Style Inspiration for a Tired Mum

For the days that just feel a little more then you can handle, like it's been one meltdown/tantrum/tears/mess too many and you're just done. 

For the days when your big girl 'naps' with your little girl and changes the dirty diaper and it all ends in one big mess. I spare you the details. 

For the days when bubble bath becomes so much more fun and sweet smelling when your shampoo is emptied into the bath water. 

For the days when the questions, both yours and theirs, don't seem to end. And there really isn't an answer to satisfy 'why'.

 Be brave. Step out in another area. Let it change your perspective. 

Get dressed, like really dressed. Put together an entire outfit. Try something new. For their sake as well as yours. 
Know that this one thing you can do, and you can do it well. 

And then, let yourself be changed. See yourself as the professional mother that you are.

See the endless questions of why as a thirst for knowledge and the budding of a curious mind. 

Delight in the utter wonder that modern washing machines are. Dirty at naptime, clean and cozy for bedtime. 

Revel in the cuteness of two little girls covered in bubbles. At least the shampoo was good for their skin and their hair and their tummies.


What new outfits are you trying out and rocking? (Because we all like inspiration and ideas!)

outfit details:
black and white striped tee: Joe (clearance)
shawl: gift
skinnies: Tommy Hilfiger 
boots: thrifted
scarf: Mystique India (Edmonton)

Don't Think. Just Breathe.

Sometimes I think too much, too much quiet pondering with not enough quiet around me. Sometimes I just need to close everything up and open the doors on a brisk autumn day and pick apples.

I could tell you about how the tide was out and the banks of the Cornwallis river were bare and exposed. Or how the farm was completely deserted except for our little band and that we just put our money in the honesty box. I could tell you all about the apples and how we taste tested to see which ones we wanted to bring home. 

I could tell you how the little one sat right down and ate apples and how the older one ran and ran. I could tell you how the clouds were brilliant, the sun so bright and all the leaves set aglow.

 I could tell how we filled our four bags in no time flat. And that I have no idea what I'll be doing with all the apples but they will be enjoyed.

I could tell you how the petting zoo was full of animals and one manical donkey who nibbled on everything, including us. And how Kilmeny knows exactly the sound pigs make and she will forever say that pigs are grumpy and that they don't say oink. It's more of a gutteral noise from the back of the throat, that makes us all laugh and laugh when she imitates it.

 I could tell you about the good it does one's soul just to stop thinking, to let all the wonderings be and fill one's lungs with fresh, brisk air.

I could tell you how we came home and made apple fritters and then ate them for supper with boiled eggs and tea, in true hobbit fashion. 

I will wish you brisk autumn air, and clarity for all the thoughts swirling in your mind. And for you, the chance to let it all go and just breathe. 

Picking the Perfect Pumpkin

It's the pumpkin patch dilemma. Everyone is dressed in their sweaters and plaids and boots, parents are following their children around asking them to "just please look at the camera!" "Just smile nicely!"

The children run from pumpkin to pumpkin declaring each one to be the best. They see the glory of the big orange balls, the autumn light glinting off the pumpkins, the corn maze holds mystery to their imagination.

The adults check their watches or their phones, getting caught up in a text conversation.

"Hurry, hurry, haven't you picked one out yet?"

They drag the pumpkins to get weighed and then load the children in the car to cries of 'but we weren't finished yet.'

The pumpkin sits on the front porch steps, maybe with a carved face or not. The pictures are liked and commented on, 'oh my goodness, your kids are SO cute!'

And everyone moves on. 

Pie is made with canned filling from the store or a ready-made pie is picked out from the bakery section. And it's eaten and for the most part enjoyed. I'm not judging here, this was the way we danced on Thanksgiving weekend. And it was good. 

It struck me this weekend when we were out at the pumpkin patch, the great extent we go to make memories and to capture everything and then to share it, as if the capturing and sharing make it more real. Parents chasing their children around, bribing their children for pictures when all the children want to do is run and delight in the pumpkins. Minus the bribing part, that was me. It wasn't the perfect pumpkin picking that I wanted, and it wasn't just the children who were being fussy and grumpy.

Sometimes, its better to just let the littles set the pace, to follow them around the pumpkin patch, marveling at how they walk, noticing what they notice. Sometimes it's better to not care so much about capturing the perfect picture but to make the perfect memory. Sometimes it means picking out a knobby pumpkin and hefting into the stroller for the ride home. Sometimes it means not being perfect and not being all cutesy and not having any of those pictures to share. Sometimes the only pictures are of everyone being distracted and looking the other way but sometimes there's the one magical picture of sunlight and autumn and life. Real life just like you live it everyday, captured just how you are right then. 

And that's really okay. And that's really real. And that's really beautiful. 

Colors of Nova Scotia

It's a bit of a grey day today, the sun is bravely peeking through the clouds promising that it won't always be grey. There is so much colour here in Nova Scotia, the houses, the front doors, and the bus benches. They mirror the rainbow of colors found on the trees and the wildflowers and the undergrowth. The color is vibrant and life-giving. 

The sky is expressive, dark and brooding one minute and the next moment the sun peeks through the clouds. 

I love it here. 

And today I want to share a little bit of my new home with you. 

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go and do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

H. Thurman

Wishing you a day filled with color and life and sunshine peeking through the clouds!

Hennigar's Farm: An excursion

It's beautiful. Quiet with the occasional maa from the goats and conversation from the ducks in one of the ponds. 

