Baptism + cookies

I have a new Goddaughter, Mary, who was born in September and just baptized this past week. It's our tradition to have the baptism at 40 days.

So, as I did last year for our Elijah's baptism,  I made butter cookies in the shape of a baby like "matryoshka."

My favorite recipe for 

Butter cookies (this is the recipe my mom always used, about half the sugar that the average sugar cookies recipe calls for and they are scrumptious):

1 cup softened butter (2 sticks)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Blend butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla together well.  Sift the flour and baking powder together and add to the butter mixture.  Chill for about an hour.  Roll it out to about 1/4" thick and then cut and bake at 425'F for about 5 minutes.  Allow to cool.  And then you can ice them!  ♥

Rhinebeck

There's a sheep + wool festival every fall in the town of Rhinebeck,  NY.  I was invited by a nun who weaves on a loom and wanted to go, but injured her foot and was unable to drive herself.

I took Elijah with us and he watched the llama, alpaca and sheep intently.  I bought some colorful yarn and was inspired! Many women were wearing a sweater designed by Andrea Mowry, but with their own color selections.  At 2pm they took a group photo on the hill there.  Such a great community feel! Here's the fest website:  https://sheepandwool.com/

We've had a few days of summery weather this week, although we did have a frost last week.  Yesterday it was 76° F and sunny!

Animals

We got a kitten from a friend today.  

Yesterday we had a nice surprise. One of our hens brought out 9 little chicks that she hatched!  I have no idea where, likely somewhere in the barn.  Over the past month, we loaded our barn full of bales of hay to feed the animals over winter.  We have 3 cows, about 15 sheep, 4 hogs, 6 bunnies, and now 3 cats, and over 50 chickens, if one counts the new chicks!  Most of them are not yet laying, either they're too young,  some are 4-5 months old, others are molting. 

I have been sick this past week and haven't had the energy to cook.  My husband ordered pizza one night. A video of Elijah with his 1st big slice of pizza to himself.

I am frustrated that I still can't seem to share photos here any longer.

ONE

Elijah is one year old and has done so many things lately to show he is growing and understanding. He signs for milk now, and I think he could have done it a while back, but chose not to, for some reason. Our oldest daughter, Hannah, took a course for American Sign Language (ASL). I know just a handful of signs, like thank you, please, more, all done, yes, no.  I'll try to teach him more.

George and Paul started pottery class which is once a week for the next few weeks. We are headed to co-op shortly.  I teach a nature study class to the 5-6 year olds. They are also doing gym and indoor swim lessons with other homeschoolers 1pm every Tuesday.  

Olivia has been working nights as an RN now. 7pm to 7am. Sounds like everything is going well.

Most exciting, Hannah is officially engaged to Yun Jae!  We are planning the wedding now.  I worked on the invitation, and we decided to order it not as paper, but a magnet with a photo and date.