A number of very sweet friends and family gifted us with cash over our wedding, and we’ve been very intentional about using it.

Part of it went into a landscaping project around the house. (A “Boone Proof” landscaping project that’s still underway a.k.a. no pictures)

Some of it went into Ben’s “Trump sized fence” around the garden. Other than one very bad Boone who skinnied himself under the fence and destroyed all the mulching I’d done (😭🧐) so far it’s successfully kept the garden free from hungry varmints.

The garden shortly after it’s borders were secured.

But we still had some cash left in the kitty.

“What if we’d buy an ice cream freezer? Everybody loves ice cream.” I had visions of summer evenings at Glen Oaks, friends leisurely savoring homemade ice cream around a campfire…

Ben is not one to stand in the way of homemade ice cream, so I immediately started researching to figure out what the best ice cream maker is and where to buy it.

Apparently the traditional White Mountain Freezers are no more and there’s a new company thats insulated poly tub has everyone raving. “But be prepared to spend $600” cautioned the Bagger.

Gulp

So I went to PA with a Brinks truck hoping to find a bargain.

But alas, not only did I not find a bargain- I received the sad new that the Immergood shipping container got damaged at sea or something and there was none to be found in the land.

After much research which resulted in many reports (after all it will be half Ben’s investment too), I finally asked my long suffering husband if he was ready for me to panic about something else. (You can guess what he said.)

So I let the quest drop for awhile.

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The lovely people of Singers Glen randomly will post “FREE” signs beside whatever junk they want rid of and imagine my delight when yesterday’s discovery was nothing other than a WalMart ice cream freezer still in the box.

I rushed to Mothers and stood with bated breath while we plugged it in. It actually ran! A little rough-but maybe that’s how the lesser brands sound 🤷🏻‍♀️ “Never look a gift horse in the mouth” I reminded me.

We picked black raspberries at my sister-in-laws and so it didn’t take long to throw together a batch of custard, retrieve the ice and salt and stand by for magic. Black Raspberry ice cream.

We filled the canister and added a handful of ice. Aaaaaand:

Long story short, here I am with my freebie motor in pieces, while Mother’s faithful White Mountain takes over the project. 😭

Mine ran for about a half of a second.

There’s probably a lot of wisdom in “never looking a gift horse in the mouth.” But I opened his mouth up wide and unfortunately, I didn’t see any ice cream.

Oh well, y’all can still come visit- but the ice cream’s going to have to come from the store. 😂

Thankful that the gifts our Heavenly Father gives so freely last longer than a half of a second ❤️

Kendra

Bonus Pics:

“Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.” 💙💙

Aunt Em gave the boys hats for their half birthday. Uriah put his on and headed out. “Where are you going?” Julia asked

“The stock sale” he replied confidently 😂🤠

Our favorite Dr Miller is retiring. He’s been our vet since we started dairying in ‘99. Mother always brought food to the barn on herdcheck day, so it was super special to be included on his last herdcheck lunch. I haven’t been involved with the dairy for 8 years now 🤯 but his patient kindness to us girls as we learned to run a dairy will be long remembered.

And lastly- if you ever want a bunch of animated stories- ask Em about noodling. It’s hard for me to imagine great joy in the art of going underwater to stick your arm into a catfish box; said catfish biting the intruder with all its might and then arm wrestling the fish to the surface long enough to get a measurement and a few pics.

But the way her eyes sparkle when she talks-there must be. And I do looooove her fried catfish poboy sandwiches.

Anyhow, she had a trip lined up, but thru a bunch of random reasons, everyone that was scheduled to go with her couldn’t make it.

So my sweet dad- who doesn’t fish, and doesn’t swim, rose to the challenge and spent most of the day on the water with her and her guide.

And now if you ask him about noodling, his eyes sparkle and his stories are almost as animated as Em’s are ❤️ I love them

June 2 found me thrift shopping in Southern PA with a group of ladies.

I love browsing the multitude of little Mennonite consignment shops in the area, but this time I was in a predicament- everywhere I went I found the cutest little girl dresses. But who needs little girl dresses 🤷🏻‍♀️

Eventually I just couldn’t resist when two little dresses hopped into my shopping cart. Oh well, somebody will need them.

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I was back home dropping off my passengers when my phone rang. It was Deborah

“Kendra! We have a little girl. Maria Joy”

And this is the part of the story that we’ll skip because nobody wants to read about Aunt Ken’s tears of joy.

Nate’s mom is Rose Marie and Mother’s name is obviously Joyce so Miss M’s name is a cute nod to both Grandma’s.

Deb and Maria in look-a-likes whipped out by Aunt Jul.

Mother and Em headed south the middle of last week, and at long last, Father and I left to join them. (Bless Ben for covering things on the home front)

Our visit was chock full of quality time. We browsed We Cares Thrift Store (notice the crocs on the wrong feet by the independent toddler)

We spent some time at a gigantic blueberry patch. Miss M wasn’t much help, but Grammy thought it was possibly the most fun she’d ever had.

Alexander kept us in stitches the entire visit. I loved watching his little brain work. The dishwasher needed replaced, so it got taken outside en route to the dumpster and next thing I knew Alexander shot past driving one of the racks. 😂

The lawnmower is the most exciting thing on his radar. So when he had the option of a ride with Grandfather, he grabbed his headphones and was out the door.

Headphones, alligator shirt, and “cheeeeese” photobombing his sisters Photoshoot.. The past few days went way too fast.

Maria means “beloved”

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:20-21

Praying this for you. Love you, baby girl

Aunt Ken