The Inadvertent Farmer

Summer's Sweet Treat Ice Cream!

I cannot imagine a summer without ice cream!  A cold, creamy, sweet, sticky treat enjoyed in the summer sun...perfection!

Does that mean all that healthy vitamin D you are getting from the sun offsets the fat and sugar and indeed makes it a healthy treat?  Just wondering....

(If anyone is interested in the origins of ice cream here is a great link.)

Today it was Blackberry for the little one and Vanilla for the Big one! 

When we don't make our own we purchase Alden's organic ice cream at our local market.

So before we go on...

Does anyone make their own cones?  Is it hard?  Does it require special equipment?  Can they be made organically?

Going on...

Blackberry is yummy...

Blackberry rolled in mini chocolate chips is...

Well divine!

Why do they never look at me with such rapt attention?

Or smile so sweetly when asked to fold the laundry?

Joy is at hand!

So is the mess...

 

The little one made a BIG mess...

The big one only made a little mess!

Sweet Girl knew exactly what to do.

Baby Boy looked at his suspiciously!  Soon he decided that in spite of the coldness it was pretty darn good...

One of summer's simple things!

And one of her messier things!

*****

Just a short not to thank all of you for joining me in this little series.  I have had more fun than I could have imagined not only documenting our own simple summer but have thoroughly enjoyed your's too...thanks!

*****

Life's a Beach...Silent Saturday

 

We're gone for the weekend...

 

I'll give you three guesses where we've gone...

The first three don't count!

Hope you are having an amazing weekend!

*****

I'm also over Not Dabbling in Normal today sharing a rockin' review of 'the Flavor Bible'.  A book that will take you on culinary adventures beyond your wildest dreams...

Seriously this book will rock your kitchen!

Slugs on a Fork, the Friday Funnies

Although not as 'out there' as the marinaded mice...

I still am issuing a warning on this post.

Just a small warning...

If you are squeamish about slugs.

Especially those that are impaled.

Then you might want to go to yesterday's posts with the lovely strawberries...

Those are not dirt clods on my pitchfork...

They are not even bits of manure.

Yes I'm raising her right!  A good Pacific Northwest farm girl taking care of business.

And if you're from PETA...I don't want to hear about it.

It is them or my beans.

I side with the beans.

Now if I could just train Chester the Cat to be as enthused about catching slugs as he is mice I would be set!

But as you can see I'm not getting very far with that...

I Believe in Tomatoes, kinderGARDENS week 13!

After enduring one of the very wettest spring/early summers on record I still hold tight to some steadfast beliefs of my garden...

I believe that the tomatoes will eventually ripen...

I believe that after months of rain that the sun will always come out and warm my soul...

I'm sure that our 4th and final planting of beans will actually sprout instead of rot.

Well pretty sure....

I have faith that the slugs won't get all the strawberries...

And I believe that they are better eaten out of hand...a dirty hand to be specific!

I desperately believe that honey bees will rebound...

And lastly I believe that there are indeed monsters in my garden!

So what do you believe this week?

Sidewalk Chalk a Simple Thing of Summer

Happy Tuesday all!

We're here today with another installment of 'Summer's Simple Things'!

(to find out what the series is about and how you can join go here)

We are going no farther than the front driveway with nothing more than a few sticks of chalk...

Insert kid...

Hey mama...that me!  Me BIG!

Yes Baby and you are allowed to get no bigger.

Mama!

I'm serious...

Insert next kid...

Wook mama...its my sister.  She BIG too!

Yep...and she's not allowed to get any bigger either!

Mama!

I'm serious.

Here is my quandry...

Edit out the old car with the wheels off in the background so you all don't think we're hicks.

Or leave the car in and prove to be true what you probably guessed already...

So in the spirit of keeping it real...

The car remains...hicksville here we come!

Anyone looking for an old car for parts?

But you can't have my old truck...I love that truck.

Hey Baby...what is that long thing coming out of your head?

It Psghetti mama!

That's a lot of spaghetti!

Me really, really hungry...

Oh, I see.

Kids + Chalk + Driveway/sidewalk =

One of Summer's Simple Things!

So do you have any simple thing to share? 

And don't forget to visit over at MommyTopics to join in her fun 'Summer Family Fun Blog Hop' (or click on the button in my sidebar)

Friday Funnies we be Wet!

