Bluebirdbaby

Snowstorm and Shoe Gnomes

We finally got a snowstorm! We waited all December for King Winter to send several inches of snow our way, but instead we got freak 60 degree days, rain storms, and a light dusting of that powdery white stuff the little one loves so much. But not this weekend. We were hit not once, not twice, but for three straight days. Sasa thinks there's about 18 inches of that magical white stuff covering our yard. The little one was in heaven catching snowflakes on her tongue (most tasted like chocolate she claimed), making snowmen in the yard, and heading to town for errands on her sled. The streets were perfect for pulling a toddler around in a sled, and from the amount of sleds leaning against the sides of store doors, I guess the other parents around town agreed!

And just a little something the little one and I were up to back in November that I am just now writing about :: shoe gnomes! After seeing Amy's shoe gnomes, I remembered that the little one and I had made a jar full for our mudroom. There's enough for her shoes (and yes...she has quite the collection!) and for other tiny footed guests. They keep all her little shoes together and add the right amount of magic to one of the dirtiest rooms in the house! And they are just so darn cute...

I finally got around to adding a winter banner to this space. Yay for snow! I'll be sick of it soon enough, but right now I'm really enjoying it. And the excuse to get all cozy and curl up with some knitting or a book on the couch is nothing to complain about!! Until tomorrow...

Our Holiday Gift to You

Will you join us on a winter walk? It was a lovely, sunny, cold winter day here in Maine. The little one and I put this little video together for you. I know a lot of you live in places with no snow. Although this video is mostly of the little one, there are blurry scenes of snow in the background! The quality isn't that great (any tips??! it was super clear in iMovie, but once on Vimeo it was horrible!) and for some reason the song plays over again at the end. That was clearly my editing mishap! But we hope you enjoy it anyway!

So sit back, enjoy, and Happy Holidays everyone. I hope to see some of you locals on Saturday at the Maine Coast Bookshop from 12-2 p.m.!

Insert Big Sigh of Relief Here

Holiday shopping done (thank you, thank you, thank you Etsy). Photography work done. One sewing project out of five done. House cleaning done. Paperwork, flyers, and printed photographs for Saturday's show done. Packages to be mailed done. It was a good, productive, snow stormy day.

I worked a bit on the little one's Christmas present. Above is a sneak peak. I can't wait to show you more! It's been so much fun.

Sasa rocks. He got home from work early because of the storm and cleaned the entire refrigerator, shoveled, made soup, popped popcorn, and brought me wine while I was working away in my sewing room. Have I mentioned lately just how much I love this man? He constantly amazes me. He is the sweetest person I've ever met. I am so grateful that he is in my life. Now we're settling in, listening to Christmas music via Pandora (I admit, I love Christmas music...especially Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suites), eating soup, and doing holiday crafts.

I hope you had a day just as productive and cozy. Stay warm!!

A Late Afternoon Walk With Gnomes

We arrived late afternoon, hoping the rain would hold off for a while and the mist would stay. We were prepared with the Ergo and our canvas bag for all the goodies we would find.

We talked about the gnomes and elves that live in the woods. She knows some of the sleepy fairy gifts were made by the gnomes that live in the woods. We searched and searched and searched for gnome and elf homes.

We giggled, we ran, we collected pine cones and acorns, we listened for fairies and gnomes and elves.

We finally found a gnome home. They enter their home through a little door in the front. The little one said, "Shhhh! They're sleeping Mama!" So we were quiet and listened. We walked a few steps and found their workshop :: a small log turned on its side, complete with a door and some windows. We listened very carefully and heard the gnomes and elves working away. They were working hard on a toy that the sleepy fairies were bringing a lucky child tonight. We tiptoed away so we wouldn't disturb them.

We finally reached the water after over a mile. We were excited to throw rocks in the water. Mama found five heart shaped rocks while the little one threw rock after rock into the water with a big splash.

We threw Fly's ball. He retrieved it a couple of times, but then he decided to do no more. The ball was slowly floating out into the sea. The little one was quite upset, but I reminded her that the gnomes would probably get it when they came down tonight to take their baths. Thank goodness!

After the little one tried to wade out to get it, she agreed to let the gnomes get it at bath time. She thought the little gnome babies would have so much fun with it. And I told her I was sure they would leave it by the shore for next time.

So we went home, rosy cheeked from the fresh air, happily tired from our long walk, and anticipating our return to see if the gnomes did indeed find the ball and leave it for us. It was a lovely afternoon; full of imagination, nature, treasures, and giggles.

I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving!! I know I am thankful for so very much, including all of you!!

A Happy Halloween

Over the summer, the little one requested to be a "purple flower fairy" for Halloween. I ordered the wool felt for her skirt and crown back in August and started working on the whole thing in September. The tutu was so easy and required no sewing at all! The flower petal skirt took the longest because of the hand embroidery, but the crown went together rather quickly too. All in all, it was an easy costume! She had no wings because she didn't want them. The costume didn't stay on too long. For a little one with sensory issues, the "itchy" fabrics and extra layers were just not something she was into. But that's okay. It will fit for years and into the dress up box it goes!

Early this evening we headed up to the annual All Hallow's Eve walk that the local Waldorf school puts on. It was a magical evening, full of forest fairies, knights and dragons, and ended with a story about jack-o-lanterns. The children walked quietly for a quarter of a mile through the woods, completely enchanted by the magical creatures. It was just beautiful. I snapped some photos from the walk so you could "join in" too! Enjoy!

Happy Halloween!!

A Morning Walk

The little one and I headed out on an early morning walk today to collect some fall treasures. There were chestnuts, money plants, acorns by the handful, pretty leaves of all colors, sticks for magic wands, and the last of the dandelions. The little one got to make a wish.
We raced through the cemetery (one of our favorite spots), running up and down hills for a good 30 minutes, watching geese fly by and leaves fall around us. We gathered everything we could to fit inside her tiny little basket that has accompanied us on so many adventures in the past.
We smiled and giggled and rolled down hills. We had so much fun neither of us wanted it to end. So we stayed out in the cool morning air for quite a while, soaking up the beauty that autumn brings us.

These are the days I hope to remember forever. The days where we giggle and cuddle and say, "I love you" so many times it could make my heart burst. The days where the simplest things brought the greatest joys. These are the things that little ones bring to our lives. And we, as the adults who know them, are so very lucky to have that pleasure. And I will never take it for granted. I will forever be grateful for every single moment. I am so lucky. Thanks, little one. You bring more joy than you'll ever know.