There's wild grapes growing over by the chicken coop. And we spied a frog in the rushes from the shelter of the covered bridge. There's a longer nature walk that we'll do next time and during the summer we can get fish and chips at the little cookhouse festooned with more grapes. 

It was one of those just-so-happened-to-stumble-upon places. The farm lies in a hollow just a couple kilometers out of Wolfville. Its a normal farm market, filled with seasonal produce from their farm and other farms throughout the Valley as well as baking and garden decor. But just a hop, skip and a jump from the store is the loveliest of little places. 

There's a boat dry-docked in a bed of sand, complete with an assortment of toys. The girls loved it. I loved it. We stayed there for a couple hours. And I knew we would come back. 

We paid fifty cents for a cone of goat food and paid a visit. Past the pond with it's fountain, past the picnic tables inviting you to stop and sit, and onto the goats. I'm not sure who was more eager, the goats at the anticipation of a treat or my girls.

We hung out with the goats for awhile, I thought they were quite cute and so full of personality. Kilmeny wasn't so sure about the goats eating the corn straight from her hand so she watched while the goats nibbled the corn from my hand. 

Then it was onto Bunnyville where we watched the furry little (and not so little) rabbits play and fed them grass. 

It's the loveliest of places, perfect for soothing one's spirit and keeping little people very well occupied. 

What new discoveries have you been making?

Sometimes. You Make Soup.

Sometimes you set out to make soup and realize that you don't have an immersion blender and you don't have your regular blender and you make it anyway. Sometimes you add and you make do and you stir and you taste and it's a beautiful thing.

Sometimes it doesn't all work out. Sometimes your plans of taking in a local music festival that everyone has been telling you about don't work out. Sometimes it rains all day. And the four walls seem very close. Sometimes only the littlest one naps and everyone needs you. Right now. 

Sometimes you get in a funk and it's hard to shake it. Sometimes you can play the Pollyanna game really well and sometimes, you just can't. 

Sometimes you decide to make soup. 

It's a longer process because the kitchen is outfitted with the barest of tools. 

Chop, peel, chop, peel. Roast. Stir. Taste. Stir. Simmer. Taste. 

The familiar routine is soothing. The smells fill the house with warmth and texture like no furniture or pictures ever could. 

Smiles and hellos are exchanged with a neighbor. Autumn rain becomes a friend, pressing the four of you together and you realize the gift you have been given. 

 Accompanied with piles of crusty bread, this soup is a perfect antidote to any day. Good or bad. 

Butternut Squash, Apple and Bacon Soup 
(inspired by this recipe)
Serves 2 adults, and 2 little girls with leftovers for another rainy day. 

Ingredients:
 1/3 lb bacon (more if you like bacon), chopped
1/2 onion, chopped fine
1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cut into cubes
2 apples, peeled and cubed (I used a Gravenstein and a lonely Macintosh that was kicking around the fridge, for best results use a cooking apple)
1/2 c apple juice
Salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste

Method:

Peel and cube squash and apples. Toss with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and roast in a 400 degree oven until very tender. 

Meanwhile, in large soup pot, fry chopped bacon. Once bacon is nearly done, add the onions. Fry until they are translucent. 

Once squash and apples are tender, mash them with a spoon (or blender, if you have one), and add to the bacon and onion mixture. 

Stir in apple juice and enough water to make a thick soup, about 4 cups.

Let simmer with the lid off for about half an hour, stirring every once and while. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. 

Serve hot with a spoonful of greek yoghurt and lots of crusty bread. Rain and fog, optional. 

What do you do when nothing seems to be going well?

To Pick an Apple

We went apple picking, my girlies and I. It's kind of one of those 'must do' activities when you live in the Annapolis Valley. Historically the Valley is known for its apple orchards, Wolfville's famous Farmer's Market is held in an old apple warehouse and every farm market along the highway sells apples whether grown in their own orchards or not. 

To live during Autumn is to live the season in the East where leaves turn every color and the season is long, long compared to the West. It has always been one of my favorite seasons but here there is just something extra special. Apple picking, pumpkin patch, gourds, boots, scarves, hot tea, and the cold nip  in the mornings. 

I was delighted when I saw apple picking at Noggins Corner Farm on a list of activities with a local homeschool playgroup. My girls are too young for most of activities but this one I knew we could do and it was an opportunity to get out and meet some other moms. 

Noggins Corner Farm is a well-set up operation. They have a farm market where you can buy all kinds of seasonal produce, their squash displays alone made me want to buy one of every variety. 

Along with about 60 other parents and their children, we went on a wagon ride past the flower and herb gardens, the raspberry canes and the pumpkin patch. We rode through the forest and under the eagle's nest and past rows and rows of beautiful apples. 

Each of the children were given a bag and we filled it with Gravenstein (an apple brought over from Europe in the 19th century), and Macintosh (a Canadian apple from Ontario in the 18th century). Kilmeny was more interested with picking up the apples off the ground then picking them off the tree, and we filled the bag quite quickly. 

There was also a corn maze to go through as well as the incredible play area set up to occupy children of all ages. I opted out of the corn maze because really? With one sleeping baby and the toddler strapped in the stroller, it wouldn't be that fun. We hung out by the duck races, got throughly soaked (Kilmeny) and chatted with the other moms of littles (me). 

There were apples to enjoy on the picnic tables, huge slides made out of pipes, tunnels made out of the same pipes and hay bales, a climbing structure made out of tires and hay bales and flowers to pick if one so chose. 

It was a marvellous day, filled with lovely autumn activities. 

What is your favorite thing about this season?