Yes it is indeed July...

You know the month that is all about sunshine, picnics and the local swimming hole!

But instead of slathering on the suncreen and putting our sunhats on we are...

Yes folks it has rained every day in July here so far...ok so I know there have been only 2 day in July but still.

So instead of moaning and groaning we are gonna kick off our shoes and go dance in the rain!

But I'm telling you right now this better not continue or I'm going to take this up with the authorities...

Does anyone have the number for guy in charge of the weather?

Anyone?

Hmmm I wonder if firecrackers work when they're wet?

Summer's Simple Things we Share!

In honor of summer.

In honor of my pledge to slow down.

In honor of my promise to enjoy the very simplest things of summer in their purest forms.

I honor of that all that is good in summertime I am sharing this with you...

What says 'summertime fun' more than a pair of little kid feet covered with newly cut grass?

You know those feet have been running and jumping and wiggling in the grass!

Hubby had just mowed the grass and the kids had discovered it in the wheelbarrow. 

What fun...what a laundry nightmare!

 

The only thing more fun than a pair of child's feet covered with grass would be two!

Two very dirty...

very grassy...

very happy...

pairs of summertime feet!

Pretty sure I won't be getting the bathtub ring off till next winter!

*****

Oh and yes...the big guy LOVES freshly cut grass too! 

In case you were wondering.

 

So here is where you get to share.

What are some simple, fun, summertime things you have been up to?

Do tell...

Engineer vs Artist, Straight vs Curvy, Wide vs Narrow

My hubby and I have been married just over 26 years.

Some would say our personality difference are...well profound. Not me I think we're terribly alike, almost twins.

Except that...

He is methodical, not me so much

He makes lists, not even a grocery list here.

He starts something and doesn't stop till it done. Me? Well if you saw my craft room, or kitchen, or laundry room...you get the picture.

I fly by the seat of my pants...he washes, irons, and then puts his list in his pants pocket before he flies anywhere!

OK...so we're not twins.

To concretely demonstrate the difference between the brain of an engineer type and that of an artist type let me give to you our paths to grandma's house.

One is mowed with a tractor, it is straight down the the hill...directly to its destination.  It is plenty wide as to allow two kids to walk with plenty of room so no elbowing will occur.

The other is narrow and curvy.  I of course being the sensible one chose to mow this with a small hand mower and come to the top of the hill heaving and sweating...

Here are the paths traced out for you...

I'm going to give you a moment to venture a guess as to who did which one.

Insert Jeopardy music...

Did you guess that I did the curvy and he did the straight?  

And while straight wide paths are great for getting to point A to point B and for moving large loads of goods...narrow paths are much more fun for small children to run to grandma's on.  This is of course my personal opinion.

When you have curves you have little bends in the path that are perfect for stopping and taking a rest and picking a flower or two...

And we all know I'm serious about a little leisure time when navigating the steep hills of life...ahem.

So while the straight path may be more direct, more sensible, more to the point...give me the curvy path every day of the week.  And twice on Sunday!

Which brings us to the whole Biblical implications of our paths...

Which I have decided to ignore.

Because that would cause me to have to confront some my own issues.

Which is another thing I avoid...

Like laundry.

Not me...I would never avoid laundry.

the Friday Funnies, Girl Inverted, Boy upside Down!

Girl right side up...

Girl inverted!

Right side up...

Up side down!

So tell me...

Are you right side up today?

Or is every thing inverted and a little upside down for you?

I am without a doubt...

Must be the full moon or something! 

 

 

kinderGARDENS week 11...we have SUNSHINE and Pigeons!

Sorry for the lateness of the post this morning...I'm having HUGE internet issues!  I haven't even been able to read Pioneer Woman this morning...

I hope this is not a sign of how the whole day will go.

*****

Finally the sun has been out an amazing three days in a row here in the drippy Northwest!  I can almost here the sighs of relief and the lifting of spirits.

Before I get to my garden update I need to introduce you to a couple of new additions to our family.

My 22 year old who works at Lowes called me up earlier this week from work wanting me to look on the internet to see how to feed baby...

Pigeons!

It seems a mama pigeon had hatched out a couple of babies in a box that got moved.  By the time they were found no one knew where the box came from or how to get them back to their mama.

