Water, water everywhere...

I think you know how that old saying goes...

Thankfully, excessive extraction won't have us saying that anytime soon. Any why?

Thank you Wells for saying "No way!" to Poland Spring bottling company (parent company - Nestle). You make us proud :)

If you are hooked up with Netflix, and would like to know more on what the hullaboo is about, you can check out Blue Gold instantly right on your computer.

How lucky are we to be able to act and do something...

Happy hydrating!

Lovin' and Dreamin'

Little note to self...

Now, I could spend a fair amount of time sharing how my stomach is still turning somersaults over the results of the same sex marriage initiative in our fair state. I could rant and roll and go on, on, on and yes...on.

But I won't.

I'm stuffing those rants, converting them into energy for round 3 where hopefully and - I am so lovingly, wholeheartedly hopeful - that the light of love will shine with such brightness that folks won't see if it's 2 men, 2 women or a man and woman standing hand in hand - but just 2 people; standing in love :: for love.

On another note. Thought I would share a little of the love happening in these parts.

A little bedtime story if you will.

Seems we have opened up a cozy Inn here in the hollow. Now, this isn't the first time our doors have opened and it surely won't be the last. We have some lovely, small guests who thoroughly enjoy using our teeth cleaning services, our pajama services and sometimes, even enjoy our carrying services which deliver them straight into their bed where they are tucked in and read an entertaining story. Livening things up is a little doll of a gal named Mrs. Foxworthy who has been known to flaunt her nakedness and generally be a disruptive, if not unintentionally hilariously funny, guest.

Welcome to our bedtime scenario of late.

Step in, enjoy our cozy accomodations. Meet our eccentric, longterm guest Mrs. Foxworthy, laugh a while, take a load off and rest up.

For tomorrow is a new day friends.

Autumn Surrender

A little of what we have been up to...

Here, there and close to home.

Autumn Blessings!

HALO Foundation

As part of our Action Tuesday posts, I wanted to sit a bit and invite you to check out an organization that combines fulfilling the basic needs of orphans with the beautiful and much needed work of art therapy....more on that here.

The HALO Foundation is currently raising funds for their orphanages in Kenya to provide, in their words, "...a safe haven from violence, starvation, and abuse...We are not just feeding these children. We are giving them a chance at a future. Our children attend good schools, have a metal box with a key that holds their few belongings, sleep in their own beds, have loving caretakers who care for them, and do art therapy projects to help them deal with their losses."

I bet everyone who reads this post has a dollar to spare, maybe $5, even $10...possibly more? Perhaps, we can put off a small indulgence we had planned and redirect it HALO's way? Trust me, I have my own vices too...

My indulgences come in the form of fabric, crazy huh? This being said, I am going to take some of that fabric and put it to good use. Hopefully by this weekend I will have a few things up for sale in my Etsy shop - 100% of the proceeds going to HALO. Anyone in? Maybe even a trading in of that latte or new shoes (that maybe you really don't need after all?) and mentally marking that cash for some kids who...goodness, may not even have shoes.

Blows the mind a bit doesn't it?

Don't get me wrong, I have been doubly guilty of spending money on things that later I think..."Now that could have been used better somewhere else, couldn't it?". So, how about we avoid that scenario and give a bit.

Just a brief note, I spend a fair amount of time checking out a slew of non-governmental organizations for integrity, effectiveness - the overall trustworthy factor and, as far as I can tell, without having been there on the ground myself, HALO checks out with double A+s. On that note, I have been in touch with someone who has done work with HALO and he gives a wholehearted thumbs up to this underfunded and heart driven organization. Remember, $5 US dollars may not go too far here but, in countries like Kenya and many others - it goes a much longer way in sending a child some love.

Soooo...You in?

Dirty Livin'

These gals love dirt...and water...especially mixed together.


Lovin' the fall mud. No matter the season - anytime is a good time for some spontaneous, messy mud play.

Now, sometimes I wonder.."What must my neighbors think?". What, with our half painted and oh so tiny house, gaggle of children running about, home repair projects that never seem to end and, of course, my dirty, mud lovin' children in the yard.

One of which is just a babe.

Hmmm, what do they think? I am sure that some interesting classifications come up for folks who are inclined to do so. And God knows how many jokes about birth control I've heard over the years and how many sly winks I've caught out of the corner of my eye. So, yes... I may have an idea or two...

