Date Night

Here's a new one: Worm Catching.

Yup! The Carpenter... uh... King Worm Catcher and his Lady Robin just got in from hunting Night Crawlers! Golly, I've not done this since I was a kid (and then only once!) I couldn't believe how FAST those suckers were! 3 or 4 would be visible under the light of the flashlight and as soon as you reached for one ZOOM! they were GONE! And when you did grab one, my goodness, they're LONG!

Anyway, that was fun. Next time we'll make it a family event; I'm sure you'll hear giggles and squeals clear across the country!

Photo Extravaganza

At long last I am posting some pictures of our recent past! Below you will see Phin's wound (the stitches are now out) our garden, my modest beginnings at "Preserving Food Without Canning or Freezing", my drying rack (made by the Carpenter), and some photos from our resent maiden voyage with Annie, the Duck Bus. Hope you enjoy! In no particular order...

Phin's Wound - pre stitches

My Drying Rack - with celery leaves spread atop

Preserving Food!!!

(Back Row) "Rumtopf", Dandelion Wine, Swiss Chard Ribs (SCR), SCR, SCR

(Row of 1 qt Jars) Black Raspberries in Brandy, Sauerkraut, Radishes, Celery, (little jar) SCR

(Pint jar in front) Broccoli Stem Kraut!

Lilly Digging

Garden View

Potatoes in Sacks

Calendula About to Bloom

Wind Swept

Dirt Eater

Garden View 2

The following pictures are from "Camp" - Andrew's Grandma's little home up on Lake Ontario.

And these are from "Schroon Lake," where my grandparents live during the summer.

A First Time For Everything

And today was a first time for one of our kids to have stitches! On his way to the breakfast table, Phinehas (age 4) tripped on air and fell, gashing his eyebrow on the edge of one of our kitchen chairs (hard and wooden). He came up roaring with rage and quivering in pain/anger. I scooped him up, took him to the bathroom, put a cool, wet washcloth on the VERY ugly wound and called the Carpenter and said, "Can you please come home right now; Phin bumped his head and probably needs stitches." Needless to say, my Hero made it home right quick!

In the mean time, I put Phin on the couch with an ice pack over the washcloth and a little cup of cheerios (a big treat for the kids.) He was quiet so I called a local Dr.'s office to see if we could take him there rather than the hospital; it was a go! By then, Phin started whimpering. I asked him if he was OK: "Yes." What's wrong?: "I want to eat my breakfast!" In that moment I knew Phinehas was going to be just fine!

Anyway, my Hero took Phin to get his three stitches and Phin was a champ - kept his hands down the whole time... and then got to go back to work with Andrew. Probably, in Phin's mind, the wound was worth it to get to work with Papa!!

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Speaking of first times for everything, you'd think that maybe there would be a first time for me to take timely pictures of my super cool drying rack I mentioned before; however, though it has been on my to do list for about 5 days, obviously I've not gotten to it! I promise I'll try and get them up before the summer is out! (And who knows? Maybe you'll get to see a picture of Phin's stitches! Hah!)

Elderflowers, Red Clover Blossoms, and My Hero

Presently, as I type, I have a nice set of four homemade drying racks for drying all sorts of lovely herbacious type things, made my none other than the Carpenter (my Hero) himself. Today I tramped across a ditch and through some tall, mosquito infested grasses to a large elder bush, heavy laden with lacy white blossoms. I snapped off an armful of branches and now the delicate clusters are spread out on one of the racks. Beneath the rack of elderflowers is a rack of almost dried red clover blossoms, needing just one more day before they can be stowed away in a jar, ready to be added to teas. (Red clover tea is an excellent remedy for coughs; I also add it to an inflammation tea that Andrew drinks)

Soon, wild strawberry leaves and fresh mint will be added to the drying rotation and later on yarrow and mullein will follow. On my way home from the library I spotted the grandfather of all elder berry bushes behind a neighbor's barn; I'd venture to guess that he will let me collect a good amount of berries later in the season. I'm hoping to dry lots of random extras from the garden so they are ready to be tossed into soups all winter long. Its fun having these handy drying racks - just pick some stuff and toss it on, gather it up a few days later and stuff it in a jar! Plus, the kids can help: you know - pick a red clover blossom here, gallop through the grass whinnying like a horse, pick another blossom there and eat it... They keep me smiling!

