The Inadvertent Farmer

Always take your Camera!

Every time I drive down our road to get the mail and pass this I say to myself.

Ughhh I forgot my camera again...drat!

So when I went for the mail the other day...our mailboxes are down the hill across the creek in case you were wondering.

If you weren't...well hmmm not quite sure what to do about that.

Anyway as I stood by my mailbox, which was full of bills and toy catalogs,  here is what my camera saw...

 
This is an old maple tree with wonderful dark bark and crimson finely toothed leaves.  There was a low hanging fog in the background and this wonderful stark white fence that my elderly neighbor built decades ago, which has white lights along it for Christmas, which I love.  Anyway I went to get the mail and remembered my camera and I love this shot.

So if you learn nothing else here ever...well besides how camel poo is good for cucumbers or how easy it is to roast peppers on the bbq or how the Humane Society can stock your whole farm...besides those very important thing   No you must learn this my dear friends...

Always, always take your camera.

You just never know what you might capture!

 

 

Gizmo the Camel has a Fan Club

Yep...you read the title correctly

It all went like this...

You know everyone comes here to see me.  Just look at your stats...aren't your days with me featured your biggest traffic days?

 I think it is just because you are such an oddity...weird actually..like the sideshow at the circus

Are you saying I'm something like the bearded lady?

Yes, just not as pretty.

 It is because I am so charming and devastatingly handsome that people flock here...if you ask me.

I don't recall asking you, frankly

I think I need a fan club.

A WHAT?

You heard me

Are you serious?

It only seems right that you make a way for all your readers to bypass all the drivel about kids and gardens and that silly goat. Yes they should be able to link to just me...all Gimzo all the time.  We'll call it Gizmo's World...Camel Tales!

Ohhh my!

Yes you need to get on that right away!

Well?

Well what?

What are you waiting for...my fans await!

Ughhhhh.

Gizmo?

Yes?

You see that in my sidebar?

Excellent!  It is my very own button and link to my very own page!

Do you like it?

Yes but...

But what?

I think it ought to be bigger.

Gizmo?

What?

Shut Up!

Friday the 13th Funnies

 

Its Friday the 13th...not a big deal

Superstitions are silly...none of them real

But I woke up this morning my computer was dead...

So I posted this post on the spare one instead.

No pictures has it, no graphics...no fun

No critters, no camel...not even a one!

So I sit here and stare at all this blank space...

Just words with no pictures I'll never embrace!

Its Friday the 13th and the sun's not yet risen

Yet its banished me to this words only prison...

 

So please visit later and do not despair

I'll surely be back with some pictures to share!

I'll give you a hint, he's his own biggest fan.

Taking over this blog is his devious plan!

 

Pear Tree on Fire

When you walk through my bedroom door...

If you can look past the un-made bed...

The socks on the floor...

The kids books strewn about...

You will see this...

I have three Cleveland Pear Trees just outside our sitting room window.

They are the first thing you see if you look out. When most trees have already dropped their leaves these are just starting their show.

Like fire right outside my window!

 

Beautiful tree...but what is that in the corner of her room?

 

Yes that is a surf board in the corner of our room...

I am married to a surfer...one that thinks his surf board is just about the coolest thing to decorate with.  He hauled it all the way back from Kauai, he thinks its awesome there in the corner.

I must say I have to agree...

There is just something about a man that can ride a wave while looking cool doing it.

Me?  Do I surf?  Hahahaha, no way, nadda, not gonna happen.  I take care of critters and kids neither which require risking life and limb on a board surrounded by the ocean while watching for sharks!

My hubby is a cool surfer dude...I'm a hick.  A match made in heaven!

Shaka!

 

Now go and enjoy the last the Autumn's fiery show! 

And remember it isn't just the trees that are on fire this time of year!

 

 

Thank You

 

Thank You

My dad was a veteran of the Korean War...

My Grandpa was a veteran of the World War.

My sister's only child just joined the Marines.

I am proud of my family's contribution to the freedom of this great country and would like to formally thank them and every other service man and woman. Those willing to fight and die so that my children and I can live in peace and unprecedented freedom...you have my utmost gratitude.

