge. They sport deep backyards with lovely landscaping. As so many homes in the area do, there are daffodils planted in clumps in the lawn.

Beautiful evening with my girls. I have such a sense that these days are numbered as each month passes by, bringing them both closer to leaving the nest for good. I take not one of these walks for granted these days.

Potato Pancakes

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Was going to post a menu with recipes but then, remembered whose life I have lol. So maybe some pretty pancakes instead? We made up a bag of potatoes from the farm the night before and used the leftovers to make pancakes for a meatless lunch for the kids the next day. I improvised a recipe similar to this one. Linking that mostly to show the recipe was one with baking powder and no onions. Made them like a breakfast pancake.

wonder and marvel

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

“Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.”

– William Martin

A friend shared this quote which echoes my focus for my children – embracing the extraordinary ordinary. Ordinary life is extraordinarily beautiful to me.

I saw in my facebook feed this morning that another of my favorite writers, Kim John Payne of Simplicity Parenting is hosting a free video series this week about bringing peace and balance to family life. I recommend Simplicity Parenting often. It may seem a paradox because while I embrace the message wholeheartedly, we do enjoy extracurriculars. But we are also home living very simply during the school days so the balance of in- and out-of-house activities comes out to be the same as he recommends. This isn't about a formula but a balance, about living with margin. I am anxious to hear what he has to say in this series which is a follow up to the book.

Meantime, it has been a warm weekend spent outside. There is a nice semi meatless lenten paleo menu on board for the week. (not the contradiction in terms you might think ; )) We are ready to jump back in to another ordinary day.

after the rain

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

This week saw the last hurrah for the daffodils. The plum trees are covered in white blossoms and the horses are beginning to venture out without their blankets. The sun has been out more often than not and the temps are rising steadily. A very good turn of events.

We had a lot of excitement around the farm this week. In the wee hours last weekend our burglar alarm went off. Since we had never heard it we had to really wake up and process what it was that was happening. It was no burglar but a system fail that ended up requiring the engineer to service it several days running. Several days of the alarm firing off erratically. It was funny that first time. It got old I admit.

The alarm guy and I ended up having a lot in common though and by the end of the whole project discovered we had both lived in Germany at different times and love to hike. We swapped notes about walking destinations and gear and he brought out his phone to show pictures of must-see peaks in the UK. Put me in a room with someone for a few minutes and I will know all about them when I walk out. I talk. A lot. : )

The farm's painter has been working on all the trim and gutters. He had us choose paint colors for the piano room which had a bad leak last summer. We have moved the furniture and taken down the pictures and Monday work begins on the inside. It looks like we will have to repair the tile next week as well. When one daughter was showering this morning the water was dripping down through the ceiling. It happened last year too. 1960s era olive green tiles in the bath are coming undone.

Living in a 200 year old house is an incredible experience, but it isn't always as romantic as magazines suggest. The maintenance required is considerable and ongoing. We are blessed to have someone else who owns and maintains it because this isn't something we could take on ourselves. As it is, we are living on a farm complex which is very different from the American concept of farms. There are a LOT of people living and working here which means a great deal gets accomplished. It is also a big change for us getting used to being part of a farm team of people coming and going, sometimes knocking and sometimes not. ; )

Our old Land Rover bit the dust this week as well. We had hoped to ride it out while we were here but in the end could not get it to pass its emissions test. So we went shopping for a British spec minivan. Abbie was beside herself when she heard. "I am SO happy!" she said. She was pretty sure she heard "Minnie" -van and was a little bummed to learn that was not the same thing. "It's not THAT, Dad." she told him, in case he too was under the illusion we were getting a Disney vehicle. "It just means its SIZE."

So it has been busy and things will be hopping around here for a bit yet for these and other reasons. I got a few pictures in the early morning the other day just as the sun broke through the rainclouds in that temporary hush before the bustling began. That has been important in keeping calm and collected during long days of noise and excitement. Mornings and evenings have been quiet, full of books and study and walking which balance the day's activity. Breathing in and breathing out.

So, these were the deep breaths in….

