Children of the Corn

Philip turns 7 this week so we partied it up yesterday at a local corn maze. The atmosphere was a little over the top with the other activities they have to accompany the maze, but I'll take it over an inside, video-game-type place any day. I mean, at least we were outside the whole time!

We spent a few minutes jumping on this giant pillow partly buried in the ground.

Then ate some party food.

Next up...into the corn.

which we might have never gotten out of...

being directed by 3 six-year-olds...

but big brother Paul and an older friend saved the day! (and they had already found all of the punch card stations while we wandered in circles)

I don't think anyone minded getting lost in the corn for an hour.

Although Finn preferred hanging out with the carved wooden pumpkin.

Then we panned for gems,

and found several nice ones!

An enjoyable time was had by all, but the most enjoyable was how soundly everyone slept last night after all that fresh air and exercise! :)

PS. Hop on over to Gardenmama and see the lovely giveaway she has going! Eek! So adorable!

Indian Summer

what we're doing this evening instead of blogging...

enjoying our Indian summer...

**That blue thing is just a marshmallow launcher. Don't be scared.

4 years! (and WIP Wednesday)

Four lovely, thrifted, vintage glasses to celebrate four wonderful years of marriage! Happy anniversary to my sweet husband!

Oh, and he got me a swift! Does that man love me, or what?! (I promise to take a better picture in the light of day, but this was a quick-y shot last night before it's first turn with yarn. Yippee!)

For WIP Wednesday...

I finally got these bowls felted enough to nest correctly.

And I knitted this super chunky yarn from the farm into a very toasty hat for myself.

Also in progress this week, a hat for Paulie's Christmas stocking knitted from Cascade Magnum.

And what I think will be a snake scarf to match. :)

Also in progress, the Boyfriend Hat for Philip's Christmas stocking in camouflage (or grassy knoll as Lamb's Pride calls it)

Happy WIP Wednesday!

Celebrating Paulie!

Paulie turned double digits in style this evening! Paul was out of town for the big day so we celebrated today...

with homemade chocolate chip-ice cream sandwich cookies...

and plenty of brightly wrapped presents.

Paul received several new books, all of which he was very excited about, and a few new toys as well.

Of course, we had to head immediately into the yard to try them out, despite the rainy, dark day we're having.

Finn needed a little help getting the rocket to really fly so Paulie helped him out by dropping him on the stomp pad.

We're lucky our neighbors love us since the basketball hoop is in their yard and most of the rockets ended up there (or on the roof) as well. :)

Paulie seemed to have a wonderful birthday, and we can't believe our oldest is 10 now! Wow!

simple autumn pleasures

Autumn in our area is shaping up quite nicely. Finn has finally taken to wearing his gnome hat a bit, which is what happens, I guess, when siblings decide to wear your things. We have been thoroughly enjoying the cooler weather and the slight chill of the evenings, not yet so cool as to drive us indoors.

This evening was the last evening that I'm home alone with Finn and Elizabeth (as Paul arrives home in the wee hours tonight). We decided to read some autumn poetry, beginning with Red in Autumn and ending with The Mouse and the Pumpkin. Finn fell in love with The Mouse and the Pumpkin and so we read it again and again...and again.

In my garden grows a pumpkin

orangy and gold.

Along came a little mouse
so the story goes.

Nibble, nibble went the mouse;

'til the pumpkin was a house:

two small windows

and a door

and lots of feathers on the floor.

There the mouse slept well, I know,

even when the cold winds blow.

Shortly thereafter, we moved to the keyboard and picked out the tune to the first autumn grace in All Year Round. Finn and Elizabeth are always up for learning a new chorus and loved this one. There is something about autumn that makes singing and reading seasonal poetry together so cozy and beautiful.

Over at Turkey Cookies, Jessica is hosting a Soup Swap. I couldn't resist getting in on the action. Such a warm, autumnal soup, this Southwest Pumpkin & White Bean Soup.

