Hair Do

I was more than happy to wash Allison's hair in the kitchen sink the other afternoon after her recent surgery... took me back to my days in the hospital, when my wonderful nurse Mandi washed my hair in bed when I couldn't even move. It was a delight to be able to give a gift I enjoyed receiving so much myself.

Lines



One of my favorite village landscape photos, Malawi 2009

We had a little tea...

Lydia, Naomi, and I had tea together at the Cookie House last week.

How delightful.

Or, as Lydia says, "magnifica!"

P.S. Yes, that is my yellow party dress. I found the retro gem for a pittance at Salvation Army. 

Amy says it looks like a skunk (the foofy thing that goes down the back- you can't see it in the pictures), but I'm quite pleased with the dress :).

I'm not taking it with me to Zambia, though... so, good-bye tea dress.

Michigan's Little Bavaria

Betsy and I and one of the guards at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant 

I requested a family dinner before I depart. Since Betsy had some wool to deliver in Frankenmuth, we decided to have a traditional Frankenmuth chicken dinner (take-out) on Monday. Mom, Betsy, Naomi, and I had a fun time visiting the little shoppes and enjoying the beautiful weather.

We all-- my brothers especially-- enjoyed our chicken dinner.

Coupon shopping

The fudge shoppe had signs that read: "Only 1gram of fat" (an equivalent portion of chocolate would equal 13 grams of fat... no wonder chocolate is much more wonderful than fudge!)

chicken dinner, anyone?

don't forget the cheese!

To Market

Logan, Naomi and I decided to try something new last Saturday. Our family is accustomed to selling blueberries and other fresh produce at the Midland Farmers' Market throughout the summer. However, we've never before taken pumpkins and fall decor (though we sell loads of them from our farm stand).

Logan and I ventured to the market before 6 Saturday morning. We had picked a full pick-up load of pumpkins Friday afternoon (more coming about my recent truck-driving experiences!). After Logan and I unloaded the pumpkins and set up our stall, Libby brought Naomi up (around 7am). Naomi and I spent the rest of the morning together trying to sell our fall decor.

It was a fine crowd considering how late we are in the season.

Though I'm biased, I voted our set-up as "most asthetically pleasing."

Buds and Blooms had beautiful mums.

And that was my farewell to the Midland Farmers' Market for a year. I love this place!

CaFe Zn (Cafe Zinc)

Thanks, Kristen and Chaney, for such a delightful visit before I leave. I will miss you!

The Packer Talent

Betsy in action

From the time she was a little tike Betsy has exhibited an uncanny ability to stuff impressive amounts of things into small spaces. She is my "packer" sister.

I'm pretty sure there's a verse in the Bible that talks about Betsy. Something about talents and using them for the Kingdom, I think...

When I prep for a big trip, I gather all my necessary items. Then, Betsy and I have a packing date and she packs away (while I document the process in case a piece of luggage winds up missing). She folds and rolls and adjusts and stuffs... and soon, voila!

It's done.

My bags are packed in record time, and the daunting task is actually fun!



get ready, get set, pack!



Monday morning was our packing date. We tried not to think about the trip ahead-- that ocean, the contients, all the things that will separate us for the next period of our lives...

Because when we think about those things, we sob.

a. lot.



sisters forever



all done :)



P.S. Just to share a few stats lest you think I'm fabricating claims about my sister and her wondrous packing abilities:
Last winter, Betsy took a trip overseas (20 days). Her personal luggage (including winter clothes for sub-zero Farenheit weather) was all stuffed into a small backpack. That's it.

*pps: susanna, i envy your spartan life*

Dinner for three

Thanks for coming for a visit, Betsy.

If I travel...



View from Zomba Plateau, Malawi 2009


Just before I left for Malawi, one of my friends sent a square, red note card with part of Psalm 139 written inside. That card traveled all the way to Africa with me, and those verses continue to travel with me. I had memorized Psalm 139 as a teen, but the words gained significance as I ventured internationally alone. Though no one else traveled with me, I knew Jesus was right there with me on the airplanes, in a strange culture, and without my family. When I travel, I take comfort in knowing God is the same God on my home continent as He is on any other continent. He is omni-present. Hallelujah!

The other day, before I drifted off to sleep, I read over Psalm 139 on my iPod. I have a couple different Bible translations on my iPod that I don't normally use. I was struck with some of the word choice in this version (NET):

O Lord, you examine me and know.
You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives.
You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest;
you are aware of everything I do.
Certainly my tongue does not frame a word without you, O Lord, being thoroughly aware of it.
You squeeze me in from behind and in front;
you place your hand on me.
Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension;
it is so far beyond me, I an unable to fathom it.
Where can I go to escape your spirit?
Where can I flee to escape your presence?
If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there.
If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.
If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn,
and settle down on the other side of the sea,
even there your hand would guide me,
your right hand would grab hold of me.
Psalm 139:1-10

Boat Safari

Liwonde National Park, Malawi 2009

Ginger Fall

Fall flavors are fun for baking-- apple, pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin custard, pumpkin pancakes, rice pudding, homemade applesauce, apple crisp, and apple gingerbread have all been part of my fall kitchen experiments.

