Livin' Life On Bixby Avenue

Simple Sunday Pleasures

2012-02-19T16:15:00.028-06:00

Spring is in the air! Can you smell it?

At the grocery store yesterday, I came upon Victoria magazine, which I used to subscribe to years ago, but had stopped production.

It's a fun magazine just for the delightful photos so I grabbed a copy to enjoy at home. The bright colorful flowers on the cover were enough to draw my attention.

It did not disappoint. I love the idea of setting a table outside with a tablecloth & fresh flowers. And, look at those things hanging from the tree! Are they paper doilies? Very pretty.

Despite the fact that I share this house with 4 other people, I found myself happily alone in a silent living room yesterday. The sun was streaming through the window as I paged through my new magazine. Bliss.

I would like to try this recipe called Baked Eggs Marsala. You bake them in single servings. What a fancy idea.

And now I'm craving egg salad sandwiches, one of my all time favorites.

I spent a large part of the day reading my next book club book, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. I still haven't finished, but I truly enjoy her writing style. She captures real life situations, that's for sure.

To top off the day, we had homemade burgers with all the fixin's for supper (even fried onions), complete with ice cream sundaes for dessert. A summer-type supper. Mmmm!

It's the simple things...

February... the month of Love

2012-02-08T21:39:00.080-06:00

What a thrill to watch my cousin, Brandon, marry his best friend, Abby, last weekend. Brandon was the ring bearer at my wedding 20 years ago (a little trivia I knew you'd enjoy). They are the sweetest.couple.ever. Trust me, they ARE.

In other big news... while shopping for dress clothes with my three boys, they declared they would prefer suits. These are the same boys who wear jeans and t-shirts every day of their lives.

I can barely get them to put on a dress shirt for Christmas (but they do) so you can imagine my surprise (and great joy) when all three were interested in a new suit.

Suits they wanted so suits they got! I am biased, of course, but I thought they looked like The Beatles (minus one).

My cousin, Heather, talking to her new sister-in-law (Mom Vicki in the background). Adorable.

Time for cake.

The Blues Brothers?

The other side of the table: the Real troublemakers. Don't let them fool you.

Have I mentioned my boys wore suits?

My Aunt Vicki (my mom's seester) and my Uncle Dave. The proud parents of the groom.

Meine familie.

Youngest to oldest: Ethan, Ashley, Alex, Elliot.

I kind of like these four kids. Just a little. Wait... kids? Okay, teens, young adults, students? They're hardly "kids" anymore.

Cousin Andrew & Elliot. Buds. Andrew is brother to the groom and the youngest sibling.

We wanted to adopt him when he was younger, but his parents wouldn't let us.

Andrew pretending to yell into the phone. This is staged. No comment. ;o)

Cousins Ashley & Andrew. No relation to me.

Okay, maybe they are.

These folks should be on the dance floor right now. Shame on them.

My cousin Shawn, his wife Valerie, and their kids, Logan & Alayna. Shawn is the brother of the groom and the eldest sibling.

And then, it became the Connie (nickname "Aunt Missy") show. Here she is with Andrew & Shawn (her nephews).

An Aunt with her five nieces/nephews and two great nieces tossed in for good measure.

The sisters: Vicki & Connie

My mom & cousin Heather.

The handsome groom, Brandon, and his Aunt Missy.

Abby & Brandon

The groom dances with his mother.

Uncle Dave & his daughters, Heather & Allison.

It was a father/daughter dance. Derrick & Ashley

Show offs.

Grandma Connie was the only one to get Alex onto the dance floor... just once.

Brandon, on the other hand, well, you can't touch him. Dancing is in his veins. Plus, it's Hammer time. His nephew, Carson (Heather's son), blew us all away with his break dancing.

Keep your eye on this kid. He might be famous one day. Or, at least, very well liked. He's a lot like his Uncle Brando. Did I mention he's 5?

Congratulations to Brandon & Abby!

It was a beautiful wedding and we're so happy for your new life together. Enjoy that Florida honeymoon!

P.S. Call us if you ever need Scripture readers again. I'm pretty sure I rocked that job w/my scanning of the audience. As for Derrick, I'm not so sure.

Winter Wonderland

2012-02-02T20:09:00.031-06:00

We say in Minnesota that if you wait 5 minutes, the weather will change. Last night the sky looked like this (and spring was on the way)...

This morning we woke up to a frosty wonderland:
Maybe we can wait a bit longer for spring.

Our corner of the world was covered with hoarfrost (definition: a deposit of needle like ice crystals formed on the ground by direct condensation at temperatures below freezing point. Also called 'white frost').

Oh my lima beans, it was beeUtiful.

All those spiky pokey crystals of ice covering Everything.

I think I prefer the name White Frost, don't you? That's Derrick shoveling the front walk.

"Brew me a cup for a winter's night.
For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;
Spice it with love and stir it with care,
And I'll toast our bright eyes,
my sweetheart fair."
~Minna Thomas Antrim

I took the daycare kids outside to play this afternoon. Spiky frost was everywhere.

Clad with snowpants, hats and mittens, they loved the chance to play outside.

I'm not sure they noticed the beauty quite like I did, but they had fun and their cheeks turned pink. Their parents were happy we ventured outdoors.

They should sleep well tonight, as should I. Ahhh, fresh air.

"Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again."
~Bill Morgan, Jr.

Perhaps winter, she thought, isn't so awful.
Perhaps winter, just might, make a person more thoughtful. ~me

Winter in Northern Minnesota... priceless.

It's February!

2012-02-01T21:54:00.008-06:00

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... a lovely pink & blue sky (around 4:45pm).

I am thinking... time to start frying bacon.

I am thankful for... the chance to go to lunch with my cousin, Heather, today!

From the kitchen... BLT's and leftover split pea soup.

I am wearing...brown cords and a comfy shirt with 3/4 length sleeves.

I am creating... (already created) Ina Garten's split pea soup w/parmesan croutons.

I am going... to a wedding this weekend and SO excited, but still not sure what I'm wearing. Aaaacckk! The 3 boys, on the other hand, are all set.

I am reading... Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. She has a wonderful writing style!

I am hoping... for quality family time this weekend. One can dream...

I am hearing... Carole King songs on my computer.

Around the house... I'm on the computer (obviously). Derrick is watching a documentary on Wyatt Earp. Alex is in his room painting War Hammer creatures (but should be doing homework). Ashley is in her room doing homework/checking facebook. Ethan is in his room playing X-box live w/friends online (and should be doing homework).

One of my favorite things... is going to lunch w/my cousin. Why don't we schedule it more often? Gotta fix that.

A few plans for the rest of the week... daycare and then dancing to some Michael Jackson tunes at my cousin, Brandon's, wedding. Yep, that's right.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

This pretty sky was outside my front door (facing East) earlier this evening.

Spring is right around the corner (I think).

It felt good to turn the calendar page from January to February.

Happy February 1st!

Flower Child

2012-01-20T13:55:00.078-06:00

Begonias make my world go round.

It's the middle of January and it's COLD. In fact, school was delayed two hours one day this week because of it. It's time to take action. It's time for a dose of flower power.

Heavenly blue morning glories.

Scroll with me, won't you? Let's get a shot of sunshine, of vitamin C (or is that D?).

More begonias because I had to.

Here we go...

My patio last August.

Pink flowering maple.

Shhh...teeny tiny fairies must live around here. I'm sure they make their skirts out of the flowering maple material, don't you think?

Wax begonia & purple brachycome.

Million bells~ bursting with personality.

Pretty pink & yellow pansy.

Lemon gems... they smell deliciously lemony.

Part of the marigold family, but don't tell. Thank you.

There are never enough begonias.

Dipladenia. A tropical beauty.

Jackmanii clematis.

love the bright green leaves

Morden Sunrise roses.

Hibiscus in yellow.

Oooo... sunshine on my flowers makes me happy.

Violas.

The color orange makes me happy.

Nasturtiums make.me.happy.

Ahhhh... Are you soaking in the rays? I'm feeling better already.

Must buy more "apple blossom" begonias this spring.

I'm writing that down.

I think it's my favorite color of non-stop begonias. That and "apricot".

Pass me a peony so I can take a sniff.

I'm almost positive Peony's are my favorite flower of all time. I think.

Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian).

Dahlia for president.

so peppy & positive and full of energy

Windflower.

light/airy/breezy

Pansy perfection.

Lovely lobelia .

Romantic Spirea.

Dainty nemesia.

Whimsical violas.

I came across this little girl while thumbing through old flower pics.

And, then I got distracted by these cute kids. Whoever could they be?

Delicate flax.

A nice combination. Red begonias, blue lobelia, lime green potato vine.

Delightful violas.

Love the bright yellow! Butterfly Flower.

Browallia~ handsome in blue.

Yep, cheery. Just what I was thinking. Painted daisy.

A different point of view. Gerbera Daisy.

They went that-a-way.

For the life of me, I have no clue what flower this is! (it was only available one summer at Home Depot)

Charming Butterfly Flower. Definitely need more of those this spring!

And that, my friends, is the power of the flower.

All is right with my world once more.

*Thanks for tip toeing through the tulips with me. Let's do it again soon! Maybe next time there will even be tulips.

Happy Birthday, Mum!

2012-01-12T17:01:00.003-06:00

I'm sending the happiest of birthday wishes to a very special lady today... the best mother-in-law a girl could ask for!

Happy happy birthday, Lorraine Houle!!

Love,
Me

The Saw Stand

2012-01-11T20:52:00.012-06:00

Derrick bought a saw stand with some Christmas money from his parents. He already owned the saw, but was thrilled to buy this stand. It holds the wood in place, it slices, it dices, and if you act now, we'll send you a set of kitchen knives. Teasing.

They asked if I would go out and take a picture of it and email it to them. I emailed them 3 photos of the saw stand (yawn) and decided to have some fun.

I emailed them another 3 photos titled "Fighting the Elements".

I wrote, "And, here I am fighting the cold & wind to take photos of a saw stand. Ha...gotcha. It IS really windy here. Cold? Not so much."

Next time I talked to them on the phone, Derrick's mom apologized for me being out in the cold.

The moral of this story? I'm not that funny.

In other news: 2nd son Alex has a hobby of making things out of clay and baking them in our oven. This is a don't-ask-me-what-exactly that he made for the game he plays: Warhammer.

I had to look twice as I was impressed with the detail and the time it took him to create this whatever-it-is.

He will then paint it a different color after it's hardened. Thought it was cool and had to share.

I will try to squelch any ideas to be funny in the near future...

For Today

2012-01-10T23:16:00.004-06:00

Outside my window... a big shiny full moon and lovely mild temps for January.

