Nature Walk

We decided that this year we would make an effort to get outside and enjoy nature.  We have had some fun on our latest walks.  Everything is so beautiful~the colors are brilliant.  We are lucky to have a small park across the street.  It is used mostly for softball and soccer but there are open areas and a walking path.  

Love the sunlight in this picture.

We have had quite a few rainy and windy days so the trees have shed most of their leaves.

Found some interesting mushrooms due to the abundance of rain here lately.

We saw this nest way up in a tree.  It's not a bird's nest.

This little guy lives there.  He was watching us closely and warning us to stay away.  He actually made some "growling" noises at my son.  He was still cute~while he was up nice in high in the tree that is.

This is my daughter's nature journal sketch and entry.  She says she can't draw but I think this is great.

My son's journal entry and sketch.  He loves to draw.

Hope you are enjoying nature all around you.

~History Fun and Field Trip~

We are currently studying early American history and the Revolutionary War.  Although the kids have different history curriculums they are both at this time period.  It is one of my favorites.  Studying history is one of my favorites and early American history is rich with men of great character and honor who gave so much for their country and for future generations.  They had a vision for a country that is honorable, noble and free.

A couple of weeks ago I chose to include the HBO John Adams miniseries as part of our history.  It was fabulously done and so true to the story.  We enjoyed it immensely.  I only wish it was ours because I would watch it over and over again.  But thankfully, our wonderful library had this available for us.  I recommend it for anyone who is learning about this time period.  

What could be better than visiting the John Adams Historical Park once we were finished watching the series.  We set up a date, invited our dear neighbors and headed out to Quincy, MA.  We were so thankful that the weather was wonderful on that day.  If you are at all able I would recommend this wonderful trip.  Once you arrive at the visitor's center you can purchase your ticket and wait for the arrival of the next trolley to take you to the actual homes of John Adams and his family.

Our trolley awaits.  We board and are headed to the homes.  Look at the gorgeous day.

We arrive at the first house.  It is still located on the original site.  The homes were in the Adams family until 1979 when they were turned over to the National Parks Department.  They are amazing historical landmarks. The home pictured below is the birthplace and home of John Adams during his early years.

This is the home where John and Abigail started their married lives.  It is the birthplace of our sixth President~John Quincy Adams and also the birthplace of the Massachusetts Constitution.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get a better picture because there is a very busy street there now. 

Once the tour of the birthplaces was complete we boarded the trolley once and again and headed to the Old House.  This is the home where John and Abigail lived when they returned from Europe.  It was the home of four generations of the Adams family.

The Old House

This is the carriage house.  It is one of the few remaining farm buildings of John and Abigail's time.  John farmed the land that he owned at the time.  There were barns and other farm buildings and an orchard that John loved.
Love this door to the old house.  It has a gorgeous porch and there are two identical entrances.  Abigail had an addition put on the house while John was away.

Gorgeous gate~Like the doors there are two identical gates.  I love them!!

There is a stone library on the property.  John Quincy Adams requested that a fireproof structure be built separate from the house for his books and papers.  This is a weathervane from the old Hamilton church given to the Adams's when they funded a new church building.  This is a replica.  The original is stored away but was on display for hundreds of years.

Window to the library.
English garden that Charles Francis Adams had made for his wife.  This is the site of John Adams's apple orchard but Charles wanted his wife to have a proper English garden.

You are not able to take any pictures inside the homes.  Everything in the Old House is original and belong to the Adams's.  The cane that John is portrayed carrying in the miniseries is there by the door~it is the original.  There are so many wonderful features of the home that I wish I could share but am not allowed.  If you aren't able to visit in person you can take a virtual tour here.  I hope you have enjoyed our visit.  

We had such a great time with our neighbors.  Even with my poor sense of direction I was able to find our way out of Quincy into familiar territory where we could have a nice lunch together.  It was such a fun experience.  The kids and I had so much fun and laughed so hard.  They are the best neighbors anyone could ask for and tons of fun.

Finished Projects

I have been working hard to get some projects completed.  I love it when something can be crossed off my to do list.  There are many times that I get carried away and start too many projects and can't complete them all. 

