Peach Coglo

September Already?!

Unbelievable where the time has gone. . . .  Summer was good but not exactly what I had planned.  There was much time spent painting in the studio-halleluyer for that!  I'll be sharing what I made I haven't scanned them yet so it's slightly fuzzy pics for now). 

Greg took on painting all of the bedrooms and he installed a new floor for our back porch.  Oh it is so much better.  The floor used to be covered with the grossest outdoor/indoor carpet you have ever seen or tried to walk across.  I should have taken pictures of it.  Now we need to paint the porch to our liking.  Hmm what else?  Doran has been making up rhyming words and poetry.  Eden has been carting around her invisible friend, Ardold (this is the best spelling of the name I can muster).  Helena has been dancing at ballet camp and is gearing up for her ballet classes and The Nutcracker.  I am in disbelief that rehearsals start in three, count 'em, three weeks!  Elijah has been building and programming his robot (it was expensive but so worth it; thanks for pitching in Mom!).  That thing can really get going.  It reminds me of those horror films when toys come alive and chase people in the dark.

So now it's time to adjust to a new studio, school and activity schedule, to put a few tomatoes by, start those Christmas projects and get back to my long-neglected knitting.

It's so good to be back in this space and I will be stopping by to visit you too.

xo,

Ang

Boat Ride

 

Whew

We are back to "normal"-well mostly.  It feels good to be back in this space and starting my summer.  I sure did miss everyone!  Thanks for your understanding and sweet comments.  I hope everyone is settling into summer and getting some relaxation.  We are trying out new recipes, chores for the kiddos (it turns out Elijah likes mopping the floor), and taking advantage of opportunities to create-basic day to day stuff.  I still envision a relaxing summer filled with knitting, Christmas gift-making, reading, and more time in my studio. 

Speaking of art, I've been toying with new-to-me ideas and inspiration-thinking about color a lot.  Here's my latest:

Have a great day!

 

 

At the Orchard

This year we picked apples and pears.  The pear-picking was at Elijah's request.  Boy am I glad he suggested it.  They are exquisite.  We had to hike a 'fer piece' on kind of a sideways incline to get to the Ginger Gold apples but it was worth it.  So on tap for today, find the apple peeler and make some applesauce.  I am thinking a possible apple/pear mixture.  Hopefully everything turns out well. 

 

Have a great day!

Steadfast-Well Kinda

Yesterday evening I had to actually put on a jacket to go to the store.  Booo!   I love Fall, but for some reason this year I am still keeping a steadfast hold onto my summer-to no avail it seems.  So in protest I am posting some photos of a nice, cool summery fruit.  That's right-watermelon.  Take that rainy, breezy 60 degree weather!

All done!

Of course now having protested a little more, I am off to find some cozy fall knitting projects for the family.  It's chilly and raining sheets.  There are ducks once again in our flooded backyard.  Yep it feels kind of cozy.  Yes, I am conflicted.   ;-)  Have a great day!

Long Weekending ~ September 5, 2011

Boy, it almost feels like forever since I have posted anything, but of course it really hasn't been that long.  The kiddos had two days of school last week and Eden and I had two days of relative quiet and calm.  Even though it happens frequently, I am always amazed how taking one, two or three children out of the mix, changes the dynamic in the house.  But on to weekending with Amanda.

 

We had a nice long weekend:

We took a trip to Boston to see my folks, my cousin and my great aunt.  I made some peach cobbler for the occassion.  I was so happy Aunt Margaret liked it and took some back home with her.  My aunt has been ill off and on so it was wonderful to visit with her

Sunday, we searched for a bike rack

We found a bike rack

Then we searched for a bike for me

We didn't find a bike for me.  Bikes can be pretty expensive it seems

I made a countermove against the local roaming cat.  You see, I placed some Irene-strewn twigs in one of my raised beds to dissuade him/her from using it as its own deluxe litter box.  The nerve of that cat . . . .

I started reading The Backyard Homestead.  I am all about doing as much as I can for myself and my family these days (of course without going crazy and using up all of my time).  Greg is in doubt, but I am convinced we will produce a sizeable amount of our own produce some day

I worked some more on my Menu Index.  I am so excited because I think it might actually work to keep my nerves in check at dinner time

Greg attached the bike rack hitch to the car.  Of course we had to make a trip to Harbor Freight to find some obscure tool.  I haven't heard so much forgotten 70's  Camaro rock in a really long time

Helena sewed a pillow for the squirrels she and Elijah are trying to catch.  She thought the squirrel needed a pillow in order to have a good night's rest

I found a store where one can buy peacock feather earrings

We did some basement cleaning

We canned some tomatoes.  One lid failed but the others were fine.  Luckily I can still freeze and use that bad boy.  I have no idea how frozen tomatoes might taste, so I will use it for a future soup

Finally on Sunday night, we had a bonfire and s'mores.  I refuse to let summer go; I don't care if five out of the seven people in my house are going to school.  So until September 23rd, it's still summer at our house

How was your weekend?

PS:  If the back-to-school busyness is harshing your summer mellow like it is mine, then I think I may have some silliness and fun to make you forget about all of those back-to-school forms you still need to fill out-like yesterday.  Here's a link to Mr. Cosby.  He definitely makes the absurd things of life even funnier.

 

Fall is Coming

We are already having some cooler nights and days.  The trees have just a hint of turning-already!  The Rose of Sharon is losing her flowers.  Sigh, and here I sit trying to embrace this change.  Why embrace it?  Because it's inevitable, there is nothing I can do to stop summer from slipping away.  Here goes.  :)

Garden Tool

From Peach Trees to Peach Jam

We managed to pick some White Lady peaches the other (that is kind of funny name :) and they finally and thankfully made it into jars yesterday.  Let's hope they took!

In the peach orchard, there is always a little "eeww" factor-fallen peaches and the animals that love them.

And then there is the freakish but fascinating fungi.

Love the end result~peach jam and peach pie filling!

The Tire Swing