We are heading to the big city for some fun! Have a great weekend!

Fall Nature Table

Our fall nature table has been in the works for a while. The little one and I have been collecting acorns and fallen leaves for over a week now. I was just waiting until I got the chance to dye some fall-colored playsilks. Yesterday, I finally set to work dyeing a couple of playsilks (using the Kool-Aid stove top method) and it took me all of five minutes! So satisfying.

The book was a birthday present the little one got from Sasa and the pine cone person was something I got for the little one at her first Common Ground Fair trip. The leaf garland was an idea I found on this blog. I found leaf templates online (Martha Stewart's website has them) then cut the shapes out of wool felt, hole punched the top and strung a piece of yarn through. And of course, our felted acorns and two mini stumps the little one found recently exclaiming, "Mama, these would be perfect for fairy houses!!" I just love the teensy bit of moss growing on the top of the smaller one.

Rhythm is a huge component to how we live. Rhythm in daily life, monthly life, and yearly cycles. It's all important because it grounds us and keeps us close to nature. It's important to me that the little one be reminded of this rhythm; especially the seasonal rhythm. Having a nature table is the first step. Other things we do that seem to be our natural rhythm to celebrate the arrival of autumn are :: nature walks and discussing the turning leaves and other fall happenings, apple picking, lots of baking, creating a new indoor space for cozying up, getting out craft supplies (wool felt, yarn, embroidery supplies, paints), soups, soups, and more soups, the changing of our local produce and eating more greens and root veggies, hikes, and evenings spent curled up on the couch under a blanket, reading books and drinking hot apple cider.

What do you do to prepare for the changing seasons? And...I know there are knitters out there. Sasa and I have made a winter goal of each learning how to knit (hopefully a hat each!). Any beginner patterns we should be aware of? We'd love any tips!!

30 Days of Happiness :: Apple Picking

It was a beautiful day. We woke up this morning and said, "today is the perfect apple picking day!" And so off to the orchards we headed.

Because Sasa has a friend in the orchards, we were able to collect the "drops" for free! So we loaded up as many baskets and bags as we could.

The little one liked to find all the baby apples for her tiny basket. She also had much fun trying out all the apples before putting them in! Sasa and I heard her announce many times quite excitedly, "We're apple picking!!"

In the end, we got quite a load to take home. Sasa has already made an apple pie (an absolutely amazing one!) and I can tell tomorrow will be spent canning applesauce. Yum! The little one and I spent the afternoon today on the back porch washing each apple, polishing it dry, and of course there was the apple testing...

I think we'll head to the orchards one more time this fall for another round. One can never have enough apple pie or applesauce around, right?!

30 Days of Happiness :: Fairy Parties

What can I say about today? It was amazing, wonderful, magical, and just sweet (and I took too many pictures!!). The little one will turn three years old on Wednesday, and since I will not see her until Wednesday night, we decided to honor her today instead. We started the day with a breakfast celebration, complete with her new birthday outfit, crown, a small gift, and her three year birthday ring. Sasa made a terrific breakfast, and Baba (my mother) was there to celebrate too.

The outfit fabrics were chosen by the little one and we worked on it together over the last three weeks. The shirt is an Oliver + S pattern, slightly modified. I was surprised she picked out these colors, but she was very excited about the Little Red Riding Hood fabric and somehow we made it all work. The best part was she was excited to wear it today!

The theme for our small celebration were fairies. Fairy houses, fairy tea, fairy dolls and books, and fairy snacks. We set up the little table in the yard with pumpkins and bags I had made for the children with fairy dolls inside. The little one helped me make each fairy doll: gluing on their hats, felting the wool, and picking a fairy name for each one. She also told me the colors her friends like the best, and we made bags and fairies to suit each child's favorites.

The little one received many loving gifts including a basket filled with embroidery goodies perfect for little hands, a hand-painted tea cup, a necklace made by a special friend, and so much more. Really, it could not have been a more magical party!

After tea, we set off to make our fairy houses around the yard. Sasa had collected many perfect fairy house building materials on a recent kayaking trip and we had a wagon full of things to choose from. The kids made beautiful houses and I think the fairies who live in our yard will be so excited!

Elisabeth has recently learned how to take pictures using my camera (gulp!) and she is quite good indeed. In the next week I will be setting up a flickr account for her and you can view all her photos there. Really, they are very good!! The above are just a sample...

Then it was cake, which was a gluten-free chocolate cake the little one requested with "stripes and polka-dots" on it. Sasa made up the recipe and it was absolutely delicious. The little one has been talking about this birthday cake for months now, and it was so special to finally see her with it. She had a "ginormous" piece and loved every bit of it.

And last but not least, her special present. Sasa's Pop has been working on it for a while now, and his mother has been busy furnishing it. The dollhouse was a big hit (with all the kids!!) and I'm sure you will see many more pictures of it in the future!

Sasa and I are completely wiped after a day full of fun, fairies, celebrating, and friends. It was so very magical and amazing. I'm glad we will have this memory for ever and always. Happy Birthday, my sweet little one. You bring so much magic to my life! I love you. xoxo

Fairy Houses and Flowers

Fairies love to hang out where lots of beautiful flowers grow. In fact, they use flowers for all sorts of things: hats, cushions, soups, tea, and tutus. So where there are lots of flowers, you can be sure that they are close by. Fairies also let honeybees know where all the beautiful flowers are. That way, more flowers can grow and fairies get yummy honey in return.

Sometimes, when big people realize that fairies are so important to beautiful flower gardens, they put on big festivals for them. At these festivals, there are many ways to honor the fairies. Such as dancing, painting, fairy costumes, and building houses for them.

The fairies love when the children build them houses. They usually have such a hard time lugging all the branches, bark, and pine cones from the deep forests to where they want to build their village. So when the children help out, the fairies reward them with wonderful berries and beautiful flowers.

Sometimes, a child will get a fairy house just right. With such a perfect house, a fairy will move right in before the child is finished building it! Sometimes the child just knows what a fairy loves. A swing makes them so excited that they start to clap from behind the trees as they watch the swing being built. And when the child adds a walkway and yard complete with table and chairs, they all start cheering from under their toadstools and flower hats.  When the house is finally finished, and the child leaves it behind for the fairies, sometimes you can see the fairies, with their luggage made from maple leaves and birch bark, walking through the ferns on their way to the new house. In return, they reward the child with patch full of yummy blueberries.

