tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23062506742492024102024-03-05T01:29:31.300-08:00Frogwater FarmAt home with children and chickensJasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.comBlogger328125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-91366588602377198162014-12-05T12:41:00.003-08:002014-12-05T12:41:28.580-08:00We've Moved...Follow us over to wordpress: <br />
<br />
frogwaterfarm.wordpress.com Hope to see you there!Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-85015487921742367452014-11-08T05:27:00.000-08:002014-11-08T05:27:30.945-08:00Homeschool ThursdayThis week we were surprised by a full on snow storm when flurries had been predicted. Fourteen inches or more fell all through the day Sunday with strong winds. We were without power for about 24 hours, though for many of our friends its been more than 3 days. I was sure that the 50 degrees and rain predicted for this week would melt that freak snow, but 4 days later there's still 8 inches or more in places. I really hope it will warm up enough to feed my bees once more. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlkcr6Z4USb24HRvU3j91vxZc0DIpi-xZBpJKhCr1P8YqBNqDEJ0Xnw1KZieWRHtXawoG1dYXpXeL5qe_hYxeJxM3dLutcveWExZoPu87BqTJh_mKVF8G7TkIBRZBZa_rlFlr3np6N3w/s1600/IMG_1236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlkcr6Z4USb24HRvU3j91vxZc0DIpi-xZBpJKhCr1P8YqBNqDEJ0Xnw1KZieWRHtXawoG1dYXpXeL5qe_hYxeJxM3dLutcveWExZoPu87BqTJh_mKVF8G7TkIBRZBZa_rlFlr3np6N3w/s1600/IMG_1236.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Notice the one oak still all leafed out in gold. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfMmvocgmG_i34aBhx5SOZrQs3iwjupvFZ7yHZxHB3DIPZHwwCbg-FZdpb37O3qTWmee1cnud6nNlSM_G27rcouM9N9OgOWcdo3UHB10x8GgoNohkZbJR7NiP-ytGtvqaQ9rAqE7SG50/s1600/IMG_1234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfMmvocgmG_i34aBhx5SOZrQs3iwjupvFZ7yHZxHB3DIPZHwwCbg-FZdpb37O3qTWmee1cnud6nNlSM_G27rcouM9N9OgOWcdo3UHB10x8GgoNohkZbJR7NiP-ytGtvqaQ9rAqE7SG50/s1600/IMG_1234.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I have to admit that while we enjoy the snow, and were excited to strap on skis for the first time this season, I am concerned by this new pattern of extreme summer and winters and very short autumn and spring seasons. It seems like since starting this blog nearly 4 years ago I have written several posts about weather anomaly--all of them occurring during spring or fall. This year we've had a beautiful, warm, summer-like fall, all the way through October. Then, two days into November it is suddenly winter. We had perhaps a week or two of actual fall like weather. Its easy to be flip about this crazy weather, but honestly it has me scared for our kids' futures. What extremes will they be parenting their way through. What global devastation in the wake of climate change will they endure? I could get all worked up about it, but instead I'll share this powerful, uplifting piece on the issue. Its well worth your time, though it will make you cry. This <a href="http://jkijiner.wordpress.com/2014/09/24/united-nations-climate-summit-opening-ceremony-my-poem-to-my-daughter/">poem</a> was presented at the last UN conference by <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; letter-spacing: -0.03em;">Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner of the Marshall Islands</span>. <br />
<br />
