Last Updated on June 20, 2024 by Michelle
Fall ushers in deliciousness. And fall always reminds me of a classic children’s book every homesteader needs to read to every child in their life.
Heirloom pumpkin treasures draped over our garden fence mean homemade pumpkin bread in a few weeks. (See this post for my family’s favorite pumpkin bread recipe.)
Just-picked apples are a downpayment on fresh apple cider. (I share my recipe for Amazing Apple Cider, made in a slow cooker, right here.)
Marked maple trees on our New England farm promise yummy possibilities of winter syrup. (My posts about maple syrup are itemized here.)
This post breaks down all the steps you’ll need to know if you’re ever interested in making backyard maple syrup.
And this article and podcast will inspire you to consider a simple little step toward healthier living–> Should You Consider Swapping Out Sugar for Maple Syrup?
While our apple harvest was tiny this year, due to our bad summer drought, some yummy cider is in the works. I share our cider recipe right here.
So, yes, fall has settled in, in delicious ways, and winter is on her coattails.
But before I start working on the yummy posts that are on my mind and in my kitchen, I wanted to share with you the 10-page printable and complete unit study I just released today on Proverbial Homemaker. I started writing it as soon as Tauna asked if I’d like to share my thoughts on one of my favorite children’s books of all time, one that recalls sweet tastes of summer.
When my teen homesteader was a toddler, I had no inkling that the little one with bouncy blond locks and a deep fascination for Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey, would one day traipse a New England mountainside to fill her own pail with juicy blueberries that she planned to can for winter.
But she does. She and I pick for hours, with no signs of bears, only our content pooches running beside us and nestling in the coolness of the bushes. Back home, we can the deliciousness.
We will enjoy the sweet wild blueberries on a cold winter’s day when the sap is running, the winter wind is whistling, and our memories are crisp. . . Memories of the warm kaplink, kaplank, kaplunk of the blueberries dropping in our pails. . . Memories of the sweet times we curled up and read of Sal’s adventures oh-so-long ago. . . Memories. Delicious every one. Every last kaplink, kaplank, kaplunk. 
Take a second to follow along here on SoulyRested for yummy recipes for every season, as well as a downloadable book about Nature Journaling with children.
And make sure to snag the Blueberries for Sal printables I’ve written for you to enjoy with a child or grandchild as you read the book together. I truly hope you love it.
Many readers often ask what camera I use to take the images you find here on SoulyRested. I love my Nikon; you can read more about my camera on my Resources Page and even purchase your own here.
Glance at my Resource Page if you’d like to get a glimpse of all the supplies I use and recommend for everything from gardening, to homeschooling, to chicken care, to nature journaling, to maple syrup making.
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om this momma who’s been failing at the effort for almost 2 decades, or enjoy the inside scoop on the secrets other legit homesteaders might not tell you.
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I’d forgotten about Blueberries For Sal…it was a favorite here too! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks for stopping in, Deborah!
This was one of our family’s favorite books, and I have a soft spot in my heart for it. Thank you for the memories.
Aw, you’re welcome Kathi. It pulls on my heart strings as well. Thanks for sharing.
What a beautifully written post. The photos are fantastic. I love this book and am so happy to see it being used again. Sharing and pinning for later!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post–and the resources–Terri. Blueberries for Sal is one of the all-time best. 🙂
Did you know there is a sort of follow up book when Sal loses her first tooth? It’s called One Morning in Maine, and we love that one too.
Yes!! Love that one too! In fact, Kayla had a One Morning In Maine-themed 3-year-old birthday party. 🙂