I told you we “officially” started school this week.

And we did.

But we also hiked Black Balsam in North Carolina (or what I like to call Middle Earth or the mountains in the Sound of Music or what my friend Sarah who hiked with us called Darcy’s land from Pride and Prejudice.  The point is – it was other-world pretty.) and we also spent a day swimming at the ever-satisfying Lake Jocassee.  So, yes – we did school.  But we also saw some magical spots and I was reminded that, although I dream sometimes of living somewhere else, where I actually reside is full of beauty and charm.

Anyway – that all brings us right up to today and we all know what that is —- FRIDAY!

 

 

funny

 

How on earth will I ever find amusement when all of my children grow up and leave me and I live in my house with my dog and my cat and whatever variety of small animals I bring into the fold?

Each week, each day, they make me laugh in a hundred different ways.  Sometimes the laughter is a coping mechanism to avoid crying instead because when a child asks you thirty-two times in a row what they can eat or when they can watch a show or do they have to do all of their chores, sometimes all you can do is laugh if you desire to remain sane.

But more often the laughter is because they are totes legit funny.  (Kidding.  Kidding with all the abbreviated talk there.  It’s become a family joke to shorten words in a ridiculous manner because shortening words is actually one of my pet peeves.)

Anyway.  This week’s funny was sitting on the dresser beside my bed.

I like to make little essential oil sprays because I like stuff to smell good and so much of my life and my house seem to be actively working against me to smell terrible.

Otto asked me if he could make his own spray.

I agreed and this is what he created and named himself.

 

 

fashionable

 

A literal lifetime ago I was in Chicago and met this unique and interesting couple and have loosely kept in touch with them over the last seven years since we met.

They live in Texas and do funky design work that has this very specific brand that is uniquely theirs and I like their style even if it doesn’t exactly suit me.  It’s fun and wonderful to live in a world where we all don’t have to look alike or sound alike to value the skill set and the workmanship of someone else.

Gary and Kaysie love people and they love Jesus and they love art and they love one another and I love that all of that is true.

They’ve just ventured into a new arena with clothing and it’s available on their website at Dorsey&Stone and I really like this shirt that they’ve designed.

 

 

 

flavorful

 

I was at Lake Jocassee most of the day.

When I returned home I had stacks of work to accomplish.  The kids were on dinner patrol while I worked and after we ate dinner we all cleaned up the kitchen and eventually proceeded to get ready for bed.  I can’t explain how this happened, but somehow, I did not open my own refrigerator all day I guess.

Eventually I wanted something from that cold box in my kitchen and when I opened the door it was like a light was shining down from heaven.    And that light was illuminating a jar on the top shelf that I had not placed there.

A jar of …..

Biscuit Head’s Amaretto Sour jam.

 

 

What?

A fairy who had been returning a Teaching Textbooks CD while I was gone had apparently also placed the jam in my fridge.  A fairy named Amanda who shall receive many golden crowns for her kindness.

If you’ve never eaten at Biscuit Head and if you’ve never tried their amaretto sour jam, well, those are two situations you should remedy.    (I can currently help you with one of them.)

 

faithful

 

The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
 Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
 They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.

Psalm 19:1-4

 

 

feels

 

Sometimes we strike gold in the little movies we find to watch together as a family.

We recently rented a perfectly precious film called Swallows and Amazons.

You should watch it too.

 

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