Deck the Halls...

Ok, I know it is only October 6, but I am dying for Christmas. Mom said I am nesting, preparing for Baby Cannon. I went to Hobby Lobby after looking at and finding a stocing pattern I liked and bought 3 different kinds of material to make our stockings! I also got some Christmas lights and ornament hooks for our tree. I know it's early, but I talked myself into it, since I will have a baby soon and may not be out at stores anytime soon. And, since I was in Paxton, I found my Christmas music and brought it home.....too much??

Belly Flop

As of this Sunday, I have only 4 weeks until our little baby boy is due. October 24. I have been attending birthing classes at Provena, the hospital we are going to use. I was apprehensive at first, but Will encouraged me to attend the classes and I have truly enjoyed them. A lot of what I have heard I've read, but some of the information is new; and it is always good to hear it firsthand.

Last night Will was able to go with me to class. Instead of the regular nurse who has been teaching, we had a doula come in and show us some yoga positions that are helpful before and during birth for relaxation and assistance with contractions. Our class is fairly large; about 14 couples. But, we sat in a circle and all the ladies got in the floor, bellys and all. We did "cat and cow", "inverted downward dog", "tailor sitting." It was interesting. The odd part was, I had mentioned to Will earlier in the evening that I was a bit disappointed that of all the nights I had a backache on "doula night." In the end, whether the techniques helped in that limited amount of time or Mr. Baby Cannon moved, my back quit hurting and hasn't hurt all day!

Will was so cooperative and helpful. We both listened and took notes regarding the different positions. We like to cut up a bit, but he is taking everything so seriously and wants to help in every way. I am so thankful for such a loving, sweet husband. He'll be a wonderful father. At one point, all the ladies got massages! Will has such a sweet, gentle touch.

Also this week I put my hospital bag together. I didn't pack a whole lot, but I did pack what I need. I am sure a few other things will eventually make their way into the bag. I made a list this morning of all the things to take to the hospital, including the bag. Is now a good time to get nervous?

Harvest: Day 1

Today is the first day of Harvest for the Cannon Family. I cannot believe it is already time to cut down all the beautiful corn. Will and his dad are harvesting in Tuscola today. He has updated me that they have one field done! Yay!

I am in Paxton today, spending the day with my family. Mom made some cute little curtains for me for my guest room. (Annie claims it as her room when she comes to stay with us). I wanted to also make some for the living room, but didn't have enough material. We had a delicious lasagna lunch and brownies for dessert (and pre-lunch). We're going to head up town to the antique store and grocery store. We may stop at the cemetery- they have bittersweet and I would love to make a wreath for my house!

The rest of this week includes...cleaning! I am having an open house for the ladies I used to work with. They are coming Saturday at 2 o'clock. I hope to have an enjoyable tour (complete with chickens) and some lovely refreshments. My, but it is good to have friends to entertain.

A Story of a Table

I haven't posted any pictures of our new home yet. I tend to like old things, as you'll see from this photographs. From the time I was 18, I began my "hope chest" with things I would use in my future marriage. Ten years later, my hope chest had turned into a hope closet, basement, and several Rubbermaid tubs. It's sure hard to pass up lovely items at antique and home stores. It took a while to decide what I want to do with some of the things- how to decorate. But, as I have lived in our home, a few things have moved around and other pieces have 'emerged' from hiding.
My table came all the way from Tennessee. I bought it back in 2003 (I think it was probably from the 40s or 50s) and it made a trip to Missouri on top of our old suburban (Beverly Hillbillies?). From there, it traveled to Paxton and remained under the basement stairs until this past February where it came home to Tuscola. On the move from St. Louis, it lost two legs...somehow. Thankfully, we have a very talented friend who made 2 identical legs to match the old ones.
The shelves were just put up on Saturday. They are made from Hobby Lobby brackets and oold wood from Will's Grandpa's corn crib. (a lot more of that wood was used in our chicken coop) Will hung these lovely shelves up for me- we had to find studs because both the wood and brackets are extra heavy. I have been looking forward to hanging them since we moved in! They are filled with the kind of decorations I love.