But, if you end up with a foot of snow in November, you may as well enjoy it. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJ67m3hszsRsLBPnprSu8lW5j6Utns5JZxn3L_GwnS3_adpd1yQp4jmaB_oka8st26AMojP8aar7_YNjTj7R0DD0A8r4DTik2pVd1BlLsMGiH1sO60LxFf5UOT2fxMD1EyypseNRKgp0/s1600/IMG_1219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJ67m3hszsRsLBPnprSu8lW5j6Utns5JZxn3L_GwnS3_adpd1yQp4jmaB_oka8st26AMojP8aar7_YNjTj7R0DD0A8r4DTik2pVd1BlLsMGiH1sO60LxFf5UOT2fxMD1EyypseNRKgp0/s1600/IMG_1219.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a>We started the week skiing and sledding, but have since been slowed by a virus. Headache, fever, dizziness has dragged each of the kids to the couch for audio books, piles of picture books, and YouTube videos of Garfield and Friends (its their new kick). So far the adults are holding their own against this bug. <br />
<br />
Schoolwork, when we're sick becomes very passive. Yesterday and today before the fever really took hold we listened to and discussed the "Sign of the Beaver" on audio, as part of a longer study we've been doing on Native Americans. As we listen we work quietly on some kind of art. This week I've been bringing out the different hand work, reintroducing ourselves to quite, creative outlets to keep us busy during these more indoor months. Wylie's been working on a weaving projects, Juniper has begun a small embroidery project, and is asking for a Rug Hooking Kit, and Kale has started including bodies on his people drawings. I've been knitting up a pile of small projects (for a later post). <br />
<br />
We're studying the history of Maine this year, and have been focusing so far on Wabanaki Indians specifically, as well as reading about other tribes and the history of Native Americans in our part of the country. We've been planning to build our own Wigwam, but the snow has put that plan on hold. We did get some tiny ones made. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNZr_15H80lGRM2OHzVxAy2Ppuq13kaQgdmbqFAMvc-sqcLjEL3qOLyvrBVLdE8I828lhVkt5O59jjcCQtbntUeMU0CDjw0WwZ39-Q2eWAZXlVZSPb0KLhaEAy4YpXs5XTIL5MNi_lgk/s1600/IMG_1134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNZr_15H80lGRM2OHzVxAy2Ppuq13kaQgdmbqFAMvc-sqcLjEL3qOLyvrBVLdE8I828lhVkt5O59jjcCQtbntUeMU0CDjw0WwZ39-Q2eWAZXlVZSPb0KLhaEAy4YpXs5XTIL5MNi_lgk/s1600/IMG_1134.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliRlMhJ_YM4MYNsB-khnFKikfDkij5jrnZggasczOcMhl9QNv4FkIJZLijTYwhs5pWiW1VecRYwUN-nRp2ewSU6bon3DG6AUYo6aeGi9IvsV5_GCFqD_QvsM4jCP8-m-YiYBs_VMsBlY/s1600/IMG_1136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliRlMhJ_YM4MYNsB-khnFKikfDkij5jrnZggasczOcMhl9QNv4FkIJZLijTYwhs5pWiW1VecRYwUN-nRp2ewSU6bon3DG6AUYo6aeGi9IvsV5_GCFqD_QvsM4jCP8-m-YiYBs_VMsBlY/s1600/IMG_1136.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBXlNLuDWigVLjgQp3n6T_31NcCmMK56uK19WHchubdT_3jE1oLT7eUtIlrLYFfB3w8DYzgZgF3LEL5lI6MlbB8y_1GfVdjeRAZPBQTFh-7SjgXGYhwvvK9OmvkKD25dAjI5Rpnjcq5A/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBXlNLuDWigVLjgQp3n6T_31NcCmMK56uK19WHchubdT_3jE1oLT7eUtIlrLYFfB3w8DYzgZgF3LEL5lI6MlbB8y_1GfVdjeRAZPBQTFh-7SjgXGYhwvvK9OmvkKD25dAjI5Rpnjcq5A/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1KfytDygIQQqPbHM8rU3ZI5bJ5JzAfuKOKNDqTw2nehe8Nb0cDatsnYc4fGCm4_USygbRLvNtALpToBcDz1pgVLayOfGgQOVHTMyKCZY6LN63PoI8coHrfVevB9n8b5g6OakdP21UOQ/s1600/IMG_1152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1KfytDygIQQqPbHM8rU3ZI5bJ5JzAfuKOKNDqTw2nehe8Nb0cDatsnYc4fGCm4_USygbRLvNtALpToBcDz1pgVLayOfGgQOVHTMyKCZY6LN63PoI8coHrfVevB9n8b5g6OakdP21UOQ/s1600/IMG_1152.