It all adds up.

I meant to share this series of pictures the day after my last post, but yet again the busyness of the week took over my plans and I just never got to it.  Each of these of my sweet nephew Ayden is precious.  And, when you put them all together, this series of expressions makes me laugh out loud, hard, for a few minutes.  Everytime I look at them.

Not joking, about the everytime.  I just scrolled through them 3 times.  I'm still laughing.

I'd like to share about my wonderful weekend so far at the Once Upon a Time workshop I attended.  I feel like I don't have the energy to share it all.  I would have to share a crazy big series of moments just to do it justice.  Each moment I share would be beautiful, but kind of like the series of photos above, if I could give you a glimpse of all of them together, then you could see why my heart feels so full tonight, even though I'm exhausted.

Although I won't take the time to do it the justice it deserves, I will just say -

• I am thankful for all the ladies at my table that shared their hearts and their stories.
• I am thankful for the 3 ladies who had a vision and decided to create the workshop.
• I am thankful for the story of my life so far that is full of God's blessings.
• I feel renewed excitement about how my story will continue to unfold.

Fall Beauty Randomness

We have not been hiding out mourning the end of summer here.  Oh, no.  Its go, go everyday. Pretty easy to get out and enjoy the fall colors in weather like this, so crazy warm it is.   We are trying to take full advantage of it anyhow.

We've enjoyed playing at the park with cousins.

 

 We've found ways to entertain the middle child while big brother is at school and little sister is sleeping.  Her ballet video is always an exciting choice and its very important to get dressed up for it.  If she disappears, I usually find her in the backyard on the swing.  She is SO proud she can pump herself!

We got busy and brought in the garden before the one big frost we had.  The kids giggled over the funny shape of some of the squash.  I was thrilled at how many we did find hiding back there.

 We've been testing out several butternut squash soup recipes.  Good, but still looking for the perfect one.  Next in the lineup, a butternut ginger soup.  Also enjoying lots of tomato goodness.  They are ripening faster than I expected and I need to quickly get ready to make some salsa and pasta sauce!

 I've tried to take back some control of the house that seemed to disappear over the summer.  When the craft cupboard doors wouldn't close anymore, I finally found the motivation to help fix this space in a hopefully more permanent way.  They each have their own box in here, which I'm going to get them to decorate for easy identification.  Instead of a free for all with all the supplies, they are now only allowed to get their own box with a smaller assortment of their favorites.  Almost a week later, and the system is working beautifully.  Except when Lanelle got into the glue drawer without permission and used a whole bottle of tacky glue on her body.  She was a mess, but the cupboard was still perfect :)  If I'd thought to take a before picture of the paper explosion in this space, you'd really appreciate the after!

 We are all happy the library program is happening again every Friday.  And, is it ever happening!  Angela is awesome, so its no surprise the attendance is steadily climbing!

 Neve is the only one I can seem to get lots of fall pictures of at the park.  Mostly I have the backs of the older two running away.

 Angela and I loved taking the 3 little girls to the park this morning after school drop off for the older kids.  So fun how we both wandered around taking pictures of the gorgeous morning.  So glad she asked us to go with her!

 Ian said these are Sandhill Cranes that we saw on the way to the farm.  He was in a super hurry to get there to scout out where he planned to hunt early in the morning.  So, we didn't stay long, but the kids loved to check out the birds with the binoculars.

 We almost had to stop until the sun went down.  It was as impossible to see as it appears in the picture. He perservered (like I said, he was motivated!)

 And, we had as much fun as you can imagine on our day at the farm with the cousins!  The older they get the more fun it is to see them get excited about being together.  Many more adventure pictures to come of our day there, it was so fabulous!

 I'm just loving these beautiful outdoor fall moments.  I was thinking about what a freeing feeling it is just to be outside and appreciating it so much, cause i remember how long winter can feel sometimes.

 While I don't find it so lovely, Lanelle was loving the feeling of sand on her body, even pouring it down her shirt.  Too funny!

Sorry for the randomness, but if i tried to get organized, I might have never accomplished anything here.  Hope you are busy having a fabulous fall!

