At Home Journal (vol. 1)

So, I'm sure I won't be the last to try this but a few friends have been doing some online journaling and I thought I might give it a go.  I've never been much for journaling but  sometimes it would appear especially as things continue to be busy around here that it may be the way to get a blog post out and still keep family and friends updated. We shall see...

October 30, 2012
Outside my window:  Well, its chilly!  Fall in WI is definitely here to stay.  I'm grateful for the sun and the clear blue sky especially after all the Sandy Storm news from out east.  Guess, I'm also happy enough to be land locked.

Clothing myself in: maternity jeans, black long sleeve cotton top and gray and black scarf tied in a Celtic knot. 

Around the house:  Well, the girls are in the midst of playing house and they aren't the tidiest players.  So the living room even though I've picked up things numerous times in there is cluttered, again and so is the kitchen table, the counter tops and the sink.  I've got to empty the dishwasher before Kurt gets home.  That should help somewhat...at least in the kitchen.

The baby:  I know, everyone is interested but the baby has definitely dropped and I have to go to the bathroom constantly it seems.  And this kid is certainly the most active child thus far.  Maybe it will have some sort of kicking in its future?  Yikes.  I actually got on the computer to print out an updated copy of our birth plan to bring to the clinic next week...yeah, I got side tracked.

The girls:  Have been playing really well together A LOT lately.  Mostly it is imagination play... they and their babies take on countless names identities and adventures.  Sometimes including, train trips to Grammazona (Julia's version of Arizona), bands, fire departments, dance parties, school...with names like Hannin, Mike, Kale, Totty, Lily, Ike and Nina.  They totally crack me up...of course, my identity changes, too,  usually I'm Gramma though.  Which gets confusing when they call for Mom and I'm not the Mom they want, oops!

This week is 'G week' for us...we've been talking goats and had grilled 'G'eese sandwiches for supper last night.  It is also green week at the library story hour which coincides nicely!

In the kitchen:  We've continued to process tomatoes (7 pints this weekend) and apples (still waiting in the canning kitchen...there may be a few fruit flies enjoying my procrastination) from our harvest.  I was pleasantly surprised with the quantity and quality of our late tomatoes this year.  Kurt, Dad and I picked a huge tote full for green ones before our first frost and nearly all of them in the past month have now turned a beautiful red.    I made some homemade tomato soup yesterday that was in my opinion delish!  Though it gave me terrible heartburn...

Bringing me joy:  I've not had nearly the back pain this pregnancy as the last!  My Kurt is so sweet and patient with me these days.  What blessing!  Also, the girls are so excited for Halloween- Katie, Captain Hook/pirate and Julia, Tinkerbell and the All Saints party we're hosting at our home on Thursday- Katie, St. George and Julia, St. Bernadette.  I'm handing out treats and wondering if there are any very pregnant saints I could be on Thursday without much effort...hmmm, two years ago my friend and I went as Elizabeth and Mary and acted out the Magnificat...I thought about the woman in Revelation *including wailing and moaning aloud!  But the costume is tricky for that one.  Ideas?

Thinking about: The election and upcoming birth of this baby...

Picture to share: Felt like this was out life here for awhile...just fruity!  Isn't this a pretty piece to have in the kitchen though?

Ok, best print out that birth plan and order a car seat online!  Tata!

Picking up where we left off...

Well, you may or may not have noticed a brief hiatus.  There are many reasons-
One is that ever elusive balance of a life as a stay at home mom and homemaker. 
Two is that I haven't hardly been able to make it though a day without a nap this pregnancy.  So when the girls go down I've been going down and then have to manage, supper, laundry, tidying and cleaning while they are awake which seems to perpetuate a cycle as I am more tired in the evenings...do you get the picture?
Three could be that there just has been a plethora of other things to do and keep busy with around here.  It is our first summer here and I must say I have tried to enjoy every minute of it.  Each day seems to bring a new discovery (most of which have been out doors). 

Regardless, you're due for an update from our life on the Mississippi....

The garden is in full bloom.  And with Kurt's encouragement and perseverance on both our part is it the best looking garden we've had yet!  Weeds be gone! 

The Trumpeting Vines are announcing the beginning of June!

Everything in the landscaping has got at least a year to prove/show itself.  These massive trellises of Trumpeting Vines were a big question mark but they look BEAUTIFUL full of flowers.

