IN OUR GARDEN.

Before the first frost of the cold season came, we went out to the garden to do one last harvest. We took all that we could, ready or not. We were surprised to find how much was still left out there! We yielded cucumbers, green and red peppers, red and green tomatoes, raspberries, and the most exciting...giant sunflowers! These things were planted by the birds, grew 7 feet tall, and produced a flower that was 16 inches in diameter! The kids thought it was the coolest thing ever, which it kind of was!

Side note: This stud prefers his jammies. All day, every day.

It took us a few days, but we picked every last seed out of the biggest one, then soaked and roasted them.They'll be a tasty treat for Daddy's fish house this winter! We picked the seeds out of the second one as well, but we're saving those so we can plant them next year.

We had a good run with our garden this year. It provided the majority of Otto's baby food and many afternoon snacks for the kids. I will miss the days of going out and picking something fresh to add to our dinner and popping handfuls of fresh raspberries into our mouths. But the good thing is we get to do it all again next year!

THE APPLE PATCH AND PUMPKIN ORCHARD.

Fall is here, yay! It's simply my favorite. But then again, I love the turn of all seasons. Even winter. Everything is so refreshing, exciting, new. Fall brings with it a few simple traditions that I like to carry out, and I have been talking about them with the kids. But I mustn't have been too clear, as they have been referring to the orchard as the patch, and the patch the orchard.

So on Sunday we went to the Apple Patch. Orchard. Whatever. We found a super adorable, quaint little orchard to try, and it just so happened to be run by a family that is in our ECFE class. And, they take a natural/organic approach to their apples, which is hard to come by in a pick your own orchard. We were pleased as punch, and will definitely be back. Maybe even this year yet, as I made applesauce last night and its just about gone already!

 Don't worry. He didn't actually eat it. Just giving it a little lick ;)

***

And today it's OCTOBER! Can you believe it? We have three glorious forecasted days this week, then it looks like we're going to get hit with rain and cold. So I've been trying to get the kids outside as much as possible, soak up as much sunshine as we can.  Today we made a quick stop to Barten's Pumpkins, so that we could do a little pumpkin painting fun. We'll go again with the Daddy closer to Halloween and get our big ones for carving.

So here I thought I was all sly going midday during the week, you know, to avoid a crowd. But then I pulled up to two busloads of kids on a field trip, so that theory was a bust. But nonetheless, we had fun, and the school kids were well controlled :)

 She's so good with him. Wish she was as good to her other brother too, ha!

 Cutest pumpkin in the patch!

 Shucking corn, and Milo trying to eat it :)

***
"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."
-Anne of Green Gables

Happy Fall, y'all!