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iUWvPoBsXjcCOs-VCyZqMxRRwvFX0rvYPTSk10X3hqgxp1cp7mzdMYIMC4E-uwSShY4dBMQhxqpDI7GU5jvMbh5DZJUoSgJ1NK4Mif64HEyffgI3kkdlCWoOV9KgHOu0TigC0FRdWPY/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iUWvPoBsXjcCOs-VCyZqMxRRwvFX0rvYPTSk10X3hqgxp1cp7mzdMYIMC4E-uwSShY4dBMQhxqpDI7GU5jvMbh5DZJUoSgJ1NK4Mif64HEyffgI3kkdlCWoOV9KgHOu0TigC0FRdWPY/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Other books we've been reading on the subject are "Thanks to the Animals" by Allen Sockabasin, "The Wigwam and the Longhouse" by Charlotte Yue, "Malian's Song" by Marge Bruchac, "Brother Eagle, Sister Sky" by Susan Jeffers, "Abanaki Legends", and the Magic Treehouse book "Buffalo Before Breakfast". We also watched the documentary "Off the Rez", which had some language I wasn't excited about (for my kids) but was fairly effective in showing the prejudices and hardships faced by Native Americans even in current times, which was the point I was trying to make. So it worked. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-44593471622304553552014-11-02T07:32:00.001-08:002014-11-02T07:32:25.139-08:00First Snow!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We're hunkering down beside the woodstove and enjoying the snowy views this morning. Baking and filling water jugs in case of power outages. Maybe a Yatzee tournament this afternoon. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodLaCI_9zk91sMmM42rTMSv4mLHfrXJlh0v58KCU8s97KXnCe5lmqB73_yqtqwi1COYmVbAQH9JxJpccZSP0SCIUqzlwIhlZRSqLdLEZ9N_CT5tf2up-hs1MrYduDo5Gj0coU8psk5Zo/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodLaCI_9zk91sMmM42rTMSv4mLHfrXJlh0v58KCU8s97KXnCe5lmqB73_yqtqwi1COYmVbAQH9JxJpccZSP0SCIUqzlwIhlZRSqLdLEZ9N_CT5tf2up-hs1MrYduDo5Gj0coU8psk5Zo/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IgPk1wHuu4MDXuQJCHLz1IXMDdbL8L0Nhz93UsFze5NBgnu1XcxDMpNhNc7hLNGKcqiDFEutEjWdf7Uezb9C2HbUFr5qg5eS-HhuLwYwCEFZ0a1o08MlPfC7OTUO4tDHjpD7viMvMR0/s1600/IMG_1198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IgPk1wHuu4MDXuQJCHLz1IXMDdbL8L0Nhz93UsFze5NBgnu1XcxDMpNhNc7hLNGKcqiDFEutEjWdf7Uezb9C2HbUFr5qg5eS-HhuLwYwCEFZ0a1o08MlPfC7OTUO4tDHjpD7viMvMR0/s1600/IMG_1198.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglApFki3800nQV9GaOZv53DXXiMA7-nsEr0yZdyNN7_SBcQ8DDMag9ct7Xy2bzZ3MDGzbSoE1KALICO-H7Z3y506lSxCO6Kx-PICyP5crH4LQapaj6ANWp4pI7UXPXcvldQy51u4sYX04/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglApFki3800nQV9GaOZv53DXXiMA7-nsEr0yZdyNN7_SBcQ8DDMag9ct7Xy2bzZ3MDGzbSoE1KALICO-H7Z3y506lSxCO6Kx-PICyP5crH4LQapaj6ANWp4pI7UXPXcvldQy51u4sYX04/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZVyGpdObdbN0q3VxHgSFo7LDol0RIPEWPDRi7M809q-rLKb1yp2f9Llf3d0Ae3NvtEQhpPTGQ77zg9r6s_Je3ff3tpOrhrN-2t4UA7OUOC9G5BRNWsRJKQ0q783Up5Q18sKEeSgAalk/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZVyGpdObdbN0q3VxHgSFo7LDol0RIPEWPDRi7M809q-rLKb1yp2f9Llf3d0Ae3NvtEQhpPTGQ77zg9r6s_Je3ff3tpOrhrN-2t4UA7OUOC9G5BRNWsRJKQ0q783Up5Q18sKEeSgAalk/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-57428870453698774632014-10-29T18:01:00.001-07:002014-10-29T18:01:19.742-07:00Homeschool Thursday: Back on Track<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We started working on focused home school work in September, and I'm just now getting around to compiling some pictures and putting together a post. Forgive the run on descriptions of each child's interests and talents--its how I keep track. Hopefully I'll be back on schedule for my regular "Homeschool Thursday" posts, which can be more concise and less list-like than this. I know a few of you enjoy a peek at our more structured school routines, but even more so, these posts are helpful to me in noting the work we've covered and what the kids are focused on in their play. Not only that, but it is immensely gratifying to look back on a week of what most certainly contained lots of laundry, whining, errand running, shuttling children, and other boorish work and realize , <i>hey, look, we did learn something! And it was fun!