Well, I suppose it’s time to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall. I can’t hide my feelings about it, I don’t like it. However, I do try to appreciate all the nice things about the season, I just can’t find that many. Any day that slightly resembles summer is a great fall day to me. Okay all you fall lovers, don’t get upset with me. I like a good fire and cup of cocoa as much as anyone, I just prefer it not to be freezing or raining out when I enjoy them. Occasionally, we are blessed with a beautiful fall day here, and for that I’m thankful.
It’s been a while since I have given an update on life around here. There’s been a lot of blogging obstacles lately, including one of my main computers messing up and needing surgery. It was also holding an enormous amount of passwords hostage. I’m glad to report that the surgery was a success, though there is still some recovery ahead. I’ve also been very busy since starting our homeschooling (life schooling) back up again. Spare time is hard to come by, so there are a few excuses for you. I hope to get back on track soon (I’m optimistic by nature).
The End of Summer
Before summer ended, we were blessed with good enough weather to head out into the woods and go camping for a weekend. The outdoors was definitely calling us, it was exactly what we needed. I love living in nature. There’s something about it that brings such peace to my soul. I love to be able to focus on one task at a time, like boiling water for example. It takes me at least a day to get my long to do list out of my mind, so that I can achieve a restful focus.
During the past few weeks we’ve also spent much time harvesting fruits and vegetables from our garden, as well as watering it to keep everything alive. The garden was definitely my happy place this year. It was nearly a complete remodel in the spring and continued into summer. My older boys were a big help. Many more beds were made, areas were cleared, and small plots were organized as I felt inspiration. I have to admit, I loved impressing my husband (the plant guy) with each work of progress when he arrived home. Some days were, of course, less impressive than others. It was rewarding none the less.
Vacation Time
As we eased back into lessons, vacation was on my mind. Don’t get me wrong, I love learning and teaching, but I also love when we get to be on the road together. Every fall we usually take a trip of some sort. It’s really the perfect time to get away, the weather is still pleasant, and the crowds have pretty much gone. We usually head south to the beach in the fall. This year however, I forced myself to go against my instincts to fly south and we went north.
We ended up traveling to the lovely state of Wisconsin, and with that, another state was crossed off our list to visit. At least for me and the kids, since my husband had been there before, long ago. We had a fantastic time. We stayed in Milton, Wisconsin on Rock River which ran into Lake Koshkonong, which took me a long time to say and I still usually get it wrong.
On our way there we stopped and visited Starved Rock State Park in north central IL. We ate our lunch and hiked the French Canyon Trail and then went up to a lookout via the Starved Rock Trail and back. The trails were well marked and maintained, and there was plenty of interesting scenery. Being a popular state park and not too far from Chicago, this place can get really busy. I was glad we were there on a cloudy weekday with possible rain in the forecast. Even with that, we did see more people than we are used to seeing when we are hiking elsewhere.
We very much enjoyed our trip north. The home we stayed at was filled with lots of fun for the kids, young and old. They had a great time kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing. We all love the water. There were a few great catches, a couple of them I got on camera. You can watch them on our Happily Outnumbered channel. We felt right at home with a good fire in the evenings.
When you choose such a great place to stay, a downside can be that no one wants to leave the house. Being one who likes to explore, I did however get everyone to leave for a bit and visit a nearby National Landmark at Aztalan State Park. It was a beautiful day at a very peaceful place. The sky was an amazing blue that day and the clouds looked like you could reach out and grab them. Exploring a beautiful place with my family, I was in my happy place. Check for a short video of our visit here coming soon @ Happily Outnumbered.
Our last day there we headed to Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, WI. The place had excellent reviews and we love a good garden, so off we went. I’m really glad we did because it was one of the most beautiful gardens I have ever visited. It was like I was in a dream. I’m pretty sure I could have lived there, if the visitors stayed away and the workers kept working that is. It no doubt takes a tremendous amount of work to maintain such beauty. We even met a couple of the friendly staff while there. Below is a short video I put together of some of our time at the garden.
Back at Home
Here we are back at home and the to do lists seem never ending. Fall always seems a bit busy, of course most of life seems that way to me. I work hard and plan hard for every moment of rest and relaxation together and it’s worth it. As I get older (not old), I find myself appreciating the small moments in life much more. Time with my littles becomes even more precious to me. Trips are great, but there are so many everyday moments that can be just as sweet and memorable if we just take time to pay attention.
Til next time,
Amanda
*As we say goodbye to summer here, we hope you are enjoying your season of life wherever that may be. I just want to take a moment and thank all of my subscribers out there and invite you to subscribe if you’re not yet one of them. We’d love to have you join us. Just scroll below and enter your email to receive our newsletter and then check your email to confirm your subscription. No fees ever. It’s all free.
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