Six Year Old Creativity

What does one do with paper, glue, straws, scissors, a hole punch and miniature bricks...



Why, make a fruit stand, of course!

Recently while in a Goodwill store, we added to our Little Peoples collection. The girls call this one "Farmer Girl". It came with a barn and horses and these baskets of apples, carrots, etc. I suggested they could have a fruit stand, never knowing that Hadassah would take it quite seriously. Later she told me what she figured out she needed to "make" her fruit stand. The day we helped at the real produce stand, she was anxious to get home and make it. Here's what she came up with, all on her own!
We have these miniature bricks...and straws worked quite nicely for poles. She punched holes in the paper on all 4 corners, but had to figure out a way to keep the paper from sliding down...

More paper and a glue stick solved that...

Now "Farmer Girl" has a place to display her wares, thanks to Hadassah!

Daisy Chains

Somehow my childhood passed by without ever learning how to make a daisy chain. I remember trying to braid them together and it never worked to my satisfaction. My girls, however, had the privilege of being taught how to, by a young friend. They, in turn, taught me. They can spend long amounts of time, making chains with clover blossoms, daisys, and last fall, Damaris even did it with fallen leaves, to my delight! Lovely swags can be hung or draped anywhere!

What a lovely way to spend time! What goes through their minds while their hands are occupied with such a task?

Six year old hands...

Consider the daisies...

My "Produce"

It is interesting to see how each one's interests develope, how they grow... What will my little garden grow into? A red pepper is much sweeter that a green one, why woudn't it be?! It is riper! What is God's plan to "ripen" me into? And each one of these children?...I trust He will equip each of them for what He has in store.
We didn't bring chairs along to the produce stand, but watermelons worked nicely for the little ones!

Like I previously said, Devereaux really likes the peaches! Damaris likes to read!

This picture reflects each one... Chloe and Abi love the fine dust on the hard packed dirt. They scooped it into piles, sifted it between their fingers, and generally got dirty. Hadassah made daisy chains, Damaris read, Devereaux...ate! :)

A gift from one of my girls...

Produce, anyone?

I just can't resist posting a few pictures of the bounty that John has been bringing up from the south. It's so lovely to have fresh produce a bit earlier than our gardens here. Steamed red potatoes, so quick and yummy with butter, salt and pepper...

We like to eat cucumber sticks...in fact we like to have a peeler and salt shaker along and we are in business!

Sweet onions, particularly Vidalias! We are learning to enjoy them on their own. Stick a chunk on a kabob on the grill...

Has anyone ever made a Peach Cheesecake? In the same way that folks like a cheesecake with cherry pie filling on top, try peaches! You might never go back to cherries!
Make a glaze with 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 2& 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch. Cook 'til it thickens, then while still hot, add 3 tablespoons orange jello. Cool and add cut up, fresh peaches. Top your favorite cheesecake recipe with this!
(No, don't use peach jello, I discovered quite by accident that orange makes it way better.)

Hmmm... right about now, it might be a good idea to quit blogging and go make...you guessed it...Peach Cheesecake!

Summer is Here!

Summer seems to finally be here! It's official now, because we've tasted it!
Abe's brother John, each summer, runs a little roadside produce stand along State Route 39. We have a little piece of property that is easy access, so it works out good. Growing or selling produce is what the Mast family grew up doing, so it's kind of in their blood, so to speak. (Abe's Dad and two other of his brothers also sell produce, only in North Carolina.)
Anyway, we like to help out when the need, or opportunity, arises. My Mom watches the stand for Johnny off and on thru the week. My sis, Paula, and her kids help as needed, too. Last week we went down to help unload a load fresh in from South Carolina. Oh, those peaches!!! Picked tree ripe the morning before... and I do mean tree ripe!!! After helping unload watermelons and cantelope, when my back was turned, Uncle Johnny was endearing himself to my girls! Abigail had streams of juice all the way to her toes! She hasn't figured out the need to lean out!

Chloe tells me she "especially likes the skin".

Due to modern methods of doing laundry, we didn't even end up with any stains!

Devereaux (John's son, age 6) ate peaches straight time!
The kids all love hanging out down there. There is a spring where water runs year round out of the bank. There are crawdads to be found... Damaris really likes helping with the customers. Hopefully helping out there will give opportunity to learn making change, handling money, being less shy, etc. She also likes to refill displays, which is a big help when it gets busy.
If you live in Holmes County, Ohio, this is just east of West Holmes High School. Stop by and sample a melon...or a peach!

Tradition

At our house, we have a plenty of girly toys! We have this doll stroller that does actually have a doll in it from time to time, but traditionally, each of the girls has had their turn in it... We didn't want to leave Lara out, now did we?!

She seemed to like it quite well! Big brother Alex had to take her for a spin too!
Check out the blue eyes... so far they seem to be staying that way and we are all cheering! She is the only one in the Mast/Isaac line so far, that's hanging on to those baby-blues!

Don't you just love babies little legs..feet...toes...
Actually the whole package is rather nice, I'd say!

Belated Memorial Day Moments

I will here confess why I like a parade...
Forget the floats, cheesy or otherwise...
Forget the fancy cars, old tractors, big trucks, high-stepping horses, etc...
I'm there for the marching bands!
There was a small parade in Nashville (Ohio), just down the road from home. We never miss it. Probably for various reasons...

Every time I hear or see a marching band, I have to fight back tears... They make me feel so emotional! No, I never was in one, it's not due to fond memories or nostalgia... All I know to say is they effect me, like a hint of things to come...
Togetherness...in a big way...
Harmony...like we never heard yet...
Oneness...
Proclaiming...
Exulting...
Lifting high...
I go to parades and wait for the marching bands...for a foretaste.
I go home and let God do business in my life in order to experience the reality of that fellowship in an ever-widening circle.
HOLY! HOLY! HOLY!

My girls will tell you, without hesitation, that they like parades because of the candy that people throw...

I was very pleased to watch, as Damaris retrieved the loot that was out in the street, to see that she brought it back and distributed it amongst themselves. No squabbles, just seeing who wanted what... their own little picture of harmony. It just added to my already "emotional" state. Thank you, Lord God, for the blessings they are! I am forever in Your debt for all Your goodness to me!

This little fellow was so cute, I couldn't leave him out!