Stringtown Grocery

On a fun afternoon trip last week a couple friends and I (and the munchkins) hopped in the car and headed down to Kalona to see a few sights.

We had lunch, then took in the Stringtown Grocery and the Cheese Factory.

Stringtown Grocery is an Amish-run bulk grocery store in a beautiful country setting. For bakers and cooks, this store is like mecca....every spice, noodle, grain, flour and sugar imaginable! I bought the fine whole wheat flour as well as a little crispy bear for Marsh. I used the flour this weekend in my blueberry muffin recipe...just halvsied it with white flour. Turned out pretty good!

Step Back and Enjoy the View

This fall has been so pretty and so warm. We've been blessed this year. The leaves are gorgeous, ranging from golden yellow to firey red. The view out our front door is so peaceful and pretty right now. The harvest is slowly getting underway, so the view will get a little noisier as the tractors make their way to the co-op, but that's okay...makes us remember why Iowa is so special. We've enjoyed getting ready for Halloween this year. Marsh and I made little white ghosts to go in the front yard and made the 'witches' sign for the front door. These are the things I realized I was missing while maintaining a frantic pace volunteering here in town. Now that I'm stepping back from that I'm finding myself again, a self that I really enjoy! I'm calmer, quieter and am taking in the minutia again.

The Masterpiece is Nearing the Finish Line

The den bookcases are nearly complete. Hurray! Papa has outdone himself this time....they are absolutely gorgeous. I can hardly hold myself back from loading them with all the books we have stashed in closets, under beds and laying here and there. Our homeless books will finally have a home! And what a beautiful home it is.

Anywhere Better?

Is there anywhere better for a little guy who is enamored with his Papa? Mema is quickly catching up...she has "the touch" when it comes to naptime.

God bless wonderful, attentive grandparents.

Looking Back Over the Summer

As I was browsing back through our summer photos I COULD NOT resist posting this one. This is the laugh-a-minute circus this house tends to be. Marsh was practicing to be an Ironman like Daddy...as for Daddy...I'm not sure what he was practicing for. ;-)

Clancey the "Laban" Pirate

I had to take photos of Clancey in his Swedish "Laban" pants. The character Laban is a friendly ghost who refuses to haunt people...I suppose like Casper here in the US. They're adorable and SOOO soft...came back with Daddy from Sweden. I think he looks like a little pirate. First he seized the embroidery thread booty, then moved upstairs to make Marshall walk the plank...into the pirate ship tub.

Hairdressing

To acheive this VERY fancy hairdo:
Cut up grapes on breakfast plate.
Eat said grapes.
Turn the plate over on top of your head, rub vigorously.
Let dry.

Voila!