A New Normal

It's been a long while! A short walk down memory lane reminds me that my new normal is nothing like my old ebb and flow. Babies, babies, babies! Wow, we had a string of little people for so many years! I miss those chubby little hands but I'm not sure I would trade it for the joy of having a house full of bigger children. If you are still in the throes of babyland, take courage! It doesn't last forever, and the hardest times will be forgotten due to sleep deprivation. ;-) Just kidding- if you have one or more babies in your house, I honor you for the valuable work you do in the everyday sacrifice of your time, your body, and your energy.

From now on this blog will be the continued story of our efforts to make a beautiful life out of imperfection. Life with a house full of children and a farm is messy. We love creating and producing and exploring, but none of that is neat and tidy (until blessing hour, when we clean it all up at 5pm). I am learning and growing as my children are doing the same, and it's an adventure every day...like it or not. 😅

So glad you dropped by!

coming and going

We're all about teeth here these days. Eleanor's are coming in like a flood, and I expect by her first birthday- in a month- she'll have four new ones on the top. You can just barely see them peeking out in perfect hillbilly fashion.

On the other end of the spectrum, this girl smiles a little bigger so as to show off the gaping (at least in her mind) hole in her mouth. One Morning in Maine declares her a big girl now that she's lost this first tooth. I'd have to agree.

Somewhat trivial question of the day

We ripped up all the carpet in this house when we moved, and found beautiful (if you like 60's goldish red hardwood...it really is lovely and in top notch condition) hardwood underneath. We also have chickens in the backyard, a little acreage, and live on a busy road that stirs up dust. I make my kids keep their shoes off inside the house, which they mostly remember to do. So with that background info, here's my question for all you hardwood floor keepers:

How do you keep them clean??? I sweep once, usually twice a day. This is manageable because the main floor is relatively small. Our old vacuum -which used to perfectly suit our carpet needs- doesn't cut it on these floors. I keep thinking if only I had the right tool, they would stay cleaner. I use a dust mop and water with a tiny bit of all purpose cleaner about once a week.

Of course, every time (daily) I sweep up a big pile of grass and dirt I think about how that could be buried in my carpet. So I am thankful for the small things (not being in my carpet).

Ideas?