So my bird-lovin' 2nd son brought them home to hand feed.  And since he works full time that leaves the day time feeding to me!

I'm thinkin' we should name them 'ugly' and 'uglier'...

I read somewhere that nature made baby animals so cute that it helped ensure their survival...

Guess they never saw a baby pigeon!

Its a wonder this species survived at all if that were indeed the case...

Then again to a mama pigeon they may be just darling.

To me...not so much!

So every 4 to 5 hours we're doing this...

Mixing formula with warm water, putting it into a feeding syringe and spending the next 30 or so minutes feeding these little ones.

Never a dull moment here on the funny farm!

*****

Now a garden update...and if you are wondering where Sweet Girl is in all these pictures...she was behind the camera for many of them!

We planted grapes in two barrels I had that the bottoms had rotted out.  We planted them on either side of one of the garden gates.

I let the kids pick out some flowers at the store and we planted them around the pomegranate bush.

 

As you can see they have been keeping them very well watered!

We have been harvesting peas, strawberries, raspberries, lettuce and all sorts of greens.  When I go to the garden to pick I take along my lovely basket...it makes me feel like Martha Stewart.

This is what the kids like to harvest in...

Betcha' even Martha has never harvested kale in a popcorn bucket!

So what have you guys been up to this week?

 

 

Please Pass the Peas...Please!

guess what's blooming...

I always eat my peas with honey;

I've done it all my life.

They do taste kind of funny

but it keeps them on my knife!

Please pass the peas please!

My little pea-picker...

which is better than a nose-picker...

not that I have any of those!

I cannot think of anything I look forward to more this time of year than sugar snap peas...

well except maybe strawberries...

but like I've shared before...

I never get to the strawberry patch in time to get any!

So go eat your peas!

You'll be hooked!

Summer's Simple Things a new series

As my quest this summer is to simplify my life I have decided to start a weekly series.  Every Tuesday I'll be sharing one simple things of summer.

Last week it was this...

Swinging...you pretty much can't get more simple than that.

Well except for this!

 

When I was a kid I lived on a street, a typical street with houses down each side.

But I was lucky that the lots directly across the street from us had a small creek that ran through them so no one was allowed to build there.  So every summer these extra deep lots would grow up into a bit grassy field.  And every summer the neighborhood kids would run and play games in the tall grass.

I spent hours in that grass looking up at the sky, playing hide and seek, and sharing secrets with my friends.

A well manicured lawn could never, ever, be that much fun!

My kids are lucky...their house is surrounded on all sides by grassy fields!

Our lake cabin has a field they can play in at 'A Summer Place Farm' next door!

And the only thing better than playing in a field at home is playing in the tall grass along a lovely lake!

If you would like to join my on Tuesdays I would love to have you!  This is a simple series...no giveaways, no prizes.  The activities require no batteries, no USB cables, no fancy props.  Just the simple things that summer has to offer!

Think popcicles dripping down your chin, bike rides at sunset, playing catch, going fishing...you know simple old-fashioned fun!

 

Wait a minute...

Sudden change of rules.

You will be allowed batteries for one thing...but only that one thing.

Yep I almost forgot our cameras take batteries.

So please take your camera along...

With batteries would be nice.

*****

I also wanted to let you all know that

Jacqueline...of Zippy Zippy

has won the copy of

Who Grew My Garden!

email me a

[email protected]

Congrats!

Taking this Perspective Thing a little too far? Not me!

As most people who know me in 'real life' know that I'm NOT an all or nothing kind of chic.

Why be vegetarian when you can be vegan? Not me...

Why go a little organic when you can go all organic and grow it yourself to boot? Not me...

I certainly don't have a hard time seeing gray when most things seem so blatantly black or white?

Why be a little messy when...well you know!  Most definitely not me...I'm an immaculate housekeeper!

So when I decided a while ago to try taking photos from new and interesting perspectives it should not surprise you that I might...or might not...take it a bit too far.

Hmmmm....what?

Is that a baby on your back?

Some needs to run a brush through her hair...maybe some roots could be touched up too!

Yes I was lying on belly in the garden holding my camera over my head facing it backwards trying to point up towards Baby Boy who was sitting on my back playing horsey!

I finally got the camera pointed at the kid and not my neck...

