Fall Update

Fall is now upon us! What a wonderful time of year. We are trying to take it all in. These are the things we have been doing over the last several weeks.

We started horseback riding lessons. Braden and Lindsay ride each week. Maddie loves all the dirt at the farm, and seeing all the animals.

Soccer has started. Braden plays for the Black and Blue. Lindsay plays for the Pink Cheetahs. Brent is her coach again this year.

We baked Dragon Bread for Michaelmas. Another opportunity to acknowledge and slay our dragons. Maddie loved rolling the dough. This was her first time participating in the kitchen. She was so proud to eat her finished product.

We got pumpkins today! This is our group. Everyone chose a pumpkin that they could carry. Braden was highly disappointed. The rule had to be clarified as, "carried a few steps..." We also ended up leaving the farm with a few chickens. How do these things happen?

Maddie loved being on the tractors they had sitting around. She struggled with agreeing to get off so that we could choose pumpkins.

Pumpkin Pie Song

In the West there lived a maid,

She was a cook who knew her trade.

She baked sweet puddings and at harvest time,

She made delicious Pumpkin Pie.

Now this young cook was in love with a man,

He was a gardener who worked the land,

He grew potatoes, beans and, O my,

Orange Pumpkins three feet high.

Now the gardener and the cook, they're happy as can be,

Living together with children three,

They'll be happy until they die,

With regular helpings of Pumpkin Pie.

- Pumpkin Pie Folksingers

Kennedy Space Center

What an interesting place to visit. We visited over two days. The exhibits are well done. I rarely think about space travel. It was so inspiring to think about how the space program started from just a few ideas. I guess that is how it is with all new explorers who go off into the unknown.

We were there ten days before a launch. The shuttle was already on the launch pad being prepared for take off. This is as close as people are allowed to be during launch. They told us that the sound alone from the engines is enough to kill you if you are any closer.

This is a retired astronaut. His name is John McBride. We told him that there are McBrides in my family and that Braden's middle name is McBride. He believes that his family is from the same area of Missouri and thought we may be related in some way. It was so nice to talk with him.

More of Florida

While on our trip to Florida we visited both Floridian coasts. Each one was quite different from the other, and equally as beautiful. The kids loved the boogie boarding in the Atlantic. The water was 86 degrees! They floated in tubes in the Gulf of Mexico. The sand and water were beautiful. It was so hot. HOT HOT HOT!

Lindsay's 7th Birthday

Happy Birthday!

When I have said my evening prayer,

And my clothes are folded on the chair,

And mother switches off the light,

I'll still be six years old tonight.

But, from the very break of day,

Before the children rise and play,

Before the darkness turns to gold

Tomorrow, I'll be seven years old.

Seven kisses when I wake,

Seven candles on my cake!

For Lindsay's 7th Birthday we went to Disney World. It was quite a trip. We had never been to Florida before.

Seven years ago we were in Fairbanks, Alaska. Look how things have changed!

Prior to leaving for the trip, Lindsay really wanted to have her toenails done. So we made and appointment and went together. Here she is in the midst. She was very reserved about the whole process.

Dear Lindsay,

You have brought such sweetness and bravery to our family. We are so glad you are here! We also love your curly hair!

Bubbles

We recently installed an outside shower, and lowered the temperature on our hot tub. On hot days it feels so nice to soak in the tub and then jump out and wash off in the shower. Showering outside is so refreshing!

A while ago we read on the outside of our natural bubble bath that you can add it to hot tubs. So, we did. This is what happens! It is like something out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the older version).

Dragonfire Pirate Camp '09

There once were two families. They got up early one day and headed toward the ferry dock. They boarded a ferry to Vashon Island. It's parent day at Dragonfire Pirate Camp!

Once there they checked in with Captain Jim Sir. Then on to a tour of the camp.

We all then gathered to hear Captain Jim Sir, and Captain Jacque Ma'am tell tales of the week's events.

Who is this woman wearing a pirate mask and dancing with a chicken?

So, Pirate Camp is over for this year. I hope that the magic will stay with them for a while.

YA! HA!

The Fourth

The Fourth

Oh

CRASH!

my

BASH!

it's

BANG!

the

ZANG!

Fourth

WHOOSH!

of

BAROOM!

July

WHEW!

