The excuses for my long absence here are both numerous and varied. I have been sick so, so much this school year that it’s ridiculous. Then there’s Ambrose, somehow more demanding of my time than I remember our other toddlers being. I have no idea how we have accomplished anything up until now with all of the toddlers we’ve had! My house is nearly always in shambles, and if it somehow gets reasonably cleaned up, it’s back to its previous state within the day. There’s homeschooling, another thing that I’ve been doing for a very long time with moderate(?) success, but now seems to be extremely difficult and time consuming. I have devoted much of my “free” time to the high school chemistry class I’m teaching this year. It’s been good, but also a real challenge. I do think my brain has benefited from the exercise, but maybe not as much as I hope given that I was chased out to my car the other day by a woman holding my embarrassingly huge, overflowing wallet. I’ve also had computer issues so my oldest son, Seth, built me a new computer! It’s fast and pretty great! I’m looking at a huge monitor right now rather than the little laptop I’ve been using for many years. One thing that has changed since last time I posted is I’m wearing glasses to be able to see what I type! I really rely on reading glasses now, and sadly mine are held together on one side with a bright green twisted up paperclip. (Ambrose!)
Now that I have my excuses out of the way, I’ll write a rambling post about random things. My kids informed me that it’s too late to post Christmas photos, and I guess they are right about that. But, I’ll show you a few things I made, because I don’t make very much these days! Ambrose and Mabel love my scarves, so I dyed scarves for both of them. Mabel’s is pinkish purple of course, and Ambrose’s is gold.
I also painted peg people and little matching bowls with lids for Ambrose. These have been a hit, though after a few minutes of play he throws them all over the house. I bought the wooden pieces from Casey’s Wood Products and this is the paint I used. I highly recommend this particular paint for painting wooden toys. It was recommended to me many years ago by some professional wooden toy makers and it’s way better than others I have tried. I did two coats of paint followed by my wood sealer.
This was taken on Christmas morning.
Jonny had lots of ideas for my 45th birthday present. Being the difficult person that I am, I rejected them all and signed up for a breed study yarn club instead. It’s really, really fun to get a skein of undyed mystery yarn in the mail each month, though at the rate I am dyeing it and knitting, I am questioning whether or not I will keep it for the entire year.
I dyed my first skein with dried marigolds from a couple of years ago along with some iron, then overdyed it with saxon blue. It was a lot of fun to dye a single skein just for me!
I’m knitting mittens for myself. I finished the first one last night. It only took me about two months! At that rate I should have a pair before next winter.
I’ve read most of the books in this stack in recent months. A Severe Mercy was a reread (I liked it less this time! Crazy, because I loved it so much the first time that I think I gave away multiple copies. Their life just doesn’t resemble mine in the slightest and I can’t really relate anymore.) Still reading Holiness for Housewives (several of you mentioned it last time I posted) and I set Hamnet aside for later because I gave up fiction for Lent. That book and the two Geraldine Brooks aren’t typical reads for me. Nina Balatka was a book club book, and Frankenstein was highly recommended to me by my dad and I really liked it!
Here’s the list of books I read in 2022. My favorites are starred. I love Adalbert Stifter’s short stories, and really enjoyed both My Name is Asher Lev along with its sequel, The Gift of Asher Lev. Gone with the Wind was great and I particularly loved South Moon Under.
Silas and Job went through four weeks of altar server training in February before being installed at the end of the month. It’s been a wonderful experience for both of them and they love serving. I’m so grateful for the time our pastor put into making them feel prepared to serve in this way.
Everything started blooming far earlier than usual this year! Daffodils are past peak bloom at this point and I can hardly believe that it’s officially spring.
Beatrix made Keats a fancy chocolate cake for his twentieth birthday. It fell on a weekend so we got to have him home to celebrate. I guess we’ve adjusted to having him away at college (sort of ), but there are still tears from his younger siblings (and me). He’ll be coming home in early May for the summer and his younger brothers can’t wait.
On a recent walk I noticed what I thought was a cedar-apple rust gall in a cedar tree. Upon closer inspection I realized it was a bat!!! The second photo is of an actual gall, so while they don’t really look alike, I think you can see how I mistook the bat at first. I was expecting a gall because our cedars are covered in rust.
I am almost finished reading King Solomon’s Ring, gearing up to teach biology next year! This book is a classic and if you enjoy reading about animal behavior I highly recommend it! I forgot I took this picture of my poor broken glasses before Jonny mended them with the green paperclip.
This photo of Ambrose was taken yesterday. I shared the funny story about it here.
I’m doing my best to take daily walks. That way I don’t miss seeing anything bloom. This year the hepatica is especially lovely! I sure do love spring.
p.s. I still haven’t gotten Seth and Phoebe’s wedding photos edited! Aaaaah! Planning to do so over Easter break. I’m still planning to share some here.
Hi Ginny,
I love the peg people and bowls you made for Ambrose, so sweet. I’m working on some for my son for his 1st birthday. If you have the time I was wondering what type of wood sealer you used for these? Thank you for all the beautiful inspiration and I hope you and your family are well.
Emily
Hi! I make wood sealer using fractionated coconut oil, carnauba wax, and beeswax. I think you could skip the carnauba and just use the oil plus wax. There are lots of recipes online if you search “natural wood sealer” I like using fractionated coconut oil because it doesn’t go rancid.
Thank you so much!
I enjoyed seeing your photos again and catching up Ginny.
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It was lovely to read your post. I’m glad you mentioned liking “South Moon Under.” I’d started reading it several months ago and stalled for some reason. After reading your comment here, I picked it up again and am nearly half way through and trying to ration myself so it doesn’t end too soon.
