Friday, October 18, 2013

On Reading

Lately, I've been indulging myself with reading. It feels like such a luxury to me, because since Sienna stopped napping, it seems I've also stopped reading. (Except for my reading of The Hunger Games series while we were on our vacay to California. But, that was car reading while the little ones napped.)

So, what have I been reading? Since August, I've slowly been savoring Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: a Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver. (Gifted to me by my lovely sis-in-law, Jenn. Many thanks!) Only a few more chapters to go. 

I also like to read a few books at a time in different genres. The last few weeks, I've been reading a lot of books on natural living/homesteading/gardening. See the stack of books below! After all, I am a dreamer (if you haven't noticed) and I am dreaming up our plan for the future ... a mini farm/homestead. 
Along with this "homestead dream" of ours, we are also talking about building our own home. And, the talk is all about log cabins. We found this gem at Goodwill last weekend for $2.00. It contains lots of useful information on finding land and log cabin building. Of course, this "homestead dream" will take many years of planning, working, and saving. But, it is exciting to have a dream!     
Another book I picked up last weekend at Goodwill was this one. It was $0.79 and is on a lot of the Waldorf reading lists. I thought I would read it first and see if it would be a good one to read aloud to Sienna. I am currently reading aloud Little House in the Big Woods each night and Sienna loves it!  

I picked up this one at Goodwill for $2.00 to read after I finish my Barbara Kingsolver book. When I was in the teaching credential program, my literacy professor was reading our class excerpts from it and I've really wanted to read the whole book ever since then. Now, I will have my chance! 
Lastly, the fiction book I am reading is this one. I  picked it up at the thrift store awhile back. I am constantly on the look out for Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman when we go thrifting (since it is one of my all-time favorite movies) and I found this one instead. I am about half-way through it and I really like her style of writing. So, after I finish I will probably be on the look out for others by her.

Happy Reading!

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Hello, October!

Between the Autumn sickies, our little family made it to one of our favorites festivals of the year, the Skagit Valley Festival of Family Farms. It was a beautiful, sunny, fall-ish weekend. We started out on Saturday after Sienna's dance class. This year, we got to go with Grandma and Grandpa, who were wrapping up their cross-country trip and Nana. We visited the Golden Glen Creamery, Gordon Skagit Farms and Hedlin Family Farm. 

Golden Glen Creamery 

Sienna practiced milking the cow! 

Our little family amongst the cows. 

Sienna posing at Gordon Skagit Farms. 

Forest loves pumpkins! 

We love Gordon Skagit Farms!

On Sunday, our little family ventured out alone to more farms. We started the trek at RoozenGaarde, since we had VIP bracelets (Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!) to pick up our free tulip bulbs. Then, we stopped off at Gordon Skagit Farms again, because Sienna really wanted to go in the haunted barn that she was too scared to go in the day before. She decided it wasn't too scary this time. After that, it was time for our little adventure to begin! A few of the farms are a bit off the beaten path along North Cascades Highway. We stopped off at Eagle Haven Winery/Perkins Apple Orchard in Sedro Woolley for our free gallon of Apple Cider. Sienna even tried some on the way to our last farm stop of the day and she loved it! We arrived at the beautiful Double O Ranch/Ovenell Heritage Inn & Log Cabins. This farm had the best view! Sienna was pleased to see all of the farm animals and to get her face painted. Both little ones napped all the way home.

Our farm girl. 

Perkins Apple Orchards 

Yummy apple cider! 

This farm has the best view! 

Sienna chose to have a pink flower and the girl added a happy face sun to the other cheek.  

Pleased with her face painting. 

Happy chickens and ducks! Forest loved hearing the ducks go "Quack." 

She really wants a horse! 

Talking to a Shetland pony.  

Happy farm girl loved visiting all of the farms! 

Forest was tired and was starting to come down with another case of the sickies. (He is wearing his Seahawks jersey for game day though!)

Our little family loves October!