It's Fall - or is it?

So we kicked off November with a fun little virus rolling through the family... luckily it was short lived so we all survived with some lysol and rest!

Father Philip Bempong arrived directly from Ghana, Africa and quickly shifted into "Iowa-mode" It was SO cold and we even got some snow...

The struggle with this was for the farmers. Because of the extreme wet weather there were SO many crops still in the field. There was even a break to be had when we got some snow...it wasn't a lot, and didn't last very long, but we had a chance to do some sledding! The puppies got their first playtime in the snow too!

As you can see in the background of this picture above...we are adding onto the farm yet again! In hopes of extending our growing season for the Farmers' Market we have built a greenhouse! It's basically done now, a little more insulating under the windows, and then closing off the soffits, a little trim and TA-DA!!! I'm SO excited to start plants out there & hopefully I'll get a few things growing in big tubs that will produce early in the season! I'm also hoping to have starter plants to sell for others. Prayers this is a successful money-pit would be greatly appreciated!!!

Following our brief winter, it warmed back up and thoughts of the snow faded away! Our November is full of birthdays...3rd, 10th, 17th, and 28th...plus Mom & Dad in-law's anniversary on the 7th! This totally blew my "no-spend-money-November" - Breadoux Pizza in Corning for one birthday and then a week later 3 C's Diner (also in Corning!) Both places were fabulous food! We got lucky at both places arriving just before they filled up. 3 C's was extra fun because one of my friends from a prior job was cooking and came out to say hi!

Thanksgiving is also smushed into this crazy busy month. As always my mama hosts and has a fabulous meal for us! This year she added a craft for the kids :) We had a turkey train! The kids loved it. We talked about what they were thankful for and how important it is to be thankful for the people around us, not just the things we have. We are so very blessed for our friends and family. We know that our village is always here and they show us time and time again! Thank you all SO much for everything you do for us. Even if all you do is pray, those prayers are heard by our Lord and He answers them in his way and his time.

November led us to a dry, warm December. This was good for the farmers to get crops out and there isn't anything different going on here than with the warmth we've been able to make even more progress on the farm projects! We've (well, the hubby has) been insulating the shop wall by wall! The big door is done, the south and west walls are done, with maybe a third of the north wall done too!

But enough of me! So...Something else happened in November/Maybe the 1st of December - the days run together...I can't really be sure...but the Greenfield Home Store opened in the former Shopko building! I am SO excited for Gina and the crew...the store is amazing! She tells me there is more to come, but seriously - if you haven't visited please stop in!

Do you need a little God in your life or the life of someone you know? Do you need a card for a special occasion? Do you need a nice toy? They have SO many choices! Another retailer in town with the Melissa & Doug toys (also found at J's Variety on the square) This nice selection of books...Hallmark products... All good things! All good things! Mattresses and appliances were being set up the day I was in, but I'll be back in after the 1st of the year! I'm going to try to talk Gina into having a Catholic Gift section! Wouldn't it be amazing if we could pop in for a gift for a baptism, wedding, or 1st Communion...maybe even birthdays or anniversaries! If you've ever been to Divine Treasures off Hickman and Merle Hay intersection you'd understand! I could spend days or hours in that store and spend WAY more money than I have! LOL

Throwing back to Thanksgiving - I thought I would share a little treat that is easy and fun to make. The options are endless - the packaging takes a little more work and the carrying should always happen by older children or adults, the final product is a little fragile and didn't survive the transport on this go around.

Easy to make - and we adjusted from our friends The Herrick's at their blog "The Gingham Apron" My kids love candy corn and the pumpkins are their favorite, so they used the bag from the pantry. Technically, the bottoms are the yellow oreos, these are Dollar General or Fareway brand. I didn't have luck with the frosting staying so we supplemented with Betty Crocker white frosting. The kids added their own decor; bugles for the cornucopia, Reeces Pieces, and the candy corns. Then we left them to dry. We put them into a Tupperware and stored them until it was time to go!

We started preparing for Christmas after this! It'll be a new post - maybe tomorrow...maybe in a few days...just depends how break goes :)