Seasons.2

Perhaps, I haven't been sitting down here enough with my thankful thoughts.  I've had a joystealer around here much too often lately.  I can put the blame for this in many different places, but I suppose I should accept responsibility that I let the monster in.  No matter what I do, it feels like its never enough.  I don't have enough time, I tell myself.  But this is the time I have.  I know that.  I make my choices and I should just be happy.  So, why is it so easy to get swept back into the place where I want/demand more time to do all those things I think I must do. 

Really, if I could have all those delicious home cooked meals and snacks made, have played joyfully with my kids, have taken  the time to teach them all the things I would love to, have a clean and organized house, a beautiful yard, be on top of all the goodness in the garden, done some of the too long ignored errands, made some concrete plans for the renos that are brewing, have enjoyed some exercise, have taken my quiet time, done something kind for a friend, have all my pictures organized and scrapbooked, gotten to create something on my needles, it would have been a perfect day.  And, I would just be waking up from a crazy dream. 

I think I strive for something impossible.  But there are so many people who I think are doing it.  Pshaw (is that how I would spell that word I heard my Grandpa say?)  Nobody is finding perfect balance with all  things in their life (and still finding sanity and joy).  Right?  Help me out here.  I'm not the only one who feels this way, right?

What's that saying I've seen lately?  You can do everything, just not all at once.  That's the phrase that struck a chord with me.  And reminded me of seasons.  There is a season for everything, but not all seasons at once.  Sometimes I need to be more realistic with the season I'm in with small children.  Especially the teething, demanding babe these days. 

I don't even need to think as big as seasons.  Sometimes I need to just think of days.  Today was a laundry and cooking day.  So much laundry.  Five monster loads all folded and put away.  Diapers washed ready for tomorrow.  Homemade pasta and pesto, with roasted zucchinni.  Squash baked with sausage and tomatoes, topped with bread crumbs.  Mmmm.  No time for a clean house, but the busy kitchen has been repeatedly cleaned.  I even spent 30 minutes on the long since ignored digital scrapbook.  The basement tidied.  Puzzles with my girl.  Cuddles and giggles with the littlest one, plus all her feeding and diapering.  We walked the big boy to school and again to pick him up.  We brought friends home for a play.  It really was a good day.  BUT, the monster tried ruining it by pointing out the dirty floors, the disaster craft room and stillness that has existed there for too long, the dust, the upcoming frost and the unready garden.  I want to get rid of the monster that steals my joy and makes me feel like I failed the day, but he keeps coming back.

What am I even trying to say?  Ha, I think I don't even know!  Just sharing this struggle.  Talking through it and hoping I can make some sense.  I think I'm making headway.  It actually seems so silly, really, when I write it out.  I think I don't know what the monster is.  But, I suppose I do.  Yet naming it, means claiming it and I really don't want to do that.  Because, I'm not selfish and I'm not desiring something as ridiculous as perfection, am I?  Eeee, if I could admit it and understand it, maybe I could make this joystealer stay away.  Maybe I would have more experiences when I am just in the moment, with gratitude for all that I do have and am blessed with.

So that's where I'll go (again), to find what I need (again).  To counting and naming beautiful moments. 

 memories of summer picnics

 friends and silliness, and laughter

 garden goodness

 watching and clapping for little fingers learning to pick up cheerios

 kindergarten excitement

 apple picking enthusiasm and bravery

 apples, apples, and apples to share!

 joy on the faces of young and older playing games to get rice Krispie square

and the hospitality so gracious

 the joy for puppies from the littlest one that brings clapping and bouncing

 so much apple goodness

sneaking in a row here and there for a little girl's hat that makes me happy for the rhythm of the needles and reminds me to be thankful for her as I ask God to help her get better and stronger quickly.

Seasons

I like the idea of seasons.  I think I started a post about my thoughts around seasons awhile back and never got around to finishing it.  But, I'm thinking about it again as we head into a new season.  One involving kindergarten and hunting, as we say prepare to say goodbye to beach days and our garden.  Ian was hunting this past weekend, so we all invaded the Muirhead farm for fun.  I'm glad the library fits into all seasons of life, because I loved checking out a new to me library and walked away with a ridiculous number of books.  Somehow, we got out of the regular rhythm of reading during the summer. I felt like they forgot how much they used to enjoy sitting through several books.  But, they stayed with Grandpa for this book about fishing, that I picked up with this moment in mind...

