Oh this summer has been entirely different from summers of the past. It was a rough combo of corona virus, pregnancy and it's various symptoms and restrictions and just plain old burn out. The last week of summer, we were sick and while I don't believe it to have been covid19, it would've been irresponsible to spend time with others. So one afternoon, I pulled up my bootstraps and filled the Kiddie pool (otherwise known as the Cat Pool or the Kitty Cat Pool), turned a mostly blind eye to my daughters showering and bathing their bunnies and scooped my girls ice cream cones. I let the girls have at it with the hose and it was all kinds of wonderful. I forget how easy afternoons can be while still being memorable.

Our new front yard has provided endless joys. Here are some photos of a flower crown Greta made and a bouquet of cress! This vase full of this beautiful plant brought me happiness for days!

I love that we live so close to Greenbluff - an area filled with U-Pick farms. This summer we picked peaches (too many!) and raspberries. It felt like a zoo at moments, but dang those peaches were yummy! We all had juice dripping down our chins. I made peach syrup (for kombucha) and I froze some peaches that I'll make into jam when the weather cools.

Also, really taking advantage of my kid photographers!

Towards the end of summer, I feel so excited to make soups and use my oven again! Dinner making this summer fell a little flat probably in part because of my nausea and exhaustion, but also from the lack of oven use! I recently needed an "I still like cooking and eating good food" pick me up, so I made a galette and an heirloom tomato salad and we enjoyed them picnic style in the backyard. Sometimes it feels so good to feel like oneself!

Let's just say that with Church at Home, our "Sunday Best" standards have slipped. Ha, here are some very real photos :)