Family Stick Puppets

There are times when I welcome the rain this time of year I think because it gives me a guilt-free excuse to stay inside and enjoy indoor time.  I have been summer quilting and crafting with the kids this spring which has kept us moderate lately.  The frenzy of early spring has passed and with most of our vegetables in the ground, I don't feel like I am losing time in the garden if weather keeps us inside.

Last week my daughter wanted to make puppets.  We didn't have any popsicle sticks on hand so our Lincoln Logs became the sticks.  Each family member got a puppet and a signature t-shirt (or dress), each 'puppet' was taped to a lincoln log, and much family entertainment followed.

They have provided for some much needed comic relief during tense dinnertime moments.  Now they are perched on the windowsill over the kitchen sink, reminding me during some reflective moments not to take it all too seriously.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Amanda Soule

The State of the Garden

Tonight we enjoyed the first fruits of our harvest, and though small in quantity, they were large in taste and a good reminder about what is to come and why it is worth the wait.  Our endive is ready for the picking, the leaves grown long and curly.  I planted too much this year (again) so I am looking for great recipes to use it in, other than your basic salad. I added it to some lemon fusilli in a cream sauce (an Ina Garten recipe), substituting it for arugula, and it was splendid.

Ready for eating was also one solitary radish, which we split five ways, and some young lettuce leaves.  All of our plants have stopped their growing spurt since the sun went away and the rain started.  I can probably count on one hand the amount of hours of sunshine we have had in the past two weeks.

My spinach is struggling this year--the leaves are turning brown and wilting before my eyes.  In an effort to save my plants, I cut those leaves this morning hoping that the new growth will start green and stay that way.  Our cucumbers, just barely sprouting, are being eaten by some sort of insect.  I planted some nasturtium babies all around them--let's hope they do their job well.

What is going on in your garden?

Nature Study Monday: Nasturtium

The perfectly rounded leaves of the nasturtium leave so little that needs to be said.  There are fewer baby seedlings that I find more delightful.  I planted a bed of hummingbird attracting flowers a few weeks ago and these were the first to appear.  I have little experience identifying plants and often have to do some research in order to figure out what is sprouting (even if I planted it!), but I did name these as soon as they came up (and it made me like them even more).

If you do any googling of these plants, you will find that they are the gardener's darlings.  They are easy to grow from seed, do well in sandy soil, deter many garden pests (like aphids and cucumber beetles), and they are edible!  I have so many coming up in and around our butterfly garden that I am considering transplanting some to the veggies.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Amanda Soule

The State of The Hens

We are still adjusting to being chicken owners and have hit some small and large bumps along our road.  Sadly, we lost one chick (our Rhode Island Red) early last week due to a misstep (literally) by our middle child.  It was pretty traumatic for us all, especially considering that the poor thing didn't die immediately.  I never imagined how attached we might become to our (still tiny) pets.  Last week was a hard one for us.

In order to make sure that the three that we still have remain safe and healthy, we are brainstorming ways to keep invaders out of our coop at night before our babies move outdoors.  Right now, they spend their days outside and nights in, under a heat lamp.

Already they know us and one, our Barred Plymouth Rock, comes when she sees me.  They are eating lots more these days and have gotten most of their "grown-up" feathers in.  In a few weeks, we are going to replace our lost little one with another two chicks.  Three feels like a sad number to me.   Maybe another Rhode Island Red.  Any suggestions from you chicken owners?

Yarn Along: 18 May

Joining Ginny again today...

The knitting and reading have been so entertaining again this week.  Elizabeth Zimmerman's Ganomy Hat is now off my needles and awaiting the winter and a recipient.  I loved knitting this piece and plan to knit another one very soon.  Having conquered a small EZ pattern, I *think* I might be ready to move on to one of her sweaters.  Hmmmm....

Based on so many recommendations of your recommendations, I got a copy of The Dirty Life from the library yesterday and stayed up way too late reading it last night.  I am still reading  Lessons at Blackberry Inn, but it is resting right now as the copy is my own and does not have to be returned to the library.

I can't wait to read about your needles and your nightstands this week!