Completely random thoughts

Time is going by at alarming speed. I know it is because I have wee ones, but it is also reflects the changes of the season and the resulting pace at which Jason and I prepare for the coming colder months. We are scurrying to amass fire to warm our bones through the long, frigid Canadian winter. Jason as been felling/cutting/splitting firewood in his spare moments and days this past month or so, and our front porch grows more and more beautiful with the collection of firewood, stacked neatly and ready for service.

As I write this, I am enjoying an evening bowl of granola with raisins, bananas and rice milk and a cup of jasmine green tea. I cooked dinner early, Jason and I having missed lunch altogether. We were busy outside the whole day and so I made a quick meal of french toast, especially delicious because I used our own chicken's sacred eggs.

Ollie has started walking at the tender age of 10 months. Jude is getting much better at loving his little brother. It has been a bumpy ride but not so rocky as some. Ollie's nature is so jovial, so happy and full of constant delight that it makes things much easier. Jude is an intense soul, passionate, sensitive and strong-willed. They balance one another beautifully.
I love them so much.
My Bella, who is now 11 and so close to being 12 is my quiet one. Calm, sweet, and accepting. Easy-going and so immensely creative. She owns my pride (: This year she is in the 7th grade at a new school. The one she attended last year only went to 6th grade so she upgraded ~ along with her friends ~ to the school in the town next to ours. Ironically, it also happens to be the school my Mom went to.
That makes a count of seven schools that she has attended. From homeschooling to Canadian schools to California schools to more homeschooling and then back to more Canadian schools. It's really quite something, Not at all what I imagined her life would be and not at all what I would have wanted her to experience and yet, nonetheless, that's the way of it. She is usually a bit nervous on her first day at a new school but unless you know her really well you wouldn't be able to tell, and by the second day she has already made fast friends. It's really quite something.

I am tired of doing housework; it all gets so overwhelming at times. Dishes are the absolute worst but I also very much dislike folding laundry. I enjoy the washing of it though; a lovely sense of satisfaction comes from using my own homemade detergent. I especially love the cloth diapers ~ They to me are so satisfying a possession. Nothing gets used quite so much in our home and I love knowing I am not being wasteful by using up hundreds of disposable ones.

The horses are a sight, lolling about in the pasture and nickering at me when I greet them each morning. I am quite in love with our Coaltrain, as he is sweet and gentle and loves to greet us when we stroll out in the pasture. He actually bumbles up to us like a goofy puppy, happy to say hello and share a hug. There's nothing quite like it.

(:

Self portrait with Ollie (:

 

~ Taken by my lovely girl-child Isabella. I love her photographs (:

baby porcupine

 

I think that this is, by far, the most wonderful photograph I have ever taken.

 

^__^

tree frogs!

 

They stick to my window at night!

Must be a good omen, yes? (:

Brothers

tree hugger

exciting updates!!!

So then. Over the course of the summer, our chickens grew and grew and became way too big for our bathtub brooder, so we moved them outside into the wonderful chicken tractor that Jason built for them. It's awesome, and features an open run on the bottom with a coop on the top, complete with roosting bar and a communal nesting box. We move it every night so they wake up to a yummy new grassy patch each day. Happy chickens!

 

There are 11 of them in all. 10 hens and a rooster. We had a second rooster but found him a new happy home (: Originally we had no intention of having a rooster, but we ended up with two anyways. The guy we have now is much less pecky than the other one, so he can stay (-;

 

Ollie started crawling rather early for a baby o' mine! And eating solid food! He was ready in a way  that neither one of my other kids was. I suppose it's because he's the third child and has to catch up (-; At any rate, he is just the cutest little thing scooting around the floor and standing up against the furniture, filling the air with his adorable giggles and happy, beaming smiles.

 

 

Jude ~ three years old now ~ loves to feed Ollie! I wish I could say that I appreciate the help, but it's a bit messy for me in the end. Oh well.

 

And here is the best, most awesome and wonderful news of all.

 

We adopted two horses!!!!!!!

 

 

This is Coaltrain. He is pretty silly, as you can see! Here Jason was attempting to draw him, but he just wasn't having it; he was much more keen on eating the sketchbook. Life with horses is definitely very fun (: He is a retired racehorse ~ his racing career ended with a knee injury. I have to say, he is the sweetest guy. Very gentle, snuggley and lovely manners (: 

 

 

And here is Mossy. She is a gorgeous horse, but unfortunately she has turned out to be rather hard for us to manage; A bit of a wild thing! Being new to horse ownership, this has made me very emotional and upset, but I am now looking to find her a new home. She will be better off with someone more experienced.

 

 

I do love our farm in the woods. You know, we have lived here for 11 months now. Just one month more than baby Ollie's life here on earth! I remember how excited/nervous I was when I found this place in the summer of 2011..I was nearing my due date and anxious to find us a home so I could get unpacked and organized before Ollie was born. What an intense month that was, readying! But we did it. We were ready. And then he came, and I have basically not sat down since that time. So many chores, so much going on. It's all good, but it does fill up the days and moments to bursting capacity.

What a beautiful life this is. Indeed.

 

 

^__^

 

eggies

Some of our beautiful eggs, from our lovely, lovely chickens!

 

Ok, so I moved my blog but then haven't felt the urge to post there..odd it is really. Somehow this space feels cozy to me, like home I suppose, a place I have spent much time and care in it's tending. So I change my mind. This place is where I shall stay (;

 

I have so much to say, so much to share! A whole summer has flown by, and much beauty, newness, growth and joy has taken place. I will go into that soon (: