The Inadvertent Farmer

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.

 

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!

 

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!

 

Only a Real Man...

Only a man completely comfortable with his masculinity would wear this...

 

In public, while coaching...

Yep, my man is a real man!

 

It also helps that he has fathered 4 sons and this is his only daughter whom he would do anything for, including wearing pink while coaching a bunch of other 6 year old girls...

 

Which by the way he says is just like herding cats!

I have never herded cats myself but if it is half as hard as herding camels then...

No thank you honey...you can do the coaching!

 

They are too busy giggling, hugging, grinning and talking to really care much about the game.  They run the wrong direction...kick it into the wrong goal.

And just don't care...not a speck...not an smidge...nope they are there to socialize, the game is just a means to that end.

Oh the difference between our boys and our lone girl is simply shocking.

When the boys lost it ruined their whole day...they fussed and pouted and carried on.  Sweet Girl doesn't even know the score at the end of the game...and never thinks to ask.  She just wants to know if one of her little friends can come home with us!

I asked her once what she liked about scoring a goal...her reply

"My friends do a cheer for me and give me hugs"

Ohhh my dear sweet hubby...his inner competitor must be withering away.

His masculine drive for his team to be the best, to have the single minded purpose of domination of the soccer league has been stamped out by a bunch of little girls in pink shirts.

 

One little girl in particular...the one who doesn't care if her foot connects with the ball or not!

Nope...she's just there to have fun!

Me?  Well I find the whole thing completely amusing...

You go girls!!!

 

And honey, thanks being such a super coach...you rock!

 

Beside you look great in pink!!!

giggle...

The King is Sick Now...

 

The Queen is Delusional...

The Queen has the Flu

This is My Reality...

Today I'm a tad droopy...

Missing a few petals...

Some minor holes in my leaves.

Yesterday I had a skin graft in my mouth.  Thanks to a cruel twist of fate I have fabulous teeth and crappy gums...

No matter how much care I give them, no matter how tenderly I treat them...they are receding.  Leaving the roots of my otherwise healthy teeth exposed to the big bad world.

So In order to cover the roots my dentist must take flesh from other places in my mouth and carefully stitch it over the receding gum line.

After three natural births and two c-sections this is not what I consider major...just annoying.  Mostly because it hinders my ability to eat anything crunch, salty, spicy, or hot.  Hmmmm applesauce anyone?

There you have it...

So while the kids are their usual bright, colorful, perky and slightly thorny selves...

 

I am slightly droopy...and hungry.

That is my reality for the day. 

 

Note: When I started this blog I never could have imagined that I would use sunflowers and roses in the same post as skin grafts...ahhh you never know where blogging will take you!

Tea Party Crashers

Do you know what is so good about having a little girl?

Tea Parties!!!

After 3 boys and lego wars, and fort building, race tracks and all things with wheels it is fun to see what a little girl loves to do...

She still likes legos and forts but she also spends time on the floor with her friends sipping tea...

Meet Katy and Cassie...they are sisters that live in the country and grow flowers.  They especially love catnip.  Peppermint tea is their very favorite...

 

Bubbles, Fifi, and Callie join the fun.  Bubbles if from Los Vegas where she is a regular in long running show on the strip.  Fifi is from the big city of New York where she spends her days getting her nails done and walking around town with glamorous human.  Callie is a farm cat who is visiting from the Dakotas...Green tea with lemon and honey is their choice.

 

Meet Laura...Sweet Girl's special friend.  Laura is from the prairie where she lives in a little house with her ma and pa and three sisters.  She is drinking pear tea with a spoonful of white sugar...she doesn't get white sugar very often at home.

 

Finally there is Mary...she is the girl that all of us know.  She has brighter eyes, clearer skin, prettier hair, and more fashionable clothes.  She is a bright and shining star...and we do our best to like her anyway.

 

She has declined any cookies but is having some white peach tea with lemon.

 

 The party is going perfectly with Laura and Mary hitting it off splendidly...we attribute this to Laura's down to earth country charms...even a spoiled girl like Mary cannot resist such sweetness.

All the girls are giggling and and sipping tea when...

Who should saunter in but the ruffians from Baby Boy's room next door.  Who invited these characters?

 

Lance is the leader of this gang of delinquents...he tries to hide his tender heart behind that sneer.

 

  Rufus talks a big game...but he actually as dumb as a post.  He also has no manners and slurps his tea and gets crumbs on the floor.