And the child will be so pleased that they built a house a fairy family will live in, that they will smile and giggle as blueberry juice drips down their chin. The child will run to their family and excitedly tell the story of how wonderful it is to be amongst the fairies for a day.

And the family will feel exactly the same way.

Did you know?

Did you know that fairies live in the woods? Did you know they love the tops of mountains where they can see for miles? You can try to find them, but usually they hide because they are afraid of people. But small people, well...small people they really love.

Did you know that fairies leave blue marks on trees to guide your way? They make the paint from stomping on blueberries in a big bucket, mixing it with a little sap and rain water, then they mark the trees using the blueberry paint and pine needle brushes. That way all the little people can find their way through the woods.

Did you know that if you listen really closely, you can hear them whispering your name? They say, "You're on the right path. Keep going!" But to us adults, it only sounds like the wind. But the little ones know what the fairies are saying.

Did you know they hide behind trees, ride on dragonflies, eat mushrooms for breakfast, take naps on moss, and send butterflies to follow the little ones to keep them safe on their journey?

Did you know that if you build them a house on the top of the mountain, they will reward you with bushes and bushes of wild blueberries? And if you leave them a little leaf full of berries, they will make your trip back down the mountain extra fun.

Did you know that they really, really love birch bark boats? They wait and watch until you've tested the boat. Then once you leave, they climb right in and paddle away.

They hardly ever show themselves, but if...just if the big people are far enough away, they will come out of their hiding places and kiss a little one's face. They will say thank you and hand them an extra sweet blueberry and say, "Come again soon!" And the little one will never, ever forget how special the fairies made the hike.

So, thank you, kind fairies. You made our day extra special!

Blooms and Bowling

:: Weekend blooming, yard work, and chores ::

:: Weekend bowling, dinner with friends, arcade games, and pool ::

Now I'm off to finish some sewing projects. I hope your weekend was full of joy and laughter!

Another One...

Another post bragging about the glorious weather. 80+ degrees?! In April?!! Why yes, and I'll take it. Nothing beats an unexpected summer day, stuck smack dab in the middle of spring.
It's cooled off since earlier, the wind is howling outside, and we're anticipating a chillier day tomorrow. But today was all about sunscreen, dipping toes in the water, skipping rocks, picnic baskets filled with goodies, ice cream, and spending every.single.second outside.

So indulge me one more time...just one. And I promise I'll write something soon that doesn't have to do with the sun or ice cream. Promise.

Almost Time...

Almost time...

For daily trips to the beach.

For sunset picnics full of yummy food, sand, and a bit of chocolate.

For trying to catch the waves and laughing when they catch us instead.

For watching the beautiful sunsets while packing up the gear and heading home.

For finally starting that picnic blanket I keep talking about.

Yes, indeed. It's almost, almost time for summer. There's nothing like watching the last bit of snow melting from the yard, feeling the warm sun on your face, packing away the winter clothes, and knowing that just around the corner warmer weather will be here for good. It's amazing how much joy can be packed into one day.

Tweet, tweet

With warmer weather slipping in here and there, spending time outdoors seems like such a luxury after a very snowy winter. It's so nice to wake up to birds singing and sun shining in the window. With the birds returning, it's nice to have a treat for them. I remember making these simple bird feeders when I was a kid.

Twenty minutes outside in the sun, a few pine cones, string, peanut butter, and birdseed and you have a treat for the birds!

And the verdict? The birds really love them. Almost as much as we love watching the birds devour them from our window!

Stay tuned for some crafty posts! I hope you all are having a great start to the week.

Sledding

We've got snow. Lots of it, in fact. Actually, according to the little one we have "too much snow" to even sled properly. So after about five minutes of being pulled around the yard, she made it loud and clear that the excessive amount of snow was too much to handle. So inside we went! But I did manage to snap a few pictures of our activities before my frozen fingers refused to press the shutter release. Ah, winter...

Away

The little one and I headed down to my mother's house (right outside the "big city") for a few days. We are having lots of fun, although sleep tends to be last on the list, which makes for a very tired mama and a very tired toddler. There's just way too much excitement down this way!

We headed out to a famous lighthouse and fort this afternoon for some kite flying, swinging, and ocean air. After it was a trip to the city to walk around and grab a bite to eat. The little one is thoroughly enjoying herself and everything the big city has to offer! We will return to our little homestead this weekend to settle back into our country life...

Fall Festivities

We headed to a local apple orchard this morning for some picking. This was the little one's first time, and she really enjoyed filling our baskets and bags with the drops. (And they're free!) We walked away with about 30 pounds of apples which will be turned into pies, applesauce, and apple butter in the next few days.

And downtown gets pretty excited about fall/Halloween. Friday night we watched as the gigantic pumpkins were brought in on tractors and placed all along the sidewalks. Some weigh as much as 400 pounds! Today the festivities began, with artists painting or carving the gigantic pumpkins, and a pumpkin painting party for the little ones. Tomorrow is a parade. I'm pretty sure the little one is going to be a turkey with her preschool class.

I hope you're all enjoying the weekend!

I'll leave you with some songs I am really enjoying at the moment:
This one
This one
and this one.

Catching Up

Sorry I've been MIA lately. Thank you all so much for your birthday wishes! I like being 25...it's a good number.

There has been so much going on lately. Not much sewing has been happening, although I did whip up a couple of bags for a local market day I participated in. It was a gorgeous fall day, but after sitting in the shade for 3 hours, I came home with blocks of ice for toes and numb fingers. It took me a good 2 hours to warm myself up! It's definitely fall in Maine.

My friend Mandi has a great Etsy shop called Long Winter Farm where she sells lovely soaps. I helped make the apple pie soap that will cure on the 19th. It was fun! Mandi and I shared a table at the market, and we were joined by Liza, another crafty gal in town. The three of us together make quite a team! I think we all enjoyed ourselves, even though I'm on my 6th day of a nasty cold and hardly had a voice yesterday...

And today, after I got out of work, I took a hike up in Camden. The weather was so very, very lovely. It was the first time I've actually smelled that fall smell, even with my stuffy nose. I wanted to bury my face in the leaves. It was a great hike up and at the top I was surprised by the most amazing view. Not only did I get to see acres of colorful fall trees, but the ocean was there and so beautiful. A rainbow emerged a few minutes later over one of the islands. Everything was just gorgeous! I look forward to my next hike. Fall in Maine is such a marvelous time!

