My 101-item Bucket List

So I accomplished a lot of somethings today, but here is the something that took the most brain. :P I made my 101-item bucket list...actually, the idea of a bucket list is a little morbid. But I don't see it as a list of things to do before I die, but as a list of the things I want to accomplish while I live. There really is a difference, don't you think? Here's the definition of a bucket-list, per the Rachel Heffington Dictionary:

bucket-list: n. a list compiled by people who have random, interesting, ambitious, or simply a lot od things they wish to do during their lifetime and are afraid they haven't the brain to remember them all. ;)

Without further ado, here's mine!

1. Buy a pair of red shoes
2. Visit Scotland and get my fill of the accents, if that’s possible
3. Take a walk in the autumn rain and unexpectedly meet Someone who is very glad to see me.
4. Publish one of my books
5. Make a Charlotte Russe from scratch
6. Fall in love with a godly man
7. And marry the man I fall in love with
8. Ride on a galloping horse without falling off
9. Wear a soft white dress with a wreath of rosebuds in my hair to a dance
10. Receive a letter from a Secret Admirer who is just that—a secret—
11. Plant an orchard
12. Sit for a portrait painting
13. Read all of Charles Dickens’ novels
14. See an indigo bunting
15. Go to Paris
16. Watch a Broadway show on Broadway in New York City
17. Drink a cup of tea at the Plaza Hotel while there.
18. Wear red lipstick and a fifties dress
19. Take a road-trip to a place I’ve never been before
20. Be a bridesmaid in a close friend’s wedding
21. Own a peacock
22. Visit Hilltop Farm in the Lake District (Beatrix Potter’s home)
23. Spend an entire day out in public speaking with a British accent
24. Wear a hat to church
25. Hit the high note in “Think of Me”
26. Be rescued, somehow, somewhere without any ill-effects afterward
27. Act in a musical that we sell tickets to
28. Eat dinner at a five-star restaurant without forgetting the order of silverware
29. Eat a bowl of chili without getting the stringy cheese on my chin
30. Be asked if I am the writer, Rachel Heffington ;)
31. Take a stunning picture of…something.
32. Wear a necklace made of real diamonds
33. Attempt to walk a picket fence and hop off into someone’s arms like Josie Pye (It better be a strong someone…)
34. Eat an ice-cream cone while standing on the line between two states
35. Drive a Tin-Lizzy
36. Meet someone famous in an unusual setting
37. Overhear two people talking about me and walk out just as they are about to say the juiciest part.
38. Make a come-back worthy of an Elizabeth Bennett at a perfect moment
39. Cook an entire meal on a wood-stove
40. Hear my own writing read aloud without blushing and wishing I was a million miles away
41. Get a box of Winnie-the-Pooh themed checks and use every one of them
42. Change a 100$ bill into pennies at the bank, come home, and walk through the pennies barefoot, then return them.
43. Get rid of the strange dark spots on my knees
44. Tie a string to a June Bug’s leg and watch it fly around
45. Sing a solo for a talent night and not die in the process
46. Try swing-dancing
47. Learn to play something on the piano
48. Learn French. Tres Elegante!
49. Pin a butterfly to copy and paint without feeling mortally guilty
50. Wash my hair in a real waterfall
51. Memorize an entire book of the Bible
52. Drink an entire pitcher of hand-squeezed lemonade over the course of a day or two. (It needn’t be a huge pitcher)
53. Spend a night sleeping in a hammock outside with a buddy in the hammock beside me
54. Go for a trip where I stay wherever-it-was for at least two weeks
55. Make a surprise trip to a friend’s house, let myself inside, and hide somewhere before jumping out at her
56. Sing a duet with a guy who can sing. (“I See the Light”, wot-wot, Daniel?)
57. Be dipped while I’m dancing without being dropped or making a funny face
58. Dance a waltz in full ballroom gear with a dashing partner I am either related or married to
59. Make a 101 item bucket list
60. Sell a painting
61. Let someone kiss my hand
62. Get proposed to at least once
63. Play a game of “telephone” with enough people so it’s actually funny
64. Make a pulley/message system from our house to the Walkers
65. Learn all the words to “Benedy Glen” and make someone cry by singing it in pathetic tones
66. Get a hug from a monkey
67. Teach a parrot or other bird to say, “Miss Summerson is my Angel” and, “My name is Guppy”
68. Whistle “Dixie” while in the presence of a Yankee
69. Hum “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy” while in the presence of a Rebel
70. Buy something expensive and then return it, just for the fun of it
71. Make a mailbox that is an exact copy (in miniature) of our house
72. Use the internet without saying the word “blast” or “stinkin’ thing” when it vexes me
73. Design and sew a wedding dress
74. Use an old “Mary Poppins” era telephone
75. Walk into the Library of Congress and pretend I belong there
76. Acquire a pair of cowgirl boots
77. Use a Charles Dicken’s quote at an entirely random moment in a conversation
78. Drive up to a drive-thru window wearing dark sunglasses and poke a cane out the window to “read” the menu, then ask for a different menu in Braille
79. Catch and tame a cottontail rabbit
80. Find a real patch of mayflowers
81. Visit Boston again and eat some real clam chowder
82. Go on a missions/visiting trip to Pastor John Zaharia’s church in Romania
83. Visit Austria
84. Visit Germany
85. Get a French Manicure
86. Have a red-haired daughter
87. Write a book with a character named Catherine Durrant as the protagonist
88. Have an old-fashioned picnic at a historical house
89. Take a ten-mile walk on a brisk autumn day with a group of friends and sisters
90. Get pleasantly scared so badly I scream like a girl (wait…I think that’s happened already)
91. Plant a Queen Elizabeth Rosebush (two) and let it go crazy over an arbor
92. Name every house I live in once I’m married
93. Own a blue, black, and white parakeet and name him Admiral Boom
94. Keep a jar of fireflies on my nightstand
95. Raise a batch of tadpoles without letting them eat each other
96. Learn to play the mountain dulcimer
97. Have a cat that has a litter of kittens and name them all characters from books
98. Host a literary ball
99. Read all of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries
100. Solve a mystery using Holmes-like deduction
101. Eat an ethnic meal made by a person from that country

