Back into Blogging...

It's time...I have taken a year-long hiatus from blogging as I focused on the kids, my classroom and moving into a new house.  I feel like it is time to get back into blogging WITH A VENGANCE!  I have been reading, canning, quilting and planting up a storm so I am hoping to expand the blog a little to include all of that PLUS my usual book reviews.  Maybe blogging a little about my classroom during the upcoming school year too!

 

Here's a quick update.  The boys are growing like weeds and this year we will have a kindergartner and a second grader!  Life is good at the new "homestead" as I am calling it.  I have quickly realized that my ambitions are lofty for what I want to do with the new land and I need to pump the brakes a little.  We have so much to do...so I guess baby steps.

 

I have been reading like crazy this summer.  I just finished The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs - delightful!  I'll have a review coming soon.  I also read a dynamite young adult novel last week, The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel.  I am re-reading currently the My Side of the Mountain series by Jean Craighead George finishing up all three in about two days and pondering how I will incorporate them into my curriculum next year.

The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel

I am working on a four year quilt - yes, I said four years because although that is an exaggeration it FEELS like it has taken me four years to complete it!  I have more fabric waiting for me as I owe some baby quilts to a few nieces and nephews. 

 

Summertime here in Virginia has been wet so I am patiently awaiting my tomato plants to really start producing, plus they were late getting into the ground since we were moving this spring.  I am relying on the farmer's markets and a good friend's farm right now for all of my produce.  Canning so far has been light, a few jams and jellies but I did experiment with a fine mesh strainer which made for some delicious blueberry jelly!  I have been using the dehydrator for blueberries and raspberries, yum!

 

To end, what I have loved most about this summer so far is my new life out in the woods.  Each night I find so much happiness in the quiet of the back porch with a great book and a glass of wine.  Our outside cat agrees...the country life is good!