Hi.

I don't customarily break from writing, but September overwhelmed me. The nights I set aside time to write found my husband working late and before I knew it weeks had gone by. Usually, I'll sneak it in somewhere, naps, a long car ride, before bedtime, but with all else I was neglecting because time is  seemingly more and more elusive, I couldn't justify it. I don't hope to make a habit of it, but in the middle of the harvest season, the light at the end of the tunnel isn't visible.  

I don't know what has made the workload so extra-ordinarily burdensome this year, but since I've been struggling to keep up with it from the beginning, I knew that I wouldn't make it without out some refreshment and a break. I needed to be revived and to refocus my priorities and we needed to get a vision for our future. (A future that we don't need to escape from and vacations are more for education than regeneration.)

When we cast our eyes about in search of a restful vacation (which isn't very often at all) the one place that we naturally gravitate to is Maine. Bill & I lived on the coast for a year early in our marriage and love the diversity of landscape. 

The last time we visited Hannah was just over a year old. Far too young to appreciate the chill of those waters.

I hope it isn't another 8 years before Chloe goes back.

Weather-wise it was hit & miss. The forecast was entirely unreliable, but we saw enough fair weather to allow for beautiful rainbows, sunrise skies, and full moon risings. I think that the rainy weather made us appreciate those gifts all the more.

 Low tide was near dusk which made for the most beautiful skies and beaches. I really didn't do them any justice with my camera.

The whole year in Maine, we never saw as many treasures on the beach as we did that first few days. Sand dollars, hermit crabs, seals, shore birds, crabs. I have photos enough to fill many a Charlotte Mason post.

The home we rented had a pool. The kids were brave enough to wet their waists on the steps. Since the heater was broken, the water was about 50 degrees. (Wish I had known that before renting! I was really looking forward to swimming for the first time in more than a decade. Goodness, I love to swim. Just can't bring myself to do it in public. I figured if it was heated, I didn't care what the air temperature was. Oh well.)

My first visit to a farmers market.

No seriously. We don't have farmers markets here. The Mennonites dominate our local food community so we have lots of roadside stands, but no markets. What I appreciated about the market was the access to local food that is also organically grown, not to mention the pastured meats & dairy. Nothing I can get around here!

 Please note: "Not Pasteurized" How exciting to be able to buy retail raw milk!!

 It was all I could do not to stuff my pockets full of beautiful, plump rose hips to dry for tea over the winter!

The rain did seem to keep foiling our plans for a autumn driving tour. 

Even the one day it was clear, halfway into the drive, the fog rolled in thick and low.

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to get away a bit. Much as I love being so closely tied to our home & land, it was nice to just enjoy all of us being together without the pressure and demands of the homestead or the schoolroom or work. Of course, now that we're home it's time to get back at it.  The pigs & cows need to be cared for daily, cheese made, tomatoes thawed & processed, applesauce put up, potatoes dug up and stored, the fall garden needs to be weeded, onions, garlic, brassicas, and greens sown, the summer garden needs to be put to sleep & mulched, Maybelle should be bred, a bramble patch site prepared, lessons resumed (including nature study!!!), and really I should mop the floors every now and then- get all that manure streaks up especially since Chloe is starting to scoot around. Speaking of whom she decided now would be a wonderful time to cut her teeth and she is letting me know just how unhappy that is making her. Life is full and I hope that I can continue to share what's happening around the homestead on a regular basis.

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.  Psalm 85:6-13