Peaches!

 

Maine 4-H Days

 Certainly a highlight of our summer!  I had a full day of teaching. Adrian took screen printing and bike repair.  Audra took rabbits, search & rescue and marine touch tank.  Anna-Kate took Underground creepy crawlies, storytellers and marine touch tank.  Highlight for me was leading some camp songs.  Such an awesome event for all. 

Leaf Mulcher

 We drove by something that looked interesting and I said "WHAT's THAT?"  Everyone said, "NO MOM and my husband kept driving.  But on the way back, I said, "Can you just let me look, please?" My husband begrudgingly stopped.  Then I saw the sign FREE LEAF MULCHER.  "This beast is coming home with us", I said.  They all rolled their eyes.  BUT it works marvelously!  These leaves were given to me and I had planned to use them as mulch.  But, you know, life. 

Adrian had a genius idea of set up. Shredded the leaves, soaked in water.  I pulled my garlic from this patch and did some succession planting. I definitely wanted it mulched before we went away on vacation.  DONE.  Well, that spot and a few others.  This is going to be a handy help around the homestead. 

Thrifted.

 I popped into two thrift stores yesterday, spent $15 and change total. And that money went to the food bank and cat rescue. This is likely hundreds of dollars of stuff if new.  

Dog dice (we love this game, having a 2nd means more than 4 people can play. 
Fridge organizer with lid.

Pie scooper. 
Story cubes x3 (SLP dream!)

Eddie Bauer flannel lined pants

Lee Jeans

Big glass pitcher (for lemonade!)

Another game of Headbandz (hoping for enough of the blue headbands for our whole 4H club)

Finger paint ink pad

Vase

Shelf (in background) for the pantry. 
BOGS for AK. 
Shoes for a buck a piece: BOGS, LL Bean, Nike, Under Armor, Reef, Rafters. All expensive shoes! 

Storm Catching

 My husband was not feeling stellar, but I insisted he go outside because a storm was brewing. He LOVES watching storms come in and we have the very best backyard to watch. 

Childhood of Books 2023-2024

For the last 5 years, I've been keeping track of our annual family chapter book read alouds.  Here are the last four years: 



2022-2023

 2021-22

2020-21

2019-20

2023-2024:

Adrian's Favorites were Moonshiner's Son, Grandpa's Mountain, The Haymeadow and The Home Ranch.

Audra's Favorites were: Incident at Hawk's Hill, Henry Reed series, Lad: A Dog and Our Own May Amelia. 

Anna-Kate loved Mr. Popper's Penguins, Blue Willow, Tumtum and Nutmeg and Andre.  She also had remorse that she didn't include Trumpet of the Swan, so we'll add that for honorable mention. 

My favorites were The Fastest Hound Dog in the State of Maine, Onion John, Fields of Home and Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare for Children. 

Read to them even though they can read on their own, you won't regret it. I promise. 

Summer Afternoons

 

Summer afternoons for this girl: Books. Games. Snacks. AC.  She knows how to live life.