Fresh from the Garden

I'm not big on tending a vegetable garden (flowers are a little more my style), but eating vegetables from the garden is a different story. My husband and his family love to garden, which is a benefit for me, because he can tend to it while I only need to eat the fruits of his labor! He makes this massive garden that becomes almost to hard to keep up with. So when mid July to August hits, watch out, because you are going to be eating potatoes/ corn/ zucchini/ squash/ tomatoes/ beans out of your ears!

Anyway, the other day we had dinner at my brother in-law's house, when we noticed something. The entire meal we were eating was either caught or home grown! Nothing came from the store (with the exception of butter and rolls). And it was one of the most delicious meals I have had in a long time. We had steamed brocolli and beans, potatoes (which once you've had from the garden, you'll never like a store bought one again), corn, a red pepper relish (to put on the potato), cooked red cabbage (which I never liked until I had this), and grilled salmon (caught from Lake Michigan). Mmmm, I love the taste of summer.

Bloggy Block

I've come to a bit of a Blogger Block. I'm having trouble coming up with things to write in my blog (if you haven't noticed from my lack of writing for the last 5 days). Anyway, I came to the realization that I was searching for anything in my day that I could blog about, just to blog (which may be fine for some people, for many of you are excellent writers with the ability to put humor in almost any situation). As for me, the pressure to keep up with the Bloggy Jones' outways the therapy I receive from writing down the few thoughts I have on my blog. So from now on, I will probably slow down on my blogging a bit, so as not to stress my pretty little head. Sorry to my many fans (all three of you), but I will still blog when the mood strikes, or my adorable kiddos say something too cute to keep to myself.

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Here are some of the funny things my kids have done/said this week (if you would like to read some other cute kid sayings, click here: http://notbefore7.blogspot.com/2007/08/tiny-talk-tuesday_14.html

Kyra (2 yr): (running into the room with much excitement) Mommy, mommy I just got Katie to say TOES!
Mommy: That's wonderful!
Kyra: Yeah, but she won't say Doodlebops (baby steps, Kyra, baby steps)
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Kyra: (entering the room with a memory game) Mommy can we play this game? I heard it was very interesting!
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Kyra: Daddy, guess what we saw today?
Daddy: What's that?
Kyra: A springmattress.
Daddy: (looking in my direction with an odd look) You saw what?
Kyra: A sperringmattress (practically spelling it out to him, like duh!)
Mommy: A praying mantis.
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(Kyra runs to me with books in hand, as I am currently checking books out)
Kyra: Mommy, can we check this book out too?
Mommy: (I glance through it quick) Kyra, I'm afraid this book is too old for you.
Kyra: I need to have it Mom. I really, really need it.
Mommy: Alright. (I give in with a sigh, as I check out the book she had to have -The History of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur! That will be a great bedtime story)

Food Chain

Disclaimer: okay, for all those faint at heart, or people that can't stomach anything having to do with snakes, STOP READING HERE....there are pictures involved you may not want to see.

Yesterday, my brother in-law found a snake on my doorstep. Now fortunately, I am not one who cringes at even the thought of a snake, so when he told me to take a look, I came along. I find snakes kind of interesting to watch (weird I know), but I was curious to see how long this porch snake was and what it was up to.

Of course, when we crept upon it, I saw that it was not only quite a large snake, but it was a snake devouring a toad! Here's where it gets a little twisted, I actually was very intrigued in seeing just how this snake was going to eat this toad. Although the snake was quite large, the toad was about 3 times the size as his mouth (I mean hey buddy, pick on someone your own size). My brother in-law and I had bets going on to see if he was actually going to accomplish his goal in eating the toad. It seemed impossible. So I proceeded to check on the guy every 1/2 hour or so. And to my surprise, he did it! It took probably 2 hours, but he did it. He didn't care for it too much when I came in close for a good shot (in fact if it weren't for the toad in his mouth, I think he might have gone for me for antagonizing him), but it sure was interesting watching nature take its course.

Mudpies

I figured I was safe to turn my head from Katie for a minute to watch my oldest daughter do her newest trick in peddling her bicycle ("watch me, watch me!"). I was wrong (you think I would know by now). The minute I looked back the stroller she was playing with was in the driveway and my daughter was gone. Fortunately we have a big enough yard, that I knew she wasn't in the street or anything, so I didn't exactly panic. I did however run around the corner of the corn fields, to find her crouched in a mudpile! Yes, after this lovely rain (praise the Lord), we have mud - and our daughter was thoroughly enjoying it. The sight of her was too hard to resist in taking her picture!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

I've begun to write down some of the cute things my kids say, and perhaps some day down the road they can read what they said and be amused. I got this idea from another blogger, but am not sure how to put up links to her site or others. Perhaps next time.


After a day at the zoo:
Daddy: What did you see at the zoo?
Kyra: Monkeys
Daddy: What else did you see?
Kyra: Martini Monkeys (more teeny monkeys)
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After a potty training accident:
Daddy: Kyra, it's okay but you need to try and remember to go potty in the toilet or let Mommy or Daddy know you have to go.
Kyra: It was just an accident Daddy. I'm really a sweetheart.
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Kyra: Mommy, I have a new song for you. It's called Jesus and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!
Mommy: Oh really, why don't you sing it for me?
(in the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)
Kyra: Twinkle and Jesus, Twinkle and Jesus, Tinkle and Jesus, Tinkle and Jesus, Done
(of course as the song progressed, she got faster and faster, and the Twinkle ended up sounding like Tinkle)
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And finally, this morning I was watching the morning news before the kids woke up, when Kyra walked in the bedroom. She walked in just as pictures of the Alquida (sp?) were in view. Looking at their turbans, she said: "look Mom, they're wearing party hats!"

Gardening

My mother is a wonderful gardener. She loves talking about flowers, she loves tending to her flowers, and even just being with the flowers. I grew up learning just how much water the plants needed, doing the grueling task of weeding, and taking numerous walks around the yard to identify what was what and how much they had grown (my favorite part). So, I just assumed that the gardening gene would be passed on. I was wrong. Okay, I'm not a bad gardener, that's proof from these pictures (of course I didn't take pictures of the dozens that are wilting away). Maybe it just takes years and years of experience (and perhaps the energy that is currently taken away from 2 preschoolers). I do love the excitement in the spring when you go to the nursery, pick out your little baby flowers, and mentally plan out each spot they will take in your yard. I don't even mind taking the time to plant each one and water them for the first few weeks. However, after vacations are taken, heat sets in, and it hasn't rained in what seems like a month, I lose interest. I took my garden tour today and most of my plants have been either eaten up by Japanese Beetles, taken over from a certain kind of mold, or plain died from my lack of attention. All I can do now is care for the ones that endured the many hardships and give thanks that I have hardy plants that make my garden look somewhat healthy!