We must love the little mousies SO much to give them this to snack on...

The First Snow

We got our first dose of "real" snow last night - fluffy and beautiful and great for sledding and general snowy rambunctiousness.

 

A day in the snow wouldn't be complete with some tears, whether from an icy face-plant, cold fingers, or the result of crazy shenanigans like this:

It doesn't look so bad here, but what I didn't catch on film was the teetering sled perched atop that icy snow-dirt pile, with boys barreling down.

Charis brought out the horses for some effortless sledding fun. Well, effortless on the people's part. Colby broke a nice winter sweat.

The holiday spirit is now in full swing...at least in my mind it is. Ready for the tree, the cookies, the lights and more. Ellis and I might even try our hands at sugar plums this year (which, as Ellis guessed, aren't actually made with plums! But they look divine, nonetheless).Crack open the egg nog!

They came, they brought cheese, they brought love, they left.

The annual Veteran's Day visit from Amy & Corrie has come and gone. Another wonderful long weekend full of delectable snacks, thoughtful gifts, entertainment for kids and adults alike, star-gazing and trashing in communal viewings of Us Weekly, happy hours, good times. Charis and I have been close with Corrie and Amy forever. Really, as long as we've been alive! They are those rare friends who are also like family - familiar and real and loyal.

Thanks for everything, Amy and Corrie! We had a GREAT time and we'll mark the calendar for Veteran's Day 2011!

Amy and Gideon: Friends 4Ever

I'm pretty sure my sister has a more wide-ranging photo selection from this November's Amy-and-Corrie lovefest, but these are two of my all-time favorites:

Ever since I got Gideon, Amy has wanted to ride him, and finally I found a saddle wide enough to fulfill that request. Amy tried to convince me that she hadn't ridden for 50 years, but her relaxed demeanor and excellent seat made me think otherwise. We had a lovely, chilly ride, and Gideon got a chance to pay Amy back for all of those treats she'd been sneaking him when she thought I wasn't looking!

Luke

After much searching and some luck in turning sales horses around, I've found Luke - a 18 month old Friesian/Morgan cross who will be my next forever horse. Here are a few pics of my beautiful boy:

October Gig

We were so happy to have a good chunk of the fandamily out for a farm work day on Saturday, capped off by Jay's awe-inspiring gig (mostly his original tunes) at the Mabel Tainter Theater. I think we all agreed that this is the best show Jay's ever put on, and that's saying a LOT. Our friend Kevin got a bunch of video footage, and here's a little taste for those of you who missed it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyRpSg6rm24

Giddyup!

Fall Family Potpourri

As Becca alluded to earlier, we love company here at the farm. We were so honored to have Nathan and Barbara and their beautiful girls visit last weekend. Here for your enjoyment are just a few of the shenanigans - as you can see, Sanne more than holds her own with the boys, and Ivy is quite possibly the sweetest, most laid back baby ever. (Although I do wonder what she's thinking in the shot with me. She looks skeptical.)

Good Fortune

It does not escape me that we are fortunate. For many, many reasons. But today, I feel the good fortune of having the opportunity and the freedom to go away to cabins and getaways just hours from home. Perhaps our communal lifestyle demands more time away on my part - to be together as an individual family or couple. But regardless of our situation, we are deeply fortunate for many trips over the past months and years to Golden Lake, Lake Superior, Big Pine Lake, friends' homes, family gatherings, and family vacations.

And on the other end of the spectrum, we have the good fortune of sharing our farm home with friends and family throughout the year, every season. Our guest bedroom is one of the most well-used rooms in our home. I love that the kids have woken up to (and awakened) one friend or another, one grandparent or aunt or uncle or another, opening that guestroom door. And this is their normal. I love this.

Let me share some photos of the joy brought to us from these gatherings and these going aways over the past few weeks.

On the trampoline at Dan's cabin on Lake Superior

Family hike at Tettegouche State Park on Lake Superior

Climbing the rock shore on Superior

Happy to be trampoline-ing!

Great Grandma holds Ivy on baby's first visit to the farm

Flock of grandchildren!

Barbara & Ivy at Lostview

With GrandMary & Nana for a day at Minnehaha Falls

Listening to music at the park with GrandMary

Loving Phelan

Birthday Season

It's hard to believe I'm posting photos from another Ellis-Owain birthday party! This past weekend we celebrated our 4 and 5 year olds with Gaga and Boompa, which included, of course, another amazing birthday cake - Sand Castle! - by my amazing mother.

While Owain patiently waited for his big gift to be assembled (a kid's kitchenette from IKEA, photos to come!), Ellis adorned his new bicycle with bells & balls, even flashing pedals...

This one speaks for itself.

Boompa puts in some time at the wood splitter.

Gaga, best storyteller ever.

...and Phelan at the Ridgeland fair (if the cheese curds sign wasn't a dead giveaway).

Happy birthday, boys! We love you!!

Oranges & Reds

The colors of the coming season...

Monogrammed