Foraging!

Went Foraging on Friday!!

So a friend of mine called me up Friday and invited me and the kids blackberry picking with her and her son. We went to a spot known to locals as Falling Rock. Well we walked the trail to FR(didn't make it all the way) and along the way were tons of wild blackberries.
This is what I managed to pick.

It ended up being 2 pints worth.

The kids had a great time picking and eating and feeding berries to the dog.
And this is what I have made with them so far.
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2...e_great_cobbl/
Still have 1 pint left.
So blackberries are ripening and are around for the picking!
Anyone go out foraging for food stuff?

My Garden

I have a garden this year! On top of being a mom, keeping the house, and taking care of myself, I am also growing food and flowers and herbs. Sounds like work, but its not.:)

I am doing square foot gardens. I have 4 boxes made but am only growing in one at the moment. I will add more as I go along. This project is all mine. The kids are involved as well but they just help and right now not much to do but water the plants.

I am seeing tomatoes growing and cucumbers. Hopefully we can harvest some in the next couple of weeks.

I also have 2 pear trees and 2 apple trees. Only thing to do with them at the moment is water, there will be some pruning at some point too. I hope that we can start harvesting fruit in the next couple of years.

This type of gardening, be it a bucket or a box, really is an easier, less back breaking, less sweaty way to go about growing things.

Home Water Park

I has been so HOT here, and its just the beginning of summer. We have to have ways of keeping cool outside, unless we spend all summer indoors.

Sometimes we go to our friends the Colvin’s house, they have a pool. Its fun to swim and chat and hang and chill and all other manner of slang.

But we can’t always get to their house. Like today, our car is in the shop again. That is where our home water park comes in. Here is a picture of it set up.

There is a water slide, a pool and a sprinkler!

Here is the bucket for cleaning feet.

They seem to be having a blast! If the kids are happy, so am I.:)

Mmmm hose water.

Its a wonderful life

So, some people do not believe a stay at home mom lives a life of leisure.

Its true not all may, but a lot do. And that’s ok! I know when I really looked at my days, the time spent, it was by no means WORK. My life is one of leisure.

Take yesterday for example.

I was awakened at 6:45am by E,  K soon followed. It was story time day at the library and if I was going to get some exercise in it had to be now. So I threw a banana at each child and turned on a video.  Pirate is still sleeping he does not need to be up till 8:00am. So I set up the coffee pot before I leave. I drive 1 minute up the road and then walk 1.2 miles, drive 1 minute back home to be there just in time to make breakfast.  Pirate is up getting ready for work and has pushed the button to make the coffee(how nice of him). So I make us all some lovely eggs, and we have breakfast together. We then see Daddy off to work.

Now me and the children get ready to go to story time.  I get a phone call shortly before we leave, its Pirate, he forgot something, can we please bring it. Sure we can! So we go to story time and hear an oral story, play with puppets, talk to friends and hear a few books read, oh and play ring around the rosy. Then we go to Pirate’s work. He gives us a tour and tells the kids about what he does at work(impromptu home school field trip). We then leave Pirate to his job and go to the elementary school for free lunch. Then back home.

The kids spend the afternoon playing with their toys, running around, watching cartoons. I took a nap, surfed the web, did some housework, put a chicken in the crock pot, settled disagreements, the usual.

Then we decided to go to the store and buy a little pool to splash in. I will show you what we came up with in my next posting.;)

Once that was set up, I left the kids to play in the water while I cooked the veggies for dinner. Pirate came home, got himself cleaned up,talked with the kids, and started up his computer. Then it was time to eat and we all had a pleasant dinner together. Then our evening routine. After the kids were in bed Pirate and I hung out in the den talking and playing on our computers.

So really no real WORK on my part.

Moping the floor or cleaning the toilet or wiping a 3 year olds butt is not work. Its life. Its not optional(though some can pay others to clean house and that’s cool too, if you can swing it.).  I chose this life, this life of being with children, this life of keeping our home clean and comfortable. This life of leisure. So all this to say its all how you look at it. Since realizing I had it good, I am much more appreciative of my situation in life and much more appreciative of  Pirate who makes it all possible. In turn Pirate appreciates that there is someone using the place he works hard to pay for and someone keeping it clean and someone who cooks food for him and someone who loves and appreciates all his hard work. Its a beautiful thing. Its a wonderful life.:)

Window into my life

So its been a while since I last posted something. I just feel weird cause I'm not really talking to anyone but myself, but if someone finds this blog they can read it and look through a window into my life. WEIRD!!
But here I am doing it anyway.
Update: Mr. E is now 3 and has potty learned!
Miss K is 5.5 and is working on learning to swim, learning to read and patience.
She just spent a week at Camp Grandma where they had all kinds of adventures.
They rode horses,explored tree houses and butterfly gardens, fed ducks, watched movies and hung out. They had a few issues but overall a good time was had by all.
Me and Mr. E were here by ourselves for the week. I have to say I was a bit bored only having the one kid. It was more quiet, house stayed picked up, life was easy, maybe too easy.
E was soooo happy to have K back home. Even though it was nice to get a bit of a break, I agree with E we all missed her presence.
Which brings me to a thought.
I would like to add another child to our lives! Mr. Pirate is on the fence. I have days where I waver, but I think it would be great. Some people are supportive, others look at us(me) as if the very idea is shear lunacy. We shall see. :)
Ta Ta for now. Perhaps I'll have something better to write about soon. In the meantime, don't forget to live a Life Of Leisure.

I'd Start A Revolution! (If I could get up in the morning.)

There is a revolution brewing in this country.
We all need to do what we can to fight the good fight, even if its small. First we have to get up!!
I found a song I really like. It makes me want to get up!! Its Aimee Allen's Revolution.

Chocolate and Radio

Well I'm doing it! I am eating chocolate and not watching TV but I am listening to the radio. lol
I am sitting on my ass on the computer right now. I could be taking a nap or doing something "productive" but at least this way I can keep an eye on my little people. And yell at them to get out of the bathroom.

Today we got up and made a bunch of corn for our home school group Thanksgiving feast.
We finished making brown paper bag Indian vests last night. They turned out great, but the kids wouldn't wear them.
So we went to group and had a good time and a great feast. I've got to get the recipe for the cranberry nut bread, mmm good.
So we came home and played outside/cleaned up the yard. Its gray and cold out and I feel really sleepy. I have no idea what I'm making for dinner.

On a side note Mr. E has started using the little potty!! Hip hip hurray!!
So we have entered the potty learning phase. I'm looking forward to it cause after he has learned there are no more diapers. But until then there will be a few (or a lot of )messes. Hopefully not too many on our carpet.
Ta Ta For Now........