Pumpkin Carving

With all the craziness of teaching during a pandemic, we did not get around to carving our pumpkins until tonight. At least we will be able to display them for a few nights before Halloween. I guess the kids decided: no faces this year.

Herd of Deer

As Elsie and mom left for school this morning, we saw five deer just chillin’ at Orchard Lawn.

Fall Walk

We have always enjoyed fall hikes, but we have done more hiking this fall than any other.

Dog Training Show

Today was bitter sweet. The kids were excited to be able to perform in the dog training exhibition, but they were sad to say goodbye to their dogs. They are both determined they want to do it again next year.

Elsie’s First In-Person Day

Elsie felt disappointed that Alstan was able to go to school in person before she could. Finally, her day has arrived too! She has been waiting for this day.

Thursday Alstan has band, so he is a bit loaded down.

Alstan’s First Day of Middle School

Mineral Point has a hybrid model set up for this year with students meeting in person two days a week and the other three days students meet with their teachers virtually. Since Alstan’s two days of in-person school are Mondays and Thursdays, he had his first day at school today. It is hard to believe we have a middle schooler.

Private Audience

Can you spot the audience member Alstan had as he read out loud in the hammock? Elsie and mom were sitting at the table listening to Alstan read, when we spotted a little friend hopping around on the rocks. It actually hung around for quite a while.

Chillin’

Enjoying one of our last days of summer break

Decorating

Camping

One last night to try a campout before school started the next week. The morning after this photo was taken mom found out she would be teaching 2nd grade at the start of the year.

Rhubarb

Aunt Nette showed Elsie how to pick some rhubarb from grandma’s patch. Elsie then used a combination of advice from Aunt Nette and a recipe she found online to make a Rhubarb Cheesecake. Yum!

Matching Mask

Elsie and mom have been making mask for the family. How fun to make some mom and me matching mask!

Hiking

Here are some photos from our last couple of hikes.

Teamwork

Elsie found a new recipe for making brownies. She enlisted Alstan to help her, but somehow his help is more along the line of entertainment. According to Elsie she was teaching him.

Zoom

Silliness with Aunt Nette and the Moenk family during a zoom meeting.