A Very Useful Thing

Ben, Danika and her mom hand made 15 or so of these white vases for each of the tables at their reception. They were filled with gorgeous flower arrangements done by both mother's, and stamped with the date of their celebration.  They sent a handful of these home with friends and family and I was lucky enough to snag one after the festivities.  I carefully packed it away in our suitcase and immediately knew I could put it to use!  Hooray!

Summer School

Although not in an official summer program, schooling around our house does not cease! I don't force E to sit down for very long, just a few worksheets and a book a day; and it's the first thing she wants to do each morning, she's eating it up! Here is the first page in her workbook that she completed back in June, so cute:

One Potato, Two Potato, Three Potato...Twenty-Six

If you've ever grown potato's before, you know what I mean when I say 'it's so exciting'!  You guys, this by far is my favorite thing to grow in the garden!  All the other stuff has been great, really.  But because these little miracles are slowly growing underground, it was such a crazy surprise to unearth those beautiful yellow orbs this evening!  I had no idea.  A few of my plants were starting to yellow, and were getting really droopy, so I thought I would just grab my spade and see what was transpiring below the surface.  The very first tater I unearthed summoned a simultaneous squeal from both E and and me! It was as big as her fist and so clean and, well, amazing!  We dug up 1/3 of my plants in all and E insisted on gathering up all 26 Yukon Golds into the skirt of her dress (quite an awkward looking load) and N of course was waiting near by to taste test (more dirt in the mouth of course than potato...).

Next year you can definitely expect to whiteness me digging up even more of my lawn in the name of food!  I will easily double the amount of potato's we put in, I cannot believe we lived here for 4 1/2 years with me just mowing over that plot of land.   Without too much effort (ripping out grass aside) here I am putting food on the table, and into the bellies of my children.

I grew that!

Broccoli Flowers

Our garden is still in full "let-me-grow-you-some-broccoli" mode, and we've had at least 3 supper's with the super-green veggie as a side!  Occasionally though, I'm too late on the draw and a few heads go to flower.  I clip these and give them to the chickens who love, broccoli as much as we do, but this evening N got a hold of a stalk and began waving it like a flag and bursting into fits of laughter while occasionally bringing it to his mouth as little ones often do.  It was very sweet, and a good reminder that I'll have to watch him very closely as he becomes more autonomously mobile; poison lurks in a few corners of our yard...

Non-Toxic Garden Play

Popcicle

Sticky yes, but so sweet.

Coffee, Cold.

Summertime means finding more ways to enjoy my coffee.  I generally enjoy my morning cup hot, and my late afternoon beverage on ice, but today I tried my caffeine frozen.

Delightful.

Ramona

E and I are slowly making our way through Beverly Cleary's long lived and loved Ramona Quimby series.  We just finished up the 2nd book, Ramona the Pest from the library.  I love, love, love the illustrator of the particular copy we checked out; Louis Darling.  The penned illustrations are done so beautifully, he captures the feeling of those stories so well.

Madison & Milwaukee

We just got home from a whirlwind trip to Wisconsin for our friend's Ben and Danika's marriage celebration.  We were thrilled to be a part of the festivities, and spend time with our dear friends, who we love and miss so much.  They were full days of travel for our family, but the kids were great and took everything in stride.  N loved all the airplane talk and seeing the real things up close.  E had the time of her life with her new good friend Grace, and of course Oliver (Ben's son).  The weather was hot and the humidity so thick you could cut it with a knife.  E was practically eaten alive by mosquito's but so enjoyed the awesome public pool, and dressing up in her new fancy dress and sparkly flip-flops for the elegant occasion at the Milwaukee Art Museum.