Buddy & Flowers

At first I left Jake home with a sitter. But as harvest drug on we could not keep having them miss school. Our district is gaining awards for attendance. That means kids have to go. Mostly I agree but sometimes there are more important things than sitting in school. As society becomes less responsible the school system becomes more controlling. I continue to  not like the interference in my family. Long story short Jake came and rode at the end of harvest. He did really well buckled into the tractor buddy seat. Thank goodness for seatbelts that are enough restraint and support that little people can be safe. 

The flashlight helped him balance and be entertained. 

He also likes to look out the window and see what is going on outside. He is getting stronger at climbing. 

My favorite dahlia plant so many pretty blossoms that lasted a long time. The bees were grateful for so much pollen too. These were grown in my composted leaves. This plant did really well. We are of course composting more leaves they make great soil. 

My gardener friend let us come pick in her garden. We harvested buckets of flowers to share. Oh I love the colors of flowers. And I love the opportunity for my girls to also make arrangements.

Flowers on top of life. There is always so much going on. I sure miss sending Addie out with the girls to deliver flowers its hard for me to leave. But we did and it was delightful to stop and visit with friends for a few minutes. 

Harvest is always long. A friend said we should celebrate the harvest. It is such an emotional physical process. The marketing aspect is not for the feint of heart or listening ears. Two years now I have listened to older wiser people and have regretted it. From now on I'm trusting myself and selling when I think best. The work is the same the payment varies greatly. I'm trying to move forward from mistakes. The flowers were/are more than just beautiful. They are a diversion. A reliable way of reaching outside of the worry at home on my dirt. A way of doing something different. A way to connect with my kids. Others are so kind and generous to them here we are task masters always demanding more. Read more, do your homework, bath, clean up your messes, get the fences built. For those small moments we go share people are delightful, grateful, some share a piece of candy or popcorn. The kids share a hug it is peaceful for a few minutes. We come home relieved and back to the ever present work of farm/large family life. That gets heavy. But the breaks bring air. Fresh air that revitalizes the spirit and allows enough change to recommit and settle in for another long pull. 

We are blessed. We have abundance we have so much to be thankful for and so much work to do each day. That is good. Purpose is motivating. Nothing is always nothing I'm teaching Merle as we drill math facts 2+0 is only 2. We added nothing. So in our days of overwhelm and so much we have everything. Life is good.