I'm back, with several things to say.

I can't believe it's Labour Day already! September means "back to the grindstone" for most people, myself included. Homeschooling is starting up again, our Etsy shop will start seeing the Christmas rush very soon (if last year is any indication) and I've also come back to my blog. I suddenly feel very busy! The lazy days of August are over.

The first thing I wanted to say (besides hello!) is that August was a bit of a wash for me. I had so many interesting projects planned...but then (haha) only the next day after I "went on vacation" from my blog, I found out that I was expecting our fourth baby early next Spring. Oops, surprise!  And pretty much immediately after that I started feeling...not so great. All of you out there who have experienced pregnancy know what I'm talking about. Suffice it to say I have not been my usual energetic self, and my brain has turned suddenly into rice pudding.

So instead of charmingly redecorating my sewing nook, painting over the ugly grey in the livingroom, transforming my overgrown garden into a neat and tidy one, and taking long evening walks with the children, I pretty much spent the month of August lying on the couch and trying not to feel queasy. Oh well. Life is full of interesting bends in the road, isn't it?

I am just now, with the fresh autumn air blowing through the neighbourhood, starting to feel more like myself, which I think is rather nice timing considering I'm just about to start homeschooling two children at once, for the first time. And it's hard to be an enthusiastic teacher from the couch.

Another thing I wanted to say is that queasiness aside, over the past month I did enjoy spending less time on the computer than usual. When I dove in head first to the world of blogging, I kind of went nuts, and started following a whole plethora of other blogs, which I always commented on too, as well as writing my own. It was getting out of hand. I don't want to spend a big chunk of my day sitting in front of this screen, even though it is a fun and educational hobby. There are just so many other things I need and want to do that are more important. So I significantly pared down the number of blogs I follow. Mostly I kept the more small and personal ones, the ones where I feel I know the writers, and stopped with the more popular, more "professional" ones that feel less homey to me.

In the same vein, I also plan to write less often on my blog than I was before--probably once or twice per week only. I'll try to make them good posts though! :)

Another thing I wanted to say is that I'll be hosting a few giveaways of our natural wooden toys here over the next few months...so stay tuned, and you might just be able to score something for your Christmas list. :)

Well, I guess that's about all I had to say today...this post feels naked without a picture so I'll tack on a picture of Owen playing in the sandbox. I woke up early one morning in August, to find that he wasn't in his bed...after searching the house to no avail I found him placidly playing outside in the sandbox. I thought it looked like a nice, relaxing Augusty picture. :)

Comments

[~Andrea~]

Children entertaining themselves...outside..I love that.

Congratulations, and I'm glad to hear your feeling better! I was fortunate enough to never experience any nausea but my body made it up for it with extreme fatigue...followed by grotesque swelling. Ain't pregnancy grand?! Well worth it in the end though. : )

I understand how blogging can sort of 'take over' and I much prefer blogs that are personal and quite honestly that don't post every day, not long posts anyways because I just can't keep up on them. Life and childhood is far too short to spend much time in front of a computer screen.

Be well ~Andrea~

[Kathy in KY]

Hi Laura - congratulations on your upcoming baby's birth. I know what you mean about spending too much time online, and especially reading blogs. I started following so many, so have also pared down on some, and will go thru and pare down some more. I'm sorry you felt like your August was a bust, but in the long run, you'll have such joy with your new arrival. I'm making my move to Casey Co at the end of this month, and will be renting a cabin from a Mennonite family, so won't be posting as much, maybe once a week, when I can get to the library and wireless Internet - the cabin has no electricity or indoor plumbing, just water to the kitchen. Cooking and heating will be done with a wood cookstove. I'm very excited, and will be blogging about my adventures. I'm glad to hear you are feeling better. Take care, and it's good to see you back, my friend, from KY.

[Homesteadgirl]

Yay!! As long as there have been women announcing pregnancies, from the hairiest cave woman to modern mamas, there have been other women saying: YAY!! Always good news, even when it's unexpected! (I secretly dream of having an unexpected fourth!). I hear you on all counts, esp. re. how addictive blogging can be. I feel like I've got a bit more balance with 2-3 posts per week. I'm having a giveaway too...make sure to enter every day (you can because you're a follower!)
Best wishes, and rest as much as you can!

[Homesteadgirl]

PS. Thank you so much for keeping me on your bloglist!

[Carole Johnston]

Goodmorning,I have come via Rhondas blog with your work place featured.First of all congratualions on your baby news ,just lovely.I have just read your blog here and i have not been blogging very long and sometimes go for a couple of weeks without doing one,but i give myself 1 hour of a morning before anyone is up to have a read,do my emails etc leave some comments.I just follow the few that are personal and make homey things,i think you could be on here all day lol.Anyway i just wanted to say hello and how clever you and your family are.Have a lovely time getting to know your machine,I will take a few moments to look at your older blogs. Have a lovely day,Carole.

[Heather H :) :) :)]

Hi...my name is Heather. I live in Oregon and I'm visiting you via Rhonda's blog "Down to Earth".. I really enjoyed looking at the photos of your workspace and learning more about how you are trying to simplify things. I live in an apartment and I"m working on that too :) :) I really love the creative use of space. That's so clever!!! Have a lovely week. Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather :)

[Missus]

Congratulations on your exciting news!

I look forward to reading about more of your adventures this fall.

[Meg]

congratulations - great post

[femmesteader]

Oh Congrats! i'd been waiting for an update and this is just wonderful!

I extend a sincere wish of happiness for you and your growing family, as well as a wish for easy times with this pregnancy.

take care!

Femmesteader.