24 Days Before Christmas

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Thanksgiving weekend was full of family and I haven't found my way back here to recording til now. Our son flew in from Germany. It's a huge novelty to us that any of them can be here in a couple hour's time.

Please tell me other families use their smart phones to fortify their debate positions. At one point three of us were furiously googling. Speed referencing. ; D

Saturday was the class feis for our dance school. This is the fifth year some of them have danced but the first time one of their brothers has been able to come along. After an hour he was very impressed. After 5 or 6hrs their brother was pretty sure this would hold him over for a while.

This brother manned the music.

and this one was just…done

We sent Asher back home Sunday after lots of food and hours of tv series catch up with his sister and more hours of the inane debates only my family can get wrapped around the axle over.

Trust me. We.are.crazy.

The days that followed have been steady. We brought the Christmas decorations upstairs. Sunday we set up the advent wreath. Every day we have done a little bit more after school time. Abbie and Aidan changed the wreaths on Monday. Tuesday we pulled down the autumn banner. Then we put away the Indian corn and leaf garlands and pumpkins. We replaced our centerpiece. Today we set the nativity up. It feels like a sane pacem which is good. Sane is good right now. I like sane. By Christmas Eve it will all be in place. It is an Austin family advent – minus the baby part.

November walk

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

“November is usually such a disagreeable month…as if the year had suddenly found out that she was growing old and could do nothing but weep and fret over it. This year is growing old gracefully…just like a stately old lady who knows she can be charming even with gray hair and wrinkles. We've had lovely days and delicious twilights.”

– LM Montgomery

Lucy Maude captures my love for these days better than I. So grateful for chance to wander the lanes with my boy on a still afternoon.

Nov 2014 aidan web (11 of 14)

Autumn inside and out

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

This time of year the outside of our house looks a lot like the inside of the house.

quote in print here

banner printable here

pony parking

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

So many stories to tell. Don't mind if I just jump right in and insert this one wildly out of chronological order, do you? So that trip to Dartmoor a couple months ago was a huge bucket list check mark for me. Probably I've said that before. Who knows anymore. Bottom line, I was such a horse geek growing up. I was on a horse before I could walk and my bedroom wall was plastered with posters like these. Though the names and shapes were memorized it seemed unlikely I would ever see some of these up close. We had Quarter horses, Appaloosas, and Arabians. We knew people who had a Standardbred. We saw Thoroughbreds on TV. Everything else was wildy exotic in the upper midwest in the 70's.

I had cut my reading teeth on Misty and Blaze books and was devoted to my own little Shetland. But a Welsh or a Dartmoor? Only in my dreams. Which explains how truly surreal it was standing near an older British lady sporting a purple jumper discussing a naughty foal nibbling the cafe sign nearly 4000mi away from the place I taped that poster 35yrs prior. She shared my enthusiasm and said, "Now we won't keep you another moment. Go on and enjoy!"

And I did. I really, really did.

The ponies run free at Dartmoor. They are mostly private herds now, but farmers can use the range land for grazing. When we crossed the cattle grids entering the park a small herd had meandered up to the parking area. The rest of the family dove into their lunches but I was slipping between cars to get up close to the ponies. They didn't hang around long but we did get to snap a few pictures before they were on their way.

If you have lingered here at all you already know – where ponies (or goats) are involved I lose all sense whatsoever. Because hello? PONIES!!!!!!! C'mon, c'mon….

Why you do not bring your sports car to Dartmoor. Just sayin'.

after the rain

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

There has been precious little outside walking happening in recent weeks between rain and schedule. I stepped out for a bit after it let up to soak up the smell of wet earth and run my hands along the cold iron fences. In the distance farm hands called from the barn and a dog barked. Right where I stood however not a thing was moving and that was beautiful. When the world slows its pell-mell pace for a moment it's good to just stand there and notice the still.

The day began all the better for damp cuffs.

Hearken to these things, Job: Stand, and consider the wondrous works of God.

- Job 37:14

Pumpkins from the Farm

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Visiting the pumpkin patch was a regular occurence this fall since the farm rotated the fields making pumpkins very accessible to us. There were some varieties we have never seen before which were rather wart-y. A couple weeks ago they began to harvest. The crates came in and every evening there were fewer pumpkins as they were trucked off to the seasonal sale patch. They saved us several so tomorrow is the big day finally to decorate.

and looking the other direction….

Of altitude and attitudes

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Postcards from the Devon coast line. While we are at it, I thought it might be good to share some insider info about traveling the world with children just to dispel some myths. Despite the awe-inspiring views and fresh air and majestic surroundings, well traveled kids may not always be as impressed as you are nor as you hope they would be. My friend Jen gave me that head's up when we moved to Germany as her clan was leaving. She said they do get cathedral'd out. Sometimes we let them pass. I was shocked. HOW could they miss this??

But she was right. It happens. Especially after a long stretch of intense travel. Even good natured, home educated kids who have been steeped in history and geography. They may or may not say things like, how long do you think this is this gonna take? Will we get to do anything fun after? Can I bring food? I got some puddle inside my boot. Is there a bathroom out here? He's stepping on the back of my shoes. NETTLES! When are we gonna actually DO something? (besides walk and look at places…)

This isn't a sign of failure. Just par for the course. And once they get out there they are usually drawn in to the surroundings and forget their complaints. But not always. Sometimes they really ARE sure they'd rather play angry birds or go get gelato or any number of things. That's when you pull out "You'll thank me someday." And really mean it. Because someday they will.

Meantime, enjoy the view. It's fleeting. All of it. : )

simple pleasures

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Just this, because every time I come back to these it makes me smile. Such strength. Such a blessing to come so close to majesty in ordinary moments.

the best remedy

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Kim Halloran-Fry

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” Anne Frank