Stark Contrast

 This is where I found Zippy this afternoon.

Anna-Kate made my bed and is showcasing the new pillowcases I made.

While Zippy was resting, I was homeschooling, then hosting ~30 of our homeschooling friends for our final gathering/ice cream social, selling raspberry plants, working my day job, tending to the home and planning this weekend's Homemakers plant swap at my home. So busy.   

While Zippy looks so cozy, he really missed out on the fun.

Thrifted!

The curriculum sale. And yes, I needed all this. or maybe I didn't. But it's mine. And besides, I made more money selling than I spent, so we'll call that a win.

Balance that out with a like new life vest free from markeplace for my rapid grower.

And muck boots, water shoes, all those books for $10. 

Pumpkin Valley

 We took a trip with our homeschool group to Pumpkin Valley Farm. Hay ride, seed planting, bounce pillow, baby animals and the very very dusty corn pit were the hits.  I mostly have pics from Anna-Kate since the others ditched me for their friends.We enjoyed our date! And she wants a few baby animals. Of course.

Sunday Funday and Open Fire Cooking Pit

Our day was a mix of unexpecteds (with a sick Holly, who seems to be doing better) and fun at home sweet home. 

We traded a very kind arborist a cookie cake for a truck of woodchips. Kids played here much of the day.

And rested under the maple I worked so hard to get going 10 years ago.

And I got out the swings I got last year. They spent a ton of time here too. 

And my dear husband helped me wheelbarrow all the rocks over to this spot. Look what I made! I spent a ton of time on it, it's actually nice and sturdy.

Planning on opening our ice cream stand and cooking hotdogs with friends this summer!

Feels like summer!

 This morning I had two catching butterflies and one cutting down a tree.

This afternoon they spent a solid hour all in, fully submerged for their first swim of 2022.

We were given one wet suit (thank you!!!), thrifted two others.  Three wet suits, each a different subsequent size.  One is a bit too big, one fits Adrian now, one fits Audra now. Nothing for Anna-Kate.  Flew into the thrift shop yesterday and Audra found a wetsuit that fits Anna-Kate (still a wee bit big for her to grow into).  We'll apparently be extending our Maine swimming with a trio of wetsuits, which the kids think is the absolute best!

Spring Service

 Everytime I lay out various activities to choose from at 4-H, it never fails that our club goes for the service activity first.  Our club has earned the county Community Service Award for a number of years because our kids are just so generous. 

Spring door hangers for the nursing home residents.

Homesteader ways

Although we have access to local grocery stores, I am in the habit of rarely going. I like buying in bulk and using what we have/making from scratch/using our homegrown.  It's been weeks since we've been to a grocery store.  Looming is a field trip and a need to pack a lunch.  I realized that the foods present aren't really quick/on the run meals. 

While I could get up early and make a hot meal that our camp crock would keep warm or go to the grocery store, I opted for plan C. Plan C seems like the most work, but to me, it's way easier to make late night bread and jam than it is to go to the store. (No more transitions/unexpecteds for my hard to transition kid!) It's especially easy when I have a Rolodex of recipes in my brain, so I don't even have to look up or do much measuring. 

So that's what we did. Now we're all ready for a picnic of PBJs.

(Blueberry Rhubarb....rhubarb harvested and chopped by Adrian)

Unfortunately our prospects of having Audra's homemade cookies for a picnic are dim thanks to her dad the cookie monster.

It was 17 years ago I started this homemade/homegrown focus and tonight I'm thankful for the journey and for the opportunity to bring the kids down a similar lane.