Hair Cuts & School Days

At least a few times a year we all line up and get haircuts done by Monte, and being that I don't ever see myself sporting a hip or trendy hairstyle,  I think I'm done paying for haircuts. Once school begins anything to make the mornings run smoother is a priority, so this means haircuts.  Joining the crew this year was my sweet soon-to-be Kindergartner.  I think the days of his long locks are a thing of the past, he's tired of the sweaty neck, and the hair in his eyes, especially now that he's riding a two wheeler.

Before

During

After

They'll be a day when I'm nagging him to 'Get a Haircut', but seeing those long curls gone is just another reminder that he's moving up.  What will I do now that he's Kindergarten bound.... that means five days a week (well three once preschool starts) I'm alone (until noon anyhow).  Do I get a job, volunteer, start a new hobby, or pick up a old one?????  I feel as nervous as he does about our new adventures, for 10 years I've had a constant companion, and now what.... I'm out of practice.

Abe only nervously sighed twice waiting for the bus on his first day of Kindergarten, I only sighed once when his hair fell to the ground......  I wonder how many sighs until I feel okay about an empty house..... Wish us both good luck!

Lazy Summer Days

I think the lazy summer days are the ones that I'll miss the most.  They're the days that we seem to be the most connected.  No appointments to keep and deadlines to make, just us and our choice of how to spend the day.   A day on the porch watching the humming birds... a day in the yard working on our masterpieces (Abe sets this up on his own, and what you might wonder was this masterpiece.... a beautiful sunset behind his dad working on a tree, in a cemetery, with a couple of headstones, of which you can see the occupants inside.... every artist has a bit of a dark streak).... a bike ride.... a hike.... or a day at the beach.... all great choices on how to spend our day.  

  

I'm a little sad to see another summer come to a close,  knowing that my children are getting older.... I miss the sweetness of tiny kisses.  But them getting older brings us closer on a different level.  I enjoy our conversations, I love their stories, and I feel extra special when I'm granted entrance into their world and get to see their explorations for the day.  How lucky am I! 

With summer coming to an end I guess I'll do what I can to squeeze a couple more outings just like these before we trade swimsuits for backpacks, and lazy days for homework (blech!).

Garden Journal

 
These last few weeks in the garden:

-We've been fortunate enough to have a seriously late crop of peas, that despite there arrival date were very tasty.

-Harvested more squash & zucchini (please save us!), beans, cucumbers, and a second crop of strawberries.

-Spotted the first few butternut squash almost ready to pick.

-Feasted on tomatoes (even Bob)... I've made 8 quarts of salsa, gallons of pico, and tomato on toast has become a twice a day snack.

-Been slightly disappointed at our pumpkin production (I only see one, and a couple of reeeeaaaally tiny ones).

-Reminded myself once again that I must thin the carrots earlier.... baby carrots????

-I've googled at least a half dozen ways to properly salt and prepare sunflower seeds so that they are just as good as the ones we buy at the store.

-And.....Weeellllll.... Reeeeallllly... I've actually been pretty neglectful in my gardening duties as I hit the road with a couple of friends on a weekend thrifting marathon.... which resulted in the $2.50 purchase of this huge, hand quilted, 100% polyester, multicolored quilt.  It only took four washes, a half gallon of vinegar, and a solid week of airing out to rid it of the moth ball smell.... it was worth every bit of work and smart comments made by the male population in the house.... I love the look of it hanging from the outside bridge.

Maybe I'll manage to get one more post of the garden before it's all gone, but if not, please save me from myself and come take what you can (although the zucchini lasagna wasn't all that bad)..... and..... Happy Gardening! 

Garden Journal

This week in the Garden:

-The garden continues to grow in an unruly tangle of plants.... just like someones hair?!???

-Sunflowers are starting to emerge from all over.... including a basil box & amongst the pumpkin patch (I think this one currently measures over 10 feet.... fingers crossed it doesn't break).

-The zinnias have reached full bloom, which lead me to pull out some pretty sad peas and plant more zinnias in their place.

-I'll soon be harvesting my first ever broccoli crop.

-I harvested a dozen or more zucchinis, even after this weekends feast of 20+ used.... I have a delicious zucchini brownie recipe if anyone is interested?

-Another fort was built and abandoned when wet weather hit.

-I scored a great deal at Lowes, and convinced the nursery guy to let a bunch of Daisy plants go at a REALLY discounted price.... I think it will be an amazing cutting garden ... and maybe I dead headed them early enough that I'll get a second bloom?????

-Another prank has been adverted... Nice try boys, but snakes that size never just appear in the sink.

 

 

Better Luck next week boys....... Happy Gardening!!!

Tony Grove

 

Our trip to the coast was postponed, so instead we decided to take a quick trip to Tony Grove... What a beautiful place, a place where we made a list full of favorites:

-The wildflowers..... A-MAZ-ZING... I have never seen so many wildflowers in bloom at the same time, it was breathtaking.

-Hikes with little brothers.

-The painful realization of not wearing shoes (well... probably not a favorite of Abe's, but a favorite that I captured the moment.... sorry Abe!)

-Wildflowers taller than Trigger.

 

 

-Sol making and testing his own raft.... it was a short, wet exploration... he needed to work out a few kinks in his raft construction.

-Woodcarving... a fish, an owl, a number of daggers, and a bandit walking stick.

-The possible discovery of fairy life.

-Wildflowers taller than Abe.

 

-Fishing.

-Rock Climbing.

-Rock Climbing on rocks that look like they are eating a small child.

-Wildflowers taller than both Sol & Jo. 

-Warmth of the morning sun (& a photobombing dog)

-Helping Dad with morning preparations.

-A swim out to a tiny island, in a very cool lake, with a small back riding companion, who informed me half way.... 'Oh yeah, there is no way I am letting my nipples get wet!'.

-Wildflowers taller than Monte.... have I mentioned the wildflowers?!?!

-And lastly.... a return visit to Minnetonka Caves, that went considerably better than our last, when Abe (just a babe) cried 880 of the 888 steps.... Oh how times have changed.

Here's to the hopes of a return visit to Tony Grove and the most memorable wildflower display (I told you about the wildflowers... right?)!!!