A LOT happens in a 9 months - back to posting!

Almost 9 months without a post!  Here's a quick "alphabetical recap" of a few of the momentous and mundane things that have happened during the months of this great silence.  

Astronomy:  Pete got a new camera for his telescope and is setting up an astronomy shed.

Books:  Lots of reading this year for both of us.  I was keeping a record of everything I read this year but fizzled out after 75 sometime in August.

Camping trip to Wisconsin:  A return to Brunet Island State Park.  Heavenly days of rest.

Canning: The shelves are groaning.  You name it, I canned it!

Before...

During...

After!

Deerhaven Drive:  Stephen and Becca's new house in Minooka!

Escape to Door County:  Road trip over Labor Day weekend with Anne.  Memories made. Sunset cruise was a highlight.

Flowers:  Anne and Becca went crazy planting flowers this year.  I think every seed sprouted.  And bloomed.  And bloomed.

Goldens living with us:  During their transition from California to Illinois, through the job hunt and house hunt.  Lots of memories made.

Gardening:  Experimented with gardening on plastic.  It was a success.  No weeds.  Loved it!

Those tiny plants in the boxes (previous photo) grew to THIS!

Haircut:  I took Joshua for his first haircut right before they moved from California.

Illinois skies, sunrises and sunsets:  One of the best things about wide open spaces is seeing the sky.

Joshua:  Life with a toddler in the house was lively and fun, fun, fun.

On the go....on the farm

Cheery breakfast face waiting for us every morning

Kale:  Bumper crop this year in the garden.  It's still going strong!

Leaves:  Autumn is our favorite season.  Color, color, everywhere.

 Moving kids across the country and then into their new home.

Good-bye little apartment in California!

Hello, new house in Minooka!

Owls:  Another brood of great horned owls was raised on the farm this spring and summer.  They are more heard than seen but are definitely a presence.

Plant-based diet:  We switched to plant-based in late February and haven't regretted it for a minute!

Quality time with the grandsons.  I don't know if they'll have memories of the good times but we sure will!

Rug hooking:  Just a couple projects this year - one major repair of an antique rug.  Some wool dying.  A pillow or two.

Silverado:  Our "new" pickup.  A REAL truck!

Tomatoes:  Bushels and bushels of them this year.  

Upholstery projects:  Just a few but enough to keep my hand in at it.  One BIG upholstery project for church, done with a friend.

Recovered camper cushions.

Recovering Hannah's ottoman and teaching her the ropes

14 cushions recovered for the church!

Visitors:  Not much room with 7 of us in the house but we squeezed a few more in.

Wood-splitting:  It was time to get serious about keeping warm this winter.

Workouts:  Three times a week we're at the gym, whether we feel like it or not.  Motion is life!  Anne and Kenji keep us moving.

Xtra grace for communal life here on the farm!

Yellowstone National Park - the planned trip that DIDN'T happen!  There's always next year...
Zinnias:  The girls picked dozens of bouquets of zinnias that they grew.