...and it actually happened!

I didn't take any pictures of the mighty hunter.  There was no animal to "show off" (I'd obviously never make a hunter.  I think I shivered typing that.)  But, he assures me his first archery hunting weekend was a huge success because he learned so much and had so much fun.  I also got to do my first geocache with the family.  A pretty easy location to find, but they cache was super hidden on that tractor and I finally had to decifer the little clue.

Anyhow, back from a lovely weekend and feeling a little behind with life here.  We were almost late to get Kellen to his first day of Kindergarten.  His muffin for snack was super warm when I packed it for him on the way out the door!  I was feeling so last minute this morning, as I was still trying to unpack from the weekend and get organized.  I'll give myself a break though, his bag loaded with his supply list has been ready for a couple of weeks now.

Plus, today I was dealing with Neve's sleep issues.  I have found with all my babies, there is a wonderful season of easy-peasy sleep before teething.  Then I get to THE point where I decide it's time to reclaim some of my time and show them they can fall asleep on their own.  So, I listened to her cry for 45 minutes this morning for her nap, as I popped in once in a while to give her a pat.  She didn't get too worked up.  This afternoon, it was less crying and only 10 minutes to fall asleep.  Tonight?  I kind of caved.  She sounded so horrible as she screamed, so I picked her up and cuddled her until she calmed down.  Laid her back down and she screamed her shrill scream, so I held her hand and she quickly calmed down and fell asleep.  Yikes, maybe I'm going to just get sucked in to sitting there and holding her hand instead of nursing or walking her.  I figure its a step in the right direction anyhow(?). Not that it's that interesting to write about baby's sleep issues, but it so easily consumes my time, my day, my plans, and it seems my life when its bad.  I'm hoping I'll have a better sleeper soon.

So, I KNOW we are heading into fall, school, and hunting season, which changes the rhythm around here.  I'm HOPING we are heading into a season of sleep!! 

Tomorrow I am going apple picking with a friend in the morning and meeting a friend at her beach for the afternoon.  I'm feeling like we are in the inbetween of seasons right now.  Makes me feel reflective, as I think about what is behind us and what changes and rhythms of coming.  I like it.

Beach Sweater.

Sweater done.  Neve tried to not let me finish it.  She woke up all evening long last night.  Poor girl, I think her incoming tooth is really bothering her.  Poor mama who just wanted to knit.  But, at the beach today, it happened.  I finished the KAL sweater (deadline tomorrow, whew.)  I think wearing this during the winter will remind me of summer beach days (and I'll probably find sand in it for awhile).

It's not hard to forgive Neve for being fussy.  When she is happy, she is just so cute!

We got to enjoy the beach with some favorite cousins today.  And they played, played, and played all day.  I hardly had any complaints and very few requests.  It was probably our last beach day.  Okay, we may sneak some in still if the weather cooperates in September, but with Kindergarten starting next week, it feels like we are moving past summer beach days.  Plus the weather forcast for the rest of this week is not hinting at any beach days.  It felt kind of sad.  We have loved the beach this summer.

I didn't take my camera today :(  But I'll bet Angela can hook me up :)

In lieu of todays captured memories being shared, here are my favs from the weekend:

tonight.

Thinking: about my East Coast trip with SIL Andrea!  oh, October, you can come quickly!
Drinking:  water :)
Enjoying: Nevey's cute sounds
Hoping:  I can finish my KAL sweater tonight
Smelling: Baby's head, mmm.
Watching: Baby Einstein (a first for Nevey)
Wishing:  baby had stayed asleep the first time I put her to bed tonight
Planning: to finish my KAL sweater tonight
Needing:  a housecleaner, like usual
Marvelling: at my calmness
Looking:  at fireplaces on Pinterest
Wanting: renovations to magically be done (before they've actually begun)
Wondering: if Neve would go to sleep for her Daddy
Loving: the idea of a week long vacation from this
Knowing:  I best go put Neve to bed so I can get to knitting, because i will finish this sweater by the deadline.

