What Wyatt’s Reading – September

On September 26, 2019September 26, 2019 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized7 Comments

We had a great month of reading! I won’t list them all, but here are the highlights!

As you can see we have gone full fall reading over here! There are so many great picture books out there and we are eating them up like apples. Wyatt loved Apple Farmer Annie, Apple, Scarecrow Magic, and How to Find a Fox. Especially How to Find a Fox. It was fun to see how the fox was hiding from the little girl while she searched high and low. So cute. We both loved Hello, Fall and read it multiple times. Saving Samantha was wonderful, I have loved it for years although it was a bit long for Wyatt right now. I am probably going to buy it for our home library, along with Fall Walk and Red Sky at Night. All were great wonderful books. It is hard to not just buy all the books for him, so I am trying to “curate” a library of his favorites and also books that we can reference in the future, and not just every single one, which is how I would like to roll. Lol. But space and money! Our library always lists how much we have saved using the library that trip and we generally average a “savings” of $175 a week! Libraries are awesome, I highly encourage using them if you are not regular library goers.

Finally, Little Tree and Little Cub. I was so in love with these two books. Little Tree shows how in order to change, sometimes we need to let go. And Little Cub was so heartwarming. I read it to Wyatt while Billy was making dinner, and Billy came out of the kitchen to comment on how sweet the story was. And I agree.

We still have two months of fall books to read! Any favorites?

My Sunday-Monday Post

On September 22, 2019September 22, 2019 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized21 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

Last week our house was dealing with germs! My son caught the dreaded back to school cold and passed it on to my husband. I have been dealing with my own asthma for two weeks, thanks to ragweed season. Fingers crossed for a better week! We did manage to visit the zoo for a quick few hours Friday morning, and then go to Hawkfest with my brother and his family on Saturday. I am excited, this week I get to take my niece on a school field trip to the pumpkin patch! It should be fun, and I am looking forward to hanging out with her.

Read Last Week:

The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs is a sequel to The Physick Book of Deliverance Dance, which I loved. I was so excited to read this one, and I loved it just as much! Review this week.

Reading This Week:

I finally picked this up and I am loving it! Just what I needed after a few super intense reads. If I do finish it, I am reading this one next, although I am nervous.

I have mixed feelings about reading this – as the mother of a child with Cerebral Palsy I am thrilled that there is a book with a main character that has CP; on another level, I know this will probably be a bit emotional to read as well.

Watching:

We binged and finished up Mindhunter Season 2- that show really is fantastic. I was riveted and when the season ended I wasn’t ready! We also started watching The British Bake Off, which we always love. This week we might start the Dark Crystal series on Netflix – I loved that movie as a kid!

Posted Last Week:

Date Night: Ragtime Street Fair and Motor Muster

It’s Wednesday! What Are You Listening to?

What about you? What is happening in your world?

Date Night: Ragtime Street Fair and Motor Muster

On September 19, 2019September 19, 2019 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn date night, family, Uncategorized9 Comments

It was a spur of the moment type thing, this date night, and sometimes those are the very best kind. Greenfield Village was having its annual Ragtime Street Fair and we were having dinner with my mom who lives nearby, so it was so easy to ask her to watch the little man for us for just a quick few hours out.

I have always wanted to go to the Ragtime Street Fair and this was the first time we managed to get there for it. It was super cool to see people dressed in period clothing for the 20s, strolling in and out of the street fair tents full of food and drink. It was another motor muster, with old cars lining the streets but this time, the ages of the cars were limited from early 1900 to the ’30s, and nothing “newer” than that. The village was open late for this event, and we got there just as people were leaving, probably having been there for hours already during the day. My brother had gone earlier in the day and said that it was packed, so we weren’t sure what to expect. We had a little bit of a hard time finding a parking spot, but once inside it wasn’t bad at all.

It was one of my favorite weather nights – cool, moody, clouds in the distance threatening rain, yet still summery with no humidity. We were able to walk around comfortably, checking out all the cars and chatting with the owners. We ambled a bit, bought drinks, and noticed everyone lining up on the curbs to watch the twilight parade of cars, so took our own seat on the side and peacefully watched the cars drive by for a little bit, sipping our drinks, comparing favorites, just existing side by side for a bit, easily. When we finished our beverages, we scrambled across the street between cars to check this one out – we had never seen anything like it before!

