We had Annie Oakley, a last minute change to a ballerina and Jimmy the Milkman.
Happy Halloween 2021
Anna-Kate is 4 and a HALF
You are four and a HALF! And goodness, you don't let us forget. You remind us you are now big because you are a four and a HALF. You reminded us alllll day long that it was your half birthday on your half birthday and everyone should do as you please because it was your special day. You would love nothing more than being the boss of this house, and you tell us that is your lifelong goal.
You never, ever, ever, ever stop talking. Your hands need to be busy every second. If you have nothing to fiddle with, you fiddle with your hair. You like to be busy every second.
Your busy, however, is very focused and mature. You could spend hours looking at books, cutting things out with scissors, building things, creating things, arranging tiny pieces. Everything is interesting to you and you can entertain yourself quite well when provided with just about anything that's a manipulative.
You have so many cute little sayings. Gloves aren't glubs anymore, but we still have things like katennas (for antennas), underbrella (for umbrella), broth for bra and so many more I can't think of at the moment.
When outside, you're not a fan of bikes or balls. You would prefer to collect eggs (checking every few minutes for a new one), tote the rooster around, boss the dogs around, forage for food or garden. You also do quite a bit of singing to yourself. Did I mention you are never quiet? Never ever.
You bring so much joy to our family, we are so thankful for you, Anna-Kate.
Love you bunches,
Mama
Funfetti cake topped with frosting and sprinkles for our colorful girl.
October Homesteader in Maine
Pulled a couple quarts off the Raspberries...hard to believe October 28th and I'm still pulling raspberries.
My raspberry faced helper...
With a tutu, naturally.
The best dinner for a homesteader who is spending every bit of time outdoors working? Fresh picked fruit, our own eggs, homemade bread (thank you freezer) and homemade jam (popped open that mason jar).
Nor' Easter
Who wants to get out? Tide coming in, waves crashing. So windy and a momentary brief break in the rain. Only this fearless one wanted to get out.
The rest of us were content to watch safely from inside the van with our books.
October
Right now we are experiencing less than pleasant weather with a Nor' Easter....makes our October picnic days feel like forever ago. Glad we took advantage of so many nice days in October.
Today will not be a picnic day, but we will curl up by the fire for some books, which is pretty fantastic too.New Barn Roof
Here it is raining buckets in Maine and it is NOT RAINING IN OUR BARN NOW. I cannot even begin to tell you what a relief that is!
7:30 am
Problems
Of course my kids needed to 'help'. They were so kind, letting them be involved.
Solutions
Adrian painted this for them.
Frost is coming
Sill working on making lemonade out of lemons...unfortunately today shot me more lemons than lemonades. Perhaps tomorrow will be my reset?
Until then, I am finding a few gems so my memories of today are sweeter.
1) Frost is coming. I brought in a TON of flowers.
2) I also picked what is likely my last quart and a half of raspberries. Plus there are bowls upon bowls upon bowls of tomatoes. And more basil than we would probably eat in a decade. But it's in.
3) The October afternoon sun is delightful.Reset
Lost and Found
When we bought this house, it had a cast iron dinner bell outside. It was taken off when we did some replacements of rotted parts of our mudroom years ago. Ever since, I have not been able to find it. I looked in the barn, garage, cellar way, cellar. No one remembered moving it. No one knew where it went. I honestly had assumed it was accidentally thrown away. Today I just so happened to move a piece of wood in the woodshed and lo and behold, I found it!!! I am over the moon!!! I cleaned it up and am planning a fresh coat of paint. It was a bit more of a search, but I also found the cast iron stick to ding it with (not picture). All was located and is ready to use.
The turning up of the dinner bell came at a time when my self doubting was rambling on. It made me stop in my tracks and turn the tide. The dinner bell is a story of hope. Something I had lost was to be found. Something missing was located. The problem worked itself out. It was right here, all these years under my nose. Certainly not the timeline I expected, but it all worked out in the end.
Sometimes the day to day overwhelms. Planting one seed at a time, awaiting the harvest is tiring work that requires patience. I have faith the harvest will be grand. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galations 6:9).
Book buddies
On one of the last warm days, I found little Miss Anna-Kate enjoying a good book with her fave book buddy.
Getaway last day
Our last day of adventure had clear sky and nice weather. A beautiful fall day.
Once we got back to camp, my husband took the kids to the water for an hour and a half. I read on the porch. A perfect afternoon.