Renovating an Old House

Here is a quick photo of the old house that we, along with several other homeschool families, have been renovating. One of the families, with two boys, is going to rent the house when it is finished.

The house was owned by an elderly lady who lived in it 40 years with her cats and dogs. It was a wreck. In this picture you can see the only outside improvements so far. New windows were installed in the front bedroom that were smaller than the previous windows.

The porches need attention as do the trim and grounds. But the house is surrounded by plenty of trees, has an old garage, and flowerbeds with rose bushes, iris, daffodils, and lilies wintering.

This project has been educational for all of us. We have been able to see just how a house is fitted together by taking the walls, ceilings, insulation, old wiring, existent plumbing, and some flooring out.

The kids have learned about safety issues with splinters, glass, electricity and handling insulation; also about how hard work pays off. They have learned that work can be fun and that there is reward in helping others. Repairing, replacing, adding electrical outlets and switches, as well as a new juction box, replacing sheetrock and remodeling, adding closets and new windows and doors has provided opportunity for our students to learn many new skills.  (Like DEMOLITION, their favorite!)

They have learned, from working with their dads, each with areas of expertise, about wiring, plumbing, sheetrock installation, trimming, flooring and painting.

The old sheetrock walls and celings had to be torn out and hauled away. Rotten boards had to be replaced.

The following photos show some of our inspiring results. There will be paint and trims and switch covers, of course. A mirror will fit over the sink in the new bathroom and a claw foot tub installed. A hall was added so that the bathroom does not open into the livingroom or a bedroom (much nicer plan.)

This is a shot of the south-east bedroom which was previously used as a laundry and plant room. The new windows are so nice. A closet built by two of the boys hasn't got a door yet, but all in good time. The boys built closets in all three bedrooms and closed in a pantry and space for washer and dryer along one side of the kitchen. Adding convenience and saving space makes the house feel larger.

Three walls of the renovated kitchen are a light cream color. This new window replaced a much larger one. The old cabinets were dark. These light oak cabinets make everything look cheerful and bright.

This wall in the kitchen painted red really spiced up the room. The lower cabinets and the stove will fit here.

By summer the house will be occupied (instead of us!) Our family will be able to redo floors. paint and decorate things. The flower beds beside the porch will be pretty again filled with lilies, violets, roses and flowering shrubs. The house will need a new roof and repairs to the siding as well as new trim and repair of soffets and facsia.

The house sits on ten acres in the country, which should be a great place for the two boys to grow up. What do you think?

Cups of Sunshine

Tulips coax spring from the sky.

They sway in the cool breezes and draw colors from the soil and the sun.

The stems push them up through the brown dry grass almost suddenly.

We spot them and we know that spring has come.

 Like bright-faced children running out to meet us when we finally arrive home from a long journey.

Like the beloved face of an old friend appearing in a doorway.

Tulips are handleless cups of sunshine.

Against a still stark background of browns and grays,

tulips are miracles,

dressed in petals woven of color, light, and joy.

The green of tulip leaves is a special shade of green

so welcome to winter-weary eyes.

The stems bend and bow in the wind easily,

being supple with youth and filled with moisture from winter's last rains.

 Even the palest and softest shades of pink and yellow

shine like a schoolroom's primary colors.

Tulips should have crayon names like

ButterYellow and Frosted Strawberry.

 

And why take ye thought for raiment? 

Consider the lilies of the field how they grow;

 they toil not, neither do they spin;

And yet I say unto you,

That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field,

which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven,

shall he not much more clothe you,

O ye of little faith? 

Matthew 6:28-30 kjv

A Field Trip to a Farm

This winter we visited a llama ranch in Beggs, Oklahoma. What a sight the shaggy llamas were!They seemed curious but aloof toward us. I suppose they were hoping for handouts and finding we had none to offer decided to snub us. The llamas came in all colors brown, tan, white, black, and speckled or spotted with black and browns. I thought the creatures were most preposterious looking. I couldn't watch them enough.

The children were thrilled with the several babies in the herd of some 30 to 40 llamas. I love the photo above of four little girls lined up at the fence watching the animals. The two children (with curly hair) are Pickard girls and two (red coat and the black coat) are Jackson sisters. The cute little girl Valerie is holding is Amy Coburn.

The herd came out to glare at us.  I found it a bit intimidating. The Tiger Ranch in Beggs is owned by Ellen and Mike Walker.Their son Zeke is one of the teens in our homeschool group. The Walkers have llamas to sell and maybe even some to give away! You never know when you might need a huge cud-chewing pet in your back yard, say to eat poison ivy or something. Maybe to shear for making your own yarn?

What you lookin' at Willis?

Spring is Coming!

When Perfect Isn't Enough

WHEN PERFECT ISN'T ENOUGH is the title of a book I read this week by Nancy Kennedy. The subtitle is How I Conquered My Fear of the Proverbs 31 Woman. (Waterbrook Press, 2003) Non-fiction, with stories and humor, is a great mix. I loved the funny thoughts that the writer expressed, the details that she was not too proud to share, and her candid look at life.

The book relates her feelings of inadequacy in the face of the thirty-first chapter of Proverbs where a woman of great virtue and value is described. The Proverbs 31 woman's list of daily activities would intimidate the best housewife! I have never enjoyed that chapter of the Bible either because it seems impossible to measure up to.

Yet, Nancy set out to be that virtous woman. The chapters are all about how she struggled with each aspect of the perfect woman and how she came to grips with each. Some of her stories are just too silly to be true. I needed a good laugh and a good dose of hope that I am doing fine in this mother/wife job.

The books cover is cute, with a photo of a cheerful, bright, welldressed woman energetically (and in red high heels) walking on water. I bought the book because of the title and cover, but as I hadn't read this author before, I was doubtful of good content. I was surprised though by the book and liked it very much.