This car is so cool! It can drive in thirty feet of snow, and the owner said that he had taken it out in the snow many times – why not, he said, and really, if I had this I would take it out too! He couldn’t drive it in to the village like that but brought it in on a truck. It is a 1929 Closed Cab Model A Ford Pickup with a super Snow Bird Snowmobile attachment. According to the guy, and his sign. It was used for mail delivery, and I am assuming lots of other purposes too. I think I need one of these to handle our Michigan winters! Lol. And of course the buffalo plaid clothing hanging there – I am a sucker for buffalo plaid anything.

We chatted with the owner for a bit then wandered off to the garden, one of my favorite spots in the village. It was a great time to go, and now at the end of the year the blooms are fading but there were some plants bearing fruit, like tiny ornamental eggplants that looked like pumpkins! I am definitely adding that to my garden next year! We were on a slow roll tour of the village, so we took a seat in the garden watching the sun begin to set.

We sat for a few minutes, taking it all in, chatting with other people strolling through the garden, guessing what the different plants were, before setting off and catching up with the parade on the other side of the village. A man in an old Ford truck offered us a lift to sit on his hay bales in back, and we almost took it, but chose to keep walking, although, it would have been fun. The clouds started to really roll in and we had a feeling it was going to start to rain and wanting to beat the crowd out, we started heading toward the exit, slowly making our way there.

I had my head in the clouds, the sky was so dramatic and beautiful. It was one of those times I itched for my camera, not just my cell phone camera. I put my camera away a few years ago, as I felt I was missing moments, trying to capture them. I wanted to be fully present and not just the person behind the lens. I will probably pick it up again at some point, but not just yet, unless I go out and solo shoot.

The night was low key, mellow, and last minute. And we had a wonderful time together; we were able to talk and listen to each other, something that we don’t actually always get to do, with Wyatt around. Lol. It was one of those nights that was easy and simple and didn’t need to be a big thing to have fun.

It’s Wednesday! What are you listening to?

On September 18, 2019September 18, 2019 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn day in the life, family, family friendly, mom life, Uncategorized15 Comments

So, this is obviously a little riff on Monday’s What Are You Reading post that is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. I don’t really intend for this to be a weekly feature, but I thought this would be pretty fun, maybe once a month or three. And I would really really love to know what you guys are listening to!

Let’s start with podcasts.. I am in love with them. I have some that I listen to when I am sans child, since they are not appropriate for his little ears, but we have a few that we listen to together too.

Family Podcasts

Storynory – This is a great storytelling podcast! They share classic stories, fairytales, myths, even poems and all told in a fun, easy listening way for kids. Stories have great sound effects too, to make it more of an experience! Our favorite episode: The Owl and the Pussycat (super short, but I LOVED this poem as a kid and so does Wyatt now)

Circle Round – Another storytelling podcast, presented by NPR. This one is based mainly on folk tales, and some even are read by actual actors. I love the different range of stories that they present on this podcast, and they often pair with orchestras to add music as well. Our favorite episode: The Piper and the Pooka

Ear Snacks for Kids: This is a new one for us, we just found it, so no favorites yet but we are having fun discovering all of their quirky songs based around art and science and culture. We listened to one about teeth and teeth brushing this morning and it was so fun – who knew that topic could be so funny?

Classics for Kids: So, this one, I am pretty sure Wyatt is not paying too much attention to what the hosts are saying, but is just enjoying the music they play. Lol. However, I have learned from this one! Another one new to our lineup.

