Apple season

 Just popping in here to share a few photos taken in at an apple orchard wedding, goldenrod splendor from our nature walk, date picture and precious faces Autumn 2018.

Back to school

It's hard to believe it's mid September.  Moving has caused me to lose track of time.  Nonetheless life keeps moving forward and that means the girls are back to homeschool.  This year we have a first grader and a second year preschooler.  We started back to ballet and Co-op, a new monthly art gathering, learning with friends and the hatching of monarch butterflies.  Having a reader this year makes all of learning so exciting. Emmeline can't stop reading.  She's my daughter and has already stayed up late reading, read in the bath tub and walks around with a book all the time. We've begun to call her Anne with an E.  Lena is intrigued by this and is working hard on her letters so she too can read.  Lena is excited about learning this year and is starting piano lessons, a special date with a friend each week (just her!). We started French as a family! It's fun learning in our new school room and we've already made precious memories. 

Slow but sure

We're here still enjoying summer, trying to distill all the colors and outside time we can capture. As we slowly add more and more routine back into our days we're also seeking to establish new traditions and habits to our new home.  In the spirit of Wendell Berry we're trying to "learn our land" which includes all of the nearby parks and trails.  We've spent a few hours every day exploring and learning, seeking and gathering.  We're currently hatching Monarch Butterflies and have learned to identify milkweed and about 15 other native plants.  As these girls leave toddlerhood behind and move into young girlhood their minds are hungry.  So we set up their learning room and nature shelf and started back into math and writing. 

End of summer events

We're all feeling a little weary and upside down still.  As thankful as we are for our new home, moving itself is for the birds.  Loss of rhythm, (let alone items you need for said rhythm) and flow of routine are beginning to creep up on us even more and we're trying hard to settle and at the same time squeak out a bit more of summer.  Because of house hunting, packing, moving, unpacking, it feels like summer 2018 was swallowed into a big hole. But we're getting some summer in the fringes- Goshenhoppen Festival, a beach trip to Spring Lake, many play dates and pool parties, some nature journaling and much needed naps are the happenings around here. Here's to a new season and rhythms in our new home, to much needed rest and thankful hearts!