I am thinking... holy moly, I have a graduate this spring. I think I'm in denial.

I am thankful for... finishing a large stack of daycare paperwork today.

From the kitchen... homemade Italian spaghetti sauce (to be served tomorrow).

I am wearing... light green pajamas. A real fashion statement.

I am creating... a big pot of spaghetti sauce this morning and a snowman last week. That's enough, right?

I am going... out to lunch tomorrow w/friends & looking forward to it. Also went to a book club meeting tonight at a friend's house... very mellow & a nice conversation.

I am reading... Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. Haven't started it just yet, but it's our next book club choice. I know nothing about it.

I am hoping... that Olive Kitteridge is a page turner. :o)

I am hearing... silence except the hum of the dishwasher. I suppose it's bedtime, but it's always hard to let go of the solitude and peace of a quiet home filled with lots of sleeping kids (even big kids).

Around the house... the lingering smell of garlic, onions, and tomatoes for the spaghetti sauce.

One of my favorite things... getting together with friends.

A few plans for the rest of the week... running errands, a daycare interview, wash all floors.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing... we love our dog, no doubt about it.

One reason that dogs are so great is that they cuddle and even watch tv once in awhile.

Cinnamon is very human-like in her quest for comfort. She keeps us nice & warm.

How about you? What are you reading, creating, and hoping?

Hot Broccoli Dip

2012-01-07T23:06:00.009-06:00

You've heard of Hot Artichoke Dip? Well, move over artichoke, there's a new dip in town.

It's basically the same cheesy, garlicky, make-your-home-smell-delicious, kind of dip only it stars colorful broccoli & red bell pepper rather than artichokes.

I heart artichokes, by the way, but this dip takes on a festive flavor by bumping up the color factor.

You mix it all up with mayo & sour cream (yes, it's a lowfat recipe) and let it mingle.

After adding shredded cheddar to the mixture, you then top it with shredded parmesan (not shown. Oops. But, I did add it.)

Pop it in the oven so the ingredients can marry and the end result is heavenly goodness.

Serve it with slices of (toasted & olive-oiled) baguette or crackers. It's a crowd pleaser!

Hot Broccoli Dip

1 head broccoli, finely chopped
1/2 sweet onion, minced (such as vidalia)
1/2 red bell pepper, minced
4 chubby cloves of garlic, crushed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded parmesan, divided
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayo (as in Hellman's)
fresh ground pepper

Mix all but 1/4 cup of the shredded parmesan cheese together and spread in a buttered 9x13 glass dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup parmesan cheese over top. Bake in preheated 375 oven for 20-25 minutes. Serve w/sliced baguette or crackers.

P.S. Add a tad more mayo or sour cream if it seems, ahem, lacking.

I hope you'll give it a try. You won't be disappointed. :o)

Snowman Makin' Weather

2012-01-05T17:01:00.025-06:00

The calendar says January, but the weather man is obviously on lunch break or something. The high today was supposed to be 45 above. I've been told it reached 50. Wha??

Around 4pm, I headed outside with a few of my daycare children and we enjoyed rolling this snowman together. Do you see the path behind him? He came a long way, baby.

You must make at least one snowman per winter, wouldn't you agree? I've experienced several non-snowman winters and they were just... blah.

And then the moon was shining happily down upon us with a clear January sky.

Why do I love the moon so much? For some reason, I keep my eye on it.

"A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!" ~Author Unknown

The kiddos took great pride in helping make this snowman. Of course, they threw a few snowballs at each other along the way.

"Snowmen fall from heaven... unassembled." ~Author Unknown

"When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snowmen." ~Author Unknown

We do both. This year, there hasn't been much to shovel... yet. I'm hoping for more snow, but for now definitely enjoying this spring-like weather! What a gift.

Here's to more snowman makin' weather days.

Cheers!

New Year's Eve

2012-01-01T12:05:00.037-06:00

It decided to snow, like really SNOW, on the very last day of the year. What a treat! I can't believe we went the whole month of December in Northern Minnesota without snow.

Not that I'm complaining, mind you, but let's face it, snow is pretty (when you don't have to shovel it or drive in it). Much better than a crunchy brown lawn, right?

At one point, it was heavy and glorious as it swirled down in big huge flakes so Ashley & I scrambled to get our boots on to go out and capture the beauty. By the time we got outside, it had become a trickle. A spattering. Dust.

Drat. We missed it.

Okay, that was fun. I'm going in.

Ash stayed out a little longer and took a few more pics:

I went inside and started chopping up broccoli & red bell pepper & sweet white onion for my dip.
I made Hot Broccoli Dip served with sliced, toasted baguette. It's a cheesy, garlicky colorful dip. I will post the recipe soon. You need to make it.

Derrick made potato skins. He used The Pioneer Woman's recipe (can't wait for her new cookbook, which comes out in March!). Ethan requested the potato skins.

They were delicious with a dollop of sour cream.

"People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas." ~Author Unknown.

Ain't that the truth?

We also had mini egg rolls w/plum sauce, breaded mushrooms w/cheese sauce, and chicken strips w/barbeque sauce. It was an 'appetizer for supper' kind of night. A saucy night.

Our oldest two sons had plans with friends so it was just the four of us. A quiet way to ring in the new year. Last year we had friends over and played Wii bowling and rock band. This was the complete opposite of that, but still nice (in a quiet sort of way).

"Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true". ~Alfred, Lord Tennyson

This year we snuggled into the dark living room, the only lights from the tree and candles, and watched the 4th Pirates of the Caribbean movie, On Stranger Tides.

Then, we watched the countdown, confetti & the ball drop in New York City.

"Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right." ~Oprah Winfrey

Happy New Year, everyone!

Bring on January.... I'm ready! :o)

Ethan turns 14!

2011-12-26T21:26:00.017-06:00

Our youngest son, Ethan, turned 14 on December 19th. He had a couple buddies stay overnight on the Friday before, then we celebrated later with a dinner of his choice. On the menu:

Greek style baby back ribs
Homemade french fries
Chili-garlic roasted broccoli
Salad w/many different toppings
Lots of lemons to squeeze over the ribs

My plate. Yum!

Opening gifts.
It's hard to believe he's already 14 and halfway through 8th grade. This is his last year at the middle school. Next year, he'll be in high school. What?

It seems like yesterday we attended his 5th grade graduation at Central School. He was 11.

He requested an ice cream cake from the Dairy Queen.

And, the next five photos will tell the story of why I have given up trying to get that "perfect family photo" to send out in Christmas cards. Nope. Not gonna happen, folks.

The ONE photo that the boys are actually smiling, Ashley has her eyes closed. I give up!

It's over. Can you tell they've had it with the photo shoot? No more patience. Ashley, though, would be happy to keep going. :o) Boys!

Happy birthday, dear Ethan! We are blessed to have you as our son.

Feel free to slow down on growing up.

Seriously, stop it. ;o)

Oh Christmas Tree

2011-12-18T19:58:00.023-06:00

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other"
Burton Hills quotes

We finally bought a tree yesterday and decorated it today. I felt so behind, but all of a sudden I feel okay. We are full to the brim of Chinese food (our tradition) and our tree is looking not too shabby.

Lucky us, all four children were able to enjoy dinner and decorate the tree together.

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. ~Thomas Jefferson

What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories. ~George Eliot

There is something about digging through boxes of ornaments and finding memories, keepsakes, things made in school as a child. Ahhh, Christmas time. I'm starting to feel it.

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness. ~Bob Hope

Dr. Seuss
And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?

Hugh Downs
Something about an old-fashioned Christmas is hard to forget.

We tried to hang our treasured & more breakable ornaments up high on the tree, knowing that a few tiny daycare kids will be tempted to touch.

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. ~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect! ~Charles N. Barnard

No matter how carefully you stored the lights last year, they will be snarled again this Christmas. ~Robert Kirby

Decorate tree... check
Plan menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas day... check
Buy presents... semi check
Stocking stuffers... ?? I still have a lot to do!

At least we've begun. Hope you have, too.

Merry-busy-Christmas!

Make Mine a Double

2011-12-17T19:10:00.005-06:00

A double chocolate cookie, that is! Last week I whipped up a batch of these gems. It had nothing to do with Christmas baking; it had everything to do with a hanker for chocolate. Our family loves this particular cookie. If you love chocolate, give them a try!

Double Chocolate Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) real butter
2 eggs
2/3 c. granulated sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3/4 c. cocoa

1 c. semi sweet chocolate chips

In large bowl, mix butter & sugars together. Add eggs & vanilla; mix well. In separate bowl, mix dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt & cocoa. Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Fold in chocolate chips. Spoon cookies onto cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Let cool on sheets 2 minutes before removing to racks to finish cooling.

Mmmmm.... chocolate. Side benefit... your house will smell GOOD.

For Today

2011-12-13T21:20:00.010-06:00

Outside my window... early December darkness, no snow, and a few pieces of patio furniture yet to be put away. Shhh.

I am thinking... that December is jam packed with fun events, but a tad too busy.

I am thankful for... the mild weather so far this winter.

From the kitchen... turkey soup w/egg noodles & vegetables. I froze the turkey bones after Thanksgiving and made a stock yesterday. Soup tonight with soft whole wheat cloverleaf rolls for dipping. Comfort food! But, I made enough to feed a small army. :/

I am wearing...black yoga pants and a baby blue Eddie Bauer sweatshirt about 10 yrs. old that I can't give up because of the quality even though it has some white bleach stains on it.

I am creating... lists: meal ideas, Christmas gift ideas, birthday ideas for Ethan.

I am going... to blow out my candle any minute and go to bed.

I am reading... Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, but only 3 pages in. It's our next book club choice.

I am hoping... to get everything done by Christmas Eve, one week away. Aye yai yai.

I am hearing... Christmas songs on my little kitchen radio on 95.5 KZY. A nice assortment.

Around the house...the lingering smell of soup and everyone snug in their beds. Me next.

One of my favorite things... being the last one up... the quiet... knowing my family is sleeping soundly.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Christmas shopping w/my mom. Attending a wedding reception. Picking out a tree. Attending our neighbor's Sunday noon buffet. So, basically, hanging out and relaxing. Nope.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

... our dog, Cinnamon, got a much needed hair cut, nail trim. She smells great. And, she is cold. She shivers. All the more reason to snuggle with her.

G'night!

Eldest Son turns 21!

2011-12-07T18:14:00.046-06:00

A crazy thing happened yesterday. I blinked and my son turned 21.

Upon his request, we celebrated his birthday with "breakfast for supper". Apparently, he remembers with fondness the Saturdays we shared a big breakfast complete with exotic fruits and doughnuts as a special treat. Sniff.

