GREEN EGGS & SAUSAGE

by Robin

It's never too late to post up pictures of St. Patrick's Day eggs, right?

I figured you would need something calming after all those snake pictures.

SNAKEY SITUATION

by Robin

FYI - This is a non-poisonous black racer, who was not harmed in the making of this post. Neither were the dogs, although, they were tired & thirsty from barking their heads off.

Schooling on the porch Thurs.


Schooling on the porch Friday. Dogs chase a snake through the trellis. Where did he go?



Oh no, STUCK!




We showed the dogs where the snake was on the inside and the snake darted out.


BUT, they found him again.



Bark, bark, bark, bark, ..... bark, bark.... bark, bark, bark.


You don't smell good.



That's Tiki's ear on the right side of the picture. They're always blocking my money shot.



In order to avoide any further confrontation after 1 missed strike, we put the dogs in and let the snake bring his heart-rate back down.

What are little boys made of?

by Robin

The weather warmed up considerably this week and with warmth, comes snakes. No, this post isn't about snakes, but tomorrow's is. LOL. This a warm-u-up post with a legless lizard so you're not in shock when you see what's coming up next.

What are little boys made of?

What are little boys made of?
What are little boys made of?
Frogs and snails
And puppy-dogs' tails,
That's what little boys are made of.

What are little girls made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice
And all that's nice,
That's what little girls are made of.











Then there was a bite....



Tail separation & wiggling commence.



The lizard thought he had gotten away.









Releasing it back over the fence to keep it away from our dogs.


Snakes forthcoming....

NAME THAT BABY - ANSWERS

by Robin

How did you do?? Identifying secondary leaves is important in case you forget what you planted or in case something pops up where it is not suppose to.

This is baby dill. It looks very similar to baby carrots.


This is baby cilantro, distinguished by its fuzzy disk.



This is baby Meschuan lettuce. I have a spikey & flat leave variety mix. Great for gourmet salads.


Let me know how you did.

NAME THAT BABY!!

by Robin








Tune in tomorrow for the answers.

BOYS & WAR

by Robin

One thing I've noticed about my boys is that you don't have to drag them into liking guns & war stories. They love miliatary information. They write stories about it. They play games about it. There is something in their genetic make-up that makes them gravitate to protecting territory & family.

My youngest is studying a book called "Mystery of History" with his co-op class. One of the crafts they did this week was called a Phalanx - a rectangular military formation.



Those gold & silver circular "things" on the army men are their shield. They had individual spears but also carried long spikes as a row of men. Very interesting, don't you think? I'm very thankful to the Moms and 2 Dads who put this series of crafts together. Last week, they spray painted many large appliance boxes and created the walls of Jericho out in a field. WOW. That is something I never would have done on my own.



For those homeschoolers who worry about socialization (not me) or keeping accountable, co-ops are wonderful ways to learn in groups yet still have all those freedoms enjoyed by homeschoolers.

As for my boys, I'm sure they'll go out after they're done with school and have a nerf battle around the pool & palm trees. That never gets old to them.

Be blessed!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

by Robin

I'm so entirely far behind in the blogging world where you're only as good as your last post. LOL So, with no rhyme or reason, here are some things that have kept me away from the computer.

POLLEN!!!


Cilantro growing well after my last disaster cutting & burning. Still working on my technique for drying herbs.


Last Fall's lettuce is going to seed. I don't care because I have more.


Carrots - well, they haven't kept me off the computer, but they were by the lettuce flowers.


Here's my freshly watered, new lettuce. Everything is getting their 2nd leaves, giving them distinguished looks.


The garden we started last month.


Look at me now!! Forgive the oak leaves falling by the bushels every day.


TICO - VAC Warbird Show - last Sat & Sun.







I hope this makes up a little for being so quiet.

