When the lawnmower...

...causes you to float a single Bloom in a Crystal dish.

Can you see him?

A little batty.  Just hanging out on the playhouse roof...in broad daylight.

It was a Pickin' weekend for Miss Raegan

Fiddle (She's got a neighborhood gig in a couple of weeks. Lots of good soul-satisfying, folk music.)...

and Pea (purple-podded stringless).

Dark Chocolate Chai Tea Soap

New junk (I mean, Junque!) in my shop.

Summertime Salad

Summertime Salad

Sautéed Chicken (in olive oil and minced garlic)

Pesto-filled Tortellini

Sliced Red Onion

Grape Tomatoes

Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil

Kalamon (Kalamata) Olives

Feta Cheese (I found some made in Israel - from Trader Joe's)

Italian Dressing*

*As Mary Jane says, use organic ingredients, if possible.

Toss it all together and serve in the garden in the late afternoon sun.

Cottonwood fluff optional.

Food for Father's Day

 

When you like to eat, that's what you focus on for special occasions.  I tried out a tomato, red onion, smoked mozzarella salad with salt and pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and some basil ribbons.  Not unlike one I enjoyed in Bavaria many years ago.  Though I probably like it better now than when I was sixteen.

 

 

 

 This is my favorite new thing now.

 

 

The man of the house grills the meat.

 

 

How very thankful we are for Daddy.

Lavender Drying for my Etsy Shop

Raegan Turns Ten

Bittersweet.  This little bug has been our pride and joy for a whole decade already!

 

How I miss those pudgy little arms, but I love the sweet little lady she is getting to be!

 

Preteen.  *Sigh* 

The Honeybees' Favorite Drinking Fountain

The pond in the front yard.

They come here every day for a sip.

Wednesday

 

Volunteer sunflowers are blooming in the garden.

 

A freshly cleaned coop for some happy hens.

The honeybees are fed and I found one reveling in a pumpkin flower.

Morgan Turns Seven On Easter

And has a blast at her Frozen themed party at the inflatable bouncers.  We had Sven's Carrot Cakes and Olaf's Summer Dream Punch ~ which melted ~ as we should have expected.  It was complete with ice cream "snow balls" that fizzed into nothing and a carrot nose that sank to the bottom of the punch bowl.

 

Chicks (Farmgirls and Fowl)

We brought home four new babies yesterday: Jersey Black Giant, California White, Production Red, and Welsummer.  Raegan says, "I can't believe we got four chicks!"  Daddy says, "Neither can I!"

Names pending.  I'm thinking Shakespearean (Bianca, Cymbeline, Rosalind, Titania...); the girls are set on whimsical.

 

I'm also a farmgirl for the second year ~ chick #4908 ~ and have my lovely charm necklace to celebrate.  I just love MaryJane's Farm!



A Full February

It's the shortest month, but somehow we seem to pack more into it than any other. 

We attended the Sleeping Beauty ballet.

 

 

 

 

 

Toured the Flower and Garden Show.

 

 

 

And played in the snow.

 

 

How fun is it to grow perfect little paperwhites in the middle of winter?

 

These three little girls are always greeted on Valentine's morning with sweets from their biggest sweetheart - Daddy. ♥

 

 

No February is complete for this family without a trip to Port Gamble.  Our first goal is a scrumptious breakfast and tour of the sea museum at the General Store, with a detour through the candy aisle before we go.

Yarn and Other Treasures

 

Lately I've been enjoying the benefits of getting up before my little ones to enjoy a little quiet time with Jesus, and maybe get a little creative project going.  Slowly making my way through the book of Matthew, I'm reading about setting my mind and heart on spiritual treasures, and "taking no care" for the temporal.  Which is difficult for me.  But it brings me back to the "little" things that truly matter for eternity: the hearts of my three little ladies and dear husband, and the delightful blessing of