Here come the peas!

After a week of dancing with the IRS, Sunday mornings are for the homestead.  There is much to do, and a span of hours to get it all done.

During the week, my husband cares for the kids, animals, and house, so indoors, it is only the once weekly necessities that draw us in.  Bathrooms, ironing, vaccuuming - all tackled before 7 am.

Glad to have that behide me.

Once the kids, and the sun, was up, it was onwards and outdoors.  Cleaning chicken coops, hauling wagons full of composted hay to the garden, continuing the annual spring extravanga of raking gravel off of the front yard.  Oh, yeah.  That's the fun stuff.

And lets not forget about those guinea pigs - who need their giant condo of an adobe cleaned out every Sunday...  Not the fun stuff.  But, they are soft, and randomly cute as they beg for carrots everything single time I walk by them on the way to the fridge....

Wonder if that means I am walking by the fridge too often....

Today was also the day to rack the 4 half gallon containers of soon-to-be hard cider.

Or, at least, I hope they will be hard cider....

Really hope.

The seedlings started last weekend are popping up - broccoli, kale, onions.  Tomatoes, however...well, I don't know.  Hidden, they are.  But hidden, I hope they do not stay.  This is the first summer that our garden's bounty will be feeding more than our own family. 

Those tomatoes have a job to do.

And now it is 8am.  And I will probably continue the morning by begging my kids to get dressed, and heading back outside again.  High temps are in our future, and I was to get my share before it is back to the office this afternoon. 

'Cause, that's just how we roll ;)

The done and undone...

Yesterday, I awoke with the moon shining down from the silvery sky.  The lightness glowed through the room and brought a general happiness to my thoughts.  I love awakening naturally like this.  The fact that it was 3:35 am did not change this feeling.  Instead, I took charge of the morning, resetting the alarm for my husband, who was home and able to care for the kids before they were off for school, and headed down for the start of the day. 

The kitchen found me brewing two double espressos, which I up-ended into a thermos, and after a quick dressing, was out the door.  It is an early morning at the office - which continued into a long productive day. 

And then found me returning home with the stars.

Today is a different story.  My husband was the early riser, setting off before the dawn for a hunting excursion with a friend.  I remained warm and sleeping in our bed until my son awoke and snuggled in.  Soon after was my daughter, who, with a new sense of independence, set about to beginning her day without us.  She feels, that a the ripe age of seven and one half, a new need to take more responsibility for starting her own morning, heading downstairs, turning on the heat, and finding her breakfast.  I can't complain for this new movement, but is does leave me a bit nostalgic for the days that I was a bit more needed.

Now the day is seriously underway and I am trying to right my sails and figure out just what needs to be done.  The chickens are cared for, but the guinea pigs still need their cage to be cleaned out.  A quiche is in the oven, but I have not yet started a new batch of hard cider.  The list of done and undone is spread out before me, and I may need some more fortification before I can jump on board.

It will be a busy day.

Cleanings....and growth.

It has been pretty peaceful, yet productive, on the homestead for the last couple of days.  It has been nice, but such rhythm lets one day roll into the other, until you sudden realize that it is Sunday already.

Yesterday was spent cleaning.  Our house, like many others, have been run over by all things 'kid' for the last several years or so...  We have purposely had hand-me-downs and upcycled furniture to get us through these growing years, as we know that many things will go to ruin by basic wear and tear of two active children before their growing is done.

We are finally trying to move past this, and yesterday was a great step in that direction.  Yesterday morning, the kids went off to a day with their grandparents, and the husband and I tore much of the house apart.  We are overrun with the outgrown toys and clothes that the kids had no use or need for anymore.  At the end of our work, we had a minivan full of contributions to the local GoodWill and 1 lone bag of trash.  That bag was mostly filled with broken items that would have no second use...but I still hate the thought ot it.  Joel Salatin's words ring in my ears, saying there is no "away"...but I am glad that the reuseables far out weighed those items headed for the landfill.

Today will hopefully bring a new-to-us dining room table and chairs.  Since we moved to this house, we have been using a table and chairs set that has taken quite the beating.  They have been used for every possible reason...craft...paint...play doh...and some eating, of course, and they are showing their wear.  The table leaf was crafted by my husband in the hours before a long ago Thankgiving dinner when seating expansion was needed, and the chairs are especially on their last legs.  The seats have been replaced by wooden boards and covered with seat cushions, and the legs are held in place by lots of spare wood screws.  I am looking forward to chairs that do not arc and threaten to tumble each time we sit on them. 

The rest of the possible future happenings are quiet.  The dog frenzy has calmed down to a mere whisper, and my search for bees this spring has led me to point of reconsideration.  But, for now I will table those items to the back of my mind and just look forward to a day home with my children.  The rest may unfold as it may.

Dogs???

So, there might be dogs on the horizon on this homestead.  And not just any dogs, but 100 plus pound purebreed German Shepards to be precise.  Oh yes.  Two of them.