And I will leave you with one of my new favorite photos of the little one. She really loves oranges right now and was quite pleased with herself for figuring out this silly trick!

Our Morning

I used to do a "day in the life" in pictures on my old blog. My readers always liked that and it was a fun way to document exactly what happens around here, and fun for me to look back and see too. So I snapped some shots of our morning together. Stephen is away for a while, so it's just me and the little one until my mother comes up to visit. We are having a blast, just us girls.



I co-sleep with the little one for half the night. She starts out in her crib (which is pushed up against my bed) and ends up with me. This morning she amazingly slept until 6 a.m. and woke me up with a big, wet kiss.



Then it was off for the first play of the day. Starting with the kitchen, of course. Isn't that light something?!



Blueberry pancakes were on the menu this morning. The little one helped me stir and mix, tested the blueberries, and had the first pancake with her requested "extra" blueberries and maple syrup. Note the messy kitchen and dishes I must wash after I get off the computer...





It was soon out the door to get more duckling supplies (who knew I would have to fill two water jugs four times a day for those silly ducks?), a much needed green tea at the cafe and a visit with all our friends, then it was off to the farmer's market. That first picture is the parking lot at the farmer's market! Beautiful, isn't it? We got some greens and fresh chicken and spent some time running around the grass and listening to the fiddle player.





On the ride home I spotted dozens of seagulls soaring through the sky. I knew the alewives were running, so I quickly pulled over and grabbed the camera. It was amazing to see hundreds of alewives just below the water. The little one yelled "fishy, fishy!" over and over again. I had to juggle holding her (not a toddler-friendly place, mind you) and the camera while trying to snap shots. We watched the seagulls swooping down for a little snack and collected some rocks to bring home.

That was our morning (all before 11 a.m. anyway). Wasn't that just thrilling?! I'm attempting to work on a patchwork picnic blanket this weekend. I have never, ever made anything remotely close to a quilt and I will be making this up as I go. Any tips? I promise you'll see some crafty stuff around here soon. We've just been so busy with the garden, the ducks, and well...life. Thanks for continuing to read what I have to say in this little space. Enjoy your (long) weekend!

(Oh, can I mention that I stumbled across a 1980's Mercedes lime-green diesel sedan? Can I mention that I really, really want it? And that I will convert it to biodiesel, which has been my dream for a couple of years? Seriously...lime green, vintage Mercedes, biodiesel...what more could a crazy girl want?!)

Beautiful

I really can not get over how beautiful everything is this time of year. With temperatures in a very comfortable range, we have been enjoying the little bits of time we spend outside. Unfortunately, living in Maine means the black flies come out in May (and just keep getting worse as time goes on at our house), so you won't see many pictures of the little one playing in our yard. Now we have to drive to town to be outside, or even better...to the beach!



But today we went into town for story time at the library, and after it was over it was off to explore the lovely flowers around the building. I couldn't help but snap a few pictures, although my white balance was off, so I had to adjust them a bit. But look at those flowers! Amazing.



Hopefully the flies will let up soon and the days will grow warmer so we can let our ducklings outside to enjoy the warm sun and plenty of greens. You should see them...already DOUBLED in size! Speaking of ducklings, I'm off to clean their cage. Enjoy the rest of the day!

Green On Our Walk

We went on a lovely walk today down by the river in town. The little one loves to pick dandelions, so we always end up taking home a bunch. The leaves just emerged last week and it has been so lovely looking at green everywhere. (Not so lovely for the allergies though...)

We want to shout out a goodbye to our good friend Bobbi! We miss you already!! (These "flowers" were for you Bobbi, but somehow never made it out of the car...)

A Good Beach Day

Spring Growth

Blue

Apparently it's a blue-sky kind of week. The weather has been gorgeous and we've been enjoying every second of it. We only have a couple of weeks until the black flies come out, and then we're stuck inside again. Such a short window to enjoy the lovely weather!

Stephen took the day off to work on our deck. The floor is almost finished, then we'll be working on the railing. Finally, a screened room will be added and stairs that lead down to the ground. We think a hot tub would look fabulous up there in the future...

We've discovered Otay is definitely an outdoor cat. She whines and meows and jumps all over you until you open the door to let her out. She's just like a dog and will chase us all over the yard, comes when we call her, and digs large holes in the garden. Oh, and the sandbox...she thinks that is the best thing ever.

The little one has requested that every minute be spent outside, evident from the tantrums she displays as I try to get her in for lunch and dinner. She'd happily play outside until the sun went down, and I admit to expending a great deal of energy chasing her all over the yard, mostly trying to steer her clear of the road. But we have been enjoying ourselves. We've been walking everyday down the road to see the horses, chickens, tractors, and our friend "Mamee's" house. There are buds on the trees and flowers popping up everywhere.

This internet break has done me good. I've enjoyed it and do not intend to stop. I think I'll say to expect random posting for a while. I'm just enjoying everything that's been going on here. Books have been read, seedlings have been ordered, gardens have been prepared, flower beds have been raked and weeded, we've baked everyday, Stephen and I have been enjoying our quiet time reading at night, but mostly I feel like there is a certain "frantic" feeling that has disappeared. Trying to check e-mails, upload pictures, etc. all while multi-tasking left me stressed and frazzled. It's allowed me to be more present with myself and the little one. I almost wish we were back in the computer-less age.

As the little one and I were raking the garden yesterday I began to think of my mother. We had beautiful flower beds around our house growing up. We were always outside gardening or inside baking. I was trying to imagine how much of that would have been lost if we had a computer in our living room. How would I have felt if my mother was online instead of getting her hands dirty in the garden? (And this is in no way said to make anyone feel bad about their computer usage! It's just my feelings about how my time is spent.) Those times spent gardening and baking are some of my fondest memories. I want to make sure the little one has that too.

I have two new things to introduce to the shop, and while I felt I was under a time crunch to do so, I am just taking it easy. I'm enjoying the orders coming in and spending whatever time is needed in my little green room. I've made a goal of dressing the little one in only handmade this summer, so I'm excited to get working on some special things for her. Of course, I'll share some finished pieces here in the future.

So now I'm off to get some reading done in the sun on our half-finished porch before the little one wakes up from her nap. Enjoy your week! I hope you're sky will be as blue as ours.

Spring!

