Little Milestones

"Look! I lost a tooth!"

This is what woke me up this morning. Topher came running to me clutching a little tooth in his fist and his mouth wide open.



"I pulled it out myself! And it's not even bleeding!"

He's so proud of himself. Feeling so big right now. He's been waiting for this moment for quite some time. It's one step closer to being a "big kid".



He's growing up.

Home Again!

Edmund survived summer camp! He had a great time and is full of stories to tell us. For now though, he is going to lay low. In addition to a ton of laundry, he also brought home (what I am hoping is) a summer cold. His throat is sore and he is pretty congested.

He's glad to be home and we're happy to have him back.

From Chris

For our anniversary!

Have I told you lately that I love you?

July 17, 1993

"You fill my life with laughter,
somehow you make it better,
Ease my troubles,
that's what you do."


July 17, 2008

Cooling Off

Not much going on here. We're hanging out at the pool.

More from the Farmer's Market

"Yum!" by Chaz, age 9
Farmer's Market July 12, 2008



"Eggplant's Butt" by Chaz, age 9
Farmer's Market July 12, 2008



"Summer Watermelons" by Chaz, age 9
Farmer's Market July 12, 2008



"Watermelon Music" by Chaz, age 9
Farmer's Market July 12, 2008



"Edmund is strong" by Chaz, age 9
Farmer's Market July 12, 2008

***
Chaz is getting quite good with the camera. He loves to get in real close for his shots and he's starting to learn how close is too close. He will often occupy himself with the camera while I pick out produce at the market.

The watermelon series is my favorite.

Farmer's Market

This week we bought:

red potatoes
nectarines
mexican zucchini
tomatoes
figs
watermelon (he charged me $2 less than the stated price)
lady cream peas
green beans (he didn't charge me for these)
peanut butter cookies

Every week we shop from the same farmer. His produce is always very good and so are his prices. He's very friendly and remembers us from week to week. Sometimes he'll offer a few berries to the boys and he often slips extra beans or a squash in to my basket. Loyalty has it's rewards.

Growing Up

Oh those boys of mine - they are growing up!

Edmund got on a bus with 80+ other boys today and headed off to Boy Scout Camp. It's his first time and he couldn't have been more excited. And me? I'm excited for him. I know he'll have a wonderful time. But I can't help but feel a little nervous too. He's so far away. In another state. One that seems to get more tornados than we do. Then there is the wondering. What is doing? What is he eating? Will he remember his sunscreen? Will he drink plenty of water? Will he use his toothbrush? It's hard being a mom.

But he'll be back at the end of the week with stories to tell and laundry to wash. His brothers will enjoy their time away from him but will be thrilled to have him home again. We all will.

TGIF!

365 - Day 11

I've started two new projects this month. The first is 365 Days - a year long photography project. It's such a big commitment but I think it will be ok. (I hope!) I've done the Self Portrait Challenge in the past but I couldn't always get in to the themes. There are so many wonderful and creative self portraits in the 365 pool that have really inspired me to jump right in. I'm hoping it will help with my photography a little as well as help me be a little more comfortable in front of the camera. I plan to just capture every day moments which I'm sure will eventually pose a bit of a challenge since so many days look just like the one before!

My second project is more artistic in nature. I've been meaning to take out my watercolors and paint but I don't seem to make the time for it as often as I would like. I found echoes and loved the idea of it and they created a group so the rest of us can join the fun. I jumped right in! I think doing a little painting and daily journalling will help get the creative juices flowing again.

echoes - July 11, 2008

Happy Friday!

Thursday

It was hot and the sun was bright so we did the only logical thing - we cooled off at the pool!

Today we noticed:

~ The boys are becoming quite the little fish.
~ Topher is now able to touch the bottom of the lazy river and is almost tall enough for the slide.
~ The blue tube slide is much better than the green open slide, according to the boys. You go so much faster!
~ Bringing a cooler of cold drinks is preferable but if you are desperate and have some cash, there is a snack bar fully stocked with things I try to avoid (but kids love!)
~ Middle school girls wear tiny bathing suits and spend a lot of time giggling in the locker room.
~ Many moms don't watch their small children relying too heavily on the lifeguards.
~ The pool deck gets very hot!
~ Life is so much better after a few hours in the pool!