As a long time fan of reading about your life and as a wannabe lover of a simpler life- I love reading your posts. We don’t care how long inbetween but your words are inspirational. Don’t stop writing!! Thanks for sharing. It’s not easy in this world.
I love seeing your stack of books! And I love that you seem to like Chaim Potok’s writing as much as I do :).
Ambrose is so expressive. Seeing his facial expressions makes me smile every time. He seems like such a character.
Also, your reading glasses are kind of cool (can’t speak to the coolness level after the paper clip was added, but im sure it’s even cooler now. Ha.).
Have a good weekend, Ginny :). And a great Easter next week, too.
Tears in my eyes at seeing how big your kids are getting… I still remember when Silas was the baby in the family. I also read the Tenant of Wildfell hall last year and actually really enjoyed it. Will look into your favourites from the list – thank you!
Love the book lists! Some new ones for me and reminders of some good ones I should probably re read.
So tired of the sicknesses this year….it has seemed relentless and never ending since early November.
Hope spring and warmth and growth will bring better health and spur creativity for all!
Oh, it’s lovely to have a post. I am glad you were able to find the time and energy to write … life sure does change as we swing through our 40s and 50s! A real blessing to have a sweet toddler, but also, it is utterly different when we are older.
One of our evergreens had galls last year for the first time and I had no idea what they were! (Definitely not bats tho!)
Looking forward to the wedding snaps when you get the chance. Amazing how swiftly the time passes! Oh yes, thank you for the book notes! I always enjoy seeing what others are reading …
It is good to hear from you. If you get any reading done, I’m impressed.
Our 8th baby was born a little over a year ago. She has been the neediest and fussiest baby out of any of them and it doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon. Homeschooling in my 40’s is so hard, a little burn out, a little boredom, a little…I don’t know, just done with it all I guess. But, I press on. I love the green color you achieved on your yarn, its gorgeous. I have been on a green yarn kick lately but I have yet to be able to dye my own anything other than the yellows (tansy, golden rod) I find near my house. I am hoping to do some indigo dyeing this summer but I am nervous of the process never having done it before. We’ll see. I think I’m afraid that I didn’t do enough in my 30’s and now I’m too tired to start new things. Sigh. Onward.
Peace be with you.
Ginny, it is so good to hear from you! Take as long as you need….just don’t quit blogging! Your gorgeous photos are so lovely to look at and the children’s photos are a delight. I can’t imagine how tired you must get with all that is on your shoulders.
I love the shade of green you dyed the yarn….and the mitten is beautiful! What gifts you have. Thank you for taking the time to share your life and your family with us. I never grow tired of reading your bog entries. And I kept a copy of your book list. I’m going to suggest a couple for our little book club for the coming list.
You said everything I wanted to say, and beautifully!
So happy to see your post. I have missed reading about your family and seeing your photographs.
Ambrose is just the cutest little boy! He looks like a little handful of mischief. I’m not surprised that you feel that you don’t get enough accomplished in a day. That’s because you’re a Mother and extremely busy with very full hands. Give yourself some grace.
I was thrilled to see your post today. I’ve been thinking about you and wondering if everything is going well. God bless you and your family. Looking forward to wedding photos.
Lovely to see your photos and read of your doings as always, Ginny 🙂
I do look forward to seeing the pictures of the wedding because the one you shared was one of the most beautiful wedding pictures.
Hi Ginny, Hope you are feeling better. You sure are a busy lady. Your flowers are so pretty. The Crocus do not last too long. The Daffodils are much more sturdy. I just finished a four part Amish series. I enjoy the Amish stories . i have started a Judy Bolton mystery. Happy Birthday to you and to Keats. Have a great week.
Joan
Ginny it is so nice to hear from you. Wishing you a birthday year of happiness and blessings. We have five Pansy plants growing. Some of the Huyacinths and Crocus’ are blooming. It is mild here in New York.
Have a great week.
Marion
Hi Ginny,It is so nice to hear from you. Sounds like Ambrose is an inquisitive young man. That pin set is cute. Your flowers are lovely. I just finished Angela’s Ashes. it is an emotional story. I have now started Lorna Doone. Marion has been telling me how much she enjoyed the book when she read it many years ago. Prior to Angela’s Ashes I read a three part biography of Susan branch. It was very interesting. Here in new York we have had a mild winter. Happy Belated birthday to Keats. Wishing him happiness and blessings throughout his birthday year. Have a good week.
Marilyn
Ahh..SOO good to hear from you! I’m glad you all are well! We too have been ridiculously sick this year, uhhgg… Our Spring bloomed out earlier as well and has been particularly beautiful, I’m happy for the warmth 🧡 You sure are getting more reading done than i am! My kids harp on me all the time about it, guess I’ve just been in a reading funk? Happy belated birthday! I’m remembering that our are just days apart with mine the 28th and yours the 30th? I think??? 45. Still seems soo odd to me, hmmm.. Thank you for continuing to share your life with us here, your posts always make me happy! Continuing to pray for you all ❤
Such a treat to see a new blog post pop up in my feed, Ginny. I always enjoy hearing about life in your world…and your photos fill my soul with such beauty. We are still having February weather here in Idaho, so cold with snow still falling…ahem. I’m eagerly awaiting warmer weather filled with blossoms and birdsong. Soon, very soon.
Sending you get well wishes and a happy spring!
~ April
So happy to see an update! Just the other day I was thinking, I must have missed Ginny’s e-mail…. Your post made my day. The cake was spectacular! She could have a business. What kind of bat was in the tree? And Ambrose the most adorable toddler ever and he is getting so big. Enjoy Spring!
Peace and Blessings to the entire family…
Val 🙂