Time marches on...

...and it seems I'm marching at a slower pace than the calendar! I'll just summarize activities to get caught up to date. We are happy to welcome one and all to our visitor friendly back porch. We so enjoy that spacious area Jon added to our house a couple years ago. We are always ready to hand you a glass of iced tea, to come and sit a spell and relax.

Our first family gathering after we got home from Florida was Easter Sunday. It was a beautiful Spring day and after a our usual pot luck style family meal (the Bailey's ALWAYS eat well!!! All the girls are wonderful cooks!) the adults emjoyed hiding hard boiled decorated Easter eggs, and the children enjoyed finding them. It was good to be together again after our 3 months in Florida.

We began our trips to the 80 acres up north to tend to the property maintenance up there, first just mowing the grass, then making efforts to eliminate a nuisance bush that wants to take over the property. It seems every other week trips to "the 80" were in order this year and the time has been profitable.

Memorial day weekend we were joined by family at the 80, which included this nice looking group of grandchildren / adopted grandchildren/future grandson. It was a wonderful, relaxing, fun filled time of memory making with family. We treasure those moments when we are able to be together and enjoy one anothers company. Julie and Michael, and Jess' husband , Chris and daughter Sepporah weren't able to make it, and they were missed.

The next event on the schedule was the baby shower for Chris and Jessica's much awaited Samuel Carter. We anticipate meeting him in the very near future, Lord willing. Jessica seems to be doing well, despite her complex health issues. She has a good team of doctors monitoring her each step of the way. Ultimately though, God is in control and He is proving Himself the Supreme caregiver. We are thankful for His hand on our daughter and their precious son. And we rely on His wisdom, grace, strength and wisdom in the weeks to come, as delivery of this baby approaches. There were over 20 special ladies and young women attending the shower to celebrate this miracle boy. We appreciate the presence of each one. They represent close family and friends that have been a blessing to Jess over the years. One such guest was Mama Alicia, a very special friend...Jess' OTHER mother, one she calls her Mexican Mom. Alicia lives in Wisconsin and she and her husband travelled that long distance to be at the shower. We surprised Jessica with Alicia's attandance, not telling her about them coming. What a fun time seeing Jess' surprised look and many happy tears. Not many dry eyes for a few moments. What a pleasant day that was for us to see everyone and enjoy their kindness to honor our expected grandson .

We were at the 80 for July 4th...all by ourselves, except for our dog Gilbert and his little "cousin" Sissy Lulu...Jessica's dog. We were dog sitting while they were away for the weekend. It was pretty hot, and we laid low and mostly relaxed that trip. We have observed some kind of a very large, low flying hawk that makes a daily flight over the open spaces near the cabin. I suspect given an adequate opportunity that hawk would love to have Small Little Dog on it's menu. We were cautious and worked at keeping the dogs close by the cabin, just to keep them from being a target.

And today...we are travelling home from Amish country, Holmes County Ohio. A brief visit with cousins in the Wooster area started our week long trip. A wonderful time of relaxing fellowship with special relatives, a good meal with the larger group of special family members then on down to Walnut Creek. Our focus was the Amish Family Farm Day held on Saturday. It was an interesting time of farm/ homestead/ homemaking workshops and related vendors. The day has been described as an Amish Fair. I learned some things...like how to make a 7 strand braid rug, and herbal tinctures made with vinegar. I'm anxious to put that information to use.

One of my very favorite places to visit while in the Amish area is the huge fabric warehouse, Zincks in Berlin. I found fabric that Mom can use and will ship a nice package to her as soon as we get back home and unloaded. Also found fabric to add to my own stock pile, for when the sewing bug bites.

We were able to find an aluminum laundry cart too, I've been wanting as well, at a new to us Amish appliance store in Bunker Hill. And Tom has found a source for good quality chickens...from the supplier in the Kidron area, Gerber chickens. Raised on Amish farms, their claim to fame is all natural, no additives, antibiotics etc. We are taking home an ice chest full for our freezer at home. Yum. I see grilled chicken on our menues ... often!

On one of our trips to the 80 we stopped to visit our Amish friends in Clare, MI. And had the pleasure of tasting Ida Mae's freshly canned home made bologna. If you know me at all, you know I HAD to try that. And I did. It needs a little tweaking but has potential, and is compelling us to move toward grinding our own meat and making all kinds of sausages...we are checking into a bigger, more powerful meat grinder though, as even the small quantity of bologna I made was hard on my poor Kitchen Aid grinder.

I expect we'll soon be full swing into canning season. Tom has the tomatoes looking very green, and healthy this year. He is working hard to keep under control the nasty blight that took our tomatoes last year prematurely. Our corn was just starting when we left for Ohio. The second planting of green beans had started to produce as well. And the zucchini...All I can say is, anyone visiting the Bailey homestead will no doubt find at least one zucchini in their car before they leave. We have a single zucchini and a single yellow summer squash plant and still have a plethora of squash. One can only consume so much zucchini fried. :-( I have yet to try the "Fake Pineapple" I made last year with excess zucchini. There is just something wrong about having to make a veggie taste like something else...pineapple, fake apple pie , etc, in order to use it up! I will say though we do enjoy mixed veggies fried together, to include the dreaded zucchini, and even fried zucchini with a light coat of seasoned flour suits the palate...in moderation. And those squash plants have no clue what that term, MODERATION, looks like!

There I think I have you all caught up. I expect the next news will be that of a new baby. Praying the Lord will see fit to keep both Jess and Samuel safe in His care....