Southwest Pumpkin & White Bean Soup

2 tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp cumin

2.5 cups cooked white beans

1 tbsp ketchup

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (opt)

4 cups veggie broth

4 cups pureed pumpkin

1 cup fresh or frozen corn

3/4 cup fresh or frozen chopped spinach

salt to taste

1 tbsp lemon juice

Cook first 4 ingredients in skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes until onion is starting to become translucent. Transfer to dutch oven with remaining ingredients, except lemon juice. Simmer for 30 minutes until tastes have blended.

Friends, Furry Animals, and a Fun Fall Day

Our friends from Zach Aboard were in town again this weekend. We were fortunate enough to be able to hang out with them twice this weekend. They came over to our house on Saturday evening for dinner and kept Finn and I company since we were the only ones around this weekend.

Then Sunday afternoon, we were able to twist their arms *wink, wink* into meeting us at the Farm Fest at our favorite local sheep farm.

As soon as Finn and I arrived, we were greeted with a couple of very cute alpacas. One was particularly taken with Finn's crackers.

Within minutes, a bee landed on Finn's neck and gave him his first bee sting. He spent the next 30 minutes mostly like this:

We discovered this small pen of a couple of sheep under a tree, and found that it made Finn feel much better when we sat under the tree and sang to the sheep.

After that, he felt ready to carry on to the other activities of the farm. We visited the barn, where we watch the sheep shearing each year.

While Finn was watching the sheep, mommy slipped into the wool room to see (and feel) the huge bags labeled by sheep name full of raw wool.

From the sheep barn, we moved on to looking at the wonderful selection of wools.

Finn found baubles to keep him entertained while mommy was yarn shopping.

Then he purchased his two favorites (and we picked out a few for Elizabeth's Christmas stocking.)

A few sheep dog demonstrations were planned throughout the day. Finn was excited to see how the dog would run around the sheep, and they would all take off running.

Many folks were spinning, and Finn needed to stop to see all of them, but none were so interesting as this lady who was spinning straight from a live angora rabbit. You can barely tell she's holding a live rabbit, he was so relaxed.

We were able to catch up with some friends there. I think Finn and Grady could have just petted the angora rabbits all day. You can't blame them for wanting to hang out with all that fluffiness.

A few weavers were present as well. It was so wonderful to see so many fiber craftsmen and let Finn get close and see them work. I wish that all of the kids could have seen it!

We also were able to see Cindy and her family again for a bit before they headed back home. All in all, it was a wonderful fall weekend!

Things of Autumn

So many autumnal things have been appearing in and around our house lately. I know that other parts of the country are further immersed than our neck of the woods, but we're starting to see a few signs of autumn here as well. The skies, when it's not raining, are so blue and clear. The air, fresh and crisp. We're taking full advantage while we can.

riding bikes after the rain

spreading seeds of withering plants

watching our maple tree shift to red

enjoying a newly finished shawl

in the brisk late afternoon air

while the mums explode everywhere

Inside our house, the nature table has been transformed with the yellows, oranges, reds and purples that mirror the shift outdoors.

Our book basket has also been given a makeover for autumn. I posted a list of many of our autumn books last year. We've also acquired a few more over the last couple of months.

Stormy Weather ~ out-of-print, thrifting find at our favorite used book store, cute little story about a girl who goes for a walk and watches Mr. Winter sweeping in the new season

Apple Cake ~ very sweet story about swapping what you have for what you need with the apple cake recipe on the back of the book!

Pumpkin Moonshine ~ oh how I love Tasha Tudor and her sweet illustrations, wonderful little pumpkin carving story

Christopher's Harvest Time ~ does anyone else's children not love this story as much as some of the other Elsa Beskow books? Mine enjoy the characters of September and Mrs. Cabbage, but find the story a bit tedious, I think.

**Thanks to everyone for your kind and encouraging words yesterday.**