settling into summer break

We are about three weeks into summer vacation.  The first week was very exciting with our roadtrip to Maryland and back.  The last couple weeks have been much quieter as we settle into a comfortable routine of play, creativity, exploration, and even rest.  The days do seem calmer without the need to rush off to school and back.  I wonder how that could be since the littles were only in preschool and kindergarten.  I am also excited about the possibilities that could mean as we start our homeschool journey in the fall.

Here is a glimpse into one of our days this week.

These big brothers take their role in life seriously (unless of course they're "learning about animals" by watching wildkratts when every dvd, blanket, and board game could be pulled out around their feet and they wouldn't have a clue how it happened).  They even like to call themselves "achachi" the Malayalee respectful word for big brother.  As for Ezra, he loves being part of the pack and delights in his brothers' attention, and as a mamma, I love that.  So much so, that sometimes it's even worth forgoing the usual "get down off the table" and "don't make a mess."

Wouldn't you know that we've jumped back down into the 60's after being near 100 degrees for a few days.  Other than the difficulty of figuring out which clothes to keep out, I'm not complaining.  When the sun is out, these are perfect temperatures to be out playing in the dirt.  So, with little helper in tow, I went out to plant a few more veggies and check on our seedlings. 

I don't think I will ever tire of seeing how buried seeds sprout into new life.  Reminds me of this verse always, "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels--a plentiful harvest of new lives."


little feet in the dirt

 

gardener in training

The boys and I refilled our tiny sandpit.  We found an old brush and funnel at a yard sale for 10 cents each.  They've had so much fun playing out there.  It was definitely worth the little investment.

notice the critters that have come out to play.  they keep asking for a real pet (especially jude). 



oh, it's a smiley face!  and i thought i was called over to see some sort of interesting sand castle design.

And to wind down the day, we tasted our first home-made popsicles.  They had each picked out flavors the night before.  Nathaniel had a layered one with strawberry banana and blueberry-almond.  Jude decided on strawberry banana for himself and Ezra.  Ethan, he came up with pear and peach - something to do with matching his green holder.  I could do a little personality analysis just based on this activity. I think we will be making more of these.  I might even have to try these fudgesicles.

My goodness, what a long post!  I suppose these summer days also gives me more time for blogging.

a late start

With everything else that's been going on like little one's graduating and brother's getting engaged and not to mention the slow start to spring and still cool temperatures, we have just started to clean out our garden.  I am planning on not doing so much this year for several reasons.  For one, we expect to travel to the East Coast right around peak harvest.  I've also signed up with a CSA this summer and given that we have one more planned year here (oh my!) I don't want to overstock our pantries and freezers with goodness that we won't be able to move.

All that being said, it is nearly impossible to sit inside and leave the garden space unused... for me or the littles!  We found a stack of books about gardening at the library, and I believe the boys have been inspired.  Both yesterday and today, they have been quite eager to "get to gardening" and have gone out without me to start digging and cleaning out the incredible abundance of weeds in our little beds.

ezra usually hangs out in the stroller

but we let him out, so he could get his feet and hands wet.

We've got one more bed to weed out and then we've got some heirloom tomatoes and peppers to put in.   We'll also be doing some beans, peas, beets, radishes, kale, and carrots.  We may even put in some eggplant and okra -- but they do like warm temps which we haven't felt much.



of course, he ended up right in the middle of things

 I let the boys have one garden bed all for themselves.  They planted it with sunflowers, cosmos, and nasturtium.  I was going for larger seeds and easy to grow plants.  I do hope they come out.  They also have marigolds, but I like to co-plant those with the veggies to help with insects and such.  I did sneakily sprinkle in some chamomile in their bed too.  I know I won't have lots for tea, but I would like to try just a small batch.  How fun to make my own tea! 



my dwarves tire quickly though.  then they go play.  ezra loves the slide.  and his brothers love toting him around.  i am so glad to finally have this totally ezra-smile on film.



oh look, he found our little sandbox.  sand and water... hours of delight.  but first, i must remember to buy more sand.

and he's on the move

My happy, little man is 6 months (and three days) and he's finding his way into lots of new and interesting things.  He's constantly rolling, spinning, and scooching into new exploration.  Today, he even sat up on his own for a bit.  It's great fun for his brothers and of course exciting to watch him grow, but I do wish he would stay a babe in arms for a bit longer. 

I was out in the garden with him picking what must be the end of the season vegetables, and he was itching to get in my basket.  So, after a quick rinse I let him get his fingers on all the different textures.

And then wouldn't you know, he rolled off the mat to go explore something else.  A water puddle... could you blame him?

from the garden: carrots

This is the first time we've grown carrots.  And, I can't believe how much fun it is.  I think some of the fun comes from the carrot being a root vegetable, so it's always a suprise what you get when you pull them up.  The boys love tugging them out of the ground. I can barely get them washed up before they want to start chomping on them.

what's in the garden

Carrots, radishes, lettuce and herbs in the raised bed.  The beets, beans, and peas are sprouting.  In the back beds, we have tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, zucchini, bell peppers, and of course chili peppers.  The rabbits got to the kale already.  I'm trying out acorn squash and tomatillo for the first time. 

i've got a lot of helpers who pay no attention to my directions on what to pick.  but i love that they're so interested in helping me.

and it all goes in to making a yummy salad:

bouquets

Every time J & E see cut flowers at the store, they say: "Momma, those flowers are for you."  And they carry on until I say thank you.  Needless to say most of these flowers do not come home with us... but sometimes I just can't resist.  Such was the case this past weekend.

Peonies with their vibrant and fragrant blooms are one of my favorite. To my great delight, I found some at the farmer's market this weekend. I wonder how the ones I planted in PA are coming along.

spring fever

i miss that wild and crazy bush

and its dainty yellow flowers

...images from here

and to think that back in PA, i considered cutting it down every year because it took so much effort to prune it just right to get those yellow buds come early spring. 

i think i'm also going to miss the lilacs, hydrangeas, azaleas, rhododendrons, clematis, and rose of sharon.  i don't see myself planting all these again here, so i shall have to content myself with making a list and planning for a future garden.

of course small scale gardening is under foot here as well.. phlox and daisies, lavender, primrose, delphiniums, various annuals, and i am hoping to get at least one hydrangea in.   and of course, the vegetable/herb garden. 

like my boys, i do like playing in the mud.