Yes even he thought I was a strange mama...mama, you strwange

Thanks honey, but I am not strange...just hip and experimental!  Artsy even...I am NOT strange!

Yes you are...

No I'm not

Giggle...

Bet if I zoomed in I could see right up his nose...

But then again he is three and that could be a bit dicey.  Who knows what we would find up there!

So there you have it...proof that I would never ever take anything a bit too far...Not me!

I'm just artsy...remember?

 

Friday Funnies mud Pies errr...Cake!

When it rains all day, pretty much every day throughout May and June the kiddos have to be creative in the ways they entertain themselves...

May I present to you the classic mud pie...errr mud cake, as I was informed.  Chocolate mud cake to be exact!

One day the kids had been out playing while I was doing dishes.  I heard a knock on the back patio door and there they stood with cake in hand singing happy birthday to mama!

 

No, not even close to my birthday...but sweet anyway!  They decided it needed more 'frosting'!

Thanks guys...that was the best mud cake I've ever had!

So even though all this rain is rotting my seeds in the ground at least its keeping the kids amused!

*****

Don't forget to comment on yesterday's kinderGARDENS post to enter to win

'Who Grew My Soup'!

*****

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kinderGARDENS week 10 book Review and Giveaway!

We made it to week 10!  I must say that our garden right now is just kind of hanging out...not really growing much due to our record breaking rains and cold.  It has still been getting down into the 40's at night!  My tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil are not amused!

But there have been a few fleeting but glorious sunbreaks...

The kids run out at every little break in weather...

A little running...

A little flower picking...

The bees take advantage of the few breaks too!

We have peas...wet peas but peas nonetheless!

The littlest of strawberries are beginning to ripen...I haven't had any...the kids find them first!  In fact the kids were hovering about when I took this picture and snatched these as soon as the photo was snapped!

And I just looked at the weather report...the whole of next week will either be cloudy or rainy...highs in the mid 60's lows in the upper 40's.  I'm trying really hard to not be grouchy about  this.

Mr. Weather man...you're fired!

*****

As promised I have a book review for you.

There are two things that make my heart go pitter pat when it comes to children's books...great illustrations and words that rhyme!  I'm a sucker every time for these and when a book has both...be still my heart!

 

Who Grew my Soup?

Written by Tom Barbyshire and Illustrated by C.F.Payne

This is story about a little boy named Phineas Quinn who is called in one afternoon for a bowl of vegetable soup.  The ensuing adventure is hilarious...

Who doesn't love a book that rhymes sugars and boogers...I guarantee your kids will be in gales of laughter!

As young Phin is demanding to know who grew his soup, a man with a soup-pot hat and a hot-air tomato balloon swoops down to take Phin to meet the farmers the grew the vegetables for his soup.

He meets farmer Hitchner who grew the carrots for his soup. Phin is at first disgusted that carrots actually grow in the dirt...

"They grow in the DIRT?" Young Phin nearly gagged.

"Gee, I've only seen them in stores, washed and bagged."

The farmer picks a carrot for Phin to try...

Phin would rather get cooties,

    but being polite,

he knew he had not choice-

he must take a bite.

So he tried just a nibble

the smallest of munches

and soon he was making great bunches of crunches.

"Hey, this isn't bad! This carrot's incredible!

It's sweet, what a treat!

Say this root is quite edible!"

Yes this book is absolutely hilarious for both kids and adults.  You meet a variety of farmers in the book and surprise, they are real farmers!  You get to meet them in the back of the book.

Of course in the end young Phin learns to love vegetable soup.

The only issue I personally have is that the book was underwritten by Cambell's Soups.  I prefer kids to grow their own vegetables and then have homemade veggie soup, not something from a can with too much sodium and veggies that are not organic...BUT it does not say in the story itself that the soup came from a can or what brand it is.  I did not realize who sponsored this book until I read the very back pages and looked at the back cover.

So with that being said I think this is a wonderful book that you and your kiddos will enjoy greatly! 

I'll not take one sip of this vegetable goop

unless you tell me this:

WHO GREW MY SOUP?

Leave a comment on this post between now and Monday at 7am Pacific Time and you will have a chance to win this book!

*****

So what have you all been up to this week?

Just a Swinging

Yesterday I assulted your sensitivities with electric-fried mice.