My List:

Lore by Aaron Mahnke: The first podcast I ever listened to, and I still love it. Mahnke has a way of unfolding a tale! I love his eerie, spooky tales that he slowly unwinds for us, bit by bit. So good! I actually listen to this if Wyatt is around, most of the time, unless the topic is too macabre. Lore is also a show on Amazon and Mahnke has a few books out too! Favorite episode: Black Stockings

America’s National Parks (L.L. Bean): I love this one!! Different stories about the history of our national parks, the people who have visited or worked there, and celebrates the wild nature of them all. I have so many favorite episodes, but here are three that I have made family members listen to because I wanted them to hear these tales: Favorite Episodes: 37 Days in Yellowstone, Alone on a Winter Island, and The Strange World of National Park Gift Stores.

My Favorite Murder: Another old favorite- Karen and Georgia and their quick witted banter lends a much needed mood lifter at times during this true crime podcast. However, this one is not safe for children to listen to, due to language and violence. Favorite Episode: The Live in Glasgow episode

Living Homegrown: A new one to my list, all good stuff about sustainability and how to live on the farm without actually living on the farm, tips on how to live closer to your food source while living somewhere you don’t really have access to land. The podcast was on a hiatus due to Theresa Loe’s cancer, but I think the podcast is starting back up again.

I usually use Spotify pretty exclusively, because I can listen to music and podcasts all in one place. Plus I have the app on my television now, so I can just play everything right from my tv, which has way better speakers. I have to be honest, my music lists are pretty bare! I could use some suggestions and help!

What we are listening to – music:

The National Parks – I had never heard of this band until I was searching for the National Parks podcast. Lol. They are pretty good, mellow for slow mornings or evenings, and coffee or wine.

Lord Huron: Sort of similar in sound to the National Parks, I discovered them for the first time while watching a vlogger on YouTube that we love, Trout and Coffee (jeez, I could do a post on vloggers too!)

The Okeedokee Brothers: So this one is Wyatt’s choice. They have so many albums for kids, and they are folky, bluegrass music, lots of nature imagery. We listen to them a lot! So much that now I actually am a fan too. Lol. Particular favorites here are Jamboree, Through the Woods, Evergreen, and Thousand Star Hotel, and Howl. Look them up on YouTube too, they have little movies!

And some people need no introduction – Tom Petty, Carol King, Van Morrison, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Luke Coombs. We also listen to a really cool playlist called Classical Nature – I found I love Gustav Holst’s The Planets! Wyatt loves Flight of the Bumblebee. There is of course other stuff that we listen to, but these get the most play. This list is so different from what I used to listen to! I had no idea musical taste could change, but ours seems to have. My husband was a Skinny Puppy, Misfits kind of guy- I listened to a lot of alternative stuff and wore a lot of black. But now? We are country music, folk music type of folk. Lol.

So… I would love to hear what you are listening to! I could always use more suggestions! Do you listen to any of these?

My Sunday-Monday Post

On September 15, 2019 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized28 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

Last week had a lot of little moments that were fun, just small but appreciated. I met my friends for coffee to celebrate my SIL Chrissy’s birthday one morning while Wyatt was at school, and it was a nice way to start the morning (well, after all the getting ready for school and drop off was done!), Wyatt and I went to the library on our weekly pilgrimage, and on Saturday we bopped around our city wide garage sale and then celebrated my MIL’s 70th birthday! The city wide was pretty neat – I love just poking through people’s sale items lol. We bought a few things but not much. It is Secondhand September so I am trying not to buy new things for myself this month, so this was a fun way to do it. I always run into so many friends and acquaintances too, doing the same thing.

Read Last Week:

My plans were disrupted by my Kindle acting up on me! I was having the hardest time with it all week, so I eventually I gave up. I really didn’t read much of anything! I did start a book of local ghost stories that I picked up at the library – one story even takes place in my hometown. It wasn’t a great book however, so I didn’t end up finishing it.

Reading This Week:

I am so excited to read this! I loved The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane so I am looking forward to reading on with these characters. I was going to save more supernatural books for October but I can’t wait. I am also still working on Foxes Unearthed, if I can get the Kindle to behave!

Posted Last Week:

Saying Goodbye to Summertime Snippets

A Few Mini-Reviews

Harvest Full Moon

Watching:

We FINALLY watched Stranger Things Season 3!! And it was so so good! I admit I dragged my feet since I wasn’t a huge fan of Season 2, but 3 was amazing. After we binged that we decided to start Mindhunter Season 2 – which is freaking me out!

