Perfect Weekend for Soccer

This weekend was our soccer club's annual Lighthouse Tournament.  It is the one weekend every fall that we anticipate spending most of our time at the soccer park and do not plan on getting much done around the homestead.  As expected the weekend was a blur.  The weather is always a wild card and in years past more often than not we have shivered in blustery temperatures and rain.  This year was gorgeous with our warmest day yesterday topping out at close to 80!  It was such a treat!    The boys did a fantastic job winning three games and qualifying for the final.  Though they did not win the final game it was a hard earned and well deserved second place.

This may have been our last hurrah of summer like warmth.  Our week promises cooling temperatures, wind and our first possibilities of frost.  That is just fine though, the true feeling of fall comes from gorgeous shows of light, the trees putting on their show before allowing their leaves to be sent soaring in the gusts, and having hot spiced cider on the stove.  

Thirty Short Hours

This has been a whirlwind weekend.  It was our first overnight travel for a soccer tournament and prepping to get out of town at the peak of planting, pruning, transplanting and taking care of baby ducks and chickens inspired quick bursts of productivity in very short segments of time.  Yes, there is an annual tournament scheduled for Mother's Day weekend, but I say what better way to spend the day than by being a mom!  The tournament itself was great and deserving a post of its own.  When we got home this evening with storms approaching and spring heavy in the air we threw open all of the windows, walked the property and marveled at the massive amounts of change that can occur within thirty short hours.  We were truly awarded by the first lilac blooms opening outside our kitchen window.  A deep breath of gratitude for the spring that seems to have arrived, a beautiful farm to work and an amazing family to share it with.  A Happy Mother's Day indeed.

Silent Sunday ~ Milwaukee Wave

Surrender

What a difference a week makes.  The trees are becoming more bare by the day, yet the shedding of their leaves has its own beauty.  After a busy weekend with our clubs soccer tournament, complete with drenching rain both days, the puddles left behind in today's sunshine reflect the contrast between two falls.  The one of light and color, and the one of a grey cold rain, giving you the excuse to huddle under a blanket indoors (or on the soccer field depending on your situation :)  Both of these falls are saturated in their own hypnotic colors inspired by the suns new lower angle.

Suddenly all of the hostas have finished for the season.  It happened overnight, and not just to us. While out today I noticed everywhere the brilliant yellows of hosta leaves that have lain down for the season.

We are still eating predominantly from our garden harvests.  As we finish our fresh produce and have all but completed our canning,  I am spending lots of time researching new hearty soup recipes and baking up a storm.  This growing season has been so successful, and we are ready to finish buttoning up the garden and tending to the few remaining beds that will produce through November.  Even as I turn my energies indoors,  I am eager to watch and care for the cold weather greens as they mature so that we can enjoy them, a last fresh taste before we surrender to the seasons end.

Checking Off the Bucket List

This weekend was a tournament weekend for soccer and the location was about an hour away.  Saturday wasn't a big deal, there was only one game.  But Sunday, Charles had a game at 7 am and another at 4 pm (with warm ups beginning 45 minutes prior).  So we decided to see what we could do in the area versus spend the day driving back and forth.  We haven not spent much time in the different burgs North of us, and we hoped to get in some apple picking, lunch and then just see what was to see.  The apple picking was immediately discounted when we got up there.  Due to the extreme warmth early, followed by a single late frost, the apple harvest this year is very limited, so there was no pick your own available. 

We began to look around at some other options.  First, we found a park that has the last covered bridge in Wisconsin.  It was a lovely old bridge, and had a beautiful park to walk around.  We saw a Blue Heron and the kids enjoyed exploring. 

As I looked at the map, I saw the Cedarburg Bog State Natural Area, so we thought we'd check it out.  We found a hiking/boating entrance and walked up the trail.  It was wet and muddy, but that was to be expected after the rain we had last night, and well, it's a bog!  As we got further up the trail the ground got squishy and further yet, it got almost bouncy.  Then we hit a 300 or so foot stretch leading up to the swamp that was simply amazing.  Have you ever walked or run on a trampoline??  Well that was the sensation of the earth under us, and as we walked up the path, we could see it ripple away from us!  Truly an incredible experience, and one to check off the bucket list, not even knowing it should have been there.  B and I discussed this at length as we all walked back toward the car.

We then took a scenic drive several miles further until we reached the Riveredge Creek State Nature Preserve.  We hiked there for a while before heading back into Cedarburg for lunch and some window shopping.  Not too shabby a way to use a day!  It was completely unstructured and unplanned and we were able to do some fun and unexpected things.

Last night before bed, Charles said...'that's one I'm adding to my bucket list', I asked what?  He said; 'being Dr. Who and seeing earth from space.'  Perfect end to the day, I can't wait to hear more of what's on his newly forming bucket list!

Silent Sunday~ Soccer X 2 Days