Where The Orange Blossoms Grow...

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Random

Since life has been rather uneventful as of late, I think I shall take this opportunity to step back a few months and do a brief review. Enjoy the pictures, y'all, and thanks for stopping by. :)

We enjoyed a great visit with the Pollocks a few weeks back! Let the camera wars begin! ;)

Goofies. :P

Okay, we're sick of the camera thing...How about we do something else?

...Like maybe tearing apart a red cup and twisting up the shreds for no apparent reason...

Yeah, this is lots of fun!

Thomas patiently listens to William's many long tales of "his past life," such as...

"When I was a cowboy on the range..."

"When I was attacked by a bear and it almost ate me until I killed it with my sword..."

"When I was a fighter pilot and flew a jet very, very high in the sky and crash landed on a lake. Then I almost died..." and other such things....

The girls treated us with a lovely song--beautiful harmony! :)

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We love it when Grandmama and Granddaddy come over for a visit. :)

Little chunker. :P

Cal-Sue :o)

Little Nate got his first haircut! I guess he needed it, huh? :)

Alright, y'all! Guess what we're doing next??!

That's right...we're making laundry soap!! Exciting, huh? ;)

Julia came over and we learned together! :)

Um...yeah. :)

Time to feed the moo-moos. :) Or give them a treat, rather. ;)

"Yes, I've just come up for a visit. Don't mind me." :)

Our Science Exhibit for State Competition, which I forgot to post earlier...

"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home..." :o)

The greenhouse-windowsill :P

Gorgeous Hollyhocks. :)

The steamy ground after the rain. :)

Lovely Resurrection Day Bouquet

We all enjoy the Keepers of the Faith meetings and projects after Church. :)

Picking blackberries in the "Enchanted Forest." :)

When Grandmama and Granddaddy leave for MO a couple times a year, we enjoy looking after their little farm :)

Here we go a-searching for the little newborn calf...

We spy the Mama...Baby must be near.

Here's a grapefruit...Please don't kill me when I go take a picture of your baby. :P

Sweet little guy. :)

Little birdies in the windowbox are still there. :)

Lad and Gina--the vicious grove dogs. ;)

Well, that's all folks! Until next time,

"Goodbye, good luck, and my the good Lord take a likin' to ya!" ;)

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream! :P

We've come to love this little downtown ice cream shop, the Cool Shop. Mama takes the boys there for their birthday every year. (She takes us to a tea room and antique shopping) ;o) I tagged along this year for Wills' 4th birthday to take pictures. :)

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Happy Birthday, Wills!

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY!!!

William Pearce Stricklen

Blessings on thee, little man,

Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan!

With thy turned-up pantaloons,

And thy merry whistled tunes;

With thy red lip, redder still

Kissed by strawberries on the hill;

With the sunshine on thy face,

Through thy torn brim’s jaunty grace;

From my heart I give thee joy,—

I was once a barefoot boy!

Prince thou art,—the grown-up man

Only is republican.

Let the million-dollared ride!

Barefoot, trudging at his side,

Thou hast more than he can buy

In the reach of ear and eye,—

Outward sunshine, inward joy:

Blessings on thee, barefoot boy!

From John Greenleaf Whittier's "The Barefoot Boy"

Cowboy Will...

"Roy Rogers" :P

Hambone... :)

Cutiepie... :)

Happy Birthday, Wills! You make us laugh and amaze us
every day with the stuff you come up with!
We love you, Cowboy Will!

Love,
Daddy, Mama, Callie, Mary, Abby, Margaret, C.J., and Nate

Monday, May 2, 2011

Bountifully Blessed

It's lovely when you can go out to the garden every day and pick fresh fruit and vegetables. We are so blessed. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

We plow the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.

He only is the Maker of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey Him, by Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread.

We thank Thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest, our life, our health, and food;
No gifts have we to offer, for all Thy love imparts,
But that which Thou desirest, our humble, thankful hearts.

Matthias Claudius--1782

The Orange Blossom Song

I want to wake up in the morning where the orange blossoms grow,
Where the sun comes creepin' into where I'm sleepin',
and the song birds say hello.

I want to wander over yonder, Pick the fruit that's hanging low,
I want to make my home in Florida where the orange blossoms grow.

I want to wake up in the morning where the ocean breezes blow,
I want to cast my line on the falling tide,
Where the tarpon swim below.

I love the sunshine and the beaches, where the palms sway to and fro,
I want to make my home in Florida where the orange blossoms grow.

I want to wake up in the morning where the Spanish moss hangs low,
Where the gators swim through the Everglades,
And the grand old live oaks grow.

I love the wildwoods, and the cities, and the friends I've come to know.
I want to make my home in Florida where the orange blossoms grow.

I want to wake up in the morning where the orange blossoms grow,
Where the sun comes creepin' into where I'm sleepin',
and the song birds say hello.

I want to wander over yonder, Pick the fruit that's hanging low,
I want to make my home in Florida where the orange blossoms grow.

Here Is Home

Here is home, my blessed home.
Florida is her name.
God’s Providence has brought me here,
So here I will remain.

Here is home, my beautiful home,
Where God's creation sings
About the mighty power and grace
Of Jesus Christ our King.

Here is home, where in the Spring
The orange blossoms bloom,
And fill my senses to the brim
With their sweet perfume.

I love to hear the honey bees
Buzzing with all their might.
I love the clear, blue, cloudless sky,
And radiant stars at night.

Here is home, where Summer comes
With its burning heat,
Relentlessly providing us
With bugs and burning feet.

But when the Lord provides us
With a gentle shower,
It lifts the weary, wilted head
Of every wildflower.

Here is home, where in the Fall,
I don my scarves and sweater,
But really I don’t need them.
Cotton would do better.

No Autumn leaves are falling.
The trees are still quite green,
But a crisp, cool breeze is blowing,
And the days grow short, it seems.

Here is home, where Winter comes.
It's not so very cold,
But how I love to dig in the sand
My numb and barefoot toes!

In wintertime I love to eat
An orange from the tree.
Such a sweet and sticky treat.
Quite a delicacy!

Here is home where I am proud
To be a humble part
Of Florida's great, rich history,
And hold it near my heart.

The land on which I've tromped and played,
The Spanish settlers roam'd.
They called this place the “Land of Flowers,”
And here they made their home.

When war broke out between the States,
We proved our loyalty
To the precious Southern cause,
For God and Liberty!

Some folks call us “Florida Crackers.”
I'm proud to hold that name.
My ancestors were proud as well,
To call themselves the same.

Here is home, My home, sweet home,
Where life is at it's best.
Every day I thank the Lord,
For I am truly blessed!

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