Flowing Seas and Lofty Skies

I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,

That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.

-Isaac Watts

Breadwinner was in charge of one thing on the occasion of our wedding.  The honeymoon.  I supplied my opinion that the local should be one that was warm and involved water and sand.  I might even have mentioned South Carolina.  I love surprises and so didn't dig for info. about where we would spend the dreamy first week of the rest of our lives together.  I had not a clue where we were headed when we flew out of Ohare Airport.  When we arrived at our destination we rented a zippy little red Neon, picked up keys at the local Spanish moss festooned realty, and found our cozy cottage-for-the-week about a block from the beach.  Breadwinner had even arranged for a beautiful vase of red roses to await me upon our arrival?  He had carried out his end of the operation to perfection!  


As we sat on the beach feasting on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and gazing upon the towering beach homes, we declared that we would one day return and stay where graceful porches provided entrance directly to the sand and salt spray.  This seemed all the more a miraculous hazy dream as the very thing that provided the funds for our vacation was an act of God.  Shortly before our wedding a major hailstorm rained down on Breadwinner's fully insured '89 Bonneville.  Breadwinner gladly received a check and left his newly "textured" sweet ride as is.  It served us for many years as a "stone of remembrance" of how our loving God had provided one of our wants simply to give us joy.


15 years later we drove across country in our red 15 passenger van, dodged the Spanish moss hanging from the ancient oaks to pick up another set of keys, passed through the security gate to the end of Inlet Point where we delighted in our grand beachside-for-the-week residence.  


It was the most relaxing vacation I have ever enjoyed.  There were 14 in residence and it never felt crowded.  The one member of our wedding party that was not family and his wife and 4 kids joined us in our adventure.  They were gracious companions and after a week together, about 46 of those hours spent with our collective 10 children in the van, we remain fast friends!  

I think this was the one sunrise that wasn't overcast.  I couldn't help but praise the Creator as the waves crashed upon the shore and the sun swelled over the clouds that marked the horizon.

   

In front of "our" beach house.  I did have a fabulous swim suit refashion to sport until I had to cover my sunburn...

My little beach bums.

On My Calling...

How can it be a large career to tell other people's children about the Rule of Three, and a small career to tell one's own children about the Universe? 

How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone, and narrow to be everything to someone?  

No; a woman's function is laborious, because it it gigantic, not because it is minute.

-G.K. Chesterton

What's New on Sunny Toad Farm...

Today is the 6th of October.  I write this and have to check the calendar to make sure I am correct.  How can it be fall already?  I have to admit it catches me by surprise most years.  It is my usual to forget to put out Autumn decorations until the Thanksgiving turkey is in the oven.  It seems we move 100 miles a minute all summer doing what we have been dreaming done while laying all slugabed in winter.

I have another admission, that the first frost often comes just in time to save my sanity.  In early spring we eagerly press seeds beneath soil and await their emergence.  When they appear they need the care of a newborn to survive the chill.  All summer we carefully nurture them keeping weeds and pests clear and adding a cool drink when the clouds fail.  In their maturity they supply us with an abundance of much longed for nourishment.  And more...and more...and more!  While I am greatful I soon become overwhelmed with the amount of food available for my stewardship.  We press on and preserve what we cannot eat.  By the time a killing frost blankets the gardens and orchard the gardener in me is exhausted and ready to let it rest.

You would laugh if you knew before I blathered on so that I just yesterday arrived home refreshed from a week at the beach!  We took a long awaited trip to the beach that Breadwinner and I honeymooned on 15 years ago.  Up until the day before we left I was in the kitchen processing our garden bounty.  We came back refreshed and ready to tackle our to do lists.

This was The View From the Throne Room earlier this summer

First on the list was to sand and stain our new wrap around porch. check and check.  Next thing this week is to harvest our pumpkin and squash garden.  Autumn decorations. check!

Breadwinner used the lift to tear off a most-recent-in-history add on.  He found a squirrel nest and the momma safely relocated when left alone.  

Here is the front of the house sans the concrete porch and peonies.  Take a good look at the last picture.  My hundred year old peonies may not have survived the move.  Although I survived having to prep new locals and digging them out of the hard unforgiving ground.  It would be in poor form for them to die on me!

The porch being added.  I have never understood why they call them wrap around.  It only goes half way around the house...