Around the house in October

EC started piano lessons this month. She was so excited to finally learn how to read music and play the piano that she showered and wore her new dress. Silly girl. Aunt Carolyn bought her and Emily a new keyboard so they could practice their skills.

Cutie got a new Scooby shirt in the mail from Carolyn. I think he's just a little excited about it.

Making name tags for the little girls coming to Friendsgiving like Ms Jonnie does.

Punkin Chunkin day!

Silly Scully. I think she's trying to hide from the puppies!

Crazy girl and her nosebleeds. 

She ran and got some plantain to help the bleeding stop.

 

Loofah Gourds

This year we tried something new and grew these guys. I had no idea a loofah was grown in the garden and not in the ocean. Thankfully I'm not alone in that thought either. Almost all the youtube videos I watched said the same thing. lol. So Abby planted these along the fence behind the sweet potatoes. They turned out to be a really pretty vine with beautiful yellow flowers. They grew and grew and finally started seeing the fruit take shape. We harvested them right after a freeze since they will ruin, even though they weren't completely ready. It worked out fine for the loofahs themselves, but we weren't able to harvest any seeds from these guys. We know to plant them earlier next year. 

The process of getting the skins off and the pulp out was quite an extensive one! I tried a couple of different methods and there were pros and cons to both. Half of them I baked. which made the skins come off much easier. The other half I skinned green, and boy was that difficult. The baked ones have a brown tent to them, while the green skinned ones were a prettier white, plus if the seeds were older and viable, I could have saved them. I'm not sure what I'll do with them next year. I might find two more ways to ger the loofah out. Once they were skinned, they required a lor of washing and rinsing and eventaully drying. The process was tideous, but I have since discovered very worth it! I love washing dishes with my new loofahs! They are the coolest thing I personally thing we have ever grown. I am very happy with them and can't wait to grow them again next year!

They looked like corn on the cob drying out there. This was only a portion of what we harvested. I think we ended up with about 24 good ones. That will last us a couple of years!

 

Movie Night at the VFW

The VFW had a movie night for the members and their families. We never actually watched any movies, but we did hang out, eat and look around at all the memorabilia. Benjamin got to hold the big guns and LOVED it. He can't wait to go back again to hang out with all the guys. 

 

Feasting Hall

This year we are adding the feasting hall to the field. It will be a 24x24 screened in porch were we can fest, have classes or just hang out away from the bugs. It will eventually have 12x24 outdoor kitchen attached to the end and possibly an ensuite for guests to come visit and stay!

Benjamin giving me the rundown of how the tractor works!

 

Abby teaches tinctures

This past month a new ladies group was started in Murphy called the Ladies Homestead Gathering. Of course when we saw the name, we knew we had to check it out. There were so many ladies interested we were able to start a chapter that night! And of course, when we all introduced ourselves and they heard Abby say she is a certified herbalist, they wanted her to teach a class. They were so excited they wanted her to teach the very first class of the new approved chapter! 

The subject she decided on was tinctures. She went over what tinctures are, how to use them, how to make them and then did a hands on with the 50 plus ladies there of how to make one themselves. It was a wonderful experience. She did a wonderful job teaching and all the ladies loved her. She even sold $300 worth of the products she's made. They are already planning the next class with Abby as the presenter. 

 

Family photoshoot with Lesa

EEk! You know how I love family picture time!! These turned out so good and I'm so excited! The last time we had family portraits done was right before we moved to NC back in July of 2020. I let everyone rest for two years, so it was time to have them done again. 

We met Lesa and Mac last year right after Thanksgiving & instantly became great friends. She just happens to be an amazing, retired photographer! We waited for the perfect fall day & boy did we get it! 

I've been waiting for this group of pictures for a long time. Right after Benjamin was born, I told Perry the perfect year with all of our children will be when Abby is 19, Emily 16, EC 7 and Benjamin 5. They are all still at home, potty trained, and we'll be the little family I always want to remember. 

Well, here it is. I have a feeling this will be the last set of family photos that doesn't include someone else. I love this little family of mine and will forever cherish these wonderful photos of this perfect place in time. 

My babies.

~ Benjamin 5 ~ Abigail 19 ~ Emily 16 ~ Ella Claire 7 ~

Man we're getting old. The grey hair and wrinkles are really starting to show. I wouldn't trade them for anything though! We celebrated 20 years of marriage this year! I can't wait to see where the next 20 take us!