Blackberry Picking

We have been busy these past two days. Sadly my husband's work schedule is pretty crazy and unreliable right now. Since he works night shifts we usually spend our days together as a family. He also never has the weekend off, so our weekend usually is on Monday and Tuesday (his usual days off). But since his restaurant has doubled in size after its renovation- without hiring more staff to compensate- he and his fellow employees are having to working a lot. Last week also two people called in sick during the day last minute, so he had to go in and work doubles. Truly I am grateful for his job and his wonderful boss Julia, but I will be happy when this period is over. I am struggling with getting all my housework done and poor baby Jonas is teething again, which means I get even less done. Ah well that is ok. One day at a time. My blessings are plentiful and the Lord will give us all extra strength and peace. 


On a happy note, he did get Monday off this week and we were able to go to my hometown Virginia Beach for some blackberry picking (click on the link to see the farm's website that we went to)! The berries were just in season and delicious. We are now in the process of making schnapps, preserves, and cobbler. So much fun! 

At any rate, I will try my best to return to this space as frequently as I have been, but forgive if I lapse. We all know how life happens! 

Daily Verse or Quote: "Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion." -- His Holiness the Dalai Lama, from "Kindness, Clarity, and Insight" by Snow Lion Publications.

I cannot help laughing in this photo. The chick has imprinted on me and now follows me around everywhere.  In this photo she hopped up onto my lap and climbed up me while I was blogging. Then she nestled down and fell asleep on my shoulder. Precious! Still no name yet!

Geese, Ducks, and Rabbits oh-my!

Our nameless Americauna chick, suggestions?

I think the title of this post pretty much sums up what I am going to say :) Today Deirdre and I took a mommy-daughter day trip to West Point. The local tack and feed store there was hosting a poultry swap and we wanted to go check it out! After learning a little bit more about chicken's pecking order and seeing how unhappy Snow White was, we wanted to get her a little friend close to her age. 


Chickens, especially young ones, are social flock animals. When one is isolated, it causes undue stress and weight loss.  I tried 'look but don't touch' with Snow White and my other chickens, but it did not work and they continued to peck her badly. So we have to wait to introduce her once she is full grown and can peck back. In the meantime however she was not happy,and since we want her to be happy and lay eggs, we needed to get her a friend chick close to her age. After learning that the feed store where we got Snow White had no more chicks this season, we started looking elsewhere for a friend. Then this swap popped up, so off we went! 


It only took about an hour to get to West Point. It was just so beautiful there. Deirdre aptly commented "Mommy its so beautiful here. God did a really good job on this one". Sadly I forgot to take photos! I was just so enamored with all of the animals. 


The store was easy enough to find and it was packed! It was at the first stall, yeah that's right I did not make it past the first stall, where I saw the Americauna chicks. My mind was made up then and there. You see while I now have Dominique hens, we at first wanted Easter Eggers. Our Hatchery however did not have any left when it came time for me to order. Plus I was very happy with my Dominiques, they are so sweet! 


So instead of leaving with one Americauna chick, we got A pair of geese, a pair of ducks, a new doe meat rabbit, and our one Americauna chick. Craig had been commenting on how he wanted a turkey or goose to raise for Christmas, and he even tried to catch a baby duck at work. So when I brought these babies home, he wasn't shocked. He was actually pleasantly surprised, especially by the sweet geese and meat rabbit. Well, heck he liked them all. So now we are making plans for all of our new editions! Right now they are playing in our baby pool on the back porch and loving it! 

From left to right: Raspberry, Strawberry, Petunia, and Charles

Laying her head in my hand sweetly! 

Snow White: the white leghorn

Brownie: the New Zealand doe

Duffy: The Dutch Doe and my nemesis due to her being an escape artist! 

Cicero aka Fluffy: the Lionhead Buck

My big babies! Faline, Nala, and Simba.

And, I finished the Oliver and S bucket hat! 

{this moment}

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual started by Amanda Blake Soule. 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.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Have a lovely weekend!

Old Fashioned Iced Tea

Today it was in the high 90s with a heat index into the 100s and a bucket full of humidity to go with it. I attempted to take the kids out at 4pm, when it cooled off just a bit, to go in our baby pools. Neither of them wanted to go out. Both immediately went back towards the door informing me it was just "too hot".  Even my chickens wanted to stay in the coop. And that's saying something! 


So instead of outside, we had free play in the living room. I laid out a quilt, put on classical music, pulled out some old- new to them-toys and the kids went to town! Deirdre and Jonas usually do not play in the living room. I have a nice playroom set up for them which they tend to stay in. So the novelty of the quilt- which became an ocean and amusement park- in the living room entertained them endlessly. 

I know, I know, its a lot of sprinkles. Deirdre got a little carried away with shaking part! 