And, lastly in the photos is my 'recipe book box.' I found it at an antique store in town. It was an old fruit (orange?) box. Hanging next to the box is my collection of aprons-old, new, handmade, store bought. And, on top of the box are my coffee perculator and a sweet baby chick with eggs that my dear friend, Katie, gave me...before I ever even had a chicken fettish!

I enjoy my home and the things that surround m,e. They usually have a story to tell and I'll be the first to tell it. If walls could talk...

For the love of...Christmas?

Yesterday I made, for the first time, grape jam. Will's Aunt Beth has some very old grape vines and this year they produced a lot of lovely grapes! I went on Monday and picked with her. And, on Tuesday, I ventured into an unknown world of grapes: shelling, de-seeding, pulp, etc. I haven't tasted the finshed product yet (chicken?), but the jars are beautiful- a lovely reddish purple color.

I have made 4 types of jam this summer to give as Christmas gifts. And, I must say, this was my first attempt at it! Here are a few pictures of my finished products. Peach, triple berry, and grape jams. I also made Apple Butter Jam, but it isn't pictured.

Chicken Business

Good morning, or should I say afternoon. It is a beautiful late summer day outside. Dottie (our escape chicken) and her cohort, Dottie, have not ventured out into the yard yet this morning. I found out yesterday that they have figured out how to get back into the chicken pen once they are out- a new feat.

We have 5 "Dotties"- they are all Barred Plymouth Rocks and I cannot tell them apart. There are also 5 Rhode Island Reds, which I loving refer to as "Red"...all 5 of them. Sly, our rooster, is a BPR as well. He has begun crowing all the time now- either warning sneaky hawks to stay away, or competing for loudest rooster with our neighbor. Shirley is the only BlackSex-Link we have. She was actually the runt, but turned out the perfect size and can definately hold her own, even with Sly. Dolly and Molly are our mystery hens. We are still not sure what breed they are, but they're a beautiful orange color. Henrietta and Hazel are 2 of our Buff Orpingtons- there are 3 more, but without names. And, we have 5 Light Brahmas with feathered feet. I haven't named them either.

Will enjoys feeding our "babies" fresh produce from the garden. Yesterday they got a pumpkin that had cooked too long in the sun. They finished it for breakfast.

What a joy it is to see such a flock of different colors and personalities strutting around the pen, making their 'henny' noises....or crowing, as the case may be.

Let's Start at the Very Beginning...

...a very good place to start. (How many of you are singing now?) What a whirlwind of a year it has been. I guess I should begin by saying, Will and I are married! Our wedding was held at Westminster Presbyterian, PCA in Paxton, IL on January 29th, 2011. It was a lovely 40 degreesF outside. The ceremony and reception were beautiful. I felt like a princess in my dress (complete with blue, heeled Mary Janes). Our honeymoon was a Southern tour. We touched 9 states in 8 days, but didn't stop in all of them. On Friday, Will had planned a surprise for me: he took me to the Grande Ole Opry in Nashville! I had always wanted to go, but hadn't ever been able to. We left on our honeymoon right before the blizzard hit!

Mr. William Cannon and I live in Tuscola, IL- central. We have 1 acre, which is the perfect size, but our yard backs up to his uncle's farm- pastures full of cows! I have truly enjoyed being a farmer's wife thus far. Canning, freezing, haning laundry out on the line, baking, I even made homemade noodles! We have 24 beautiful chickens- 1 rooster and 23 hens. They are a variety of colors (and personalities). We're hoping for eggs in a month or so. It'll be wonderful to be able to share such farm fresh treasures with friends and family!

Well, that catches you up...almost. I am 32 weeks pregnant! We are expecting our little Baby Boy Cannon on October 24. I am sure he will be a sweet mess. According to Will, we are going to have beautiful, model-worthy children! I know he will be right if they all look like him. We're both excited, and nervous. He will be the first nephew, grandchild and great-grandchild on both sides of the family. Spoiled??

I hope to keep updates on here more often (at least once a week). Thanks for reading!