Rachael Eliker's Blog, page 78

Old Man

Happy birthday, old man!Our family's first teenager has come and gone: Stoney turned 20 yesterday. Nice shot, Evelyn!One thing I regret about Dancer is not knowing her exact birthday. I know the year she was born but celebrating Stoney's birthday has long been a family tradition. Sometimes we get into baking cakes and making him wear silly birthday hats but usually, he prefers less ostentatious celebrations. Today, he spent all day grazing, had several mouthfuls of carrots and his favorite lit...

Carnival

Kate and Claire watching their big sister have a turn.Who needs a carnival when dad doles out free rides that are just as thrilling as a roller coaster? Claire was all giggles!Of course, when one girl gets a turn, he'd better be prepared to toss all three. Kate caught the most air.

When Stoney Sheds

One swipe of the curry comb.When Stoney sheds, everyone better watch out. He grows a fantastic winter coat (yay!) and then turns around and loses it in about a week. If it isn't hanging on your clothes, it's in your eyes and mouth and nose and the static cling makes it nearly impossible to get it off.
Leaving a trail of fluff.He makes shedding dogs look like a walk in the park. Of course, he IS outside. Thankfully. Kate collecting Stoney's winter fuzz. Probably to make a stuffed toy or somethin...

Book Signing

Do you think everyone will be able to tell what my novels are about???Since finally admitting I wanted to be a published author, I've always wanted to attend a book signing. Ironically, the first I was able to attend was my book signing. To clarify, though, it wasn't a solo act. A friend invited me to an Indiana author event at a nearby library along with sixteen other authors of varying genres and accomplishments, where we met with fellow readers. I sold a few books, made new friends and clu...

The Garden of Eliker

My helper!One of my favorite scripture stories has always been about the Garden of Eden. I mean, I think it'd be pretty awesome to live in a giant, gorgeous garden void of weeds and in complete harmony with animals.
Putting in a row of peas.The real lessons came, though, when Adam and Eve were escorted out following their transgression. I've always found it interesting that as consequence, they were told they were to work, that weeds were going to be a problem and that they were going to have...

It's A...

Well, hello, baby.Ever since we found out we were pregnant, we've been asked the age-old question:
Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?
With each successive girl, the questioning has morphed from boy or girl to an increasingly fervent and frantic Are you hoping for a boy? Or, my all-time favorite, Is your husband hoping for a boy? Because, you know, all fathers really want are boys. Girls are fine until a boy comes along (I'm being horribly sarcastic, but that's what the question...

Do A Good Turn Daily

Getting ready to start another project!After a full and eventful day yesterday, it ended on an equally chaotic but fun note. Jack works with the younger scouts through church and since we've got a bit of space, they came out for an overnight camp out. They arrived, got a fire going, set up tents and lived up to their slogan of doing a good turn daily. Learning to use a miter saw. It was a learning experience for them. Most of them hadn't laid hands on power tools before but after some ins...

Family Time

Family time is my favorite time. I do enjoy a bit of solitude during the day while the girls rest so that I can recollect, but I love the commotion, fun and hard work that seems inevitable when we're all together. Next time I plan a garden, I fully intend on putting them in straight rows. Oh, well.If we're not tilling and preparing the garden... ...we're hammering together bee boxes for a new hive... ...or putting the master bathroom. Seriously, what little girl wouldn't want to be spending her...

The Grooms

With spring weather comes mud and with mud come dirty horses. Luckily, I have three little girls who love to brush animals. For all of their hard work, the grooms were awarded with a bareback ride.
For all of Stoney's hard work, he was awarded with green grass. Lots and lots of grass.

Pink Vader

Her ratty-tatty, well-loved blanket.Claire and Evelyn were gifted hooded blankets a few Christmases ago by a friend's mother and ever since, they've been kept close. Despite the warmer weather, Claire marches around the house (and sometimes sneaks outside) with her fuzzy blanket draped over her. From the back, the flowing robe makes her look like Darth Vader's counterpart:

Pink Vader