Other books by this author are When He Doesn't Believe; Prayers God Always Answers; and Move Over Victoria, I know the Real Secret. I would like to find these and read them too. (They are all sold on Amazon and on Half.com)

Thinking of Spring

Visiting the Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City one spring, we  had a great time touring the botanical gardens outside the Crystal Bridge. We had been inside the bridge before with its rainforest, waterfalls, rope bridges and palm trees. The botanical gardens were  beautiful even in that early spring.

Rhododendrons bloomed and iris and pansies were prime. Brenna had such a great time with her Dad. She loved climbing in the wisteria vines and watching the ducks paddle across the stream. These roses were blooming like crazy. I thought they were an unusual color--yellow tinged with coral.

                                                       

 A blooming tulip tree- a tulip popular, maybe? See the shape of the leaf.

Aren't these iris beautiful? There were purple and yellow and coral too.

Hide and seek

The evergreens! Dependable.

A strange fruit. Note the leaves with sharp points like holly.

Columbines

My favorite flower among the roses, and the columbines, iris and pansies was this one.

A Snow Job

           The world turned white on Christmas Eve when a blizzard hit Oklahoma. We woke Christmas morning to a few inches of white laid like a blanket over the farm. Everything brown and dead was covered with clean, bright snow that made the farm into a pristine wonderland.

Noone went out, except to the barn to give some feed and hay to the cows, horses, and donkeys, and to break the ice in the water trough. The lanscape was treacherous because of a layer of ice under the snow. It was beautiful though. All the farm junk was hidden. You know the old car, the two broken down mowers and the derelict tractor.

All the large family mess was hidden-- the new puppy's trail of chewed up destruction, the bike a grandson left lying, the remains of the brush pile burn, the lawn chairs, the pothole on the driveway, neon yellow water hose, the flower pots that the wind blew from the porch, etc. The brown grass, the dead weeds, the leafless  shrubs--covered.

Have you ever been snowed? Ever pulled a "snow job?" I remember when my oldest daughter Del was an adolescent , she tried one on me. Her bedroom was a fright and I drew my line in the sandwich. Until the room was clean, she would get no food--no lunch; and if it took her too long, no supper.  Well, Del slouched to her room and sprinted out just a few minutes later. I went toinspect never expecting to find under her bed a clean floor. I opened the closet not expectingto find clothes hung neatly , shoes lined up on the floor and a row of brown packages on the shelf overhead. The shelf held brown grocery bags neatly  lined up. I pulled one down

Winter Weather

The wind howled at us all night. It was like a wild animal outside but it couldn't get inside. It was scary in an exciting way, reminding me of some of the blizzards I experienced as a child. It is very cold, but we had only a flurry of new snow and  a little cold rain. 

I had been thinking of the homeless people who were featured in the Tulsa newspaper. The mission was taking in many more than capacity because of the extreme weather. It is so sad to me that these people have no place even a small shed or tiny, poor apartment. They huddle behind buildings, in parks under shrubs, and under bridges. Such a life!

I lay in my nice comfortable bed all snuggled under the blankets and listened to the howl of the wind. It was frightful and at the same time delicious for drama.

God has been so good to us. I don't have to fear that my family will be cold. We have warm coats, hats, a good, if old, house with storm windows, central heat and a woodstove in the family room. We have electricity and clean water, plenty of food, and really more than we need. I still catch myself whining sometimes though. Shame on me.

The wind was high and drove away all the clouds my morning, so it is sunny today. I supposed that with such wind the seven bird feeders I filled yesterday would be emptied, yet there was still seed in them. Firewood is stacked by the stove and more on the porch.

The wind has worried at us and is blowing still. It is very cold, supposed to get down below zero during the night. Thank you, Lord  for the blessings of home.

"Keep taking steps in a certain direction and you're going to end up where you're headed."

 Elizabeth Moore

The Sky in the Glass

By Elece Hollis

If you know me, you know how I love birds. I love to watch them flying, feeding, nesting. I love the way they move in communities like sparrows, ducks, seagulls, and cardinals, or individually—territorially, like hummingbirds, mockingbirds, and Blue Jays.

I am intrigued by their variety, their colors, their designs, theirs shapes, sizes, and camouflage. Their movements: the “V” of geese, the swirls of brown-headed cowbirds, the dainty flutter of goldfinches, and the dive of a Red-tailed hawk amaze me. The soundless swoop of the Great Horned Owl, the strut of a meadowlark, swagger of crows, the hop-hop-hop of the robin interest me.

I have been startled as I stood watching out a window when a hapless bird flew into it with a thump—a bump that it seemed it would kill the poor little bird. I have seen birds lying still and almost dead, and then beginning to breathe once more; start up and fly again.

Last fall, I had a problem with a bird flying at my window repeatedly—purposefully again and again. He was just knocking himself loopy—self-destructively. He seemed to be bent on getting through that window. Maybe he saw his own reflection and thought it was another bird he had to ward off—who knows?

I am like those birds some times, like the first one only, I hope, who flies at the glass thinking it is open sky. I brain myself on the reflection—hard and cold. I rest awhile and then get up and shake it off—fly again, wiser, watching to see I am not fooled another time.

As a wife and mom there are days like that, usually when I am nonchalant and cheery—zipping along here and there with abandon. I forget to check things out with God, to stop and pray about my situation. I forget to ask for direction. I go flying with my eye on myself. I get fooled and fly—“thump,” at my own reflection.

I don't want to be stubborn and refusing to learn, like the other bird who spent days battering himself—fighting an enemy who turned out to be only himself.

I must never give up flying for fear of mistakes either. There is wide open sky out there—vast expanses of clear safe sky. A few lumps shouldn’t keep me from picking up and taking off again. I can’t let them.