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

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

Old Flowers:)

About to bloom
A Beautiful display of God's Creation!

About 4 or 5 years ago Mama gave Matthew, Daniel and I some bulbs to plant, so we made a little flower bed, and planted our treasured bulbs:) Much to our dismay, they never came up:( But the other day I discovered that finally, after 5 years, bunches of little lilies were popping up in the little bed where we planted them! Waahh!!! I miss my little buddies:) But still, I was happy to see our little bulbs come up!

In Christ,

Mary Noelle

Mister Pickles Has Relatives!!!

Well, you've all met Mr. Pickles. Now here are some of his friendly, but not quite as famous relatives. Enjoy!!!!

Whiny Watermelon
Ummm...Happy Watermelon":)
Blind "Canteloupe" Lincoln
Willie The Kid:)
If it wasn't late, I'd take more time to put something that might actually make you laugh, but I'm outta time:)

Mary