</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Based on Wylie's experience at school last spring we learned a few things about his learning style. While the public classroom was not the best place for him, he did appreciate the very clear schedule and expectations. So, this fall we started out on a much more structured homeschool schedule than we've ever had. We have a formal daily schedule, and written, consistent assignments due at the end of the week. I discuss any changes in work expectations a week or more ahead of time so he and Juniper know to expect a change. The formality of it all is nearly killing me, but all of the kids seem to like it. And despite the structure, I am enjoying the rhythm of our days at home. I only wish we had more of them. Between homeschool coop, 4-H, and an outdoor nature camp, we end up with 2 and a half days at home doing focused work. I remember a quote from some book once that said, "Yes, homeschoolers do have a problem with socialization--they get way too much of it". </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Seems to be true in our case. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7unPIcOakMcqpdRk2-9-9dil-uw3OESSSMNwkeB5rp7tzh5Z3fF3slx17zbKdP7qZyiq8V09ZBFd3CiabrNEpLkhdhotW2k9JJe-aT9l4pT3OBTZw6YTGbONZS_34O_Ikz9jZp5aZSw/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7unPIcOakMcqpdRk2-9-9dil-uw3OESSSMNwkeB5rp7tzh5Z3fF3slx17zbKdP7qZyiq8V09ZBFd3CiabrNEpLkhdhotW2k9JJe-aT9l4pT3OBTZw6YTGbONZS_34O_Ikz9jZp5aZSw/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At the beginning of each season we always fix up the seasonal or nature table. This table has been around since Juniper was a toddler, though has moved about quite a bit and morphed through the years. It was once a big activity to set it up for the season, with all the kids helping gather artifacts, create artwork and design the space. Recently it has become something I've done on my own. I appreciate both scenarios. This way I can add new things quietly, that the kids can discover on their own. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR9HnxODlq9ZpJk8BrPlHV1ba61nPBirNfXwVfjE4jL4ppoxrqHfQP2g_sIkgpEWMcYtTivCyOjVQvU-NJacwhKdAmF1jgB7uaNdKb8nXNKpigH_vCsGzLSuwgHv1_joh2LFgrUGFyMo/s1600/IMG_1045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR9HnxODlq9ZpJk8BrPlHV1ba61nPBirNfXwVfjE4jL4ppoxrqHfQP2g_sIkgpEWMcYtTivCyOjVQvU-NJacwhKdAmF1jgB7uaNdKb8nXNKpigH_vCsGzLSuwgHv1_joh2LFgrUGFyMo/s1600/IMG_1045.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I made these cards with Wylie and Juniper 5 years ago, before Kale was born. It is a memory set where you match the tree with its seeds. Favorites such as these live in the drawers below and get pulled out year after year. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLav6KRX23REnWEIw_zdC53ZTUrh96NDrRSG_AWHCSFVHYI69flXBRBPZ0sVaRPDnre3hxrVTV_mqeTBKn4lmbegzOyI_5yeQ9Nl5Vik8otahj1-9hxozkSFVectdulWVY0fFPpGql_44/s1600/IMG_1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLav6KRX23REnWEIw_zdC53ZTUrh96NDrRSG_AWHCSFVHYI69flXBRBPZ0sVaRPDnre3hxrVTV_mqeTBKn4lmbegzOyI_5yeQ9Nl5Vik8otahj1-9hxozkSFVectdulWVY0fFPpGql_44/s1600/IMG_1050.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last summer we transformed the "tunnel" space below our stairs from a hide out to a preschool work space. Most of the everyday art supplies live here, and it is just the right height for Kale. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Hard at work on "the Northern Hawk Owl" </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_NvHYf3L7EIwwSz4RMOWBKl-OpK7qT9_ZCa6LrC9TT9M8v2KlCSLt3qjHLe58DoWDQlLppkN5mM99d5XwtAQAXSWo5Rymm83JC-3IM7j9AKdKp4aytlTPAx5Zr1wvxnd908YVwwiyag/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_NvHYf3L7EIwwSz4RMOWBKl-OpK7qT9_ZCa6LrC9TT9M8v2KlCSLt3qjHLe58DoWDQlLppkN5mM99d5XwtAQAXSWo5Rymm83JC-3IM7j9AKdKp4aytlTPAx5Zr1wvxnd908YVwwiyag/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIrFWWRP0_vh4GOLTG3tUA8X0Fbh_i0b3ldg32HUcFO_wq8FKsdjkv3yrRkbmBr4pP1vhLf0wYR9RaJs2mrn1CsyazTPP3-8q42ghnRINiAbIYMvOFciUX7aF5Ry9dha4Q0H1i7k6c-E/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIrFWWRP0_vh4GOLTG3tUA8X0Fbh_i0b3ldg32HUcFO_wq8FKsdjkv3yrRkbmBr4pP1vhLf0wYR9RaJs2mrn1CsyazTPP3-8q42ghnRINiAbIYMvOFciUX7aF5Ry9dha4Q0H1i7k6c-E/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We also changed the studio/guest room into a learning studio, where we do spelling lessons and project work. This is an experiment. In the past no matter what space I set up for learning, all projects and lessons ended up back at the kitchen table. So far the studio is working nicely. And, even when things to end up at the table (which I don't mind) they have a home to return to before we need to serve dinner. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvQwEWBY6ZW_gDP8BX35W-8vOR-uLl3lvRsdGWUJrrEKW8yOpma_97qkWGtOUo3oGUye3IvSs4WGdmjezI4zrVq8-t7YBjNqMkJWYxRA0YysENRhBz7HdrY08Lwlgy8TSZ70xCljrpbI/s1600/IMG_1113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvQwEWBY6ZW_gDP8BX35W-8vOR-uLl3lvRsdGWUJrrEKW8yOpma_97qkWGtOUo3oGUye3IvSs4WGdmjezI4zrVq8-t7YBjNqMkJWYxRA0YysENRhBz7HdrY08Lwlgy8TSZ70xCljrpbI/s1600/IMG_1113.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kHl9Qqj0kIctGQ6Hpx_srDuMdgkjS0OPRQBwO7bwYsoXZWgxbqfPXSeTmoIjcPSab4sQ_esufPIMChvTaoCk3ODDxUP9TmPniagXyI4BylSJzociQfmwfMq2wghpx3Fx43ujXYJV2TQ/s1600/IMG_1116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kHl9Qqj0kIctGQ6Hpx_srDuMdgkjS0OPRQBwO7bwYsoXZWgxbqfPXSeTmoIjcPSab4sQ_esufPIMChvTaoCk3ODDxUP9TmPniagXyI4BylSJzociQfmwfMq2wghpx3Fx43ujXYJV2TQ/s1600/IMG_1116.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1ajsu-EMTyusTNC2c8eMYkoP-TyEAR9pPbcbwTq22VD7jKPD_2tK_-GElzqL5y9vkR0IY3NyxGhKBVRfNx4mzHue6YhVW2tlrR06YI0EdpfcHVo88MPewBIsHAWanEp7bht2sX8f8tc/s1600/IMG_1119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1ajsu-EMTyusTNC2c8eMYkoP-TyEAR9pPbcbwTq22VD7jKPD_2tK_-GElzqL5y9vkR0IY3NyxGhKBVRfNx4mzHue6YhVW2tlrR06YI0EdpfcHVo88MPewBIsHAWanEp7bht2sX8f8tc/s1600/IMG_1119.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_usQWlrHE4utehK_BBfvq5-BBIv9WCHGLgQltkafJCDo4lmLiBQbvjzKZTEBCww6tnatwH50sSzPfitd8VDMTOBs3IBoJ1Gwk3j4I6STAi1jOPYo3STKCHuxa-8RdOhn3HWnlAdQaR0/s1600/IMG_1118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_usQWlrHE4utehK_BBfvq5-BBIv9WCHGLgQltkafJCDo4lmLiBQbvjzKZTEBCww6tnatwH50sSzPfitd8VDMTOBs3IBoJ1Gwk3j4I6STAi1jOPYo3STKCHuxa-8RdOhn3HWnlAdQaR0/s1600/IMG_1118.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
The bulk of our focus this fall is on reading, writing, and history. Nature study is covered through Tanglewood 4-H camp each Monday, and a more loosely structured 4-H club that meets in town on Fridays. We do a bit of math here and there, but plan to focus on that later on in the year. <br />
<br />