* We have 6 wks 'til nationalized testing for the boys.
* 8 wks left of school
* about 1 more week 'til the cobia migration is fully under-way.
* Couple wks left until mahi are here in full force too.
* Piano recital in 50-ish days. We keep getting reminded every week.
* Easter will be here before I know it.
* Praise Band practice on Thurs night. I always love that.
* Trying to learn the art of couponing where you walk out of there with a cart FULL and only pay $15. I have not gotten there yet.
* Homemade pizza for lunch today. My favorite!

WORDLESS THURSDAY

by Robin

Tues night

Weary

There are some days that my soul just cries out, "LORD, I can't do this. I have nothing more to give. It is too much for one woman. I do not understand why you entrust so much to me. How is it that you have more faith in me and than I have in me?" It will hit me in the strangest of places. The repetition of lyrics while singing. A thought while driving. After the 3rd time of saying something to a child and realizing they've never heard a word I said. Why Lord? Why? How can I raise healthy, energetic children while my body hurts, while my heart is overwhelmed, while my mind is racing and there are never enough hours in the day to put on so many hats. I want so desperately to have that illusion that if I can just get it all under control, my life will run smoothly. I can be debt-free. My children will act perfectly. I can fit into loose jeans and my roots will never get dark.

But the truth is that it never will be perfect. God knows that. That's is why He put so many Scriptures in the Bible about weariness. I think that God must know that I have a child like none other. There's never been a book written about him with a quick-fix solution. God must know that every hour of the day, you're going to be the bug and NEVER the windshield. God must know that Calgon fixes nothing, roots always grow out and that Satan wants to beat us down repetitiously until we absolutely can't take it any more. You don't want to burden family or friends. Your spouse is busy and the kids don't care or need to know. You're alone. Well, except for those tears and one very empty soul.

And then, Isaiah spoke to me asking me, "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall..."

In my mind, I'm thinking, "Lord, I want some of that power. That's me, the one with no might. How are you going to increase my strength to something greater than a youth or a young man because, afterall, I have two of them. I really need this, like yesterday."

And Isaiah continued on, "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Faint? My mind is immediately thrown back to a time when I helped my eldest memorize Galatians 6:9. "Let us not be wearing in well-doing for in due season, we shall reap what we sow if we faint not." We'd say it over and over again. Don't faint Robin. Not yet. Don't lose heart with parenting. Don't lose heart to those every day annoyances. Don't lose heart by the end of the day when you're ready for bed. Don't lose heart EVER. God didn't call you to the greatest of ministries just to have you give out now. God has sent you promises to renew your strength and that a harvest is coming soon. I may need knee replacement and new wooden floors by the time I'm done parenting, but a harvest is a'comin'. You've got to keep on keepin' on.

2 Peter 1:3-4 says His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

I need to paste this to my forehead and read it in the mirror each morning. I want to participate and partake in divine nature. I have divine power in me and I didn't even realize it. I've allowed *things* to take my mind off the realization that I am a daughter to the King. That I can overcome those feelings of inadequacy and weakness by His strength in my life. Where had I gotten off track? Why? I may never truly know those answers some days, some weeks. But the key is to knowing how to get back to being focused on Jesus and God's love and power in our lives. I have to grab hold of the courage that has been entrusted to me by the One who gives it.

Robin, don't faint. The race isn't over. Keep fighting the good fight of faith like Paul did.

And then, at some point, my heart stopped aching. My soul felt at peace. I felt lifted up by the unseen arms that are much mightier than I but unmistakably there. And... then....... the weariness passed.

SEEDLINGS

by Robin

Herbs & Peppers





It is a mystery what popped up outside the circle. Something from when we tilled the ground. My guess is Okra because of the red stems. Roma tomatoes are inside the "cuff". It's not actually a whole plastic cup.


Lavender


Texas Tarragon


If we could get any consistent warmth, I'm sure some other seeds would pop out. My beans should have been up by now, as well as my sweet bell peppers. Hmmm......

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

by Robin

State Championships on Sunday - FIRST Lego League



































FL State Champs - Hammerheads - Perfect score of 400 on the robot performance run!! Awesome job y'all!!!!