Mid October Weekending

Homecoming

Abigail came home for her fall break on Friday evening. Oh there is nothing in the world like that feeling when your little girl comes home from college for the first time. It's a filling of my heart like no other. And us all around the table once again since early September is the greatest! 

A mama can 'size her child up' in one look, if you're a mama you know. And she looked peaceful, calm, happy, and content. All was well in her heart and soul, I could tell in that one moment. 

Anna made a welcome home sign for her just like she used to make for Anna when Anna was coming home from college. 

Oh we had a lot of fall goodness coming in the next few days... our favorite time of year! 

Rising 

I love to get up really early on the weekends. It's quiet and I can finally finish a thought. I love the peacefulness of it all. 

I turn on the twinkle lights, open my Bible, and rest my heart and thoughts. 

About an hour later I start to watch the sun come up and paint the most beautiful picture in the sky. The whole house turns a light pink that I could never capture with my camera. 

I went for a long moring walk and had my tea with whole milk after. Lovely, lovely, lovely way to start the day. 

Picking

More on this later... because going to the pumpkin patch needs a post of its own for sure! But yes, this was Saturday afternoon and we look forward to it all year long! 

Feasting and Watching 

Every single year we watch The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown when our girls come home from college. And we feast on a 'board dinner'. It's basically cheeses (one we make in the shape of a pumpkin), crackers, homemade bread, chilli that cooked in the crockpot while we were at at the pumpkin patch, and so much more! 

Church~ing

The best Mass: the music, the songs chosen, the homily, all four of us together 

Celebrating 

Just celebrating us on a regular Sunday after church except that Abigail is home! We tried out this adorable restaurant for the first time. I had the most savory pumpkin spice pancake with a cream cheese whipped topping. Oh boy! 

And then we promply went home, changed and Scott and I went on a 2 mile FAST walk - felt so good! Until it didn't because on Saturday I got both the flu and covid vaccine and it hit me the second the 2 miles were up. So I spent the rest of Sunday cozy at home (ahhhh) in sweats, help Abigail sort though clothes to bring back to college, blogging all of the amazing pictures from this weekend, and feeling crappy. 

Autumn~ing

One last night with Abigail - we had to have an apple pie around the fire pit. 

Week Recap

We had this past week off from school. We enjoyed the most amazing weather, had dinner out of the porch (breakfast and lunch too), enjoyed the tulips coming up, refreshed so many parts to our home that needed organizing. I decorated and baked and just enjoyed myself so much. We even went away for an overnight in Vermont. 

I love having a little treat for my family on this little spot in our kitchen. It makes home feel cozy, warm, and wonderful. These are cottage cheese banana muffins (for extra protein). I also made homemade donuts for fun too! And even lemon raspberry mini muffins. 

I do love what I do; teaching is a passion and the place God has called me to serve. But our family and caring of our home comes first, and I make sure to enjoy those blessings that God has bestowed. I sure did enjoy a whole week of being home. 

Other things from this week was that my dad visited Abigail on her college campus. She goes to a school that has a pretty cool story and tie to her grandfather. The land the college is built on was many many years ago his grandfather's farm. Yes, my great grandfather, Abigail's great great grandfather's farm. So my dad visited so he could see what he might remember. They had a precious afternoon and Abigail sent me this picture. 

This week Scott got a chance to play tennis (been playing since high school). On Friday we all went to daily Mass, confession and out for breakfast. 

 

A Snowy Sunday

Last Sunday I had just the loveliest day. I knew that the snow would be coming down so I headed to Mass at 7:30 in our town. Scott and Abigail were in charge of making sandwiches for the homeless (post back here on all of that) so I had the whole house to myself alllll morning long. 

I had stars in my eyes about that time and I spent every second in the kitchen. I love to bake and get all things prepped on Sunday so it was perfect. 

First was reading in the family room. I'm in a book club for this book: Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson. You can find her website here. I can't recommend her books enough -- join her membership! (no matter what age your children are)

The snow was just starting to fall and I was so cozy in there! 

I stepped out on the back porch to take a few pictures of our back yard. I love it in all the seasons. 

Then it was baking time for me! I started by making Abigail's 'vanilla muffins' for the days she stays late at school for jazz dancers. 

The dough was rising for our homemade wheat bread for the week. 

Still, Scott and Abigail were at church -- getting a bit worried about them driving home in this snow. 

A few cups of tea... 

Homemade dinner rolls - I freeze these for soups (we usually have soup twice during the week) 

And finally, our loaves of bread. 

A lot of dishes, a lot of time, but so worth it! I love all of the homemade especially because I teach all day long. It makes it so wonderful to come home to! 

Lost Pictures

Recently I found a camera chip with some past pictures... way back from December. It was fun to look at these; they seem so long ago even though it was just December.

These were from a viola group class concert. Anna was just home from her first semester of college so she decided to participate when she was asked. 

And these - I must have been making cookies. 

And then this - I remember so well. Anna was home and we decided to have a late night breakfast dessert - waffles and toppings! 

This was a fun little Christmas day trip to Litchfield, CT. Such a charming little town with wonderful restaurants and shops.