Phoebe Turns 19

 

We had such a lovely warm day for Phoebe's birthday.

I sent this picture of Phoebe and the cake platter to the neighbor who was there to help with her home birth. We had planned a home birth, but Phoebe came so quickly that the midwives were not going to arrive in time. So the neighbor lady, Dawn, came over to help. She and her husband went to Disney later that year and bought Phoebe a pretty ceramic Micky Mouse platter that has seen lots of use.

We had a simple chocolate cake after lunch with Mimi and Papa. 

And then Phoebe had her friends over for a picnic in the back yard that evening. That's why we were so thankful for the beautiful warm day! 

She wanted white cake with white frosting, a vanilla custard filling and blueberries. 

A windy picnic on the freshly mowed lawn 

(first lawn mowing of the year by Harrison!).

We had juices and fruit and mint leaves and Ginger Ale so the girls could make fruity drinks.

And Silas kept Harrison company. 

Phillip and Papa looking dapper.

It's been too wet to get in the fields. This purple flower called henbit grows in the uncultivated fields and gives off a beautiful purple sheen.

Up close it doesn't look like it'd make such a stark purple color, but if you get enough of it together, I guess it sure does.

Look at that sky. 

We got a new oven last week. I was so sad to lose the vintage oven that has been in this house since the '70s. But it broke, and upon examination, it was not safe. Parts would have been too expensive, etc. But this new oven works wonderfully, even if it's not vintage. We got it just in time to bake Phoebe's birthday cakes.

We are coming to the end of the school year. Phoebe's finishing up books; her senior year will soon be over. We're working on her graduation next. 

Harrison is getting his driver's permit soon, so he'll be studying for that. 

Jonathan graduates from Advance, and Phillip and I get to go for that weekend (along with my parents and some friends from Jacksonville). 

Lanaya Elizabeth has lots of knitting patterns and projects in the works. I get a glance at those every once in a while. Plus I'm making her headscarf pattern right now, so I get to look at her pretty modeling picture when I follow the instructions. :-)

Phillip is gaining strength by working on house projects. He's amazed at the difference of what his body can or cannot do after 5-6 months of being down. He's pretty much able to eat whatever he wants without inner troubles. He's been at work about 5 weeks now, and that's all going very well. Could we really be on the other side of this whole thing?