If you've gotten that far, then I applaud you! Bravo, and thanks for reading! :)

Happy Birthday, Rach! :)

Happy 19th Birthday Rach!!! :)

You're a great sister and godly example to all of your siblings. I know that the Lord has great plans in store for you, and I love you lots!

Your sister,

Sarah

Where is the wisdom in Wisdom Teeth?

Yep. That's my question today. Okay. So I knew somehow that this dentist appointment today was not a good idea.

I knew they would somehow incriminate me. But what reason have I for dreading the dentist?

Never had a cavity in my life. (Up to now) Had braces already....no bad news there. I even have room for all my wisdom teeth, unlike Sarah, right? Uh.....wrong. *sigh*.

So we two are in for it. In the next month or month and a half, we will be lighter by four teeth each. We are having surgery to get our wisdom teeth out. And um....the bad news isn't over.

Ahem.

One of mine is impacted. :P It's growing in side-ways, and they'll have to drill a hole in the bone to fish it out. Oh joy. "Fol-de-rol, bon-hommy, gathering nuts in May." as Eeyore would say.

And the hygienist didn't even say it nicely to me. (Although she complimented my gardening tan. :P)

She made it sound a most criminal offense to not have room for one's wisdom teeth: "Please evaluate 1, 16, 17, and 32 for EXTRACTION"! :[

There I am! Cart me off to jail! I have need of an extraction. Oh boy. Well, at least we're in this together, right, Sarah? *She gives me a weak smile in reply*

Sister To Sister Inquest :)

Explanation: This is an sisterly inquest. We two are quizzing each other with previously undisclosed questions. I'll begin interviewing Her.

Me: Where were you on July 24th, 2010?

Rachel: *whispers* (where were we?) Oh yeah! Recovering from heat stroke after dancing in 105 degree weather at our birthday party! ;)

Me: What are all the alias' you've ever had for yourself?

Rachel: Alright! Charlotte Salinya, Lisa Gabachi (long story:), Josephine Ava Inkpen, Frankie Churchill, Ms. Waffle, The Inkpen Authoress

Me: So, what is the worst memory you have of your pets?

Rachel: Um.. Our dog Pepper having seizures on me as a 2 year old. :\

Me: Are you ever nervous while flying in a plane?

Rachel: Only if I think about it, or if the guy beside me sound like he's coughing up a lung-then I'm nervous I'll get sick...

Me: Final query: What's the matter with talking on the phone?

Rachel: I don't like it! I can't see people's faces. And there are long pauses. And I start blushing and repeating myself. It's awful.

Me: Well, thank you for your time-this inquest is completed.

Now I have YOU in MY clutches! ;) This is now Rachel inquiring into Sarah's business! :P

Me: Have you ever ever ever in your long legged life when you saw someone's outfit thought: "I could NEVER carry that off! But they....can?"

Sarah: Yes. Many times *rests chin in hand and drawls answer*

Me: Highly suspicioucious! ;) Let me see....what did you truly think of the Christmas tree we got last year?

