On This July Season

I'm sitting here, sipping an admittedly subpar latte.  This is my life now; my baristas have moved out. Blossom1 now texts me, "Mom, do you want me to bring you a latte when I meet you at the greenhouse?"

Why yes, I would love coffee made and delivered to me!

I'm taking steps to improve my home latte quality though.  I think I'm picking up better beans tonight when I'm out practicing parallel parking with Blossom3.  

Blossom1 was headed to the local greenhouse and produce market, just for a few household things.  Meeting her there, looking over the nectarines, scoping out their flours, browsing their flowers, and meandering the sales made for a fun little afternoon jaunt.

Of course, we're getting ready for the Fair over here.  It looks different, like most things do lately.  Blossom3 is taking on more of a leadership and organizational role, while Blossom4 is the boots on the ground most mornings.  Blossom2 is advising from her apartment and when she is home, in addition to all her day-to-day 4-H State Council duties. It's different, but it's good. 

Different can be good and the bright spots and blessings are still there. 

Am I looking for them?

It's just another season here ~ 

a post-wedding season,

a get-the-stuff-done-NOW-because-I-stopped-thinking-about-anything-non-wedding-related season, 

a season with adult children, a son in law, and teens too... 

so yes, it's a different season.

And my job description is changing.  

Other things aren't. 

We're still starting our days quietly, filling our spirits up with His words and lifting up our words.

I still snatch time ~

time at Dunkin, grabbing a refresher with Blossom4.

time at the River, kayaking with Blossom2.

time in the car, driving and chatting and scheming with Blossom3.

time at the greenhouse, strolling with Blossom1.

time at an old favorite pizza joint with the Rugged Mountain Man.

I still keep letting the Lord change me.

I apologize and read and think and reflect and change

and grow.

I hope they remember that I grow

and I love watching them grow.

May I serve the Lord faithfully every moment of each day in this season. May He be glorified.

The Meaning of MOB

The Mother of the Bride.

It means:

~ tedious and fun craft projects!

~ cycling 30 tablecloths through the dryer... alllllll day... with a damp towel to get those ugly wrinkles out... then breaking your drying rack because surely your walmart drying rack can hold 100 lbs of linens! 

~ brainstorming, timelines, and lots of lists...

~ ordering random things like battery packs and double-sided tape and wait, DO WE TRULY HAVE ENOUGH SAFETY PINS for the emergency bag???

~ more fun craft projects!

~ steaming dresses... LOTS of dresses.  When I don't know what to do next, I just steam a dress and usually by the time I'm finished, I know what to work on next.

~ piles.  EVERYWHERE.  Wedding piles, apartment piles, present piles, return piles, PILES.  I think the Rugged Mountain Man is ready to sleep outside.

~ I'm the SAG team.  My dad calls my mom the "Support and Gear team" when he does his marathon bike rides.  That's definitely me in general and definitely me for this whole process... and it's my pleasure.

~ making boutonnieres and corsages and wristlets!  I burned my finger on my good friend's (the Mother of the Groom!) wristlet!  "Greater love hath no Mother of the Bride, than she lay down her life sacrifice her finger for the Mother of the Groom!" lol

~ saying no to random side quests right now, when I'd also like to say yes.  There are two classifications right now, wedding tasks and post-wedding problems!

~ falling down random Google rabbit holes to help research and tie up another loose end.

~ trying to get a little sun while completing urgent homestead chores, because no MOB wants to be pasty-white on the big day.

~ cutesy matching shirts with my close friend, the mother of the groom!  This was one craft project I offloaded!

~ "print me an inspo pic," because what the bride is thinking and what I'm thinking are two different things (Hello from two different generations!) BUT it is delightful to use years of event experience to help make their vision come alive!

~ It means being present, being helpful, and figuring it all out... together!

And it was oh-so-sweet!

More on the wedding another time!  As always, dear friends, thanks for walking through the seasons of motherhood with me.  They are truly beautiful.  We are profoundly grateful here in the Hollow.

Life Lately - Two Weeks Out

Hello friend,

These are exciting times here in the Hollow!  We have less than two weeks til Blossom1's wedding!  We are working on so many details and logistics.  I listen and I ask Blossom1 what is stressing her right now and we try to lighten her and her fiance's load.  I ask questions; we brainstorm and we plug away on list after list.  