Wednesday

Our local theater has $1 movies for kids on Wednesday mornings during the summer. Today the boys and I went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. (not nearly as annoying as I thought). The theater fills pretty quickly for these movies so we go early to get good seats.

This morning while we were hanging out, Edmund wanted to try taking a few pictures. It was dark enough that neither one of us realized what Chaz was up to until we got home and downloaded the photos from my camera.

It's not the best quality photo - it's really hard taking pictures in a dark theater with out the flash! But I just love this one. Chaz is such a character!

Garbage Day

We have garbage pick up once a week. This week, for our family of 5, we had only one 13 gallon bag in our bin! If it weren't so hot, I might have skipped this week's pickup. There has been less and less in our bin each week. Even the little recycling bin was barely half full this week.

I find it very curious that so many of my neighbors have such full bins each week. One neighbor is often putting some of her garbage over flow into other bins because hers is too full! There are others who have 2 or even 3 garbage bins. These are all families of less than 5.

We have made big efforts to reduce our consumption and also our waste. We are reusing what we can and recycling what we can't reuse. We compost our kitchen scraps, buy in bulk to eliminate packaging, and try to use very few disposable items.

On garbage day, I am reminded that these simple things can make a difference.

Farmer's Market

I got to the farmer's market nice and early this weekend. As a matter of fact, I left and came back before the rest of the family woke up. I really enjoy it when we all go to the market, but it was kind of nice to go alone, too.

Eggplant and okra made it to the market this week. There were also white cucumbers and lemon squash, both of which I have never had before. Last week's corn was so good I had to buy more. I also got some plums and nectarines as well as a few of my "standards" - zucchini, tomatoes and green beans.

My Boys

Happy weekend!

Homemade Barbecue Sauce

My canning pot is on the stove again and today it's barbecue sauce! We have 2 pint, 6 half pints plus some for tonight's dinner.

Oh so very good!

Happy 4th of July!

Our morning was spent at the town's 4th of July Parade. Edmund and his Boy Scout Troop led the parade which was very exciting. The parade was followed by a town picnic with a band. It was really loads of fun but so very hot (100º)! We ended up leaving early because there just wasn't any shade to be found.



The rest of the day was spent with some friends and their pool. There was a lot of swimming and splashing. Plenty of grilling and a few Mai Tai's.



Our night was filled with fireworks! The sky was clear and warm so the fireworks were just brilliant.

It was a wonderful way to spend the 4th. It was also a great way to celebrate 1 full year in Texas! One year ago today we arrived in Texas ready for a new and exciting adventure in our lives. It's been a good year and I'm looking forward to lot's more.

Taco Seasoning

I always have a couple of envelopes of taco seasoning in my pantry - at least I used to. They are a little too salty for me and the low sodium version is not always easy to find. I say I used to keep them because one day I took a look at the ingredient list to see exactly what I was seasoning my food with. I was really surprised at what I saw!

Now I keep a jar of my own in the pantry. It's so easy to mix up and I can control the salt, the heat and the flavor.

Tonight it's chicken tacos and pinto beans - flavored with our own taco seasoning!

Taco Seasoning

1/2 c chili powder
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 Tbls paprika
2 Tbls cumin
2 Tbls coarse salt
3 Tbls black pepper

Mix and store in an airtight container. 2 Tbls = 1 packet

Adjust the seasonings to your own taste. Enjoy!

inch by inch, row by row

Awhile back, we planted a few container gardens. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Oh and some cucumbers, too. We had high hopes for ... well anything! Our harvest thus far has been meager, to say the least. The tomatoes, especially, are looking pretty sad. The pumpkins, however are growing like gangbusters. We didn't plant them. One of last year's jack o'lanterns that never got carved was left in a corner of the side yard and this spring the seeds sprouted. We let the vines go, they seem to really like it there.

Last night I bought some new tomato plants. I'm going to put them in along the fence behind the pumpkins. I figure that the pumpkins are happy there so maybe tomatoes will be too. It's tough work. It's all clay out there. Thick sticky clay. I tossed some worm castings in to the holes and now I am hoping for the best.

As for the scraggly tomatoes in the pots? I'm not sure what I am going to do. Leave them in the pots and give them a good dose of organic fertilizer? Transplant them to the compost and see what happens? Put them behind the pumpkins with the others?

I'm still dreaming of baskets full of tomatoes from my own yard.