Sarah: What?...What was wrong with it?....I don't remember....I.... don't....*sheepishly laughs*

Me: If you had to pick one actress that YOU yourself would replace in a favorite movie, who would it be?

Sarah: Probably Sofia Vassilieva in Eloise..I mean, I liked that roll, I liked her in it too! But I mean....

Me: What were your first and second thoughts when you walked into the study and saw me reading "Gone With The Wind" while you were still working? *dastardly chuckle* ;)

Sarah: Hah! *in a pompous sort of voice* Really? *drawling* (That was the first thought) (Her second thought was out loud and made me laugh!)

Me: If you adopted a baby from another country when you grow up, which country would you pick?

Sarah: Oh that's a hard one! Probably...Korea...or...Russian or German....

Me: Well, thank you Sarah for giving us your time!

We hope you all enjoyed this sister-to-sister post! It's been a long time since we have done something like this! -Rachel and Sarah

Describing Rachel :)

All right. Rachel, here are the words that you're friends described you with:

Entertaining

Insightful

Helpful

Artistic

Pretty

Kind

Endearing

Fun

Passionate

Writer

Inspiring

Kind

A writer

Fun

Happy

Lovely

Funny

Cheerful

Honest

Observant

Humorous

Sweet

Helpful

Adventurous

Romantic (the other kind:)

Imaginative

and the Best Oldest Sister!!!:D

-Sarah

18!!!!!!!!:D

Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Rachel, Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!!!!!

-Sarah

How Well Do You Really Know Us Two?

Okay. Time for another sort of quizzy thing to see how well ya'll know us! :) I will have the question, and you all answer whether you think the person who did, said, or thinks this is me(Rachel) or Sarah! :) Please do it! :)

1. Likes putting honey on her mashed potatoes

2. Popularized the use of the word "blast" in our circles

3. Has had a vacuum cord plugged in the top of her head before

4. Her nickname in volleyball is "CeCe the Viper-Server"

5. Thinks that when you name your kid "Chase" or "Hunter" you will always be doing that. (Chasing or hunting for them! :)

6. Hates slugs passionately

7. Sings constantly while she works, to the point of irritation to some people

8. Closed her eyes the whole time on the Griffin

9. Screamed the whole time on the Griffin

10. Is not scared of people choking

11. Would rather go barefoot than wear any kind of shoes

12. Is always commanded to sit as a model for a profile for the other sister's drawings

13. Likes the Casting Crowns song "What This World Needs"

14. Is the flip-flop queen

15. Can get online and check the blogs for comments in 25 seconds much to the other sister's glee

16. Cannot for the life of her draw men

17. Can't ever keep a straight face when asked to

18. Used to climb any tree she could get her hands on

19. Thinks ice-plants look like lizard tails and likes to squish them

20. Frequently gets charley-horses at night

Squeaky Clean On The Wrong Day

So...We are doing Saturday chores today, (Friday) so that tomorrow we can leave on time for the ball!!!!! We are super excited! Poor Abby wasn't feeling well yesterday or this morning. You could also pray for our van- there is some noise that could be something trivial, or something really bad, and so Dad is taking it in today. If it is the bad thing, then we can't fit all the people we were going to bring, (from several other families) and that would complicate matters alot. Anyway....so just to give you all an idea of what preparing for church in this household of 21 is like, here is what we do:

Dust all furniture, bookcases, bar, etc.
Organize all bookshelves
Clean all bathrooms
Clean out fridge
Sweep and organize pantry
Sweep, organize, and mop laundry room
Mop kitchen and hardwood floor (where needed on the latter)
Wipe all walls and baseboards for dirt
Clean all glass doors and where needed on front windows
Wash kitchen garbage cans
Set up lost and found
Bring down hymnals
Set up serving utensils
Wipe all counters super well
Declutter all downstairs
Clean and vacuum all bedrooms
Vacuum all carpeted areas downstairs
Set up plates, cups, and utensils
Make multiple gallons of iced tea
And anything else that needs doing! :)

The power went out mysteriously while I was writing this, but thank goodness that most of this was already saved! I have begun a new story. Shh...*ducks while Sarah throws something at my head* I promise I'll finish Riverly Manor, and then I shall publicly swear that I shall never write another mystery!!!!!!! :[ But even Sir Walter Scott worked on two books at a time! He set them up on stands, and paced around. Then, when he had an idea for one, he'd race over, pen it down, and set to pacing again. I'm not that bad! But I will not let you, (Sarah) read this till it is finished. Then I will deliver it to your lap in all the golden glory of a peace offering, and let you read it. Hmph! :) I can't help myself in a writing fit! All right. I had better get going! I can't wait to see all of you guys at the ball! (Meredith, Elliott, Oliver, Abigail, Shaina, Hannah, Leanna, Melissa, Micah, Beth-Nell...."allva" you guys! :) -Rachel

