Garden

I couldn't hardly wait to see what my garden was up to when we come home today from a week of being away.  After spending 3 1/2 hours in the car I was eager to get outside and my hands in the dirt when we pulled in the driveway just after noon.  I wasn't blown away by the progress, but happily surprised to see another round of sweet peas growing, a few red cherry tomato's and 3 green beans!  I don't know what you do with just 3 beans, but hopefully more will come in the next week or so! 

The 3rd time's not so charming.

D went swimming with his phone in his back pocket...again.

Take a Walk in My Shoes

In Lake Chelan N took these first real steps! He's been so apprehensive, but he's now taking the bull by the horns and diving head first into each attempt...and we have the war wounds to prove it. E was so excited with this first pass between the hearth and coffee table...cannot believe I got it on tape!

Vacationing Quote

"I like vacationing better than homing."
-E

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