Without Cost

Well, sadly I think the beaver has gone. We had a rush of crazy activity near the pond as we hunted for a missing chicken. If beavers are sensitive to activity like that, Paddy is long gone.

But, we went on to play games like "Camouflage."

Can you see them? No? Oh wait...


How about now? :)


Do you see them yet? They are excellent camouflagers.

Polka-dot girls, played picking raspberries, and pop the jewelweed seedpods. That is great fun for little ones. It's hard for me to pull them away. And they are certainly impatient for the raspberries, just so mama can get a cute picture. Ah well.


I know I have spoken of my daily journal I keep open where I write thoughts, meals, things, and What-nots.

I had a couple things spoken to me yesterday I treasured. I'm writing, I'm saving. I'm sharing today. Just because sometimes children make us big people slow down and remember life through their eyes is so much simpler than the Big people stresses and worries we carry. I am instructed when I am listening.

*Tag was rowdy, and especially funny, because I PLAYED. The kids were laughing hysterically and breathing fast, but I didn't miss Bannon's, "This is a happy game!" comment.*

*Abby snuck in before quiet time to visit with me. My dear little girl has an amazing ability to TALK. Yesterday she asked me, "If Jesus sent a baby down the waterfall to us, would we keep it? Or would we give it away to *insert many names here*?" She went off to play "babies." *

Nature Study this Week

I love getting to have our own ecology lab around here! The pond that was seeing its ending with increasing sediment and the froggy inhabitants, has taken new interest for us all as we have been visited by a beaver! We hope he or she will stay!

Swimming in the pond, letting us somewhat near

We'll call he/she Paddy the Beaver for fun's sake.

As you can see, the Paddy has been very hard at work!


Here is a weed flower seeding that my mom picked up alongside of our driveway. Jeremy took it in to a work colleague and he helped us to discover it is from the wild onion family, a variety of the Jack-in the-Pulpit. Information is seen here.

And now, for this fellow. This weed I gathered and rid of thinking it a hallucinogenic. Well, funny thing is, I link to and follow Cold Climate Gardening (see in my sidebar.) She had pictures up last week of Wildflower Wednesday's bur cucumber. So, I went hunting on Google images for its seeds. And, lo and behold, the Jimson weed and bur cucumber seedpods look VERY similar, but the bur cucumber seeds actually resemble cucumber seeds, and I do believe that is what we have!! We will scavenge today, draw, and verify for sure with Mr. Plant IDenTiFiIER. Thank you Mr. IDenTiFIER! The bur cucumbers are edible, which would explain the mistakes families and soldiers from history have made.

"Let me repeat, that I venture to suggest, not what is practicable in any household, but what seems to me absolutely best for the children; and that, in the faith that mothers work wonders once they are convinced that wonders are demanded of them." Charlotte Mason, (Vol 1, II, Out-Of-Door Life For The Children, p. 44)

Back on Track Kind of a Day

No pictures today.
Today's plan was Get-Back-on-Track-Monday in the *clean house* department.

"In all labor there is profit," says the Proverbs. So the floors didn't get vacuumed, but were swept. The laundry pile diminished somewhat. I did not step on as many Legos. I hung many little shirts and pants. But there are still 2 baskets to put away.
I rolled up my sleeves for the bathroom. That's a nice feeling of accomplishment.
I find when life gets busy, it's hard for me to stay on top of things like these.
I think I was just made to be a *nester.* When the house is clean, not magazine perfect-trust me-I've given up that hope for a while :), it just makes me happy. A little more ready for Tuesday. Busy weekends can make Mondays like this.

We had a candlelight dinner. We gave thanks around the table for 2 things a-piece.

Bella said "Jesus" twice. I nod smiling.
Me too Honey. Me too.

"Mmmmm Appossths," says Bellie

Out on a Sunday afternoon for apple picking! It is crowded, but it's ok since there are lots of apples. Lots of mountains. Lots of colors.

The Reach.

Make believe apple fight.

and she was mad. and bewildered.


and bewildered.
Jake juggled. The sun shines again.

Proud apple picking.
Abby describes them as cool and juicy fresh.


Of course there are the animals.










A short hill climb.
And an Autumn drive home.

Are You Coming for Dinner?

Peeking outside the back door. The kids watch a movie, and I watch this. Repeated many times. Plus the sounds of the crickets and frogs. It's 4:30. Time to get dinner ready!


BROWN.

HomeBaked Bread.

9 mismatched plates. 7 mismatched cups. 2 favorite mugs for coffee.

"There's literally nothing on this plate that I don't want to eat immediately." Cotter, age 15

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, there was a yard busy with the flurry and business of children. They were of the formidable ages of 6 months to 6 years.

The wrestling, screaming, loud chases were heard throughout the hillside.
There were the other quiet ones as well who enjoyed looking over the nature discoveries Maama L. delivered to the door.


What is this weed??

Faces to love, friends from the start

The rough-n-tumble that the camera catches. Serious and smiling.



They have it down pat.


Usually the one happily chased, but she joins in the fray.


Is it any wonder he cries when we go INSIDE?

The dreaming princess


Tough and gentle

Sweaty and rosy cheeked

After battling still friends

Still dreaming


The Disappointed Man Who Did Not Get a Meatball Sub.

The End