Family time!

 Our day began with 4-H, included bread baking, a lot of cleaning and laundry and we also got started on getting things ready to plant the fruit trees. But, we also made some time for family time.  When we have nothing in particular scheduled for family time, we tend to do a trio of activities: 1) A family hike.  2) A visit to a library in the area that we hiked (Maine has a reciprocal borrowing program in that we are able to visit and borrow from dozens of libraries across the state that are a part of the consortium.) 3) A thrift store local to where we hiked. It's our fabulous trio that costs us next to nothing and we all enjoy our time together.  

Here are pics from our trio of activities: 
1) Hike

Firstborn: First one ready. All put together, with water bottle filled. 

Second born: Free spirited.  One just never knows.

Third born: No we will not carry you. You can have allll the snacks if you just keep moving.

2) Thrifted.  A pair of jeans for Adrian. The same tablecloth my grandparents used to have on their table. Unicorn coat and Beatrix Potter movies for Anna-Kate's birthday, dog leash. $3.72.

3) Library. The library happened to be having a fabric and yarn swap. I left a bunch and came home with this! A pile of wool, flannel, Christmas and bug fabric and some whites and navy blue. Audra brought home yarn.

This library had all sorts of activities set up and each kid got a whole gift bag for Easter full of activities.  We have a few books we borrowed (that we can return at our own library if we so choose!). 

The activities kept her busy for quite a while at home too.

It's was a weekend day like so many others, but we just love family time with a hike-thrifting-library combo. Hours of fun only spending $3.72 and gas. Doesn't have to cost much to have fun and connect! 

Weekend plans!

My weekend plans just arrived!  Orchard expansion pack! I ordered these weeks ago, knowing they would ship in spring when the temps warmed.  They arrived today!  So excited to (hopefully) expand the season of fresh homegrown produce here. I bought an Early pear (the pear tree in my orchard is a late pear), an early ripening apple and two winter ripening apples (all my apples are fall apples).  And I ordered my favorite apple tree ever-Empire. Born and raised Northern NYer, Empires have long been my favorite. They aren't easy to find in Maine! Someday I hope to have an abundance. 

This will bring my orchard total to: 1 peach, 2 pear, 2 plum, 1 cherry tree & 2 cherry bushes, 2 pear (early and late), 11 apples (early, mid, late). Plus oodles of elderberries, concord grapes, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries.  Hard to believe this was all field a decade ago! 

Showtime!

Why yes, I absolutely do want an evening puppet show (that goes on and on and on)!  (She got all these puppets for $1).  

Mama Made: Old Fashioned Dress, Apron and Bonnet

 I wanted to make the girls matching play dresses. I found the pink fabric for $0.75 at the thrift store. It may not be what I would pick, but I made both of these outfits for $0.75 and thread. (The white underlay is a hoop skirt and not attached). Basically I will do whatever to hold onto another day of old fashioned play! 

Mondays

 Our Monday started with a case of the Mondays. Happy to close that chapter of Monday morning. Turned it around with a picnic.

And wrapped it up with 4-H.  My kids strapped my precious cargo in the van.

Look what our club made! 

Thrifted

 

Legos.  The big bad wolf (which I have the matching 3 little pigs!), low heat glue gun, Cornell shirt (nod to my dad, Cornell Alum), a vintage adorable memory game.  $5. 

Two lampshades, 10 navy blue napkins, Anna-Kate's new favorite book (no babies here!) and a raincoat that actually fits Adrian.  More expensive this time around, but still a deal at $20

State Presenting

 Both the big kids scored high enough locally to compete at the state level public speaking competitions. Since the trip was pretty far for us, we opted to do so virtually.  I am OVER THE MOON proud of my kids and ALL the 4-Hers presenting! Truly the next leaders! After my kids' success, we treated them to a (first ever) trip to Hobby Lobby so they could pick out something new that's crafty and they got pizza for dinner.  It's not easy to present in front of crew, especially virtually, but these kids rocked it!