Saying goodbye to Summertime Snippets…

On September 11, 2019September 11, 2019 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn day in the life, family, garden, hygge, Michigan, mom life, nature, Uncategorized9 Comments

As summer is ending and falling into fall, school is back in session, and the easy breezy summer days are no more for this year. And that is ok, there is a season for everything. I can see the change of seasons in my photos, as summer images give way to autumn.

Late summer meant trips to the aquarium, summer music class, visits to Greenfield Village with grandparents. ..

Family nature hikes, surrounded by a canopy of green, the last of the water lilies dotting the water (they were gone the very next week!), Sandhill Cranes before they leave for warmer climates..even a woolly bear caterpillar spotted on a little leaf. Don’t worry though if you are not a fan of snow, this woolly bear says we are in for a mild winter!

Playing in the dirt everyday all day, ice cream on the lawn, ground cherries that we found growing in our back garden, and spontaneous hugs from my kiddo.. (those aren’t seasonal though!)

This week we are getting ready for the harvest moon! I feel we have officially reached fall!

My Sunday-Monday Post

On September 8, 2019September 8, 2019 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized25 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

First, my prayers for everyone that was in the path of Dorian. What a terrible tragic force that hurricane is, leaving so much devastation in its path. I read that Habitat for Humanity is planning on helping to rebuild housing that was lost, and I plan on donating to aid in this cause. I can’t do much but I want to do something.

Last week was all about finding our feet with our new schedule – pretty sure we haven’t figured out our routine quite yet…. I find it just as hard to transition to a new schedule as my son! It’ll take us a beat to find our new school year rhythm. We spent last week just getting used to it all again, and I have to say I am feeling all off. Hopefully this week is easier! Wyatt is enjoying being back though, which is great! Over the weekend we had our last summer Music Together class, and we won’t be joining again until spring. We all loved the class though, and recommend it if you have one in your area! We also went to a Family Fun Day at the center where Wyatt goes to therapy, then had dinner with my mom before leaving the kiddo with her for a few hours to have a short little date night at Greenfield Village. They were open late for a Ragtime fest and old car show (1900s-1930s cars only!) and the weather was perfect. It was a busy but good day. This morning, after I finish here, we are going on a family hike before coming home to do some home stuff that we need to do for the week. I think I am going to make Mushroom and Wild Rice soup and I am super excited for it!

Read Last Week:

I managed to read both of these books last week, and I loved them both. Leaving Time was phenomenal, and blew my mind honestly. Soo good!!

Reading This Week:

I started Foxes Unearthed last week and it is pretty interesting so far. I love foxes so this book is perfect for me. Although, who could loathe this beautiful clever animals! I am also starting A Little Hotel in Cornwall.

Watching:

We binged on Carnival Row – it was so good!! We both loved it and were sad when it ended. I think we are going to start Stranger Things next and get that knocked off of our list. We have so much waiting for us – Mindhunter, Glow, Big Little Lies, and I will be able to catch up on some podcasts too while little man is at school.

So what is going on with you all?

Hello, September!

On September 4, 2019September 4, 2019 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized11 Comments

September!! I absolutely love fall – I wait every year patiently for my favorite season to roll around, and while I know the beginning of September is not quite fall yet technically, don’t we all associate it with fall? I think it is the whole back to school aspect of the month – kids go back in the fall, therefore, it is fall. While the weather is still sunny and warm there is now a breeze that is blowing through, crisp and cool that is making me long for fall to finally and totally arrive. Bonfires and apple picking await this month, there is cider to be drunk, flannels and boots and sweaters will be pulled out soon, and cozy meals are soon to be made. We have already started with a few of these, with a bonfire at my brother’s over Labor Day weekend, chili mac and cornbread served up at it’s glowing warmth and flames. The weather was perfect, the kids had a blast, and the adults just enjoyed the moment. One of those nights. The kids did not go to sleep in the tent as we had hoped, but it was ok – we were saying goodbye to summer and they were a part of that.

