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...

One priceless porcelain washbowl, over 107 years old and seven generations in our family, destroyed in under five seconds by a single curious youngster. So sad.



After last week's frustrating pace, broken computer and testy tempers everyone was relieved that today was both pleasant and only slightly busy. Once the children were in bed I set to work bustling around the kitchen. Projects are usually best done at night here and this quiet evening peace is wonderful after a full day, it gives me a moment to wind down, relax and prepare for the following days activities.

It is late now, but perhaps tomorrow I will show you the fruit of my labors.

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.

Since today is the final day of Low Impact Week I thought I'd post our biggest recent lifestyle change. Something that I have always wanted was to have my very own free range chickens. Finally this week we took the plunge and bought 8 little Araucana chicks. They should start laying blue and green eggs sometime around late September and I am so excited! Chez Pim blogged back in January about fresh local eggs and the hens that laid them. She has some gorgeous pictures of her diverse dozen that inspired me to look for this particular breed.



They are very cute and cuddly. I find myself escaping outside to their pen during the day for little moments of peace and relaxation. I sit on the grass and watch them scamper and scratch. I lay on my back and stare at the tree above me as they peep near my head. I think about going out there while I am changing diapers and washing dishes.



These hens should provide us with delicious nutrient rich fresh eggs for most of the next 2-3 years.
After that they can go in the pot and provide us with good food there.
They will make excellent natural pest control in the yard and garden.
They will leave nitrogen rich droppings that can be composted and turned into wonderful dark soil which will go back into the garden, make my plants healthy and attract more bugs for them to eat! It really is a wonderful cycle.
They will also provide hours of entertainment for my homeschooled children and teach them many useful lessons about responsibility, natural sciences and an appreciation for where our food comes from.

As I was thinking this weekend about Low Impact Week and what it means to my family, and myself in particular, I began mentally listing changes we have made over the past couple years to reduce our footprint on the environment.
Here are some practical things we have integrated into our lifestyle. Some of them are big (like choosing a home near the places we frequent in order to be able to ride our bike or walk), some are small. But I think that each choice serves to streamline our vision and clarify our thinking, so that in each decision whether large or small, we are more conscious of the bigger picture around us.

Currently we are:

Composting
Recycling
Using cloth diapers & wipes
Buying biodegradable detergents & cleaners.
Gardening.
Push lawnmower instead of gas driven.
Eating organic/local produce whenever possible.
We make all meals from scratch (not pre-packaged or prepared)
Turn off lights we aren't using.
Only buy what we *need*
No battery operated toys.
Use rechargeable batteries only.
Replacing appliances and bulbs with low energy ones, when needed.
Riding our bike or walking instead of using the car (this includes grocery shopping)
Wearing only natural fibers.
Using cotton bags when shopping.
Not buying garbage bags but instead re-using plastic shopping bags for trash.
Keeping heater as cool as possible in the winter (wearing sweaters when necessary)
No Air Conditioning.
Running a small wholesale natural products co-op to encourage other people in the green lifestyle as well.

I encourage you to evaluate your own lifestyle and see where you can make changes. We live in town on 1/5 of an acre, and yet we find space to garden and do other things that are important to us. You don't need 40 acres to live well. Crunchy Chicken has listed many areas where changes can be made and awareness increased. Good luck!!!

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!