These long lazy days of summer are slowly giving way. Being replaced instead by cool evenings, crisp fruits and a steady movement towards the home.

Labor day was marked by activity as we pulled up the remainder of our summer vegetables, painted Pepper's closet and cleaned the cobwebs from the joints of our many windows which have remained open all summer long.




The children followed us around as we went about our tasks, Campbell keeping up a constant flow of conversation as the little ones offered regular amusement.

Isaac, looking ragamuffin as usual, caught a chicken.


And our normally prim and proper little girl spent well over an hour in the mud under our apricot tree, squishing handfuls between her fingers and lecturing any bug that happened to wander nearby. By the time she was finished her little pink outfit was covered in mud and she looked like Miss Piggy.

There was a time not that long ago when I never could have imagined a weekend spent in such a quiet and satisfying manner. But I reckon that even as the warmth of home calls us indoors when the outside world turns cool and dark, so my heart has been pulled home by the love and warmth which flows so freely from this dear family.

Sweet Pepper is mobile now, and getting around at a pace much faster than I feel capable of keeping up with.

It started about a month ago with her putting her two hands forward and rocking, then she started scooting her butt and now she is everywhere and in everything! She is especially fascinated with her big brother Isaac and follows him all over our house.



Even though he acts grumpy towards her I think that he inwardly enjoys the adoration of someone smaller than himself, and spends countless hours shouting orders at her and bossing her around. She is never dismayed by this, but instead hands him toys in exchange for his stomping and beautiful smiles to melt even his fiercest frowns.



Despite the extra mess and constant worry it is nice to have her moving herself around behind the boys. It seems like she needs me a little less these days; they all do, and though it is a bit of a relief I still feel some sadness at how quickly they grow. I often sit beside my three little ones, close but not too involved, and watch them playing so nicely together. It is my sincere desire that as they each grow in their own way that their growing will be like their playing, together; and that by the time they reach adulthood they will be mature individuals who share the closest of bonds. That bond of Family.

Chris and the boys helped with baking our weekly loaves last night.
I don't know what they did differently this time around but later that night when the timer went off I opened the oven door and this is what I found.



The bread actually rose so much it was almost touching the roof of the oven and the loaves were lopsided and stuck to each other. Do you also think they look as if they are kissing one another? To be honest I felt almost guilty walking in on them!

Since starting my job I have just felt so uninspired at home. Even though it is part time I feel as though my brain is constantly there. I keep hoping that surely balance will come again soon. And so the little times like these become even more precious, when something unexpected happens which brings my heart once more back home, the place where it loves to be most of all.

Oh dear readers,
I am so sorry to have ditched you like this, without even an explanation as to where I had gone or what I'd be doing. The truth is that I thought I would have time to post a little "going away" message before leaving for a friend's wedding in Memphis but carefully laid plans quickly gave way to chaos as I readied myself for the trip.


Memphis is home to lots of amazing antique malls. It is quite impossible to do any shopping without rescuing at least a vintage hat or two...

Now I am back home and life has taken an unexpected turn. A non-profit organization that I have been volunteering at has asked me to fill a part- time position they had available. Now, you must understand that I thought I would never have to work again and I am even ashamed to admit that I have at times felt somewhat snobbish towards mothers who could stay home but choose to work instead. But this org. provides a service which I am passionate about and if they need me how can I say no?

And so now after being a wife and a mother, in between gardening and homeschooling, and right before crafting and canning; I will be working part-time.



By the way, this is the picture I promised two weeks ago. Jars and jars of Plum Jam, Stewed Plums and Apricot Jam. Oh dear, surely I will still have time to can all the Apple Butter and Apple Sauce which is coming up next? We shall see...

I have come to seriously believe that grasshoppers were created solely for the amusement of little boys.



And could catching one and observing it all day long possibly count as school? Science, perhaps?
Either way, these little critters are something worth loving. They put up with all sorts of creative play and maybe not-so-tender abuse and at the end of a long day are usually let loose in an unfamiliar part of the yard, exhausted and battered.
Yet still, they keep coming back for more!