Today I will make up for it with one of the very simplest joys of summer and of all childhood.

No need for batteries, USB cables, or DVDs...

Nope...just pure simple fun!

An old board, some rope, an ancient tree beside a deep blue lake in the late evening sun...

Heaven on earth for a small child...

and for his mama who gets to push him!

Life is indeed good...

I am determined that this summer it will be the simple things that we relish.  No fancy water parks, no elaborate vacations, no huge parties...

Just the simple joys of being together.

In this glorious place.

Simply...

So what are your favorite simple joys of summer?

Friday Funnies Rocket Ship to the Moon!

As you all know I'm a big fan of child labor! Teaching children to do chores around the house is good for the kids and good for the house...

But if you make emptying the dishwasher a chore for you just turned 3 year old expect the unexpected!

Hey buddy what are you making there?  Is that a tower?

No mama, it not.

Is it a skyscraper?

No mama.

I know...its a mountain made of cups!

No mama, you wrong.

Ok...I give up.  What are you building?

It a rocket ship!  See a wittle rocket ship, a middle rocket ship, and a bigggg rocket ship!

Can I fly in one of your rocket ships?

No mama, you too big.  These only for wittle boys!

OK...well have a nice trip in your rocket ship.

I will, I'm going to the moon!

Well when you're done will you park your rocket ships so I can close the drawer?

Oh mama...

Now what are you doing?

Me bowing...

You mean you're taking a bow?  Why?

Me did good job with dishwasher.

Yes little buddy you did indeed!

*****

So here is my bit of advice for today.  Even though kids may not do chores in the exact way we would do them it is still important that they learn to pitch in and help out...even if it means your cups end up being made into rocket ships!

Or beds are made with 20 stuffed animals under the covers...

Or the laundry is folded a little 'creatively'...

It doesn't matter that they help out just right... it just matters that they help out.

Stepping off soapbox.

Thanks for listening.

Hello...

Hello...

You were listening...

Right?

kinderGARDENS week 9 through a Child's Eyes

This week's assignment was to hand over your cameras to your children.  I gave mine to Sweet Girl who is 7 and let her loose in the garden.

So here are a few shots though the eyes of my child...

Why did you take a picture of the chicken house?

I wasn't mama...I was taking a picture of the little bird on the fence.

What did you find interesting about the melon patch?

I didn't...I was taking pictures of the llamas.  But it does kind of look like craters on the moon.

Yes I suppose it does!

I like our baby pumpkins by the maze...

So do I sweetie!

How come a picture of the goat?

He was watching us through the fence...besides he's cute!

That's a very good picture you took.

Thanks mama!

When I downloaded this picture I could not figure out why in the world...

OK...I'm a little puzzled.  Why did you take a picture of the camel's knees.

Because they are muddy, I think that's kinda funny.  I get my knees muddy too...it means I've been having fun.  Gizmo must have been having lots of fun to get so muddy.

I love you sweetie.

I love you to mama.

Can I use your camera again?

Of course...but no more camel knees, they kind of scare me.

Giggling.  You're silly mama!

Yeah but I didn't take pictures of a muddy camel...that makes you much sillier than me.

Giggling...

*****

So fellow gardeners...were some of you brave enough to hand over your precious cameras to your little ones?

Were you surprised at what you found? 

If you did please, do share! 

Make sure to share any garden updates too.

Next week will be another book giveaway...so make sure to come back for a chance to win another wonderful book!

Friday Funnies Drunk on...

Chocolate!

Life is indeed good...

Tumulutous Tuesday

Tumultuous you say?

Yes precisely my words...

tu·mul·tu·ous (to̵̅o̅ mul′c̸ho̵̅o̅ əs, tyo̵̅o̅-, tə-; -mul′tyo̵̅o̅ əs)

adjective

1. full of or characterized by tumult; wild and noisy; uproarious
2. making a tumult
3. greatly agitated

I am all of the above.

You see we have decided to drive the oldest son down to his first job at the end of the week.  It is not in our northerly state of Washington, no not even in our next door neighbor Oregon.

Not even our southerly left coast neighbor California...nope go south and then head east one state to Nevada.

I have never been to Nevada, but my baby is moving there to live all by himself.

Working for a company I know nothing about...