 

OK...hold it one cotton pickin' minute.

Who invited the camel?

Mary was that you?  There are no camel allowed in the house...ever.

 

Why is it that girls always like the tall boys?

 

In spite of the party crashers a good time was had by all...

Laura enjoyed her time so much that she has decided to leave her little house on the prairie and move in here with the camel...

Ohhh the scandal...

 

By The Way...

Yesterday I did three oven loads of roasted tomatoes with garlic...

A HUGE batch of whole wheat bread...

Made chilled pumpkin soup with my own pumpkins...

Roasted the pumpkin seeds with Tamari Sauce...

Made my sweet hubby some sticky buns with raisins...

Cleaned up the kitchen after it all...

And lived to tell about it!

 

Know what I'm doing today and tomorrow???

I'm playing by the water wiggling my feet in the sand...

See you all on Friday!

 

Try not to miss me too much...

Because You Asked...

Favorite Word(s)…Bedtime, Bubble Bath, Book...in that exact order!

Least favorite word…No (I have a 2 year old and it is said in a defiant manner... "Nooooo" usually followed by "WAY"

Turn on…"Hey honey the kids are at grandma’s, wanna get lucky?”

Turn off…"Shhh…the kids might hear us!”

Sound I love…silence, if I can remember what it sounds like!

Sound I hate…silence, it makes me paranoid about what they are up to!

Favorite Curse word…I don’t curse, I figure it shows a lack of imagination and/or self control. It is one of my pet peeves. That and 25 items in the express lane.  I do say 'crap' once in a while...does that count?  I have 5 kids and a lot of animals, I have a lot of crap in my life, BIG crap, little crap...crap, crap, crap!!! Snort....crackin' myself up here!

Profession I would like to be…architect in a quiet corner office overlooking a lovely park adorned with a sparkling pond, with swans lazily swimming in circles, while young couples in love picnic on plaid blankets in the sun…

This is exactly why I am not an architect, I would spend all day staring out my window and would get nothing done.  Maybe I should be the grounds keeper in some lovely park with a pond, swans and couples making out!

Profession that I wouldn't like to be…preschool teacher, well teacher of any kind actually. What is ironic about this is that I homeschool…I need to ponder this point.

When I get to heaven I want to hear…"Good job all your kiddos made it too...now they can torment your for eternity!" 

Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor?

Susan over at Blue Planet Garden Blog  and Tatiana over at Life in Cowtown asked me for a list of things that you don't know about me already.  So instead of the usual I was answering a set of questions that Katie posed over at her blog Confessions of a Young Married Couple...which by the way is the glimpse into the life of an absolutely charming young couple and their darling baby Bean!

And because I can't leave you without at least one photo...

And this one cracks me up soooo much.

Nothing like a camel looking like something out of one of the Alien movies!

If you are concerned for the safety of Fluffy the goat...here is the link to find out how this all ended!

Life is not Symmetrical...not even close!

sym-me-try. n., 1.correspondence in size, form, and arrangement of parts on opposite sides of a plane, line, or point. 2. a. excellence of proportion. b. beauty characterized by excellence of proportion

Always two socks...but never to the same pair.

The slices of cake are never cut exactly even.

Five kids...four of them boys.

Most day more laughter than tears.

My life is not symmetrical...not remotely close!

 

Could it be that is why I find these little guys so fascinating?

Perfectly symmetrical...

Perfectly even.

 

One side never complaining about the other side having more leaves than the other....because each side has the same...always.

 

No,

This is my life...

 

Beautiful...but not at all that symmetrical.

With a few spots...

And some aphids hiding among the blossoms...

Some slugs in the mulch...

But it is sweet and full...

 And fragrant...

It is the life I have chosen, the one God has blessed me with.

 

So while I will admire the perfect order of one...

I will live out loud in the chaos of the other!

 

Because I do chaos really well!

 

Little Workers...start them young!

One variation of the same conversation I have had many times with my kids...

 

"Mom...you had us so you could have free slave labor didn't you?"

 

"No, because if I didn't have you guys around, the house wouldn't be a wreck, there would be very little laundry and the dishes wouldn't be piled up in the sink.  So although I appreciate the free labor...you are the reason I need it."

 

 

"Whatever..."

 

 

 

If you want good child labor you need to start them young...

 

 

 

Really, really young...

 

Notice big sister supervising...he hates that!

