after a short break south, we are back north and enjoying fall on the farm...

It was great to get away to Tennessee and North Carolina (this is where most of the recent photos of nature were taken)these last few days! Did we see any of you?

But the farm is calling and we are back home to the crisp and cool days! We hit the ground running with a wonderful family staying at the cottage for a few days and a farm luncheon for 12 of homemade MVF food!

Fires going in 2 wood stoves now to keep the farm house warm! Can you see the smoke rising from our chimney below? On any day when you drive by the farm you could see up to 4 chimneys going! 1 wood stove, 1 wash haus kettle for laundry and baths, 1 wood cook stove and 1 chimney in the shop... Oh, don't forget the Maple Cottage as well! So that is 5 chimneys! Fall wouldn't be the same without fresh local cider
and homemade donuts!
It becomes a family affair to make these wonderful, melt in your mouth goodies!

What is one of your favorite family fall traditions? Do tell! We are glad to be back and missed you here!

Hello Ada...

We were heading back north today and were stopped by your husband Bill! A blog reader. It was a pleasure to meet you! Come visit the farm with the family soon! "It's a small world after all"!
Sent from Our Off Grid Farm

this water fall with a sweet pea

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this sky in the Smokies...

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this scary thing

Any idea of a name on this? I didn't want to ask her name...
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this view

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this flower

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this green

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these smokies

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this creepy craw fish

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this green stuff

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this beautiful fungus!

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this Limber Lost girl and her assistant...

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this cabin

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this nature

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this beauty

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this fall

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this family

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this boy

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this little hand

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this man...

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Reflecting...
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this love

We are reeling in a very good way from my recent post on "seizing these "last days" of kinner growing up...
Sent from Our Off Grid Farm

my moment of the week... where time really stood still...

momma and babe...

we have been having a great time walkin' these acres and being in God's beautiful creation...

I have been so restless for many evenings... I just must seize these "last" days... I wake up and walk about thinking the days are just flying way to fast...
we truly know these days of raising children are the best days of our life...

many whom have gone before me always tell me, "These are your best years"...

I am enjoying and cherishing each and every one, even with its many ups and downs...

if we truly could stop time, if only...

what shall I do as these days are quickly unraveling through my fingers before my very eyes... STOP I say!!!

it actually grieves me that they are growing up...

I will always remember these smells, these tiny but chubby hands with caterpillars and frogs...

these are truly the best days of the Gentle Giant and I's life and we

are so very thankful

we continue to find our freedom from things that weigh us down...

Oh God! I thank you from the bottom of my soul for the opportunity for these precious gifts!

it is so true that the best things in life are what are free...

From the West Michigan Tourist Association and Maple Valley Farms

"Congratulations to Harvest Moon from New York for winning the Maple Valley Off-Grid overnight stay" from Maple Valley Farms and the West Michigan Tourist Association!

and our winner from here is...

drum roll...

OK, we do have drums even though we live off-grid...

bigger drum roll.............

our winner will receive from us:

The Economy Package: A double occupancy package. One evening Monday - Friday check in to your private Maple Cottage at 4 p.m. At 8:30 a.m. a hot tea and coffee caddy will be brought to your dining room at the cottage with a piping pot of hot steel cut oats, milk and maple syrup from Maple Valley Farms. All linens are provided with your stay as well. A $95~ value! FREE!!! Some restrictions apply but don't worry, there are not too many!

OUR WINNER OF THE MVOGF ECONOMY PACKAGE IS...

MOLLY LANG!!!!

"pick me! pick me! I'm so inspired by all you do and love to get your posts and pictures on facebook. Keep up the great work!!!" -Molly Lang

Congratulations Molly! Please email me at angela@maplevalleyfarms.net for all the great details!

and to everyone else, thank you for playing along!

More on this Fall nature hike coming up and

An announcement of our giveaway soon!
Sent from Our Off Grid Farm

So many choices!

Which ones do we wear for a fall foraging walk?
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Any of you ladies

Heading to Mackinaw Island for Winsome Women? I will be there and would love to meet you!

HomemakerAng
Sent from Our Off Grid Farm

Happy Birthday to my precious Momma!

If there is some good that must come out of a family funeral, it is the joy of meeting cousins for the first time you have never known... Homemakerang (left)with some cousins that only live about 20 miles from us and we just met!
My dear Momma and I had the joy of riding together in a car for over 5 hours of uninterrupted me and Momma time! I will cherish this day forever Mom and I love you so much! (Homemakerang far left and Momma next to me) Happy Birthday!

a FREE giveaway to Maple Valley off-grid Farm!

There is a delightful write up about Maple Valley off-grid Farm by the West Michigan Tourist Association here and a

drum roll....

FREE GIVEAWAY to stay at the Maple Cottage!

Go and check it out!

Follow their directions to win the get-away

and

***We are giving away a secret Maple Valley off-grid Farm prize right here as well!

To enter our drawing leave your comment below and we will draw your name on Friday morning when we announce the other free giveaway! (Must be in continental USA please, sorry, I know there are a lot of overseas readers and we LOVE you too!) Be sure to check back on Friday to see if you are a winner!

It is our 2-year anniversary as well. Would you be so kind to sign up to be a follower as well of our blog if you have not done so already... We appreciate each and every reader!

xoxox

Homemakerang

Someone has a birthday today!

Sent from Our Off Grid Farm

2 sweet peas

Fall on the farm...
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Let's get this party started!!! We are all down at the Maple Cottage celebrating tonight!!! Yeehaw!!
Sent from Our Off Grid Farm

more fall photos of Maple Valley off-grid Farm

Here is a "secret" cemetery near our farm... See the barn and silos in the background? That's us, MVOGF! Pretty neat... I love going to cemeteries and reading the tomb stones and imagining what life these people lived... How did their life unfold... What was their story? I can't get enough of these colours on the farm! a walk in the wood...

a visitor on the outside of the Maple Cottage...

The farmhouse dining room table

Comet and Mabel the farm dog and coyote spotter!

wild rose hips all over this farm! I always use them in my winter arrangements!

the Maple Cottage entrance... With fresh hydrangeas drying...

What is your story?