For those of you that have gone to war and given so much please accept my thanks and my respect for your service and sacrifice.

A single day is not enough to adequately honor what you have given...

That is why this flag hangs in our family room.

It reminds us every day to remember and pray for our country...

And for those that have served, fought, and died for her.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts...

 
  
 
 Thank You!

Note...our flag had been turned since these pictures, a nice marine pointed out that is was not hanging properly.

 

My glamorous life...

Yesterday I admitted that my life was not let us say...typical.

Today I am going to prove that although it may be slightly unusual it is indeed glamorous!

First there is the fancy schmancy car I drive around here.  Meet my 1972 3/4 ton Chevy pickup truck!  I love this truck...seriously I do.  It can haul gravel and manure like nobody's business.  Today she is hauling brush.  Yes I know, you can hardly stand the excitement of it all...

We enter the pasture through our lovely gate...the one that the camel bent the heck out of by leaning over.  Yes thank you Gizmo!

 
 

Baby Boy and I take the bumpy ride to the bottom of the field where the burn pile is...the one that we keep saying we're going to burn.  We started it 10 years ago.  Right now it is just a very slowly decomposing compost pile.

All the while we are dressed in the newest designer farm-wear...Carharts and muck boots!

As I start unloading brush Baby Boy jumps into the truck in a panic and starts yelling and pointing at something.  Does he see a bear?  Maybe a cougar?

What is is wrong baby?

 

Ohhhh I see.

He is not a fan of Gizmo except from a distance. Notice the little girl hiding behind the tree?  Yep even brave Sweet Girl is a little wary when our 1500 pound pet is near...go figure.

 

"Camel get me"

"No sweetie, he is just hoping we have a treat for him"

"Go way Dizmo...no tweat for you."

"You'll be safe up on the top of the truck."

"Dizmo...me bigger en you...HA HA!"

 

 Hey big guy!

Don't big guy me...where are the treats?

I've got some nice tender leaves and shoots over here for you.

BRUSH...you've brought me brush?  What no apples? No yummy oats?  Just old sticks...hrmmfff!

Come on...you'll love it! 

I don't know...it smells kinda funny.

 

Ok fine you big baby...I'll feed it to you.

Of course you will...you are wrapped around my little finger...so to speak.

Notice to those reading...those are the latest gloves straight from Paris, really they are.  All those with any fashion sense at all wear rubberized teal gloves...really!

This isn't too bad I suppose.

 

I told you that you would like it...you need to trust me.

 

Trust is earned...aren't you the one that entices me with grain and then shaves my neck?

 

Ummmm...well...yes that would be me.

 

You see my point then?

 

I suppose I do...

 

Note to readers...again...check out the shadow in the above picture.  Yes that is me feeding a camel with one hand while taking a picture with the other, now that is glamorous!

 

Meanwhile Baby Boys had decided to come down and join me in the bed of the truck.  He is busy picking leaves off and tossing them over the side for Gizmo..

 

That is nice of you to feed the camel sweetie

 

Me nice to Dizmo.

 

Here Dizmo...you wike weaf?  Yummy weaf. 

 

Mama...Dizmo eat wike this.

 

I love it when he makes camel faces!

 

But wait where is Sweet Girl?

 

Oh yeah...

 

 

She's doing her Laura Ingalls impression!

 

So as our little adventure ends, we pile back into our beloved old truck.  Take the bumpy ride up the hill and through the bent gate.

 

Back to the rest of our glamorous life!

 

Let's see, there's manure to be shoveled, dishes to be done, laundry to be folded, bread to be made...

 

Yep, just call me the Queen of all things sophisticated and edgy!

 

Bye now...all come back, ya hear?

 

(giggle...I always wanted to say that!)

 

 

 

This is my life it is NOT normal

Every person has their own life.

To that person their life seems normal, it fits them...it is comfortable.

There are parts of my life that are not as normal as others...I homeschool, I am a vegan, I have 5 kids 21 year apart, and only one husband through it all!

But these things are normal for me.

