Signs Of Fall

This afternoon I grabbed my camera and delighted in taking some pictures of the changing seasons.

Fall is upon us, even though the wind today is warm, we know it will be cold quickly. 

Aaron is busy putting up insulation and yesterday we got our third truck load of fire wood. We will need much more then that, but it's a start.

Today I am tackling a project, that I will post pictures of tomorrow if all goes well and I get it done. Until then, you all get to enjoy the signs of Fall. 

The kids have coined a new term in our house. One day last week Clara and Flora came running in from outside with a couple of leaves that where starting to change. They were so filled with excitement and yelled, " Mama, FEAST LEAVES!"

Today

I broke (we think) my finger in June. Last night I joked that because it was achy, the weather must be changing. Haha on me. It did. Today has been delightfully cool and a perfect day for baking!

I got lunch stuff cleaned up and then whipped up a pan of bar choco chip cookies. While those were making I got two dozen blue berry muffins ready for their turn in the oven. 

 

Both of those are done, and I then threw a chicken in to roast. We will eat that for dinner. Along with green beans, peas and carrots from the garden's picking.This afternoon we went to a neighbors to pick apples. We gathered the ones that were wormy for the chickens and the ones that were beat up for Amie and her pasture mates. While I work on a sewing project this evening, I am also going to be making apples butter with the good ones. Perfect thing to top oatmeal!

 

It feels like Fall today and I am so thrilled that my favorite season is here again!

Aaron has been plugging away at pealing off the layers on the inside of the walls to expose the beams, set new plugs/light switches and then insulate. It's coming along nicely. The kids have been enjoying a day of cooler temps and playing hide-and-seek.

Yesterday Aaron had another chiro apt and the doc is very happy with how well his back is staying in! Yahoo, and Thank God. My mom had a problem with her back when I was a child, and we have all hear horror storied of back problems. This scared me, and I am SO thankful that he is just fine. 

 

I am off to start washing apples!

 

 

 

 

So, remember yesterday's plans? Yeah, they didn't happen! Every time I would get busy with the painting, something else would come up. I have this bad habit of not doing anything else cleaning wise when I am working on a project. I need to get better about making time for everything.  I just stopped trying to paint and thought I would start up again after we tucked the kidos into bed. That didn't happen either. I wrote up a book review, loaded the dishwasher and jumped in the tub with my book....and could'nt put it down.  In fact, I was up until 1 am reading it! Its called The Black Madonna and you can see a sneak peak of it on the FIRST review page. VERY good!

So, the plan for today is to finish the laundry area, and start taking down the wall and old chimney where we need to put in brick, so we can hook up our new wood stove. Aaron's dad found a great deal on a wood heater for us. It doesn't look like you reg. wood stove, although it does have a place you can cook on. It will more then heat our house, and has a casing around it, so if the kids or our selves accident touch it, it wont burn. Since out living room area is small, this is prefect! It's got a nice long burn time and will be supper effecent. It is also brand new, never used!   They picked it up last night and delivered it. While its not the traditional wood stove, this should work very well! I am excited to be heating with wood soon! Lots of work ahead, but it is in sight! Yahoo!

 Today I am thankful for a wonderful start to the day, Aaron's hard work to provide for our family, the people he works with and my in-laws!

The first snow is on it's way. Some time this week the white stuff should start flying. A lot of people are not happy about this, but we are. After last winter of about 14inches of snow, we are looking forward to a "normal" winter of about 60inches or more! 

My mind is on gardening. I tucked in my flower beds and blueberries this last week with the leaves off our trees. I looked up and read about sugar maple and we are going to slowly replace the unproductive trees we have in the front yard with these wonders. Just think, in a few years, we could have home grown/made maple syrup! :) Yum!

I ran across some of the garden pictures of the summer before. I missed having a garden last year, but I am looking forward to a wonderful one this next year.

Clara asked if we can plant her a cherry tree and Flora wants a peach tree. Daddy wants to plant a couple hazelnuts (you need two for pollinating needs) Clara informed us that Andrew needs and apple tree so I think I will chose a plum...since all the other are gone. :-)

Today I am thankful for my mom and sister. They are a couple of my dearest friends. Love you guys!

Aaron is thankful for coffee.

Clara and Flora are both thankful for pickles. They love them!

Andrew is thankful for his sisters who love to play with him. (the kids have been playing very well together this morning!)

Aaron has class all day today. I am so glad he is in class now and doing well! 

 

The nice weather we had these past few days are gone. It's rainy and wet and the weather people are saying we could be getting snow soon. I am so ready..... which leads me to my thankful today.

 

I am so thankful for a father-in-law who is taking the time to help us find a good wood stove! I am lost when it comes to wood stoves (the buying part, I can make and keep a fire going no problem!) I am looking forward to the warm, deep heat you get from wood. Right now we just have plug in space heaters and an electric stand alone fire place. It makes the power bills in the winter outrageous! 

The rainy weather today is making me want to clean. I have left over chicken to make a pot pie for Aaron has a surprise when he gets home tonight. The kids are all resting, so I had better get at it!

Clara is thankful for baths

 

Flora is thankful for sleeping in Andrew's bed for her nap

 

Andrew is thankful for food...he ate 2 breakfasts today! Growing boy! hehe

Sweet Sweet Sweet!

Since our reserve gas money was needed for the toilet adventure earlier this week, we stayed home this Sabbath and listened to services and took a walk. It was a bit over 60* this afternoon and wonderfully sunny. We loaded the kids and dogs up, drove out of town a couple miles to a dirt road and let everyone  run. Mama got a nice walk, and we all quite enjoyed it. 

We love her so much...she is such a wonderful dog.

There is a Millie in the grass...somewhere. She was so funny bounding along.

Basset Hounds are the funniest dogs! She kept up though! It was Lyla who got worn out and would run with the girls, lay down and wait until we all caught up, then go again!

Every 15 feet or so, Sir Dew would flop on the ground...

...and play in the dirt! :)

Today we are all thankful for the wonderful area we live in. It's so pretty in all seasons!

Thankful For....

Since it is November already (where HAS this year gone!), and Thanksgiving is at the end of the month. I though it would be a nice idea to post something our family is thankful for each day. 

Daddy: I am thankful for my family.

Mama: That we live in a country where we are still free to worship God. It scares me to think of the time when it won't be. I am thankful that I can own and read my Bible! So many people can't!

Clara: Thankful for playing outside.

Flora: I am Thankful for Daddy!

Andrew: Trucks! (Mama is guessing, but I bet its pretty close! :)

What are you thankful for?

Something rare happened yesterday. We were ready to leave for church almost an hour early, and with no stress or rushing!

We decided to leave and take a bit of a drive to enjoy all the fall colors!

The glorious fall colors just "popped" against the dark greens and browns of the wet landscape.

We enjoyed our extra time enjoying The Master Artists work!

I love Fall

It's my favorite season. Cool crisp nights and mornings, but the afternoon is still warm enough to be out. The wonderful colors, the coziness of preparing for winter.

Knitting slippers, getting out the footed pjs for the kids. Making sure we have plenty of warm blankets handy.

Getting out fall decotations, cuddling under a quilt while reading books are watching a movie.

yes, the tree is side ways....blogger is being a pill!

Warm cups of coffee, tea or cocoa,  The Feast and Thanksgiving, the first snows. 

Yes, Fall is my favorite season!

What is yours?