Okay, I know just about every week I've mentioned how spring is here, and then the next day we end up getting more snow. But I truly, honestly, definitely think it's right around the corner. Definitely. Because I have to believe that, or I think I might go a little crazy thinking about more white fluffy flakes falling from the sky.

Let me show you a bit of evidence that spring is indeed close, if not here already...

Diapers drying on the line outside. (I won't mention that when I brought them in at 8 p.m. that they were frozen solid...)

Lambs! They really are that adorable.

Going for a hike, followed by two pregnant goats.

The first flowers finally popped up in our yard. Let's not think about the two feet of snow directly behind me that has yet to melt.

My new mud boots. The most comfortable footwear I have ever owned. The little one now has a puddle jumping competitor. We spent almost two hours outside yesterday jumping in and out of puddles. Seriously, I never realized how fun it was.

And Stephen started up the tractor for the first ride of the season. After the little one got over the tractor fumes and really loud engine, she enjoyed the ride quite a bit!

I hope spring is finding you all too! Enjoy your weekend and see you back here on Monday.

Week 9

For the Six One Way flickr group.

Yesterday the little one decided she wanted to spend time outside. A lot of time outside. A few minutes after going out, it started to rain. Didn't bother her a bit. The camera and I got a bit damp, but we stayed outside and had fun exploring newly emerging patches of grass that lead into the forest.
We threw sticks for Mac, ate lots of dirty snow, watched birds soaring high above, found acorns to gather, felt the texture of different trees, checked out our boats stored in the yard, jumped in puddles, went in and out of the greenhouse, and checked the mail...all in the rain. The camera held up (mostly stored under my coat) and I managed to get a few shots from our rainy afternoon outdoors.

I hope you're all having a wonderful week and able to spend some time outside!

Ah, the sun

I knew we'd be getting a brief break from winter soon. The past two days have been amazing. That spring smell is in the air, we can walk around in our mud boots with just a sweater while soaking up the warm sun. Despite the multiple feet of snow still in our yard, there are some buds poking through a tiny patch of soil.

We took advantage of the lovely weather yesterday and spent as much time outside as possible. I found the old stroller, brushed it off, and the little one and I headed out on a very long, and very lovely, walk.

The sky was so blue and so brilliant against the dark, leafless trees. I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures.

Because of the wooded area we live in, the snow is sticking around longer than most places. But I am seeing buds on trees, and that gives me hope. Green grass can't be too far away...

Here is an outtake from a little photo shoot we had yesterday. Most of my spring and summer collection is finished and I should have things listed next Wednesday!

Have a lovely weekend!

Mud Season

It's getting close to mud season in our little town. The snow is indeed melting, albeit quite slowly. And with the melting snow comes many mud puddles. The longer days have prompted the little one and I to get outside after her nap. So yesterday we bundled up (the sun was marvelous, but it sure was windy!) and headed outside to play in the puddles and marvel at the little patch of grass emerging beneath the snow.

One puddle proved to be quite deep, for a little person anyway. She barged right through it without a care in the world. Those rain boots sure come in handy on a day like this.

As we were walking back to find the only patch of grass by the house, I suddenly smelled spring. You know, that mud/everything starting to come to life again smell? It was marvelous and in my excitement I exclaimed, "can you smell that mud?!" So the little one spent the next ten minutes trying to get her nose as close to the mud as possible, all the while sniffing. So cute.

The grass is not yet green, but I have a feeling we may not be far from it. We spent a good amount of time just looking at the grass and pointing to dried leaves and fallen branches. The first time the little one spotted this patch of grass she screamed with excitement. Yes, my poor child, that is grass. It's been so long since you've seen it that you've forgotten about it entirely. It's coming again. I promise.

And some other scenes from our yard:

Enjoy today! We're expecting more sun and higher temperatures. I suppose we'll be doing more of the above.

Snow Again

We had another big storm yesterday, but are lucky to be enjoying a warm, sunny day today. Here are some scenes from our yard and around town.

A New Challenge

I feel as though I'm in a bit of a photography rut. You know, being stuck inside with the same old things, then going outside to have everything look, well...white. It's been warm enough the past couple of days to go for our usual walk on this quiet road. I tried to challenge myself to see things that haven't changed in months in a new way. It certainly helped to have a gorgeous blue sky, a cute little one wearing my favorite hat, argyle socks with sneakers in the snow, and amazing scenery all around us.

So the challenge was good and I think it may have pushed me out of that rut just a tad. Although I look at these photos and am almost positive I have taken one like them in the past...

The point. Gosh, she's getting so tall. Another round of sleepers were outgrown last week and she can now reach things on the kitchen counter. (Did I mention she got three more teeth last week? So that's a total of eight in two weeks!)

A stop for some traditional snow eating. The sneakers were all we had after we realized her boots had gotten too small. I'm too stubborn to buy more winter boots when I *hope* spring is just around the corner.

The family portrait. Hmmm...kind of looks familiar, doesn't it?!

On the bike. I can not convey my affection for that hat. It goes with us everywhere and Alex even wears it to bed.

And I think by next summer she might be able to pedal all by herself. But for now she is content with a push from Papa while she points excitedly to our neighbor's house and hums a little tune.

A Sunday Afternoon Walk

I've decided my body is in desperate need of exercise. My extent of any physical activity now solely involves running around after a small, energetic child. That's it. Because it wears me out so, it must be enough exercise, right?  Sadly, I have come to realize that it's just not. But when to fit in this exercise?! I can't bring the little one; it's too cold and windy this time of year. Waking up before she wakes up to squeeze some physical activity in would mean I'm up at 4 a.m. No thank you. So I guess I have to just snatch up the one or two times a week I may be able to get out alone.

I used to be a runner and hope that someday soon I will get back into it. But walking is perfect for now. It allows me to marvel at the red apples still hanging from the apple trees; surviving through wintry blizzards, wind storms, and hail.

Or soak up every detail of New England architecture, staring longingly at the house a half mile down the road from us that I have completely fallen in love with. It's original broken windows, the peeling pant on the clapboards, the crooked front steps, and rotting foundation. But I love it so and often imagine fixing it up and  moving ourselves in. It's for sale too. Anyone want to be our neighbor?

The bits and pieces of life abandoned over the years; half buried in snow, waiting for nature's next season and to be enveloped in green grass once again. It amazes me to think of the history this land has. The people who lived here, who worked here, the animals that grazed the land,  and the children who ran among the trees. It's humbling to think that we are only a small piece of a very large picture.

