Hello everyone!! I made coffee today in my new stovetop percolator, and I am still getting used to it. I like it, but it is a lot of work and it takes a long time! I am sure I will get faster with it though as I get into the habit. Hopefully at least because coffee is important.

We had a very busy week last week with school, but we made some time for some fun things too! Mainly, Mermaid Girl came over and hung out with us for a “Welcome Fall” party!

We were super excited, and Wyatt loved the hanging decorations from the ceiling. I did too! Those were a surprise drop off from my stepmom, who has bunches of them for different holidays and I thought, what perfect timing! Just in time for our little shindig.

We had pancakes with maple syrup for dinner, then afterwards we let the festivities begin!

First we took a fall foliage walk, picking up pretty leaves to take home with us. A few houses are all decked out for Halloween and we made sure to walk by those houses for sure. We also walked past my favorite neighborhood house. It is just so cute!

After our walk, it was arts and crafts time! I had coloring sheets for the kids, and a project, of course. Improvised felted acorns with acorn tops. We weren’t doing “real” wet felted acorns, we just didn’t have the time, so we rolled with it, literally. We dipped some of the roving wool into warm water, rolled them into balls, and then the kids glued on the caps. Mermaid Girl has an mighty oak tree growing in their yard so she supplied the acorn tops!

After this, we played some games, colored some more, drew, then finally the kids were ready to settle down and watch some tv. I got them bowls of popcorn, a blanket, and turned on Gravity Falls.

It was a great night.

Saturday Billy and I worked on the front yard. Our yard and garden got away from us this year, with different life things we were juggling combined with the weather. I decided next year we are starting completely over from scratch, and we are done with the wild and free type of garden. Next year, neat and tidy. So, lots of plants were pulled out, which on some level made me sad but we need a change. We did leave the row of lavender this is also out of control, but still has blooms with bees that nap there and eat there so we left it for now. Next year we are pulling it out, and replacing it with the same thing, a row of lavender to line our sidewalk. However, we are doing it right this time, and planting it further back from our sidewalk, and leaving room on the sides for rocks or mulch or something. The grass is slowly taking over the lavender that is there and I can’t keep up with it currently. We also hung ghosts from our shepherd’s hook, to Wyatt’s delight. The front garden there still needs some work but it’s a good start! Next weekend, the back gardens get an overhaul.

We also made time for walks and bike rides.

And that’s about it! We really spent the weekend doing things around the house, like the yard, and Billy also hung a light over our dining table since it gets really dark over there and that is where we do just about everything.

And…it’s time for another cup! Have a great one everyone!