 

 

 

Sweet Girl takes her sink cleaning very seriously...I thought she might polish the chrome off!

 

 

 

 

Baby Boy likes to sprinkle the baking soda...ALL over!

 

 

 

She seriously didn't miss a spot...

 

 

 

Don't fall in Baby!

 

 

 

"Wook...my hand cween"

 

 

 

 

 

"Mell my hand...mmmm good!"

 

STOP...back up...

 

"Sweet Girl, he is two and you have no idea where that hand has been, seriously girl!"

 

 

 

 

"Oh mama its ok, he's my brother and I love him"

 

"I love him too, but you don't catch me smellin' his hands!"

 

 

 

Ever play sink top Twister?

 

 

I thought not...

 

 

Great job guys...thanks!

 

 

In all seriousness people...

 

How do we expect our children to ever grow up to do for themselves if we do everything for them?

 

What happened to children having chores and responsibilities?

 

When my oldest son went off to college all his buddies would come over to his place because he was the only one who knew how to cook or do laundry...what is up with that?

 

We do our children our children a HUGE disservice if we don't teach them to be self-reliant, industrious, and capable.

 

Besides it gives them a great feeling of accomplishment and pride knowing they can help...no matter how much they moan and groan in the process!

 

So yes, I'm all for child labor...it does a wee one good!

 

 

Rant complete...

 

Now go find your kids something productive to do!

 

 

Hmmm, wonder if Sweet Girl is old enough to shovel camel poo???

 

This Conversation Never Happened...

So I will set the scene for you...

Early afternoon, just returned from church.

Sweet Girl is on a stool waiting for lunch.  Baby is in his little chair with a tray that sits up on top of the counter next to Sweet Girl, he is also waiting for lunch to be served.

I am dishing up lunch, pasta salad and homemade bread.

Hubby is milling about the kitchen...I am sure he was doing something useful...I'm just not sure what that is.

The following is a conversation that did not happen...

 

Sweet Girl "Thanks mama...I love pasta salad.  May I have honey on my bread?  May I have a glass of water.  Daddy has salt, can I have some?  Can we have blackberry cobbler for dessert?"

Baby Boy after getting his pasta and bread "Me no want bwed.  Me no wike wawer.  Me want owange jew.  Me want ice in owange jew...pweese mama pweeeeeeeese...

Me "Yes there is blackberry cobbler for dessert but you have to eat your lunch first, I'll get you some honey. Baby we don't have any orange juice but you can have water and you can have ice in it.  You do not have to eat your bread if you don't want to."

Husband after trying pasta salad "The pasta is good honey, it could use a bit more dressing though...do we have any?"

Baby Boy "Me no WIKE wawer.  Mama DORK"

Longsuffering me...who hasn't eaten yet "Well then you don't have to drink water but you are not having anything else.  Please don't eat your salad with your hands, you're making a mess"

Husband "Do we have any butter for the bread?  Orange juice really does sound good, didn't you buy orange juice when you were at the store?  We sure can't seem to keep orange juice around here"

Sweet Girl "Can I have cobbler now? I ate my lunch, well exept the broccoli in the pasta salad but you know I don't like broccoli. Did daddy say we had orange juice? I much rather have that than water, may I have some please?"

Baby Boy "MAMA DORK"

Me starting to get annoyed and very hungry "Eat at least one piece of broccoli and then when everyone's done I'll get out the cobbler and there is NO orange juice...Did he just call me a dork?"

Baby Boy quite loudly "MAMA DORK!!!"

Conversation in my head...He just called me a dork, my sweet angelic baby called his mother a dork.  This is all my teenagers' faults.  What are they teaching him? People who have two sets of kids are crazy.  I am crazy...and my two year old just called me a dork.

Me nose to nose with Baby Boy "Young man you are never under any circumstance to call your mother a dork.  I am the one that gave birth to you and therefore I deserve some respect. You need to apologize to your mama, you hurt my feeling."

Baby Boy looks shocked, twists up his little face and starts to sob...

I look over at Sweet Girl and she has big tears in her eyes too

Me "What are you crying about, I wasn't yelling at you!"

Sweet Girl "But Mama you yelled at the baby!"

Me "Yes I did, you should never call your mama a dork, not even when you are two"

Sweet Girl "But mama, he didn't!"

Me "Yes missy he did, I heard him as plain as day say dork...and don't argue with me"

Sweet Girl growing annoyed with me..."He didn't say DORK, he said he wanted a FORK... he doesn't have anything to eat with!"