The exercise was much needed and the breaths of fresh air revived my energy. It only seemed fitting to top it off with a slice of flourless chocolate torte, complete with homemade whipped cream. Yes, I think this exercise thing will become a regular occurrence.

Winter

"The cold is merely superficial; it is the summer still at the core, far, far within."
- Henry David Thoreau
jounral entry,
January 12, 1855

Pancakes and Pianos

Pancakes and pianos? Yes, that's all I've got this Monday morning. It's that time when we're deep in mid-winter: the light is lacking, the photographs feel uninspired due to the lack of light, there isn't a whole lot of outdoor exploring, our daily routine is becoming a tad mundane, and well, it's cold and it's Maine in late January. But nevertheless, things have indeed been going on here. Perhaps I just feel they aren't "blog worthy." So if this post comes across as a bit of hodgepodge, let's just roll with it, okay?

You can bet that on at least one of the weekend mornings blueberry pancakes will make an appearance. The little one knows exactly what needs to be done to get these pancakes on the table and is always willing to help. She does the stirring, the blueberry eating, the batter testing, and always tries the first pancake. Since we are gluten/dairy/egg-free, we use this mix. It has cultured buttermilk in it, but the little one seems to tolerate it fine. It calls for eggs, so we use this egg replacer.

On Saturday we made a trip to our favorite local bookstore and found this fabulous wooden piano on sale. The little one has taken to climbing up on the real piano and stomping on the keyboard with her feet. So we thought this "Schroeder-sized" piano would keep her attention diverted. She adores it.

She either has to have that fancy black shoe on the top, or a book of music which she thumbs through until she finds just the right piece to "play." I really don't think I've ever mentioned her intense love of music. I would even go as far as saying it's in her soul. Anything that produces a beat will get her up and moving. She started conducting out of the blue when she was 10 months old. She'd never seen anyone do it before. Yesterday she successfully sang "Twinkle, twinkle" never missing a pitch. Of course, words were not included, just some cute humming. But boy, we were so proud. I wouldn't be surprised if she figured it out on this little piano before too long.

And I have to leave you with this gorgeous sunset from last night. Isn't it amazing?! The entire sky was a mass of pink and orange. So very beautiful.

On the Way to the Post Office

We do live in a very beautiful place.

A Walk In the Woods

Please note that the time of my shop update has changed. Have a lovely weekend!

Outdoor Love

Yesterday we had a bit of unusual weather: 55 degrees in Maine in January?? Unheard of! I certainly got a kick out of seeing people walking down the streets in short sleeves. It feels especially odd after a really cold spell just last week. Subzero temperatures and record setting high temperatures back to back? Something about that just doesn't sit right with me. We woke up to a yard full of mist, so I knew something was up.

We soaked up the rays while the "heat" lasted and spent a good deal of time outside, trying to maneuver around melting piles of snow.

There was a little snow eating, of course.

We played with our snow shadows.

We checked out the wood pile and found a rather large stick Macaulay (and the little one) thought was the greatest thing ever.

We threw Macaulay sticks and pointed to the huge pile of snow two times the size of the little one.

Then we came inside, had some rice crackers and herb goat cheese (did you know the little one can have goat cheese now? So exciting!) and found a bit of inspiration from nature inside. These books are usually found on the coffee table, the bird one being the little one's favorite. I personally enjoy Season of Promise. So many wonderful embroidery ideas are inspired by this book.

Enjoy today, whether you're outside or in! And a big thank you for the kind comments on yesterday's post. You all bring a smile to my face. Your words are much appreciated.

A New Year

It feels as though ages have passed since I sat down to write for you all. Holidays can really keep a person busy (as well as other secretive projects going on...) and although I've managed to turn out a few picture heavy posts, my head is near explosion with the amount of ideas and inspiration spinning around. I know it will take me a few days to get back into the groove, and what better time to start than the first day of the new year?

Yesterday, after finally finishing that big "secretive project" I've been hinting at, I had a moment to stop and breathe. These past two weeks (okay, really it's been two months) have seemed like a race to a finish line that was barely visible. Now it's been crossed and it feels better than I imagined. Expect a nice, long post about this big project on Wednesday. Sorry to keep you waiting, but trust me, it's worth it.

When I finally had the chance to breathe, it seemed only fitting to do that breathing in the great outdoors; where each inhale of the cold winter air refreshes my body and spirit. Jack Frost has been no stranger around these parts. Another eight inches added to the already snow covered ground.

I strapped on my snow shoes just to get the mail. I was under the impression that snow shoes helped keep your feet dry and made trudging through the thick blanket of snow a little easier. My only thought was "I must be doing something wrong."

My constant companion bounded through the snow with ease. My only defense is he has four legs, while I only have two. That must make it easier somehow.

Although the garden is covered, little bits of dormant plants peek above the snow, waiting for spring and a chance for new life.

While I much prefer the cold, crisp air of winter to the humid air of summer, I look at these photos and remember that not too long ago the scene was so very different. And yes, those are my knees being covered by snow. I was frantically trying to get the following picture before it was too late:

The winter sun, blaring orange and setting below the hill. Beautiful. The last sunset of 2007.

Happy New Year!

Winter Wonderland

First off, I must apologize for any e-mails you have written that have gone unanswered. I just discovered that somehow my server was not forwarding the messages to my e-mail account. I never even saw them. I always reply back as soon as possible, so I must apologize if you sent something and did not hear from me. I'm doing my best to sort through over 800 e-mails that I never received, so please be patient with me.

After being a bit intimidated by the winter wonderland outside our door, I finally ventured out to put some packages in the mailbox. My boots come to mid-calf and my jeans were still soaked after the mere five minute walk to the mailbox. There's really something about snow that revitalizes and refreshes the spirit. Perhaps because everything just looks so crisp and clean. It's almost as if breathing has become easier and life slows down.

And being snowbound for three days will lead to many "firsts" for little ones.

She learned to:
-eat chocolate chip cookies
-open the locked dishwasher
-open the oven door (oh my...this should be interesting)
-open three doors, each with different doorknobs

I guess staying inside for too long can become dangerous. Off to town today!!

Winter Nature Table

As I mentioned before, our temporary nature table was on top of the little one's play kitchen. It was kind of in that "end of fall, not quite winter" mode. After being buried by 11 inches of snow (yes, eleven) I decided it was time for the real winter table to begin.

