Autumn in the Country

Mr. Wonderful took some photos around the house this week and we took a few of the children as well. It's gorgeous this autumn and it wasn't until last night that I got scared about winter. A friend said she'd checked the forecast and we're in for it this year. Wish there was something you could do about that. Guess we'll buy some stay-at-home-hoodies and hunker down. I hate winter.

I love these pictures.

Freshly mowed - hopefully for the last time this year.

Freshly stained by Mr. Wonderful. Nice job.

I love our neighbors, Mr. & Mrs. Hay Bales.

The Sandhill Crane who came to stay for a day.

Yes, those are the children, playing in the pond in October. Love it.

Home Sweet Home

Autumn Colours

Sweet & Breezy

Naturally Posed

Boring

Thursday, October 13, 2011 at home with a 3 year old

Jac from the top of the stairs: I can't find anything to wear, Mom.

Mom from the kitchen: What's in your drawer?

Jac: Boring stuff

In the head of Mom: Well, I'm sure sorry that there isn't anything exciting to wear in your life. Just wait until you are 13 and see that the other kids are all dressing way more cool than you are. Someday you'll know what style is and we still won't be able to afford it or believe that it's more important than your spirit and character. Then you'll know boring.

She does make me laugh though.

Incredible Day

We had the most amazing day today. We did so much and there was very little stress, I just have to record it for posterity.
I was up, dressed for my walk and ironing a shirt by 6. The big girl had been in our bed from early this morning due to a bad dream and I heard her go back to her room shortly after that, but she was up and going by 6:45. She had finished her math, journal and piano before breakfast, which was low stress, high calorie Pop Tarts. I adjusted elsewhere in my day for that luxury. I love Pop Tarts. I canned a load of pinto beans while all this was going on.
The twins practiced their piano and we had a long scripture story from K about that wicked King Noah. Just as she finished, our angel piano teacher arrived. The twins did math while Alex played and then we switched it up. The big girl entertained the little guys for me while I taught 2nd grade math. I taught a voice lesson to Elise and then the morning was done.
We had burritos for lunch, checked in with Aunt Kathy and everyone had an hour to read/rest.
I thought the final summer reading program was yesterday at the library - but we caught a break! We attended "Incredible Bugs!" for half an hour and then headed to the car. The boy asked if we were going home and I couldn't help myself. I drove to the park!

We made some friends, fell from the monkey bars, worked out my legs on this really cool giant hinged balance beam. I rocked my five and 2 more for a long time and had a blast. Then it hit me: the weather is cool, the berries are ripe. Why are we still here? I called the blueberry farm to see how things were going there just as the raindrops began to fall. We didn't care and thought it would just make for a nicer afternoon. So from 4 to 5 PM we picked 15.16 lbs of blueberries!
We managed to have Mexican food for both dinner and lunch and I have another canner full of beans going now. I'm completely exhausted, but scriptures were read (twice!) and prayers were said. I can't remember a more productive day in all my life. As we were leaving the park K said, "We didn't even pack for all this!"
What a relief it is when your stress-case mom relaxes and has a good time. Heck, I'm not even doing the dishes. But that's because my feet can't stand up any more.

He Wouldn't Stay Out of the Bird Feeder

...so I shot him. 

Stupid squirrel.

(For all you nature lovers out there, he's a red squirrel. They are allegedly evil, running off all other good squirrels with their evilness. We warned him for years. This morning he got his last warning when I threw a rock. Got darned near close too, but the stupid animal just stopped instead of running away. When he came back this afternoon, I pulled out the weapon and sent him to meet his maker. The varmit that lives under the shed is next. I'm just saying.)

Katie asked, "Is this the first time you ever...?"
Yes, Katie. It's the first time.

Caroline said, "This is a GREAT story to tell Daddy!"

Jac said, "I want a shooter!"

This is what a bird feeder should look like. That's one of our Cardinals.

This is the mama in the tree next to our house.

This is her first hatch-ling, all pink and squishy looking.

The other little birdie hatched a day later and she still sits on them, keeping them warm in this very cold spring weather. They are beautiful with a few feathers now. So nice to have a new family in the neighborhood.

I love spring and the whole circle of life.

We're growing Painted Lady Butterflies upstairs.
This is the chrysalis stage, of course.

This is also the "chrysalis" stage of the lawn.
We only got 2 days to mow in the past month; 'tis not enough time!

We're thankful it's only rain as so many people hide from horrific weather.

Hope remains strong. Except for that squirrel. 

He's gone.

All Time Low

We just returned from our little country grocery store, a place we visit at least weekly. I'm unloading the milk, bananas, apples, tomatoes, onions and yogurt onto the belt when the cashier says, "Is any of this WIC, hon?"

Well no, it's not WIC.

And if you need to ask me that question, I need several things...
1. a month at a spa in Scottsdale, Arizona replete with cucumbers on my eyes, mud on my shoulders and someone massaging my feet.
2. shoes. I was wearing pink Crocks. obviously a sure sign of a woman on welfare.
3. a  maid. to go to the store for me and be humiliated herself. (or flirt with Sam the butcher and have a grand old time. either way, I'm not there. that's the point.)
4. make-up.
5. a hair-do without a clip in it.
6. time to make all of above a reality.

Instead, I'm going to continue taking care of and home schooling my five children and buying them bananas and apples, yogurt and tomatoes. All things that apparently the government thinks are OK to feed your children because they "fit the program." Whew! At least I qualify for a government program on my shopping list.

Thanks for Sharing

This morning Jac came into my bathroom covered in blueberry muffin. This is significant because Jac's nickname is "Muffin." (and in this photo she looks like her cousin, Sarah! or Sarah making a silly face.) I asked her to climb up on the stool and wash her hands. She picked up the beautiful bar of blue and white soap from my sister's shop and said, "I like this soap."

"That's Aunt-Nicki-soap," I said.

Jac replied, "And we're borrowing it!"

Thank you for sharing with us, Aunt Nicki.

We love you and your soap. (That's our last bar, by the way.)

Preparedness

Tonight Andrew came downstairs after his shower dressed in mismatched pajamas. Thomas the Tank Engine was on the bottom and GI Joe was on top. He asked me, "Is it OK if I wear it this way?" "Sure," I said. When his sisters saw him they weren't quite so OK with it. Caroline asked him, "What are you wearing?"

Andrew said, "Oh, these are my 7-2-hour-pajamas."

There you have it. Prepared at 4 years old.