Pause...I look over at the Baby's tray...no fork...no way to eat his pasta.

Baby Boy sniffling and refusing to look at me.

Conversation in my head...you are a bad mama, a bad, baaaaad mama.  You made your baby cry, you hurt his feeling...he doesn't really think you're a dork, the teenagers do but the baby doesn't....not yet anyway, just wait, he will...

Me hugging Baby Boy..."I am sooooo sorry baby, mama will get you a fork, I'm sorry I yelled, don't cry, mama's so so soooo sorry"

Baby Boy "Me sawwy mama too, me wuv you"

Me "I love you too baby and you have nothing to be sorry about, mama's the one that should be sorry"

Baby Boy Sniff..."Dork?"

Me "Yes baby, here's your fork...

 

and I'll run to the store and get you some orange juice too."

 

This is a conversation that never happenend...I am admitting to nothing, and that is my final word on the matter...

Really it is...

Shhhhh, I don't want to talk about it anymore!

Taking pictures from another perspective

Yesterday it was the kids, straight on with me standing up, or part 1.

Note...you can click on any of the pics for a larger version

Today it is just photos of part of the kids, the very bottom part to be exact, part 2. These were taken with me squatting as low as I could go without actually laying in the puddle and getting drenched!

You see I have this thing for...

Bare feet...little kid's bare feet to be exact.

So I wanted a series of shots of the kids' feet.

Left foot, Right foot

Feet, Feet, Feet...How many, many feet we meet. Dr Seuss

 

I like the above photo because one of Sweet Girl's feet is still and in focus, the other is showing so much motion it is blurred, very fun!

 

Love this, up on her toes, ankles straining, with a long reflection.

 

Fat baby feet with little sausage toes...just about my favorite thing in the whole world!

 

Especially when they are obviously having so much fun!!!

 

This shot is from a little further back...I like the bit of dress that shows at the top, again conveying more motion.

 

Its raining its pouring the baby is snoring...and splashing, and laughing, and stomping...

 

This is one of my favorite photos...I love all the action, that both kids are in the shot, and of course all the splashing water! 

 

Here is the finally shot for today, I couldn't resist playing with it just a little...

 

Less color...looking a little dream like.

 

Simply black and white...one of my faves.  I love how black and white makes things look so different, so cool, so hip!

Lastly...

Put through a couple of filters on the computer...just for fun!

If I could encourage you to try one new thing next time you get out your camera it would be to shoot from a completely different perspective...you'll be surprised and pleased with what you get!  This is especially true with kids, get down low.  Shoot from their level, enter their world...your pictures will be delightful, I promise!

Change is Coming.

As my friends and family have been asking, yes, my blood pressure is now back in the normal range after yesterday's little post

We spent yesterday at the lake, nature does a body good I say. While there, hubby and I had a long detailed discussion about the TIME article, the books I have been reading, our health, the world...you know light fluffy stuff like that.

He has agreed that a change is needed...with a few conditions.

First a little background about me and mine.

I have been a full time vegetarian since my first son was born (23 years ago).  Before that I had dabbled in vegetarianism on and off since grade school.

Note:  you may think what kind of parents let their grade schooler decide to become vegetarian? Well we are members of a church that being vegetarian is the norm so it didn't freak my parents out like it would have many parents. 

It began when I came home from school to see my favorite cow, that I fed daily over the neighbor's fence, was hanging upside down from a butcher's truck.  I was hysterical...who could do such a thing?  My dad asked what all the fuss was about, he wanted to know where in the world I thought my hamburger came from.  This was my first realization that the food on my plate was actually from an animal...a living breathing animal.  I was so sad, sad for the cow, and sad that I had eaten his relatives.

Anyway skip forward some years and I have just given birth to my first, I look at this tiny human and want what is the best in the world for him.  I know in my heart that for me feeding him meat will not be an option.  So all of my kids were raised this way.  Unfortunately back then I didn't realize that the veggies I was so lovingly feeding my kids were sprayed with who knows what chemicals.

Yet another Note:  During all this my hubby has not been vegetarian.  I still cooked meat for him all these years.  He eats our vegetarian dishes without complaint.  I cooked him meat once in a while...usually without complaint.

When my second litter came along, vegetarian was a given, but now so was organic.  I had come to read and learn about what our foods are subjected to. What our land and waterways are being subjected to with all of our fertilizers...and don't even get me started on growth hormones and antibiotics!

