The Blank Page

All through the day as I am doing my regular housekeeping things I think of things I want to blog about. And then, when I sit down to do it, I can't think of anything to write about and am nagged by the thoughts of all the other thousands of things I should be doing (tending the fires, putting away dishes, folding the laundry, playing with the kids, checking my Facebook page!). Of course, this is the case now. So, I'll just post some pictures from the recent festivities around here and spare you my religious ramblings this time! Thanks for indulging me on my previous post, however.

Molly loves her new present from Grandma Jean - Copper Kitty.


Here she is on the phone with Grandma Jean saying thank you.
Our birthday cake...


A trip to see Santa at the Gorham library. Here is why I love this season. Rose truly believes that she chatted with Santa here, and she told him she wanted more Barbies for Christmas. So she was confused when I was looking at some pcitures on Facebook of other people's children with Santa, and heartbroken when she realized that what she really wanted was a Webkinz poodle, and she had told Santa the wrong thing! I reassured her we could send him a letter. Now I just have to remember to have her write it!

I don't know if it's Christmas in the air, a new phase of some sort, or answered prayers (I am sure it's at least a bit of that!), but Rose and Molly have been playing so nicely together for the past couple of weeks. Rose offeres and Molly willingly lets her dress her up and put on her "makeup" some Halloween leftovers I picked up at Wal-Mart for my fashion maven six year old (I don't know WHERE she got that tendency from!). Then I let them play with the camera. It's funny, thought-provoking, and sometimes a bit disturbing what the world looks like through the eyes of a child...


Riley's self portait...

He thought it was hilarious that he took a picture of the back of the cereal box.

All Molly needs is a hair net and a cigarette!

Ah, the beauty of normalcy...

Until next time, life continues on at the homestead...

My First Thanksgiving!

We've been busy here at the farm these last fall months. We've had a trip down to Walden to see friends and family in October (and of course we got in some great yard saling!), our first chicken slaughtering day, the first snowfall, and a wonderful Thanksgiving, celebrated here at the farm, just us. In between all those events has been the usual daily work of school and cooking, and cleaning, and laundry, and keeping the homefires burning (literally!). Life here is good. I am exhausted after preparing our feast today, so I'm going to keep this post short and to the point. Here are some pictures to enjoy. Please come and visit us!



The family assembled for the first Thanksgiving meal which I prepared all by myself. I did a good job if I do say so myself!



The turkey this year was a Butterball, but next year we plan to raise our own!

Last weekend we gathered family and friends to celebrate Jack and Molly's birthdays.


We had a family celebration for Jack on his actual birthday, November 19. Jack got a Radio Flyer bike from Grandma and Grandpa Winum, which he loves. Mimi and Pops sent some balls and wooden trucks and cars, which have also been a big hit (although I didn't snap any pics of those).





Our first snowfall of teh season, and Jack's first trip out into the snow. Last year he was just a wee babe during the winter months...






Chicken harvest 2008. Here is our nasty rooster, who attacked the children on more occasion than I care to admit, on his way to the chopping block. He made the most wonderful chicken and dumplings I have ever eaten! There really is something to be said for grass-fed meat!

Henny-Penny in the holding pen. R.I.P.

More summer highlights

Jack is waiting to for me to get him out of the crib, I need to get lunch on, and we have to wash eggs and take them to the farm where we trade them for milk, but I have to steal five minutes to post the rest of these pictures from the last few weeks or I will never get around to it! So, here are more summer highlights. Enjoy!


Rose and Riley try their hand at croquet at the Genesee Country Museum, one of our summer day trips.

And Jack tries out the game where you roll the hoop with a stick, yum!
Riley and Jarret work the two man saw (Jarret says a prayer of thanks for his chainsaw!).
It was Laura Ingalls Wilder Day at the Museum and their special guest was the actress who played Nellie Olsen. She was hysterical. And let me tell you, it's weird to hear Nellie Olsen's voice coming out of a grown woman!

Molly and Rilley belly up to their Shirley Temples at the wedding reception of our friend Jay Tackabury.

Rose and Ashley Gibbs take a break at the Empire Farm Days in Seneca Falls.
So, we are in the market for a tractor, what do you think honey?
Watching the equipment demos at Empire Farm Days.
Aidan Prendergast oversees the fire starting operation at Camp Winum, this was before the thunderstorm rained on our cookout.

The next day, the kids and Jarret throw in a few hooks at Keuka Lake before we head for home.

Our 4-H club's booth at the Ontario County Fair. Rose's decorated apron, hanging on the wall, went to the New York State Fair!
Her painted bunny and wood cart with zucchini from our garden.

Rose ended the summer by losing front teeth!
Tomatoes and diapers keep me busy these days!