Fryeburg Fair 2014

Here's last year. Some of those pictures make me melt. Ah, memory lane.

And this year.  We were sneaky. Got them to nap (which was neeeeeded), drove the 1.5 hours to get there.  They woke up at the fair. Happy and excited, yes.  However, when Adrian gets really excited, he get so serious. It was rainy, which means there were not too many people there (which is what I prefer.). We wandered around the animal barns (cows for him, sheep for her, tractors for all) until sunset and then walked through the midway area.  I invite you to come along, there's always something to see at the county fair.

 

Apple Bread (And pics of my helpers)

Adrian announced his plans for the day were to make apple bread. So...why not? And then I thought I had never blogged apple bread. It's adapted from my Aunt Di's recipe. Mmm...it's good.  (Please excuse the too bright lighting. We couldn't wait for better light to dig in).

 Apple Cake

2/3 cup oil
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch nutmeg
1 1/2 c flour
2 c. peeled/diced apples

Combine oil, eggs, sugar, vanilla. Add baking soda, salt, cinn., nutmeg, flour. Fold in apples. Pour into a greased loaf plan. Bake at 350 for 60-65 min.


Have I ever shared these?  These are knives that are kid safe, that really do cut! I'm not a super fan of having plastic anything, but I am glad I purchased these.

They make it so that when my kids are helpful, their helpfulness really does help.

 Only problem? The bread went *just like that*. Should have made two loaves. That's okay, my helpers are willing to give it another whirl. It's that good, I promise.

A Good Barter

 

I sent a message to my friend Staci, from http://www.cobblehillfarmapothecary.com/ , to purchase some soap. She asked if I'd be willing to barter instead. She had these towels she was crushing on and wondered if I could make them for her.

I don't know much about soap making, but I know my way around a sewing machine. And Staci?  She's amazing at this soap making thing. 

I'd say a great barter. (Thanks Staci!).  Make sure to check her out. Her blog, her soap, her delicious treats.  You'll be happy you stopped by, I promise. http://www.cobblehillfarmapothecary.com/

 

 

 

 

Thrifted.

 

Thrifted.
 Another flip top jar (I love these things....we never lose the lids!). Five miniature wooden bowls. An array of mini garden tools (perfect for our secret garden!) and toes from this little guy who is pretty excited about the scores.  $6.00

 More linens and more napkins. For whatever mood strikes me at the moment. Do I need these? Nope. But, for $5.00, why not?

 And these...brand new handmades. Love love love.

 Even a little tag in there.  $4.50 for the three.

 Word to the wise, don't put them on a tiny noggin that just woke up from a nap.

 She'll like it, eventually.

 He loves his.

 I just love texture paired with a sweet face.

 And the sweater? 

 What's not to love?

 Oh, this mama is having a bit too much fun playing dress up.

Gardening 2014: Take 6

Gardening 2014
Take One here.  

Take two.

Take three.

Take four.

 

Take five.

 

 

 

Oh Garden. You're all brown now. Early frost, I wasn't prepared. Just some brussel sprouts, cabbage, parsnips, collared greens and kale out there now. That's it.  But we are enjoying a spot of color close by. I do love fall.

So, 2014, not the best gardening year for us. It started off grand! Then deer helped themselves at the beginning of the year.  And then we had company for one week with a two week vacation after that, which means a whole month of things not tended and going wild. Oh well. And then the crickets (like a million of them), slugs, Japanese beetles, potato bugs, cutworms, squash bugs (almost all of my squash they got!) and then blight ruined my tomatoes.  All these creatures have it in for me, they do! Weeds will surely be the death of me, I tell you. And the soil, this is my biggest challenge right now. When we first moved, they did some work and deposited one foot of sandy soil on top of the soil that held a garden for 100 years. This year I took wheelbarrows full of richer soil from under the barn. Lots and lots of them, I did. By hand. But I still need more soil work. We now have a farm trucks (SQUEEE), even with Maine Farm plates on it. (SQUEEE! And thanks BOG!).  Manure is in our near future. Hopefully lots of it.  I used my scale to mostly keep track, only I got discouraged when those squash bugs ruined my squash. I stopped calculating at 250 pounds. It's still a good amount, although I know we've done better in years past.

 

The best part of the garden?

 

Tables that look like this. Homemade, locally bought, homegrown.

 

 

And kids who are excited to see meals as such.

 

 

And this mama certainly enjoys watching them consume Maine grown/Maine made.

Although it wasn't a great garden year, growing a little bit of something is always worth the effort.  Next year? It will be better. How do I know? I'm sure of it because I'm already planning it.

 

"What's in the Woods?"

"What's in the Woods?" The title of our very favorite place for preschool story hour, at Laudholm Farm. A historic farm by the ocean (that our neighbor used to hay when he was a teen), talking about some of our favorite stuff (nature!), with an awesome childhood educator (Miss Suzanne, thank you!). What's not to love?  These story times don't happen often, when they do we always try to go. My kids remember things they learn when they go and talk about it weeks/months later. "Remember the salamander, mama?" "We use magnifying glasses here." "I remember going on a chimpmunk walk here."  It's hard to leave the camera home when we go, it's one of my very favorite places to take their pictures.

I hope you enjoy coming along to story time with us.

 

 I can't think of a better way to learn. Thank you Miss Suzanne and Laudholm Farm.