Annie, the Duck Bus

Annie, the Duck Bus

Meet Annie, the new addition to our family – named by Abigail, of course. We picked her up yesterday and brought her home. She is a Mallard Sprinter – hence “Duck Bus.” Today, the Carpenter has become the Mechanic and is changing filters, sparkplugs, and a bunch of other things I know nothing about. Both Phin and Abbi are trying to help now and again: “Phin, hand me that filter.” “What filter?” “The thing I gave to you a little while ago!” “I don’t know where it is.” “Find it!” “Oh. Is this it?” “Yes, son. Thank you.” In a couple weeks we are going to take a trial trip up to Lake Ontario to visit G-G (Great Grandma). The kids have been told that, yes, they can be excited about a trip to “Camp” but that they need to NOT whine or beg about wanting to go sooner. Their solution? “Elroy [the dog]! Do you wanna go to camp TOMORROW?! Yeah, boy! Sure you do! Mama, Elroy wants to go to camp TOMORROW!” Hmph.

On a different note, after we had been singing on the car ride home from getting Annie, I got all teary eyed when Abigail said, “Mama, if you were silent for 100 years but you were still alive that whole time, I would really miss your voice.”

Sharp-Shooter and Schooling

Yep. I'm now a sharp-shooter. (For today, at least.) I shot a squirrel (for Elroy to eat) on the first shot. The bullet went in right under the poor, unsuspecting creature's chin, dead center. I was so shocked that I actually hit the critter that I forgot to feel remotely sorry that I ended it's life (but when I did think of it, I only gave it a fleeting thought as the bugger had ben in my garden!!!)

Onto a completely different topic: Homeschooling

You probably know that we are planning on homeschooling. We've unofficially been doing it for 5 years now! Well, I was absolutely dreading July 1st, the date I THOUGHT I had to register Abbi with the local school district. Last night I was filled with elation as I discovered that I don't have to do a thing until NEXT year, when she is 6! Hip hip, HOORAY!!!

Random Ramblings

You'd think that since I now have more regular internet access I would post my rambling thoughts more often. I guess not. But here are a few of them, in no particular order:

Summer snow: The cottonwood fluff floating on the warm breeze, sticking to wet, dewy feet in the morning sunlight. I like this snow!

Multiflora Rose: Invasive, persistent, threaded with thorns, choking out other life... but such a heady scent! I can't bring myself to dislike this glorious plant! Now it blossoms in splendor; in the autumn it will be laden with tiny hips, tart on the tongue, full of goodness.

Ice Cream: Whoever invented it was a genius. I hope he died fat and happy.

Lady's Smock: That white and purple fragrant flower that we all call wild phlox. I've had armloads of them brought to me by the children! And there is even one persistent plant growing high up in the crotch of a tree! We had fun imagining the fairies planting it... or the chipmunks... or the birds... or the wind.

Orioles and Full Moons: Last week we had a full moon. The nights were crystal clear and when the moon was at its highest the quiet night was shattered by the voice of the oriole we have nesting in a nearby tree! Incredible music. Breathtaking. Clear, simple, pure, lovely!

Anniversary Apricots: Yesterday was our anniversary! The Carpenter and his wife have been married for 8 years; each grows sweeter than the last. To celebrate we had "Anniversary Apricots" - apricots soaked in brandy with pieces of vanilla intermingled in the jar. They sat for two months; it really was a coincidence that they were ready on our anniversary, but we took advantage of it! They are yummy. Not something that you would necessarily crave and want to consume vast quantities of (like the afore mentioned ice cream). But they are refreshing! If you come and visit, we'll share!

Well, that is all for now, except for a quaint little funny that Abigail said earlier today:

Twice today our Suburban would not start; the battery is old and lacking. So, after the second time, Abigail declared that "Papa needs to get us a new battery. He can get rid of the old one and put the new, baby one in and it can grow up to be BIG and STRONG!!"