Saturday, October 31, 2009

Trick or Treat






We went to Wendell and Annette's for Halloween. Truly the best place to get candy because one of their neighbors gave out KING SIZE candy bars!! Peter had a good time, I think he was more interested in playing with all of Connor and Chelsea's toys. Chelsea and her friends were very considerate of Peter and waited for him at all the houses.

Swim Lesson Number 1


I signed Peter up for swimming lessons at the YMCA in Cecil County, Maryland. It is 15 miles from us, versus the YMCA of Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is 11 miles. Peter's first lesson was on Halloween. I think I got more wet than he did as he was relucant to stay with the class. The instructor really lacked good little kid skills, so I think Peter didn't feel a bond. He said he loved being in the water, and even in the one picture, he looks 'happy'. She gives us a report card that says Peter needs improvement! What does she know? He can blow bubbles in the bathtub and easily floats on his back too! I am certain with some coaxing he will be swimming laps around her. :)

Monday, October 26, 2009

Herr's Potato Chip Halloween


Chipper and Peter

Checking the loot

Peter isn't so sure about Chipper

Waiting for the hayride

"Cheese" curls

We have been taking advantage of where we live. And again tonight we were not disappointed. Peter got dressed up in his Bat costume for Trick or Treat at the Herr's Potato Chip Factory. The Herr's are our neighboring farm. Peter was greeted by the mascot Chipper, and we trick-or- treated our way through the factory. We even got to sample warm chips. It was really fun and free. Peter enjoyed one of his nine bags of chips on the hayride and we then ate dinner at the local Miss Oxford Diner, where we are becoming regulars. Click on my blog title for the link to Herr's Chips.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Great weather, Great Friends, Great Visit!


How high up?

Jackie and Matty

The beautiful Straiton Family

We had our friends Sharon and Matt visit on Sunday. The weather was perfect for a stroll to the creek and to see the pigs. We did not venture too far into the meadow, but Matt did take a turn at climbing the silo. I really think they were surprised at our little piece of paradise. We went to get ice cream at Kilby Cream, from cow to cone in two days! We carved pumpkins and I must say that farm life has made me quite a cook. We had french dip sandwiches and Jeff made apple pie. I hope everyone can see just how lucky we are to be living at Hickory Hollow Farms.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Kim and Jeff live on a farm E-I-E-I-O!


our night time routine

fresh eggs and peach pie
Kahlua at the creek

Peter at the creek our home on the way back from creek

3300 pigs in pens

front of our home what we see out front

still more out front on the way to the creek

out back with the chickens

For those who are unaware, we moved to Pennsylvania in quite a rush. When we returned home from Canada I had a job interview for a Part Time Kindergarten Librarian. When I found out I got the job things moved so fast. We got renters in our home in Maryland and headed north to Amish country. I am still not certain if this is the place I want Peter going to school, but for the next three years of our lives it is certainly the place I am privileged to call home. We rent from a Mennonite family who have over 200 acres of corn, 3300 hogs, half a dozen cows, 2 dozen chickens, sheep, and one llama. The home is very modest, oil heat, propane hot water are something I have to get used too, not to mention the threat of mice. A girl from Philly has very little interest in sharing her home with field mice. It is a small price to pay for amazing sunsets, great walks to the creek, fresh eggs, and just everything else you can imagine that is wonderful. Mrs. Harnish made us home made peach pie, and the most amazing biscuits. She has taken my laundry in off the line when it began to rain, and returned it folded. Kahlua has spent hours in the creek. We even discovered a small pond with lights for ice skating in the winter. You are all more than welcome to visit, I can't promise though you will ever want to leave.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

4 hours and counting....

Jeff, Peter, and I left Sackville, NS this morning at 7:00 AM. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 9:30 AM. Not that I was very eager to leave the great north, but I am anxious to get home and eat. It is now 1PM and we have yet to board at flight. Peter is doing really well. I hope he naps though on the plane since that is what I wish to do. We had a wonderful vacation. It started with a few glitches as Jeff did not have a current passport. LOOK a boarding call YIPPEE!!! More when we arrive in the USA!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

190 Days

Today I finished the most challenging year of my 10 year education career. 190 days and only one month with out a blog. Not bad. To update, in August I left the greatest job ever, taking care of Peter to return to work. I went back to the school I began to teach in when I first moved to Maryland. I walked into a library that had been neglected for almost 20 years and a library program without a focus. After organizing 74 rolls of paper towels, discarding movie projectors and record players, and even changing spine labels on books, I am proud to say that the library finally has a purpose in this school and I would like to be the person responsible for driving the mission and instructin of this media center forward, unless of course I get that really great job back in Pennsylvania. I had an interview last Wednesday in Oxford, Pa. The position is for a part time kindergarten librarian. This job would give me the best of both worlds; working a job I love and raising a son I love. I was told to expect a second interview this week. Considering that my world could be in an upheaval in a matter of weeks, I am remarkably calm. I have realized that there is a much bigger plan, this of course after watching Simon Birch.
Based on my job schedule these past few weeks it can only be understood as to why I have not blogged. The other reason, since the computer repair people waned $1600 to repair Jeff's computer, he decided to buy an iMac. Here is where I stand with the Apple. It was created for two generations: my parents, who will find the Apple to be user friendly and virus free, and the graduating class of 2009 who will be able to send video messages and upload music from their phones into the garage band feature of the Apple. I hate it. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Jeff will buy me a lap top for Christmas. He has been hinting that it will be an Apple, which like every other present will then be returned. The Apple is also the reason for no pics this time. I have not had the desire to figure out how to edit and crop and post and save pictures into Jeff's computer.
Many people are interested in our summer plans; we leave to visit the Canadians at the end of June. I will be back and forth to Cape May. I have signed up to take a graduate class, which is comprised of reading a book and answering questions. I figured it wil be a piece of cake, however it's a lot of writing, especially when you don't have Microsoft Word to type it all in. This will give my 9 post masters credits, and I am also taking a course in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay for a week, which will yield me 3 more credits. It is run through the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and we stay three nights on an island crabbing, testing water, hiking and other out door things. I am really excited about that course.
On the home front, Jeff, Peter and I have been doing things around the back yard. We replaced the fence, planted a vegetable garden, and built a brick patio. I am actually starting to like the back yard. Jeff is excited as for the first time in our 7 years of marriage I am "allowing" him to get FIOS. It is a combination of tv, internet, and our land line. Costs about the same as we are spending now, and we will get more than 6 channels. Jeff has been swamped with homework and this semester cannot seem to pull ahead, therefore no time for tv. Jeff has 9 classes left, which will mean that if scheduling is done correcting he could be done next summer. We have big plans for Peter this fall; swim lessons, gymnastics, and even entertaining starting the violin. He is quite the musical child. I hope everyone is temporarily caught up, and pictures will follow soon!
Good night.