Our orchard was spared frost this season and the apples, pears and plums are coming in like CrAzY!  With the mild winter and early spring here we'll be harvesting before we know it! 

Parties interested in helping with the harvest will be paid in fruit!

And in the fruits of the fruit...this is the beginnings of something old

Being made 'new'

Kurt purchased this cider press for his birthday while we were in MI and is in the process of restoring the basket and a few other pieces.  We were in awe of the size and are excited to see it evolve.

The idea is something like this but more on the antique scale.  I'll try to have a few more updating posts...I've had some painting done.  We've been to the zoo, MI, MN and celebrated two birthdays and an anniversary since I've last posted!

Preparing for Apples

 This weekend we had a friend come and help us trim our apple orchard (how many trees qualifies an orchard?  We have 18 or 19).  It was a learning experience for Kurt and me though with the girls in tow he hopefully came out with a more fruitful learning than I did.  (Haha fruitful learning!) 

 I did learn a 'famous' apple trimming saying of the orchard's previous owner- "You can kick a cat through a well trimmed apple tree."  I like it.  And I must say after all the trimming the guys did the trees are looking ready for cats. ;-)  Or at least much better and hopefully ready to bring on the blossoms.

 Here are the little stick haulers.  Kate ended up getting sick later in the night...she and Kurt both have high fevers today and are couch buddies but hopefully the fresh air did them good this weekend those colds will be kicked in no time.

This isn't even all the trimmings. You'd think we'd cut down a couple trees with pile we made.  We're waiting to do that after a year and we see what we get.  Then perhaps next spring we'll be adding a few new trees to the orchard to replace a few of the ones that aren't fairing as well.

On a side note:  Another request answered by God in our new home!  I have been asking Kurt for a lilac bush (my favorite flower) since we've been married.  It will be 5 years in June.  Well we discovered at least 5 in our backyard beyond the apple trees!  Thanks Kurt!  God certainly provides in abundance!

Our New Space

Well as fore mentioned I made a few changes to the blog.  I wish I were a bit more savvy at such things as I would figure out how to add a few 'tabs' to the top too.  But, I haven't figured it out yet. However you'll notice you can now follow by email for my friends and family who aren't addicted to blog reading like me!  Also, you'll notice that I've decided to change the name (though not the address) of the blog.  That's because though we're not changing names we are changing addresses!  After much discernment I decided on just "Environs" (the second runner up was Life on the Mississippi- Kurt nixed that one).  By definition-

Environs (en-ver-uhnz)

1.

the surrounding parts or districts, as of a city; outskirts; suburbs.

2.

surrounding objects; surroundings; environment.

3.

an area or space close by; vicinity.

The initial idea for the name Life in Kieler and Environs came from a map that used to hang in my grandpa's house, it showed the lake he lived on and the surrounding area and there was a small plaque labeling it Kleutch Lake and environs.  Now, with a move from Kieler proper it will be shortened to Environs.  I like to think of this blog space as some place close by not just for me but for visitors too.  And when we're on the outskirts of something we continue to be people on the move and on the way to Something Greater.   So thank you for joining us on the journey in this space!

And now, the journey continues as we signed on this home today-

Our New Home!

View from the front yard to the backyard.  Yes, that's The River (Mississippi).

My cousin, Heidi, and Julia in front of the apple orchard.

A view from the orchard back at the house.

The rest of the back of the house. You can just barely see the cap garage on the far left.

As you can see, we have a view from the deck. 

The view heading down river.

The "Pine Grove"

Apples- October Literacy Challenge

As I have been remiss in blogging for quite sometime I've decided to just start somewhere.  Recently, we've begun the Alphabet Path as a more intentional way of learning at home.  Along with 'A week' we did a "Storybook Science" unit on apples- our titles included-

Life and Times of the Apple
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
Rain Makes Applesauce
as well as a few other selections from our local library.  We also have been using Museum ABC.

 One day, along with our story reading we took up drawing apples.  After looking up some of the 'apple' works featured in Museum ABC we found a great link to an online story through the Met's web page. 

We listened and watched  Cezanne's Apples at the Met Online together and did our own drawing and tasting as told in the story.

 At the end of the week we visited a local apple orchard with some friends.  While there, we walked the rows, played on the swings and settled in at a picnic table for some apple stories.  Oh, and of course, tasted some apples!

For more ideas on family literacy stroll on over to Work, Play, Read.  You may even want to participate in the Family Literacy Challenge!