Surrounded by people I know nothing about.

What if he needs me?

I'll be 3 states away!

My heart is in turmoil.  I am proud that he finished school and actually got a job in this economy.  But I do not want him to move.  His little brother and sister don't want him to move.  His grandma doesn't want him to move.  His girlfriend doesn't want him to move.

But he is leaving anyway...darn!

And on top of all of that I am rushing around like a mad woman trying to get my garden all in, getting the house all cleaned, paying all the bills because hubby has decided since we are going to Nevada we might as well make a vacation of it!

That means 7 to 10 day gone from home.

I don't do well away from home...

I'm allergic to leaving home actually.

I am not kidding. I love home...I hate leaving it.

Who will kill the slugs trying to eat my seedlings?

Who will feed all my baby critters...twice a day?

Who will get the mail?

Who will feed the camel?

Who will apologize to the tomatoes for all the rain?

Oh NO...who will blog for me?

I cannot possibly go over a week without talking to you guys?

So while I ponder these questions I will bake bread and do laundry I'll plant my peppers, feed my critters and kill some slugs...and pretend that my baby is not leaving me and that I am not leaving home for a while.

Look...problem solved!

Denial solves a multitude of difficulties!

As does chocolate...

 

Real Life with Big Kids

I have people ask me all the time what it is like to have 2 sets of kids.

For me it just seems like normal every day life...we've got big ones...we've got little ones.

Normal for us.

For the last 3 months, since son #1 graduated college, we have had all three college age sons at home.  This is a typical scene...

Our dining room table...which is rarely used to dine but often used to game.  Yes with the big kids around we are quite wired!

Food is never prepared in small quantities...20 somethings can put it away!

We have a lot of laundry...

We are blessed to have a couple of extras quite often...the little ones adore the boys' girlfriends.  It think they're pretty cool too!

Having older kids around makes me realize I will never be that cool again...ok in my case I was never really that cool!

I always appreciate the extra help in entertaining the little ones!

And truly am grateful that I don't always have to haul all the gravel myself.

But times are a changing...

The son #1 just got his first job out of college.  He is moving 2 states away to Nevada, he leaves next week.  Gizmo will be heartbroken.

Son #3 is leaving for college in Central Washington next month.

I think that is the biggest challenge of having older kids...I have no control.

I can order them to never leave...to stay with me forever.

But they just don't listen!

They just walk out the door...

And take little pieces of my heart with them when they go.

Darn kids.

Sob...I'm off to find my baby and make him snuggle with me.

Addition Twister! Math Fun and Games

May I just start by saying that I am for the very first time posting this from away from home!  We are at an indoor water park and have been since yesterday...isn't technology just grand?  Heck I almost feel like Pioneer Woman posting from one of her swell trips...well almost.  Except that I don't go on book signing tours, or live on a cattle ranch, or have lovely red hair, or would ever take pictures of calf testicles...besides that I feel just like her!

Sweet Girl is learning her addition facts.  All the wonderful combination that make 10...which in an of itself if I must admit rather boring.  We decided to spice it up a bit...

I cut out two sets of numbers from 0 to 10 then we glued them onto some colorful construction paper.  The name of each number was written on them and Sweet Girl has started to color and decorate them.

Next lay out all the numbers...

Touch two number that equal ten. 7 + 3...yep!

0 + 10 is perfect!

Even the little guy joins the fun with a little help.  Good job baby 9 + 1 is TEN!

Good thing you have long legs girlie!

Addition doesn't have to be boring...and the fun is contagious!

A big brother could just resist joining the fun!

Very good adding, 5 + 5 does equal 10!  All that college is paying off...

Yes using your head and feet work!

His enthusiasm knows no bounds...notice the little eyes watching!

The kids even figured out that if they held up their ages that they too equal 10...good job guys!

The kids just had a blast and by the end Sweet Girl knew all the combination of numbers that add up to ten!

Next Big Brother turned over all the cards and made it into an addition memory game...much more challenging but again great fun!

Now I'm off to go play in the water with my two littlest kiddos...the big ones baled on me.  Darn kids, they just couldn't bring themselves skip work to play with me on the water slides.  So when did they learn to be all responsible and stuff?