I Can See You! ;)

Hey guys! This is Rachel- recently I've been thinking about something. First of all, I think it is safe to say that I am a pretty observant young lady. Whenever I go somewhere, I spend half my time watching the people around me. My personality is definitely a people person, even though around strangers I am bashful to an irritating point. I know that I could carry on a perfectly intelligent conversation, but I can't ever think of how to begin. Okay. That is getting off on a rabbit trail. Anyway, I meant to say that although I am an obsevant person, I have never yet mastered the art of reading people's faces and eyes as everyone else seems to do in books:
" When she entered the room Cynthia sate by her dressing-table, just as she came up from the drawing-room. She had been leaning her head on her arms, and seemed almost to have forgotten the tryst she had made with Molly, for she looked up as if startled, and her face did seem full of worry and distress." -Wive and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
So, if I came into a room with a young lady sitting there, I would maybe perceive that she was surprised, but would I be able to term that it was full of "worry and distress"? And could I label what feelings were in someone's eyes, or notice when their color changed? I think now I can if I want to. For the past few weeks, Sarah and I have been making it a point to look people in the eyes when we speak to them, and to notice the emotions therein. (We don't do it all the time, but for fun sometimes) Also, I have been more closely observing the emotions in various people's faces. It is an amusing sport, and sharpens your wit and understanding. It is greatly amusing to me! And soon I'll get a prime opportunity to practice my newly gained prowess as a "people observer". ;) We are going to the ball, and I will get my fill of seeing crowds of people! ;) Not really though, I don't want anyone to think I'll be studying them. I just like to be able to label what I see if I want to! :) Anyway, it is an entertaining thing to think about and observe, and one that has been beneficial to me in understanding others' moods and emotions. It may sound boring, but it is actually fun! -Rachel

Dreams of Matrimony ;)

I love having dreams! Unfortunately, I don't have that many anymore, but when I do, they are certainly sure to be a doozy! Throughout my life my dreams have mostly centered around cougars, bears, kidnappers, or getting married. The last catagory is the most amusing. I dreamt the other night that one of my friends was getting married to a man named "Bob Parsons". This man came from England. His profession? A Partridger. Which, her father explained to me, is exactly what is sounds like: a man who kills partridges. Her father had objected to the marriage two years before, since he wasn't sure if one could make a living and support a family if he was only a "partridger". But I suppose dear Bob had shown himself faithful, and had bought Joanna a perfectly hideous ring. It took up half her hand and was made of huge purple flowers with gaudy false diamonds in swirls around the side. I found myself falsely praising it's beauty....hmmm.
Then there was that time years ago when I dreamed that I had to marry a young man who had allergies, and looked like Mr. Incredible's boss. Dad was forcing me to marry him, and then, on the wedding day, had me in tears because he wouldn't change out of his painting shirt and stop fixing Mama's bed that for some reason had fallen apart.
Another time I dreamt that I was on a really boring honeymoon in Hawaii where all we did was drive up and down hills covered in palm trees and hibiscus in a stuffy car while Mama and Dad followed a bit behind in a convertible. Strange huh? Well, this was rather a dull post, but I must go do Saturday chores to prepare for church! -Rachel

Dishes For My Hopechest!

Good grief! I wish I could think of a different way to begin a post than "Hey Guys!" But, that seems impossible. I'll try though....hmmmmm....

G'day Mates! (uh-uh.)

Salutations! (whatever.)

Anyway, this is Rachel, and I was just getting on here to write about how much I love thrift stores! The Lord blessed us extravagantly at the thrift-stores yesterday! At Salvation Army, Wednesdays are half-price day! Yay! We escaped from school-work to go to The Beach and shop! :) Anyway, among alot of clothes, I got a set of dishes for my hopechest! They are so sweet and pretty and just fit my vision for my future home so well! I want to decorate simply and with old-fashioned taste- lots of sunlight, flowers, and cool, calm colors... sort of the Tasha Tudor, New-England, country-Victorian feel. You know? Anyway, for only 30 dollars I got 7 bowls, 7 dessert plates, 7 dinner plates, a large platter, and a cream pitcher. Here are a couple of pictures!

These are a couple of the dishes! Aren't they sweet?

This is detail of the pattern on a plate! I just love them!

Now the only things I must gather to make it perfect are a blue and a green tablecloth! :) I can just imagine eating dinner with my family and washing up the dishes afterwards and thinking back to the day when I, as a 17 year old young lady had packed them away with so many glad hopes....!!! It is a very cozy thought! :) -Rachel

Geezers and Intoxication! (don't worry about us! We'll explain all!)

