the rest of October

These days I literally only see Nathan when it's time to eat. He's a school hermit.

We had lots of beans that needed to be taken care of. I enlisted some help to end the beans before I blanched them.

It's faster with more help!

Daniel got a car set up in his room and took it for a spin.

Melanie got lots of quilting done in October.

Matthew tried to problem solve the latest sewing machine. It got fixed and ready to run...and then at some point it didn't work anymore...a screw or tiny part of sorts is missing.

Melanie's birthday is over so I can take as many pictures as I like.

She had to give up eventually.

Evelyn drew and coloured a cat. She's got a pretty fancy background!

Jennifer is doing her chore. Not a favourite activity for her.

We enjoyed a bit more time with company. We all read books together. And other things too, of course!

The kids decided it was time to bring down the rink boards, in hopes of a skating rink this year. Hoping to set it up and pound in stakes before the ground is too frozen.

Melanie helped me with yard work. We had moved lots of little pine trees around, so we covered their bases with mulch in hopes that they would make it through the winter.

Melanie made us apple dumplings for snack. So sweet. So good.

Painting is also not a favourite activity of Jennifer's. She did make some nice paintings though--if she didn't like them, I still did!

 This is what the kitchen looks like on a typical school morning. Actually, on a typical, everyone is working hard morning. (It's not so typical to have so many people studious at a time!)

And Jennifer is typically working at her own desk in the school room. She still wants to keep her desk down here, even though she has a massive room that would fit it in easily.

She has a very cool outfit to play Indians in. Whatever needed sewing, she did up herself.

Matthew got his Air Cadet uniform. Finally. He hasn't really needed it since their meetings have all been virtual. And since he doesn't like changing, he just put on the top half. "No one can see my pants anyways." He says.

The boys did some paintings too. The laptop has never been the same since Daniel finished his. He used the technique of splattering paint with the bristles to get the starry background...and well, he didn't move the laptop first.

Matthew worked hard on a waterfall painting too. His laptop faired better, as he wasn't using the same technique.

Evelyn rarely misses a painting opportunity. I traced this zebra for her so that she could paint it.