Walking through the raindrops – highly recommended.

something old

Posted on March 29, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

I picked up this necklace from a local vintage shopkeeper thinking I would wear it to the wedding last month. It didn't end up matching the dress but I have had it sitting out since anyway. Makes me really happy. The clasp is actually in front there behind the stones. I remember loving chunky vintage rhinestone earrings and brooches like this when I was little.

Things haven't changed much. : )

sunbeams

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

"If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely." - Roald Dahl

Grateful for:

Sunshine

A dryer that chimes a whole tune when it finishes a load

A Yorkie on my lap

Dinner that has turned out several nights in a row

dew drops on daffodils

trees in bloom

lessons finished together

a day spent in clothing that stretches

These silly faces outside my back door

a wing and a prayer

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Johnny Cash is ringing in my head lately. "I've been everywhere, man. I've been everywhere." I haven't actually been everywhere. It just felt that way some days.

We got word that last week in the States that my husband needed to be in Germany shortly after we returned. We made some last minute plans and I went along for the ride. Seemed a little crazy but it was good actually to have a short time out.

I have to tell you though that the flying is still not easy. There is nothing glamorous about my life the night before a flight. Giant bundle of nerves. There were actually a number of things about this trip that stretched me way, way out of my comfort zone. I keep thinking eventually it's going to get easier. Meantime I am just doing it scared. There should be a medal for that. A big one.

Just sayin.

Actually the reward this time was beautiful Deutschland in springtime. I have missed those tiled roofs and deep forests. I had one whole day to do with as I pleased. A friend took me to breakfast. Then I went to the American bookstore and realized it has been years. YEARS and years since I have been to a bookstore with absolutely noone waiting for me. I lingered long over shelves that wouldn't likely have made the triage when people were waiting outside.

We are home again and catching up. We have had a series of challenges to meet here as well but are trying to just use that same approach, one thing at a time, even in the absence of feeling personally prepared and equal to it. A dear friend had just the right words tonight. Just wait on Him and be courageous, said she.

Courageous. Yes. Because courage isn't the absence of fear after all. It is acting in spite of it. Wishing you same for all the brave things that may be asked of you today as well.

be conscious

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

“It is true that all men are created in the image of God, but Christians are supposed to be conscious of that fact, and being conscious of it should recognize the importance of living artistically, aesthetically, and creatively, as creative creatures of the Creator. If we have been created in the image of an Artist, then we should look for expressions of artistry, and be sensitive to beauty, responsive to what has been created for us”

– Edith Schaeffer The Hidden Art of Homemaking

the sure sign of spring

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

What you may ask is the sure sign spring has come? Nope, it isn't flowers or temperatures. It's the end of indoor sports. I admit I am not happy about this. If it was up to me we'd play basketball year round. No standing in drizzle or wind or heat or freak cold spells. Come April I will once again be the only mom huddling in a blanket on the sidelines counting down til the soccer game is over. I know this. But darn I hate cold and until it's over 70 degrees I am pretty much that.

So anyway, a look back at bleacher season. Number 8 is mine. The good looking bleacher guys are mine too. About all there is time for. We flew away for a couple days last week and now we are back. More on that to follow. : )

The Inklings road trip

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

A post Christmas gift to our Inklings. Road tripping to Oxford. Magdalen College. Old books. Dinner at Eagle and Child. Oxford is not to be missed. You can keep London. I am still not sold. <g> But this. THIS was a trip.The only thing I don't have good photos of was Tolkien's grave which was an adventure in itself.

We left Oxford proper just before dark. The cemetary was ten minutes away and was to close 30 min after we found it. One gate in and out. In the States this would have been no problem. A celebrity grave would have been guarded and lit it like Broadway. Here? Well, for one, celebrity has a whole 'nuther meaning and you get no special treatment. And no special marking for visitors to find you by.

We began in the center of the cemetary and each took a path outwards trying to match the picture we had with one of the hundreds of headstones before us before complete darkness set in. It got a little eery after tripping over gravesite planters with candles sending off shifting shadows. Finally we found him – or them. Tolkien is buried with his beloved in a very simple nondescript grave. It was a bit overgrown and covered with a bit of memorabilia left by grateful readers. On the headstone someone had left a tiny lego Hobbit.

Perfect.