Odds and Ends of September

 Another bird stunned itself on our windows. But at least this time it was only stunned: fluttering in the corner, balancing on my hand, then the wash line, then gone back to the sky.

After being super entertaining and educational all last school year, and becoming self- repopulating with  an unintentional platy-swordtail mix, this week our entryway aquarium went off to its new home as our house is needed for a movie set next month

Always more shenanigans happening here...getting more interesting as Aiden overtakes both girls in size!

Yet more harvesting and processing of chokecherries, apples, tomatoes - there so often is something in process of preserving it for winter. If it wasn't so yummy, we think it would make a lovely color dye.

Freda has learned not to come into certain rooms, but she sure knows how to entice you out with her patient and longing eyes.

And without photos:
- A morning's visit with a not-so-far-away friend
- The restart of early morning prayer at church
- A day in exile with Freda as Jasmin did a live training class with one of Imma's dog for Jasmin's new schooling toward being a certified dog trainer.
- Aiden slipping into school routine without a ripple and Mom's sad/proud that he needs me so little
- More morning/evening calls for Mom with SAFE families on the other side of the world

The Rest of the Summer

 We've been busy!

Another wedding to attend for Mom and Dad in Moncton

An added extra overnight trip to on church's headquarters near St John

A delightful visit from an Ottawa friend and her kids for a few days. So thankful for this lovely place that housed the 10 of us without a murmur.

Aiden finished all his school work for the year

Celebrated some rain and misty days - finally!

Continued attempts to run and swim regularly

Lots of talk and prayer and dreaming of what this new school year will hold:

Grace will be done her degree in December

Aiden will be taking courses geared toward university entrance

Mom looked into finally finishing off a degree 

Dad still hopes to pick up his PhD studies

Jasmin enrolled in some new courses - for dog training this time, to go along with her love for dogs and fostering a CNIB guide-dog-in-training

Extra outings and "dates" so Freda can practice settling in public places... she still has to learn to find the most comfortable spot though!

Enjoying our garden produce - even if bean harvest is small because Freda ate most of the seeds...

Many Young Adult gatherings for Grace and Jasmin (and sometimes Aiden too!)

Aiden volunteered at VBS for three nights

We've hosted meals with old friends and new

Fall harvesting jobs:

mint jelly

    chokecherry jelly

        apple cider

            lemon curd

                apple sauce

                    pie filling

                        tomato soup and sauce

                            lavender syrup

                                blackberry jam

So much that we've run out of jars and fridge space - and there are plenty more apples, mint, lavender, chokecherries, and tomatoes...mom is going to have to learn proper canning so the jars can store on the shelf instead of the fridge. It is fun to have so many food choices off our own place instead of the store, but a lot of work to keep it for the winter.