Jamming

My canning pot has been busy lately! I love making jam. I love the thick bits of fruit glistening on a cracker or a piece of toast. I love the jewel like jars sparkling on the pantry shelf. I even enjoy standing over the steamy pot of molten jam burbling away on the stove. (I confess, it does make me feel a little Laura Ingalls like, too!)



Last week was strawberry week. I also found some rhubarb at the store which was a rare and special treat. I bought all they had - about 2 pounds.

The boys and a neighbor friend spent an afternoon in the kitchen with me last week and helped make some jam. They were pretty interested in the hows and whys of the process and asked some good questions. I explained how sealing the jars works and later in the week, I found them in the yard with some recycled plastic peanut butter jars making "leaf jam" (water, leaves, grass, etc). They even set the jars on the hot sidewalk to get them to seal properly! I guess they were listening to me.



We ended up with 10 half pint jars of strawberry jam, 8 half pint jars of strawberry rhubarb jam, and 3 half pint jars of rhubarb jam. As an added bonus, I also have a quart sized jar of strawberry syrup. Perfect for making home made fizzy sodas, topping pancakes or even ice cream. I boiled the tops of the strawberries (including the greens) with 2 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar for several minutes and then strained it into a jar. I got the idea here and I think it's such a clever way to use what might ordinarily end up as compost.



If you have homemade jam, you need some homemade bread to go with it. This brioche was made using the brioche pan my mom picked up for me at an estate sale using the recipe from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. (Previously blogged here.)

Perfect!

Farmer's Market

We got to the farmer's market this weekend about the same time we usually do. Suddenly it's a little too late. Our favorite farmer was looking a bit picked over on some things and had sold out of other things. Luckily we were still able to come home with some great fresh produce.

Chaz loves the little red potatoes and looks for them every week. Corn made an appearance this week as well as blackberries! There are still plenty of tomatoes and this week there were green tomatoes, too. I didn't buy any but I sort of wish I had. More and more peppers have been showing up and this week it was green bell peppers. There were huge watermelons and I was very tempted to buy one. However, They were almost as big as Topher and Chris and Edmund weren't with me to help carry it. Next weekend.

Summer Reading

We didn't make it to the library for this week's program. Topher was in camp and the program was a little young for the older two boys. We ended up at the library yesterday afternoon. It was so nice and quiet - just a library should be. Don't get me wrong, I really love kids getting excited about going to the library and I think it's great to see so many little ones there each week, However, I really am surprised that so many parents don't teach their children that libraries are quiet places. It's amazing how much screaming goes on at the library!

The boys turned in their 3rd reading log this week. The prize was a free book! Topher got so excited when the librarian told him that he didn't have to bring it back!

The house is quiet. Everyone has their nose in a book and I need to go join them.

Cub Scout Day Camp

Last night was family night at Scout Camp. The archery range and the bb gun ranges were set up as well as a small climbing wall. We never made it to the climbing wall. The boys had such a good time at archery and bb guns, they kept getting back in line.



Topher has never shot bb guns or archery before this week. Archery was a bit difficult for him. He didn't have enough strength to get the arrow through the target - they kept bouncing off. Still, not bad for a first timer. BB guns, however, he really took to! Last night was just his third time and he did so well! He wanted to try to qualify for the Junior USA Shooting Team Patch. He need a score of 35 or better with just 5 shots. He shot a 46! We were so excited for him. He was so proud of himself! He shot 2 bulls eyes and a "Robin Hood" - he it the same spot twice! They told me that he was the only one in his age group to qualify all week. I think he has found his talent! Perhaps the Olympics are in his future!



Of course Edmund and Chaz also got to shoot. They have both done bb guns and archery before and just like Topher, they really love it. Chaz had a little trouble with his aim but we'll work on it with him. Edmund missed qualifying for his shooting patch his first two times but third time is a charm! With a score of 49, he came home with is patch.



There was to be a picnic and campfire but it was so very hot. We had brought a picnic with us but we brought it back home again. The blanket was laid out on the living room floor and we had our picnic inside - with air conditioning and a movie.

Vacation Bible School

Last week was Vacation Bible School week. The boys have such a great time going. They car pool with our neighbor and come home full of excitement and stories. The church is really warm and friendly, full of young people and families and it seems to be pretty active. It's exactly what I am looking for in a church - except it is 30+ minutes away. With fuel prices rising, I have a hard time driving that far. But they are still kind enough to take my children in and make them feel welcome even though we don't attend the church.

