Spring Break Field Trip

My husband really wanted to do something special with the family over Spring Break.  He had it in his mind and heart to take us all to a real working farm (1870's) called:  Morning Side Farm.


It had a one room school house, a forge, stables, gardens, and a homestead.

These girls were so funny!  They dressed up like "back then times" as my littlest kept saying.
(*smile)

A grouping of tangerine trees.  The fruit is drying on the tree...

The beautiful tree in the background is an asian fringe tree.  At least that is what the lady at the homestead told me.

These photos do not do the tree true justice.  It was beautiful!

 The boys ran off to the stables and the forge.  The blacksmith made most of the children some nails that curl to put on a string or leather cord for a necklace.

 I really want one of these stoves!  There is homemade biscuits going in the oven, black eyed peas in the small cast iron pot, and soup being started in the large cast iron pot.  I asked the lady what the pail of water was for on the floor.  She said:  "for in case of fire."  Yikes!  The whole house is made of lighter wood.  You know, kindling.  

 I love the counter top too!  Cannisters and bowels, and wooden spoons.

 My youngest girl asked if she could help clean the collards and mustard greens, so she is washing her hands with homemade lye soap.

After cleaning the greens, she and her twin sister helped the lady take them to the cow.

 This was something interesting.  It is the heart of a palmetto tree that has been rounded on the bottom.  They use it to scrub pots and pans.  I think I might have to make one of these and save some money on scrubbies!

 My oldest girl asked if she could wash the dishes!  Hah!  Never have I heard those words at my house!  I was envious.

 But she did it.  And seemingly enjoyed it.

She was just tickled to be doing this.  I wonder if her little sister is hoping to get a chance at this?

 This is the hearth.  It is decked with cast iron pots and pokers, and momma and daddy's bed to the right of it.

 Here is another corner in the home.

 A really neat thing hanging in the middle of the walk way, on two cords, a little wooden bear.  You pull each string at different intervals.  It is suppose to teach children how to milk a goat or cow.

 How about a working loom?  Very large.  It takes up a whole corner in the home.

Here is the ladder to the loft.  There is a rope bed up there for the little ones.

 The beautiful kitchen garden with the asian fringe tree in the backdrop.

 the mulched path in the middle of the garden.

 The wash room...I told the young woman; "It must hurt your hands to ring out the laundry, you need a ringer."  But she said how nice that would be, "but the ringer wasn't invented until 1890."  So this being a 1870's farm there isn't one.  You see how necessity is the mother of invention.  Sorry it took twenty more years to come to fruition.

 The collard's blooms are just aglow.

 Homemade checkers board and a match at the window.  

 Guess who won...                      Queen B.

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor."  ecclesiastes 4:9

"And a threefold cord is not quickly broken."  ecclesiastes 4:12b

 Queen B is irritated because the cow wouldn't stay around to let her pet her.

 My handsome husband. I love, love, love him.

                                       

I think we need a porch on our little home now.  Look how content he looks.  This was a great outing as a family.  We want to go back at the end of April for a "hoe down".  I guess I have some sewing to do.  Oh, and I forgot to mention that the girls did not want to leave.  They wanted to stay and live like in "Back then times."

A Few of My Favorite Things...

My favorite things in Life...

Well, there is a whole list of things I could begin with.  You know the normal everyday things, or the normal everyday things...  Can you tell in my life are the "normal everyday things"?

Over Christmas, I was blessed with a plate set.  Currier and Ives, blue and white plate set!
And guess what else?  I was given my grandma's actual plates for my birthday from my mom!  They may be a bit chippy, but I love them and the memories along with them!

These plates and cups bring me such joy!  And the best part about it is that I know the Lord put it on the heart of one of His dear Daughters to give them to me!

I decorate all over the house with them.  And we use them.  My husband says he enjoys them so much, as do my children!

I have some Cheri Blum plates sets with roses on them.  And I love them.  But I bought them in a time of my life where I doubted who I was as a child of God, as a wife, as a mother, and as a friend!  Although I may still struggle with these same thoughts from time to time, I have been given a confidence in the Lord from the Lord in His Holy Word!

The reason these blue plates mean so much to me is that they bring back good memories from my childhood.  Times when I knew two things with all my heart.  


1.  Jesus loves me.


2.  My grandma loves me, no matter what.


You see, my grandma had a plate set of these Currier and Ives.  And we ate on them often.  And when I got older, I washed them for her.

I didn't live with my grandma, but I wished that I did!  She listened to me, she knew how to make me feel better, she made me feel safe!  Childhood can be a real shaper in your adult life.  I find I want the simple pleasures in life, like grandma!  I want to be gentle with my children, I want to listen to them, make them feel better, and make them feel safe!  Praise the Lord I have Jesus!  Because of Him we are all those things.

 When I was still a young girl, about age 7, we went on a trip with my grandma and her sister take her home to Chattsworth Georgia.  On the way up we stopped at a place called Day.  It is where my grandma was born and raised.  We visited a person  named Uncle Oliver.  He was a tobacco farmer.  I tramped all over his beautiful farm.  I was able to go in his silos, and in his vegetable garden.  But what I remember most is at breakfast he drank his coffee from a saucer!  Not a cup!  I thought it very strange.  So, I tried it too!  It cools off your coffee so you are able to sip better.

 Well, I found a poem the other day on a blog(wish I could remember it's name).  It is written by an anonymous person.  It is perfect for how I am feeling today.

Drinking From a Saucer

I have never made a fortune

and it's probably too late now,

I don't worry about that much,

I am happy anyhow.

As I go along life's journey,

reaping more than

I have sowed,

I am drinking from a saucer

cause my cup

has overflowed.

I don't have lots of riches

and sometimes the going's tough.

I have family that loves me and

that is quite enough.

I thank the Lord for his blessings

and his mercies he's bestowed.

I'm drinking from a saucer

because

my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things

went wrong and

my faith got a little thin,

and then all at once the dark clouds

broke and the sun peeped in.

Lord, please help me not to gripe

about the tough rows I have hoed.

I am drinking from a saucer

because my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me

strength and courage

when my way grows

deep and tough,

I will not ask for blessings,

I'm already blessed enough.

May I never be too busy

to help another bear his load,

I will keep drinking from a saucer,

cause my cup has overflowed.

Author Unknown

It is a sweet poem and I am glad I found it.

I hope this post and poem has blessed your heart today.

"I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord." Psalms 116:13