What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow. ~ Martin Luther

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Doodlebug






 








 

 





 





 

I spend almost entire days in the kitchen these days.  I pretend I don't feel the nip in the morning air and I sheepishly close the doors in the evenings- not wanting the house to become too cold.  I spotted my first brazenly orange-tinged trees the other day.  I help Matt split wood when I can and when I can't, I admire him from the kitchen window.  Wood.  For burning this.....no, I can't even say it.

There is such an abundance pouring in of milk and fruit and garden goodness that I am constantly busy.  It is a juggling match to determine which bit is more pressing to do- make cheese? butter? Milk or vegetables? Peaches?  Pickles?  Summer Squash?  It is a glorious, busy, abundant, exhausting time.  

Being stuck indoors with my pressing to-do lists leaves me very little time to go outside and enjoy the beauty and warmth that is already beginning it's descent into the brown, crisp days of  Fall.  I see it coming, I feel it coming- but I don't want to believe that it is coming.  I am not ready.  I haven't soaked up enough sun, admired enough flowers; trekked in the woods and fields, sat in my flower circle reading or painting... not enough.

I've been fiercely protecting my Sabbath from any canning or milk production these last few months~ knowing it is the only teensiest reprieve of my entire week but this past Sunday I decided that within that reprieve- there must be flowers.  Sun.  Walks.  Fresh, warm, golden air touching my skin.  Birdsong.  Ice cream "Sundays".  Quilts in flower circles and bowls of popcorn in the grass.  And, whenever possible- doodlebug rides.

The "Doodlebug" is that odd, Beverly Hillbilliesque ride in the pictures above.  Part car/part tractor/part redneck fourwheeler...it's been around for decades.  Apparently, our (now) elderly next-door neighbor used to drive it around when he was a young man and it somehow made its' way to Matt when he was a teenager and went to live (and stay) at his parents' house until eventually, we wound up buying this place and has made it's way 'home' once again.    The doodlebug starts only when it feels the desire to go explore- not necessarily when we want it to- and it isn't exactly a smooth ride.  But, boy is it fun.

Matt built the box in back and the children just fit inside. 

We are quite a sight (letmetellyou!) coming up the hill to our home and out putzing along the edge of the fields (what the neighbors must think!) but let me tell you, every bit of the ride is worth the embarrassment.  ;-)

9 comments:

Mary said...

How fun! Definitely worth any embarrassment.

Amanda said...

We've been feeling the crispness, too! Shh!

Unknown said...

that is a cool ride.....my cosmos are gorgeous this year...non of the yello and orange ones came up :( and what is the pink flower in the first pic

Full of Grace said...

I just want to say thank you for your abundance of "life" photos..Since our lives had the addition of two extras, pretty much the only time I pull out the camera is for photo shoots, unless it's my silly phone. I miss documenting life. Hoping next week will be the beginning of enjoying photos of my own again :) But know that I've enjoyed yours since then.

Amanda said...

Just to let you know, I'm still reading every single post you write. And they are all good. All very, very good. And the photos are just magical but today, I had to comment:


I love the doodlebug Rebecca!Can I come for a ride?

Anonymous said...

These photos are outstanding!

Miranda Hupp said...

I am not ready either! We should be starting school soon but I just want more time. It has been really cold here in the mornings and I swear it is just too early for that.

terricheney said...

Way down here in Southwest Georgia the trees are changing as well. I watched as leaves fluttered across the lawn when we had a breezy day. The air was warm...but the direction was not where our summer winds come from...nope it was the more northern wind direction that came in gusts.

You are wise Rebecca to keep your Sabbaths free of garden and milk chores and to get outdoors while you may and ENJOY the blessings of this season (aside from the lovely abundance of foods).

Our peach season has just ended here. I failed to even participate fully and I regret it. I missed many and many a lovely juicy peach. I missed putting up jars of lovely peach jam as planned.

And please put a pile of books on Judah's head. That child's legs have grown twice their length this summer, I declare!

Dee Stroud said...

Did you know you can freeze your fresh cow's milk? My nephew and his wife do it all the time. It's not quite as smooth as fresh but it doesn't hurt the taste at all. Also a cousin uses her thawed milk to make butter still. Just a side note :)