On the table were plenty of blackberries, raspberries, mangos, star fruit and pomegranate seeds. Isn't the star fruit cute?

You have to work to get those little pomegranate gems, but it's worth it.

"It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself". ~Joyce Maynard

We tried our best to "tune into" him with our modest gifts.

There were a few surprises and it was fun to watch his reaction.

“The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he forgives himself, he becomes wise”

Alden Nowlan quotes

Grandma Connie joined us as well as our friends...

... Michael & Barbara.

We were able to have a conversation with Grandpa & Grandma Houle in Saskatoon via skype. That was really neat!

Me, Ethan, & Alex watch Elliot open gifts. Ashley took most of the photos and Derrick started on the omelets, popping out every so often.

I suggested an egg bake or scrambled eggs, but Derrick insisted on individual omelets, made to order. So, I took orders. The choices were: diced ham, cheese, green pepper, onion, mushrooms, & tomatoes.

Derrick and I both had "everything omelets". I didn't have to write that down. :o) I kind of miss waitressing.

When you teach your son, you teach your son's son. ~The Talmud

First step to a perfect omelet: saute the filling. Or so I'm told.

Hashbrowns are crispy. Omelets & sausages are done. Let's eat!

Done eating and time for cake, er, the stack o' doughnuts posing as a cake.

I mean, doughnuts (as requested) and cake would have been sugar overload, no?

Being sung to and clapped for. He seemed pleased with the doughnut cake.

Next thing you know, this kid will turn 21. Aaack!

"In spite of the six thousand manuals on child raising in the bookstores, child raising is still a dark continent and no one really knows anything. You just need a lot of love and luck - and, of course, courage". ~Bill Cosby, Fatherhood,

It's been a good ride and we are proud of this 21 year old.

Happy birthday Elliot Lyndon Houle!

Thankful...

2011-11-28T22:43:00.061-06:00

What am I thankful for? That could be a really long answer. I'm thankful for so many things: a warm house, good food to eat, friends to laugh with, the beauty of nature, a job.

But the honest answer, the best answer ... is that I'm thankful to be a mother.

first born son, elliot.
elliot & his new goldfish.

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new". ~Rajneesh

me, derrick, elliot visiting gramps & gram's house in Saskatoon.

ethan & ashley... ring bearer & flower girl for wonderful friends.

elliot, alex, ashley at Christmas in Otterburne, Manitoba.

alex, elliot, ashley welcoming newborn ethan parker to the family. dec, 1997

ashley. age 2 w/ big hair and likes to read. my kind of gal.

"A daughter is a mother's gender partner, her closest ally in the family confederacy, an extension of her self. And mothers are their daughters' role model, their biological and emotional road map, the arbiter of all their relationships." ~Victoria Secunda

elliot & alex. if you are a criminal... beware. don't mess w/ these two. zero tolerance for bad guys.

ethan. don't go up those stairs, mister. oh boy, here we go again.

october.
my pumpkins with their pumpkins.

let's carve 'em.
ready to set a newly hatched butterfly free.

ethan. if you think I'm wearing this helmet... ha.

elliot & alex. watching thomas the tank engine.

alex & elliot (elliot~with his medal from t-ball... jammies gettin' a little small, alex?). get on that, mom. check.

easter. alex, grandpa houle, ethan, elliot. serious business.

alex w/his corn on the cob.

elliot. contentment. you see how these children capture your heart and don't let go, right?

ashley & elliot. dancin' in the kitchen on her 3rd b-day.

ashley & alex (turning 2 & 4) at gramps & grandma's house, Saskatoon, Sask.

alex, ashley, ethan.

big garden.

elliot, alex, ashley.

ashley, elliot, alex. providence college family housing, manitoba.

elliot, alex, ashley.

ashley & me
ethan enjoying watermelon. Bemidji.

ashley... heading to ballet class.

ethan vs. elliot... star wars.

alex & elliot. superheroes rule our house at this point.

"[A] mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled." ~Emily Dickinson (one can hope.)

elliot & alex... brand new house in Bemidji.

alex & elliot. freshly bathed... nice.

me, elliot, alex.

derrick, elliot, alex. the early years.

me & ashley. tired? me too.

typical saturday morning on bixby. cinnamon is the center of attention.

we had two bunnies: snowflake & raincloud.

I love this one... minus my hair cut.

at a family wedding.

Life is an adventure filled with many ups & downs. The future is yet to be determined.

What am I MOST thankful for, you ask? The opportunity to be a mother, of course.

Not to mention the chance to buy the above pj's from hanna andersson and have them all wear them without complaint. For that I am thankful. That will never happen again. :o)

Thinking about Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T19:10:00.030-06:00

This was my plate of food a couple of years ago on Thanksgiving. Oh my, what a meal! I'm still full. Okay, maybe not.

My mom & I had lunch today (Sparkling Waters) and took a quick trip to the mall. We swung by the grocery store for some last minute items. She usually buys the Thanksgiving groceries and I do all the cooking. I like to cook and she has more money than I, so it all works out. :o)

The photos in this post are from November 2009. Not sure why we're looking up here... cobweb? Tall person talking? I have a really pretty ceiling?

I don't believe in tampering too much with the traditional Thanksgiving menu. We await this meal all year. The Thanksgiving holiday is one of my favorites.

You can bet there will be homemade gravy ready to serve over mashed potatoes, stuffing, mashed rutabaga, and turkey.

There will be a large turkey (we like lots of leftovers) and Derrick will do the carving.

I often try new recipes, but only for vegetable side dishes and salads. I don't even mess with desert. It's pumpkin pie with whipped cream. You can have your pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin mousse. I like those at different times, but I need basic pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.

In 2009, I tried a pomegranate/bacon/romaine salad with homemade dressing. Yum! This year, it'll be a mandarin orange/candied sliced almonds/romaine & iceberg with a homemade dressing. Have I mentioned, I love salad?

Thanksgiving may or may not involve dashing out to a movie when all is said and done.

It always involves game playing. It takes a long time to make all that food. To tell you the truth, I'd rather be making the food than playing games. Although, they do talk me into it once in a while.

It's shocking to see how much Ethan has grown in the past two years. This was 6th grade and now he's in 8th. He looks so little to me here.

The best part (above the scrumptious food) is hanging out with family. For hours upon hours upon hours. Upon hours.

Good thing we love each other.

My standard Thanksgiving menu:

Turkey
Mashed potatoes
Stuffing
Gravy
Cranberry sauce
Mashed rutabaga
Veggies (usually at least two, which may or may not include green bean casserole)
Lettuce salad w/homemade dressing
Relish tray (green olives, black olives, and two kinds of pickles)
Dinner rolls
Pumpkin pie & whipped cream

*Veggies recently have included glazed carrots, creamed peas, sauteed sugar snap peas w/grape tomatoes, corn, sauteed green beans, onions & mushrooms. The sky is the limit.

It's okay to go wild with side dishes, but give me the traditional menu on Thanksgiving. Amen.

Cucumber Curlicues

2011-11-15T22:43:00.041-06:00

Part of the fun of planting cucumber seeds is having an abundance of pretty yellow blossoms to admire. This year, I found a new appreciation for the vines: how they reach out and grab whatever's close and the wonderful crazy shapes they form.

They crept into the herbs, trying to take over the basil and everything else in their path.

It was a bumper crop of cucumbers (on the right).

They 'reached across the aisle' to the neighboring raised garden box, making friends with the tomatoes.

The little curlicues caught my fancy.

So interesting how it wraps itself and hangs on for dear life. This photo kind of reminds me of a snake coiled up, but eeek! I shouldn't talk like that.

Then I started seeing shapes of things, like one might see in the clouds.

Hello butterfly.

A spiral perm.

A musical note.

The tongue of a frog lunging out for a fly.

What a tangly mess. Have you ever taken the time to peer into the middle of a cucumber patch?

Curlicues charmed me this summer.

I couldn't wait to go out and find what shapes I'd see next.

"No two gardens are the same. No two days are the same in one garden". ~Hugh Johnson

"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides". ~W.E. Johns

Hang on, dear vine, and reach for the sky.

I will pay more attention to dainty little curlicues from here on out.

That's what's magical about raising a garden. Every year is different and something new is bound to catch your eye.

See the cucumber in the background? That's another magical thing about raising a garden. Yum!

Zippy Garlic Shrimp

2011-11-13T19:25:00.008-06:00

We had shrimp last night at home and I must share the recipe. I suppose it was my 3rd or 4th time making it and it's the only shrimp recipe I've ever tried. Ever. You see, shrimp scares me.

Seafood in general scares me. I worry that I will mess it up somehow. The key is to have all the ingredients prepped beforehand: the garlic crushed, the spices measured out, the lemon both zested and juiced.

The actual cooking time is about 6 minutes. Above you see the jumbo shrimp cooked for 3 minutes and ready to be flipped for the final 3. You want it to be done, but not overcooked or it becomes chewy & tough. Having the ingredients ready to grab is paramount. Shrimp cooks amazingly fast!

Zippy Garlic Shrimp

1 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1 pound (16-20 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails attached
4 tablespoons olive oil
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small chunks
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley

Measure paprika, black pepper and coarse salt into a small bowl and stir together. Set aside.

Rinse the shrimp and arrange on a double layer of paper towels. Use another paper towel to pat the shrimp dry. Transfer the shrimp to a mixing bowl. Sprinkle with paprika mixture. Toss gently until the shrimp are coated with the seasoning.

Mix olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes in a large skillet. Place over medium heat and stir until the garlic begins to turn golden. Add the shrimp all at once, arranging them in a single layer. Turn the heat to medium high. Cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes. Turn shrimp and continue cooking until they feel slightly firm to the touch and are curled up. It will take another 2-3 minutes.

Add butter, lemon zest and lemon juice and stir until butter melts. Remove from heat. Scatter chopped parsley over the shrimp. Serve immediately. Makes 3 or 4 servings.

Your taste buds are in for a nice surprise. Adding the butter at the end makes for a creamy sauce. I served it with lemon orzo pilaf (both recipes came from Sue Doeden), but you could serve this shrimp with linguine or any pasta. You could also serve it alongside any potato recipe, just add veggies and/or salad.

The flavor is unbelievable. We had a crew here last night so I doubled it, using 2 lbs. of shrimp instead of one. There were only a few left, which I gobbled up in the morning.

It seems so fancy, but is really easy and worth the effort. It's zippy. I hope you'll try it!

For Today...

2011-11-08T20:07:00.013-06:00

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... darkness and the first snowflakes of the year. I suppose I should be scowling, but it's beautiful and I'm excited for a new season.

