A Story by Niki

Bloody Birthday Moon— by Nick

On Dad’s Birthday, February 20th, 2008 the moon as we know it turned to blood! How could this be? Well, that’s an interesting story. Sit down, shut up and let me tell you the story!

It all began with a cake. My Dad blew out the candles and then the room went dark. The only light came from the moonlight. We looked out expecting the sight of the full moon—BUT HALF OF IT WAS GONE!!!!!!!!! What happened to the other half. Did God take it? Did aliens think it was really made of cheese? Did they eat it??? No one knew.

Then when everyone else but the K family left the moon was replaced by a blood red sphere. So we went outside we looked at it, howled at it, threw snowballs and sticks at it and chased it.

Later we found out that it was just a Lunar Eclipse. We all felt really stupid.

The End.

A Hike on a Warm November Day

We decided to take advantage of one of the last golden days of autumn earlier this month. I'm glad we did considering that it has looked more like winter in recent days.


I love this picture, we are all looking at the stream flowing under the bridge. The funny part of it is how Niki is leaned over so far you can't see his head. He kept his hat safe by putting it on his back, lol!




Willow running with her typically wind blown hair! This is the ruins at The Hermitage in the Dundas Conservation Area.



November sun hangs low in the afternoon sky.



Peaceful, Reflective Moments.



An apple tree, once part of a tame orchard is claimed by nature.


Joyful boy!


There are just so many uses for a stick!





The Sighting



Last Warm Days




Tree Hugs Rock

What Becomes of Jack-O-Lanterns When Halloween Is Through?

Harvest

This is what was happening all around us on Halloween weekend

Decorating our Home for Hallowe'en

Every Hallowe'en we try to have a lot of fun getting our home ready for the few trick or treaters that we get out here.


Niki came up with the idea of making these 'Creepy Cracks' from an episode of Art Attack.

Josi made one as well!

Skeleton Tree


The Entrance to our house or the Hall of Horror!

The Haunted Path to our Front Door

Skulls in the Garden

Niki's Puking Pumpkin

Watch Your Step! Oops! Josi's gruesome creations!

Eeeeew! Braaaaaaiiiiins!!!

Niki's sneezing pumpkin

Here are some of the Jack o Lanterns that Peter and I made. Carrots make really creepy tentacles or noses for our creations!
My Upsidedown pumpkin
Niki's Brain Bursting pumpkin

Halloween

Grrr, why don't this pictures post in order!!! This is the end of the night. Willow was wiped right out from trick or treating, watching movies and eating junk food.
Here we are - The Gender Confused Pirate (I didn't really consider the fact that I was wearing a skirt and a beard and moustache until the evening was over and then I was like 'wait a second . . . . .heh-heh) The Scary Fairy (Josi was wearing motorcycle boots with the fairy costume) The Joker (Heath Ledger style all the way, baby) and our little winged unicorn riding clown (she would have worn a witch hat, too, making it a three costume combo if the hat would have stayed on her head, lol)

Homeschool Halloween Party at the Ecohouse

We hosted a Halloween party for the hamilton Homeschool group at The Ecohouse. It was a blast and it seemed like everyone had a great time.

You can rent rooms at the Ecohouse, but it is also worth a field trip on it's own. It is owned by the community and is an example of an environmentally friendly building. It's a historical building that was willed to the city by it's last owner. What a wonderful concept! I hope we can use this location again. The people who manage the place are super friendly too!
A map of the house grounds. The Ecohouse includes a beautiful garden. The kids had fun exploring outside.
The house generates it's own power with solar panels and a wind turbine.
Hamilton's Ecohouse

Autumn leaf art.
The Joker flees Gotham City
Making Friends.

I asked Willow to make a clowny face! She must be a scary clown, lol!
The Joker is standing in front of the Ecohouses solar panels.
Willow is partying under the table.
Making cork screw willow wands.

Photos of Short Hills Provincial Park by Niki

The Photographer

Hmm, I've messed up the order of the pics . . . but here they are!

Happy Birthday Dear Willow, Four Year Old Girl!
Niki is a party noise maker
Serious business!!! Mika is Willow's helper.
Demolished cake.