See, its kind of a long rambling story.  My husband has to take a trip next year - a fairly long trip.  He has done this kind of long trip before, having gone to Texas several years ago, so that kids are familiar with the idea.

My son, however, now thinks that everyone going on a long trip must be going to Texas.  'Cause that were people go, right?  Hmmm....sounds good to me - bet its warmer than Vermont right now...

But anyways, I come home two days ago to learn that the kids now know about the pending trip.  Or rather, I come home to hear "MOM!  DAD IS GOING ON A TRIP TO TEXAS AND WE ARE GETTING A DOG!!".

Well, I think, a good evening to you too!

A dog had been a discussion point, but had been tabled until after the husband had returned from the trip.  Now it was past the table, and flying straight to reality.

So, the discussion moves on.

It is my daughter who is most excited.  "Mom, Dad said we are getting a dog!  I want to name it Watcher or Hunter, or Ranger...or Princess!  Yes!  Princess!"

Giggles..."OK darl'in, go tell that to your Dad...."

Then the discussion ensues..."This can be my dog, right?  The rest of you can get your own dog.  Right?"

Then I worry about the dog not having a canine friend.  'Cause I am just that crazy.

So, I ask my son "Do you want a dog?".

My son answers "No.  I want a movie"

Oh, well that is easier...

My daughter carries on "I am going to get a dog named Princess and I will enter him (yes, HIM) into a dog show, and with all of my winning, I will buy my dog toys".

Now, that spurs an idea with my son. 

He follows with "Yes!  I need a dog too!  I will enter him in a dog show and with all of my winnings, I will buy my dog a MOVIE!!".

Oh my goodness, I love the way he thinks.

So, stay posted....time can only tell how this turn out!

Blessings of independence....

Joining in today with He Sows and She Sews today, for "I'm Blessed"

I am blessed with kids that are growing and becoming more responsible and independent each day.

Today, as I was hiding away in the bathroom, covertly putting on my makeup, I heard the bang of dishes falling into the sink. 

My kids had finished their breakfast and cleared their dishes without any reminders or prompting.

A huge blessing, for sure!

House rules...

I am realizing that we have some weird rules in our house.  Most families have rules for their kids like, "Don't jump on the furniture", or "Wash your hands before dinner".  You know, things that make sense.

In our house, our rules are much more specific.  We have to be.  These kids are creative, and they try to out think us at every turn. 

You want some examples?  Hmmm...let's see.

Well, for starters, we have, "No Candy Canes in the Bathtub",

And "No Stockpiling Water Balloons in Your Bedroom".

There is also "No Climbing into Chicken Coops",

"No Watergun Standoffs in the Bathroom When Your Mother is Trying to Get You Out of the Water."

And "No Climbing Up the Front of the Refridgerator".

Necessary rules include "No Drawing on Your Brother"

And "No Sitting on Your Sister's Head".

I really think that I shouldn't have to say these things....but, in this house, we do. We have learned from experience, if we don't make a rule for it, it will happen.  And these kids have limitless energy and creativity....

I, on the other hand, am running out of energy... ;)

6am...

It is 6am.

The calm before the storm.

Does everyone else have this period of time?  You know, that small matter of minutes between when you finish your morning chores and the kids wake up?  That tiny period of time when you can sneak just one more cup of coffee before it all takes off at a flying leap?

I love this moment.  It never lasts long, and frankly, some mornings, it doesn't exist at all, but it is beautiful when it is here.  The time is yours, and is only halted by the sound of feet hitting floor up above you.  That's when the mad dash to be the first to get down stairs, the first for the biggest blanket, the ONE who gets the blue cup...when it all begins.

I know that I should fill this time for productive events.  Or at least eat breakfast.  But the cup of coffee and banana from 4:30 will have to do for now.  'Cause I am not getting off this couch until the house wakes up.  The kids are sleeping and the animals are cared for.  And for now, that is enough.

All is quiet.

A family day....

The day started late, and is still going at full steam.....

That is said with the understanding that late is 6:15am.  Which is really late for this family....

Saturday is the day that I give myself off from the office work.  I don't get up early to dial in, and I don't stay up late working the spreadsheets.  Saturday is all about home and family.

So, it made sense to sleep in...and be woken by the cuddly kiddos.  While the husband escaped downstairs to start the coffee, I stayed put and rejoiced in the moment....until the fighting began...

The fighting aways amazed me...they just got up - what is there to fight about?  And how do they have the energy to fight first thing in the morning?  I can scarcely open my eyes without coffee, much less engage in a heated debate over who has more room in the bed, who got up first, and who gets claim on the blue cup....

But either way, the morning had begun.  I escaped the room, and headed out to the feathered ladies.  Frost had fallen, and lay on grass in a multitude of beautiful crystals.  I was very thankful that I took the time yesterday evening to harvest many of the pumpkins so that they could hide in the safety of the garage.  Frost on pumpkin skin weakens and lead to early rot...something we learned last year and were not anxious to experience again.  And the frost, albit beautiful, made certain the knowledge that the sweet potatoes would need to harvested.