I am thinking... how nice it is not to have to be anywhere tonight.

I am thankful for... a warm house. Brrr, it's cold outside. In the last couple days it turned into glove wearing weather.

From the kitchen... homemade chili (my mom's recipe) and soft buns for dipping.

I am wearing... black yoga pants (the new sweat pant) and my favorite soft gray long sleeved t-shirt. And socks. And slippers.

I am creating... piles of clean, fresh, folded laundry. Is that creating? Sure it is.

I am going... crazy. But I did *go* to the play White Christmas at the highschool last weekend and it was wonderful! Ashley was in it. She had a blast and is sad to see it end. I also *went* to the grand opening of the exhibit Why Treaties Matter last night at the American Indian Resource Center on the campus of Bemidji State University. Worth your time to go!

I am reading... The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult after just finishing Heaven is for Real. I'm supposed to be reading Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (for my bookclub) but haven't found a copy yet. You may think I'm a childcare provider, but reading is my real job. Still haven't found anyone to pay me to do it yet...

I am hoping... that Regis isn't really retiring from Live w/Regis & Kelly, but I think it's true. I know. Seriously, I like Regis. :o(

I am hearing... the hum of my dishwasher, which is on its last legs, and the soundtrack The Muppet Christmas Carol. I usually don't start Christmas music until after Thanksgiving (that would be wrong), but it snowed tonight for the first time. It snowed. I cannot be held responsible.

Around the house...kids doing homework and daughter Ashley watching scenes from West Side Story.

One of my favorite things...that my daughter is watching scenes from West Side Story. And, that kids are doing homework. I like kids being home. The end.

A few plans for the rest of the week... lunch w/two cousins coming from out of town. Can't wait to see you, Heather & Allison. It's been way too long girls.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

We had a glorious sunrise last week and it happened to be on a daycare day when I rise early. I'm so happy I didn't sleep through it.

Happy November to you.

October Skies

2011-11-02T21:48:00.031-05:00

Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves! ~Humbert Wolfe

I happened to look out my window one October night and saw a glorious sunset. Actually, no, the sunset was in the west and this was the view out my front door, to the East, overlooking the lake that lies one block away. Yes, I live one block from a lake. So close and yet so far. :o)

I rushed to grab my trusty little blue Canon Power Shot (a good camera, but not professional by any means) and headed to the front step.

The clouds were a gorgeous tangerine color and I loved how the tree branches showed up in black to add to the drama. Halloween is right around the corner, I thought.

The wind was strong and the sky was shifting and churning, much like the sea. I love a good stormy night, if I feel safe at home.

I kept snapping photos, hoping to capture the beauty before it blew past.

It wasn't on display for very long.

I am not a photographer, but I enjoy taking pictures. Maybe someday I'll go the extra step of taking a photography class. For now, I will stick by this quote:

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs." ~Ansel Adams

So long, October!

Final Boat Ride

2011-10-30T21:10:00.028-05:00

At the end of September, we were invited on the final boat ride of the year with friends. I was the only Houle available to go and jumped at the chance. The weather was perfect.

There were times I wanted to jump ship. That would be when little Maya Sue was driving.

Actually, she may have pontoon-driving in her future. Thank you for checking your blind spot, Maya.

She was learning to whistle with a piece of grass, just as important as learning to drive a boat, in my view.

A fun time was had by all. It seems summer has slipped away (doesn't it always?)

The boat veered into the reeds as we sang "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!". Michael refused to sing the correct lyrics, which cracked Maya (and the rest of us) up.

I suppose the beautiful scenery also helped to distract us.

I'll trade you a licorice for a cheese puff. No? Okay...

Summer's lease hath all too short a date."
- William Shakespeare

A campfire to end the evening.

Dustin & baby Maddie.

Tonya & Barb against the glow of yellow leaves.

A perfect Fall evening.

Thank you, friends, for a nice end of summer/beginning of fall boat ride. It was a blast.

"There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart."
- Celia Thaxter

Our Old Oak Tree

2011-10-22T18:43:00.037-05:00

Our old oak tree is in trouble. We were notified by the city that it has a disease as do many of the oaks in our neighborhood.

They said if we took the right measures, it may last another 10 years. That was five years ago. We are to keep it thoroughly watered and trim off the dead branches every so often. We are doing our best to follow their instructions.

Do you see the guy up in our tree? Two weeks ago, we had a friend, Scott, come and clean it up for the third time. Little by little we are losing it.

"I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues."
- Dr. Suess

He scales our tree with spikes on his shoes and ropes tied to his waist. Mostly, I don't watch because it makes me nervous, but I managed a few photos before hiding in the house.

"This solitary Tree! a living thing
Produced too slowly ever to decay;
Of form and aspect too magnificent
To be destroyed."
- William Wordsworth, Yardley Oak

Down drop the heavy, dead branches into our yard with a mighty THUD. Our tree provided shade to the sandbox & swing set when our children were little and now for the daycare kids.

"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago."
- Warren Buffett

This large oak tree is THE premier tree in our yard.

"People in suburbia see trees differently than foresters do. They cherish every one. It is useless to speak of the probability that a certain tree will die when the tree is in someone's backyard .... You are talking about a personal asset, a friend, a monument, not about board feet of lumber."
- Roger Swain

"Woodman, spare that tree!
Touch not a single bough!
In youth it sheltered me,
And I'll protect it now."
- General George P. Morris

We wish something more could be done to save it.

Each time we have it trimmed, the sun gets a little brighter, the sky a little bigger and we realize what a major loss the shade will be, not to mention the beauty of the tree itself.

I cannot imagine our yard without it.

"Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."
- Abraham Lincoln

"The wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

We will enjoy it as long as we have it. I'm still in denial that we'll ever truly lose it, because that thought is unthinkable. I want to tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree...

Fall Comfort Food

2011-10-14T20:01:00.023-05:00

Each season has pleasures to offer. The calendar has turned to October and we are enjoying colorful leaves as well as cooler weather, which makes me want to COOK. And, that's what I've been doing. Here are a few meals we've had in September & October.

Above you see oven baked pork chops/w gravy, mashed potatoes, corn & garden sliced tomatoes.

Slow cooker boneless barbeque beef ribs, long grain & wild rice, salad & garden tomatoes.

Carbonara (a Rachael Ray recipe). Spicy goodness. A family favorite.

Chicken enchiladas...

...with lots of toppings. It feels good to fire up the oven again after months of ignoring it because it was too hot outside.

Roast chicken (an Ina Garten recipe), mashed potatoes & gravy, garden fresh cooked carrots & sliced tomatoes. Have you noticed I'm pushing my home grown tomatoes in every meal? Yep.

Homemade pizza pretty much rocks my world. Tomatoes on that, too!

Goulash (ground beef, shell or elbow macaroni pasta, & tomato sauce), salad & carrots. We received a large bag full of garden carrots from a friend (pushin' those too!).

And, for dessert: Ashley loves to make No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies. Sweet girl. A pot of hot herbal tea is the perfect accompaniment.

Mmmmm. Welcome to Fall. Hello comfort food. I've missed you.

I quit, but the flowers won't

2011-10-09T18:48:00.033-05:00

Normally, this would be my mantra: bloom. However, it's October now. I'm a Minnesota girl, I enjoy the four seasons. It's Fall and I'm tired of outside chores.

In fact, we've already had our first hard freeze of the year. After that, my mind shuts off to outside chores: watering, dead-heading, weed pulling (forget about it!). I figured I was done.

Things continue to bloom. One tiny brachycome blooms boldly in the pot on my front steps. Just one, bless its heart.

One longsuffering dahlia shows its true colors in October.

The bucket of lobelia (that I removed from my front step and stuck elsewhere) is making a comeback. You left during the heat of summer, I'm not sure I want you back now, fair-weather friend.

I was so surprised to see a brand new cosmo ready to bloom. Just one.

Most of my pots look like this. It's time to dump them.

But a few blooms remain. We've had such a lovely Fall and I'm not complaining.

Two pots of mini roses are thriving as well as the whiskey barrel full of red geraniums. Geraniums love to be dry, by the way.

And, then there are nasturtiums.

They might be the perfect garden plant. While most things are brown & crispy, my nasturtiums are green & thriving.

They take a licking and keep on ticking. They are the Energizer Bunny of the flower world.

Yep, gonna keep planting good ol' nasturtiums every year.

Loving the warm weather, but all.done.watering. I just can't do it anymore. There are pots of chili to make and books to read and homework to make kids do. There are leaves to admire and a basement to put back together, and well, you get the picture.

My mind has closed out summer and embraced Autumn. Goodbye until spring, dear flowers. Unless it rains and they keep blooming. Which would be fine with me. Just don't make me water.

Houston... we've got a carpet!

2011-10-02T21:51:00.032-05:00

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the choosing of a carpet
That took a year...

I'm happy to report we finally chose a carpet for our basement. I mean, we have a very important basement and we needed a carpet worthy of it. One that would fit all the criteria (don't fret, I'm sure your basement is just as important as ours).

It had to be durable. It will be stepped on, sat on, perhaps slept on, spilled on (better not be!) by many many teens in the next (too many to count) several years. I'm sure you've been on the edge of your seat waiting for this monumental decision. No? Oh.

It had to be comfortable, able to hide lint and dirt. Do I seem like the sort of person that wants to vacuum every day down there? I didn't think so. I promise to vacuum as often as needed. We were told to go with 100% nylon carpet as it is the easiest to clean.

In the end, we went a little wild and chose a stripe. It has texture and feels nice under bare feet, yet should withstand all the traffic it's likely to receive, much like a commercial carpet.

You can blame the stripe on Larry. That is, Larry of Larry's Carpet & Ceramic Tile.

As he was showing me various carpets, he said, "I'm not sure what kind of statement you want to make, but my wife and I really like this striped one." Oh, I want to make a statement alright. I'm All About the Statement. Larry is obviously well aware of the power of suggestion that I learned while working (at age 16) at McDonalds (would you like fries or an *icy cold coke* with that?).

In the end, Larry's suggestion was spot on and I recommend you see him for all your carpeting needs. I can tell you one thing: our dog seems to like it. Dogs & children can sense everything, including good carpet choices. Just trust me.

It looks so different with various lighting.

Derrick is currently painting the baseboards white, which I hope will tie the carpet to the wall color in a more dramatic way. Is "dramatic" a good term to describe a boring old basement? Probably not. Still, one can hope.

Ethan & Derrick quickly made a hockey puck (bunched up tissues & duct tape).

