November continues, with her shortening days and glorious sunsets. There were colds to be fought off and power outages and the slow calm before the holiday storm and at last the fulfillment of many fond dreams... the Peanuts Movie!

The Right Shade of Orange :: Tea for All :: Preparing :: Migration :: Tea Tastes Better when Filtered through the Tardis :: These Two Always Make Me Happy :: Sometimes its Better to be a Shadow :: When the Lights Go Out :: Shimmer :: After the Storm :: Battleship doesn't Require Electricity

Finishing Well

The summer of 2014 passed by so quickly with very little to show for it, so this year I was determined to enjoy every last second and make the most of our time of no-school. As the end of the long vacation rolled nearer, the kids and I grabbed hold and did so many things that we enjoy doing together.

There were stops at Jamba Juice and strolls through the orchard, read-alouds on the picnic blanket and trips to Kohl's to try on funny clothes, the meal prep was as simple and fresh as possible and the playdates with friends added some variety, there was a little bit of bike riding and a whole lot of concerts in the park, and most of all we had fun. The summer came to an end and I had no regrets, no surprise that the time was gone and we hadn't had time to take it all in. We didn't go camping or make any trips to the beach. We didn't get away for a vacation anywhere exciting. But we savored our time and the simple pleasures of life.

The only thing that could have possibly made it better would have been to share every second with the Farmboy instead of sending him off to the office every day.

Summer Days

When I look back on this Summer I will remember it as a hot one.

Hot and dry and wonderful.

Don't get me wrong, its not the heat that I have loved.

What I have loved is the pace, still full of stitching deadlines and chores, but with time to breathe, to study, to read out loud to the kids, to have playdates with friends and cousins, to spend time with my sisters (both have just returned for the Summer after three years away).

And the kids, my dearest heartbeats, hearing them giggle and play and fight and negotiate and have the freedom to just be kids together. I adore them. I adore their ages. I adore their grubby fingernails and dirt-embedded necks, her growing batch of freckles, his shade-seeking tendencies. The only thing that could possibly make this Summer better than it is would be for the Farmboy to get to shed his work responsibility and stay home with us.

Oh, and air conditioning. That would be nice too.

Homegrown :: Family :: Pulling Weeds :: Ahead of Schedule :: Marionberries :: Before there was Stained Glass, there were Butterfly Wings :: Oxalis :: Together, Always :: Faded :: They Beg to Chase Me Up the Driveway :: Morning in the Greenhouse :: Spirea :: This is Why I have Eyelet Curtains and Wooden Windowsills :: Summer Read-Aloud #2, Charlotte's Web :: Growing :: Clothesline at Sunset :: I Would Hide there Too :: Washington Side of the Columbia River :: Sign of New Life