Then, we write more lists!

Lately I've been trying:
to delegate more to my Younger Two Blossoms. After all, spray-painting is a life skill, at least according to this thrifting mama!  They've been handling supper each night as well, and I am SO grateful for this.  It's a sigh of relief for me and my gratitude grows each evening as I reflect on how they're pitching in.

Lately my goal has been:

to soak up the togetherness during the tasks.  Sometimes I forget how much connection happens then; we've always been a family that works hard together.  It's beautiful chatting around wedding baking, wedding tasks and lists, and wood-stacking. It's a good season, but it's different and bittersweet. It's still so good, because, after all, the growing up and all the preparation for adulthood, 

this was the goal all along.

Lately I've been sipping: 

a lot more coffee than usual!  Blossom1 is my main barista at home right now and I have determined that any time she's home and offering to make me coffee, I give a whole-hearted YESSSSS.

Lately I've been laughing:

because once upon a time, the Blossoms picked out an Easy Button when they were school shopping with Grandma.  After it was struck sixteen times in a row, with hysterical giggles following, I hid it.  Whilst rummaging for supplies for another wedding project the other day, I found it and decided that any time we complete a wedding task, we will victoriously slap the Easy Button.  (Picture a Michael Jordan slam dunk circa 1996.) 

This is surprisingly satisfying... and it makes us laugh.  We always need more laughter.

When Blossom1 and her fiance arrive home from working at a coffee shop or completing wedding errands, they stand at the dining room table to get caught up their Easy Button presses.  

Lately I've been crafting:

Sister Squad t-shirts just for fun for decorating day, boutonnieres, corsages, flower girl basket, just soooooo many fun things.  I'm good at logistics but I really enjoy the crafts and pretty things.

Lately I've been thinking:

that if you think your homeschooled student hates busy work now, just wait til they get to college.  One thing I didn't anticipate was the strong aversion the Blossoms would develop to busy work and dumb assignments.  We carefully crafted their education so each assignment had a point and purpose, but I'm also glad that character-building has been a focus all along.  Character traits like perseverance and working as unto the Lord are what get Blossom1 through grad school assignments that are dumb, but still have to be completed the week of the wedding.

We're here, plugging away in a different season and I'm whispering daily, 

"Thank you, Lord, for life lately."

Three Things I Can Do to Bless Him Today

I was brewin' a thought process the other day and I realized that I haven't done a post about thrifty things you can do for your husband in a long, long time.  It's a really good thing for me to circle back to because it's so easy to fall into the trap that investing in our marriage means spending a good chunk of change.

There is SO MUCH I can do that costs me only grit and time.

#1 ~ Clean up the yard.  

The Rugged Mountain Man pulls up our driveway and right away, sees what needs to be done, just as I sometimes let out a long sigh of frustration when I return home from an afternoon of errands to disorder and disarray.  Today, while I chatted on the phone with my sister, I luxuriated in the sunshine and 44 degree weather while simultaneously picking up old peanut butter jars, yogurt containers, random trash that blows through here, and some larger sticks.  There are frisbees, dog toys, and miscellaneous homestead tools to be put away too.  Maybe he'll notice; maybe he won't.  Either way, it'll lighten his mental load.

#2 ~ Sit by him.

The older we get, the more spread thin, and the faster the schedules become, I realize that we can't take physical proximity for granted.  It doesn't automatically happen like it did while we were dating.  There's something to be said for sitting together, leaning against one another, and remembering that those moments are special... even if you're just working on the grocery order while you're both watching the Olympics.  

Physical proximity seems to naturally lead to more affection.  It's like it wakes us up out of the blinding, grinding stupor of everyday life.  It leads to more casual shoulder touches, smiles, and flirty casual moments too.

Start out the evening with a gentle, "Will you sit by me for a bit?"  

#3 ~ De-escalate, especially in the evenings.

This is a skill that doesn't come naturally to me at 8:00 pm.  The Rugged Mountain Man does not always get to see me in my freshest Mary Poppins mom moments; instead, he often sees the end of the day when it takes all I've got to help the Younger Blossoms resolve some bickering.  Out of frustration, I give in, amp up the frustrations, and worsen the situation.  

The right thing to do, of course, is a calm answer and patient instruction or firm consequences... not my personal venting.  