After all, Derrick is Canadian and felt the need to initiate our new carpet with a game of floor hockey right off the bat. I don't understand this so took a couple photos and left the scene.

Do you see what I mean about the (absent) baseboards having the potential to add A LOT. They are nice wide baseboards, staying in sync with the rest of the home.

What a change from the cold cement.

Derrick must add some tunes.

Houston, we've got a carpet. We are warm. We have more usable space. And, we are happy. Until the first person spills....

Next up... choosing furniture. Expect that post a long long time from now.

A September Day

2011-09-29T19:25:00.026-05:00

We are in the final days of September and the leaves are just starting to change. Our apple tree is dotted with green & yellow, the colors of citrus. So pretty, so fresh. Inspiring, even.

“But I remember more dearly autumn afternoons in bottoms that lay intensely silent under old great trees”
- C. S. Lewis

This afternoon my daycare kids and I discovered a large nest across the street in a neighbor's tree. I wonder who resides there? Is it a squirrel's nest? A bird's? It is really big.

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus

It's true, I'm in awe of the glorious colors of Fall. Every leaf IS a flower. Just as pretty.

Speaking of flowers, my two pots of mini roses are still a'bloomin' like crazy. I'm tempted to take them inside for the winter, but worried about bringing bugs in and spreading them to my houseplants. I worry like that. Advice is welcome here...

Yellow mini rose bush. The tips are turning orange as we enter Autumn. How does it know to do that? A fun surprise.

"Just before the death of flowers,
And before they are buried in snow,
There comes a festival season
When nature is all aglow."
- Author Unknown

It rained this evening, right after my daycare day ended, then the sun came out and the world was aglow again.

I stepped outside to try and capture the sun lighting up the warm colors of Autumn.

"October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter."
- Nova Bair

"Come said the wind to
the leaves one day,
Come o're the meadows
and we will play.
Put on your dresses
scarlet and gold,
For summer is gone
and the days grow cold."
- A Children's Song of the 1880's

The splendor of Fall is just beginning. So far... it is spectacular.

Twelve Hours of Daycare (make that 9.5)

2011-09-22T23:12:00.018-05:00

Twelve Hours of Daycare
(sing to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas chorus)

Twelve legos stepped on
Eleven questions answered
Ten plates preparing
Nine children talking
Eight cups refilling
Seven phone calls ringing
Six diapers smelling
FIVE MINUTES ALONE.... (please?)
Four time-outs
Three funny kids
Two belly laughs
And one VeRY TIRed Gal....

After a daycare day you will find me searching for a quiet spot. I have nothing left to give. Please don't call me on the phone as I do not want to have a conversation with you. I like you, but I am All.Talked.Out. The little people have talked to me All.Day.Long. They have worn me down and they have won. My white flag is waving.

If you do call, I promise to be nice (I'm from Minnesota). But, don't. Thanks.

September is chaotic in every home, I'm sure, as families adjust to the new Fall schedule. I got an extra dose of crazy today (Thurs). It's the combination of several new children joining our daycare and two of them are under age two. Two words come to mind: adorable and exhausting.

There may or may not have been an accidental 'number 2' in a very cool pair of Cars underwear (no luxury of a Pull-Up) incident, but I'm not telling. Not the 2 yr. olds, by the way (obviously), an older child. Such fun we have.

I hope to rest & recover this weekend. The weather is supposed to be scrumptious. I might talk to you tomorrow, just don't call me today. I'm spent. They chewed me up and spit me out. And, they went home happy, I think.

P.S. I really do like you. And, we do have fun. I just can't talk or move right now. Night.

Morning Glory

2011-09-14T19:15:00.015-05:00

Morning Glory!

True blue joy
My September gift
Star of morn
Worth the wait
Clustered on the tangled vine
Waving at the world
~Rachelle Houle

I've been inspired by the poetry of Rozanna Landavazo and decided to give it a whirl. It's September, after all, the time to learn new things. It doesn't matter if you have a gift of poetry or not, anyone can experiment and the process is fun.

Shadorma poetry (originating in Spain) is a 6 line syllabic poem of 3/5/3/3/7/5 syllables in each line.

A painting class might be next, pottery making, dance classes, definitely yoga...

Mid life crisis you're thinking? Probably. And, embracing it. :o)

September Winds

2011-09-05T21:12:00.022-05:00

We had a loud thunderstorm w/heavy rains on the last night of August and lo and behold when I woke up, the first two Morning Glories of the season made their appearance on September 1st.

What a nice surprise! I've waited all summer. Such a blue blue. A true blue.

It's September and change is in the air. School is about to start and we all have mixed feelings about that. Notebooks, pencils, jeans and gym shoes have been purchased. I think my kids are set. I think I am set, too.

Like the morning glory buds still curled up, a new school year will slowly unfurl. There will be five brand new kindergarteners attending various schools this Fall. Yes, that means saying goodbye to families and 5 children I am used to seeing on a weekly basis. Change.

And then I receive a bouquet of flowers and a little poem on a note card. And, I melt a little. I wilt. My bottom lip may have stuck out and a tear may have formed in the corner of my eye.

Several of my precious daycare children are ready to go. They've grown into kindergarteners. They will blossom.

They will bloom. Who gave them permission to grow up so quickly?

We will interview new families and new children will attend our childcare.

The former children will always hold a special spot in my heart.

The September winds have blown in some very blue morning glories. At the same time, they have blown the calendar pages too quickly and now I must hand over my sweet daycare kids to school. To a new teacher, new experiences, new peers.

Ashley even received a rose for the role she played in one little girl's life. Sigh...

September winds... change is in the air. We will adjust and it will be good.

Blossom End Rot

2011-08-31T21:25:00.007-05:00

My world has been turned upside down. My gardening world, that is. A few of our tomato plants have something called Blossom End Rot. I love my tomatoes and cannot believe this is happening.

In all my years of gardening, I haven't dealt with this culprit. I'm googling and learning about the causes and treatment. In the meantime... I'm seething, I'm flabbergasted, I'm frustrated.

I mean this is just... wrong. Good tomatoes gone bad. Sorry about the disgusting photo. They are rotting right on the vines, even while still green. Ugh!

I see one getting ripe and reach around to grab it, only to feel a gooey bottom. Ewww. I've tried cutting off the bottom part, but it's dark all the way up the center and I just end up throwing the whole thing away. What a waste!

The good news is... it does not spread from plant to plant. Some of our plants have been infected while others seem okay. It won't be a bumper crop of tomatoes this year, but I hope to harvest a few.

May all your tomatoes be healthy ones...

Summer Tidbits

2011-08-26T10:18:00.020-05:00

Summer is winding down. Can you feel it in the evening air? I ate a big juicy burger for supper this week. It was an entire meal on a bun.

The only side dish was fresh cucumbers from our garden (in a tangy sauce). Since we're in the last days of summer, it felt right to have a burger meal w/all the fixin's.

I had the privilege of digging through a few boxes at a friend's house and came home with two new glasses. I love the bright yellow flowers and will search for more to add to the cupboard. The hunt is part of the fun. They're so cheerful looking.

You know Fall is right around the corner because last night my husband hosted his annual Football Draft Extravaganza. He served hot wings & drummies & pizza from Keith's...

...with chips & pop on the side. Men don't bother finding a cute bowl to put the chips in, I see.

It's a very complicated/serious event to choose your players for the coming season. I tend to hide during this event.

My daughter and I decided to hunker down in my bedroom, each sitting up against a pillow leaning on the headboard reading our books. Now, that sure was a nice way to spend an evening, reading side by side with her.

She is currently reading Lord of the Flies by William Golding (and before that To Kill a Mockingbird). She has several books she must finish before school starts for an English class she is taking this Fall. She enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird, but so far she's not loving Lord of the Flies and would rather be reading something else.

I have just started reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett and am loving it! I've been plowing through several books this summer and I have a feeling this one just might top them all.

The list of books I've finished this summer:

1. The River of Doubt by Candice Millard

2. Little Bee by Chris Cleave

3. Room by Emma Donoghue

4. Blue Shoe by Anne Lamott

One last tidbit: today we celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary. My how the years fly by...

Hope you are enjoying the last days of summer!

What's Bloomin' on Bixby

2011-08-16T22:45:00.031-05:00

Clematis! I'm so excited that my jackmanii clematis has come up at least 3 years in a row. I've tried starting them before to no avail. Maybe it stuck this time.

Such a beautiful vining perennial.

Our raised veggie gardens have gone nuts. So far, we are getting 2-4 nice smallish cucumbers each day. We peel & slice them up (lengthwise), add a sprinkle of salt and they disappear within seconds. We haven't seen a red tomato yet, but there are lots of green ones.

"Indian Summer" black eyed susans. They are distinctive because of the ginormous (yes, a made up word) flower heads, unlike the regular black eyed susans. Very showy.

Purple cone flowers (echinacea) are blooming to beat the band at the moment.

Bzzzz. The bees love 'em.

Phlox is blooming and you see yellow heliopsis in the background (otherwise known as false sunflower).

Along our garage. That's nasturtium in the window boxes.

More Indian Summer black eyed susans in a pot on the patio.

The patio pots are bushy & healthy.

A wonderful place to sit and read a book after a busy daycare day. Or, to light a fire and relax with family & friends.

Nasturtiums in the window box.

Lily.

"As a gardener, I'm among those who believe that much of the evidence of God's existence has been planted." ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

Besides the purple clematis, gigantic black eyed susans are the highlight of my flowers right now.

So tall & stately with a strikingly huge flower.

This pot of browallia has exceeded my expectations.

"Gardening is a kind of disease. It infects you, you cannot escape it. When you go visiting, your eyes rove about the garden; you interrupt the serious cocktail drinking because of an irresistible impulse to get up and pull a weed." ~Lewis Gannit

Still loving nasturtiums. What a fun plant! I can't believe it took me this long to discover it (just last year). That's what is fun about gardening, you are constantly learning new things and falling in love with new favorites.

Doesn't it look like someone splashed orange paint on this pale yellow nasturtium? Gorgeous.

And that, my friends, is what's currently blooming on Bixby.

Wedding....a season of change

2011-08-10T23:30:00.010-05:00

We attended a lovely wedding this summer. The bride was absolutely breathtaking, the groom tall & handsome. The church glowed with candlelight and flowers and beautiful decorations. And there is love...

And while I am extremely happy for the brand new couple... I'm having some emotions about the ones left behind. The changes ahead. Change is not easy.

This was the wedding of the daughter of very close friends, the first time they've experienced one of their grown up children getting married. They held it together very well, but I know their emotions were running deep on this day.

