Growing

As the last summer flowers fade away and we harvest the last vegetables, Autumn puts on her glorious garb and everything seems to be a glow. We learned a lot about growing things and putting food away for the winter days.  The Little Gardeners especially loved watching the elderberry ripen this fall and racing to harvest it before the birds got to it.  We always miss the vibrant colors come winter so we are savoring them now. 

But we are growing still!  A little man is scheduled to join our Little Women come winter.  We are excited and shocked at the change of variety and the big sisters are over the moon.  Phoebe still thinks it is Humpty Dumpty. 

There is an abundance of sister love and some fun Human Anatomy experiments going on for all.  Edible ones are especially fun.  

The Forest Bakery is in full time business so be sure to stop by to see the new addition and put in an order.  

There are many ballet recitals happening and re-enactments still ongoing.  We also enjoyed visiting some special friends. 

We are thankful and blessed for busy Autumn days, a growing baby boy and three busy girls! 

 

Abundance

Our summer has come to an end and our Autumn has begun! But the overlap was rather magical. Learning at home is that way.....  there are no black and whites, rather rounded corners and chapters melting into each other.  We've been blessed with an abundance of lovely experiences where we learn to live life to the fullest.  A trip to the folk festival where we learned about the ways of the past made us savor the blessings of the present and bring history to life.  A brief jaunt to the seaside helped us be still and to listen.  An escape to the mountains encouraged rest and adventures with kayaking and hikes. In between we harvested and worked like little farmers, bringing in our pumpkins and putting our garden "to bed" for the year.  We canned peaches so that we can taste summer in the bleak mid winter and we began to expand the rhythm to our days, adding in new subjects and enjoying the return of old ones.  It's a delight to have the girls beg for Shakespeare or Plutarch, or to "stay longer in Colonial America". We are learning to treasure each moment, for each is a gift sent from above. 

 

The Whirl of Summer Days

The summer has been a whirl of busy days. After a very hot month with lots of pool time and watering our parched plants, rain has come and we rejoice. We've had happy times with cousins and grandparents and a bittersweet memorial service for our dear teacher and friend, Robert Carwithen. The girls have been little farmers, always running out to see what plants might be ready to harvest.  The weather has made the garden odd this year and though we have an unexpected bounty of tomatoes, beans, peppers and zucchini were not successful.  We're waiting on pumpkins, elderberries, cabbages, beets and squash.  We'll see who wins- Emmie and Lena or the chickens.  We've had many other exciting happenings this month: train rides, boat rides, trips to the historic Landis Valley Museum and a general excitement as new school books begin to trickle in.  We're all a little tired and grateful all at once and look forward to a few more weeks of summer before the seasons shift and we begin to get into a steady learning rhythm.  

Birdie is Three

Our Phoebe girl is three! Birdie has grown so much in the last year, in mind, body and soul.  She has become a little lady and tries very hard to keep up with big sisters. She's tried the cello, has been "doing school" and knows some ABC's (P of course), loves to do dot to dot and watercolor and can play a scale on the piano.  She still does not like to sleep and much prefers to be active until she crashes. Phoebe loves to go to the garden to pick and eat beans. She does not like "pomatoes" (tomatoes) but loves lettuce like her Papa. She is good with the chickens and loves the cats very much.  She takes her chores of feeding them very seriously.  Phoebe is a talker for sure.  And many of her phrases are ones that I want to always remember.  She likes to go see the "bibbits", to put on "sunscream", watching "passingball" (basket ball), seeing the "bampsters" (lobsters) and having a "bug bit". 

Phoebe Hope we love you so and pray that with each passing year God will bless you and keep you and make known His ways to your heart.