Early Saturday morning I decided to bake a cake for the family reunion Sunday. Later in the morning, as the cake was baking, Dad called, and part way through our conversation I realized the family reunion was the following week! Rather than saving the cake for a week, I served my apple gingerbread (topped with apple pie filling) after Sunday dinner last week. You can find the apple gingerbread recipe here (I only tweaked it a bit).

Surprise!



Amanda opening a little gift




spectators, er, family :)

Last Friday, our family and the Bylers were getting together to watch The Printing. We decided to have a little surprise birthday party for Amanda. "Did they tell you how they're getting Amanda to come?" Amy asked me... but then she wouldn't tell me.

Amanda and I were both surprised when we realized our families were throwing a celebration for both of us. I went to Amanda's surprise birthday party, and she came to say a surprise good-bye to me! (why are going-away events called "parties"?).

My family is fabulous, and I miss them loads and loads just thinking about leaving Michigan for Zambia. I will also miss the Bylers-- who are not only my friends, neighbors, and church family, but also part of my extended family.

Krispy Treats

Naomi and I had some fun in the kitchen the other night. Our brothers had fun the ensuing days.

Quilt Walk

Kristen, Lydia, and I drove up to the quilt walk in downtown West Branch recently. This colorful quilt was one of my favorites for the day, along with a Civil War era quilt (reproduction),

and a lovely green/tan/purple floral mini quilt.

Michigan Color



vibrant leaves at Hartwick Pines


Once, Grandma went up north on a color tour with Uncle Bill and Aunt Gertrude. After she got home and developed her pictures, she discovered she had taken black and white film!

Patio Dream

Prep (the blocks were just set out to see the design)

One snowy evening last winter, I decided to start researching "how to build a block patio." When Amy and I first toured the Cookie House, we were impressed with the acre of lawn, gardens, and trees. I dreamed up the idea of one day having a block patio where we could host dinner guests and also enjoy ordinary summer meals outside. The location, I decided, would be directly over an old bonfire pit, between the pine trees at the west property line and the kitchen garden. This spring, Amy revived the cute, stone-lined path leading from the kitchen door to this part our yard.

I had the patio dream, but wondered when (if) it would ever become reality.

After I researched the method and price of building block patios, I figured my patio would have to wait for a future year. Then, last spring our family went to a large auction in Clare. "Hey, Julie," my siblings said, "you should buy a pallet of blocks for your patio."

When the auctioneer hollared down the row of pavers, Dad held up his number and won the bid on a pallet of pavers!

Brian unloaded the pallet with his lizard (Duetz Allis loader tractor), and... my pallet of pavers sat right there near my future patio all summer.

One day while I was at work this summer, Betsy and Naomi came over and prepped the sand for my patio.

Last Tuesday, Betsy insisted we start the patio project. Time is running out for me to work on projects around my house. So, we got busy.

We're not professional block layers, and my patio isn't perfect.

But it's done! And it's just what I dreamed of (well, almost... it still needs additional top soil around it, plus the table set with a yummy meal, a lighted candle, friends visiting, and the sun going down in the distance at the end of a perfect Michigan summer day...).

Amy and I have twenty-three more blocks to use for another project.

The design is three/two/three/ repeated fifteen times.

Home, Sweet, Cookie House

One year ago today Amy and I signed the papers and became owners of the 1900 era home our friends lovingly dubbed the Cookie House. Homeownership has its adventures-- when the well pump quits and the washer breaks and the water softener dies... (which, yeah.. have all happened at least once within the past 12 months). But we still love our century-old home. We love the beautiful wood floors, and our cozy pellet burner, the lovely gardens and trees scattered throughout the yard, the floor-to-ceiling glass cabinet in the kitchen, the small study, and the homemade rug Betsy braided for the living room.

We especially love hosting visitors. So, if you've never visited the Cookie House, consider this one-year anniversary your special invitation. And, even if you've stopped by many times, we'd love to have you over again for a cup of tea (or Amy's amazing homemade hot chocolate if you prefer), a couple cookies, and a chat. Don't forget to sign our guest-door in the kitchen before you leave.

Blueberry Girl

This Blueberry Girl is going to miss Midland Farmers' Market for the next year. There's something glorious about the combination of chilly mornings, hard work, fresh produce, and eager customers. I love to watch the dawn break as we make our way to the market, where farmers are already setting up their stands brimming with color and garden freshness. The sights, sounds, and smells of farmers' market are a vibrant part of my summers.