This is the chair we purchased for our daughter's room.  It is the final piece of furniture she needs.  Now she just wants some little extras~some candles and artwork for the empty space over her bed.  This lovely chair is from one of my favorite places~Ikea.  I crocheted a cover for the cushion that came with the chair.  She chose the yarn and color.

The blanket I crocheted so she can snuggle with it on her bed.  It almost feels like terry cloth.  It is so soft and heavy.

There was a wonderful pumpkin craft at One Pretty Thing and I fell in love with it when I saw it.  I have wanted to try it since I laid eyes on it but this month has been so busy that it took me forever to get out and purchase the supplies.  I finally made it to the craft store and picked up all the goodies.

This is the before pumpkin.  I could not find a plain white pumpkin that wasn't too big.  They were all sold out by the time I got there.

Here is the after pumpkin.  It's a little different from the tutorial I saw but I love it.  It looks so good sitting on top of my old books on my bookshelf.

The kids and I went on a nature walk last week and collected leaves for this great project I saw on Sara's blog.  It is fall batik.  It is made a little differently that traditional batik but was such a fun project with the kids.  

This one is my dd's~who does not want her picture posted so she hides her face~She chose these colors to match her room.  We will be looking for a frame to put it in and then hang it over her bed.  

My ds is not camera shy and loves to have his picture on my blog.  Isn't he a cutie?  Love those dimples.

His batik is as bright and cheery as he is. Love that giant oak leaf we found.  Isn't it great?

Thanks Sara for sharing that great project.  We had so much fun working on this Friday.

Finally, the last project.  I completed new curtains for our bathroom.  The fabric was free so they were a real bargain.  I am happy with how they came out.  I just cut and sewed~no pattern.  I was a little nervous about how they would turn out but they came out great.

Crossing these projects off my to do list make me feel better.  Not so many things crying out to be finished.  Now the holidays are just around the corner and I need to get busy working like Santa's elves.  I have an adorable top that I would like to crochet for my dd.  It will be such a surprise for her if I get if finished.  I can't wait to show you~it's absolutely adorable.  I think I may need to add one to my to do list after Christmas.

~Costume TIme~

I have always dreamed of having a fireplace and mantle.  I envisioned how I would dress it up and make it gorgeous for each season.  Our previous house did not have a fireplace or a mantle of any kind.  I was thrilled when we looked at this house and it had a fireplace.  We still dream of building a different mantle for the fireplace and a new stone hearth.  The hearth is showing it's age and chipping.  All in due time.  I was just thrilled that I would have a mantle to decorate.  Imagine my shock when my brother encourages my husband that the only good place to put a tv in this room is a flat screen on the mantle.  I think my heart dropped down to my feet.  It was the last thing I wanted on my mantle.  At first my husband did not want to spend the money on one of these flat screen tv's but shortly after he was awarded one as a bonus from work.  Voila~we have a large tv on our mantle.  I would love any ideas that you could share to decorate the mantle with the large beauty in the way.

This is what I have done for autumn. The leaf garland hides some of the wiring and things like that.  Some time ago, I watched an episode of Trading Spaces where they extended the mantle, height wise and built a storage box with doors to house the television.  I would love to know how to complete something like that.  I can see it in my mind but don't have any idea how to bring it to life.  

Halloween is almost here.  This year the kids decided they wanted to dress up and go out.  My daughter has chosen to be a fairy, my son has chosen to be Link from The Legends of Zelda.  We couldn't find him a costume so I began planning what he needed and what I would make.  My daughter found a very cute costume so I had time to work on his.

This is his completed costume.

I made the tunic, his hat, fingerless gloves and shoe covers (to look like boots).  It's all made out of wool felt.  He will be nice and warm.

I did not have a pattern and worked from some pictures in his video game.  I cut up one of my husband's old tee shirts to use as a pattern for the tunic.

We were both thrilled with the completed costume.  He has worn it a couple of times already just to play because he loves it so much.  I am just thrilled it all fits and that I could sew the sleeves with out making a mistake.  I followed this great tutorial to help me put it together.