We've been moving furniture around, trying tables in different spots, and switching rugs from room to room. This area behind the couch was previously taken up by the harpsichord Stephen built. It has since been moved to another room and all of a sudden the back of the couch looked rather bare.

An antique table belonging to Stephen's great aunt took the harpsichord's place, and on it went our wintry things: acorns, pine cones, favorite bowls, a bare tree branch, pine needles, felted gnomes, a white silk to represent the snow, and little wooden pine trees.

Okay, I will admit the arranging was more for mama's enjoyment, but the little one just loves to come over and peek at everything. Sometimes she takes off with a gnome, but always puts it back a bit later. The bowls were thrifted finds and in them contain winter's treasures.

I really adore seeing how other people put together their nature tables. If you've posted about one on your own blog, leave a comment because I'd love to check it out!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Snow Day

Father Winter is officially here. Eight inches of snow buried us yesterday. Stephen had a "snow day" and spent the day watching the little one while I spent a little more time bonding with my new love. I got a lot done. Having about four hours to work, of course with sporadic interruptions from a short someone, felt so incredibly invigorating. Actually having completed projects on the table? Heavenly.

So we spent the day inside with a brief outing so the little one could do lots of snow eating. Stephen took charge of the camera and captured some really beautiful photos.

See my new banner above? That's all him. I edited and cropped it, but he gets the credit. I thought it only fitting to replace the banner where Elisabeth was running around without a jacket on the grass. It seemed so out of place after the snow today.

And 'tis the season for holiday outfits! There are four in the shop. My style and tastes definitely reside in the more "classic and simple" look, but I had fun with the matching shirts. I think they are very festive and would make a little one quite thrilled to wear.

Totes and Winter Woolens

*Edited to add that the totes are now in the shop. We were able to get some better pictures this morning. Thank you for your patience!*

Now how's that for a title?

You'd think after a lifetime of living in Maine we'd be used to the sudden drop in temperature this time of year. But when the chilly air turned our cheeks and noses red on Saturday, I felt a bit surprised and mourned the end of my favorite season that seemed unfairly short. In an effort to keep toasty while roaming the woods, we pulled out the winter woolens:

The hat mentioned in my previous post , a thrifted Italian jacket, a pair of felted wool pants made from a recycled sweater, wool socks from Etsy, and...

her new shoes! I think she stayed quite warm while we were outside and enjoyed the freedom of running around in a more pliable outfit instead of her penguin looking fleece jumpsuit. But mama was still cold. I guess I should invest in some wool for me too.

Somehow, I've managed to find the time to finish five "Library Totes" for the shop. I really do love these bags. They are so practical and can be used for anything. I made four more for gifts and one for myself!  And please take into consideration that the dark days of winter here in Maine affect the  brilliant colors of the fabric in these photos. They really do look much more beautiful in person! If any of you bloggers want to purchase one, I'll offer free shipping. Just type in "bloggerLT" in the comments to the seller section.  

Have a marvelous Monday!

Outside Again

The weather here has been just lovely this past week. Periods of clouds that seem to dissipate as the days wear on, followed by the lovely sun and its warmth. I've discovered that the little one dislikes mittens. You see, mittens tend to stifle her normal "collecting activities" (acorns, pine cones, and lately the ice sheets on top of puddles) and she either wants to go in right away or makes it loud and clear that the mittens MUST COME OFF! So I have been thankful that the thermometer has been reaching a high 50 degrees (late November in Maine?!) and mittens are not required.

We do, however, have to wear the cute little hat the talented Grace sent us. I'm surprised she is content with keeping it on her head and I laugh every time she smiles as I tie the strings underneath her chin.

The back is my favorite part. That little point at the top? Lovely.

Her new thing is throwing the dog his ball. She usually finds it sitting in a puddle, all wet and covered in slobber. Shall I mention she usually tastes it before throwing it?!

And here she is trying to get Macaulay's attention. He wasn't entirely enthused by her game.

Of course, we check the mail. She has to get it herself (with a little hoist from mama) and carry it all the way back to the house.

Lately there have been puddles everywhere. If she didn't have such tiny feet, I'd get her some rain boots. They'd come in very handy around here. I once told her "no" when she tried to step in a deep puddle with her only pair of shoes on, and being the determined little thing she is, puddles have become like gold to her. So I stay out of it and let her at 'em.

And with all the interesting things to climb on, a little help from mama is always needed.

*I'm headed an hour west later today to look at sewing machines; both new and used. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated!!*

First Snowfall

*Not such a quiet post today. Sometimes I just can't keep my word!*

Amazing the difference a year can make. Last year the little one was not too impressed with the snow. But this year? Well, as soon as she woke up from her nap and saw the window, she screamed in excitement and ran to it to get a closer look.

Of course, we had to go outside. As I opened the door you could see the delight on her face. How fun it must be to really see snow for the first time. Quite fitting it should snow today, the same day our special order Winter book by Gerda Muller arrived at our local bookstore. (See that dog on the front page? That's "Twister," Elisabeth's special friend. The coffee shop is attached to the bookstore and we visit everyday. Need I say more?!)

While playing in the snow, Elisabeth discovered that it's also good for eating. I'm surprised this picture even came out as the camera was jumping up and down from my laughing. She insisted on eating all the snow off of every  solar light along the walkway. 

With the snow today and Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I'm definitely getting into the holiday mood. I felt so much excitement today, just like I remember as a child. Now, if I could only find time to work on all the gifts for Christmas...

On Our Walk

Expect some quiet posting this week. There is much to do around the house to prepare for the winter ahead and even more sewing to take place. I'll be back to regular posting next Monday.

A long walk with the little one just before sunset. A stop to look at the sun's golden rays on the apple tree and to touch some winter berries. A quiet, peaceful break in the midst of a hectic day. A chance to recharge and catch our breath. Much needed by both.

I Love the Great Outdoors

We spend the middle part of our days outside exploring the eight acres that surround our house. The little one is always excited to get going. She insists on walking herself, motioning for me to put her down after I open the door. These days we are always greeted by a blast of chilly air, which for a moment makes me question our decision to venture out instead of curling up on the couch with a cup of cocoa. But the little one will not be stopped.

We have our little rituals: stopping to scoop up rocks on the path (while I keep them from going into her mouth), touching the garden lights, saying "hello" to our car, trying to find the dog, and then we finally get to exploring.

