Knee High by The 4th of July

Our popping corn is plugging right along, and if the forecast is correct the next stretch of sun will really help things along!

Happy 4th!

(sigh)

At first I thought Molly or a raccoon got a little rambunctious out by the garden, then I was leaning toward maybe some stupid kids on their way to school walked through my yard with a mischievous mission...but then it struck me:

high winds + a small greenhouse (made of materials not unlike that of a winged box kite) = one heart sickening moment.

My future veggie garden cartwheeled across my yard at a surprising speed. 3 weeks of careful watering and monitoring heat levels inside were turned on their head. Delicate seedlings were littered all over my front lawn. The raccoon and hoodlums were subconscious wishful thinking...it was all my fault. I had moved my little veggie hothouse this weekend to take advantage of the gorgeous sunbeams and left it out in the open. I salvaged what I could, but I'm not holding out much hope they'll survive their trauma. It's difficult to tell the difference between brussel sprout and broccoli seedlings in the maze of soil and shoots. The sunflowers and corn fared well, but my zucchini seeds were crazy expensive I didn't see any survivors. My hardy cucumbers and pumpkins had just poked through this week so they were still relatively packed in tight, but the spinach and romaine starts were like replanting wet toilet paper in soil.

To make myself feel better I planted all my sunflower survivors in the proper garden, got all my bush beans going and redid my brussel sprouts and broccoli this afternoon. I anchored my tiny classroom-style greenhouse to the fence, and fingers crossed I'll have better luck this time.

** Thank you for the grace you gave me family, and for letting me vent, Jennifer I was in a very bad place this morning and doing better now.

Garden Tootsies

The sunshine kept me out in the garden all afternoon, N loved this little patch of sun heated earth right next to my garlic and would slid down the tarp covered mound and do a little jig before doing it again and again.

Paw Prints

E and Molls at the seaside...apparently 40-some degrees and whipping wind isn't enough to deter bare feet in the surf

The Beauty of A Crocus

These first brave blooms of Spring are a promise of more color and warmth to come. They push through the frozen earth and I breathe a sigh of relief.

Get Your Cookies!

It's that time of year again and E and Kaela were out sporting their cute smiles in the blustery damp weather! Support your local Girl Scout!

How cute are they?!

Excuse Me While I Kiss My Chicken

The winter brings a lot less to worry about in the yard, the veggie garden and fruit trees are resting and in our chicken coop so are the hens. Something most people wouldn't realize is that with the shorter days comes reduced egg production. Chickens need light to lay. The average laying chicken needs approximately 13 hours of daylight to trigger egg production. Often times chicken owners will install an artificial light source to keep those eggs a comin; after all we still have to feed and care for the birds regardless of whether or not their making us breakfast. I didn't get around to that this year, and for 2 strait months my egg bowl on the counter sat empty...no eggs (this is another little known perk about chicken husbandry, freshly lain eggs don't need to be refrigerated. An invisible yet protective membrane is washed away before lining them up in a cartons for sale in stores).

This is a bitter pill to swallow after a plentiful summer of more than 3 dozen eggs a week, I was selling them to neighbors for heaven's sake! A little part of me died each time I had to pay for eggs at the grocery store, I know it's not a handsome fee but to have little egg making machines scratching around in my own backyard and then pay for far less than superior eggs just killed me. Well, the days are getting noticeably longer, and we got our "first" egg this week. When I compare the two it's no contest, my eggs are better. Look at the difference! You couldn't buy an egg that big at QFC!

organic free range egg on the left from a grocey store/organic free range egg on the right from our Marigold

Alone Time

Tho all this snow (that is still falling) makes for hushed and beautiful streets around our neighborhood, I had to get out in it to enjoy them this afternoon, just glancing out the window was not cutting it; going a little stir crazy (and that's a lot coming from a stay-at-home-homeschooling-mom). I had enough of the repeated begging to watch movies, and tattling. Molly and I hit the street headed for the nearest Starbucks. I returned to a sleeping 2-year-old and a serene 7-year-old.

*Thanks Babe, I needed that break.

Snowed In & Out

Molly enjoyed her off leash snowy walk/romp on our quiet deserted street this morning.

Snowy Morning Ride

The first real day with snow in ages!

Season's First Snow

E was at a slumber party last night, so when the boy and I rolled out of bed this morning we had our own little snowy surprise! He looked out the window for a long time, and then decided to pull his parka over his jammies, and chunk on his snow boots for some crunching and digging.

 

...cue the Christmas music.

Caleb & Savannah

Congrats to some really great people! Our clan joined them in their beautiful celebration in Magnolia Park this evening. The weather was beautiful, the view stunning; a lovely time was had by all.

Best wishes, you two.

Lake Chelan 2011

You know the drill. I've taken this camping vacation every year of my life, save 2 or 3 summers. My mom before me and her mom before her; it's tradition. Some of you have joined my family over the mountains, some I hope to come in the future. We were thrilled to have Molly with us this year, and my sister and Laila joined us for a few nights too! The weather was hot and the water cool. Here are the pictures in no particular order (but cannot believe I don't have even one shot of Gram, the one with E jumping rope does not count, so sorry Mom!).

Daddy time

Kids making the pancakes

N loved sweeping

D did all the cooking!

beach boys

water time

float in a boat

float in Papa's boat

reading at the shore

cousins and Papa in the background

dinner at the drive-in

Karlee and Laila

swings

peeking out of the tent in the morning

E learned how to jump rope

bath in a box

baseball

relax

Slidewater's

sea-saw

water boy

fast slide with E

impromptu hairbrush concert

the DJ

balloons with Papa

Fresh local Bing cherries

E and D Go-Karts

N's first Go-Kart