Indian Summer

The weather has been incredible lately.  High 60's, even into the 70's.   Short sleeves in a warm breeze but with crackling underfoot and naked branches stretching overhead.  A few geese remain... confused and honking on ponds.  Wondering...should they stay or should they go?   No need to haul wood yet or to feed the fire.  Every day, one more day to celebrate not wearing a coat and not even considering throwing shoes on when you go outside.  The most perfect weather. I only miss the colors of summer and fiery blazes of long-dropped leaves.

We went for a walk in the woods the other day.  Andrew climbed up an old rotten tree and discovered a treasure.

Well, if you consider bloody carcasses and tufts of fur treasure.  

Well, Adele's face says something different but, generally, we do.

Not the home of any owl, we are thinking eagle, hawk or falcon.  All of which have been spotted right around our pastures and this part of the woods.  We have even spied a bald eagle or two this past summer.

I very much detest the getting dark at 5:00 pm bit but the morning skies have been particularly beautiful lately.  I love waking up to pink or golden hued curtains.

And puffy lipped little boys in the golden glow of morning.

We planted garlic the other day.  It was later than I had hoped to plant, but it worked out well because the weather has been so grand.  It isn't hard to find excuses to be outdoors these days and garlic was a good one.  The children all helped because bending over these days doesn't come as easily or as gracefully as it once did.  Neither does getting up from hands and knees.  ;-)

I got the garlic from a friends' spring crop-they always grow monstrous heads.  We planted 168 cloves.  I write that down only so I can determine how much we need and should plant.  Will it be enough?  Will it be too much?  Is it even possible to plant too much?

The tomatoes lining all our window sills are continuing to ripen.  I canned a few more jars last weekend.  Nine windows, still lined with tomatoes though and some cherry tomatoes in a pie dish for salads.

Judah came running inside one evening while I was working in the kitchen- he grabbed my hand with gusto and began pulling me outside, shouting "Mama!  Gwab yo camwa!  You HAFTA SEE DIS!"  This was his beautiful sky.  And yes, I did have to see it.

When I grab a jar of home-canned this or that, as I do almost daily here, I have to pause and look at all the beautiful colors lining those shelves.  The colors of fall.  The tastes of summer.  The hours of work laying in wait for when I need them back.

I remember when I used to stash my canned goods on a little shelf.  And, as the years passed, the jars spread out more and more.  Then, Matt built this canning cupboard for me a few years ago and I wondered if I would ever fill it.  Time passed and canning jars spilled over into nooks and crannies and now this is one of three heavy laden spots that I hide home canned goodies- with need for more space.  

I think how different a person I was back then and how much I have changed.  I think of how those first nervous steps were necessary to prepare me for the life I lead now.  Canning is only one example of course.  I remember the first bit of sewing I did for fun and that I clothe children now with those skills I began once upon a time.  The first dinky garden plot using straight manure on a concrete trailer pad. I remember the first pictures I took (horrible) and the immense joy snapping photos brings me now.  There are a million different things that have shaped who I am without me realizing that is what was happening.  

I wonder what little steps I am unknowingly taking today that are growing and preparing me for a future I can't yet see.  

Who will that girl be?  Where am I going?

It is a wonderous thing to have the hope of a future, even if we can't see it.

Tiddle :: 8

Living, Making, Doing :: A Countdown to Baby

(I blog last weeks' Tiddle post a week late.  Ah, life.  You move too swiftly.)

Living:

Judah comes up randomly throughout the day and whispers to Tiddle through my belly button.  

 Making:

A simple hat using some remnants of SimplySoft yarn.  I am trying to make things that will work whether Tiddle is a boy OR girl but thought I would like to make at least gender specific hats.  This is the boy version.

Doing:

Having had four babies already, I have pretty much all the baby necessities packed away somewhere.

  The one thing I did need to replace was our infant car-seat, which had served us well for the past 12 years.  When I cleaned out the Granary last year, I saw the state of the car-seat (after barn cats had wrecked their havok) and wasn't getting pregnant anyway so I made the executive decision to throw the thing out.  I decided if ever I were to become pregnant again I would celebrate by buying a newer one off of craigslist or something.    

Turns out, I didn't have to!  A friend stopped by with a brand new Eddie Bauer car seat that she was given from the company in replacement of her faulty travel system and she didn't need it!  What a great blessing it is to have this spankin' new car seat awaiting our Tiddle...and what a blessing to have such a generous and kind friend!