But once in a while I will catch glimpses of my life from another perspective, usually through the lens of my camera and I will have to pause and admit that my life is NOT normal at all...

This is not normal for a middle class white girl of Irish descent...

Ever scratched behind a camel's ear? 

Maybe if I was a middle class girl from the middle east...

But Washington State?  I'm thinkin' not...

No my life is not normal at all...its actually kinda weird!

For those of you wondering what in the world I am doing to get these strange shots...come back tomorrow for the whole glamorous affair.

Sorry, I hate it when I'm watching a show and up pops

To be Continued...

But there you have it, my first ever cliff hanger...

A camel cliff hanger to be exact!

 

End of the Line!

End of the line you say.

What line?

I don't see any line!

What are you talking about?

End of the Line.

No I am not quitting...nor have I killed the camel.

Nothing that dramatic.

I have entered a photo contest called 'The end of the line' over at Gardening Gone Wild

And since I'm a gardener and also am a wild and crazy girl it seemed appropriate!

It is wishful thinking that is would be the end of the line for the above weed but alas it has spewed its tiny seeds all over my garden.  I will not admit that it is because I did not stay on top of the weeds this year...nope not gonna fess up to anything!

This one didn't get by me either...

 

Silent Saturday the Lake edition

Two weeks in a row there has been a theme...man you almost think I was organized or something.

Ok, those of you who visit often can now get back in your chairs!

So I'm not organized I just am at the lake, right now...as you are reading this!

We are all getting some much needed family/nature time.

Here are some of the photos I have taken up there...

 

 

 
 

 

 

And of course there is this...

My resident lake monster...

I'll say "hi" to him for you!

 

  Hope you all are having a marvelous weekend!

Kim...the inadvertent farmer

 

Friday Funnies Blueberry Bread

For those of you here for a blueberry bread recipe you may be a little surprised to learn that it is my two year old that created this one!

Ingredients...One small child, one piece of homemade bread, one blueberry breakfast smoothie, and the secret ingredient?

One mama on the computer not paying very close attention to the goings on down the counter from her!

 Step one...take your homemade bread and place it carefully on your plate.

Step two...take your blueberry breakfast smoothie and pour it over your bread.

 Carefully taste...

Add more smoothie...by foot if need be!

Hold your bread up to the light to check for even consistency and  elasticity

Delicately and with great care eat your newly created treat!

Being careful to keep clean and neat...

And of course remember...

Always chew with your mouth closed!

 

Little House on the Prairie the simple joy!

 

Sweet Girl is completely enamored with Laura Ingalls.  We have read all the books...twice...already.  We own the first three seasons of Little House on the Prairie.  She wants to dress like Laura,  play like Laura, we even made corn husk dolls the other day since she was sure that Laura certainly must have had one!  I did draw the line on making head cheese like Laura...putting the vegan thing aside I just say...ick!

Well the other day she decided to do this...

Anyone?  Look familiar?

 

The simple joys of running through the prairie!

Ahhh, I recognize that little girl running down the hill!

Its Laura...but where is sister Mary?  Where is Jack her dog?

There's Jack!

Come on Jack! 

Aka Sugar our new black lab from the Humane Society...pound dogs rock!

Ahhh a perfect reenactment of this...

 

 

The first three seasons of the Little House on the Prairie tv series has been a wonderful thing to share with my family but especially my daughter.  I remember waiting from week to week for it to come on as a young girl.  It is fun to have something so wholesome to share with Sweet Girl...and even more fun to have it on dvd for instant gratification!

Hey...who let him on the set?

Cut!!! 

 

Sanctuary Garden away from the Chaos

 

My life is anything but calm...it is managed chaos if I was to be perfectly honest.

Unmanaged chaos if I was to be brutally honest, but I'm not going to be...at least not today.

And that is ok.  I love the energy having a big family brings. But there are times that it is nice to visit a place of peace and beauty...a sanctuary from the craziness!

Luckily for me it is next door at my mom's.

She has such a lovely garden, full of roses and flowers and garden art.

As opposed to mine that is strictly about food.

No hers is meant to feed the spirit...

Even her bugs are lovely!

And she only has the beneficial kind...what's up with that?