At the end of the week, the church hosted a carnival for the kids and their families. There were games and prizes, a food tent complete with hot dogs, nachos, snow cones, cotton candy and funnel cakes, and so much more. It was so much fun! The best part was that the kids were able to run and play with out me worrying about the crazies that are at public fairs (and they didn't keep asking for "just one more dollar")



1. face painting
2. snow cone
3. baseball toss

See more of the Six One Way project.

Grandma Wetzler's Arugula Salad

I don't know who Grandma Wetzler is but we love her salad! Last night we had it with Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken and tomatoes from the farmer's market.

Grandma Wetzler's Arugula Salad

4 slices of bacon
1/4 c sugar
1/2 c balsamic vinegar
1 large bunch of arugula
12 small red potatoes (golf ball sized)
2 hard cooked eggs, chopped

Cook the potatoes in salted water until easily pierced with a fork and then cut in half. Set aside.

In a small skillet, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and crumble. To the bacon fat in the pan, add the sugar and balsamic vinegar. Bring to a boil and then remove from the heat.

Place the potatoes in a large salad bowl and toss with a small drizzle of the dressing. Add Arugula and toss with remaining dressing. Top with bacon and egg.

From Our Garden

Our little container garden has been struggling along. I think it might be getting too much afternoon sun. I save my water from the kitchen and water the pots often but they just don't seem too happy.

They have, however, managed to produce these little vegetables. A small sweet red chile pepper, a yellow cherry tomato and a grape tomato. I offered to dice them and cook them with some eggs but the boys prefer their eggs plain. Edmund is really the only one interested in tomatoes and peppers, anyway. He wants me to make salsa for one so I think that is what we will do.

Hopefully with a little more TLC and some worm castings, we'll get a little more from our garden.

Bandana Pack

This is Topher's week to go to Camp. He's too young for sleep away camp so he is going to Cub Scout Day Camp. To say he is excited is an understatement! He's going with his friends, the theme is pirates! and he gets to do things like archery, bb guns, swimming and crafts. A little boy's dream!

He has a few things that he needs to bring with him each day and needs an easy way to carry it. I wanted something a little more "camp" and a little less "school" than a backpack so I made him a little string pack.

It's amazingly simple - 2 bandanas and 4 yards of sweatshirt cording. That's it!

Bandana Pack

::Fold one edge on each bandana over about an inch and stitch. This will make the top casing.

::Right sides together and the casing edges at the top, put the bandanas together and stitch up the sides. Stop just before you get to the casing edge. You want this to stay open.

::Cut the cording in half. Thread one length through the casing and back out again on the same side you started. Do the same on the opposite side. The loose ends should be on the inside (where the right sides are)

::Line the ends of the corner up with the bottom corners of the bandanas. Stitch across the bottom to close it up, capturing the ends of the cord.

::Turn right side out. Pull the side cords to cinch up the top.



Let me know if you make one!

Farmer's Market

This week: Leeks! yellow squash, Mexican zucchini, red potatoes, jalapenos, cantaloupe, tomatoes (2 kinds) and worm castings.

Yep, worm castings. I'm hoping that my container gardens will benefit. They are looking a little sad out there and really need a nutritional boost.

That partly eaten hot banana pepper is Edmund's. The farmer gave it to him to try when Edmund told him he liked spicy peppers. Edmund took a bite and said it wasn't too spicy. The farmer smiled and told him to take a real good bite with some of the seeds. Edmund took another and still said it was fine then he took one more. The beads of sweat started forming on his brow! The farmer laughed and assured him that the jalapenos are mild compared to that one. That hot pepper (or what's left of it) will probably find it's way in to a batch of salsa.

Home on the Range

Fun with a Friend

for the six one way project.

The boys spent quite a bit of time this week with our neighbor. Sarah loves playing with the boys and often wishes she could be their sister. Sometimes she wants to be in our family and sometimes she wants the boys to be part of hers.

1. The kids helped me make strawberry rhubarb jam this week. They are waiting to hear the "ping" to make sure all the jars sealed properly.

2. They weeded the flower beds at Sarah's house.

3. They are waiting for the show to start at the library.

Yes, they're wearing the same orange shirts all week. The kids went to Vacation Bible school together all week and came home and changed from this year's shirt in to last years.