So here we are today...

I am up in arms over factory farms, manure pollution, genetic manipulation, animal welfare, cancer rates, heart disease, our government, obesity, big business...

All the while my sweet ever patient husband realizes that is is not in my personality to learn of these things and not to do something about them.  He knows change is coming....

Well, he is right...

Note...again:  I want you all to know that I don't make these decisions lightly and after MUCH research, in this case almost a year of research, reading and searching for facts, talking, digesting, and praying.

I have decided to go vegan. 

Most might think that this is rather radical, but for me it is just the next logical step in my personal evolution.

Am I going to become the food police? No.  Will freak out if I eat something with an egg in it? Nadda.  Will I try to convert my friends and family? Nope.  Will I try to convert you? Again no.

I am just letting you know for the sake of keeping it real around here on the funny farm...just another little tweak in my unconventional life.

Oh yeah...I mentioned that my hubby had conditions to all of this.

I am not to starve him to death...his exact words.

Yes sweet hubby I will always have food, good healthy, homemade, homegrown, food around for you to eat, you will not starve.  I do not guarantee though that I won't try to slip a little tofu in now and then!

And no I'm not asking you to give up your ice cream...

There are some lines a smart wife knows not to cross!!!

So there you have it...me.

The crazy vegan woman with the camel.

Gizmo by the way has been vegan his whole life...

He has always been more evolved than me!

Yes I am a highly evolved, ultra sophisticated creature...please try to remember this would you?

Yes Gizmo...I will try to keep this in mind.

While we are talking...if you are so sophisticated, why do you poop everywhere, and never clean up after yourself?

Because you will.

There are some days that I wonder who runs this show...

 It is obviously not you.

Shush...I wasn't asking you.

The High Cost of our Cheap Food...

I have just finished reading the cover story of the August 31st cover story of  TIME magazine, 'The Real Cost of Cheap Food'

What it has to say does not surprise me...

and that makes me sad...

and scared.

 

What the hell are we doing to ourselves?

What the hell are we doing to our planet?

 

Why do care so little for the bodies that God has given us?

Why do we care so little for this amazing home that God has placed us on?

Why do we care so little for our fellow inhabitants of this earth? 

Why do we feel it is our right to raise them in virtual prisons, spending their whole lives in misery, waste, and death?

 

Why do we feel we can change the very building blocks of our natural world?

How could be possibly think that there will be no adverse effect for doing so?

We have no right...

And we will have to pay the consequences.

We will ruin our land.  We will ruin our health.

We could possibly ruin our children't future here on this earth.

 

All so we can have a cheap hamburger?

That hamburger may not cost us much out of our pocket today...

But it will cost us all much much more...soon.

 

So today I make this pledge...

I pledge to keep my land free from chemicals.

I pledge that my animals will be treated humanely, with the dignity they deserve.

I pledge to support local organic farmers, never factory farms...ever.

I pledge to keep genetically modified seeds out of my soil and their products out of my body.

I pledge to support those businesses that try to be good stewards of our planet

I pledge to be a responsible citizen and contact my elected Representative when I believe that their policies are harming our earth, our health, our children.  I will cast my vote accordingly.

I pledge

To do my small part

If we each do our small part we can make a difference.

This is something I have to believe...

For their sake...

I would urge you to read the articlein TIME.  I also would recommend Food Revolutionand The China Study...you will never look at your food choices the same again...

I guarantee it.

Bragging Rights...

I try not to be boastful...

In fact I try to be humble...

If truth be told if you saw my jungle of a garden right now you would say I have every reason to be humble...embarrassed in fact.

Today I am not going to be humble, not one bit...

 

Because look what I grew!!!

 

It's a cantaloupe you say...big deal...I can grow those everyday and twice on Sunday.

Well I have not been able to.  It is not for lack of trying.  I have tried for years and years to get one to ripen here in the notoriously cool Pacific Northwest.

You see we grow big fir trees, apples, hazelnuts, lettuce and all manner of greens.  We can grow beans, potatoes, and corn but...

Musk melons are not what we are known for.

I had to pamper, baby and coddle this little guy along to get him to this point...

Was it worth it you ask...

Well...

 

Ohhh the shear intense smell that is coming from this is almost to heavenly to describe.

Look at that little dribble of juice...divine!

 

And because I wanted to walk on the wild side of breakfast I added...

