Country roads

This weekend we headed south again to Four Hole Swamp with some dear friends from Charlotte- what was intended to be a farewell weekend for the Hunts turned into an "in absentia" celebration of them...we are hoping to reschedule in January with them before they head out of the country......but after all the hard work of packing, etc, we just had to go!!

EARLFEST

Now this post needs a little context- My family has its roots deep in 4 hole swamp right outside Holly Hill, SC (south of the metropolis of Orangeburg). My great grandfather had a little piece of land that he divided among his many children. My dad was fortunate enough to spend his childhood on that land- in the woods and became as one old friend has said "the deer-huntin'est man I eva' did see!"



This year marked my Dad's 50th hunting season- now to some this might be of no consequence- but David Jackson's life largely played out in those woods and the friends and family he's enjoyed these last 50 years- His granddaddy, Earl Jackson, or "Pappy" is not only his namesake but was the most influential person in his life- who taught my dad to love the land.....

My childhood also is marked to by trips to the country to visit my Grandmama and watching for the hunters to come home- later on in life my Dad put both my brother and me on bucks (though Ben has seen many more and much bigger!) This past weekend we celebrated my Dad and those who have shared in his last 50 years with a fantastic party, EARLFEST, at my parent's place in the woods-

my beautiful sister-in-love, Elizabeth, received a mandolin for her birthday- we had fun playing and singing old bluegrass songs waiting for the festivities to begin

E and Hunt and their grandbabies

a dear old family friend, Chad Carson, built a bench for my dad with the grands' handprints and birthdates...here they are finding their hands...

Mr. Carson, Rusty Carson, and the woodworker and BB-Q man Chad Carson

Wiz with her beautiful and delicious cakes!

Anna Dargan practicing with the deer horn

the highlight of the night was when the men all gathered around the fire and retold stories from decades past of missed deer, victories and loved ones who were missed that evening. Celia is still asking why "DJ was in the truck in nothing but his underwear and toenails painted..."

We had a great time celebrating Hunt. A huge thanks to Ben for organizing Earlfest- hopefully this will become a yearly tradition.....

Trip to the Dairy Farm

A group of us have joined together for fieldtrips and playdates....not exactly a formalized homeschool coop but we have a great time! Our November field trip was going to a local organic dairy farm....

Eilidh petting Blackberry the lamb

Bennett learning all about "Goaty"

sweet little Ava

I think this is funny! Celia is wearing one of the farmer's daughters puffy jackets because she was so cold! She had a blast!

the girls feeding a 4 day old calf

We had a great time at the farm! Thanks Julie for organizing it! We even left with cheese and chocolate milk for the ride home!

Apple Pie

Another book we read in the Five in a Row curriculum with Celia is called How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World. It was such a good one! The little girl in the story travels all over the globe in search of the freshest ingredients....to Italy, France, Sri Lanka, England, Jamaica and Vermont....this week we focused on those countries and learning about the different continents and oceans. And naturally at the end of the week we had to make an apple pie to enjoy with our friends! (and it was my first pie made from scratch- actually tasted great!)

Fashion Show...

So Bennett turned 4 last week- she had quite the fashionable soiree... She has really developed a love for jewelry, make-up and accessories that has begun to rival that of her big sister's. So this year we decided we'd glam it up with some girls and hit the runway!

We had on hand our very own fashion photographer so be ready for some serious pics!

a blonde wigged Halsey is the first to arrive

"Who's ready for eye shadow?"

nail time...

Sweet Miss Shannon came again this year (last year she was Fancy Shancy) to help with the hair- she was getting the girls to rock the high pony-

and we started the fashion show down the sidewalk with our birthday girl!

Bennett's sweet friend Lucinda who we just love

"Kiki" of the famous "Kiki and Janie"...twins from B's preschool class

Jane Murry in on the action. Check out her sweet hair piece...she'd scalped a babydoll and pinned it her ponytail!

Halsey is fierce!

Elizabeth and Claire were there too. Bennett had lots of "big girls" she wanted to invite. Special thanks to Elizabeth and Jane Murry Bryan, Lindsay and Claire Ellis, and Halsey for eyeshadow, earrings, nails, and runway coaching!

now for the birthday cake

I love this picture of Millie- a fashionista not to be outdone by her big sisters!

Lindsay and Emery Ellis

Celia and Ally

the final fashion shoot...

work it

nice

and sweet Mills chanting "fashion show....fashion show"