Making and Doing

It seems we can't sit still around here these days.  If you do find any one of us in the same place for a few minutes there is a good chance some sort of creativity is going on.

One of Corey's big projects lately has involved trips to Goodwill to purchase old answering machines and the like.  He's got two new books: Robotics and Unscrewed.  The first is a how-to for making robots about of recycled electronics, the second is all about taking apart and salvaging parts from old electronics safely.  He hasn't made a robot yet, but he is learning so much about the way things work.  I am excited to see what he finally comes up with...

Molly on the other hand has been expressing her opinions on t-shirts.  She recently learned how to do freezer paper stencils with our dear friend at Dragon Fly Farm.  There have been a few t-shirts made but this one is my favorite.  Molly has been a vegetarian since she was about 7 and hasn't really wavered one bit.  This particular t-shirt was made for her and she also made one for the grumpy farmer himself to wear while he's caring for the pigs he raises for us and lots of other folks.  He does give those pigs lots of love, which in my opinion results in some of the best pork I've ever had and we will continue to eat meat much to our sweet girl's dismay.

Greg has been spending every spare moment recording an album for the RPM challenge.  Musicians are challenged to write and record an entire album in one month.  He has been doing great, hopefully I can post a link to some of the songs soon as they really are quite good.  Oh this man of mine is talented indeed!

As for me, I haven't been super creative lately...maybe that would explain my somewhat grumpy mood.  Between school and recent burst pipe that has resulted in a relocation of the craffice I just haven't had the time.  I did recently decide it was time to finish the quilt I started for Greg and I last year.  While I love Amy Butler Lark I am doing the backing with some solid cottons that were a bit friendlier to my wallet.  Hopefully I'll be finishing that over the next few weeks and not just talking about it.
We are all looking forward to spring around here.  Though I'd like to get one more snow shoe in before all the snow is gone I am feeling an itch to dig in the garden.

The Weekend

This past weekend was a fun one around our house, busy as it may be sometimes:

 We got our holiday tree.  Something I truly love about this season, it's in the stand, getting used to the environment, but we had to throw some sweet beads in to get it started.

 This may be my favoritest tree ever!  I love this curve half way up its trunk.  Of course no matter what we do it looks crooked somehow, but I love it.

An early birthday present for this sweet boy of mine.  He turns 11 tomorrow!  But since the gift was the Star Wars Lego advent calender it only felt right to give it to him on the 1st.  Nothing beats seeing his smile in the morning when he opens up a new tiny Lego to build.  This is the second year with one of these and it's been great so far.

Extra gymnastics practice as we near meet season.
There was also a very girly sleepover involving make-overs and many giggles throughout the night.
There was a first basketball game of the season won!
A viewing of Elf with the kiddos...this movie makes me laugh out loud every time I watch it!
I snuck in some knitting, Greg had a gig and here we are Monday morning ready for another week.

How was your weekend?

The Weekend

This past weekend was full of rain, exactly what this household needed I think.
With the coming of October so soon we changed over the calender, filling in all the busy schedules around here.
We did a lot of much needed house cleaning, both big and small (see above).  There are some big changes going on around here in the future months, rooms are changes and things are feeling a bit chaotic.  So it was nice to try and get a bit more organized through it all.
Greg and I hemmed and hawed over a curriculum that I was interested in using, in the end we decided to stick with what we have as trying to rearrange the other to suit our needs would be too much work for this mama.
We all geeked out to some Star Trek Voyager, what fun this family has been having traveling through space with the crew of a star ship.
Greg of course played some music, lots of fun things coming up for The DHBC in the near future and that hubs of mine is super excited...if not a wee bit distracted.
There was  chicken tikka masala in the crock pot.
There was chess with dad, I do think if Corey continues to go to his weekly chess club meetings that it's only a matter of time before the hubs loses to this boy.
Of course there was crafting, when is there not really?  Viking shields, new beds for the doll house, some books are being worked on.
We didn't get outside much in this rain, but there was plenty of snuggling and I think everyone is starting off this week feeling well rested and accomplished.

How was your weekend?

Summer's End

It's funny, once September hits and we are schooling I automatically think fall, even though technically it is still summer (for a few more days at least).  So in the midst of busy schedules including all the fall activities:  soccer, gymnastics, more gymnastics, oh and soccer, throw in some school and try and find a time between Greg's work, my work and gigs to have a bit of late summer fun.

