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Over the past couple of days, I have made kefir, yogourt, pumpkin bread, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, coffee cake and my first batch of goat's milk soap. (Well, my first two batches, really - the first one isn't looking so great. But the second one looks amazing! I can't wait to try it.) I've also touched up some paint on the house (in and out), stacked some firewood, cleaned the entire kitchen, pantry and fridge, complete with drawer-washing, watched Murder, She Wrote while knitting, and finished a book. Oh, and worked and attended a volunteer board meeting, too. You might think that this is impossible, and it would be, except that I've had the house totally to myself for three days. I kind of turn into a crazy person when left to my own devices. I was happily folding and putting away laundry at 10:40 last night.

But you know what? As much as I do love having the freedom to come and go as I please, eat when I want, accomplish tasks the first time around from start to finish, find something exactly where I left it, revel in a tidy house, drink a full cup of hot tea in one go, and sit in complete quiet - being without my boys makes me antsy. It's a vague unsettled-ness that just doesn't feel right. I'm a lucky, lucky lady.

september lettuce

Lettuce! After our first round bolted and became bitter, Phillip and I tucked a few extra seeds we had in the ground a few weeks ago. I love the speckled one in particular. The season's winding down, and that makes me a teeny bit sad.

You know what? I haven't shared many links lately. I think it's because I keep track of most of that goodness over at Pinterest these days. I know, I know - you're thinking "I don't need another thing to keep track of!" But you do. Because, you see, Pinterest keeps track of things for you. It's a supremely simple way of organizing stuff that you find online: like pretty bookmarking where you can see other people's if you want, too. So if you haven't already (and I know that some of you have, thanks!) you can come find my boards over there and see what I'm loving as of late.

In case you're still wrinkling your nose and deciding that it's not worth the bother, here are a few things I've found on Pinterest lately. Just to whet your appetite.

Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread which would be so much fun to eat!

Pumpkin syrup. Yum.

And kitchens. I seem to pin a lot of gorgeous white kitchens. Like this one, this one, and this one (that FLOOR!) Oh, and this one, too. With almost the same floor. And this bathroom.

And lastly, miscellaneous things like badgers, oxford commas, and baby elephants abound. Love it!

Have a good week!

the woodsmen & a special day

There are two little ones in this house who live to do what Dadoo does. It's pretty adorable. Did you notice P's little work gloves?

I feel as though I've been neglecting you folks lately. It happens every year - these first few months of school are always extra crazy and all kinds of other things wait. (I did take these pictures on the weekend, and also made some Peach Lavender Jam. Delicious is an understatement.) I also realized a few days ago that today would be a very significant day - it's been six years (six!) since I wrote my first blog post. I had no idea then that I would enjoy it so much, or that I would meet so many lovely people. In all seriousness, blogging has changed my perspective on life. I choose for this to be a place to share beauty and all of the loveliness at hand. In turn, I'm much more aware of all that there is to see, and all that I have to be thankful for.



Thank you, thank you for reading along, and for being so sweet and kind and generally wonderful. If you've ever liked anything that you've read or seen here, please leave a comment and say hi! It would absolutely make my day.

date night

  My sweet husband and I went on a date last night. A fancy one, as evidenced by the fact that a) it was free (well, we did have to pick up some marshmallows) and b) it involved stargazing on the beach. And I took a bunch of Hipstamatic pictures on Adam's phone. It was a perfect way to spend the last Saturday night of the summer.

  How are you spending your last days of the summer?