Kale still leads all his own learning, and enjoys counting and writing. I pulled out our 100 board from when Wy and Junebug were little, but it turns out he's already taught himself to count to 100. Who knew? He is not very interested in letter sounds, but enjoys writing everything and will happily sit and make letters as I slowly spell out each word for his card/story/letter/sign etc. He's beginning to be able to do some copy work and likes anything to do with knights, war, and weapons. Despite this fascination he is extremely tender and loving with our animals and is still the best joke teller in town.<br />
<br />
Fridays when we are not at 4-H are dedicated to child-led project work. Kale's focus has been on Blue Whales and he works in spurts. He's done some drawing, reading (me to him), video watching, painting, and a whale sculpture. <br />
<br />
Wylie has so much excitement for all kinds of projects that he has had a hard time sticking to one. He worked for a month or more this summer on a family tree project, then launched into a nature study observation project, which was dropped in favor of an online coding class. I'd love to see a bit more follow through from him, but I do see a lot of learning happening in each case, so I trust the rest will come. A few weeks ago he discovered James Patterson's "Middle School" books and has been reading more than ever before. He stays up late reading in bed, reads in the morning, and happily sits with a book for 20 minutes or so after lunch. He's also been biking far and wide since all of his training for the Parkinson Ride in August. The experience has given him the confidence and ability to widen his biking radius significantly. The independence and physical outlet cycling gives has been crucial to his focus at home. Throughout all of this, Wylie's main focus this fall has been on music: listening, creating, and producing. He's also psyched to be working with a friends' father on small electronics projects each weekend. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNER4gM_kyNpNl-9esDKgoiOButnEFSSpNUKPJBTxzaZCX_6K4lbGAS6Gv2dflRls836km1QdbN0e055fr18G0cn53vy6-4tJIusZisgRXt0fI53Ro7mC4uN3TWCYere_KiJlpSBsKgs/s1600/IMG_1070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNER4gM_kyNpNl-9esDKgoiOButnEFSSpNUKPJBTxzaZCX_6K4lbGAS6Gv2dflRls836km1QdbN0e055fr18G0cn53vy6-4tJIusZisgRXt0fI53Ro7mC4uN3TWCYere_KiJlpSBsKgs/s1600/IMG_1070.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Juniper has been playing piano quite seriously. Her favorite thing is to learn a new piece. She'll work and work at it until she can play it through without mistake, and then drop it like last week's compost. She sees very little need to revisit old pieces, but will do just about anything to please her piano teacher. She also has been hard at work on an ongoing story for writing. She is a patient reader but still doesn't feel fluent. The independent project she chose is on Penguins and she has done some penguin art work, a penguin poem, and some reading. But doesn't actually seem to have a lot of interest in the subject. Her biggest hurdle may be that she would like to read more about penguins but most of the books are above her reading level. I never seem to have enough time to read all that everyone wants me to read. (<i>Maybe I could get Wylie to read them to her?</i>) She loves helping with the toddlers at our homeschool coop, and is taking an astronomy class about constellations, a martial arts class, and participating in a team building workshop. Her favorite way to spend the day is deep in the throws of pretend play with Kale, usually involving baby dolls, or Play Mobil guys, crafting tiny furniture and other scenes for them out of random things. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2f1d7j_TLD4xPSHCaUjVUK_iliaz4Lb32356fMap2CXGgMn2GotFl3GOkDtBcEZeaEFgy3K8CZ7tf_c1L7w1TCL7bFlqbcqeeQhD9_5-tq4iZJGHP6nsuBsUznELEufD6P_IFo3bhx0Y/s1600/IMG_1072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2f1d7j_TLD4xPSHCaUjVUK_iliaz4Lb32356fMap2CXGgMn2GotFl3GOkDtBcEZeaEFgy3K8CZ7tf_c1L7w1TCL7bFlqbcqeeQhD9_5-tq4iZJGHP6nsuBsUznELEufD6P_IFo3bhx0Y/s1600/IMG_1072.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i> Kale's whale sculpture--wire and paper</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREN54YcISZWfd2b_tMC_kjRgi-dB1hWSN51nWv7KqP50ueSQRpFEebjv83DpxMOUOozXy6DgjNxobRQ_MmbMph2ZrWo0YpdkEc8kB4UAZiDU5jNGp4G0DdPaql6QYQ2ULC3XZAPduCQ8/s1600/IMG_1075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREN54YcISZWfd2b_tMC_kjRgi-dB1hWSN51nWv7KqP50ueSQRpFEebjv83DpxMOUOozXy6DgjNxobRQ_MmbMph2ZrWo0YpdkEc8kB4UAZiDU5jNGp4G0DdPaql6QYQ2ULC3XZAPduCQ8/s1600/IMG_1075.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctMBqLxNh_9FjoKeCAGrHpocv8ZnzPxVV-Z5d3UGXxfdo9xtNCOyx3TKQ_fxuZTbK97uPatF8q0jBg9Ew6RqasssD6TGu6KuTX_TnbYrF_Eo-UQQsf1RAurs0WYKzfvFlKOXRCBotMeM/s1600/IMG_1077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctMBqLxNh_9FjoKeCAGrHpocv8ZnzPxVV-Z5d3UGXxfdo9xtNCOyx3TKQ_fxuZTbK97uPatF8q0jBg9Ew6RqasssD6TGu6KuTX_TnbYrF_Eo-UQQsf1RAurs0WYKzfvFlKOXRCBotMeM/s1600/IMG_1077.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8Zrj6LBPqHs-h-p9RvBMpA7LbsnWZwBKNZpqUBnKDPYjsLEM8mh2cOlz8lfvj7dIRysXXhpAPeXszaF-fh0S_b7oo_oi0eUUSIR6Eb8ZOFOAUYTpHp089zleDz4rX8jrPKZotLIesk0/s1600/IMG_1082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8Zrj6LBPqHs-h-p9RvBMpA7LbsnWZwBKNZpqUBnKDPYjsLEM8mh2cOlz8lfvj7dIRysXXhpAPeXszaF-fh0S_b7oo_oi0eUUSIR6Eb8ZOFOAUYTpHp089zleDz4rX8jrPKZotLIesk0/s1600/IMG_1082.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYpRZbQd1o2cv-uf4Z1BUQ9UHLdO4deUQfaerieK6-CkhxPbmO5OFJ9pFX7wWJBrrMVBpgVePlA6vCOKHsiE-nwdJkEYaSj23xZTB16vpzmJj5ObKFNabJBEWI1CmAgc47-arsTtshQA/s1600/IMG_1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYpRZbQd1o2cv-uf4Z1BUQ9UHLdO4deUQfaerieK6-CkhxPbmO5OFJ9pFX7wWJBrrMVBpgVePlA6vCOKHsiE-nwdJkEYaSj23xZTB16vpzmJj5ObKFNabJBEWI1CmAgc47-arsTtshQA/s1600/IMG_1084.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTd_UoXWjYnUV27vTmfGxiPFGYoKVNojKciFK6qTP9W9jmj456nDJt7ky9afdvzvEN6r3MU17cL54DmI5rYV_1b-bWtaPUx62iU4uO3klnbeoAH09LAbphvXlf4g7tn74YSsXhwQ9lNA/s1600/IMG_1088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTd_UoXWjYnUV27vTmfGxiPFGYoKVNojKciFK6qTP9W9jmj456nDJt7ky9afdvzvEN6r3MU17cL54DmI5rYV_1b-bWtaPUx62iU4uO3klnbeoAH09LAbphvXlf4g7tn74YSsXhwQ9lNA/s1600/IMG_1088.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Curious chickens</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuFbAq5i03GEMo610j6i7TMLi_dl0UZIJ8Dbm8Y2Ke79GsJcSvX3FoTbR5PtgiX2eGIZU2mhzwJLMmspVStDMZmwJ0FdV93gyRB6kOsjDQC3LAdotMqTVATvIcKvsuC1Wezak_8m0P1Q/s1600/IMG_1104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuFbAq5i03GEMo610j6i7TMLi_dl0UZIJ8Dbm8Y2Ke79GsJcSvX3FoTbR5PtgiX2eGIZU2mhzwJLMmspVStDMZmwJ0FdV93gyRB6kOsjDQC3LAdotMqTVATvIcKvsuC1Wezak_8m0P1Q/s1600/IMG_1104.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-21182721162154429122014-10-16T15:53:00.001-07:002014-10-16T15:53:53.661-07:00Autumn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A few (or more) scenes from the start of Autumn in these parts....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i> Honey Harvest</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdW40iera0-AOE-Jk_KfEYA57XQVuBtv4T1yRS3GJldmRe74NgkI0PfEsNPe51WDnHoxzhoAgrGkMCxOT9GlKWEZy14W9eqvYtD1BG21QZl7Wl8VONXqmnO30SQGaf0T0FVIi_5Z7s6nE/s1600/IMG_0872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdW40iera0-AOE-Jk_KfEYA57XQVuBtv4T1yRS3GJldmRe74NgkI0PfEsNPe51WDnHoxzhoAgrGkMCxOT9GlKWEZy14W9eqvYtD1BG21QZl7Wl8VONXqmnO30SQGaf0T0FVIi_5Z7s6nE/s1600/IMG_0872.