I am still reminded that it is more of a late summer right now, when I head outside. Some of my flowers are still blooming away, bees are hurriedly gathering all the pollen they can, but signs of fall are out there too. Leaves fallen into the garden, squirrels eating the apples from our tree, our family eating the apples too. It’s time to gather up the seeds for next year, harvest what we can. I am outside gathering and collecting, acorns and marigold seeds, lemon basil to make into salt, black walnuts for pesto, apples for pie and just eating. My sister-in-law and I are planning on a canning day at my uncles, while my mom watches our kiddos. It is a time to gather the bounty of nature and gather together as well.

We have some fun things planned for this month, from family art projects to hikes, field trips, and milestone birthday parties. Wyatt has started school again, and while he is busy learning I hope to do some home projects and personal art projects and write here more too. I always feel more creative and energized this time of year – it is my time, and I love it. My brother and I took our kids for ice cream together today, and he was wearing a flannel, and eating maple walnut ice cream, an echo of the change of season, right there in front of me. It was a day of small wonders and sights anyway, from a cuddly cat sleeping in a chair to the monarch caterpillar I watched shed into its chrysalis form, to the grasshoppers hopping about my yard, and finally to the magical white pumpkins that seem to have planted themselves in my front garden.

I am so ready for fall, so excited for this season. How about you? Is there a season or time of year that really resonates in your soul?

My Sunday-Monday Post

On September 1, 2019 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized23 Comments

My Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz

This past week was the last week before school started, our very last week of summer vacation. Part of me wanted to fill it up with as much as I could, and another just wanted to slip out of summer right into school slowly. We ended up doing a lot of hanging out at home, getting geared up, and eating lots of ice cream outside. This weekend is a holiday weekend, so Billy has three days off, and we are so excited! We spent our last day of August hiking in the woods, where we saw signs of fall’s upcoming arrival all around us. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect! And today, the first day of September, it is rainy. I love a rainy day so I am not too upset, although we are supposed to go to a BBQ this afternoon so…we shall see.

Read Last Week:

Wow, did I love this book! I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did! You can check out my review here.

Reading This Week:

I love foxes so I am looking forward to Foxes Unearthed! And Leaving Time is a book club read for me. So far it is really good!

Watching:

We started watching Carnival Row on Amazon and are obsessed! I love Orlando Bloom though…

What is going on in your part of the world?

Book Review: Where the Forest Meets the Stars

On August 30, 2019 By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized8 Comments

Amazon Summary:

After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.

The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay—just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.

Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?

Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.

My Thoughts:

This book was AMAZING! I loved it so much. I thought this book was so original, with very well developed characters that I could perfectly imagine.

Jo Teale is an orinthologist, studying the nests of Indigo Buntings, and the impact of habitat loss on their population. The once prevalent birds have dropped in numbers in recent years due to habitat loss, and Jo is studying the survival rates of nests alongside roads compared to more remote and wild locations. One night after returning home, a girl in dirty pajamas shows up out of nowhere, and tells Jo that she is an alien. Jo enlists the help of the local Egg Man, Gabe, to help her find where the girl came from, and the two end up playing family with Ursa, as she calls herself, like the great bear in the sky.

I loved the intricacies and complexities in this book – where did Ursa come from, really? Could she really be from the stars? What should Jo and Gabe do? Ursa is brilliant and sharp and doesn’t miss a beat. The three actually start to become a real family, one that they have chosen for themselves. But how can it last? They need to find out the truth about Ursa sooner than later, as every day is a day that could possibly get them into more trouble, and Ursa’s sticking to her story that she is from an alien planet and can’t leave until she witnesses five miracles.

While Jo is recovering from her own history, Gabe has his secrets as well, that slowly he reveals to Jo, little by little. Secrets that have shaped his entire life. Jo and Gabe find solace in each other, and they become more than they were before on their own. Their peace and contented happiness has a deadline though, and they know it, unless steps are taken.

I loved this book, every single bit of it. Fantastic characters, including Jo’s bestie Tabby, who I loved as much as Ursa does. It is a book of moving parts and little bits that all just fit together at the end. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it!