Can you handle this?

Yes I combined freshly picked blueberries with my newly picked melon!!!

I know, I know...you can hardly believe I'm doing this, and first thing in the morning too!

 

If this was any better I would have had to classify this post under 'fruit porn'...

But since I don't have that specific category, I won't.

But I could...if I was so inclined.

But I'm not.

At least not today...tomorrow...maybe!

 

I ate every single last bite...alone...by myself...in secret.

I did not share...

I did not care...

I ate it all...

I had a ball!

 

So next time sweet hubby stands really close, leans in and whispers,

"Honey, you have really nice melons"

I can honestly reply

"You know darling...yes, I really do!"

 

Outdoor Shower???

There is a small windowed breezeway that connects our garage to our house.  If you walk through this breezeway onto the back porch you will see up against the back wall of the garage an outdoor shower.

This is the usual comment,

"Wow, an outdoor shower...cool.  Do you really use it???"

Well...

Let me show you!

 

 

This is a little tale from last week when my two youngest were playing in the garden while I was watering...

 

 

As I was tending the tomatoes Sweet Girl kept coming with her little blue bucket to have me fill it with water.  She said she was also watering...

 

 

What she didn't tell me is that she was watering a large mound of dirt left by a local mole!

A mole I hate with all my garden loving heart...but that is for another day...

 

 

When I finally saw what was going on in their newly created mud pit I knew I had a choice...

Was I going to be one of those mom's that scolded them for making such a muddy mess or...

Was I one of those mom's that...

Ran and grabbed the camera and watched as the fun unfolded?

 

Hmmmm...not a hard choice!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Hug Mama?"

 

 

"B I G  Hug!"

 

 

Now this little face, this mud covered little face, is why we have and outdoor shower!

 

 

Sweet Girl loves the outdoor shower...

It is plumbed so it has hot water, no freezing cold showers here!

 

 

Baby Boy likes to watch sister take a shower...

 

 

But he is less than thrilled about taking one himself.

He has decided that only the tiniest portion of his head will get in.

 

Mama has decided otherwise...

 

 

Ohhhh the drama...

"No wike shower mama"

 

 

He kept turing his back on me, not a happy boy!

Of course it didn't help that I was giggling and taking his picture!

 

 

Ohhh the agony of it all!!!

 

 

I am not talking to you.

Minutes after his shower and I had pulled him into my lap this is what I looked down to see...

 

 

Mud can be exhausting...not to mention showers!

 

Meanwhile this is what I looked over to Sweet Girl and saw...

 

 

Always the little lady!

 

So yes we do use the outdoor shower, regularly.

If you have muddy kids, dusty plants, stinky dogs...

Or just like feeling the breeze on you naked skin, then I recommend one highly...

Although if you live in a suburban neighborhood I would skip the naked skin part...the only ones around to see us in our outdoor shower are a few llamas and an occasional camel...

And they pass no judgment

 

Note:  This shower would be perfect...I mean perfect...if I could get the camel to get in and take care of a little personal hygene.  He just doesn't see the importance of clean pits and fresh breath...

What Cute Idea!

 

Strolling through downtown Cannon Beach was so fun, when I rounded a corner next to an art gallery I say these great little clay pots hanging on the wall of a wine shop.

Salmon colored geraniums poked their happy little heads out of each one!

 

Now I would probably never do this myself due to the fact I would never water them enough and darling hubby would never let me hang pots on the siding he so meticulously put up...

I'm wondering if the owner took them down at closing, maybe for a good overnight soak to hydrate the clay and soil enough that he wouldn't have to water them all day long during the heat of July.

You know you could do something similar on a fence or the side of say a ...

Chicken house?

What about a camel house?

I'm sure Gizmo would be a great admirer pretty flowers hanging from his domicile...

Hmmm I may need to go buy some geraniums!!!

When I Die...

When I die...

 

You can just bury me in the garden...

with my boots on please!

 

My Foot...

 

I was going to post a picture of just our field in bloom...

Pretty flowers waving in the wind...

Blue sky full of puffy white clouds...

Sun warm on your face...

 

But this picture is more in keeping with the theme of my life...

 

Dork wearing socks with flip flops hiding in the tall grass as small children search for her...

"Mama...mama...where are you?  We're hungry...and somone has poopy diapers! 

Mama, mama!"

Yes this is a picture of my foot...trying to remain undiscovered!