The Garden Grows...

Sweet potato vine for a tall planter. I love the colors and shapes!

Messing in the garden...

My favorite recent addition: The fountain! Big Sis and I put it in this day, and we are thinking we would like to raise it up some and surround it with large river rocks.

 

Slick wants to help!

Some wild bergamot that I transplanted last fall. Looks great!

New hostas from my aunt's yard are being planted near the Buddha Tree.

Trying  to get some horsetail to transplant. They are sensitive, but let's see how it goes!

This is the look I am going for...
Apparently mine can grow this nicely in one season.

Butterfly bush that a friend dug up for me. Just planted today and looking a little wilty.

Meal Times for the Summer!

The kids and I sat down and figured out what we would like meals to be like for us during this summer. Here is what we came up with!

Breakfasts:
Make your own oatmeal, cereal and milk (no wheat, almond milk), or I will make eggs and stuff.

Lunches:
Monkey Platters. Every day. !! That is what they want! But that is ok. Monkey platters are easy to make.
I will have cut up fruit and vegies with dip and peanutbutter. A variety of nuts (going to start soaking my nuts!), cold cuts, cheeses, this, that, and whateverother.

Dinners:

Sunday ~ Meat Night
A big chunk of meat with side dishes. Simply roasted or crock potted. Pork roast, chicken thighs and sausages,  beef roast. Green salad to start, roasted vegies and potatoes.

Monday ~ American Food Night
Chili with hamburger and beans, meatloaf with mashed potatoes (and cauliflower) and peas and corn, pioneer recipes, quiche or breakfast casserole.

Tuesday ~ Leftovers/Carryout Night
We have a favorite Chinese place where we can all eat for less than 15 bucks.



Wednesday ~ Kid's Night
Finger foods such as taquitos, chicken fingers, hot dogs, mini cheeseburgers (no buns), steak fries, refried beans and chips, etc.
Plus, the kids pick a movie for us all to watch while eating!

Thursday ~ New Food Night
The kids made a list of new foods they want to prepare and try.
Anything we buy at a farmer's market, homemade chips, salads with ethnic foods, almond milk icecream or fruit sorbets, stuffed vegies (artichokes, peppers, grapeleaves), some meals they saw on Simply Ming and Cook's Country.

Friday ~ Mexican Night
Tamales, taco bar,

Saturday ~ Asian Night
Sushi Maki, Thai Curry, Tandoori chicken, miso soup...
Plus we have to eat at our low table on cushions and watch a Miyazaki film!

Helping Out With the Sisters

Big Sister had a work day with The Sisters at a monastery nearby. She loves her quiet, contemplative, and often humorous work time with the Sisters at their home.

Big Sister and The Sister . Love those blue-eyed gals.

Blessed Virgin grove

The Sisters' chapel to the right.

Digging the grass out from around a young tree in order to mulch.

Big Sister's homeschool co-op takes place out here at the monastery, and one of the service projects is to volunteer for work days. What a great experience!

What We Like To Do...Out Of Doors!

Little Brother enjoys a picnic

Big Sister looks for monarch butterfly eggs on the milkweed

An egg! 

A path down to the creek between yards.

Exploring the creek

Setting up the tent and playing on the fort.

Watching the trees blow in the breeze from inside the tent

Enjoying the framed pictures of nature through tent windows

The Mallard Family

Each year several Mallard Duck pairs come to nest in our creek. Big Sister got some great video of one couple just a few days ago!