Our Laundry

First of all a happy fall to everyone! I was a little delayed in posting our changing of the seasons, then it just seemed too late. We marked the occasion with fresh off the needles fall hats for the littles, a cleaning of the nature table and putting out the fall books. Oh, and some mums for the mama.

On a more fun, well for the littles it was, note - we took a trip to the laundromat. I do believe that Piper may have been there once before, but was too young to remember. Exciting to see a big laundry room filled with lots and lots of machines.

Calder was memorized watching the washing through the front window. Until he discovered riding in the laundry carts. Where he kept trying to pull up on the side unless I was in constant motion with them.

For me, all I could think of was the nights Zac and I spent in this very spot before we put in our laundry room. When we'd put off doing laundry until every last stitch of clothing had been worn and we were out of socks. And even then we'd try to hold off until dollar wash Wednesday. We'd fill a whole row of machines. Try to stagger the drying so that the fold pile wasn't as daunting. And we'd just sit there together, alone. I thought of how thankful I am for the laundry room I have in our home. Even when the laundry hamper never seems to be empty. I'm thankful for the lack of time we have, alone, to just sit together, as much as I'm thankful for the moments we do have.

Weekend Doings

Football season has begun. Sunday is a highlight of Zac's week now. A day when everyone, but the mama, dresses to cheer on their beloved Bears. Zac beams like the proud papa he is when Piper starts chanting, 'bear down Chicago Bears!'

Hope your weekend was just as filled with cheer as ours.

Whoa!

Whoa, where have we been?! Well, there was some pesto making and freezing. There was a short trip out of town with Zac's family. Followed by some making of applesauce, canning, making more sauce, canning, making of tomato sauce, canning, trip to the Ninepatch, sauce, and canning. Our pantry is getting stuffed. The canner was finally put away this week, probably not completely for this year but for now.

Seasons are changing around our house. Slowly. Just starting to see some colored leaves. Mornings are cool, as are the evenings. We're seeing the need for jackets on our morning nature walks. Since my camera was in a small hiatus most of while we've been away I thought I'd share what we're seeing these days on our walks.

Happy weekending to you and yours.

Ice Cream (in a bag)

We have an abundance of mint. Apparently, its the one thing in our garden that the rabbits have no interest in, or maybe we have so much that they can't seem to put a dent in it. I've been cutting and drying it for tea for a month now. That, however, can only get you so far.

I came across a recipe for mint chocolate chip ice cream last summer. We don't have a ice cream maker so that never was attempted. Then I read this post and thought we'd give it a try. Who knew you could make ice cream in a bag. An attempt to hang on to these last days of summer.

I was surprised at how cold the bag of ice and salt got. The directions I found said five minutes till you had ice cream. Ours didn't work like that. I had put at least triple their recipe amount into our bags, guessing that makes the difference. We worked on that bag for over half an hour, until our hands were nearly frozen. It was still milk shake consistency at best. I tossed it into the freezer. Went back to it every hour to massage it a bit. It was a thick chunky milk shake by bed time. My hopes were not high as I went to bed.

By morning it was done. We tried it after dinner that night. And it turned out good. Much different flavor than store bought mint ice cream. A good, natural, vivid mint taste. Pretty perfect with chocolate chips.

Run, Jump, Forward Roll

We've been enjoying a tumbling class for the past few weeks. By we, I mean Piper is enrolled in the class, Calder finds great amusement in all the kids, Zac and I sit proudly grinning at our adorably uncoordinated daughter with her expressive faces. I found it wonderful that when asked to stand in line she had no idea what they were talking about. Who needs that when your life is lived at home.

I have to give her credit, she's doing great. Unlike the other kids, who all have a year or two on her, Piper's a first timer. It sometimes takes her a bit of studying of the other kids to be able to do the task that's asked of her, but she gets it.

Piper is loving tumbling. She picks a special outfit to wear each week, which is a joy in of itself for her. She likes the trampolines to jump on. The mats, 'so when you fall it doesn't hurt'. She loves the flipping over, and over, and over.

Oh and her favorite part of class...the piece of candy they give out at the end. Despite Piper's love for tumbling she tells me in fall she might want to try sunshine tot yoga. She may change her mind again in the weeks before tumbling is over.

HGH Picnic 2010

We had our annual picnic Saturday. It was wonderful to see all who attended. In retrospect I should have delegated the photographing to someone else, I just had too much else going to adequately photograph the event. I did snap a few early on, before all guest had arrived and dinner was served. Looking that the group shot it seems that mostly who's missing is my siblings...hmm late a bit?! Could that be genetic? I'm known to do that also.

Piper and her cousin both in dresses made by me.

I was pleasantly surprised at all the littles that showed up wearing something made by me. Four of them! It felt good.

Thanks for joining us!