Inside and Outside

There is so much work calling me inside when I really just want to be out enjoying this amazing autumn weather.

This morning I did get some bread and apple crisp baked.

Isaac is taking over in the kitchen making three apple pies.

I am thinking the tomatoes will be processed this evening while making dinner.

In the in between time, I have compost to pile up on the gardens, a barn to reconfigure for a milking stand and baby goats (hopefully in the spring!), firewood to stack, oh and I thought I would just throw in painting the house as well.  

Thankful to have so much to do really because that must mean my life is full.

What are your plans this week?

Warmly,

Tonya

I Love That...

... when a friend came to visit, our children decided to bake apple pies with him, all on their own.

They went out and picked the apples off our trees, showed him how to use a peeler, made pie crust and mixed up the filling.

I would have to guess, though, that their primary motivation was to enjoy the eating.  

We generally only make apple pies during apple picking season so they are a real treat and also happen to be my favorite dessert.

Autumn

With Emily's birth just three days before the first day of autumn, and the days leading up to her birth being filled with waiting and preparing, I didn't give this new season much thought until the last couple of days - and autumn is just such a glorious season.

So with Abby and Sarah off with their grandparents this week, Abraham and I decided to do something about that.

A Simple Saturday

More Firewood

Music Playing by the Splitting and Stacking Spot

My Strong Husband

Abraham Hauling a Piece of Wood

Collecting Kindling

 

Burning Brush

Our 84 year old sweet neighbor came by for a visit on her golf cart.  She loves the children and brought them for a ride which, of course, they love.

Harvested the Winter Squash

Finished with a mostly homegrown, home raised dinner of quiche and roasted potatoes.

Apples, Apples, Apples

We have two mature apple trees on our little 3 acre homestead.  They had been neglected when we moved in two years ago, but after dear husband pruned and fertilized them the last two seasons, we have been blessed with an abundant harvest of organic, healthy apples.  Last year we planted a small apple tree because with our crew we could probably never have too many apples.

Since Monday we have made
~ two large batches of apple crisp
~ 1 1/2 quarts of apple sauce
~ apple muffins
~ two apple pies (one to give to a neighbor)

And we still have many more apples to go!

Goats, Apples and Pumpkins

The goats are growing.  It is much fun to let them out of their fenced in area to graze.  They don't go far as they like to stay near people.

Our apples trees are giving us beautiful apples this season. 

This morning I am making our first apple anything since last apple season - apple crisp.

Everyone can't wait until it comes out of the oven.

Abraham picked up an apple and said, "One apple up on top."

Abraham is helping me stuff little calico pumpkins.

Just enjoying these moments while trying to keep my grumpiness under control from being tired due to lack of sleep.   I am sure this must be God's way of getting new mothers ready for interrupted sleep in order to nurse in the nights to come.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Mini Twig Trees

Several weeks ago we made little leaf felt fairies after reading about how to make them at the blog, Twig and Toadstool.

Since then we haven't found a home for them.   They moved around from window sill and shelf, never finding a comfortable spot, until I decided to make them their own little tree home.

With a birch branch base, I drilled a hole in the middle and added birch twigs for the branches.  Very simple.
As winter approaches, they may look sweet adorned with mini snowflakes, ornaments, or winter fairies.

Warm wishes for a beautiful day.
Tonya

Thankfulness on a Dreary Day

Today as we spent the day inside while a cold rain fell outside, I took some extra time to be thankful for what I saw.

~thankful that the children enjoy books - both to "read" on their own and their never ending requests to be read to~



~autumn display on the top of my secretary~

What are you thankful for today?
Warm wishes,
Tonya

Harvest Fair and Homestead Chores

Sarah with some friends...

We went on an hour drive through our rural back roads to visit the annual autumn fair in Danville on Sunday.
What a picture perfect October day with brilliant blue skies and temperatures nearing 60 degrees.

Isaac eating Fair French Fries - a special treat

Abraham enjoying a bag of popcorn

There were many, many artists and vendors and so many people.   What a nice change it was to be among crowds of people as that doesn't often happen up here in northern Vermont.

Today is another brilliant autumn day with the most amazing blue skies and after lunch we will be working around the homestead ~ finishing up the painting of the barn, painting the small chicken coops, weeding and mulching the strawberries, and putting the gardens to bed.

Warm wishes, Tonya

Autumn Table

Grateful for ~

 many delicious meals of potatoes and butternut squash harvested from our gardens shared at this table with beeswax candles burning as the skies darken earlier each night

Thank you God.

Pumpkin Painting :: A Simple Children's Craft

This is a simple natural painting activity for you to do with your children to add a touch of autumn splendor to your home.

We each started with a blank birch branch slice.

Using Lyra watercolor paints (these are just wonderful!), we each got to work.

Depending on your child's age and skill, you could drill a hole in the top and then carve the end of a branch to fit in the hole snugly.  Cut off top of branch to length of pumpkin stem you desire.

Each one was made by a different age level, in case you couldn't tell:)  We allow for creative expression through art.  I added a piece of wool roving to my pumpkin's branch stem.

We put our pumpkins on our seasonal shelf.

Warm wishes, Tonya

As autumn approaches....

...we begin to use the heat from the woodstove instead of the warmth from the outside air.

How is the transition from summer to autumn changing your routines?  (or winter to spring for our friends in the southern hemisphere)

Warm wishes, Tonya