We watched the bridesmaids (also close family friends of ours) walking down the aisle with expressions of mixed emotion. They were so happy for their friend, but they knew this was an ending of sorts. The end of an era. They will always be friends, but things will change.

We listened as the younger sister of the bride gave a heartfelt speech at the reception about being willing to share her "best friend" with the new groom. About how she knows she will spend less time with her sister and passing on the 'best friend' status to her new brother-in-law. Talk about tugging at the heartstrings.

We listened as the father of the bride gave a wonderful message during the service, speaking of how important it is to gather around the table and enjoy a meal together in love, not strife. To be hospitable. He spoke of past memories & family traditions of decorating gingerbread houses every Christmas season, about spending time at a cabin on the lake every summer.

Everything is going to be just fine. Families learn to adapt to the changes of children growing up, leaving home, getting married, and creating new families of their own.

But just for now.... can I tell you that change is very hard? Ultimately, I am happy for this couple and know they are a great match. Their future is bright. I grieve for the ones left behind as the new couple begin their lives together. They will always be a big part of their lives, but not in the same way. Change.

As a mother of four, I'm not sure how I'm going to survive the changes ahead. Perhaps this was practice for me? I didn't do very well. I'm crying typing this silly post.

The flowers in the photo were the gorgeous centerpieces on all the tables at the reception. I was lucky to be told to take one home.

Congratulations Kelsey & Tomas. All God's blessings upon you... you are loved.

Book Club on the Mississippi

2011-08-03T00:09:00.041-05:00

Recently, our book club had a wonderful experience. We set sail on the Mississippi River (the water was so still, the air was warm, the reflection of the trees, breathtaking) to discuss our current book:

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard.

One of our book club members happens to live on the Mississippi River. She not only has a pontoon, but a husband that doesn't mind driving a bunch of fun-seeking/book crazed/chatty women around. Lucky us.

We are an eclectic group, which is one thing I like about us. We are all ages and from different backgrounds. We have various hobbies and interests, not to mention a wide range of taste in books.

The one thing we know we have in common ... a love of books. And that is enough. Plus, we like each other. That always helps. :o)

"I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library." ~Jorge Luis Borges

When we get together we talk talk talk. On this night, we decided to pass an empty coke bottle as the symbol that when you had the bottle, you had the floor. Everyone else should zip it.

Didn't work perfectly, but was worth a try. We laugh a lot. Everyone's a comedian. :o)

.

“What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn't have any doubt - it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn't want to go anywhere else.”
Hal Boyle quotes

It's a great group of women (one of us was absent on this particular night...boo).

"Okay, can we actually Talk about the Book now?", says I.

Yes, we can. And, we have a lot to say about it. We enjoyed it, it's quite the adventure down the Amazon. We learned a lot and are happy we're currently floating down the Mississippi instead. In a pontoon, not a dugout canoe. Not a piranha in sight. And, we have food.

There are no rapids, no need to portage, no poisonous snakes, no monkeys (tad sad about no monkeys). As a child I always wanted a pet monkey. Not anymore. I now have kids.

It's so interesting to listen as each person gives her own thoughts & perception of the book. This is one thing I loooove about book clubs, listening to everyone's varied perspective.

I am last to speak. My hair really isn't red, by the way. It's a lighting, sun going down, technicality. Because, I mean, in the scheme of things, hair color is an important topic. No?

Give me that bottle. Okay, now I don't remember what I said.

You can be sure it was passionate, intelligent, inspiring, and worth documenting. If you're taking notes, make sure to write that down. Thank you.

I shut the place down and made Sherry cry. Not really, but it looks like it in the photo and wouldn't that have made a good story?
I have grown to love these gals.

Make a funny face someone said. I only see two funny faces, me and Tonya. What happened to the rest of you? Tonya made a joke, had to be about her upper half. I'm not telling.
Alright, the group photo session is over. Back to your posts.

Time for the journey back, to the dock, to the safety of our cars and homes. We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather for this evening.

"A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted. You should live several lives while reading it." ~ William Styron.

The River of Doubt is worth the read, especially if you enjoy history & adventure. I never would have chosen it if not for my book club. Thanks, gals!

A special thanks to Barbara & Michael for hosting such a perfect book club event. I do believe it was the highlight of my summer so far. :o)

Welcome to the Jungle

2011-08-01T19:23:00.017-05:00

It may not be the Amazon, but it's a jungle alright. The cucumber vines are taking over my world. And, I rather like it. The yellow blossoms are delightful and I can't quit marveling at the various curlicue vines that swirl around anything within their grasp.

I could photograph cucumber vines all day long. Of course, I love to eat cucumbers, but there is something beautiful in the leaves, the vines.

"It pleases me to take amateur photographs of my garden, and it pleases my garden to make my photographs look professional". ~Robert Brault (not that this particular photograph looks professional, what with the ugly grill in the background~ ha!).

Nasturtiums are trying to take over the raised beds as well. The bright flowers & interesting leaves keep me transfixed.

Cucumber blossom.

"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides". ~W.E. Johns

The cuke vines have crawled over into the peas, which we are plucking & eating & enjoying.

Garden fresh peas... what a treat.

It's a jungle out there!

"If you've never experienced the joy of accomplishing more than you can imagine, plant a garden". ~Robert Brault

As I was taking some pics and admiring how my garden has grown, I peeked in a little closer and found...
...our First Cucumber of the Season ready for picking. Then, I spotted another. It's time to venture in and investigate. I have a feeling there are more. They're multiplying at night... aaacckk!

I'm excited to bite into that first garden cucumber, but truth be told, I'd be happy with blossoms & curlicues. They are so cute.

"There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling". ~Mirabel Osler

Happy August 1st!

Alex & Ashley

2011-07-28T22:57:00.019-05:00

We celebrated two very special birthdays in our family on July 20th. Alex turned 18 and Ashley turned 16. Yes, they share a birthday. Ashley decided to come into this world on her older brother's second birthday. We tried to talk her out of it, but there was no stopping her. :o)

They each chose their own b-day meal (which we enjoyed on two separate evenings).

On your b-day in our family, you have a choice of either a favorite meal prepared at home or a restaurant of your choice. Ashley chose Greek-style ribs, cheesy potatoes, caesar salad and raspberries.

Greek ribs... yumm! You squeeze fresh lemon over them when they're hot out of the oven.

We had an ice cream cake from the DQ. It's summer. It's hot. This is perfect.

Alex's choice was burgers on the grill w/all the fixin's. I added potato salad & fresh fruit.

Apparently there were too many fixin's because I had to smoosh mine down in order to take a bite. I always 'over do' my burger. Can't help it, I love fixin's.

Eighteen & sixteen. We are almost out of a job. "The trouble with being a parent is that by the time you are experienced, you are unemployed." ~author unknown.

"We've had bad luck with children; they've all grown up." ~ Christopher Morley

Elliot joins the birthday duo in this photo (Ethan had just left for a week of camp, but got in on one of the b-day meals).

Happy birthday, Alex & Ashley! We are so very proud to be your parents.

Carpet Samples

2011-07-23T22:23:00.017-05:00

As July winds down, one might think that making fabulous dinners was the highlight of the summer. Above you see veggies stir-frying in an orange-ginger glaze.

The great thing about this meal, which featured grilled fish, was that my husband thought it up on a Friday night while strolling the aisles of the grocery store. He usually brings home a frozen food item. He's getting much better. :o) Food is delicious, but it hasn't been the highlight of my summer.

My gardens are offering up some very fun flowers at the moment. These are called Indian Summer black eyed susans. The flowers are gigantic and I'm loving them.

This particular variety of black eyed susan is an annual, not a perennial, in our part of the country, but definitely worth planting.

My patio is the place you oughta be. Actually, I wish I was out there.

Plants are going crazy with all the humidity we are experiencing.

The leaves of my roses are being eaten by some bug. The nerve. It's really 'bugging' me. :o)

With all the lovely color surrounding me, you might think that flowers are the highlight of my summer. Again, you would be wrong.

The highlight of my summer, so far, has been trying to choose a carpet for our basement. Not

Choosing a color for the walls was headache enough, but choosing carpet is a whole new monster. The wall color is called "Flower Field" by Behr. It looks yellow in these photos, but is a mix of gold & brown, I'd say "butterscotch" in natural light.

It is a warm color so we need to find a warm carpet, rather than a "cool" carpet. It needs to be durable to withstand the heavy traffic it will receive. It should have a few (albiet subtle) colors in it to hide whatever lint comes its way. The above samples... all wrong.

We're looking at loop rather than plush, but me oh my, we want a loop on the softer side rather than the scratchy stiff side. I've been advised to not choose a carpet based on cost (in other words, don't go too inexpensive) because we might regret it, although cost is surely a factor.

Did you know there was SO much involved in choosing a carpet for your basement? Me either. But, I think I'm on the right track now. I've learned a lot and know what we Don't want. Now if I could only find what we DO want.

As an aside, I'm currently reading a book (for bookclub) called Little Bee by Chris Cleave. The subject matter revolves around an immigrant from Nigeria and I now feel silly that picking out a carpet is my big problem of the summer. I am very blessed indeed. Amen.

Still, it's a huge decision and a large purchase and I will be a happy woman if we can find something we love (that fits all the criteria) in a timely manner. Thank goodness my friend Kathy Q. is back in town. I need you, stat. :o)

I hope your summer problems are small ones, like mine.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2011-07-17T21:59:00.033-05:00

I spoke with my mother-in-love, Lorraine, today on the phone and she asked me, "how does your garden grow?". Here is a quick update.

Above you see flat leaf parsley. I plucked it out of my garden this evening. Wow... it grows like crazy. This is the first year I've tried planting it.

I'm making Rachael Ray's Carbonara for supper. The bacon, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and white wine are bubbling away.

Cooked linguine & tempered egg yolks make this meal silky smooth. It also has fresh parmesan cheese and is sprinkled w/parsley.

Our tomatoes are growing like crazy, not to mention the cute hanging buckets of flowers.

Cucumbers are vining up and growing down.

Two raised flower beds.
Peas
Cucumbers.
Herbs: flat leaf parsley, chocolate mint, lavender, lemon thyme, rosemary and basil. They're getting big & bushy.

Commercial break: I told Derrick tonight that I regret not buying the whole set of these dishes I found in Walker, MN. I really love the bright orange accent. His reaction was, "they remind me of Rickie Fowler's pants (they were Bright Orange!)", which made me laugh out loud. He is a golfer that played in this weekend's British Open. Too funny.

Around the house.... Alex & Ethan were playing a game (HeroClix to be exact).

Derrick worked in the basement all day and is now relaxing in front of the tv.

