Fresh Air

 

It's about that time when the dates for the summer Fresh Air kids come out and we all start planning our summer.  We've hosted 3x so far and are eager to do it again. If you have room in your heart and home, I encourage you to consider www.freshair.org . We're so glad this is a part of our summer.

Naps

I usually only reflect on the good in this space because that's how I want to remember my days. I'm totally a glass is half full type of girl.  I assure you, I'm not exempt from challenging times or bad days.  No one is, of course.  It seems the more variables one adds (vehicles, being a homeowner, kids, animals, jobs, etc.), the higher the likelihood that something will go wrong. And sometimes one or two things go wrong. Sometimes a whole lot of them go wrong.

But then, maybe once or twice a year, this happens:

Which makes me think "Oh, no wonder we were having a rough one!" What a relief there's a reason!

There's always a bigger picture. Bad days come, and thankfully they go.  The bigger picture is a great plan where everything is going to work out just so. Let's not let the bad days get us day worried, the good ones are right around the corner.

Masks.

Sure, there were errands I should have done.  The trash is overflowing. There's interlibrary loan books that need picking up.  I need to jet to the bank. I need to pick up some more hay. 

But today, we stayed home. 

They needed it. I needed it. We all needed it.

Sometimes having uninterrupted time to devise an idea and then stick with it until completion AND then have time to enjoy the result is needed.

They spent hours doing these masks.  I had to interrupt them to eat breakfast. Lunch was consumed late.  Time stood still for them while they fully focused on these elaborate projects. 

There's plans for more masks.  Dinosaurs. Puppies. Zoo animals. Farm animals. Bugs.

We just might have to stay home again soon, so we have time to complete all of these projects.

Childhood, the way it should be.  Errands can wait.

Oregano

Things I love about this pic:

The pan, which we got when we were first married, nearly 10 years ago.
The roasted veggies, some from our garden and some from the grocery store. Thankful for homegrown produce and the grocery store to fill in the gaps.
Flip top glass jars. I love them. I've become a collector. One never has to find a top with a flip top glass jar.
Homegrown dried oregano flavoring many winter dishes.
And my rings, one from my husband and the antique diamond was my grandmother's.

Such simple and ordinary things, yet things to be very thankful for. I just might look around again and count my blessings once. more. 

Winter

And so it goes, we survived those days with bitter temps and winds that take your breath away. I worried about those animals in the barn, even made them a warm oatmeal treat.  I made sure our cats stayed in and monitored how long the dogs were out.

But our kids?  They go outside. And mama and daddy do too. Regardless of the temperature. Even with the winds.  Might just be a quick walk to the barn to declare "It's too cold!" or "It's too crazy out here!"  and then retreat back by inside by the fire. Or it might be hours upon hours of elaborate pretending when the temps hit the balmy mid twenties.

We have thick blood up here in Maine. We are tough ones who layer up and brave the elements. When everyone else is complaining about winter, we're not.  We're out there in wool, looking for the wonder of the season.

We just might have a blizzard this weekend.  Not the kind you get at Dairy Queen either.  One that might bring over a foot of snow.  If so, we're ready for it. A bit more snow is welcome. The Lipskys and their snowshoes aren't tired of winter one bit.

Bookends

The 'butter days' are the days when I tend to find the dairy part of my life being bookends to my day. Today I woke before the sun to milk, worked for the day while my littles were home with my husband, came home to do dinner, books and bed with my littles and then worked on the milk situation.  Two pounds of butter later (plus cheese, laundry, dishes, night time chores and the like...you know the life of a mama!), I find myself blogging and going to bed after midnight (thankfully this isn't everyday!).  I'm exhausted, yes.  But, my mind and heart are at peace, for I know all that hard work is for the good of my family.  That right there keeps me moving.

 (Plus the mighty fine fresh butter is worth it. Mmm.)

Thrifted.

 Thrift store one:  Books my kids will love, to put away for the next holiday. Two pairs of size up sneakers. $5.00

Thrift store two: (With the 2015 stuff 50% off!)  LL Bean Skirt for me. Two music books. Little Red riding hood. 12 days of Christmas book and CD set.  Miniature wooden spoon.  Wooden bowl. Vintage metal embroidery hoop. Vintage Christmas tray. Two yards of pink corduroy. Perfect size spatula.  An against the bowl strainer (which has been awesome for draining whey when making cheese).  You won't believe this....$5.00 for it all. The deal of the century!  Or something like that.