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I did a bit of complaining and whining over the weekend I must admit; I had my heart set on a far away adventure.  Over two hours of driving one way for some beautiful hikes, water falls and the such.  It is not often that my weekend off coordinates with Greg being gig free so I was a bit over zealous to say the least.  That sweet man of mine remained calm through all of my tantruming and somehow convinced me  that we could still have a lovely "get away" without venturing far from home leaving us time to still get some project progress around the house.

Well, what can I say?  When he's right, he's right.  The kids got in what was most likely the
last swim of the season,  one dog swam and played fetch, the other dog ran wild in the woods and this mama got exactly what she craved:  A perfect afternoon with the family outside surrounded by natures beauty.  And the real beauty here is that this spot is less than 10 minutes from home!  That means The hubs got "stuff done" around the house with a bit of help from our favorite farmer (thank you).  I even got in a flea market with my mom and Miss Molly...Pyrex heaven was found.

Oh we are a perfect match that man and I, he keeps me grounded when I need it and knows when to let me wander.   Thank you love for a wonderful weekend...

The First Trip to the Orchard

It's still a bit early for apple season to be full force, but we went for some early macs and empires this past weekend.  what a wonderful day.  I do love this time of year.  The rain held off on Saturday long enough for the first soccer game of the year, a lovely country drive that included purple potatoes, stunning river views and some Wait Wait Don't Tell Me on the radio.  I find that these drives make me feel so whole inside for some reason.  Greg and I laughing at talk radio, the kids sometimes listening, asking questions, Molly begging for the local pop station and all of us together.  I am complete.  

Funny how fast the apple picking goes now that these guys are bigger.  Everyone is very efficient, looking for the biggest best apples, quickly filling our bag.  Very no nonsense.  I found myself longing for and laughing a bit at the memories of toddlers, picking little unripe half eaten apples, spending 20 minutes looking at a blade of grass or a caterpillar.  Not this crowd, seems we were in and out of that orchard in no time.  Of course there were fresh cider donuts, and a quick swing for the boy before we headed home with 30 pounds of apples!

There will be crisp, pie, and of course apple sauce this week; and before we know it we'll be making a second trip to the orchard to fill our bags again.

Joining Amanda

How was your weekend?

Plain and Simple Fun

I can't believe that we are coming up onto Labor day weekend!  How on earth did that happen?  One week till school starts...really?  I don't feel ready, though I must admit I am looking forward to a more consistent rhythm.  For the joy of summer chaos is wonderful if not somewhat exhausting.

The last few days have been full for this little family.

 We've spent time with our sweet cousin Charlotte (oh she is irresistible)

 a bit of painting, this particular project is an on-going gnome village the kids are working on, I for one am anxious to see the end result.

 

swimming with friends

 s'mores over a backyard fire...yum!

and napping dogs.

And I've started working on a crochet rag rug, I am excited about this fun little project and will share more as it progresses (as well as the quilt).
As usual we have lots going on, we'll be spending this week trying to get ready for the school year ahead and doing some room re-arranging.
Is your school year starting soon?  What are you doing to get ready or have a bit of fun in between?

Linking with Amanda

Adventuring up the Coast

After meeting up with friends to see the Carolina Chocolate Drops, which by the way was amazing! We did a little kid switcheroo for a couple of days.  Molly headed back to the mountains with the girls and we kept an extra boy here with us on the coast.

Now these two are thick as thieves; they are always up for an adventure and not afraid to use their imagination.  So we packed a picnic lunch and headed north. 

Show these two an old civil war fort and they are off; it's a castle, there are battles with imaginary Knights, soldiers and ghosts.  I couldn't keep up if I wanted to, and kept thinking about two very special little boys I know who would simply love this adventure!

The views were amazing, of course there was some education of course, but most of all it was just an amazing adventure that they are still talking about this morning.

Of course there was an adventure for me on the way home as well.  Rt 1 in Maine is full of antiques and junk shops around every corner, always such a treat.

 I've been on the look out for a wooden ironing board for a while now and I finally scored one!  Now to find the perfect fabric to make a cover...any thoughts?

I also found a great piece of vintage Pyrex that I am completely in love with!  This morning I filled it with the first batch of peaches from the tree (thanks for picking them mom), Oh what to make what to make?

A wonderful adventure indeed, we all slept well last night and are looking forward to another fun filled day.  How was your weekend?

Linking with Amanda