Ashley, who has been relaxing in front of her book or the tv all day, is now relaxing in front of the tv this evening. Teasing. She did actually clean the bathroom today. Woot.

Because Grandma Houle asked how our garden was growing, we somehow translated that into how the kids are growing. Dark & blurry pics are ahead. Sorry. Yes, Ashley is taller than moi. well, whoop-de-d00.
Alex surpassed Derrick a long time ago.

Ashley is getting closer.
Ethan has a ways to go, but it won't be long the way time is flying. Boo.

All is well on Bixby. The gardens are growing, the kids are growing and the parents are hanging in there. We're all very grateful for our air conditioning these days as the humidity is over the top.

And, that is how my garden grows. :o)

In a Land called Connelly...

2011-07-13T22:58:00.019-05:00

My family headed north to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, recently to help replace the shingles on my in-loves house & garage. I stayed home to oversee the house, the gardens, the dog, and my childcare business. (the above cat is named Emma, not a relative of mine.)

I had a few lonely moments while they were gone (a rare few) and had the great good fortune to be invited to the Land of Connelly. You've heard of Puff the Magic Dragon who lived by the sea? He supposedly frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee. Well, this is the land of Connelly.
It's only a short drive out of town, but the minute I hit the first curve, I saw a lovely spotted fawn. The fawn stared at me as I slowed way down and enjoyed its beauty. The road curved again and I slowed as a painted turtle meandered in the middle of the road. Another curve, another turtle in the middle of the road. One more curve and one more turtle. I'm not kidding. I expected the music from the Twilight Zone to start playing. :o)

I couldn't wait to jump out of my car and tell my hosts about the sights I saw on the drive over. Upon parking in their driveway, what do I see but another turtle in their yard. Cats mingle w/turtles in this land, apparently. The turtle news didn't surprise them as there were 3 mama turtles laying eggs in their front yard at that very moment. That's a total of 7 turtles. Wow.

Walking to the door, I passed by a washtub full of nasturtium. I heart nasturtium, in case you didn't know.

A pretty begonia was hanging out on the screened-in porch.

The deck is decked out with flowers in every corner.

A gerbera daisy in the process of opening.

The weather was perfect, the garden tour inspiring, the company... many laughs were had by all.

Oriental poppy. I want one of these!

They fed me delicious food: salmon, french fries & yummy salad dotted w/berries.

And then, a little birdie flew into their window. Like bam. It was stunned, but after sitting on the deck railing for a few minutes, flew right away.

We think it was a baby Common Yellowthroat. Unfortunate the way it dropped by, but fun to get a couple photos just the same. We stood back and zoomed in (to give it some space).

My hosts live in a wildlife sanctuary (or so it seems). It's a treat to visit them because you never know what sights you will see.

Thank you, Barbara & Michael, for inviting me out to dinner and allowing me to share in the blessings of your home & yard. It was enchanting. Looking forward to my next visit to the Land of Connelly...

Happy Birthday, Derrick!

2011-07-07T21:18:00.014-05:00

Derrick turned 47 today. I baked & frosted and Ashley decorated. :o)

He is thrilled to be that much closer to 50.

Kidding. I will list 10 things you may not know about Derrick.

1. Derrick is a morning person (translate: he whistles, claps, sings, plays loud music, is generally too loud in the A.M.)
2. Because he is a morning person, he gets A LOT done in the morning. This is good.

3. He loves to camp.
4. He appreciates all genres of music. Really, he does.

5. He likes tuna on toast, not to mention a good toasted tomato sandwich (w/cheese).
6. He despises his photo being taken.

7. He enjoys being the center of attention. He likes surprises.
8. He's a natural actor, but he likes directing much better.

9. He is scared of dogs (you know, large barking vicious ones!)
10. He has great friends!!

He does have wonderful friends. And, they all showed up tonight to surprise him and take him out for supper for his birthday. Yes John, I'm really taking the picture now. Can you... cool it?

Derrick, Mark, Steve, Bill, Dean, & John. The Canoe Crew.

They decided to take him out to supper at the 209 Bar. Yummm!

The 209 Bar, you ask? Well, it's a tiny little place in downtown Bemidji which happens to have some amazing food! (Heather~ you were Right!)

Happy birthday, Derrick. I hope you enjoyed it. You are loved! :o)

Happy Birthday, Margaret!

2011-07-04T16:28:00.009-05:00

My sister, Margaret, came all the way from Vancouver, Washington to visit this weekend.

I had not seen her in ten years. That's a looooong time.

What fun to get to know her son, Keith, & daughter, Nicole. I hadn't seen them since they were very small.

Keith (who happens to be 13 like my son, Ethan) wasn't too excited about me asking to take his photo.

Nicole, who is 14, was just fine with it.

I think I won him over in the end. Well, maybe not, but I got one smile out of him anyway.

Elliot, another non-picture-lovin'-guy, enjoyed re-connecting with his Aunt Margaret.

I think I finally pushed Keith over the edge. Ashley joined us on the patio, too. Alex & Ethan were both busy w/friends so weren't able to visit. Derrick is another non-photo lovin' person, but he was here.

Words cannot express how wonderful it was to have this time with my sister and my niece & nephew. Both kids are sweet and witty and smart and funny. I LOVED their visit.

And, today happens to be my sister's birthday. They are on their long journey home as I type this. Drive safely! Thanks for taking the time to make the trip.

Happy birthday, dear sister!!

Flowers & Food

2011-06-30T22:14:00.014-05:00

It is peony season in my neck of the woods and I am one happy (non)camper. Peonies are showy and they smell terrific. Mine failed to bloom last year because I moved them the year before so this is a real treat.

Speaking of treats, we had Quick Lasagne out of Cuisine at Home magazine this week and it has become a favorite. It's cooked on the stovetop, using mini lasagne noodles (mafalda) then put under the broiler for a few minutes to brown the fresh mozzarella. Whoa. Dee-lish. I snipped the basil from my herb garden, thankyouverymuch. I say this because I'm impressed with myself that I'm actually using the herbs in my herb garden. Woot. Good intentions, you know.

This new Minnesota heat wave (after a very chilly June) has my flowers growing like crazy. Above you see dahlia bloomin' like the band.

A new variety (for me) of nasturtiums. I love the varigated leaves.

Dainty brachycome are loving the humidity.

Yellow butterfly flower is growing like a weed. What a nice name... "butterfly flower".

Back to peonies. I have a packed vase of them on my kitchen island. I included a large dark purple (called black in flower lingo) Bearded Iris to the vase as well as a few white daisies. The whole thing... heavenly.

The pale pink (as shown above) and the white are my favorite varieties, though I love them all.

Another meal we enjoyed this week was a grilled marinated chicken breast sandwich. I simply used a bottle of garlic & herb marinade for the chicken (italian or terriyaki would be good, too). After grilling (and toasting the buns on the grill), we added mayo, lettuce, tomato, red onion. Oh yum.

Farewell to the month of June. I have a feeling warmer days are ahead.

I Fought the Lawn and the Lawn Won

2011-06-27T22:01:00.017-05:00

I think I won in the end (still pondering that), but it just about got me. You see, we bought a new mower recently, one that comes with a bag to catch your grass. I'd love to have the number of the person who invented this so I could simply ask, "why?".

I used to enjoy mowing the lawn once in awhile. You know, fresh air, exercise, a feeling of accomplishment. Who doesn't love the smell of freshly cut grass? Not to mention viewing the lines that form?

The grass was so long after a week of rain and I probably pushed the mower to its limit so it needed to *rest* every time I emptied the bag. It wouldn't start right away for me, which gave me time to take photos, and get more and more frustrated.

I'm only showing you half the flower bed because the other half isn't weeded yet. In fact this half has a few weeds left. Shhh.

By this point on Friday night, I've come a long way, baby. And, it has taken a long time. Baby.

I noticed that I still need to plant this fun find. It's coral bell (real name: heuchera). One of my cousins is crazy for heuchera so I've taken an interest lately. I love the lime green color of this particular one. There are many varieties of heuchera to discover.

One thing she enjoys are the whimsical names given to each. This one is called Lime Ricky and I can't help thinking I could use one of those about now (even though I have no clue what it is).

Notice the cliff of long grass. With a bagger mower you have to stop and empty the bag loaded with heavy grass every couple of rows or so. mmm hhmm. Stop the mower, unhook the bag, carry heavy bag across the lawn to dump it, hook it back up. Why all this extra work?

You also have to tip the mower on its side to pull & prod & dig out the grass that is stuck/tied around the blade every.single.time you stop and empty the bag. I was not having fun.

One time, the mower accidentally tipped all the way over and gas leaked into the engine. Fun times. I definitely let it sit and rest that time. I didn't want to start a fire.

We live inside city limits, but we are lucky to have a big double lot.

I wasn't feeling so lucky while I was cutting that lawn for 3 hours (yes, lots of breaks) on Friday night and another 2 hours on Saturday.

By Saturday, I finally got the hang of it and could tell when it was time to empty the bag. The mower makes a lovely noise, you just have to tune in to it. This was my first time using it.

The smaller side yard.

The backyard.

We have a lot of grass to mow. And, I'm thankful. Thankful that my family arrived home safe and sound from their trip to Saskatoon and I can pass the lawn mowing baton to them. I deserve a t-shirt at the very least. I would like it to say, "I fought the lawn and the lawn won."

Because in the end, even though I got it all done, that mower got the best of me. It chewed me up and spit me out. I wish I would have counted how many times I had to stop and empty that bag. I may be lawnologically damaged. I'm sure there are worse things. I still like a good ol' push mower.

making the world pretty, one yard at a time.

2011-06-21T22:02:00.024-05:00

Yesterday I had great fun heading out of town to St.Cloud, Minnesota for the sole purpose of shopping for and helping plant flowers for a good friend's daughter. We managed to find a few items as you can see in the packed trunk above.

I almost got lost in the backseat on our way home. It was a jungle in there!

Unloading our purchases.

Barb got a phone call right during the photo shoot.

Still talkin'....

"Mom, are you almost done?" Getting off the phone now. These photos make me chuckle.

Ahhh, everything is better in flowerland once again.

We found a lot of lovelies. I expect fairies & honeybirds & butterflies to show up any minute.

They always look so good squashed together in the box flat.

I made up several rules on this trip. Rule # one... we must eat at a restaurant that we do not have in our hometown. We ate lunch at Panera Bread, essentially fast food that is healthy. I am in love w/the menu and wish we had one in our hometown. Apparently, I made up a silent rule that you must close your eyes and hold up your knee during photo sessions. Barb & Erin are not obeying that rule as they look way too cute.