In the meantime I made a nice pork loin, salad, cookies, frozen banana pops, and iced tea for dinner. Both of the kids at different points helped me. Jonas is quite proud of himself now that he can stand on the stool next to his big sister. Plus with the temperature outside being ridiculous, iced tea was in order! 

So here is my recipe for Old Fashioned Iced Tea (really it is my version of what my Grandmother's tea tasted like with a few modifications)! Enjoy and stay cool. I am still working on the baby doll quilt tutorial. I will get it up this weekend after the poultry swap, I promise! 

Ingredients: 

• 5 tablespoons of honey
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of white Granulated Sugar
• 4 tea Bags of your favorite teas- I chose 2 bags of Twingings Black Pomegranate Tea and 2 bags of Twingings Green Tea to give it a fruity twist.
• 4 cups of boiling water

Directions:

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a whistling boil in a kettle.
2. Add 5 tablespoons of honey, 1 tablespoon of white sugar, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to a heat-safe bowl or glass measuring cup 
3. Pour the boiling water into the measuring cup with the honey and sugar in it. Stir the connects until the sugar and honey are dissolved. 
4. Add the 4 tea bags to the cup and let them steep for 5 minutes. 
5. Have a pitcher ready and remove the teas bags, pouring the measuring cup's contents into the pitcher. 
6. Add cold water to the pitcher until it is full
7. Let the contents chill in the refrigerator about an hour before serving- or add ice. (If the tea is too strong- or too dull for you-just add more water or let the tea bags steep a little longer.)

Enjoy! 

Loving her 'juice' tea! 

Daily Verse or Quote: 

Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 

-Colossians 1:9 NIV

Summer's Flight

Nature's bounty from our garden today. Cherry tomatoes, an heirloom tomato, and raspberries! 

These past two days seem to have flown by. Summer seems to be flying by as well. And that is ok with me. I love summer but when time flies for us, it means that we are having fun. Yesterday we took a family trip to the Children's Museum of Virginia. After about 2 years of renovations, it finally re-opened. I took us about an hour to get there due to traffic, but the trip was worth it. They had exhibits for every age and interest. They even had a baby play room for Jonas. Jonas' favorite exhibit by far was the fire station. In it, they had fake fires that you had to put out and a life size firetruck cab to climb into. Even when we were in other exhibits close by, Jonas would BLOT back to the fireman's exhibit. Deirdre, well she loved everything. She was in heaven and was enamored about spending one on one time with her Daddy. Sweet bliss. 


Back to the subject of the summer flying by and Jonas. My baby is turning 15 months old on the 10th! He is walking, signing, and talking like a wild man. He really understands just about everything I say to him. I love seeing the little light bulb go off in his head. His personality is just blossoming and I feel like I can barely keep up. Its a new thing each day. Time just keeps flying by... 


With Deirdre its more subtle now. Her imagination, maturity, interests, complex thought processes are also blossoming. She is developing a sense of responsibly and also is learning how to fib (as all children do at this age). Fortunately Craig and I take all these changes with stride. Both our kids have such beautiful and strong spirits. Just like us! 


Right now, I am just feeling overwhelmed with joy. I am lavished with blessings from God through my husband and kids. I love being able to take a step back with this blog and just marvel at my life and what it has become. 


So dear summer, you have my permission to fly by. But please allow us sweet moments to savor and pause at while our babies are still babies. 

Daily Verse or Quote:

"Kiss your children now for soon they'll swim away" 

From a print hanging in my room by the artist Robert Kline

Crafty Goodness:

Tonight I finished a baby doll quilt for my daughter's doll "Vera" and knit doll booties. The quilt used scrap fabric from Deirdre's gnome quilt- so they will match! I will post a tutorial tomorrow for both. It was very very easy. 

Seashore Sundress

Ta-Da!

The front

The back

More of the front

So once again I am having a short blog, but for good reason. I spent all my free time today sewing with Mom K (and then we and the kids picnicked on the beach for dinner). She helped me tackle the oliver and s seashore sun dress pattern that I just got for my daughter. It was my first time using and O&S pattern, and let me just say I am in love. The photos do not do the dress justice. It has side and back ruffles with two little pockets. Deirdre even picked out the fabric herself on our first trip to the fabric store together. The fabric is a 1930s reproduction fabric with lille Danish girls in clogs, sailboats, and windmills on it. I cannot wait to show it to her tomorrow. Now all I have left to do is get the buttons on- they're coming in the mail and are super cute! Until then I bid you Adieu! 

Funny Fruit Embroidery- not related to the dress!

Daily Verse:

Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

— Psalm 28:9 (NIV)

Myth Busting: How Reading is Taught in a Waldorf School

I love Sarah Baldwin and her methods. This is a great article to read if you've wondered about Waldorf schools and reading.

Myth Busting: How Reading is Taught in a Waldorf School