You would think that by the time I got around to weaning Baby #3 making homemade baby food would have finally lost some of its appeal. Not so!! Every time a new child comes along I start blending up those organic steamed carrots, peas and beets and never cease to be so amazed by their vibrant colors and lovely aromas.



Making baby food is so fast, fun and inexpensive that I cannot encourage enough moms to try it out. There are loads of resources on the internet to help you out and you don't need much equipment. About twice a week I make Pepper her food. Some fruits for breakfast and veggies for lunch and dinner, along with oatmeal and rice.

When Isaac was a baby I bought The Petite Appetit Cookbook - Easy, Organic Recipes to Nurture Your Baby and Toddler by Lisa Barnes and it has remained a steadfast kitchen companion, even when I am looking for some snacks to cook up for my older ones.

Pepper always dives into her fresh food with such gusto. I feel good knowing exactly what is in it, that it is the freshest possible and made with much love.

It is the heat of summer here, and everything around us is arid and sparse. On our walk the dirt crunched beneath our feet. I felt like some sort of Pioneer Woman, braving her way through the southwestern frontier.

We explored a sandy mound with huge boulders gracing the top, we admired many twisted and withered trees, and Isaac found treasure.



I love the way he finds wonder and excitement in even the simplest things, and I hope that he never loses his enthusiasm for the life around him. Currently when he is not collecting rocks, weeds and sticks his creativity is finding outlet through dressing himself with a mesclun mix of varying styles all thrown into one very creative outfit. On the menu today; large sunhat, oversized bib, plaid dress shirt, camo pants and slippers.


Finally at the end of a trying day, peace. Quiet and gentle, it envelopes us and prepares us for the road ahead.

If there is one thing that has really captured Isaac's interest while his grandfather is here it is the carpentry.



My father is a skilled woodworker and he has wasted no time in getting the children involved with his projects. Currently they are building a chicken coop. But when grampy is busy doing other things there is still plenty to be done. Isaac gathers up the wood scraps, the sawdust, the nails and his hammer and spends ages pounding, sifting and sorting.



Chris and I are going out of town for our anniversary tomorrow. Hopefully we will be able to spend some couple time. Not that we need a break from our little darlings so much as we just need quiet time with each other! We'll be staying at what I think may very well be the only Victorian in the entire state of New Mexico. Although I am seriously looking forward to a little quiet and relaxation with him it is starting to look like Pepper may be tagging along after all. She is nine months old and still refuses pretty much everything but the breast.

However, we will see about that tomorrow. Until then, I'll keep planning our wonderful and romantic child-free weekend.

In the mail this week, a sunny package to cheer up a dear friend.



My parents are here visiting us from Virginia for a while, which is why I didn't post at all last week. It is so nice to have them nearby again and my Mom has been hard at work cutting, sewing and brainstorming in an effort to squeeze plenty of projects in for the kids during her stay. If she had her way they would be stocked up with completely new wardrobes, fresh curtains upon the windows and quilts for all.

The kids, of course, have entirely different plans and are constantly chasing parents and grandparents alike with pleas of "Can you play cars with us? Can you read books to us? Can we all play together under the sprinklers?"

Why yes, of course we can! Because that is what time with Grandparents is for.

It has finally arrived!!! After weeks of slobbering, biting and fussing Pepper's first tooth is actually here and we are all very relieved.
Oh my, they really do grow so fast... she has already started on number two!

I remember when I was a young woman and first learned how to use my eyes to flirt and to beguile.
What a dangerous weapon they quickly became!!
My children are already realizing they can use them to their advantage. The day Chris' mom came to visit us from Australia Isaac was on her lap giving her a rowdy hello. She dipped her head to kiss him just as he tried to headbutt her chest and she ended up receiving a bloody nose! But it was impossible for her to be angry at him, he just appeared so cute and innocent.
And really, who can resist a set of those baby blues?

Our first picnic of the year was spent with friends.


Not much eating was done, but there was plenty of laughter to go around and lots of model rocket launches as well.


Pepper thought it was exciting that she had a friend to play with, and the two girls spent lots of time staring at each other, as babies often do. Isaac wore his slippers and stuck his feet into the photo just in time. He really is a bit of a rascal at times.

Next week I'll be following Amanda's lead and doing a "What I Love" set.
Until then enjoy your holiday!