On this particularly chilly day, we had a mission. We wanted to find some objects to bring inside for our winter nature table. Yes, it's getting to be that time. Winter. Brrrr. I actually smelled snow the other day. It always comes sooner than we ever expect it to. So before that white blanket covers the earth, we decided to find a few things first. Her little basket is always with us on our walks. She never lets go of it.  She does allow mama to plop a few goodies in there too, but mostly she decides.

Then we come inside, warm up with a hot drink and look at our treasures.  She pulls each one out with more excitement than when she put it in. I'll miss these days come winter. For now I just take comfort in the fact that these objects will remind us of the walks we took, the things that made her smile, and the fun we had, all winter long.

Changes and Yoga Pants

The little one is still an hour ahead despite the time change, so we have been rising early. I kept the bedroom clock on the old time, so I wouldn't freak when I saw 4:30 a.m. glaring me in the face when I heard the first peep out of her mouth.

Getting used to the time change is hard for Mama too. The space between the end of her afternoon nap and when Papa arrives home was our outside time. We took a walk, played in the woods, threw the dog sticks and rode on her bike. Now it's dark. We went outside after her nap today to discover the sun setting. I almost cried.

We quickly got in a little exploration (and outdoors snacking) before it got too dark to find our way home.

We arranged some rocks we brought home with us from the beach on Papa's shop steps. Elisabeth took off with one, clearly deciding it was too worthy of sitting on a step outside. (I think she ended up bringing it in and placing it in the dog food bowl.)

She ran and giggled while I tried to snap pictures of her new yoga pants I made over the weekend. Two pairs  were created out of thrifted, thick jersey. I added some Superbuzzy patches to the front for fun. She likes them and the wee bit of flare at the bottom makes me smile.

She made funny faces I had never seen before and laughed when I did my best to copy her expression.

She perfected her running, so Mama needed extra cookies to make up for the energy loss of chasing after her.

And, on our way inside to warm up, we noticed the solar garden lights shining at an amazing 4:30 p.m. I think I may have shed a tear thinking of the long, dark winter ahead. We'll make it through, right?

A Walk In the Woods

I used to love to hike. I would get out of work, pick up the dog and head to my favorite winter hiking spot. We would hike through a foot of snow, the only ones on the mountain. No footprints or tracks; we made our own. It was so peaceful and I found it especially refreshing to breathe in the cold mountain air while my body warmed up under layers of wool. The dog would bound merrily down the trail, stopping every 100 feet or so to wait for me.

Sadly, I eventually got too caught up in life and the busyness it entails. I stopped going to my favorite mountain and instead traded it in for the convenient, albeit hectic, streets I would run daily just outside our door. But since having a child, I seem to want to connect with nature more. I want to get back to hiking, walking trails, taking picnics by the lake, burying my toes in the sand at the beach and generally just slowing down a bit, using the outdoors as my starting point.

So Sunday we took a family day and headed to Dodge Point, a short drive from our house with easy trails that navigate around a pond and open up to the gorgeous Damariscotta River. The little one had never been on a trail before and she was rather excited to get going. If she actually would have stayed on the trail, I'm sure she would have walked a good part of it. However, the woods proved to be more exciting to her, so in the Ergo she went!

I told Stephen that he better take some pictures of me for the family album. Elisabeth is going to think her mama never existed because I'm always the one behind the camera.

So, being the natural model I am (insert loud laughing here), I posed in the only position I could think of after a marathon viewing of the Austin Powers movies...just like Dr. Evil.

We collected some things to bring back with us for the winter nature table. I love these little pine cones. We can only find the long, skinny pine cones on our property, so I was so pleased to discover the short, round ones.

Elisabeth was beyond thrilled when we came to the Damariscotta River. She actually tried to go swimming on that cold, windy day. Papa stopped her, thank goodness. There was a great deal of sitting in mud though.

And for the first time since she was 5 months old, she fell asleep in the carrier. It was so sweet. I had tears in my eyes thinking this could very well be the last time it happens. 

I'm sure there will be plenty of outdoor time this weekend for us, and I only hope yours will include some too! Enjoy your weekend!

Happiness

Before becoming a mother, I often did things that provided my life with a healthy dose of happiness: dinner with friends, a trip to Videoport in town for a movie, the ferry ride home, hiking, drinking Monte Antico with a side of Green and Blacks, and my favorite...performing in front of hundreds of people. But I never thought of these things as the moments in life that fill me with joy. I never really acknowledged that fact until I became a mother. Now there is no time for most of these. I certainly haven't performed in front of hundreds of people lately and Videoport is a long ways away now.

When you spend all day with a little person who can't communicate her needs very well, wakes up very early (yawn) and proceeds to drain every last ounce of energy from your body in the first two hours of the day, sometimes happiness seems a long way off. In the past I found it hard to think about anything positive when my life seemed so full of negatives. But now, the little things that would have gone unnoticed are getting attention and are filling that happiness hole left when this new motherhood adventure started.

A new sweater paired with my favorite orange shirt.

Watching the completely fearless little one climb on anything she can find.

A dreary October day that really makes you appreciate the amazing color of the trees.

A special order that just arrived at our local bookstore. I've already made it through a few chapters and feel like I could have written it myself.

An easy, but oh so tasty, supper. (Rice pasta, pesto, sheep's cheese and broccoli.)

Working on a gift for someone special.

May you find happiness in the little things today...

The Morris Farm

Yesterday we took a trip to the Morris Farm in Wiscasset. It's just a quick drive from our house and I've never taken Elisabeth there before. We met at our friend's house and walked to the farm with the little ones in their strollers.

When we arrived, there was a baby chick in a cage by the door. Elisabeth immediately spotted it and remained fascinated by it for the next 20 minutes. No fear, this one. Stuck her fingers right in the cage and let the chick peck her.

The chick seemed as amused by her, as she did by it. It came up to her when she knelt down to see it and didn't leave after discovering that she had no treats in her hand. I told Stephen that our plans to get chickens next spring is a must-do.

We walked around some more and saw sheep. I later learned that they have a spinning class next month at the farm, undoubtedly using their sheep's wool. I plan on looking into that further...

And two horses came to say hello on the path. Elisabeth acted as if they were just a really big Mac (our dog) and gave them both a pat on the side.

We checked out the goodies.

And lastly, we looked at all the pumpkins. Elisabeth had her eye on one, but we would have needed an extra stroller for the ride home.