Thankful Be. an autumnal novel

 Hello friends

Seems I'm not around blogland much these days,

but I AM so THANKFUL for YOU!

Here's my novel.

Life on our farm has been very busy and immensely blessed lately.
(Guess I'm well on my way to 1000 gifts!)

I thought I'd share a few of my fav pics from the last few months...

  I went on field trips with both Jack and Sarah's classes.

Jack to the pumpkin patch and zoo, Sarah to the nature center.

Some poor little girl threw up on the bus w/us to the center...

Although she had already been sick that morning, her mommy had said she could go if she felt up to it...

Thus began our TEN DAYS of gross sickness here.

NOT thankful to that mom.

Except maybe that it gave me a chance to just  veg on the couch watching Harry Potter movies with the kids? :-)

 We went to a paint your own pottery place.

Contrary to their dying expressions, it was fun.

Sarah made a pink n purple unicorn to match her pillow pet.
Jack made me a black cat for my Halloween collection.

I made a plate with their handprints that reads;

You are my sunshine.

Sadly, it didn't turn out as bright and clear as I'd hoped.

As I often mention; I am a frustrated, wanna be artiste!

But more in keeping with my strengths...

I took several of my students to a cross country course to practice.

 Much fun was had by all. 

Especially with the wine n cheese party in the barn afterwards! 

 I rode a 4 yo ex racehorse new to life off the track. Sarah rode Piglet.

I was thrilled with everybody's efforts.

Especially 7 yo Sarah and 5 yo Piglet!

The Farmer was thrilled to finally get all his corn harvested and rye planted between rains.

He worked  l o n g  days n nights with just us family "helping!"

I was a proud farmer's wife driving this!

Guess not too many farmers take pictures of themselves with a pink phone in the tractor cab...

Oh well, I was so excited to be planting.

Until I learned that I hadn't...

A chain had broken and the seed hadn't gone in.

I was a sad farmer's wife then.

But our kids were happy (scary?) children of the corn!

Sarah really does wear her "Laura Ingalls" costume from last Halloween around the farm.

 all. the. time.

I wore that gingham dress nearly 20 years ago at my cousins country wedding.

yes. I am a hoarder who resists fashion change.

I just knew that sweet gingham would find another use. 

 After the early SNOW we played at Halloween parties dressed as
Winnie the Pooh n Kanga too.

 Can you believe several people thought she was Scooby Do?! 

So much for my costume design!  ;-P

Then Sarah got to wear Jack's old costume as a duck in her school performance...
"Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that type."

There is nothing cuter than 70 second graders.

 Each in their own unique homemade farm animal costume.
Nothing.

Jack initiated, completed and transported his own awesome craft.
He told me he had made a letter J out of wood up at Daddy's shop
(that's up a long drive).
He really wanted me to see it early the next morning.
I finally caved and allowed him to run up to the shop n bring it down before school...
I had no idea how H U G E it was.

I can't believe he wrestled it out and all the way down the drive by himself!
A piece broke off but that didn't deter him from painting it as soon as he returned from preschool.
My boy is determined and focused.

My family joined me to watch The Blessing of the Hunt performed by our own Pastor Helen.
It was a perfect day.

The Farmer volunteered that he'd really enjoyed it and could see himself hunting with me one day...
Praise be!

 The kids (big n small?) enjoyed using the manlift to remove a big bird's nest from the chimney.

The Farmer bought this used off Ebay 10 years ago and I must admit it's a very handy toy that has paid for itself more than once over!

We're now full into woodstove mode.

Both kids help us keep track of the temp and load firewood.
And make cocoa. And pudding.

We are snug. We are messy. 

We have zu zu pets n real pets. But apparently no matching PJs.

We are so blessed.

Wishing you all a glad Thanksgiving!