Happy Christmas and a Joy-Filled New Year!

Christmas 2010

flannel nightgowns float
before a wonderland tree
after pittering down the
farmhouse staircase
then clutching new ponies
after a warm bath
hot cocoa and cookies
are laid under down comforters
and warm quilts
with wriggling raisin toes inside.

St. Nicholas day brought cookie baking...and shoes filled with chocolate coins and peppermint candies...

FIRST SNOW

We took a magical walk through snow frosted woods toting the girls in sleds. Una began to exclaim and sing "Mama! I love Snow! I love Snow!"

Busy Fall days...with the plowing of the veggie field there is an ENORMOUS hay stack to play in (they make the best houses for wee people...and lots of dirt to squish...and bosom cat companions (I think our current tally is 13 feline friends/mousers.

The days are getting shorter and so the romps are getting rompier....squeezing every last bit outdoor play and work out of the Fall.

Cat Shearing

Every responsible farm girl shears in the Spring and in the Fall...

Happy Birthday!

When you are two, happiness is a balloon.

recently we went to a homeschooling mother's book sale. She talked and talked of all the different curriculums she experimented with, about her goals of critical thinking, and math mastery...of animals, and horseback riding, hobby farming...she paused and asked:"How about you? What are your schooling goals?"

I answered

"Wonder."

Bellies filled with apple cider....dreams of pumpkin pie...

and only 1 week till somebody's birthday!! (She wants a horse.)

The girls have been:

enjoying the new kittens,

helping Papa with the last of the transplants,

exploring the goat/sheep pastures,

processing apples for "to-die-for apple crumble"

Diaper Art. A maternal art form.

Summertime and the Living is easy

ballet class in the living room, corn cob babies, and canoeing with Grandmim on the river. Summertime in the St. Croix Valley is fab.

The Frog Prince

pity the toad that is loved by two smuffs.

Barn Time / Bath Time

The cats, the chickens, and the girls ALL love the hay bales.

After a busy day in the muck and uck, there is nothing like the kitchen sink for a lovely bubbly bath!

Tea Party

For tilda's birthday we gave her a little tea set. Of course, this has meant many more lovely times of tea and milk and goat cheese and crackers.

Harvest

We have true blue farm girls over here! They are hard working proud little veggie farmers! We harvest radishes in the cool of the evening, and Tilda had me in stiches when she was helping top the radishes and I remarked: "Oooh! I think I just scissored my finger!"

Her reply:

"Oh my. that doesn't feel good!"

I've been feeling rather like the 4 year old around here...But I have no worries with such a sweet little mother about the place!

Here is a photo of the greens mix harvest:

(wearing Papa's official "farm shirt" of course.

The Cabbage patch

Summer is the season of kids! The girls are enjoying it immensly in barefoot/icecream cone/ wildflower fashion!

Gardening Gals

The girls have a garden of their own! You should see it now! Tomatoes and marigolds, beans, peas, taters, carrots, lettuce...and sweat peas and sunflowers from Grandmim too. Also, celery, cauliflower, and herbs!

Now their grabbing their hoes and "breaking new ground for more garden space"! If you plant them, they will grow!

Wee farmers

The broiler chicks have arrived, and are being pampered by the very eager attentions of the girls.