Leaves and Bees

October gave a party.  The leaves by hundreds came - The Chestnuts, Oaks and Maples, and leaves of every name.  The sunshine spread a carpet, and everything was grand, Miss Weather led the dancing, Professor Wind, the band. - George Cooper (October's Party).

You just never know what you may come across walking about the house.

Finally!  Fall Honey Extraction.  We are hoping by the next batch, that we can start selling it!  How fun.  (this process does get extremely messy/sticky by the way....but it sure is sweet).

It is very difficult to get the kids out of our bed these days.  It has become "the hangout" for comfort and reading on these chilly nights.

Noah (with a bow and arrow), shot one of these yesterday.  I have pics just haven't loaded them yet.  The kids were so excited and watched the entire process of  "field dressing", prep , etc... They were not sad or grossed out in anyway.  I was a bit sad, although of course, I know it's the circle of life and such....Just wonder if the turkey's will make their way back to our yard again, or if they will choose to avoid.   So weird: one moment the bird is in my backyard, now its in my fridge in a pot of water.

The puppies are growing so fast.  They are doing great at training.  This is Rose.  She is proving to be the more feisty of the two.  But, she loves to snuggle.  Scout loves to play!!  He especially loves to play: take something away from Rose...and run!  I enjoy watching and being with the kids and the dogs out in the yard, playing free and crazy....fresh air, beautiful earth.  School is going well for the most part these days.  I think we have some of our challenges worked out and are getting into somewhat of a routine.  This week, I had a wonderful visit with one of my homeschooling friends.  She is a blessing and I admire her greatly - she inspires me in many ways.   Well, we have 2 of our 5 family members Halloween costumes decided on and purchased.  Just trying to decide the final 3.  Keep going back and forth with a few scenarios.

 Also recently, Uncle Al came for a visit on his Harley!  We also just learned that his dog, Huntley got a part in an upcoming episode of the t.v. show:  Chicago Fire.  I have been cooking like crazy lately, trying all different recipes.  I made a great Paleo Pumpkin Pie that the family loved!  Some other recent new paleo meals were: stuffed cabbage, pork apple sliders, pumpkin custard, grain free granola, bacon wrapped chicken thighs and others I cannot think of at the moment...but by far one of the favorite new recipes that is requested quite often is: Pumpkin Pancakes.  I found these really cute ramekins to use for all the custards and such.  Also, soon I will be trying a chicken pot pie which I thought those dishes would be perfect for.  I am so thankful to have a dishwasher nowadays.  The cub scout is still selling popcorn.  Ben will soon be contacting those who said they wanted to order to tell them what he's got to offer!  (sorry we have been sluggish about doing this).  Guess, I should go do something....what I do not know.  Maybe make a grocery list...or take a shower before the troops are up...uh oh, too late.

and a great gray wolf...

pounced out from behind a blackberry bush! This is a journal that I made featuring an altered storybook page of Little Red Riding Hood. The journal is really cool. It is folded pages that are bound together that individually open into circles the size of a cd.

A set of Alice In Wonderland Bookmarks that I made.

Bookmarks are such a fancy invention aren't they?

This is how my son plays baseball. He runs outside with his (dad's too big) mitt, a special signed by Baby Ruth (story in a previous post) baseball, and his FOOTBALL helmet. These days he is constantly asking everyone to play baseball with him.

We've got HONEY! I must admit that at the first knowledge of my husband's desire for beekeeping, it was really not my interest and infact, I was not fond of the idea at all. I was afraid we would all get stung by swarms of angry flying objects...yet, Noah is the only one who has gotten stung so far (and he doesn't seem to mind, plus now he has the special suit of protection) and now that we have HONEY , I am quickly growing SWEET to the idea...cuz it is gOOd Honey! Yum! As you can see from the pic, the little fingers of the children couldn't wait to swipe some up. We canned a little bit and that's all we can do for now, the rest has to remain with the hives for the time being (as to not to disturb). Now, I realize what all the fuss was about from Winnie the Pooh and licking his honey jars. In the future we have plans (hopefully) to sell some honey and maybe make some soaps, candles etc out of it. I think we should name it: BeeSki Honey.

Green Beans, Green Beans, Green Beans...this is only one bucket of several picked in the last few days. As we picked, cleaned, cut, blanched and froze all the millions of beans, I started to think, hey it would have been much more time consuming and easier to buy these suckers from the store...but, I am sure once I am eating them I will appreciate their supergardeness. Poor News to Report: Something has been eating our cucumbers and zuchinni. We will be lucky to get a little of either. I guess when you live right next to a wooded area, there may be lots of animals who are thrilled beyond the moon that you decided to plant a garden for them to rummage through in the wee hours of the eve and morn. Now only if they would have ate some of the green beans instead...

This morning everyone is still sleeping, except Child #3 is now stirring as she is realizing that it is time to wake up and be cute. Happy Sunday!