Yes, We’re Back!

It has been a long and full August, September, October.  No time for blogging. Here are some highlights:

Remember that empty garden?

Garden Gate

Garden Green

So Sunny!

Michaelmas, the first week of school.  We dyed silk with goldenrod for Johannes’ first sewing project. He learned to use the vintage sewing machine he has owned for many years. Completed; His Knight Michael’s cape!

Johannes Learns to Sew

Knight Michael's Golden Cape

Two birthdays:

Yes, I'm 50!

They figured it out, 10 candles times 5 waffles makes 50!

My Favorite Gift, from Amelia

Johannes is 9!

Thinking About that Wish...

Week two of school, the Creation and Sukkot:

Lulav and Etrog

Unexpected Guests in the Sukkah!

Uh oh! Orphaned kittens! (Can there ever be too many pictures of kittens?)

Smokey

Hungry Billy

Mittens Weighs In

Upsidedown Billy

Sleepy Bundle

Well, that’s if for now. We may not re-appear for a bit again, but if all goes as planned, the next entry will be the new grand (grandest!) baby!

Have a blessed autumn and don’t get chilly!

Tuesday Again!!!!!

… Tuesday Again …

It seems that “Riding Tuesdays” are going to be the impetus for a major growth curve in the state of my mothering this summer! Yet another Tuesday filled with ponies and challenges.

At last minute, Johannes was asked to meet the riding crew at THEIR farm 3/4 of a mile away. That meant getting him, on Binta, past highway, ditches, trucks, and numerous other things that make a mother cringe. I took the leap and found a route that nearly seemed safe, all in sight of my tailing vehicle… at least until Binta decided she wasn’t crossing a ditch! I got out of the car to help, and in moments Binta decided the ditch didn’t look so bad after all. One small detail… I was under her, in it! Thank heavens she’s a little pony and a patient girl, and I’m a patient mother!

Here’s the experience, from a mother’s vantage point in the car…

Off They Go...

Passing the First Neighbor's

Past the Farmstand (and farmstand dogs)

Survived the Ditch and Up the Hill

Approaching Their Destination

Round the Last Turn

Arrived!

Worth the Trip, Friends Ready and Waiting

And They're Off!

Well, while on this jaunt the leader’s horse bucked her off. I received a call at sundown… “I am anxious to get this misbehaving horse out of the woods before dark, can Johannes come through the woods alone back to the house now that we’re on your land?”  Hesitatingly saying yes, I took off running to meet up with him. He, of course, rode it beautifully, and made it most of the way before I found him.

What can I say… I’m learning how to breathe …

Motherhood…

Garden Green … Tree Down

… Garden Green and Full of Glory! …

In spite of a very late start, the greens are being served at last, and the flowers are too beautiful for words:

Flower Fairies at Work

Words Fail...

First Salads of Summer

… Tree Down …

Our neighbor friend helped take down a substantial oak that was failing on the side of the house. It was a bit painful to see a tree felled, but the resulting light and air movement are notable. In time, now that the shade is gone, the whole side yard will be additional gardens.

First Cut

Half Tree Down

Tree Down, Boys Up!

It’s hard to believe that all that tree processes down into such a small pile! Note the branches center-photo and the heap of leafy twigs upper left corner. With the help of friends who kept “appearing”, we had the tree cleaned up in 24 hours.

Light!

Welcome back tomorrow for
… The Adventures of Yet Another “Riding Tuesday!” …

Sunnies, Casting, and Thunderheads

Johannes said to Stephie, “Gary’s pond is full of sunnies!”  So when I said to Stephie, “I’ve got to get those sunnies in the garden before the rain hits,” she really had to think…

And Johannes gave Stephie the long dissertation on casting for fish. So when I said to Stephie at the knitting group, “I haven’t taught the kids casting on yet,” she really had to think…

…  So much for Johannes’ and my parallel worlds  …

The days are flying past. There is hardly time for writing, so you may not see as much of us during the summer! But a few highlights from the past few weeks before I get running again:

Sunny Day at Last

Our summer tutoring program is going beautifully. On our first day of sun in weeks Stephanie led the day’s painting project, gold on gold on gold, and warmth as well! Sadly, we put Steph on the train to Ann Arbor yesterday. Five weeks together, 12 hours apart, and we miss her already.

Johannes did indeed join the next Tuesday horsebackriding group. It was daunting enough to see him execute a cavalier wave of the hand calling, “Bye mom!,” as if an 8 year old just strolls off on his horse with no mother present every day! But when the sky changed minutes after their departure…the photos say it all!

Waiting for Friends

Off They Go

Across the Highway and Out of My Hands

Weather Turns

Last Ray of Sun

They arrived home 3 hours later, drenched, enthusiastic… it was the “Best ride they’d ever had!” Complete with brilliant lightening, crashing thunder and hail, galloping through fields on frenetic horses in torrential downpours… Glad I was home!

Tomorrow we visit the garden and witness the felling of a tree.
Goodnight all!

Summer Days: Still the 1st Week!

A visit from musician and avid historian Kurt Osgood produced some interesting finds. Kurt and his son arrived equipped with metal detecting equipment and digging tools, Johannes worked alongside. They hunted down a number of exciting treasures:

Johannes Mans the Detector

Treasure Hunt Booty

1: Mystery Item- Maybe Horse Tack?
2: Dalley’s Magical Pain Extractor Lid- From 1869 (see ad below!)
3: Trilon and Perisphere Medallion- 1939 World’s Fair
4: Pulley (6 ” diameter)

And check out this wild advertisement for Dalley’s. Our farm was owned by Dr. Beardsley, the local doctor and his descendants for 99 years. He had 12 children in this house! This must have been one of his remedies:

Dalley's Magical- 1869

Our dear friend Stephanie from Ann Arbor (she appears unidentified in Summer Days: Only 1 Week Along) arrived for an extended summer’s visit before she heads off to college. In just a few days, the stranger wary sheep took to her. Actually, all the animals fawn all over her, she has the “charmer’s gift”!

Sheep Charmer

One of the more meaningful moments during Stephie’s visit so far included a visit from Robin and Lawrence Mathews, also from Ann Arbor. Lawrence was the class teacher who took my place when I left as Stephanie’s teacher at the end of 2nd grade. Somehow, being together long after her 8th grade graduation made the circle feel complete.

Beginning, Middle, and End in the Present

Johannes plays softball with a group of local families that gather every other week:

Proud on First - Running to Second

The knitting crew is making great progress. It is a joy to watch a new knitter find her way! Our friend Taylor is knitting a kitten.

Working a Stitch - Got It!

Amongst the steady stream of summer guests, our four-legged neighbor friends paid a visit. Binta will join her friends for a hike this coming Tuesday, with her boy Johannes:

Tuesday Evening Riders

I am always awed by the variety of colors the wooly sheep produce. Mr. “Big Heart” makes another appearance!

Multi-Color Production Commitee