Hello! Wow! At this moment, I am extremely tired. We danced after church for a very long time, and had such fun! But it was in the heat of the day, (though not very hot heat ;) and I hardly drank anything the whole time, and I danced myself silly! :) How has everyone else's week been? This is not going to be a long post at all, but I think we've all had enough of the dance-partner-post! I am afraid I have unintentionally offended some people! I hope not, and I do apologize if anyone thought I was pointing fingers! I must tell you that when it falls my lot to "be a man" in a dance, then I am quite a mixture of the Whirligig and the Spunky Jovial! There is a lovely sunset outside, and the house is quiet, for most of the kids are in bed already (only 7:30) because of our full day. Oh! I know what I wanted this post to include! (I came on here with an intention, and forgot it! :P) Okay, here is a poem I wrote last year around this time:

"Spring Intoxication"

By, (Who else?) Me ;)

The sunshine beckoned winsomely,

The soft breeze drew me near-

The fleecy clouds across the sky

Betokened Spring was here.

The jonquils, blowing golden horns

Proclaimed the coming joys,

Of lazy, barefoot, springtime days

For little girls and boys.

My own heart echoed back the song

Of every budding tree,

Of every jeweled dew-drop note

The robins sang to me.

I'd half a mind to dash outside

And do- I'm not sure what,

But certainly I could not stay inside

With windows shut!

And so I ran out to the porch

And in a way, I danced-

Not in the normal way, you see,

But as the sunbeams glance.

My heart fair burst with sudden life

And hearkened to each song,

And so I penned this poem down

And joined the brimming throng.

Okay. And then, here are the rather droll words to a song that Shirley Temple and a man tap-dance to in "The Little Princess". It is rather a favorite ditty with us girls when we are in high spirits! (Now, if only we got the dancing down!)

"Last week down the alley came a toff,

Nice old geezer with an awful cough,

Sees my missus, takes his topper off

In a very gentlemanly way.

Chorus:

"What cheer! All the neighbors cry,

Who ya' gonna' meet Bill?

Have ya' bought the street Bill?

Laughed, oh! I thought I should have died,

Knocked `em in the old Kent road!"

Every evening at the stroke of five,

Me and the missus takes a little drive,

You'd say, `wonderful they're still alive'

If you saw that little donkey go!

When we go that blessed donkey stops

He won't move, so out I quickly lops,

Pals start whacking him and down he drops,

Someone said he wasn't made to go!

(chorus)"

So anyway, it is a nonsense song, and this is a pointless post, and so, between the two, I hope to give you amusement, and I had better get off here before I type something absolutely ridiculous and brainless! -Rachel

A Dissection of Dance Partners

Hello! Yesterday I was out with Daniel and Matthew doing lawns. We actually got 12 done, and didn't get home till 9:30, but that was okay! :) It was nice being back out there again. Now, this is a strange sort of subject to post about, but I was thinking about all the square or Civil War dances I have been to, whether impromtu, or scheduled, and of the different sort of partners one can have. Here is a list ala Rachel of the bad sort, and then the good sort.

Bad Sort of Partners To Dance With:

The Whirligig: These young men swing you and spin you as if they were intent on patenting you as some sort of armless doll. Dancing with one of these, you are in danger of breaking an ankle, or getting a compound fracture! :)

The Etymologist: These are the young men who hold your hand by the extreme tips of your fingers and barely move you throughout the dance. Instead, they stay very far away as if you were a strange species of tarantula that they didn't want to get too close to.

The Buzzard: These are the pale sort of young men who stand along a wall, and wait to see what sort of girl is left without a partner. They wait until the dance is beginning, then go pick a partner from the left-overs, and dance indifferently, then proceed to disappear immediately after the music stops. A very shady, backslidden young person.

The Officious Dancer: This is a young man who thinks he can dance, has too much confidence in his own grace, and asks you to dance with promising gallantry. Then, he proceeds to push you around like a vacuum cleaner and step on your skirt, or he forgets which hand is left, and which is right.

The Patronizer: This sort of partner is abominable. He is vain about how he can dance, and makes an elaborate bow when beginning the dance. But when he asks you for a dance, his manner is full of patronization and pity for the fact that you haven't been asked yet. Then, he proceeds to watch you dance with a sort of indulgent smile. Ew!!!

Now, for the good sort of dancers:

The Gallant: These young men go around rescuing obscure girls from the embarassment of having to sit out a dance, due to not knowing many people there. These gallants care little for whether they know the young lady or not, and make sure that every one of them has a good time.

The Accomplished: These are the partners who come up to you, ask you in a cordial way for a dance, lead you to the circle, and proceed to carry on a comfortable stream of conversation while leading you through a very intricate series of steps, with all ease. A priceless find.

The Correct: These young men do everything according to dance-ettiquette. They ask you in a manner quite polite, they dance with you in a manner quite correct, and they return you after the dance with all due gratefulness for standing up with them. If these young men do lack a bit of spunk, they are good and dancing and that is why we have next:

The Spunky Jovial: These young men are acceptable dancers. What they lack in correctness, they make up for in the spirit in which they dance. You cannot dance with a "Spunky Jovial" without laughing. This sort of partner, if he does miss a step, merely laughs at himself, and continues on, little bothered. This sort is also usually good at sashaying in time to the music, which is priceless indeed!

There you have it! What do you think? Daniel is the Spunky Jovial, and Matthew is either the Gallant or the Correct, with a bit of spunk.

Riverly Manor and a half-dozen other titles

Hey guys! I thought that I'd show you guys two things today: first, how many books I've started writing, and the ones that I've finished. Then, I'll show you my story line for the mystery that plagues my life out! The problem I have found is this: it is a good story, and a good mystery- not even I can figure it out. And that is the problem! :)

Books I have begun writing:

"Buttercup Promise"
"Tidbits"
"The McBride Story"
"Miss Pemberthy"
"The Treasure of Riverly Manor"
"Forgetmenots"
"Ruby's Journey West"
and several more

Books I have finished:
A Mother For The Seasonings
"The Ella and Cornelia Story"
"The Harrison Happenings"
Bramblewood Hedge series (The Twinkletoes' Harvest, Mr. Mocker's Picnic, etc.)

Now, here is the storyline for "The Treasure of Riverly Manor"
Lindsey Riverly is 15 years old during the Great Depression. She has lived with her widower-father, and her younger brother Thomas in a small yellow house ever since she can remember. But when her grandfather dies and leaves the independent family estate of Riverly Manor to Lindsey's father, the family has to move. Lindsey finds it difficult to adjust to her new position of Mistress at Riverly Manor, and all the lesson her Great Aunt Henrietta insists on giving her. But despite the fact that there is a Riverly Family fortune, the family is struggling financially. The reason? The fortune is hidden, including the map of a hidden oil field. It begins looking as if Mr. Riverly will have to sell the manor. Lindsey and Tom find a secret passage in the house, and go down it. When they emerge, they are quite lost, and do not even know if they are still on the Manor's 2,000 acre grounds. They find a cabin and an old black man who was the best friend of their grandfather, without any legs. He tells them clues to the treasure and they make their way home. But a strange man, Drew Baxter is pressing their father to let him buy Riverly manor. Lindsey distrusts the man deeply, and begs her father to wait a month, and help them find the treasure. He agrees, and the threesome begin working together to follow to clues. The guest, Mr. Drew Baxter is residing in a cottage on the grounds, and when Lindsey goes there to clean it up a bit, she finds a letter with a mysterious message in it. Then Tom disappears, and Lindsey finds him chloroformed in the attic, and the paper with the clues missing. Tom recovers, but can't remember what had happened to him. Lindsey suspects Drew Baxter, (who is an agent for a German war mastermind posing as a oil-hungry man posing as a buyer for Riverly Manor) and finds a file of correspondence that proves he is acting falsely. But Mr. Baxter has disappeared. The Riverly family goes on a chase that crosses three states, and ends back at the Manor, where it is a race to see who finds the treasure first......and I haven't decided who finds it! :)

Sound interesting? Do you think I should finish it? Well, I gotta go! -Rachel

I Can't Even Imagine

I rediscovered how much I love journals today! I was writing in my journal and then flipped back through some of the pages from last year. I was struck over and over by how God has worked in my life, and changed me! (Not just last year, but continually!) Sometimes we can get bogged down in our trials and can't see the forest for the trees. I know that at times, I think: "I am no farther along in His kingdom than I was as a 12 year old!" and yet, in my journal is proof of His mighty hand in my personal life. He was wrought great changes in my life, He has tried the mettle of my heart, and helped me stay faithful to Him, He has blessed me again and again by working things out when I thought that surely it was the end of the world! ;) He is so great!
I was impressed once again to remember that I am merely a player in the best drama in history! And that being said, all will be worked out impressively and perfectly if I could remember to just act the part written for me to play! When I try to improvise....it doesn't work! I have a whole guide-book; a letter written to me to tell me how to walk through this life, and it reminds me constantly that I must trust to the Master to craft my story!



(Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.")

(Psalm 37:5-6 "Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.")

