almost summer.

Even though we have been feeling under the weather with the worst ever spring allergies, we still have had to get out and try to enjoy this summer-like weekend as much as we were able. It has been so hot hoT HOT!


Our long weekend, in between having one day with a sick boy (and me somehow having a never ending migraine for over 4 days now---so tired of allergies!!!!), was full of water blasters, gardening, practice casting into the little pool, sparklers, robin watching and lots of ice cream breaks.


Not to mention haircuts...a haircut for one boy in particular who swore he didn't ever want to cut his hair. Until of course his long dark super thick hair was a bit much in the 90 degree with humidity weather - and then he said CUT IT OFF!


In fact, he liked the cut so much he posed and acted like a rock star. For hours. I can imagine his head feels pounds lighter and SO much cooler. They both look so good with their new styles. And the haircut is much better for the super soaker battles with the neighbor kids - you just towel off and go, no dripping! :)


Hope you all had a great weekend!

hatched!

We have hatched robins! Yesterday I checked and saw one had hatched, and by this afternoon we have 3. Only one little egg left, most likely will hatch in the next day or so. They are so tiny. Little bits of pink skin and fuzz.

We have been reading about robin eggs and juveniles, and we only have 10-15 days after hatching before they start to dive out of the nest. The nest is just above my eye level, so I have been holding the camera up in the air and taking pix down into the nest when the mom is gone. I did get a video for the boys too - we don't want to disturb them too much, but they really want to see as we go along. The birds picked the perfect spot for the nest - our yard has lots of spots to hide, lots of worms, fresh water, and an arbor with pot holders which is so convenient for nest building.

Very exciting!

lucky boy.

scorcher.

We can tell summer is close when everything gets so green and the days turn excruciatingly hot. When the kids on our block pour out into their side yards in the evening to play in the hose (I mean, water the garden), fly down the slip'n'slide, run through the sprinkler or splash in a little pool.


When any yard could have lots of wet happy kids and chatting parents - as neighbors congregate to 'catch up' after not seeing as much of each other over the past 6 months and kids go from yard to yard (and back) playing.


The boys love seeing all the kids and playing in the chilly water. Tomorrow is supposed to be another hot one, but we know just what to do to cool down - and we have enough popsicles for everyone!

moments to remember...

Me: "Whatcha doin'?"
Him: "Standing on the table."
Me: "Yes, but, um, why?"
Him: "You just parlished the table."
Me: "Yep, I did just polish the table."
Him: "Well, I want to see if my footprints show up on the parlish!"

waiting...watching...

"To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life." ~John Burroughs

Happy Friday!

it doesn't get much better than this.

Brothers. Best friends.
I love these guys.

I had two sick boys on the couch all day today - cuddled together,
snuggling, comforting each other. When I downloaded these photos from my camera from yesterday...well, my heart is full.

crafty boys.

The boys have been wanting to paint their wooden picnic table, so we headed to the hardware store and they picked out their colors and had them added to their paints. They chose a nice red for the legs/seat, and chocolate chalkboard paint for the top.



We prepped everything when we got home, and the three of us got to work painting painting painting. We let it dry and then of course they had to test the chalkboard top immediately and scribbled all over it with chalk and then rinsed it off --- perfect!


It looks so nice - they are very thrilled with the result of their choices and hard work! :) Sweet!

the new 'do'

(before)

Ms. Bianca the angora rabbit has a new 'do'. Today was the day. I first brushed and then plucked her fur (she starts to shed easily when she has a full coat) until it was brushing out pretty clean, and then using embroidery scissors I trimmed the rest of her fur as short as I could, keeping all of the fibers as long as possible. I save the plucking 'wool' in one bag, and the long trim 'wool' all facing the same direction in another bag.

plucked

trimmed

Angora rabbits can be plucked/trimmed about 4 times a year...she was getting pretty full for warmer days, and I'm sure she feels much cooler now. I managed to finish about 85% of her, and she has a little skirt for the day. Tomorrow I will trim the belly, which is more of a challenge, as rabbits don't really like being flipped over ... so all that is left can be done quickly after a little break so it doesn't stress her out.

(after)

She looks about half her size now - the cat isn't quite so intimidated! ;)

in my kitchen...

There is always something happening in our kitchen. Something fermenting or rising or culturing, dehydrating or stewing. With so much available to us here in southern Wisconsin (and in our garden) we make many things from scratch...I just love making my own yogurt, butter, kombucha, bread, or vanilla extract and growing trays of greens and herbs. There is something deeply satisfying about spreading homemade butter or jam on a piece of fresh out of the oven bread. And the process of making each thing is very meditative for me - I love it. I need it.







This week we have a lot happening as we grow through spring - I feel so good when we have a pantry full of delicious things we have canned, and I feel downright prosperous seeing a counter full of goodness in the works. This week we had rhubarb and the canning jars above are the top of the top...ginger rhubarb fridge jam. Oh yes, it.is.GOOD!


So - what is happening in your kitchen this week? What is in season where you live?

(top to bottom:: rhubarb, butter, vanilla extract, watercress, mixed greens, kefir, jam, kombucha)

street sports.

While A found the perfect sparring gear at a garage sale over the weekend, G found a skateboard. A has one he rarely uses but G did NOT want to ride that one, he wanted his OWN. He was so excited he found one, and when we got home he immediately looked for some gear to go with it so he could get right outside. A has the full set of pads for his rollerblading (the boys love gear) and we found some kneepads and gloves for G. The boys got decked out and went into the alley - A on his blades, G with his new skateboard.


As was expected the always graceful G stepped on and skated off immediately like he had been skateboarding his whole life (I knew he wouldn't need those kneepads, but he wanted gear!). He even had a few tricks down within 30 minutes. Sweet!


He wanted me to take some photos of him, and was pretty cute giving me his skateboarder attitude.


Of course this guy was pretty cute all decked out, playing street hockey with a giant plastic golf club he found. :)


Love it!!!

photo of the day::ready for action

corner view:: garden

I have missed a few corner views lately, and with a garden theme this week, I knew I had to jump back in.


We have had an 'early spring' this year in our part of Wisconsin. Not much rain, but a lot of warmth and sunshine. So much is green, blooming and weeks ahead of normal.



We have been cutting greens from outside for a while now already - mesclun, spinach, rocket. Radishes, beets, carrots and peas have been succession planted, so we'll have them for long while. With all the warmth we are also seeing currants, raspberries, and strawberries!


The rhubarb is looking quiet lovely. I can't wait for fresh rhubarb and strawberry something-or-other for dessert!


A lot of herbage is up - lemon balm, borage, lovage, mint, parsley, chives. The tulips have already passed peak, and the lilacs are in full bloom. They smell so amazing, I often find myself standing near the bush, just inhaling.


While I understand the gardeners love of fancy flowers, I love herbs, fruit and vegetables. To find so much grace and beauty in that which nourishes and sustains us draws me in, and I could wander all day staring at the flowers of arugla going to seed, or the blossoms on a squash vine.


We of course have hundreds of seedlings still going inside, to be transplanted out after 'last frost', and some things are just being started in trays this week like all of the squash.


Ms. Hunka Bianca, our angora rabbit, has been loving her special turnip greens treat every morning - those are about done for the season, but we have many more greens for her to enjoy throughout the summer too. Munch, munch.

I can't wait to see what is growing in all of the other corner views - I am definitely a garden fan. Be sure to visit Spain Daily for the grand list of links, or check out Joyce who is substitute host this week!