Summer is quickly passing and we are back on track with school. Rosie is slowly getting better. Her headaches are still intense but she is able to spend much time outside in the garden before she succumbs to them and goes to her room. I can’t believe that it has been a year since she told us of her plans to enter the convent and got the call from the sisters saying she was accepted! It’s been quite a journey! Lots of tears, lots of growth….
We had a wonderful visit from our friend, Father Janosch Donner, a German priest just ordained at the end of June. I am sharing pictures today of that visit and other tidbits of our summer.
***I started this post before we got news that my dear brother, Steve, was found in his camper passed away. It has been a hard couple of days, especially for my dear Mom who was in constant contact with him the last few years…many texts a day. She tried not to worry when she didn’t receive any texts on Friday…but by Sunday she was very worried. She got the call on Monday, when the “wellness check” proved the worst. (There were no signs of foul play or him taking his own life…for as rough as his life had become, he was a surprisingly upbeat fellow). This is the second son Mom has lost. Please say a prayer for him, if you don’t mind. He needs it…
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him….
Here is the gallery of our happy summer days…
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- The wonderful (and sometimes too profuse) rains of the spring brought an abundance of fruit this year. Here’s some of our peaches.
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- Theresa has a nectarine tree on her property!
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- And whoa! the cucumbers!
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- We eat cucumbers like apples so when we acutally have our bellies full of them, you know there is an abundance!
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- Rosie is our #1 gardener! She spends many hours in the garden before she crashes.
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- Beans, cukes, tomatoes…
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- We bought special seeds this year for the cucumbers. They were more expensive but it has paid off! All through the summer they didn’t get bitter!
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- Gin took a couple of old dresser drawers….
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- And made this lovely display for Z’s birthday! what a transformation!
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- I couldn’t resist these little dollies at the Resale Shoppe for my granddaughters when they come over.
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- Here they are (some of them) having a good time! Ah! Nice to watch as a Grandma! 🙂
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- Vinnie is putting up a swing for the kids.
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- We’ve been taking in some softball games lately at the park. Our good friend, David, plays for a team. Looks like a homer!
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- Magdalene watches on Angelo’s shoulders.
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- Good times
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- Margy and Magdalene
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- Lots of little people
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- And big people
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- Our trampoline between two trees…a good place to take a nap.
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- And close by, the kids are having a picnic.
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- Tea time for my daughter-in-law, Z!
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- A lovely rainbow as everyone plays volleyball in the rain.
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- Toby and Agnes
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- The family that “sprays” together, stays together!
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- Dominic, Dad and Colin
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- Our little basketball court. We watch from my mom’s apartment patio.
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- Grandpa…
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- Hannah’s ready for the Shakespeare Festival.
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- Colin and Z raise goats.
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- It’s Colin’s passion. He has quite a herd! Here is Gracie.
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- Colin’s wife, Z, and all the kiddos.
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- “Here’s lookin’ at you, Kid!” hehe
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- Father Flood’s enormous sandwich!
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- Our sidewalk up to the house.
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- Cheers!
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- Playing Texas Hold’em with crabapples!
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- What will they think of next!?
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- Rosie’s um….hairdo?
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- We were invited to Gin’s for dinner. She said I could share her works in progress with you. Here is her Mary Garden.
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- She did this with an old dresser!
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- This is part of her patio.
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- She did all her flowers red and white this year.
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- Very pretty!
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- The patio
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- From a distance
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- She painted and put the decals on this step ladder.
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- She painted the fireplace and redid the cushions on the chairs. A black and white theme.
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- With a doily that she bought from Rosie for the table!
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- Emma is laying on the couch Gin bought second hand and re-stuffed the cushion on the bottom. She also painted the chair beside it which had been a dirty cream color.
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- The bistro table she painted. She said it was a pain. 🙂
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- Baskets are a woman’s best friend!
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- Her nook where she irons the aprons she makes.
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- Her craft room.
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- Craft room
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- An old piece she bought from God’s Storehouse. She will eventually paint it.
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- These are ready to don her beautiful crocheted hats for the Shakespeare Festival.
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- Craft room
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- Material for aprons…
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- Lots of goodies.
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- She will revamp this mirror
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- Lots of baskets in nooks and crannies.
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- Another old piece she plans to paint. She gets these pieces of furniture for very good prices.
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- Her sewing machine.
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- Top of the fridge. This was an old window she redid.
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- And here is an old cupboard door she painted.
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- Gin
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- Coffee Nook
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- Apron waiting to have pictures taken.
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- Another apron
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- Another of Rosie’s doilies.
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- Just chillin’ outside at Gin’s
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- Grandpa scaring Toby
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- Our Infant of Prague in summer garb.
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- Showing off Agnes’ school books.