The Wind is Blowing

Fall is feeling more like winter here.  The highs for the last couple of days have been in the forties, nights dipping down into the thirties.  I love a cool fall but this is a bit more than I enjoy.  We are very blessed to be enjoying this right now.  I don't think anything keeps you warmer than a nice fire roaring in the wood stove.

I had sourdough bread on my to do list yesterday but it was a flop.  This is usually what it looks like right before I bake it  but yesterday it never rose.  I started the sponge the night before and that was the first very cold night we had.  I think it died with the cold.  We were very sad that the first bread was a flop.  Dinner just wasn't the same without it.

Enjoying my cup of joe with the great mug cozy Allison sent in the fall swap.

I added one of my signs to the hutch decor with my little scarecrow.

This is my tureen filled the stuffed prim pumpkins and flowers Allison sent in with my goodies.  The teeny, tiny baby gourds are from my garden.  They didn't do so well but I love them anyway.

I will be updating my to do list.  I do need to add just a couple of small touches to dear son's costume and it will be ready.  Can't wait to post a picture.

Dear daughter's blanket is coming out beautifully.  I do need to buy more yarn to finish it.  She wants to wrap herself from head to toe with it.  I will post a picture when it's complete along with the finishing touch to her room redo.

Enjoy your weekend~We may be doing some Christmas shopping.  Dear daughter is taking her PSAT's bright and early tomorrow morning.  We have rain and cold temps predicted for the whole weekend.  I see Sunday as a cozy, newspaper reading, movie watching, game playing and cuddling day.

To Do List~

I love enjoying this time of year.  The weather here is turning quite cool.  The highs are in the 50's throughout the day and the nights are going down into the 30's.  The wood stove has been working to keep us warm and it's time for casseroles and baking.  

My to do list is getting quite long but I am looking forward to getting it all completed.

To Do:

Finish sewing my son's costume~completed

Do some small alterations on my daughter's costume

Finish crocheting my daughter's blanket for these cool nights

Bake some sourdough bread-we are all looking forward to this

Sew a curtain for the bathroom~completed

Sew new curtains for the kitchen

Clean kitchen floor

Reorganize our bedroom~completed

Decorate my pumpkin with the idea from One Pretty Thing

Sew treat bags for the kids to use on Halloween

Complete a leaf craft with the kids this week

Once each of these projects is complete I will post pictures here.  

This week has been much quieter.  Last week we had many appointments.  One wonderful appointment was my orthodontist.  I found out that my braces will finally be coming off in November.  I can't wait until then. It has been over 3 and 1/2 years and I am so ready.  

School is keeping us quite busy here and we have some great projects we're working on and I can't wait to share them all here as soon as it is they are complete.

What is on your to do list?

~Fall and Pinkeep Swap Packages~

Lori hosted an incredibly fun fall swap and I was lucky enough to participate!  My partner was Allison and she sent the most wonderful package.

Look at all the goodies packed in this box!!

I love these prim flowers that Allison made.  They have a wonderful "country store" scent.  That's what my daughter called it.

My favorite candy treat.  How did she know.

Yummy scented votives and a mug cozy, which I used today!!  Isn't it gorgeous!!

She sent along this great book and the kids love it.  I'm not sure if I could make these wonderful treats but it's worth a try.

These pumpkins are prim and great!!

She made this adorable pillow.

Great magazine and a Gooseberry Patch cookbook with yummy recipes!

Tina hosted a fun pinkeep swap.  This is the adorable pinkeep she sent me.  I love the colors, patterns and the design.  It's so fun.  She tucked in some yummy tea and flower seeds.

This is the pinkeep I sent Tina.  She loves yellow and blue so I decided to make her this little birdie pinkeep.  I tucked in some dishcloths that I had crocheted.

I forgot to take pictures of the package I sent to Allison.  I get so excited wrapping up the packages and don't remember to snap pictures until it's too late.  I hope she posts them on her blog. 

These swaps were so much fun to participate in.  Opening up the mailbox and finding these surprises has been like Christmas.