Monsoon Season

We were told that there is a monsoon season here. The onset is pretty unpredictable, but once it begins, one can expect rain every afternoon. It faithfully arrived a couple of weeks ago, and it has been a nice break from the long, hot, glaring days of earlier this Summer. And because the sunshine doesn't let something like a daily thunderstorm get in its way, we have been privy to many rainbows and sparkly windows. Sun shining in the rain is at the top of my favorite kinds of weather, so I am considering myself especially blessed these days. I hope that you, too, are amidst a season of blessings!

Shhh... the Garden is Growing!

We have carrots, beets, onions and sugar snap peas, and it looks like if things go well, we will have a real harvest of tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins and butternut squash. The garden that actually thrives is a first for me, I'm already making plans for next year.

This Summer is Different

Last Summer we were so busy going and doing and playing, I didn't have time to blog. Last Summer, we could barely catch our breath! This Summer is different, we are all about routines, taking care of family and home, searching for new things to see and do. We're taking things pretty slow in comparison. It's an adjustment for super go all of the time Edward and me, but we are adjusting.

The Graduate (of preschool)

That's right, he graduated. Final progress report stated that "Edward has great verbal skills." and "He likes to run and climb." It said some other good stuff, too... but those made me laugh. I'm super proud of him, and stunned that Kindergarten is right around the corner.

And here's a little peek at our backyard garden. I'm trying Square Foot Gardening. So far, I've skipped a few important steps (soil composition), so I'm not sure how it's going to go. I am, however, incredibly blessed to have a husband so patient with our weekly trips to the garden center to just pick "just a few things" (read- pounds of manure, compost, potting soil, potted plants and piles of seed packets). I know that it would be a lot more economical to just frequent the Farmers' Markets, but it's just so fun to watch things grow.  Little boys and fledgling gardens!

Swings, Strawberries, S'Mores and Smokies

We should be packing. But, between boxes, we are playing hard, soaking up all the sweet silly that we can.

Sunshine!

Leaf Rubbing

Well, hello!

We're just chugging along, working and playing. B is off to Charlotte in the morning for ASVAB and MEPS. Say a little prayer. Thanks :)

Apple Picking

Last weekend we packed up and headed for the mountains to pick up B's grandmother. E and I spent the morning shaking the two crabapple trees and scurrying to collect the fallen treasure.

Bethabara

Can't beat a sunny Sunday at the park. We found many exciting signs of life!

Dead Leaves Should Not be This Much Fun

Table Decor Update

The more I looked at the sad little "centerpiece" the more it bothered me. I have since been working on my centerpiece arranging skills. The key? Toilet paper tube bats. He really brought it all together. Also, fossils, acorns, cinnamon sticks and more gourds and pinecones.

ApppleCrafty

We made these apples (from here via here)



Tearing up paper into little tiny pieces was definitely the highlight. In a smear-a lot-of-glue-on-a-surface-and-cover-it-with-something craft mode. This could have endless applications. Next on the list... pumpkins!

Fall-ifying

arghhhhh....
I do not want to have one of those never posted to blogs. I am having a lot of trouble getting my layout+photos the way I want them. Blasted perfectionism. Nothing ever gets accomplished because it's not EXACTLY how I envision it.
blah, blah...
So, I think the secret to appreciating the changing of seasons is decorating. I've never been a knick-knacky kind of gal... but my collection(s) are getting completely out of control- time to put that junk (erm... treasure) to work. See above for first attempts at seasonal decor Hudkins-style. Thank you baby brother+mama for the Fall centerpiece kit. It's a little spare, but go easy- I'm a novice.

Sunflower Festival

Gorman Heritage Farm Sunflower Festival. Crazy fun. I cannot think of a more perfect day to spend a Sunday afternoon. And our boy loves bluegrass!



(photos courtesy of Brady)

Reckoning

OK. I don't hate Fall. I hate shorter days. And I don't like all that brown+rust+orange, or scarecrows or bails of straw as decoration. I get it, though. There are many magical things about Fall that even I can appreciate... acorns and bright berries, the yellow and bright pink leaves (but not the brown and dark red ones), seed pods, breaking out the scarves and sweaters, hot apple cider and honeycrisp apples, crackly fires, cold noses, general snuggliness...
We went on a nature walk this morning- just down the street, and these were our treasures. Edward immediately made a game out of them, removing the berries from the branch and counting them, forward and backward. Funny how he turns everything into a game.

Fallish

It's here.
Well, it's doing that tug-o-war thing seasons do around here.
It's 58, then it's 83, in a matter of a few hours.
But steadily the averages dip and the air turns crisp and
the contrast heightens, the haze of summer dissipates.






Fossil hunting+throwing rocks in the water at Keehner Park.