Last week of "summer" before lessons

 I was going to start school the week of September 15th, but instead decided we needed a week of no structure after celebrating Avery's birthday weekend. So we went hiking with friends one day, tie dyed t-shirts on the back porch the next day, and made it down to the cranberry patch to pick cranberries and play with friends on the third day. Needless to say, I'm glad we made the most of the final days of summer... or fall.

The girls were picking low bush cranberries and smearing them on their cheeks and lips. Such an inherently girl thing to do.

 Some of the boys were trying to make a fire and none of us had thought to bring matches. Noah took a turn at the stick, without much success. I think we were missing some components.

One of our goals for the summer was to tie dye together, and we did it, just barely. A summer tradition in the making for sure.

Last goat walk and flower pressing

 One lovely day in September the kids and I took a walk with the goats before gathering leaves to press. I had an inkling that it would be one of our last and it was. Above is Eden, our favorite doeling out of Xanadu, sold now. 

 Noah standing behind Cammie, one of his favorite goats who is now in a new home doing well.

 Ember, My favorite doeling of this year, oh I doted on her. Her rump looks short and steep in this picture but it's not. She is now with her dam in a very nice new home. I will get to see them regularly, so I'm looking forward to watching her grow.

 We pressed flowers and they turned out more beautiful than I could have imagined. Now I have to find a special craft to feature them.

Avery's Sixth Birthday

Fall Harvest Days

Now that I'm enjoying the slow snowy winter afternoons, I finally have time to upload all the pictures I've been taking these past months. So, here are some self explanatory pictures of our harvest days.

The last one is honey day where the kids get to clean out the separator :) Sticky business.