Where The Orange Blossoms Grow....

Hello! Welcome to the Stricklen's blog. We hope to keep our family and friends up to date with what is going on with our family. You will find a variety of experiences posted here -- you may find pictures of the never ending project of building our house, Callie helping William with his first steps, Mary studying a rare insect species, or perhaps you may be terribly bored with Molly's numerous fruit trees, berries, vegetables and rare plant pictures! Who knows what we may find Chris and CJ doing -- probably something having to do with a tractor or machine of sorts. Abby and Margaret will keep us entertained with costumes from other lands or a fairy story. Whatever we post, we trust it will lift your spirits and bring honor and glory to our Lord!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

A Pleasant Saturday



YUM! Daddy cooked breakfast on the grill!
OK, well that didn't last long!:)
Little Hambone!
Abby, Willie, and I went out to the grove to see if we could find some ripe lemons for lemonade:) Wildflower Art:) Our "Orange Grove Morning Glories"
I'm not sure what they really are:) Ummm...well, I don't know any more than you do! I guess it's a...tree?....With vines growing all over it???... A pretty vine
Old, but still used grove equipment
YAY!!! We sucessfully found a lomon tree bearing lemons!A beautiful, slightly wild lemon!:):):)
Me and the lemons:)
A hot, sweaty Florida Boy!

(To the rythm or tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb")

"Mary had an enemy, and enemy, an enemy,

Mary had an enemy,

His thorns were hard and green

He lives amongst the orange groves, orange groves, orange groves,

He lives amongst the orange groves,

His heart is cruel and mean


Through the grass would Mary run, Mary run, Mary run,

Through the grass would Mary run,


Her feet were always bare.


Everywhere that Mary went, Mary went, Mary went,

Everywhere that Mary went,

A sticker would be there."

A dumb poem by me:)A pretty picture by Abby



AAAhhh! We're being attacked by two soaking wet hoodlums!!!CJ found a friend--He named it George:):):) Florida just ain't Florida without Palmettoes!



Posted by Mary Noelle

Monday, September 1, 2008

Three Summer Babies

I have begun a new tradition with my 4 daughters. I have begun taking the birthday girl out to a tea room of her choice on her birthday. Then we go to antique shops and find a special gift for her! Each one has enjoyed it so much - as have I. It has been a special time to get to know one another better and spend special time together. I was blessed to have 3 of my 4 daughters in the heat of the summer :) My favorite time of year! So we had one wonderful outing after another! Starting with Abigail Evangeline turning 12 on July 8. We will begin there....


Abigail was born on a hot July day in 1996 - She was 8 lb. 1 oz.
Absolutely beautiful!
Here she is at 1 week 2 and a half months
Mary almost 3 years ~ Abby 2 mos. ~ Callie 5 years

Abby at 6 mos. ~ What a personality!

At the Tea Room
Abigail at 12 years!
Little Wills had to tag along
Abby loves the Lord with all her heart!


Some of the lovely china

Caroline Susannah was born one hot, sunny day on July 23, 1991. Our first baby. She was 6 lbs. 14 oz. and 21 in. long. Callie and I celebrated her 17th birthday at the Lavender -n- Lace Tea Room in Lake Alfred. We had a lovely time together! Where has all the time gone?? She has grown into such a precious and godly young woman.

Spunky little Callie at 3 days
The Stricklen Family ~ Callie 1 week

Callie at 2 months



~ Callie at 9 mos. ~




At the Tea Room


Little Wills again - Learning to be a gentleman and well behaved!


Callie Sue at 17 years
On yet another HOT summer day in August of 1999, Margaret Anne Stricklen was born! All 7 pounds of her :) And so we celebrated yet again at (can you guess?) Yes! The Lavender -n- Lace Tea Room!! What fun! I treasure these sweet times with my daughters. How blessed I am!




Margaret 1 day old - 7 pounds
Margaret at 1 week




Mommy with Deeda at 4 mos.

Margaret at 6 mos.

At the Tea Room - Poor Wills

~ We had the greatest time together ~

Margaret is such a pleasure to be with because her heart

is committed to Christ.

My big 9 year old!

Little rascal brother - they were looking at butterflys together

Any one who knows Margaret knows the kind of things

she would pick out for her gift. A basket of "real looking" strawberries and 6 "real looking" eggs and a nest to boot! All for her kitchen in the playroom.

I praise the Lord for these precious young ladies God has entrusted us with. I pray by God's grace Chris and I will train them to be the virtuous women He intends them to be.

Posted by: Mama