Coming up for air

There is much to catch up on here,  kind of like catching my breath after a constant stream of summer activities.  The kids cracked open their journals a few Sundays ago and discovered it had been more than six months that they had last written.  For that purpose I have a renewed interest in keeping up on this blog simply as a record for our family.  I've taken to facebook lately because it is a quick place to store a thought and photo but sometimes there is more to say...........

My parents visited us, the last time they were in Michigan was over a year ago, that was the week we signed the contract to buy the farm.  We have grown in many ways since then and it was a joy for us all to share it with my parents.  

One of the highlights from their visit was a trip to the nearby farm, garden and ice cream shop.  While the kids were licking their cones and my dad and I were inspecting pickling crocks my mom got comfortable in a rocker next to one of the owners.  They sat and chatted like old friends......we actually had to alert her when all the kids were buckled in the van and ready to go.   Now whenever we make ice cream stops the first thing I am asked from the owners is, "how is your mom?"   

My dad having spent some time on a farm in New York while he was young was thrilled to see what we are trying to do.  He kept snapping away on his Leica, shaking his head laughing......"I would never have guessed, Al".  I showed off the bees, milking, eggs and whatever vegetables we could find. And my dad confided in James that when he was young he was not too happy to be living on a farm either, he said he regretted not helping his dad more and encouraged James to be more positive about the experience.

There was much to feast on together.  For a few days it felt like the summer we got to live with them.  My mom and I had long talks and many laughs while my dad fed the kids licorice and had them goofing off beyond that which us adults could control.  I miss those days of us living just a corner away.

Soon after we also got to enjoy a visit with Paul's aunt, uncle and cousin from Wisconsin.  We gave them a 2 hour farm tour in the mid morning sun, treated them to a kale smoothie and Maryanna performed an old country song for them.  Paul's aunt gifted us with a beautiful gathering basket which we put to use immediately as there has been many gatherings, and much to be gathered.

Then cousins Julius and Zander stayed a few days with us.  They jumped right into the farm chores and Julius helped me finally master a soft and delicious goat cheese.  He laughed really hard when I told him my last attempted was spit up into by baby Charles.  Julius suggested we add basil, chives, garlic and a little more salt - we made it two times together and was gobbled up with great reviews.   

Rob and Eva also made it to Michigan this summer.  I enjoyed a full day of sewing talk and Japanese pattern instruction with Eva and her mom and sister.  Between us there were 12 children to be cared for and we still managed to make progress on a few new sewing projects (just haven't managed to finish them yet - stay tuned!).

Getting together with cousins is an instant party!  Henry especially bonded to Luke while we were in UT for the reunion so seeing him again in Michigan was another reunion.

But just like the weeds, children don't stop growing on account of a busy Summer.  Maryanna's 7th birthday snuck up on us.  In haste I ordered a pair of red clogs for her on ebay not noticing they were embroidered with the original owners initials.  There was just enough time to drop them off at a shoe repair shop to stitch a piece of leather over the initials, but there was not time for a new felt birthday crown. Instead I unpicked the six from last year and sewed on a seven.  I also sewed her a chicken gathering apron with two big pockets for eggs.

In celebration we had an impromptu gathering with neighbors.  All of her best friends around here are at least 60 and they were here hiding behind couches to shout "surprise" after she walked in the door from a trip to The Toy House with Daddy.  Maryanna was so excited about the Calico Critter set she picked out and seeing all her favorite friends and cupcakes that she peed her pants at the surprise.  But with total confidence she announced to all her guests, "I'll be right back, I just have to change".  And so she did and continues to daily with losing teeth and stepping over the gap between the "big kids" and "little kids".

And still no break in the fun, we visited to the community fair, had a tent sleep over with friends and cousins David and Kate spent the weekend with us.  The boys kept the tent up all the while and after sleeping in it for a week now James has suggested the tent could be his new bedroom, this he insists even after a soaking rainfall.



Through it all Paul has kept up with a busy travel schedule. It seems he has been gone mid week every week since the beginning of July.  Upon his last return Maryanna was near by playing with my camera and I called out "quick Maryanna, take a picture of me kissing Daddy because I'm about to get really mad at him".  Well, not so much mad at him but simply exhausted from playing the part of a one man band.

And so I made it clear that I needed a breather.

And so he made it possible for me to take off  in his truck to a girl's night out with some neighboring farm ladies.  

I also spent a whole day in bed reading, pondering and making plans for the up coming homeschool year.  I believe I swallowed enough air to jump into it.