A Nutcracker Night

A Rat King (not to be confused with mouse-king, which- when named- frustrated him to no end!), a SugarPlum princess, a Nutcracker and Marie.

Judah's mask was made from paper mache.  Corynn wore a dress that I bought (with my own money!) when I was 10 years old.  My mom has a picture of me in it somewhere but I can guarantee you I was a gangly and awkward girl- not at all the graceful vision of my daughter.  (Why does she look so grown up?!?)  It seems she skipped the awkward phase, lucky girl.  She also wears my wedding tiara.

The whole shebang was made of all supplies that I already had on hand save some white fur, a bit of purple tulle (we had pink leftover from the anniversary party) and some purple flowers. Oh- and the gold fringe.  Those things were gathered up with coupons and great sales making all the costumes cost less than $10.00- which is less than the cost of ONE costume from the store.  And I don't know- I am partial, I guess, but I much prefer the homemade costumes than the store bought ones anyway.

I barely got pictures of the children in their get-ups, Halloween night was such a flurry.  We made cider in the afternoon.  I got some chili started on the stove and the sun practically fell out of the sky all-of-a-sudden-like.  Neighbors started calling "Where are the children?!" So it was "EAT SOME CHILI FAST! LET ME GET A PICTURE FIRST!" and then a boot out of the door.  Matt took the children treating while I stayed home and baked bread.

We made about 9 gallons of cider over the weekend but only two gallons were for ourselves...we made it for other people with their apples!  I hope Matt isn't so done with making cider that we don't get our own apples done...it is a process that is far less thrilling when you send the cider to another home!  :-)

Now that Halloween is out of the way, only a few more major events to hurdle before Tiddle time!  Adele's birthday, which falls on Thanksgiving and a wedding two days later...  this month is going to be a busy one!

Hallow's Eve Making

We are thick in the midst of making today.  Sparkles.  Glitter.  Flowers and fleece.  Anticipation.  Children, giddy with excitement and flushed with creative doing.

Due to the nature of some costume bits, we had to start the making earlier in the week- so today is very slow and unhurried compared to most Halloweens that find me slap-dashing costumes together just in the nick of time.

And this happens to be one of my favorite years--- the kind when all the children excitedly agree upon a theme.  (I love themes!)  And maybe even a pizza from a pizza place instead of homemade...we'll see!  ;-)

Tiddle:: 9

 Living, Making, Doing:: A Countdown to Baby

Living::

Tiddle getting into (quite literally) the pizza making.

Making::

A colin vest.  My first knitted garment.  I started this little vest after my second or third knitting class at the library.  I remember we began on four needle fingerless mitts and I had a horrible time with it!  Every time I worked on the mitts at home I made a mistake and couldn't continue until class was held again in another two weeks.  I decided to start a simple knit/purl project using a single skein so that I could get the hang of knitting and purling stitches.  This was what I began.

That was two years ago!!!

(I told you I am a slooooowwww knitter!)

Actually, I set it aside for awhile when I couldn't stand knitting a baby garment with no baby in sight so it isn't THAT pathetic- but pretty close.  Knitting group has begun again for the fall season and I told the ladies that the next class I would be finishing the vest before the next meeting.  I don't think they believed me.

This vest will fit a 6-12 month baby.  The back portion was the piece I did when I was first learning and I can certainly see the difference between the back and front, when I had some more experience.  The one armpit is wonky and didn't match up on the right side and I wonder if the shoulder straps will be long enough.  But, even with all these imperfections, I pretty much love it.  I love how gradated yarn looks when knit...a totally different look than crochet.  And I think this will be suitable for Tiddle whether Tiddle is a he or a she.  

I'm glad to have another long unfinished project now complete.

Doing::

I always write a few letters to my babies recalling certain things about my pregnancies with them, feelings, memories, etc.  Corynn and Andrew, in particular, really enjoy reading them now...much more so than I ever really thought they would.  I hadn't yet recorded anything for Tiddle and wanted to change that.  I'll include these letters, the photos from how I told the family and ultrasound pictures in his/her baby book.

Which, by the way, I am challenging myself to BEGIN NOW instead of waiting until this child is 5, 7 or 9 to do as I am with some of my others.  A-hem.