But then again, I also know that when people have talked to my husband and I, or our kids, or have witnessed our interactions with them or with each other...they've sometimes been a bit perplexed. Their classification system doesn't seem to apply. I think they try to squeeze us into one pigeonhole or another, but I think we manage to slip out of those tight spots sooner or later.

Then it totally slams me.

It. Doesn't. Matter.

Should I somehow be relieved one way or the other when we defy those social strata?

All the ideas we may have, those notions of being able to summarize someone by their parts. Such silly nonsense, really. How could any one attempt to summarize the entire existence of not just one individual but, even an entire family or group based on snippets? Still, this is often how our minds work. How we try to make sense of our environment, especially in our busy world.

Then there are the moments of hope that shine.

A simple exchange at the post office between 2 immigrants from vastly different countries and cultures, one young, one old - between them, a simple offer of a stamp so one would no longer need to wait in line. These are the snippets I choose to remember, that I try to collect. Snippets of the embracing spirit of love.

Fairies aflight!

Just popping in for a bit to announce the winner of our fairy crown and she is....

Stacy from 4 Living Simply!

Congratulations!

For next week? Hmmm, we have been so super busy that I think I will send out a little more crown love - this time a surprise! Good Luck!

Fair weekend is upon us! Here are a few snippets of our day yesterday...

Bordie collie/sheep demo:


The sliding hill:


Timber framing (we found some great demos for our 3rd grade explorations of farming and shelter building)


Sliding hill fun:


Hope the weekend is fun where you are!

First Pick...

Of the season.

We took to the hills today...


for some serious, season opening apple picking. Not to mention taste testing. Was there taste testing...





This is the same orchard we visit year after year so the kids are well acquainted with the layout and its hidden treasures... like the horses and llamas, the raspberries that "secretly" grow amid the trees, the rolling hill and, of course, the bakeshop.

These guys spent no less than an hour rolling down this hill...over...and over...and over again. Laughter. Giggles. And in the end, just a few ouches and minor altercations. Not bad at all, I'd say. Just way too cute really.





Oh, and that wispy baby hair blowing in the fall wind? Just a bit of heaven.

Expectations...

Revised.

(We can call this Monday, right? Just for now? Tues doesn't start until tonight after the kids are in bed...really. Come back here then and you'll see. Tuesday for sure. Shhh...Til then...)

Little man and I started out baking with a bang, then along came friends ;) How can I say no to outside playtime? After all, winter is around the corner and I imagine we will have many days to cook up storms (amid the storms)...

Oh yes, and here are the fruits of our labor! Here is what a goal mixed with a little nervous energy can accomplish (ah, don't you love doc appt's?)...

Potato scallion and Harvest veggies soups::


Chocolate chip summer squash bread::


Cheesecake:: (ok, this wasn't in the CSA pick up but, we did have the fixins on hand)


Carrotcake::


Potato scallion soup and homemade rolls (grandma's recipe)


Maybe a little heavy on the baked goods side...must be that fall air ;)

Shippin' off to...

Annie from Sensible Living!

Congratulations Annie! That Acorn crown is waiting for a sweet little head to sit atop :)

Send your address to woodspritemama@yahoo.com and I will get this right out :)

For now, until I can get that sewing room a bit
more in order ~ we have crowns ;)

Next week's giveaway? Merry meet, little fairies ~



Good luck!

Farming

Organically.

Have I mentioned how totally lucky I feel that we are able to get some seriously delicious veggies from an awesome local farm? Just. So. Lucky. Seriously. Does it get much better than this? ...

As part of our 3rd year explorations we are delving into farming. This fall we'll focus on a variety of veggies and how they are grown. All of this is made that much sweeter with an upcoming event that is near and dear to many a Maine heart - the Common Ground Fair.

In the spring we will return to farming with seedlings and planting. For now, just being at the local farm is an amazing experience in itself. My guys get to play with the expert farmhands (ages 9 and 3) and poke around to see what a working farm actually looks, smells and feels like.




Every now and then they may even get to help out a bit. Good fun for sure.

Not to mention the playing...did I mention the playing?
I mean really, racing on antique trikes? Frankly, that is just about more cuteness than this mama can stand...

Tomorrow, our 9 year old and I have a challenge ~ to try to use all of the bounty of this week's CSA - in one day. Working in a ton of math, not to even mention the practical life skills of preparing your own food, it will be quite a day. Yes, whether it be muffins and breads, soups, casseroles - you name it; we will be cooking it. Some we'll freeze, some we'll share and yummiest yet - a bunch we will eat right on the spot. Yum. Bon appetite!