 Maybe its her picket fence...everything is prettier surrounded by pickets!

Wonder if I could keep the camel in with a sweet little picket fence?

While mine is the tall type for eating...her kale is eye candy all the way!

Even her leaves fall more artistically than mine!

So while I could not live without the utilitarian purpose of my garden...

It is nice to have somewhere to go that only beauty is on the menu!

Thanks mom!

 

Now back to my regularly scheduled life...

Country Fair Pony vs Camel

We haven't missed a fair in years here in our small town.

We wander the fairgrounds seeing all the sights and sounds that are a fair.  People talking and laughing, pigs squealing, cows mooing...

Then there is the smells, the distinct aroma of kettle corn, the sweet smell of cotton candy...the pigs, the cows.

The first thing we always do is this...Sweet Girl insists on it!

She adores the ponies.  Each and every year she begs for one of her own.  This time the owner of the ponies overheard...not good!

"Mama, can I have a pony...please, please, please?"

"No, we have enough animals."

"But mama we don't have a pony for me to ride"

"Excuse me ma'am, but I have a few ponies for sale...I could make you a really good deal.  Your daughter looks like a natural up there."

"Did you hear that mama?  He has ponies for sale...can we get one please, please, please?"

I look from the sneaky ponyman to my 6 year old daughter and back.

"No thank you...she already has a camel"

Silence

As we walk away I noticed the ponyman lean over and say something to his ponywife while he points in my direction...

I can imagine what he must be saying

"See that woman?  She won't buy her daughter a pony because she says the kid already has a camel.  Some people will say anything, even lie in front of their kids!"

I gave him a friendly wave as we walked to the chicken barn to find Baby Boy and Hubby...

"Mama?"

"Yes Sweetie"

"When I get bigger and join 4-H can I bring Gizmo to the fair?"

"I don't think they have a camel class in 4-H, sorry"

 

"Mama?"

"Yes"

"Maybe we could trade the camel for a pony."

"You know sweetie...that is certainly something to think about."

 

Go jump in a pile of leaves Child Style

As much as I dislike the fact the summer has left us.  I do admit the leaves are awefully pretty right now...even after they have fallen they beautifully decorate the landscape in their rich colors. 
The kids on the other hand are not so interested in looking at them as...

 Jumping in them!  Children are all about action after all!

 

WhoooHooo!

  

So my little piece of advice for the day is this...
 

Chores will wait, the dishes aren't going anywhere, but the leaves...and the kids,

Will quickly be gone so...

Come on and kick your feet up and enjoy fall! 

(And always remember to bring your camera!)

 

Its Sunday and I've got Nothing

I usually have more to say than I can put in one post...

Today I seem to have a strange and foreign lack of words.

 

Is it because it dreary, gray, wet and cold outside?

Or could it be because...

 

 I can no longer pretend this gray is actually really, really light blond?

 Or that one of my kids dropped out of college?...Again!

 The dishes that aren't doing themselves?...Darn them!

 Maybe because the camel broke the fence?...Again!

The dog ate all the pumpkins on my front porch?

Or that the laundry is multiplying?

The kids are bickering?

 I've gained 5 pounds?

AND

I have a pimple?

 

Hmmmm...could it be any of the above?

Maybe its all of the above...

Or it could be that I just talk too much and have run out of words...

 

Nahhhh...sure its not that!

 

I might run out of words but I never ever run out of photos!

So here is a preview of my pumpkin harvest...

 

 Which I will have a lot to say about next week...what kind, how many, and what I'm using them for...

Well, besides as chew toys for the dog!

 

Silent Saturday The Camel Edition

Here we are again on a Saturday and all is silent here at the farm...well except for the rooster, the kids and the dog!

I usually do a completely random group of photos...but today for your viewing pleasure it is all Gizmo all the time!  Today is the day for all kinds of strange costumes and I figure none stranger than the sight I see every day out my window!

 

 

 

"Moi, je suis belle"

 

Yes Gizmo we know you think you're beautiful!

Tea anyone?

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

I will see you right back here tomorrow...or not...its up to you.

