An Apple Each Day

The two orchards bordering the big field here on the farm have an abundant supply of big apples this year. We decided to share them with the porcupine and deer this year and picked about 60 lbs for storage, sauce and cider. It has been a fun daily project to head out and fill a bag during Kasper's nap or with both kids...

The trees are beautiful, old and crooked and in need of some TLC, but I love them for all their arthritic charm.

A quick walk across the field and we are home again to start the preserving. I make a simple applesauce of just peeled, softened apples with a dab of water and put them through the blender and boil again. We have also been making and sharing a traditional apple butter and a cardamom cider apple butter recipe I found in this book Soren bought for me a few years ago.

My parents gave us their cider press last year and the kids love making their own cider (and it makes for sleepy kids at bedtime too!).

Happy Harvesting!

First Egg!

Have I told you how much I love our little lady flock?! Oh my! I keep telling Soren it is like having my own fan club. They race up to me every morning, chase after me into the garden, to the mailbox or wherever we go and now love being picked up... They are fantastic - and now - well, now they are laying eggs! It cannot get much better than that!

We consume so many eggs around here so this is such a wonderful blessing! Thanks Henny Penny, Virginia Lacey, Penny Lane, Ponybow Pixie and Little Red Riding Hood!

First Day of No School

Today we start on a fun little journey... Mama doing teacher time, circle time, reading, writing and numbers and the list goes on... So many reasons for doing it and so very many opinions on whether or not we are making the right choice, but for the little loves and me - it is all feeling just about right. Happy Day! Our kindergartener...

And the little class clown...

I'll try to share a little of what we are working on each week or so... Lots of ideas are flowing through my head right now!

Popular culture's influence on me

"Your life is your life don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission. Be on the watch. There are ways out. There is a light somewhere. It may not be much light but it beats the darkness. Be on the watch. The gods will offer you chances. Know them. Take them. You can’t beat death but you can beat death in life, sometimes. And the more often you learn to do it, the more light there will be. Your life is your life. Know it while you have it. You are marvelous the gods wait to delight in you." Am I the only one completely taken with a Levi's commercial?! Such silliness... I have been working so much on giving to my children the wisdom and love I wish for them as they grow and this just resonates with me - live and be Y O U!