Once the ladies were dealt with and freed for a day of free ranging, it was back in for the breakfast and cleaning segments of the day.  While anxious to get out to the garden, those duties could not be escaped....and the harvest would come soon enough....

And come it did, with a fierce hardiness.....we had planted the sweet potato slips in previously unbroken ground, which made freeing them that much more difficult.  Add this to the fact this was the first time for us with that crop, and I was just pleased to have any harvest.  The bounty filled one small reuseable grocery bag, and I felt satisfied.  These would have to rest in the warmth and sun to help the skins to cure, much like the pumpkins and the winter squash.  At the moment, they are all resting together in the tractor wagon, which will be hidden away from the frost each night, and dragged back out to the sun each morning....

And seeing that frost had fallen this early in September, we have come to terms with the fact our time on the land this fall may be limited.  Therefore, every moment that we can travel cross town to work on our soon-to-be camp site needs to be take advantage of.  And so, we did....for many hours, to the chagrin of our children.  They were nicely self entertained for a good hour, building forts from fallen pine branches, and trying to make a teeter-totter from a dropped tree...but soon became a bit on the bored side....and were happy when we tired as well and decided it was time to head out. 

We had wanted to travel into town afterwards for some grocery shopping, but, honestly, we were so tired and so filthy from the work.  Instead, we traveled to the local small store to get the supplies that we needed for dinner....the big store could wait for another day.

And now, we are here.  I have water simmering for spaghetti, and meatballs are browning.  It would be a hardy, family dinner together - something that doesn't happen nearly as often as it should.

So, we will enjoy this moment, and rest up for another day.  For, tomorrow will be another one, chock full of work to do, fun to have, and family time to spend. 

We hope everyone is having a joyful Saturday as well...

A long day....and a long, long night....

Holy flip~  I am so exhausted this morning....I simply can't get out of my own way.

Yesterday was a bonus day....a rainy day....a prime day to get things done around the house.

And we succeeded!  We cooked and cleaned, scrubbed and canned, crocheted and organized.  We filled every moment to the max, and at the end, I was completely empty.  Not another iota of energy left to be expended.

But, as crowning parent achievement, we let our daughter have a friend over for a few hours in the afternoon.  They entertained themselves well, with scarcely a peep to be heard. 

But, unbeknownst to me....they were fully engrossed in the telling of scary stories. 

All seemed fine until about 9 that night.  We were headed to bed, with the plan to rise very early in the morning to get some work done for the office.  And it was right about that time that we learned our daughter really isn't scary story material.

Needless to say....it was a very long night.....

And this may be a very long day....

A new rhythm....

So, the kids are back in school.  And a more certain rhythm is returning to our life. 

Now, five days a week, the days will begin and end on more certain terms.  Children will rise to prepare for a new day of learning within that brick building and will fall asleep at earlier hours, after more scheduled dinners and homework sessions.  Much of the unpredicatability of the day will leave us.

This change is occurring just as work in the garden is slowing down...at least for the moment.  We rushed to harvest as much as possible before Irene arrived, and now there are very few crops left to deal with.  We do have the garden expansive left to work on this Fall, but that will be put off for a few more weeks.

So, in the meantime, we work to settle into this new routine.  And look forward to the calming sense of peace that this rhythm will bring us.

Time to start the morning...

I think today will be one of those random days....I just have that feeling.  Lots to do, none of it too terribly crazy.  The mornings are cooler, which is lovely, but reminds me of Fall.  While I dread the coming of Fall (cause Fall is just a snapshot before Winter...), there is something lovely about it.  In a decomposing fallen leaf kinda way, of course.  But, for the moment, it is still summer.

And I know that this quiet will be very short lived.  As in - the kids will be up in an hour, and I will forget this quiet ever existed.  In an hour, I will be begging the daughter to arise from her bed (I have been known to drag her bodily from it, but frankly, she is getting too big....or I am getting too old and weak...) and the son will be trying to reason for more time on the computer.  I will need to make breakfasts, lunches, gather supplies for preschool and summer camp...The chickens will be awake, the cats will want to eat, and the guinea pigs will begin their morning protests. 

But for the moment, I enjoy the quiet.

As the kids are getting older, they are getting social lives that rival and surpass my own.  I am happy for that, as I was never a particularly outgoing child (I think that they take after their father here...he was one of those guys in highschool...you know the ones...), but I think I will need a calendar for their own appointments and playdates!  But, a busy child during the day makes a tired child at night, which I something I will always be a fan of!  I just hope I don't forget something...

But for now, it is just quiet.  I think that another cup of coffee awaits.  Then I will try to convince myself that it is a good idea to arise from the couch (this is something that the mind and the body will never agree on) and to get in line with the world.  I have supplies to gather and lists to make.  It is time for the day to begin...