Just a Swingin'

This is what recess looks like this week at our house. Fall is pretty much at its peak right now. The leaves are so colorful, the air is cool, and we have had some gorgeous sunny afternoons. It's a bit cooler than I remember it being, but as long as there is regular sun, who am I to complain? I'm just so happy the kids are home. By the time the bus usually gets here (the time they used to come home), it's already getting cooler and most of the nice weather has moved on. Homeschool definitely has its perks. Ask me if I've had time to go shopping, get my hair cut, etc., and well, that's another story :)

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Early Fall

We swapped the flip flops for boots this week. The weather is changing ever so slightly. We all look forward to fall, but it's usually because we've had enough summer and heat to welcome the cooler weather. While I love the crisp fall air and the beautiful changing of the colors, I'm not quite through with summer. I could use a few dozen more warm, sunny days. It's doubtful that will be happening so we're looking on the bright side and enjoying all the beauty of this gorgeous season.


The last of the tiny poppies we enjoyed all summer long.


Leaves are beginning to change.


Fall flowers are appearing.





Our favorite warty pumpkins are ripening.


Grapes are coming along.


Ornamental Apples


And some tasty ones too.


Abundant Quince

fun with gourds

After pumpkin carving, we started on a project that kept us up way too late. We were all, myself included, having so much fun making these gourd people...or gourd monsters if your name is Rollin.

We had so many gourds this year that I thought it might be fun for Rollin to bring these rather than candy to his preschool Halloween party to share with his friends. It's been a fun activity for him to continue working on in the mornings before school.


Introducing the gourd family...new members added daily!


Rollin and I made this guy.

Would it surprise you to know that this is Nina's gourd? Notice the pearl earrings, bracelets, purse and skirt.


One of Rollin's not-so-scary monster gourds.

Sela's baby gourd with purse

falling for fall (some days are better than others)

Fall is in full swing. We've had some absolutely gorgeous days, but I still haven't fully moved on from summer. Usually I embrace fall with open arms, but I'm feeling strangely ambivalent about it this year. Maybe it's just today. It's rainy and cold and I'd like some sun real bad. I'm planning a month long escape to the most southern state in the U.S. in February. Tickets are booked. Zig says it's cold in California too this week so we're all feeling the pain. I shouldn't blog when I sound like such a whiner, so I will change my tune now. One thing I love about fall is the food! And we have been enjoying some serious fall comfort food. We've had lots of cider and even some homemade cider doughnuts which were heavenly. Butternut squash soup and my favorite Bastyr recipe (well, second behind Portobello Reubens) Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas. Ooh I love those! Chilis and stews and lots of pumpkin muffins. And we're just gearing up. It's supposed to be a cold winter and we're all hoping for tons of snow. I love getting socked in during the holidays! Snow sure beats rain.

We carved our pumpkins for family night on Monday. Thank goodness for the greenhouse and easy cleanup. The kids really got into carving this year, especially Rollin. I love the moment when you turn the lights off and light up the pumpkins. It's so magical. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make some owl cupcakes  I saw on this blog. I knew the kids would flip and they did! They love owls. And you can't mess these up. We made them with Jo'Jo's and those Sunspire candies so it goes without saying they were YUMMY!


fall flowers

Butternut Squash Soup with Cider Cream (thank you Lisa Sharp!)




Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Owl Cupcakes

pumpkin carving in the greenhouse




gosh I love that smile!

fun posing in the dark

Nina's freckle face


And the first round of pumpkin carving is complete. It was a school night so we had to stop at 1 each, but we have lots more to go.