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- Jeanette, Agnes, Magdalene and Toby
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- Chillin’
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- Agnes is doing school
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- Angelo doing school under Our Lady
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- The girls are doing school, Rosie is reading Divine Intimacy
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- First day of school! Grace and Jacob
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- They go to school at Gin’s where the families have hired a teacher.
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- Isaac
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- School
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- Lunch break
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- Margy helps teach
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- Snack time!
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- A soccer game at the parish! Colin and Father fight for the ball!
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- Father Adams is a treasure.
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- Action!
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- Mike and Nettie on a Sunday afternoon….
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- Gemma doing a photobomb
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- Father Adams at last year’s Shakespeare Festival. This is Angelo’s game booth.
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- Mulberries!
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- Jeanette will make the elderberry syrup we use for boosting the immune system.
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- Yum!
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- Father buries Ethan.
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- The booth was a mess as it sat all winter. The rats had a heyday!
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- Getting the booth ready for the Shakespeare Festival.
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- Spreading mulch. Otherwise it is so muddy!
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- Gin is disinfecting everything because of the rats!
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- Angelo and his cohorts getting his booth ready.
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- Vinnie is spraying a new color for a fresh look!
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- Toby! Look at that smile!
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- Jeanette made a card for a dear farmer friend. Love the corn accents!
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- Inside of the card.
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- Father Janosch visited from Germany. Here some of the clan are heading to the convent with him!
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- Father listens as they practice for choir.
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- With Father
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- Jeanette with Father
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- Father with Angelo and Gemma
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- First blessing
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- Father and I
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- Nice breakfast…
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- On the way to the convent!
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- Taking a tour.
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- First blessings of the sisters
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- Father is concentrating hard…
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- Bowling! We went early enough so Rosie could come.
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- Rosie with Father’s hat
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- Mike and Jeanette’s family with Father.
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- Mini-golfing
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- Bocci ball
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- Ticket to Ride
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- Shooting…
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- Father, Gemma and I
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- We did a procession at home for the Assumption. Here is the fresh flower crown that Rosie made.
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- Getting ready…
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- Jacob and Angelo have the privilege of carrying Our Lady.
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- The girls and boys are ready with their baskets of petals to throw before Our Lady
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- Father leads the rosary…
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- On the road…
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- To the little altar under the tree.
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- Mary is adorned with flowers
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- We pray the Litany of Our Lady
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- Agnes gets to crown Blessed Mother.
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- Rosie helps her.
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- Our Lady, Queen of all Hearts, pray for us!
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- A final photo.
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- Thanking God for each day that He gives us….
How nice and colorful! I see someone uses abeka, I like alot of their early books too! 🙂
When is the festival again, the dates?
Rosie’s eyes look very tired, we are glad she is getting better, many prayers to continue, and may your brother rest in peace. Very sorry for you loss. 🙁
Oh, Leane, thank you for sharing so much of your beautiful family. It really warms my heart to see everyone working and playing and praying! And God bless your brother- I am so sorry to hear the sad news. And extra prayers for your mom as well. Does Rosie have plans to go back to the convent if her health does keep improving? Will pray for her, too.
Sorry for your loss. May he Rest In Peace.
I love all the photos of the family. Congratulations on the abundance of cucumbers.
Glad to see Rosie able to participate with the family.
Thank You for sharing
Joan
I said a prayer for your brother. Eternal rest be his.
Love seeing all the family playing and praying together. Happy that Rosie is involved in the activities. Prayers always for her that she will be in 100% health.
Thank You for the lovely photos.
Marion
So sorry for the loss of your brother, Leane. Saying a prayer that he will rest in peace. Condolences to your family.
Dear Leane,
Condolences and Prayers on the loss of and for the soul of your brother! I am sorry for your loss. What a very difficult thing for your mother, you and your family!
Beautiful photos and family !
Sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace. Prayers for the family for healing and comfort. Happy to see Rosie out and about. She looks healthy and happy. Love all the photos. Thank You for sharing. God Bless all.
Marilyn
Love the post mom!
I made sure to pray for your brother. May God bring him into Heaven, and may God give you and your family peace and comfort. I love to see the galleries of your family!
Leane, I said some prayers for your brother Steve. My condolences to you and your whole family. May Our Lady wrap her comforting mantle around your family.
Thank you for sharing the photos of your summertime… they are so heart warming and enjoyable. I needed that… it was good for my soul.
Dear Leane, I prayed for the soul of your dear brother,Steve .I am so sorry to hear about his passing and how difficult it has been for your Mom to lose two sons.I will keep all of you in my prayers as well. Thank you for blessing all of us with your summer photos…. how very precious!!! It truly looks like a bit of heaven to me!!!♥️It was nice hearing that Rosie is working in her garden again and that she is feeling better! I know she still needs to be careful not to tire herself! My prayers are ALWAYS with her ! Blessings dear friend!❤️🙏