But Gizmo and I would love to see you again!

Kim...the inadvertent farmer

 

Colony Collapse Disorder Good Bye My Little Friends

As a farmer you get used to the rhythm of the natural world.

Animals are born and others die...it is the way of things.

You may be saddened but you know that it is the way it is supposed to be...

This is not something that is remotely in nature's rhythm.

We have lost 7 different colonies to Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD.

Our last hive was lost this fall...

I am actually in tears as I type this.

 

How does one get so attached to honey bees?

Could it be the delicious honey that they share with us each year?

 

Is it their unequaled work ethic?

Maybe it is the indispensable way they pollinate our garden and orchard...

It is probably a combination of all of these things and just the allure of the mighty little insect that is the honey bee.

We have always been so careful to not use pesticides on the farm for fear of harming our tiny friends...

 They have always been surrounded by a buffet of things to feast on, both wild...

And purposely planted.

Yet they have still disappeared...

Leaving us perplexed and saddened.

The honey bee is being lost at a rate faster than they can reproduce...

I shudder to think what that means for the bees...

And for us.

We are more dependent on these little pollinators than most people could possibly realize.

"Perhaps nothing on our list of disappearing America is so dire; plummeting so enormously; and so necessary to the survival of our food supply as the honey bee.  'Colony Collapse Disorder,' or CCD, has swept beekeepers throughout the U.S. and Europe over the past few years, wiping out 50% to 90% of the colonies of many beekeepers -- "

(quote from the top 25 things vanishing in America...the bees were #3 on the list with the family farm being #1, but that is for another post.)

I sure hope we find the cause and the cure soon.

For now our farm and our lives will be a little quieter, a little less productive, all because of the loss of our tiny friends.

Puzzling

I must admit that it is puzzling to me that more people don't do it...

Of course I have heard all the usual reasons...

Socialization, lack of patience, too much responsibility, too much work, and my favorite...

Are you crazy???

But when you get a chance to hang out with your kid,

In the middle of the day...

 In the middle of the week... 

In the great outdoors...

While doing a puzzle together...

All the while discussing the important topics of the world like the lizard you just found and then let go...

Or why there is more moss on the north side of the trees...

Why is it that more don't?

Homeschool?

It can be the perfect fit...that last piece to the puzzle! 

The one that makes your life not perfect but perfect for you and your kids!

 

If you have ever considered homeschooling there are so many books, organizations, web resources, groups that are there to encourage, coach, and help.  I would be more than happy to help too...just email me or leave a comment here if you have any questions.  I would love to be a help and encouragement to anyone considering this wonderful, crazy option called homeschooling!

It is a decision that will lead you on all kinds of wondrous adventures...some will be fun, some will test your patience but all will be worth the trip!

BTW Sweet Girl put her first 'big girl' puzzle together that day up at the lake...she was so proud...and so was I...good job sweetie!

 

Painting Furniture Makes Old look New!

My in laws were bringing a load of furniture up to our house to store until they needed it at their new home in Arizona.

On the way a drawer from one of their dressers flew out of the back of the truck and smashed along the side of the road.

When they arrived they were not going to unload this now misfit dresser with the rest of their things but instead were going to take it to the dump thinking it was now useless.

I of course being the frugal pack-rat that I am asked if I could have it.

After they looked surprised and hubby rolled his eyes they unloaded it for me...

I had a plan!

Yep I was gonna paint it...Sweet Girl was due to be born in a few months and she would need a changing table/dresser for all her cute little girlie things!

I lightly sanded and primed...

I painted the whole thing white and then just had fun!

I stenciled the bottom apron but the rest was all freehand.

I also built a new sliding drawer that was of an open design so all her diapering things would be easily accessible.

Now we use the top drawer for pj's instead of diapers and have removed the changing table cushion.

It now resides happily in her closet with her hats and knickknacks.

Along with her organic baby food sign that was being thrown in the trash at a local grocery (Thanks Brenda!)

So a little paint and a little creativity helped save this old dresser from the fate of being trashed...

Too bad I can't figure out how to keep Sweet Girl from trashing it herself!