It's interesting that the right thing to do, per the Word, is also a blessing to my husband.  I know need to work on this, but it is one thing I can do to bless him this week.

Preserving and building a good marriage doesn't follow a formula that guarantees the desired results, friend, but this is what I can do on my end to be a blessing, to act out what the Lord is working in my heart.  

Five Ways to Bless Your Husband

Five More Ways to Bless Your Husband

Five Thrifty Ways to Invest in Your Marriage

Fire More Thrifty Ways to Bless Your Husband

More thoughts on investing in each other under the Marriage label.

Pics are from one of our nicer dates, but remember that the inexpensive ones are just as important (and usually more frequent!)

Frigid and Beautiful?

Did I mention we're having subzero temps here in the Hollow lately?  And that's after the 12-15 inches of snow that fell from the heavens on Sunday.

I thought the sleigh mug was appropriate for the weather, because choosing your mug in the morning is "choosing your vibe."  It's a small thing but savoring the small things truly helps me savor real, everyday life.

Who knows what the Blossoms were ogling here, but there were all sorts of cutesy comments.  I love this.

(That's Blossom4's signature slime being stretched there.  I'm currently wondering if she will be an entrepreneur that builds a business around this. In the meantime, I won't tell you how many random containers of slime are all over our house.)

What a perk of homeschooling!  Blossom3 and Blossom4 were in between subjects.  It's a snack and a furry snuggle time sort of break.  

I don't have to understand how it works to know it helps to build healthy humans.

Blossom3 passed her learner's permit test!  Afterward, she sipped her celebratory Dunkin' frozen matcha and we took a few minutes to chat about anything and everything.  It was such a busy day that day, but all day long, we came back to relishing the victory of surpassing that milestone.

Celebrate the milestones.

With words.

With a matcha.

With a smile.

With a hug.

A dear friend from our church family passed away last week and we organized the funeral meal.  I got a kick out of our three instant pots all lined up, cranking out delicious homemade refried beans.  

There was something so beautiful about being together all day, working toward the same goal, problem-solving, and remembering Melvin.  Remembering how he was always serving in the background and loving people.  

Involving our children is something near and dear to my heart.  

This is how they learn to serve.  

This is how they learn to spearhead and conquer events like this.  

This is how they learn to show love. 

I once heard a comedian say something like, 

"Drugs were a big part of my upbringing.  

I got drug to church.  I got drug everywhere."

I can attest to this, and I hope you can hear my humor when you read this.

I got drug along to serve.  

I got drug into raking leaves all day at a camp.  

I got drug to outreach events to man carnival games and serve food.

I got drug into baking hundreds of cookies for campers.  

I got drug into washing tons of dishes.

I got drug along to clean the church.  

I got drug along to serve right along with Mom in whatever she was currently doing,

and guess what, it was good for me.  

I can now (and many times, then too) attest to the joy, fellowship, and beauty of serving together.

Dominique

Just Winter Lately

Every now and again, I like to do a "Life Lately" post, so here's...

What I'm decorating lately:
A cozy winter view of our living room is something that makes me smile.  We said good-bye to the Christmas tree for the year and embraced the wintry decorations.  I'm loving the birch logs with twinkle lights over top.

Homemaking doesn't have to cost a lot.  The tiny snowmen on the mantle are Christmas ornaments I picked up dirt-cheap on post-Christmas clearance circa 1999.  This makes me laugh that I still have them and that I still like them.  The large snowflake was a gift from a dear friend.  The Blossoms and I made the tiny yarn hearts.  Pretty glass bulbs from the Blossoms' Corning Museum of Glass field trip with Grandma were just too wintry-perfect to put away.  Sometimes homemaking is another way to keep me "smiling at the days ahead." (Proverbs 31:25)

What I'm reading lately:

Our current family read-aloud is Rainbow Valley, book #7 in the Anne series by L.M. Montgomery.  I love that my Younger Blossoms are getting to know characters that are near and dear to my heart.  The antics of the manse children and the Ingleside children are so fun and remarkably insightful, which is a delightful hallmark of Montgomery's writings.  

