a magical place

Inevitably, after a long weekend filled with several photographic moments lost, I am left with searching through my iphone to come up with something to share (visually).  Our little home was bursting with life all weekend, overnight visits with family and friends family, freezers filled with plump chickens, a kitchen that did not stop working all weekend...oh my all that food was just scrumptious, oh yes and lots of laughter  (there is never a shortage of laughter with this bunch).  I often wish I could just scoop up all my friends and family and plop them onto a few hundred acres of land.  There (in this magical place) we would build homes together, snuggle each others babes, grow food, tend animals, learn from each other, and support each other.  I know why this can't and likely will never happen - in the mean time I will cherish the moments we have together and keep hoping for that someday commune to work out...

...until next time

exhausted

    

I'm not sure if it was the hours of whining in the car or the endless nose faucets of green snot....but I sure am exhausted...and I'm sure so are my parents.  We decided to pack up and head South for a last minute visit with grandparents & great grandparents.  There was a trip to mystic aquarium, some binge doughnut eating at Clyde's cider mill and a little catching up with my grandparents.  Three cheers for a action packed weekend...now lets rest and recuperate for round 2!

a few moons ago

A few moons ago I found this little gem by way of a friend and a local list serve.  I jumped on the email and expressed interest and was told it was unavailable due to many interested buyers.  Disappointed - I admit.  A few days later I got word that my friend had been next in line (as there were several people who backed out) and that she her self was also going to back out.  Anyways....long story short - I had on my hands the opportunity to buy an old Ashford Traditional spinning wheel (circa...early 90's I think) for $40.  I deliberated over night, my husband sure that I didn't need to acquire yet another crafting hobby...but alas, woke with the ultimate decision that this was too good of an offer to pass up.  And well...to say the least...i don't regret this decision one bit.  After fixing her up (I sunk maybe $25 more into her) I am happy to report she is spinning (or maybe I am spinning).  And I am falling in love...with yes...another..."crafting hobby".

I was fortunate in that I found a few local spinners who were all too eager to have a newbie join them and last night I finished my very first bobbin.  There is much to know about this sport... I am merely at the tip of the ice burg...and oh it is so exciting!

So today...i thank the universe, my friends who declined to purchase her and myself...for allowing myself to clutter another corner with crafty goodness...

ingredients

An early morning walk to visit the baby cows, taking time to throw leaves, counting pumpkins, gathering fallen apples, throwing fallen apples at to our pigs and finding a missing hen.  All the ingredients to a perfect morning with my little people.  

oh yes...and remembering to tote my camera along...yes that helps too!

Sweater complete!

Sorry, this picture may not do justice to her...but this is (drum roll please)....my first sweater!  She has been done for about a week now but I have been waiting for just the right day to wear her.  And today, with our first of many frosts, I knew it was the day!  I promise for better pictures in the future...but I am just not the type to say "hey aaron could you take pictures of me in my new sweater while i pretend to do farm work"....yes that photo would be lovely...but I am way to awkward for that.  And since this projects completion my hands are still busy...another hat in the works and a some ultra soft merino wool awaits me for.... you guessed it...another sweater!  Yes...this weather is just perfect for knitting!

that hair

We had a good go...that hair.  But alas, after far too many "oooo she's so cute" encounters - it was time.  And thankfully my sweet neighbor lui came over and did the honors.  No matter how uneven, long or short...Owen will always melt my heart.

a dirty snout is a happy snout

Oh those pigs.  They have been the source of much entertainment lately.  After digging up the remainder of our potatoes we had a path to let the pigs enter the big back garden.  And oh my, they are enjoying their new terrain.  They have been romping back and forth, tearing down the (small) corn field and have practically turned over all the squash and tomatoes (the pumpkins/butternut squash and watermelon are still safely on the other side of the electric fence).  They are the perfect pasture rotatilling machines....and they just look like they are having fun while they do it.  I love that our pigs always have a dirty snout from digging up earth, that they have space to run like fools, and that they have each other to scratch up against and to lay beside under the cool evening sky.  This is how an animal should be raised...with gratitude and respect.  And that is what I have for them, a lot of gratitude and respect.    Like those potatoes that will be stored in our neighbors cool basement and those shelves of canned tomatoes, beets, carrots and beans...there will be pork in our freezer (along with many many chickens).  And when you can't even pretend to be able to afford quality humanely raised meat products at your local grocer..this is a very good thing.  

the first apple pie

Nothing, dare I say, beats the first apple outing of the season.  Picking, eating, laughing, climbing trees, goofy faces....yes those are all necessary and essential to the first pick.  Everyday, and especially these days when I have a moment to think, I am so thankful for this family that I have.  This man, our kids, our parents, brothers, sisters and oh those friends that just might as well be blood too.  I am just so thankful.  Oh yes...and I am very very thankful for that first apple pie.  Served warm with vermont sharp cheddar cheese and a dollop of homemade vanilla ice cream ...oh those neighbors...they come in so handy!