A little get away

It was time for our September jaunt to the woods - near lovely Georgian Bay and the Bruce Trail, and a chance to catch up with good friends.  Fall is definitely here, the leaves were turning to yellow and red, and the nights camping were cold but perfect for cozying up near the fire!  We also make sure to stop by Harvest Moon Bakery, our favourite stop for beautiful organic baked goods just past Lion's Head as you near the National Park.  Spending time near these ancient rock beaches and dense cedar forests always rejuvinates us.  This little get away was a perfect break from the hectic pace we've been having wrapping up our harvest season. 

Winter days

We've tried our best to enjoy the snowy winter weather here the past weeks.  Snowshoeing, hiking, daily skating or sledding, snow fort building, and outdoor play in our twig house.  Yesterday our daughter discovered the toboggan can be used for hauling firewood, and much larger loads than can be carried by the armful.  We all love cozy fires in the evening, especially when we settle in for some board games like our latest favourite Bird Bingo (available from our awesome local independent bookstore Wordsworth Books), Wildcraft (how could I resist a board game that teaches players to use medicinal herbs), and lots of the classic Uno.

Kids and gardens

Oh, what fun opportunities for play the garden offers.  Our daughter has had hours of enjoyment planting and tending her own little plot this year, growing just what she pleased (and what will a 4 year old choose to grow?  Rainbow carrots, dinosaur kale, dragon beans, sunflowers, and many kinds of cherry tomatoes), watering with all manner of containers to hold water...she roams the big garden enjoying the range of flavours available as she strolls by making her own leafy lettuce "sushi" rolls filled with spicy chives, tastes tangy warm tomatoes, picks crunchy beans, juicy cucumbers, sweet fennel seeds.  She chases our hens out of the kale patch and then feeds them comfrey leaves from the herb bed.  Finds a quiet resting place in a special spot under the huge sage plant, or uses the cold frame structure as a climbing bar for gymnastics.  And of course there is the dirt!  Digging, weeding, lifting rocks and logs to find what insect wait underneath.  We know a day is well spent for all of us if there is dirt between the toes and under the fingernails.

Being thankful

A few things we are grateful for at our homestead this week:

1. The two long days of cool refreshing oh-so-needed rain.
2. Our youngest hens are starting to lay eggs!
3. First ripe tomatoes from the garden.
4. Buttons, our 5 year old hen who appeared sick seems to be getting stronger again.
5. A little holiday time away where we got to reconnect with friends and family.

Garlic harvest

Garlic harvest is a family affair.  More than 150 bulbs from our garden this year, dug up and waiting to be braided and hung up to dry. 

Wind and waves, tents and campfires

Sometimes it's time to put everything on hold and head to the lake...what a rejuvinating get-away.  Windy dunes, warm waves, cool breezes, cozy campfires, long shadows, starry nights, and time for our family to connect together outdoors away from our busy homestead, to-do lists and summer projects.

A day with Papa

Days are always sweeter when Greg/Papa is home with us...