Country Life

Helena's decided she loves gardening. We've designated the small garden area under the tree that holds her swing as hers. After helping me plant a basil and miniature rose that friends had given her, she stepped back, clasped her little hands to her heart, cocked her head and exclaimed "I just love my plants!" Then she proceeded to stand posed batting her big brown eyes in dreamy rapture at the beauty of it all. Wish you could have seen it!

Later the same day, as she was back in the big garden with me she started singing at the top of her little lungs "I love you Jesus. I thank you for our place in the country so we can have a garden. Thank you that we live in the country on .... road. I love you Jesus in the whole wide world. Thank you for my chickies that say peep on the porch. ..... " She does this from time to time. Last night she was singing about it all and added "Thank you for the rain singing me to sleep". So cute!

Our Budding Comedian

Observing Daddy's shaving kit complete with small comb, Helena looks up at and says "Silly Daddy! You have a comb but no hair!" LOL!!!

Me and My Chicks

Mama Hen

Another Story

Helena just came to me while I was cleaning the bathroom. "Mommy, we are yooking for Christopher Robin. We can't find him. I think someone took him to the hodsbittle [hospital]."

"Oh, is he sick?"

"Yes, and I'm going to bring him some water and a washcloth."

"What's that for?" I asked and she proceeded to explain that she'd wet the washcloth and wring it out and put it on Christopher Robin's forehead. Then she hurried off to find Rabbit because maybe Rabbit would know where Christopher Robin was. Soon I hear her little footsteps running in circles around the house as she calls "Christopher Robin! Christopher Robin! Where are you?" Then she stops and addresses the imaginary creature: "Rabbit, have you seen Christopher Robin? No... Ok".

At that point she came to tell me that Rabbit didn't know where he was, but maybe Owl would. She said Owl would probably be washing his dishes and she'd ask him. "He will tell me all the questions [by which i presume she meant answer their questions]. Maybe he will say that you have to go down near the houses and then near the heater and that's where Christopher Robin will be, lying in the hosbiddle with his teddy bear."

Soon Helena came back to tell me that Owl had shown them the way to the hodsbittle and they had found Christopher Robin. She's in the other room now chatting away taking care of him! Currently she's yelling "Tigger go away! Christopher Robin doesn't feel good! Go! Get! Go!"

Kai-ow-yas

Helena is all excited because mommy and daddy heard "kai-ow-yas" howling last night. In case you are in need of a translation, those would be coyotes. I think it's adorable that she can say just about any difficult word but struggles with this one.

I Have Chickies Now!!

Mommy and Daddy and I have been calling the store for several days now and at last the chickies came in! They were supposed to be in on Sunday. Yesterday when I called, the people thought it was a joke or something and hung up on me. But when I called back they told me the chickies weren't there yet. Mommy dialed and I asked them.

I was very excited today to hear that the chickies were finally in and even more excited to get to the store. I ran really fast back to where the chickies were and wanted to hold one right away. Mostly I'm very careful with them, but I did drop one into the box and then mommy said I'd have to wait til later to try to hold them again.

In a few months I can help mommy to gather fresh eggs from the hens. Two of them are roosters tho. They are dark colored and one has stripes. I hope they will be friendly.

On the Farm

Waving to the lambs and calling out hi to them. They were curious about me and watched me and "baa-ed" at me. That made me so happy!




















Here is "Starbuck's doggie friend" as I call him. Mommy says he's my friend too tho. His name is Jake, but I call him the "good old bulldog Jack" like in the Little House books. Mommy says he is part bulldog she thinks. He's very very gentle and friendly tho.

Daffodils!!

We were all excited to see the daffodils blooming at our neighbor's farm. Pretty soon the one's in our yard will open their buds.

A Birthday Party

Here I am all ready to leave for my friend Gracie's 3rd birthday party. I have on my new outfit. Phewf! Pants and sleeves that are long enough! I am growing "yike a yittle weed" and everything is too short on me!

















We all thought it was great fun to cram into this toy like sardines along with as many balloons as we could fit.
































Here is my friend Grace. Pretty soon I'll be "3 like Gracie" I always tell Mommy. Last year I kept telling mommy that I'd soon be "2 like Gracie". I'm sharing some freeze dried peaches with her.














This is my friend Ruby - "Baby Wuby" I call her. She's really cute and I like her a lot.

Two Fun Pictures

One of the strange things about having a child is how they simultaneously grow so quickly and yet are still so little. I mean, check her out here in the middle of this huge field! She looks like a little baby still. My baby is awfully smart tho and was very proud that she recognized deer poop. So fun to see where the deer was standing!

Stomping on a Giant Puffball

Playing with the Wind

Exploring

Hiking With Daddy

I love the shadowy woods and the bright sunlit fields beyond.

Sleepy Baby

It's so highly unusual that Helena falls asleep anywhere other than in the bed or the car that we just have to take a picture. She's never been the normal baby that falls asleep here, there and everywhere when tired. Oh no! She's always been *way* to curious to allow for that. So here is one of those rare precious moments. She had missed her nap and fell asleep on the couch with Daddy reading her The House at Pooh Corner.

Help! Mama Doesn't Have all the Answers!

Helena asked me today "how" God made slugs and "why" He made ticks. I told her I really didn't know and she said "I think God must have made slugs because He knew the earth needed them". LOL

Bible Reading

Helena loves to open "her" (actually my) precious moments Bible and pretend she's reading it to us. We thought for a minute she was going to be an old fashioned fire and brimstone preacher this morning. I think she was trying to imitate the preacher in Pollyanna, and I must say she did a fine job of it before we put a stop to it.

We suggested the fruit of the Spirit might be a better read. So after flipping back and forth to "find where we yeft off" she read to us. "The fruit of the Spirit" she said, "means that you have to be good and loving and kind. If a friend shares a toy you have to say 'Thank You'." Not too far off...

But from there it digressed once again... to Christopher Robin in the 100 acre wood. Daddy tried to explain that the 100 acre wood isn't in the Bible, to which Helena replied "I'm just telling a story, Daddy".

Friends at Play

Mommy's Litttle Lamb

Isn't this just the cutest jacket ever with it's little lamb ears?!

Signs of Spring

After days of snow and rain, yesterday ended on a balmy note.
Helena and Daddy and I checked all the bulbs we had planted last fall. We found daffodils and tulips peeking up and even one brave, bright crocus in bloom!