Celebrations

We celebrate at the drop of a hat. A 50th birthday and 25th wedding anniversary. Now that deserves a party.

Five years' growth

Our midwife noted the difference in the landscape, remembering when she came weekly to our house during my pregnancy with our forth son. So I pulled out a photo then (2010) and took one now from the same spot (2015). A mulberry tree is now in the foreground.

Winter rye

Our Mom is eccentric--that is a nice word for weird. She told us that we did not need to buy her a Christmas gift; she had ordered it herself and it was being delivered. What could it be?

Huh?! Top soil for the front yard?

And our gift to her? Spreading the top soil and sowing it with winter rye. Awww, Mom, can't we just go shopping?!

We feel we must serve notice to our future wives that if we are socially crippled when it comes to showing our love through gifts of romance or beauty, we have only our mother to blame.

But look, it did become a gift of beauty! A magnificent transformation made possible by the tremendous energy contained in the humble rye seed ignited by water and sunlight. Thank you to the Kiker boys in partnership with God's green earth for this most brilliant gift. Mom loves it.

It's like a green shag rug for your yard...haut retro style out here in the backwoods.

Pole barn progress

Framing is progressing, thanks to Grandpa Kiker, the grand master of the pole barn.

Pole barn

We're starting a pole barn to house the 1941 Packard that is coming down from Uncle Cliff in North Carolina. Everyone at the Alachua County Office of Codes Enforcement remembered me, still with two boys in tow only now it's Joe and Sam instead of Nate and Ned.

Mr Jones passed away several years ago, so we hired one of his colleagues, Naaman Webb, to do the pour. He's done a great job, we passed our first inspection, and plan to begin framing soon. The delivery of a dump truck filled with 18 yards of Archer yellow sand fill inspired days of outdoor play.

Butterfly Flowers

The plant by the outdoor shower provides food all summer long for humming birds and zebra butterflies. We enjoy showering in the midst of frenzied feeders fluttering by. The hummingbirds sound like tiny torpedoes zooming past, and their territorial high-pitched chirping warns others, "I found it first...back off!" Then they find the roses, aloes, and feeders and relax a bit. There is enough for everyone!

Spring 2015

Agapanthus and day lilies color our spring surrounds as we celebrate six years in residence on our land. Last week we tasted the first peach and now await eagerly the plum harvest. The Kiker family has been blessed beyond measure to enjoy this home, rich with love and laughter and Florida sunshine.

In the spirit of AA Milne, "Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them along the way, in that enchanted place at Long Leaf, four boys will always be playing."