Happy Birthday Willow!!! And Thanksgiving too.

A couple of gifts in the morning to start off the big day!
Our annual Thanksgiving Hay ride!
And our annual Thanksgiving family walk in the woods.
Niki helps Willow with her pinata - it was like breaking concrete!

Willow is the life of the party!

Fun weekend . . . . so far.

Not that I don't expect it to continue being fun. It's just that the weekend isn't done yet. The best part is still ahead of us.

Again, there are no pictures to prove it. You'll have to take my word for it. Yesterday we went to the Ball's Falls Thanksgiving Weekend Arts and Crafts Festival. As usual we got there very late and didn't get to look around at a leisurely pace. We did the speed tour. That's where you walk quickly and try to take it all in.

I missed The Fiddlers 3 http://www.fiddlers3.com/index1.html for the first time in years. I'm so sad about that, wah! They are a family group of celtic musicians. ah well, maybe next year, sigh.

But we certainly didn't skip the FOOD! We had roasted corn on the cob, french fries, almond bark and apple fritters. Mmmmmmmmm, fatty foods sooooooooo gooooood!

Today I was vending at St Jacob's Sunday market. I thought it might be a profitable day being a holiday weekend, but sales were slow. I did get a chance to knit a cute little hat for Willow with all that time sitting there not selling anything, lol. It's nice to accomplish something with my time. I zipped inside the market and bought a set of bamboo double pointed knitting needles so I could finish the hat - I only brought my circular needle.

While I was in there I indulged in a double shot of espresso, ooooooh it was nice! Haha, it was almost worth the trip to St Jacob's just for that. We want to get a GOOD espresso maker. We have a cheapo machine and it just never turns out very tasty. <----(understatement)

I'm beginning to feel like part of the market family. My van was being a bit weird this morning and I had multiple offers of help from fellow vendors. Very nice! Another example of the kindness was from my neighbor. Today I was beside the Pita booth (best pitas in town! I often buy my lunch there) and one of the lovely ladies there brought me a beautiful cup of fresh squeezed lemonade. Isn't that sweet?

I'm not sure how many market days are left for me this year. Fall is slowing sales. I may not go back until next spring. We'll just have to wait and see.


I hope to post again tomorrow or sometime next week to finish my report on the weekend. Tomorrow is not only Thanksgiving, but it is my baby's birthday!!!!!! Willow is turning 4 years old. So there will be much wrapping tonight and in the morning we are baking a cake! Yay!!! Oh I can't wait!!!

Weekend of Family Fun

We kept ourselves plenty busy last weekend which isn't hard to do around here in the autumn. We went to a local Pioneer Day on the Saturday. Unfortunately though we brought the camera with us, we forgot to take pictures. We were visiting our friends who are 1812 re-enactors. To make up for the lack of pictures of our friends, here is a picture they sent me from one of their other events.




Here's Bill on the right and his friend Tommy. They should charge royalties on using their images. They get photographed so often! I expect Bill to tell me how much I owe him next time I see him, ha-ha!

Then on the Sunday, we went to a corn maze and pumpkin farm.

Look at Peter. Why he's a little sunflower, of course, lol!


Piggy backin' through the corn maze got to be pretty tiring. Why did I forget the stroller!?!? Willow enjoyed it though. We're moving so fast Josi is a blur!


Niki, put that corn right back where you found it! Niki couldn't resist the temptation though! Notice the witches baseball hat? That is Niki's official October hat. Super cool!




Haha, here we are pretending to be bored or exhausted or something. But no we were not bored at all. How could we be bored at a pumpkin farm in the fall?!?! Impossible I tell you!

Pagan Pride Day Harvest Festival

This year I had the opportunity to vend my tie dyes at The Pagan Pride Day Harvest Festival. The weather was damp, misty and gray for the morning and it eventually turned to steady rain in the afternoon. It was still a very fun day! It's such a unique event with such a diversity in the people attending. That is definitely the best part - the people watching!



Me and my tie dyes!
I snapped this picture of folks enjoying my hoops! I donated Hula Hoops for the children's area and they were a BIG hit! It was beautiful seeing all the young 'uns playing.
Presenting The Silver Wheel! Hahahaha!!!!