Those are just a couple of the verses that show me over and over, time and again that the One in whom I place my trust is the only One worth having! I will commit my way to Him, and He shall continue to put into place His plan. I'll keep on journaling, and who knows what my God may have done in my life by this time next year? Or the next? Certainly, in my wildest imaginations, I shan't be able to guess how marvelous it really will be! -Rachel

When Once I Catch The All-Illusive "Someday"

I thought that I (Rachel) would do a post about something that is not about our daily life. So, to entertain you, I thought that I'd tell you some of the traditions I am going to start, or continue with my family, once I am married. (Of course, if my husband agrees! :)

Name each and every house I live in- There is something so very quaint in naming houses! Who can resist being intrigued by the name "Gusty Gables" or "Brookdale" or "Allencroft"? So, each house I live in will have a name, and I shall refer to it by that name when speaking of home. We have not yet named our land or house. But I am determined to do it with my own someday. Old-fashioned? Yes. But I am an old-fashioned person!

Make sugar cookies for each season- Mama has instilled in us a great love for the many times we have made fall, spring, summer, or Christmas sugar cookies. We have so many cookie-cutters in every imaginable shape!

Read to my children- I greatly look forward to reading real books to my children! I can just imagine us all sitting by the fireside, several rosy children at my feet and a deliciously fat baby in my lap as I read them "The Little Princess" or "The Hobbit" or tell them a story I have made up! I am convinced that children will learn to listen to and enjoy whatever you read to them, as long as it is made interesting by changing your voice for each character, etc. I read Gracie (3 years old) chapter books all the time!

Sing all the time- This shouldn't be hard. I always do it naturally, but I want to teach my children to do it also!

Have frequent tea-times, and always have something in the pantry to have with the tea!- This shouldn't be hard either! I have lots of china I have collected!

Taking walks, and having picnics spontaneously- Is it really that stressful and difficult to throw the lunch in a basket and run out into the sunshine? I think not!

So anyway! These are just ideas I have had over the last year or two! Hope somebody enjoys reading about them! -Rachel

Revealing a Springtime Masterpiece! ;)

Hey guys! How are you this morning? I am well. I finally shook off this horrid cold I had had for a long time. I think it might have been allergies. Which leads me to the next part of this post. Ahem-ahem-ahem, it is my pleasure and amusement to present a slapped-together work entitled: "It Is In The Air" So without further ado....

"It is in The Air"

By Me

This is that special time of year

When people far and people near

Will feel quite calm and free of care

And say that "Love is in the air".

"Love", I think, there may well be,

But it has passed quite over me!

Love never makes her stricken wheeze,

And mine keeps comp'ny with a sneeze!

My nose is stuffed, my eyes are red,

If I cough more I'll lose my head!

If "Love" is there, it's surely stallin'

But in its place is nasty pollen!

Okay. So maybe slightly cheesy, but it amused me! :) I wrote it for our Girls' Gazette.

So, for a quick update on my authoring...the test families have almost all read my book and answered my questions. As soon as that is done, I shall make corrections, and then look for a publisher! I'm really excited about how the Lord is bringing this together, but I would appreciate your prayer concerning where to get my book published. I know self-publishing is an option but you have to front the money for that, whereas in traditional publishing, they pay you. You know? I also have a vision to publish it in a Christian company, and one that publishes books of good report. No sappy romance novels for me thankyou! :)

Most of you know that my vision for writing is not to become famous. (Not like I think I would or anything!) I am not doing this for a "career" or for my own glory. I have a vision to write books for families and girls that are wholesome, pure-hearted, written from a Biblical world-view, but are also amusing. The Elsie Dinsmore books didn't quite cut it for me as a youngun' because I was constantly feeling irritated by her refusal to say she didn't scribble in the book, because it would be tattling or something equally...excessive. (The stories were okay though)

