Friday, September 19, 2014

Push, Push, Push!

Even though I'm in so much denial right now that I would sooner acknowledge a person as color blind than admit that the trees were changing color, it's hard not to notice that things are starting to get busy. As Mom said, the days are getting into "push, push, push" mode (...though that sounds more like a labor/delivery room chant, haha!).



 It's a sobering kind of busy, where the nip of cool air in the mornings sets a subtle urgency for the rest of the day's tasks. The firewood has to get stacked, the potatoes harvested, the cellar cleaned, the apples juiced, the beans snapped, the animal shelter repaired, and so many other fall chores that come with owning a homestead.


 
 (Juicing apples with a washing machine. Yes, it's as cool as it sounds!)

 It's hard not to become overwhelmed (actually, I'll go ahead and admit that I'm quite overwhelmed certain days). It's those times that I can be grateful for the daily chores that have become monotonous routine over the years. Things like milking, dishes, and folding laundry provide a certain monotonous background for the mind to work on solving other issues.


Collecting seed heads. 

Growing barley grass (for animals) veg, fish (experimental aquaponics system) and other stuff in the green house. It all requires a lot of attention before winter...
 

If you're concerning yourself that we're overworking ourselves, you needn't be. ;) We're quite skilled in the art of recreation as well, and rarely miss an evening horseback ride or some game of sports.

Donna getting riding lessons from Theresa.


 That smile...

Here's Sammy Bear, case you were wondering how she's grown...

..And yeah... that's a goat...
 
Look at this picture!
 I had to take a moment to appreciate the special bond between horses and their girl's as I studied that one... but maybe that's just me. :)


 BFF horse selfie!

Another horse selfie.
 

  Beach night. Trying to drag summer out just a little longer!


 Hope you're all doing well and getting your fall chores done. Stay positive!
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Sunday, August 31, 2014

Happy Places

Everyone has their happy place. 

I think mine is somewhere between a freshly bloomed lily and a happy wild mess of zinnas.





For some, it might be sitting by your best friend in a sunny pasture.

Others might find it in the satisfaction of hard work turned into a year's supply of garlic.


 

Or in that miniscule space between sky and ground at the top of a mountain.
 

 


 Or maybe between the four legs of a colt you've raised.

 (Who recognizes this little boy, Guster, from last winter?)

All grown up now!

 And lots of people (myself included) discover it in the diminishing light of a setting sun across crashing waves.

Or in that ring of slightly warmer sand around a beach fire.
 

 Wherever your happy places are, I hope this summer is providing you lots of time to enjoy them and explore new ones!
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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Snippets of Summer

Here's a quick peak into our summer. Enjoy! 



Boys and Dad work on firewood while Andrew builds the new woodshed to store this years firewood.





 
A bit cooler weather means Theresa is trimming all her horse's hooves!








 Our shop has been nicely busy--we're pumping a lot of productivity out of that little wood shop!




Now that the bugs aren't annoying the horses anymore, the children are! ;) Our four legged creatures get a lot of attention on these beautiful summer days.



Lots of time for swimming and play leftover at the end of these long summer days--LOVE it!!

 




Farm puppy! :-)



 

The garden is such a peaceful place in the evenings!





So ends another lovely day!

Thanks for sharing,
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