One final thought.  I am here with my sweet hubby.  I love him dearly but he has one considerable flaw...he has not gained even one pound since I've known him.  I on the other hand have birthed 6 babies and have gained a pound or two...or twenty.  May I just state here for the record...it is NOT fair.

My thighs second that!

Impulse buying...what it means on a Farm

Because we live on a farm my kids have a distinct advantage to other 'regular' kids when it comes to baby critters...

They know that their mother is a impulse buyer.

Not at the department store, nor at the grocery store like most folks...

No, I have little impluse control at the feed store!

Let me introduce you to my first impulse buy of the week...

Meet Ollie...he is a 6 week old Lionhead bunny.  He is as soft as you can imagine...he is adorable and I'm completely smitten.

Hi Ollie...I love you.

There was a storm blowing in when I took these pictures...Ollie is all lovely and windblown.

I do not look all lovely when I'm windblown...no I just look all disheveled and well...windblown.  How fair is that I ask!

Anyway that was the first adoption of the week.

Here is our second...

Hey Baby what ya lookin' at?

Wook mama...baby ducks!

I see, what are you gonna name them?

Bob

Bob?

Yes, Bob the builder, Muck, and Scoop!

Ahhhh I see, you know Muck and Scoop are great names for ducks because you have to do that a lot with them.

Huh?

Never mind...nice names.

This week's list

• 1 rabbit
• 1 turkey
• 5 ducklings
• 5 chicks

Yes I'm a sucker for those cute little babies they have in those troughs at the feed store!

Oh yeah...I also ordered 10 more turkeys and a few runner ducks and am planning a bigger rabbit hutch!

So they know not to ask for candy or toys but ask mama for another animal and your chance are pretty good that you'll get what you want. 

Well unless it is for a baby camel...don't need another one of those thank you very much!

Welcome to the funny farm little one...I'm sure you'll never be lonely here!

I'm over at Not Dabbling in Normal discussing girls and media and body image.

Silent Saturday Foot edition

Red Foot, Black Foot...feet feet feet

How many, many feet we meet!

His feet...

Her Feet

Fuzzy fur feet?

May I just say right here that Dr. Suess rocks!

So do muddy toes!

And toes that have run through freshly mown spring grass...

Or have been wiggling in the sand.

Baby feet make my heart sing...

As do barefoot rain dances!

even ballet in the rain!

Yep its hard to beat a good foot!

*****

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  I'll announce the winner of the sunflower book today on this weeks kinderGARDENS post (thursday week 6) at 5pm Pacific Time!

Peace out!

Some things just Never get Old!

There are just some things in my life that no matter how many times I do them...

No matter how they are an everyday part of my life...

No matter how mundane they may seem...

They just never ever get old!

For example take baking bread.  I do it twice a week, every week, rain or shine...52 weeks a year (well except on vacation...which I would like to take btw...somewhere that isn't raining...but that is another post!)

Yet every time I open the oven and see those fresh loaves and smell that heavenly scent I smile and think...

I love this!  I just love to bake bread!

I also love to see what the loaves my children make will look like each time...nothing everyday about this...

Then there is my garden.  Even though every year I plant my seeds, even though every year they come up I am still amazed and awed by the wonder of this process.

And to nurture the plants till harvest and eat food grown from your own land is beyond cool!

And of course there is this...

As many years as I've had kids (24 and counting) having little ones underfoot will never get old for me.  I am not one to want them to take the next step or get to the next stage...no I'm one of those moms that still call her baby her 2 year old up until the hour he was born on his 3rd birthday!

No this will never ever get old for me!

There are a few things in my life that no matter how many times I do them they will never lose their magic...

• Holding a newborn and smelling that sweet baby smell...heaven!

• Pulling a clean white sheet of paper down from the shelf and knowing that there are few things with more potential than that blank piece of paper.

• Bringing a basket of fresh produce in from the garden and knowing that this will be the best salad I've ever made!

• Opening my fabric closet and dreaming up what I will make next!

• Putting my camera around my neck and just knowing that there is something wonderful in my day that I will want to capture for all time!

• Opening my blog each day and knowing that someone will leave something that will make me smile or laugh or ponder...
  

So what about you? 

What is there in your life that will never ever get old...something that you will never tire of?

*****

And don't forget to come back tomorrow for week 4 of kinderGARDENS as see what all the kids are doing in their gardens!