Many pots were planted, potting soil and empty plastic containers flying everywhere (don't worry, we cleaned up).

I tried to make a rule that whatever plants were sitting on your lap on the ride from the flower shop, you get to keep. They vetoed that rule.

We ate dinner at Olive Garden (I can't get enough of their salad, can you?). I ordered the Ravioli di Portobello which was scrumptious, but I couldn't quit eyeing the Grilled Shrimp Caprese (yes, Erin, I want to taste one of the shrimp after all, thanks for offering. Is it too late?). :o)

What a fun day we had! Food, flowers, & laughter, does life get any better? Wait a minute, I'm getting a call on my cell phone..... kidding. And, I'm ready to make up a new rule about that! :o)

It's a Beautiful Life

2011-06-10T21:37:00.015-05:00

Seriously. The word "beautiful" is officially on my living room wall. I recently hosted an Uppercase Living party and the demonstrator picked a spot and randomly stuck this word to my wall as I was checking the veggie tray & pink lemonade in the kitchen (she needed to demonstrate). Don't worry, it's removable, but it's starting to grow on me.

She also helped me add "welcome" to my front porch.

It was a little tricky on the bead board.

Adding to this beautiful life is the small bouquet of Lily of the Valley whose perfumed scent is wafting toward me as I type.... heavenly.

Freshly picked from the yard today, I not only adore the smell, but love the little white bell shaped flowers.

So lacy, delicate & sweet.

I just tossed the lilacs so it's nice to have a fresh bouquet on the kitchen island.

Alex asked if he could have a few friends over to play games tonight. There are 10 boys in my dining room at the moment. TEN. Two are ours, eight are not.

That's a lot of very large, somewhat smelly, tennis shoes sitting in my entryway. And you wonder why I need flowers to offset that smell? Teasing, it's not that bad. Cough.

There is a lot of laughter coming from the dining room. I am convinced this adds to the beauty of the home and I will miss it terribly when they don't come around anymore (please take note of my cute mismatched chairs). ;o)

I won't miss ordering all that pizza though. And, coke.

Let's end on a flower note, shall we? I sure do like these daisy-like, cheerful brachycomes. :o)

It's a beautiful life, indeed. Now, to leave the word "beautiful" up or not? I'm going to sit with it for awhile and see what my friends think.

It's certainly been a nice Friday night.

Ducks on Bixby?

2011-06-08T22:24:00.003-05:00

Strange things are happening in my neighborhood. Just last week I was fixing lunch and peering out my kitchen window when a doe, a deer, a female deer galloped down my street. I live inside city limits and have never seen such a sight.

Today, while I was away, Ethan was looking out the kitchen window and spotted a mama duck and her many ducklings marching down our sidewalk. Yes, that's my corner flower bed and I'm sorry about the weeds. I'll get to it.

We're only a block from Lake Bemidji so I assume that's where they're headed. You know, for a day at the lake.

After checking out my trusty Birds of Minnesota field guide by Stan Tekiela, I'm guessing this is a female Common Merganser. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Thank you, Ethan, for grabbing my camera and taking photos. You figured I would want to see them and yep, you were right. :o) (He took these photos from inside the house and zoomed in, by the way).

Make way for ducklings. What is next to see on Bixby?

For Today

2011-06-01T20:48:00.009-05:00

Outside my window... dusk.

I am thinking... school is about to end. Am I ready to be flooded w/teens?

I am thankful for... a sunny day for planting.

From the kitchen... Freschetta frozen pizza & locally grown asparagus, roasted. An unlikely duo is what you're thinking, but my meal planning time is limited these days.

I am wearing... jean capris, flip flops and a t-shirt.

I am creating... potted flowers here, there and everywhere.

I am going... nowhere for the next two days. Daycare in my home.

I am reading... just finished the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. My review: charming, clever, funny in spots, poignant, sad, informative of WWII. Worth the read!

I am hoping... for a nice hot (within reason) summer, which is not what is being predicted.

I am hearing... two teens tell their Dad how their day went. A bit stressful w/interviews for jobs & tryouts for showchoir for next year.

Around the house... neat & tidy since I hosted book club last night. Those gals don't make a mess, thank goodness.

One of my favorite things... seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of flower planting.

A few plans for the rest of the week... attending approx. 6 graduation open houses on Sat. & Sun. Let's just hope they have good food. :o)

Here is a picture of thought I am sharing... can I share more than one? Thanks! I knew you'd say yes.

Cheerful violas in a white wooden box by my front door.

Yellow dahlias blooming again.

A striped dahlia just opening up.

Dahlias are floating my boat right now.

Recently planted my herb garden.

I bought 3 small stems of ranunculus (at a local florist called KD Floral) to put in a short square vase to set on the table amongst my food for book club. I am currently enthralled with this particular flower. So many layers of petals!

Happy June 1st!

Flowering Maple

2011-05-27T19:15:00.019-05:00

There's a new plant in town. Or, at least, in my porch. It's new to me, but maybe it's old hat to you. It's got me mesmerized.

I bought one in white and one in pink.

The blooms are very poppy-like: large, wispy, delicate, papery.

It is a flowering maple.
It comes in several colors. I'm told it makes a good houseplant.

Here's the tag. I googled it to learn more. It's a perennial in zone 8. HA. I'm in zone 3b. I can use it as an annual.

It's light, airy, and tropical in appearance.

I just might like the buds more than the opened bloom.

The leaves have grabbed my attention as well. Looks like a maple tree.

It's still sitting in its 4" pot waiting to be planted and has surprised me with its growth.

I can't decide whether to plant it alone or in a mixed pot? On my front step or on my patio? Outside or use it as an indoor houseplant right out of the shoot? Decisions...

I do know I love those buds. Aren't they sweet?

The more buds the better. Cute!

It looks like this bud is ready to bite into that leaf. Okay, the rain is making me crazy. I need to plant my flowers instead of blogging about them in their plastic containers. Aaaaack.

For more floral enjoyment, check out my cousin Kristi's blog, which showcases the flowers she's recently planted. It'll cheer you right up! http://ohfercute.blogspot.com/2011/05/garden-tour-continues.html.

Have a great long weekend!

Rain Rain Go Away...

2011-05-21T17:34:00.010-05:00

...I guess I'll make some soup. Chicken Tortilla soup, to be exact (with homemade croutons). I like to try new recipes and found this one called Amazing Chicken Tortilla Soup on recipezaar.com. I left out the jalapeno & green pepper mainly because I didn't have either on hand, but also because my kids are happier that way.

Speaking of kids, there are only two of them home this evening and I felt like being extra nice. They are watching a movie (Inception) with their father and I decided to deliver their meals to them on trays.
Are you curious why the peanut butter/jelly toast? When I was little my mom would serve peanut butter toast alongside her hamburger/tomato goulash or her homemade chili. I don't know why, but to her they went together. I don't always do this, but tonight I did.

Mmmm.... blueberries in your own little dish.

Meals have been scarce around here for the past few days. It feels good to serve them tonight.

In fact, I think I'll make some hot chocolate at the end of their meal. That will bring a smile or two.
Ashley
Ethan
Okay, the close up did Ethan in. No more photos. It's been a good day. The moral of the story is: when rain ruins your plans of yard work & planting: make soup.

Still in the Porch

2011-05-14T21:47:00.009-05:00

Here you go: another quick post focusing on my front porch and the contents within (stop rolling your eyes). Above you see a hanging basket of calibrochoa (million bells). I will take it out of the plastic container and put it in something else and add more soil. I love this flower, but it tends to dry out unless I baby it.

Dahlias... I think I'll plant a mix of yellow, orange & red in the tall red pot at the bottom of my front steps. That is, when it's warm enough. Hurry, hurry hurry.

My bench is pretty packed now. Yes, Claire, that's your book club book and I see you must have picked it up today. You're going to love the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (yes, I had to grab my book to copy the title because I cannot memorize it. Never will).

Rocking chair is loaded down with blooms. There will be no rocking.

Floor space is limited. Step carefully.

The 7 day forecast says we should have sunshine and 70* weather for the next week. Hope.

I did leave a path so we can shimmy in and out the front door, in case you're wondering.

In other news, we have violas (or johnny jump ups as my Grandma Lucy would say) growing at random in our backyard. I mowed some of the grass for the first time today, but couldn't mow these down. Yes, our grass looks funny now.

Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and let me plant a few pots and unload my porch. In the meantime, I have daycare moms trying to shop on their way out. :o) It's fun to share the color.

Flooded w/ Flowers

2011-05-09T22:36:00.013-05:00

The flowers in my front porch are multiplying like rabbits. It's the same problem I have with paperwork/mail that tends to collect on my kitchen island.

I've been having fun perusing local greenhouses... can you tell? I need to stay home for a week or so. It's way too early to plant in Northern Minnesota. Brrr!

Got pink cosmos? Check.

Got white? Check.

At least one gerbera daisy plant? Check.

A few non-stop begonias? Check.

Dahlias in several colors? Check.

My front porch is flooded w/color and I can't wait to get it all into pots or in the ground.

Ahh spring. I love this time of year. I load up on healthy looking plants that I enjoy and then dig out my pots and let the creativity begin. I feel like a painter, organizing colors and textures.

This big beauty completely shocked me by blooming today. It's a yellow hibiscus that I stored inside over the winter.

Spring is a time to pay attention to your senses: listen to the bird's song, feel the warm sun & breeze on your skin, view the colorful flowers & green of the trees, taste a healthy meal and breathe in that earthy scent that is spring.

First Flower Finds of the Season

2011-05-05T18:52:00.018-05:00

The pillow in my front porch says it all, especially the part about flowers being welcome in May. You're welcome, too, but only if you bring flower money.

Last weekend, the greenhouses in town opened. And, it was the perfect time to buy. I mean, it was super windy, raining, and around 20 degrees, but still. They were OPEN. Finally! Did you expect me to stay away? I only bought the two flats above.

Oh, and this little box of herbs. Herbs go fast, you know.

And, three Calliope Dark Red geraniums. Only three.

And, a few packets of sweet peas seeds. I have to plant them soon as they like cooler weather.

Pansies are such a happy spring flower. I always need a pot by my front door right away in the spring. I think I'll find a basket to stick them in this year.

Pretty color!

This bud's for you.

The real reason I bought so many pansies was to do a little flower project with my daycare kids today (and tomorrow).

You should see how excited they are to pick out and plant their own flower for their moms for mother's day. Yep, I have a big bag of miracle grow potting soil in my kitchen. Lovely.

To hear each little voice say "happy mother's day!" as they presented their mom with a flower was priceless. I love my job. And, I love that the greenhouses are open. It's time to shop. Happy May!