I just finished You Bet Your Stretch Marks by Abbie Halberstadt and it was a wonderfully encouraging and convicting read.  Is what you're doing as a mom worth it?  It's a resounding yes!  It was encouragement for when I feel weary.  It was also full of Scripture to keep me plowing ahead in the way that God would have me to mother in this season.  I read a chapter a day so that I had time to digest what I was reading, often journalling or writing down key thoughts.  Writing down thoughts and principles really cements them in my heart.

What I'm drinking lately:

I ran out of my favorite daily tea, Tetley British Blend so I had to find an alternative.  This Irish Breakfast blend from Taylors of Harrogate might be taking its place!  I love the quality, strong, full-bodied flavor as my early morning pick-me-up.

When Blossom1 or Blossom2 are home, I say YES to a hot latte.  The Blizzard of '26 means I had luxurious lattes yesterday and today, with my favorite people all around me!  I don't take this for granted!

What I'm thrifting lately:

I was thrilled to discovered this $1.99 neck scarf find was Anthropologie 100% silk!  To think I swiped it simply because neck scarves are current rustic style AND this one matches all the denim I'm always sporting.

This LL Bean vest in mint condition was a $3.00 find.  I knew it didn't fit anyone in our family, but I was able to resell it for a profit.  I don't mind doing this when the right piece falls into my lap.  

Where I'm travelling lately:

Blossom3 and I spent her 16th birthday in the Sweetest Place on Earth.  I was supervising my current fair queen during the State Fair Queen competition.  Blossom3 got to enjoy Hershey Lodge, junior fair board activities, delectable Hershey food, and one-on-one time with me.  We had such a lovely time!  And we even squeezed in a successful foray to a new thrift store.  I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations and jokes!

Life is always full here, but the wintry bright spots are exquisitely beautiful!

Farm Show 2026

The Farm Show was a big part of the last two weeks.  It's traditionally about good food and agricultural education for us but as the Blossoms grow, our involvement and responsibilities change.

We were there a couple of days in multiple family configurations.  Blossom1 and her fiance were with us one day ~ tasting delicious food, purchasing local skyr yogurt, and exploring exhibits.  Oh, and the Rugged Mountain Man was VERY happy with his turkey leg, but not the parking situation.  

Blossom2 was involved with the Culinary Connection stage,

helping with demos, preparing tasting portions, and 

competing in a Chopped-type competion with other culinary and baking and pastry arts students.  We got to see some stuff in person and some through a livestream.

Let me just say, it is intense to watch your daughter do this.  I was talking to the livestream,

"Check the rice!  Somebody PLEASE check the rice!!!"

"There's only five minutes left, SOMEONE get the plates out for plating!"

(The camera panned over to Blossom2 arranging plates.  That was a proud mama moment!)

Her team won!

Blossom3 did a presentation with another 4-H State Project Ambassador.

They've been working toward this for a few months now.  They wrote the presentation themselves, practiced, tweaked, pulled together a game, and organized a craft.  

It was a major victory for Blossom3 to own this project from start to finish with very minimal involvement from me.  

They also spent time researching categories for future exhibition by other expressive arts 4-H members.  

This is a growing part of 4-H and they are excited to be a part of it.

Blossom4 has been along to support her sisters, be a part of the games, and be inspired by them - her real life role models.  

It's a beautiful part of sisterhood~

learning from their victories AND their bumps, watching their goals from start to finish, and being the best cheerleader a sister can be.

Ag education was another big order of our days at Farm Show.

Blossom3 was inspired... maybe there's an upcycled greenhouse in our future.  Pretty inspiring since her presentation covered the topic of upcycling.

There were bovine organs to be explored.

The alpaca fiber arts were some of my most favorite.  

Mom and I love to admire craftsmanship.

This booth featured 'Paca projects from makers from all across the Commonwealth and we were in awe.

The miniature landscapes are one of our most favorite exhibits.  

We came away determined to exhibit more next year.

Considering how much the girls have matured, I'm excited to see the determination become goals and grow into fruition. 

America's 250th is a big theme for PA Fairs this year, which is no surprise.  Patriotism is strong in the Fair world and it's something we love.

We signed the bell

and marvelled at how many signatures were collected in

only FOUR days.

With tired feet and full bellies 

(with deep fried cheese cubes, bloomin' onion, pierogi, flavored lemonades, cheesesteak pretzel roll, and milkshakes... the list goes on), 

we greeted the police horses, and trekked toward home.  

Dominique