When the weather shifts and the leaves begin to turn, I tend to get focused on strengthening our daily routines and making things cozy. My younger kids, on the other hand, want all routine thrown out the window because the nice weather calls them outside. Compromising means starting our school day later after morning adventures are over. Soon enough it will be cold outside and we will start our school days earlier. Daily rhythms that change with the seasons make sense to me. Today we are starting quite late because my little boys are turning a big clear plastic storage bin into a makeshift aquarium for fish they catch in our creek. Silas just came racing into my room to tell me that I just had to come and see it because it’s “So beautiful.” I suppose it is in its own special way but had been under the impression that they were setting up their aquarium on the back porch. Actually, it was on a damp towel on the hardwood flooring in their bedroom and there was water everywhere. It’s being moved to a table as I type. It’s very beautiful, almost as beautiful as the tank of mealworm beetles and larva that live in our schoolroom.
Last week, we had some rainy days, and with them came the return of puzzle season! We quickly finished this puzzle and this one, and we may be ready for some bigger ones soon! I am also determined to do some cross-stitching. I buy every single kit that Alicia Paulson releases, and am very comforted to have them on hand for when I get the time. Jonny finds this amusing and probably doesn’t think I will ever complete any of them. Well, I am on the second motif of Things of Autumn, so I think that’s pretty hopeful. I mean, at least it’s a start. I like starts.
Random things: Beatrix made milk custards using our duck eggs and sprinkled with pumpkin spice and they were very delicious. I spent the weekend cleaning out my basement storage closet and am soooo happy to have that done. One of our lilacs is practically in full bloom. That’s not normal, right?
Okay, It’s almost twelve. I have to make a trip to a local farm later today to load up on hay for the winter, so I better do some homeschooling now or it’s not going to happen at all. With my younger kids, I only aim to do school four days a week, but I like having that spare day in my back pocket, you know? I hate using it on a Monday!
p.s. Thank you for all the orders last week! We so appreciate your support!
p.p.s. I just got a question about my cross-stitch frame in the comments, so I’ll answer it here too! I use Q-snaps that I ordered on Amazon. I have two sizes and love these so much. They aren’t as pretty as wooden hoops, but they make cross-stitching easier on my eyes and just easier in general!
Helen says
It has got to be a strange year…you have lilacs blooming and I have one of my irises blooming. ???? 🙂
Jeannine says
I have all of Alicia’s patterns too and look forward to relaxing and finishing them some day. I can’t help buying each one.
Vicki Gensini says
I’m new to Alicia…can you tell me how many patterns she has put out? Looks like they sell out pretty fast. Thank you!
Karen says
we are having a slight warm up (boo) and then back to cooler weather (yay). I’ve been knitting more than usual and it makes for a nice day. I wish I had a bunch of kids to do a puzzle with!!
Zita says
I love your humour in all your posts. 🙂
Greetings from Hungary.
Martha says
This may be a silly question but where did you get the holder holding your poetry book? I am admiring it for being sturdy enough to hold up that hefty book and need something similar. I love cozy season, candles, wool, and crafts in hand, the falling leaves and still so much beauty before bleak winter.
Ginny says
Hey Martha! Here’s a link https://homesongmarket.com/collections/shop-new/products/book-stand 🙂
carissa says
The vintage brown blanket that is in the pictures of this post. I used to have that one in my bedroom when I was a little girl, except it was in pinks, yellow and greens. Seeing yours brought back some special memories. xoxo Beautiful, as always. So calming. xoxo
Nancy M says
Love the beauty of homeschool with the seasons & the flexibility it gives to let the children be outdoors getting fresh air. Oh —if only my teens would still want to do that. Enjoy the Fall weather and time outdoors. I ordered the Qsnap. I hope they help me. I’ve been seeing them for a while but never taken the time to look at them over what I had on hand. Thanks!
Jennifer Breese says
Beautiful Ginny! I had my eye on Alicia Paulson’s new autumn crosstitch as well but since I just started the last autumn one that she produced i am trying to contain myself:) Love your coziness.
Traci says
I thought, wow that late summer wildflower looks just like a lilac. Hmm..
It’s so fun to hear and see a little bit of your family growing through another season.
Have a lovely cozy autumn.
Helena says
Have you tried the Q-snaps with aida cloth? I’ve been eyeing those for a while, but I usually stitch on aida cloth and since it’s thicker/stiffer than linen or other fabric often used for cross-stitching, I wasn’t sure if the Q-snaps would hold it.
Marilyn says
Those puzzles are beautiful. Good luck to the boys with the aquarium. Enjoy the Autumn
season.
Marilyn
Theresa Boedeker says
Q snaps for needlework are wonderful. Don’t worry, you can finish all those cross stich patterns when the kids are grown and gone. And the best thing, you will have a variety to choose from. I noticed you had picture of a puzzle I have done. Funny how seeing things like that bring a smile to my face.
Marion says
Love the puzzles. Everyone is having fum.
Marion
Margaret says
Some years ago I, too, happened upon one of these rebel Lilacs, here in Germany! A large branche of this tree was running on its own clock, apparantly, and used to bloom in December.
Becky Barry says
Love all the pics! Wish
It was my Birthday Sunday and my DIL and grand daughters came over. The 15 year old sat and worked on my jigsaw with me. She very fast at it. We had so much fun.
Your custard was beautiful.
Have a great week Ginny.
Joan says
Love your post Ginny. The Autumn colors are beautiful.
Joan
Jennifer King says
I always enjoy your posts!
Vicki Gensini says
Love all your blog posts but especially like this one where you showed cross stitch. I am fairly new to the craft and quickly went to Alicia’s blog to see if I could purchase one but looks like they are sold out. Do you just have the seasonal ones or are there others that she’s sold in the past too. Thank you.
Catherine says
Alicia’s kits are so gorgeous! I really had to sit on my hands to keep from ordering her latest. My husband, like Jonny, doubts that they’ll all get finished. But I’m proving him wrong, as I’m about to finish my second in as many months. I have faith that you can do the same! Once I got going, it’s been hard to put down.
Angie says
Lilacs blooming this late is very unusual! Beautiful it unusual.
I love your goats! What a unique breed.
Thanks for sharing your day.
Jayne says
Where is that cross stitch frame from? Looks easy to use!
Ginny says
It’s called a Q-snap and I ordered it on Amazon! I have used these for years and love them! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YZ3XVE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=smalthin-20&linkId=c5163c970c6084450e5e7a032bea87a2&language=en_US
eileen says
Your pictures are always so beautiful! I love how the children use their time doing puzzles, playing, building (fish aquariums), and baking. So wonderful to see kids using their imagination and not the TV.
Did I miss it, what you knitting there?
Ginny says
Thank you! I will confess that they do watch t.v. as well, though I limit it! I am knitting a baby vertebrae sweater for my new nephew that is due in January!