- by Shel Silverstein

To celebrate the holiday we went sailing one day, then hiking the next. We enjoyed beautiful weather both days. What a glorious place we live in.

We sailed the northern end of Lake Washington.

We hiked the Heather Lake Trail with the Thompsons. We all made it to the top, and it was worth it!

Low Tide

This year we went the day after the lowest tide to the cove to see what we could see. I am amazed at how much animal life is around us. The highlights this year were starfish, crabs (large and small), and one anemone.

Did you know that crabs molt their entire shell, legs and all? If they are caught before growing a new shell, they are called soft shelled crab. It seems that we could spend hours there strolling the waters edge, looking for treasures.

Time seems to stand still while we are there.

Then, once we hit the car, everyone is exhausted. We tried to find where our creek flows into the sound during low tide this year. However, it seems to peter out before it gets to the water.

Our summer weather has been so nice so far. The kids have been out of school since the 16th. So far so good...

Midsummer Night

The sun goes down,

The stars peep out,

And long slim shadows

Flit about.

In velvet shoes

The quiet dark

Comes stepping soft

O'er wood and park.

And now the world

Is fast asleep;

And fays and elves

Their revels keep.

They fly on the backs of the grey-winged moths,

They skim on the dragon-flies green and gold

On shimmering dew-wet grass they alight,

Tiny petal-skirts whirl, gauzy wings unfold.

The fairies are dancing beneath the moon

Hush! See the shimmer of their twinkling shoon!

- Elizabeth Gould

(Sorry, I should have posted this last week!)

Fathers and Strawberries

I'm so glad when daddy comes home,

Glad as I can be;

Clap my hands and shout for joy,

Then climb upon his knee,

Put my arms around his neck,

Hug him tight like this,

Pat his cheeks,

Then give him what?

A great big kiss.

Anonymous

I don't normally think that these two items really have something to do with each other. However, this past weekend we spent our time enjoying both. We visited Mazama in the Methow Valley to celebrate Brent.

We could not have a better Dad at our house. We are so grateful for how hard he works everyday, how much he likes to have fun, and he is willing to challenge himself to grow. He is also really good at math and building things.

While there we hiked up to beautiful Goat Peak. This is the second time we have made this trek, once about 9 years ago, and again this weekend.

It is a very steep climb, however the view and the wildflowers along the way make it so worth it. At the top there is a fire look out that is staffed by Lightening Bill, and his two dogs. He is quite a character, and a gracious host. He thinks he was there on our last visit, as he has been spending the fire season up there for 15 years. We visited with him, signed his guest book, petted his dogs, and he took our picture. The way down was much quicker and easier. The weather was beautiful.

We stayed in a simple cabin and ate great food that we prepared outside on the grill.

On the way home we stopped by a strawberry field to pick berries.

We all participated, although Brent and Maddie are the only ones who will eat them. We walked Maddie out to the field and showed her the berries. She was so excited!

She then began picking and eating strawberries, really big ones, stem and all, one after the other. As you can see, I think we should have weighed her on the way in, and on the way out.

Imagine what was going through her mind. How many times in life do we allow ourselves the joy of walking into a field of (insert something you love) that is just waiting for us to experience it? And if there are, do we allow ourselves to participate in the experience freely?

Baking Day

l

Finally we have had our first baking day!  This has been on my mind for quite some time.  We built the cob oven two years ago.  Up until now we have only made pizza in it.  As my mind has continued to work on ways for us to incorporate more of a rhythm to daily life, I have dreamed of having a baking day, using the cob oven.  One of the steps that lead up to this were beginning to bake bread weekly.  This was followed by baking cookies or muffins along with the bread weekly.  I had to get used to planning what we would need each week that could come out of the oven.  Now it has finally come!  

On Sunday we baked pizza, bread, and a chocolate cake in the oven.  Braden helped by brushing the oven out.  This included climbing in and out of it several times.  

Brent built and tended the fire and coals.  Lindsay helped by looking for four leaf clovers in the grass.  

Maddie helped by opening and closing the door several times. 

 

I put all the doughs together and brought them out at the right time.  We all made pizza and ate it while the other items baked.  I loved the adventure of experimenting with temperature and timing.  Everything tasted good!

Love-feast

We gather 'round this table,

Where bodies are renewed,

Where hearts appease their hunger,

For we feast on more than food.