summer

Wow, what a full summer it has been.  I have enjoyed our lazy quiet days so much, but there have also been busy, crazy days, too.  We have enjoyed many trips to the libray, cookouts, bike rides without training wheels, lost teeth, trips to Kentucky, South Carolina, horse camps, football camps, knitting shawls, planting trees, more trips to the library, more cookouts and one last trip to Grama's house.

Now we are barely two weeks away from school starting and I am not wanting to see summer come to a close.  I never am.  It's hard to start school when it still looks and feels like summer outside.  I wish we didn't have to start til after Labor Day. 

School starting means a few new beginnings for us this year (Sean starting football and me teaching art at school), as well as continuing some standard favorites (the girls both playing soccer, and me working in the library at school).

There are a few things I'd like to make more time for once the kids are back in school, mainly, painting, writing and knitting, oh, and hopefully, blogging.    :)

I hope you've been enjoying your summer with many

blessings and happiness,

Athena



the discovery

As I mentioned the other day, the children made a mysterious discovery while we were visiting the farm.  I know this doesn't have anything at all to do with art or my day to day life, but they were so intrigued by it, I wanted to share.

While the children were playing in the woods, Brooke made an interesting discovery that led to a complete archaeological excavation.  She discovered an animal skull and they ended up finding virtually an entirely complete skeleton.

the excavation site

the skull with both mandibles of the lower jaw

pelvic bones, leg bones, vertebrae, and little ribs were all slowly and excitedly unearthed

I hope this doesn't seem gruesome to you, but the children were actually really excited about Brooke's discovery.  They all carefully pushed aside leaves and twigs in their effort to find as much of the skeleton as they could -- even Seany helped when he discovered there was something more exciting than climbing trees going on.

We brought the bones home, because Brenna thought she could share them with her science teacher and maybe reconstruct the skeleton as a class and possibly even determine what kind of animal it was.

Due to its size and a few broken ribs, we grownups (Mom, Dad, and Rob and I) speculated that it was a fox that may have been someone else's dinner.  Also, the skeleton was not neatly laid out in its proper position as if it had died of natural causes.  The bones were all scattered hither and yon.  The only carnivorous predators that are commonly seen on my parents farm are foxes, coyotes, and hawks.  Maybe a coyote snuck up on this unlucky fox?

So the children have really enjoyed this little mystery and it has been cool as a parent to see their little minds thinking scientificly to solve the puzzle.  Brenna was super excited to take it to school, because she has an awesome teacher who really has a passion for science. 

I rinsed the bones and soaked them in bleach to clean them and get rid (hopefully) of any yucky germs.  Brenna took them to school this morning, so it will be interesting to see what kind of conclusions the 7th grade class reached today.

Interestingly, Brenna and Brooke both went on a school field trip to the St. Louis Science Center yesterday, and I think they were more thrilled with that 20-30 minutes in the woods, than with anything they saw there. 

Next time, these gypsy boots will get back to talking about art and artsy things.  By the way, thanks for listening (I mean reading) and for continuing to uplift me with your kind and encouraging words.  

blessings and happiness,

Athena 

a relaxing weekend

Well, it was another pleasantly peaceful weekend on the farm. 

Tire swings, tree climbing, and tractor rides were on the agenda for the children.  They also made an interesting and mysterious discovery in the woods (more on that later). 

Fairy houses were built with great care.

We took a leisurely walk or two, watched a little football, did a little knitting, laughed a lot, cooked even more -- Rob commented that naps were necessary in order to prepare for the next hearty homemade meal.  We played hide and seek in the barn, went on trail rides, visited the local farmer's market and main street shops, reflected on old memories

and maybe created a few new ones, too.

Despite the draught like conditions Kentucky has been enduring for the past couple of months, mother nature didn't disappoint us -- there was still brilliant color to be seen everywhere.  And as always, early morning's long shadows unveiled the black board fenced pastures, home to Kentucky's dearest treasure, her humble hero, the horse.

Hoping your day is filled with 

blessings and happiness,

Athena 



a day for singing

Well, in addition to the neighborhood birds singing,  and the water in the front garden fountain singing, today I am singing.  I am also doing laundry, folding laundry and packing suitcases, but mostly, I am singing.  Because when I lay my head down on the pillow tonight, it will be under the velvety skies of my home in the bluegrass state.   =)

So as I sing the song in my heart today...

be glad, dear friend, that you can't hear me :0 ...

I'll be packing all that's necessary for 3 children, 1 dog, 1 rabbit, and 2 tired grownups to survive for a few days down on the farm.  

(read:  rubber boots, jeans, a little knitting and my trusty camera)

As I sign off for a few days, I am wishing you a weekend of sunny skies, colorful trees, and a song in your heart that you're free to sing. 

blessings and happiness,

Athena

going to the farm ... soon

ahhh, the cool refreshing days of fall... 

There's a soft breeze blowing this morning and the air is laden with the freshness of fall.  It's as if the bluegrass of Kentucky is calling on the breeze for me to please hurry up and come home soon. 

The farmer across the street from our house is harvesting his corn today.  The sun is shining brilliantly, making the mums and freshly mowed lawns look even more inviting.  What a lovely walk Migo and I had through the neighborhood this morning.  All the sights and sounds of the morning are reminding me of what a glorious time of year it is to visit the farm. 

We are planning a visit soon and I can't wait, wait, wait!

In the summer it's the cicadas and kill-deer calling to each other in the open fields, the intoxicating fragrance of wild honeysuckle, the sweet musk of hay and old barn wood, the distant sounds of horses at pasture, and lilting butterflies virtually unaware of the oppressive heat as they frolic among the Queeen Anne's Lace and Chicorey...

But in the fall, there's a different feeling.  Trees rustle and wave their branches to each other, while their leaves laugh and sing as they float happily down.  The sun sparkles and dances on the pond, as visiting geese feed and rest on their way to milder climes, and the coolness of the air beckons us to leave the protection of the porch and come take a stroll and enjoy the newness of the season. 

Some things are the same.  Like Mom's coffee cake, the children going for adventures in the woods, strolls down the gravel driveway, and time spent at a slower pace just cherishing each precious moment of peace. 

This is what I treasure and what I look forward to when I go home.  There's no other place like on it earth.  Today I wish you peace and the time to cherish a piece of your world today.

blessings and happiness,

Athena



road to the farm

Well, today I thought I'd share another window into what makes me who I am.  I've learned that all our experiences in life (the good and the bad) make us who we are.  One of the most influential experiences in my life is having grown up in Kentucky on a farm.  It is still a place that brings me great joy. 

Loading everyone up in the car and hitting the road to go home to the bluegrass state for a visit on the farm is an occassion anticipated by all around here.  Partly because it's such a quiet, peaceful place to just relax, and partly because my children LOVE seeing Grama and PawPaw, and Aunt Pam and Uncle Peter.  (I'm sure my Moms amazing cooking doesn't hurt either!)

the barn where we raised horses, cows, and one faithful barn cat, and is now occupied by several families of very helpful barn swallows

I spent many a hot humid afternoon perched on the sill of this old door contemplating life, listening to the cicadas, watching the horses graze, and smelling the wonder in a summer breeze

Today this place holds cherished memories for my children who find happiness the same way I did:  picking wildflowers, discovering frogs and turtles in the woods, climbing trees, swinging on the tire swing...

You know how people say "all roads lead home"?  Well, at the end of the day, my road home always leads to the farm.

blessings and happiness,

Athena