Her Grace

She always had fresh baked cookies in the Buddha cookie jar.  Her body moved smoothly and gracefully through the kitchen.  No matter what she baked, it always tasted like Nana's, and no one else's.  Always calm and gathered.  She is a think-before-you-speak type of lady.  But don't let that fool you, she will be sure to tell you exactly whats on her mind.  Her house always smelled of fresh baked pie, beef stew simmering on the stove, peach candles and just like a home from The Walden's or Anne of Green Gables might smell.  She was an honest to goodness make it from scratch, while you crochet a blanket type of lady.  She always had a big vegetable garden when her boys were young, canning hundreds of jars of fresh food to get them through the winter.    

This is my Nana.  I may speak of her as if she is gone, but on the contrary, she is very much here.

I had breakfast with her last week.  Watching her move much slower, giving her an arm to lean on, it is all so beautiful.  Watching her take her time, putting cream into her decaf, cutting and enjoying every bite of her french toast.  Talking to her about recipes I'm making, while hoping to get suggestions and tips to make them that much better.  While she talks, her hands make the motions of what she is cooking, moving ever so gracefully.  To be honest, at that breakfast table, i can't remember a lot of what we talked about.  What i do remember is just feeling good, sitting at the table with her, enjoying her peace and presence.

If she has taught me anything about life, its to simply enjoy what you do, to always have hobbies and to slow down.  Not just because she is older, but she has always had that slow pace type of life.  I'm sure when she had five young boys under foot, that was a different story.  But since i remember she has been the type of grandmother that grounds me and always makes me feel relaxed.

For my bridal shower, she gave me a recipe box.  In it was hand written family favorite recipes of hers.  From her macaroni & cheese, to dilly beans, to stay-a-bed stew.
It was all there.
I don't think I'll ever be able to show her how much that means to me.

Every time i pull out the recipe box to cook, i feel her there with me ::
Helping me roll out sugar cookies, showing me how to use the meat grinder she bought when my dad was a baby.

Giving me gentle, yet strong encouragement when i said i wanted to go to architecture school, but was nervous.

Sitting for hours in her cozy living room watching Hallmark Hall of Fame's, while we crafted and made boxes out of calendars and houses out of popsicle sticks.

The more i grow, the more i realize how very lucky i have been to have her as one of my role models.

My love for cooking from scratch, a homemade lifestyle, crafting and being an artist come partly from her.

My desire to keep my home a cozy place filled with the smells of fresh food simmering and pies baking reminds me of her.

Her comfort and her strength.

Her grace.

Apple Orchard

The days are continuing to get shorter, as the nights get cooler.  The air is beginning to crisp, while the colors begin to change.  We've woken up to a few frosty mornings over the last week, which are rejuvenating, while also bringing on a sense of urgency.  

Today will be a day spent at home.  We've got wood to bring inside, a basement and stove to clean, a quilt to work on and an apple pie to bake.

Yesterday hubs and i went to the apple orchard.  It was a perfect fall day, the sun shining just enough to take off the chill, while families scattered about the orchard, creating their memories.

Nothing says fall like the first taste of a crisp mac fresh off the tree.  

Oh how i love these ever changing seasons.

Marshy Summer Dates

We have this place, not far from our home, that we find ourselves escaping to on many summer Sunday evenings.

It's a short four wheeler ride away; across the road, through the field, down the logging road, over the creek, through the forest to another field, around the hay field, down through the forest, to the opening, up and down the dune, to our marsh.

It's quite lovely, i dare say.

It's peaceful and private.  It's the home to a beaver family, who are always sure to say hi and keep a safe distance from their den.

We either go with dessert and beverages in tow, or a full steak dinner.

Sometimes we just hop on the wheeler and go with a sweatshirt and a desire to get out.  To leave this everyday life and listen to the silence of the earth.

As we head home, he still keeps up, racing us through the fields and forests.  Taking a break at the stream to chase some fish, grab a drink and look at us with his deep yellow eyes.  Thanking us for this adventure.

When we get home we are more relaxed, more settled and grateful for this beautiful land we live on.

County Fair

We go to the county fair every year.  Well to be honest, we go to multiple fairs every year.  Yes, we are fair people (go ahead, laugh it up brothers!).  But lets be honest, we love the agricultural fairs.  We love the antique tractors, the woodsmen competitions, the crafters guild full of quilts and homemade goodness.  We love the horse, tractor, truck and oxen pulls.  We love the people watching (seriously, some people only come out once a year, i swear) and the bad.for.you food.  We love the swine, sheep, goats, horses and cow barns.

Growing up, we went to the Addison County Fair & Field Days every year.  My mom and i always loved it, while my brothers grew bored with it at a young age and my dad just despised it.  Some people, like my brothers, have always had negative feelings towards these fairs.  I think they are a part of American History that should be valued and viewed as a community event.  They support the 4-H clubs, the children that want to show their animals, the crafter's and canner's that come together once a year to show their talents.  They support farming families and are the true turning point from Summer into Autumn every year.

I love the community coming together to support farmers, and just the agricultural industry all around.  

We've been to two fairs so far this year, looking forward to Maine's Fryburg fair in just a few short weeks.

This is the first year i brought my camera along, and I'm so glad i did.