Looking for a super silly, entertaining, sensorial, and totally fun activity to do with your children? Make slime! This was a first for us. We made two batches so that each girl had her own. Then we added small jars to the mix to make hilarious sounds. Can't help giggling at those farts! We used this easy recipe which I found originally on Pinterest.
Get slimed!
The nice folks at the Radix Center hosted a neighborhood cider pressing party that we happily attended this afternoon. The sun was shining and the people were smiling.
There were bunnies and children and a fire and apples, apples, apples.
Cider pressing is really an incredible community building event. There are many jobs to be had and the result is obviously very rewarding.
We came home with two growlers of cider and a bunch of apples. Some became dinner, er I mean, dessert.
So Freakin' Delicious Apple Crisp (from Vegetarian Epicure)
5-6 c. peeled and thinly sliced apples
1/4 c. water
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar (i used 3/4c sugar total and some molasses)
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 c. flour
1/2 c. butter
Put apples in casserole pot with water and set aside. Mix dry ingredients together and cut in the butter (I like to use my fingers). Sprinkle this mixture thickly and evenly over the apples without mixing them together. Cover the casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour, then uncover and bake for another 1/2 hour.
oh yeah.
I was really glad to hear this year's costume choice. Monkey. I actually had zero intention of doing much sewing this year, but a failed hunt for brown store bought sweatpants, led me to the fabric store in search of good ol' polar fleece. I spent some time on Saturday cutting and tracing leggings and a shirt to create a warm brown monkey suit.
Really nothing fancy but this monkey wore this costume all weekend and is now happy to have a new pair of winter pjs.
The younger monkey was a little camera shy and very active. Fran was originally going to be a deer again but last minute decided she too wanted to be a monkey. This one required less sewing. And the way her costume turned out, she also doubled as a mouse! It all worked out.
We spent the evening following trails of jack-o-lanterns through the woods with friends, enjoying a few treats, a puppet show, and a spooky basement tour. The girls were fairly easily detered from a big night of trick-or-treating for a trip to Hawthorne Valley's holiday celebration.
So, we put another Halloween behind us and say hello to November!
inspired by Soulemama
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Eventhough the sunshine should have called us all outside this afternoon, knitting, popcorn, tea, and a movie called us louder. Some Sundays are like that.
Here are my finds from yesterday's trip to Rhinebeck with my mom. A basket that will carry my goods to and from school each day, an incredible skein from Into The Whirled, and three skeins of blue sock yarn that will be transformed into an Abigail Cardigan very soon. I love going to the fest to watch the parade of knits and to fondle the fiber. No one looks at you funny when you shove your nose into a skein of alpaca yarn. This year I was happy to go with my mom too. She was even inspired to give needle felting a try!
inspired by Soulemama
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Enforcing hairbrushing has never been one of my strong suits. That means that Eleanor and Frances are often sent to school with knots in their hair that could house a family of small rodents. When hair does get brushed it usually ends in tears. I remember being a young girl and I remember saying "ouch" over and over again while my mother worked the snarls and I remember increasing my volume each time until the tears came. And yet still, as a mother, I find myself brushing hard and fast hoping that it will be over quicker if I do it that way. It rarely works.
Well the other night the bathroom barber opened shop and the custmomers left pleased. Eleanor got a trim and Frances got her first ever haircut. I tried getting some serious photographs but, of course, we got silly.
Let's hope these shorter hair styles are less prone to nests!
Saturday we spent at Hawthorne Valley's Fall Festival. We made jump ropes, learned about cheesemaking and cheesemites, played with friends, helped press cider, and saw a sweet puppetshow performed by the kindergarten teachers. And although the weather felt more like summer, it was a wonderful way to celebrate the season.
This jump rope making contraption was super cool.
I think what really made Frannie's day was getting to hold a nine week old kitten. This kid has a baby animal radar. I will tell you I was very tempted to bring one home just for her. She was so calm and gentle.
We here at Our Yellow House are enjoying these beautiful autumn days and savoring the sunshine while it still shines.
And look who we found in the garden last week!