Garden Tour 2011

Seems to me I haven't been sharing much of my garden this year.  At times, I think I've even felt there wasn't so much to share.  But, WOW, as I pulled my pictures and thoughts together, I became aware of what a blessing our garden has been this year.  This is really the beauty of blogging for me.  I would miss things.  I love reflecting in this space and remembering to be grateful.  Sorry this will probably be long and super random.

So here I started, taking pictures at one end of my garden where more of the flowers are, although they are found in all sorts of places.  Our free teddy bear plant the kids got (I tried to move the other 2 when things got crowded and they didn't survive the move.  So now, they all share this one).

 Californian poppys I grew from seed.  I really dislike the price for greenhouse plants.  But, it really is hard to be patient for most of the growing season here to finally have flowers.

 I'm still a little nervous after last years tomato crop failure to late blight.  So, I didn't invest in greenhouse tomatoes.  I started these from seed indoors :)  I'm inspecting the leaves every day now and haven't seen any signs of disease yet. 

Then there's the squash.  I'll get a couple, but I'm afraid most are too small yet and the summer doesn't seem like its going to last long enough.  Maybe we'll get a super hot September again?  I've heard of people eating the squash blossoms.  Maybe if I was picking them off the blossoms and letting the other squash grow, I'd be more successful?  Oh, I still have much to learn.

 Next is this messy looking area full of beans, beets, and potatoes.  Mostly beets.  The kids are loving beets so I planted lots.  Ian and I have been loving a feta and beet salad, but I leave some plain roasted ones for the kids as they prefer.  Way at the back is our lone zucchini plant hanging out with the lavatera.  I even tried replanting some zucchini and it still didn't come up.  Oh, well, I'm enjoying having less than usual for this year.

Aren't these so cool?  They're on some of the onions that were planted last year. I'm thinking if I let it dry, I'll get onion seeds from it.

This afternoon, I cut down these 2nd year parsnips and turned them upside down in a pillowcase.  The seeds are almost dry and I read that is an easy way to collect seeds.  I'm thinking I won't buy parsnip seeds next year.  I guess I'd better learn how to store them properly.

Its kind of made my garden look messy as I experiment with collecting my own seeds.  I'm learning to be okay with that.  It makes me happy to think of growing from my own seeds.

My herbs have been super successful this year.  I've stored jars of my own dried oregano and parsley.  This might be the favorite part of my garden.  It might look like a mess, but its given me so much goodness - thyme, lemon balm, mint, fennel, mmm...

sage

basil

my herb box

My lemon balm ice tea has taken time to perfect, and sometimes I don't plan ahead enough.  It's the best if I do it the night before and let it chill overnight.  Apparently it helps with feeling calm, with improved memory, and I can't remember the third one.  I'm thinking I need to be drinking more of it :)

The kale has been a new thing in my garden and I've been loving it.  Kale soup, baked kale, ginger stirfried kale...yum!

The kohlrabi have been better for me this year.  I started some early indoors.

This was ready to be picked.  Wished I hadn't have decided to wait until the next day...

I'm not sure what ate it, and not sure I want to know.  It must have been big.  Other than that, we aren't too bothered by pests.  A big failure for some reason I have yet to figure out, is our broccoli.  6 plants and only one produced anything - which was the only other casualty of the unknown large eater!! :(

I love these pretty pink flowers...and love to take them inside to enjoy.

I only wish I didn't have to ignore what's around them to enjoy them.  I really don't get how so many people I know with kids can possibly have such clean houses.

I turn my back for a few minutes and the've emptied a box of crackers and left it on the table.  Pulled out papers, crayons...which entertained for maybe all of 10 minutes.  And their off, to make their next soon to be discovered mess.  Oh, well, at least I have the garden to retreat to :)

Many of the new recipes I've been trying with the basil, swiss chard, and kale have been from a new favorite cookbook of mine.

Only problem is, I've borrowed it from the library.  i've reached my max renewals.  I don't think I have a choice but to purchase myself a copy.  It's that good.  It's got lots of good stories that inspire me.  The layout of it is so unique, I've never seen one quite like it.

Anyhow, sorry for the crazy run on post.  It's taken about 4 sittings to get it done, which doesn't help with the flow of writing.  And, I'm not rereading or editing.  I am more full of gratitude, so I can leave it here, as is.  If you have any garden advice for me, I'll gladly hear it!