Stay tuned next week same time same place for some more fun with paints...girlie style!

 

So have you re-purposed or repainted anything lately?

Not Me Monday the Potty Edition

Warning...this post is not for the weak of stomach, the newly pregnant, or those with a less than strong constitution.

 Potty Adventures with my five kids...

Or what I would never do as a sane, caring, compassionate parent and wife!

Recently I did not forget to put a towel under Baby Boy as he unexpectedly fell asleep on the couch (he still wets in his sleep).  He then of course did not wet all over himself and the couch as though he had just finished off a whole liter of pop!  I tried to blot it up as best I could... but since company was coming over I knew I had no time to launder the cover on that section of the couch so I did not just flip over the damp cushion. Of course I did not spend the whole visit hoping my dear friend would stay on her side of the couch as apposed to the pee pee side.  I did not forget all about it until a few days later when I was searching through the couch for the remote control and lifted up said cushion and wondered what the stench was...I would never ever do such a thing because that would be gross!

I would never leave one of my kids with their father while potty training...because well he is not quite as long suffering as I am when it comes to this particular child rearing topic.  So one day I did not leave my #2 son with his father when he was in the midst of training to use the toilet.  As luck would have it small son did not poop in his underwear.  My husband did not show his usual compassion and take darling son outside and proceed to clean him off with the hose in the middle of the yard...with cold water!  He of course did not warn my small son that every time he pooped in his underwear from then on daddy was going to take him outside and hose him down...this particular son did not ever go in his underwear again...he really didn't!

I of course did not tell my husband that hosing a small child off outside with the hose was not what the books recommend for potty training...you were to be caring and kind and above all not become irritated.  Husband did not proceed to tell me that the books were certainly written by some...and I quote

"Pansy assed intellectuals who obviously have never raised real children...just hypothetical children."

How can one argue with logic like this???

  
 

Then there was the darling daughter that was so sensitive to smells when she was little that she would sit on the toilet while gagging the whole time when she had a bowel movement.  She never had an accident in her pants but there were times that I had to clean vomit off the floor when she was done with 'business'...

My three oldest boys would never stand around the commode and pee together to see how many bubbles they could make...and I would never stand at the door and watch the show chuckling to myself to see such a sight...well because I'm too proper for that and so are my children!

I never do a really cool 'pee-pee dance' when my children make it to the potty in time!

And lastly I would never discuss in a public forum the private trials of my potty training experience with my kids...because it just wouldn't be seemly.

Ahhhhh she didn't just say that!!!!

So now if you never visit me again on Not Me Monday I will completely understand...but I will miss you!

How to Take a Better Picture and Its Not What you Think!

Want to take better pictures?

Love all those beautiful photos you see on other people's blogs?

I have just 4 words for you...

Do this and I personally guarantee lovely photographs.

Are you ready?

Here it is...

 

"Go to the beach!"

It is pretty much impossible to take bad pictures at the beach...

You may get some goofy ones, or some mediocre shots, or even blurry ones but somehow you will still love them...

It is just too lovely there to actually take a bad picture...

No matter how fast the kids run or how hard the wind blows the pictures are always something to make you smile!

I took well over 100 pictures on this day and less than 10 ended up in my recycle bin...much to the horror of my overstuffed hard drive!

Something about the endless sky...

The perfect light that tip toes on the waves...

Footprints in the sand...

The vastness of it all...

I can't think of a more ideal spot for taking really great photos...

Or a better place for making memories!

Besides we all need to kick off our shoes once in a while and run barefoot in the sand!

Note...these photos were taken at Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast, that is haystack rock in the background of the first and last pictures!

Silent Saturday

Good Saturday to everyone that has happened upon my little blog...

If your are new...it isn't usually so quiet around here.

For those friends of mine that visit often...

Enjoy the peace and quiet!!!

 

 
  

And so as not to disappoint his fans

Gizmo our resident camel...

Yes that is a camel drinking from a water hose...no need to adjust your computer! 

 

If you happen to be a gluten for punishment and/or have a hankering for weird camels here is the link to the rest of this sorted story! 

 

Hope everyone is having a marvelous weekend!

