Algonquin Mill Festival

 On Saturday we loaded up our crew + 1 and headed out to Algonquin Mill.  One of my favorite things about October is there is a fall festival every weekend with a lot of craft vendors, food, and genuine good, clean fun for the whole family.

Our friend L, from Ewenique Fibers, was also there - spinning wool into yarn on a spinning wheel. 

 They had an activity for the kids - making friendship bracelets using a method called Kumihimo, which is a Japanese form of braiding.  Kids had a lot of fun, even if the adults stepped in to help speed things along lol.  Each left with a bracelet they had crafted themselves.

 

 After making their bracelets the kids visited and fed the group of Shetland Sheep temporarily housed in a wagon and cattle panels.

Steam powered bottle rockets. They flew fairly far, too!  People were ducking to avoid being hit in the head with 20 oz and 2 liter pop bottles!

We watched some lard being rendered.  We purchased 4 gallons of the freshly rendered yard for our own use. I cannot wait to make some pie crust with it!

Kettle of Apple Butter!!

Friend B and our kid crew! (notice the bucket of lard!)

We watched the Chandler dipping candles.  I remember doing this on a field trip to Zoar when I was in second grade.

Even though we keep bees in our own backyard, the kids were thrilled with this display, and immediately picked out the queen on the frame. 

Finding the Queen

 The black smith was making a button hook for a customer. 

He has a very hot job! 

We strolled up the hill to see the saw mill run from a steam Engine in action....

 but they were having some technical difficulties at the moment and not running..

But the kids managed to get a piece of shingle lumber and stamped it with the Algonquin Mill stamp.  They were thrilled.

Then it was on to the Paulette Fur Company where I may or may have not done some early Christmas shopping for 4 boys....

 There was a barn full of crafters and vendors, but we were not allowed to take any photos inside. I may have snuck this one in anyway..

We had a full, fun, busy weekend!  The week is going to follow suit, with baking, brunch with friends, and another fall festival this coming up weekend!

Fall with Friends Party

We had a wonderful fall party Sunday evening..

Our menu included chili (2 types, one mild one spicy),  chips,  hot dogs,  donuts, and granny smith apples on skewers dipped in caramel.

Drink bar included hot chocolate, Hot Apple Cider, Orange Kool Aid, and Coffee.

The kids participated in a pumpkin painting contest..

 

We had face painting....

No fall party is complete with out a bonfire!  This little brick pit sees a lot of us, especially this time of the year!

 Even Grandpa participated in the face painting. He's such a good sport!

Candle accents on the table.

Everyone had so much fun!  Food was delicious, but the best part was the gathering and sharing of friends and family!

Picking Pumpkins

We took the kids to a local grower to pick their pumpkins for the pumpkin decorating contest at our fall party.

We firmly believe in supporting local, so we drove to my old stomping grounds 15 minutes from here and did just that.

Don't these look like little geese?  Loved 'em!

mini pumpkins and Indian corn!

 Her pumpkin selection was wonderful!

The kids were thrilled to pick their own pumpkin!

As we were finishing up picking out the large pumpkins to either be decorated or used as decor at our party, the owner told the kids they could each choose a mini pumpkin or gourd as her gift to them.  This sent the kids into an excited frenzy as they raised to the tables to pick theirs out.

This girl was thrilled with her little white pumpkin.

I loved her selection of Indian Corn and dried grasses and flowers.  I brought home some Indian Corn and mini pumpkins to decorate our tables, plus some dried wheat, dried sea oats, and dried flowers.

After we were done picking our pumpkins, we drove to the local lake park to scavenge pine cones for our fall party.

I love these kids so much!! 

 

 

September Ends

I can scarcely believe how fast this year is just flying right on by.  Wasn't Summer just here?

The last weekend of September was a very busy one for us. Friday was spent baking and preparing a cake for the United Peafowl Convention being hosted by our friends at Louden Farms.

 We had a lot of fun at the Convention.  The kids played football all day and there was sooo much food!  Everything was wonderful, but getting to visit with our friends was the best part.

And I am probably the only person I know who goes to a Peafowl Convention and comes home with a pair of Pekin Ducks. ;)

Sunday we spent the whole day on yard clean up.

So this....

Went to this....

my boys being great helpers!

and eventually became this by Tuesday..

There's still some more clean up to be done, but already there's a huge improvement.  We also have plans to start building a coop like this.

To house the young bantams I have growing out to start.  These ones pictured belong to my friend Jen Louden and the one my DH is standing next to houses her beautiful flock of Lavender Ameraucanas.

Tuesday evening my parents came over and we had an impromptu cookout.  We're not sure how many nice evenings will be left for bonfires and s'mores, so we made the most of it. Until the mosquitoes drove us into the house.


Overall it was a great weekend and a great start to the week/month!

Happy October!