Okay. So just a rambling writing post! Gotta go do the dishes! -Rach

I Associate With Miss Righty

Hullo Everybody! How are you all? We are well...sort of. We aren't sure if we can host church this week because some of the younger ones fell prey to a sort of fever/cough thing yesterday. But it is too early to tell if we shall be well by then. I hope so! I love hosting church! So, how is everyone loving this weather? I do pity you poor Northerners (Yankees ;) who still have snow! I am sitting in the office typing this with the door wide open. Yesterday we planted our spring garden! Yay! Glad to have that over with! Oh! Do you remember that camp we went to in the fall? Well, yesterday we got the D.V.D. from the week! (Actually 3!) It is alot of fun to watch everything we did all over again!
So. I just finished a full day of school-work and working as office manager. I had quite an "officy job" today too: auditing contracts. Yep. So for anyone who is wondering, here is how it goes: I go through each contract and total the man hours, then the amount of each material we used, (mulch, plants, herbicides and pesticides, fertilizers, seed, etc.) and total each of those things up. Then I leave it for Dad, who will show me (or do it himself) how to check the contract and see if we are making a good profit, and then we will adjust accordingly, print off a new contract, and then we are back in business!
(Mama just came back from sending my books off to test families!) Sorry you guys, we've been really busy!
I have been given something rather in the spirit of a death-sentence. I suppose none of you have ever felt the sinking feeling when a judge tells you that you have 24 hours to live? Neither have I. But...I have been told, by my teacher, my principle, my head, that I must... *quivering lips* finish the last 3 booklets of my algebra by June 11. AAAAAAAHHH!!! I'm panicking! (Just kidding. It isn't that bad. I do promise to dance a jig on its head when I am done!) I will be so heartily glad to be done with that most vile, evil, sorry excuse for academics! ;)
I told Daniel recently, that all my everything goes into the right side of my brain. I can easily imagine what the poor left side of my brain must look like.....the right side is swollen to a very strange proportion, squashing poor little leftie. The left side is shrivelled and dry like an old leaf, or a rotten pecan.... but if Mr. Lefty would be as pleasant and easy-going and interesting as the cosmopolitan Miss Righty, than, I'd pay him mind too. But Mr. Lefty insists on picking crumbs of dusty, ancient, dull, hideously tangled subjects to satisfy his miserable existance, and I leave him alone when at all possible. In fact, I think that it is probably a good thing that I do some math and science, for otherwise, I would have to go around with earplugs in, lest some well meaning person ask me what 2x2 is; for then, shrivelled, old Mr. Lefty would suddenly swell, and send out a very quick answer (like a person being awakened in church) and then I'd say, "2x2 is 5!" very loudly and blush a very deep shade of red. Oh well.
Left-brained things are not my forte. Why is it that people are always considered clever when they can do things easily like 7 digit math problems in their heads, and know off the cuff what the Cel. version of the temperature in Farhenheit is? I'm afraid not many people care how quickly I can make a pretty good poem about the awfullness of algebra.! ;)
But all's well that ends well, and, as someone said, (I can't remember who! :) in answer to a different question (but it can be applied nicely) "There's somes as is and somes as isn't!"

-Rachel

P.S. Just to let those of you who are interested know, we have named the goat kids!!!
The girl is Lizzie (after you-know-who) and the boy is Chocolate Chip (Chip for short:)
I felt sorry for those poor little animals goin' around for a week without a name to their person ;).
-Sarah

A Poem In Sympathy With Other Gardeners

"Made Up While Planting The Garden"

By Rachel

Oh I'm marking out the rows

With my heels and with my toes,

It'll be a garden of prodigious size,

But I must forget I'm treading

In manure Dad's been spreading,

For I'm stamping down and squishing old cow pies.

Oh it's good for its nutrition,

I've no doubt of that position,

But the mucky brown just doesn't smell like dirt,

So I try to think of seeds,

But I just envision weeds,

And I breathe with nose quite under my own shirt.

Oh they call it "Garden Gold"

"Your increase is double-fold!"

And a host of other dubious things beside,

But I still am stomping here,

With aroma rather queer,

And if I said "I love it!", I'd have lied!

Yet Another Tag. Ho-hum-bon-hommy

Hi Everybody! This is Rachel. I must be well-loved or something....this is like my 5th time being tagged with the same tag, so...even though everyone is probably tired of reading about books we'd love to live in, I must do my duty to Shaina, Hannah, Sarah, Graham, and Matthew, and do it! Here goes nothing!

Eight Books I'd Love To Live In:

1.Little Women

2.Anne of Green Gables

3.The Scarlet Pimpernel (Well. If I knew I wasn't in any danger. I'd stay home with Lady Blakeney and enjoy fancy parties! :)

4. Farmer Boy

5. To Have and To Hold (Scoot over Lady Jocelyn! Capt. Percy is MINE! ;) (He is an impeccably godly gentleman. A rarity these days! Excusing Daniel and Matthew and a select few others)

6. Hind's Feet On The High Places (Wouldn't we all love to go on a journey with the King Of Love?)

7. Pride and Prejudice (Though I'd be scared I'd be snubbed by Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley's sisters!)

8. Winnie-the-pooh (A.A. Milne was brilliant! Those books are so funny!!)

On anothher note, I am beginning to think I am rather a heartless wretch- I am reading "The Wide, Wide, World" which I have heard from everyone is heartbreakingly sad, and so far, half-way through the book, I am rather amused than sorrowful! Oh well. -Rachel