See ya tomorrow for more craziness...

Kim...the inadvertent farmer

Oh, I almost forgot...I'm over at Not Dabbling in Normal today with a post about a child's hand.  Yes a child can learn a lot from playing in the dirt and feeding watermelon to a camel!

 

Friday Funnies...A Mother's Heart

When going through my simply insane amount of pictures once in a while one comes along one that simply touches my heart.

It isn't necessarily the best in technical terms.  Maybe the composition isn't perfect, maybe is isn't the most crisp of photos in the bunch.  But there is just something about it that pulls at my heartstrings.

Today this was the picture.

I played with it, making it black and white...while wiping away a tear at the profiles of my #2 and #4 sons together in brotherly love...

I cropped...

 

And even changed the orientation from vertical to horizontal...

All the while bursting with pride a these beautiful beings I had birthed and brought into the world...these lovely boys that had obviously gotten the best of my genes...

Pride goes before a fall...

Or so they say...

Because when I finished fawning over this lovely picture I scrolled down to this...

 

 

 

OK...so obviously he got some of his father's genes!

 

And although this one got my blond hair did not get his crusty nose from my side of the family...

Nope...his dad's side for sure!

Genetically, it is all a big crap shoot!

 

Or as Forrest would say

"Life's a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get."

 

Happy Friday all...have a great weekend!

See ya tomorrow for Silent Saturday where you must endure my strangely random series of photos!

 

Roasted Peppers Playing With My Food Again!

Although my pepper plants are still producing a pepper here and a pepper there.  This was that last big harvest of the season.

And before I put them onto the BBQ to roast I just has to play with them just a little...

Also I decided enter this first photo in the Abundant Harvest Photo Contest over at Gardening Gone Wild.

 

These little yellow guys are called 'Yum Yum Gold' peppers...and they certainly are that.  So very sweet with hardly any innards to clean out.  A perfect out of hand snack!

Not to mention just plain pretty!

When I was done playing around I put them on the grill...

Since I'm a free and easy kind of girl I let the red and the yellow peppers co-habitat while they roasted...

Are you shocked?

No I am not a prude...call me progressive and open minded.

Just don't ask my teenagers...they would deny that strenuously!

For those of you that have never roasted peppers. The object is to blacken the skins all around making them easier to peel and imparting a sweet smokey flavor to the peppers...truly a marvelous was to do peppers!

Ohhhh the smell coming from that BBQ...I don't think a steak in the world can match it!

 I had to do a grill full of just the little yellow ones...the ones too shy and self conscious about their small size to co-mingle with the big lusty red ones.

I am in no way projecting here...

As each batch was done I threw them in a large bowl...

 

And covered them to let them sweat a little...like a sauna for peppers!

After they had cooled I easily peeled them, took out the innards and seeds and cut them into strips.

I would love to say that I ate none of these and left them all for the freezer and that night's pizza...but I must be honest...I ate some...

Ok...I ate a LOT.

They were just too good and frankly I didn't try very hard to resist!

In the deep dark months of winter when I am out of roasted peppers I will regret my lack of self control but for now I am enjoying these with no guilt...well very little!

Getting them ready for the freezer is as easy as taking the amount I would use on a pizza and putting it onto some waxed paper.

Folding the paper into little packets and...

Putting them into freezer containers...one for red, one for yellow.  That way if I want a yellow pizza I don't have to go searching through all the packets cause all the yellows are altogether already.  Color coding for the freezer.  Yes I am that girl...that highly organized color coded girl.

For those that know me in the 'real' world you can get up now...rolling on the ground laughing is just not dignified!

And I am all about being dignified after all.

Now stop that...seriously...you're making a scene!

Ughhh, some people...

 

The Great Grape Harvest!

Hey Everyone...Look what I've just picked! 

Yep...Grapes!

Mama had great plans for grape juice...

But we had other plans...

We're pretty sure none of these are gonna make it all the way to juice or jelly or even raisins!

 

Nope...the only place these are gonna go is in our mouths!

 

 

Hey mama...we think you might want to plant some more grapes!

 
 
 

Yummmmm!