Machen's Many Faces

There is no purpose to this post except to show you the many sides of Machen. He keeps us laughing. Even Jon and Lauren occasionally remark that they can't imagine life without him. We're ever thankful that God gave us this little distraction--He always anchors us in what is truly eternal.

Machen and Rosie playing dressup.

Watching the landscape. Machen spends a lot of time in that car seat.

Machen and Lauren playing dressup.

SO proud of his own shopping cart. He's actually posing for this picture--it took him a minute to get his feet crossed just right.

I'd like to say this is a pose, but I'm afraid his belly naturally does that.

"Nobody bakes anything until I get my breakfast!"

Another pose... he's pulling his own foot up to his face. Of course we could all do that if we wanted to, we just don't want to. Kathryn put him up to this...

and this.

All Grown Up...

It seems Caleb's birthday always rolls around at the perfect time, just as winter is ending. We're always glad to have a party. These past 18 years have been a profound blessing for Mom and Dad during our journey through parenthood. God has been so very good. It's hard to imagine this grown man as a babe in arms, but he really once was. He is much loved by us all.

We had everything a party needs. Food...

Fun...

and what else but WORK?! Here is the final event of the evening, building a brooder house.

Winter Lambs

This winter our ewe had triplets. We ended up losing one lamb and the ewe, which was very hard on all of us, especially shepherd Jon. So through this winter we have been raising two lambs, which kept us pretty busy. Here they are one day old.

Sweet little tiny things...

...except that they grow up, and these two actually think they're dogs or something. They hang out with us in the greenhouse, and in the flower beds...

...and the porch. Our (real) dogs are not sure what's going on but have been forced to give up their place on the front door mat. It wouldn't be so bad except the (fake) lamb dogs have no clue about being house broke, which should include the front porch.

Machen gets a kick out of them.

Around the Farm, December 2009

These pictures are just of miscellaneous things we do around the farm. Below is Caleb, helping his dad out with the trusses for the pole barn. Caleb and Keith have an unusual relationship in that Keith is always getting Caleb to do things that scare both of them half to death. Here Keith is balancing Caleb in the extended bucket of the tractor while Caleb balances the truss.

This is the sight that greets us every morning when we open the door.Machen tosses some apples to the pigs.

Molly's always ready for a rub. This is at the close of one our Sunday night evenings. Miss those days when we could be outside!

Machen loves his big sister.

Kathryn and Machen are planting a tulip patch for the spring. We won these tulips down in Tennessee at the Reformation Weekend. Machen keeps an eye on the sheep.

Caleb's dog, Molly.

This pig was the featured guest at a wedding reception/barbeque this month.

The last of Caleb's summer litter.

Joking around at the pole barn.

Rosie and Machen enjoying the fresh air in the wagon.

Back from turkey hunting...

Miss Kathryn hosts a recital...

This is obviously old news, but last fall Kathryn hosted a recital for her young violin students. It was held at Covenant Reformed OPC. Each child played his or her polished piece, and Kathryn or a parent accompanied. In this picture they are taking their final bow.

A reception followed downstairs in the basement.

Jonathan and Caleb, Kathryn's roadies. Aunt Sarah and Kathryn ended the recital with Ave Maria.

"How're you gonna git that outta here?"

That was the question of the month in December. And it did require some consideration and a couple pair of trimmers. The answer--one limb at a time...

It took some team work getting the limbs cut and out the front door. By the time we trimmed practically all the limbs off, the trunk was almost easy to remove. The last of Christmas!

The Big Hike

In the last few days of fall break (2009), Keith wanted to take the boys hiking on the Appalachian Trail. I don't know all the details of exactly where they were on the trail or everything they did, but here are a few pictures. In the picture below they are sightseeing. At least that's what Keith tells the boys, but secretly he's getting ideas for the house he wants to live in during our golden years.

This is their first day. Keith called me from the trail head to tell me which one it was in case they didn't come back. They were headed to a fire station he'd read about that was seven miles up the trail.

Almost there...

All that work for this view...
Judging from the fact that they hiked about 14 miles round trip,

this was probably taken right before they hit the trail.