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span id="goog_1218699334"></span>Despite one weak hive (which swarmed twice this summer and has since died) we had a good harvest. I pulled two full supers off my older hive, and a nearly full super off the strong new hive from this spring. Both should be in good shape going into winter. Last year we bottled directly out of the extractor, wax chunks, dead bees and all. This year we opted to strain it through cheese cloth into the beer brew bucket (<i>hey, use what you've got, right)</i>. The plan was we'd have less crystallization without the chunks. But it backfired. I think because the process was so slow this year, taking nearly a three days to fill the jars through the small tap, the honey was exposed to air too long. Half of our jars have already begun to crystallize. Oh well. It doesn't effect the quality and it makes for some interesting looking jars. The taste is still amazing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOf6Jr1HY-ved37nLqujF8s7VF-jtrS2eb7mPgPewiE7oxJuz-UO3diZQJlXqJBCDI6Pv9OJLYYIPD4UhLgwdq9pyc1txWHo8qs2HgXABDMAMHyFPUbwwlnfAtyIvYVdjf-vhyegrY50/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOf6Jr1HY-ved37nLqujF8s7VF-jtrS2eb7mPgPewiE7oxJuz-UO3diZQJlXqJBCDI6Pv9OJLYYIPD4UhLgwdq9pyc1txWHo8qs2HgXABDMAMHyFPUbwwlnfAtyIvYVdjf-vhyegrY50/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Hay (in the neighborhood)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu71LaUYU2kvbGjhFj7bACRenr0FNiSPqkVWWNws8TKquELUggn8_62OfxOxopUj181XTIv-CCnx0yP5OunNaL_dC3VQYtot6eYdXCWUx1gOOCFD4WViv2EjIUg4BhMI-18DGTpD2rH54/s1600/IMG_0929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu71LaUYU2kvbGjhFj7bACRenr0FNiSPqkVWWNws8TKquELUggn8_62OfxOxopUj181XTIv-CCnx0yP5OunNaL_dC3VQYtot6eYdXCWUx1gOOCFD4WViv2EjIUg4BhMI-18DGTpD2rH54/s1600/IMG_0929.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aXU7v5soK1ffJwz_ruMUcc0_JewK0u5wsqM1dpyl5Rz5q1xPH4n_17mdZXCg0I9apO9_ksnUZkGBj5koPVlIJ34JyXPBVofrg2dbEOHGIb4YnQAvbsgpvEOIzupFKlJvRX_qMAxdm3g/s1600/IMG_0934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aXU7v5soK1ffJwz_ruMUcc0_JewK0u5wsqM1dpyl5Rz5q1xPH4n_17mdZXCg0I9apO9_ksnUZkGBj5koPVlIJ34JyXPBVofrg2dbEOHGIb4YnQAvbsgpvEOIzupFKlJvRX_qMAxdm3g/s1600/IMG_0934.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A visit to Lake Champlain and Burlington, VT a few weeks ago. Such a treat to see mountains!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rraGURepDGN0Rm6U0B7T5Rsi0eooqrAoLR_zvABv-30zzOvPfpZrFKYzGjKc-q2uRgDS7TgHgblmbhBWQzMpnY_urG9FabgaKIgoe_ZxYmUYua_R2Cpe0lt7a0trjSB2WwlWJ_erWS0/s1600/IMG_0952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rraGURepDGN0Rm6U0B7T5Rsi0eooqrAoLR_zvABv-30zzOvPfpZrFKYzGjKc-q2uRgDS7TgHgblmbhBWQzMpnY_urG9FabgaKIgoe_ZxYmUYua_R2Cpe0lt7a0trjSB2WwlWJ_erWS0/s1600/IMG_0952.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVJuO8InC80tfQhwzDuGAi-B4Nw7OsvlGu-7x3TrpMb-I72Eg0b-_xarHZCdN7NCVDHT5nfZDOYRaB7IIV6mdJCcutiOCqfaiMNIbTV91yxmRVLaeh6W5Kj49lW_ab-XAdF9kk3uJ3fo/s1600/IMG_0957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVJuO8InC80tfQhwzDuGAi-B4Nw7OsvlGu-7x3TrpMb-I72Eg0b-_xarHZCdN7NCVDHT5nfZDOYRaB7IIV6mdJCcutiOCqfaiMNIbTV91yxmRVLaeh6W5Kj49lW_ab-XAdF9kk3uJ3fo/s1600/IMG_0957.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<i>Apple (and raspberry!) Picking at Hope Orchards</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKnloMbjEXsFaZO7_Eq6912XRj1lVQ65YpEJ4_tVEs7XvPx7Nz7hJVzZ-N3b8h-1T_o5Jrs-NmgV_fp6XM8glGs4teeINxexqrnA_d9Qit3D2Ee7HsbnbtAHizkZqevVP0u5q3MeuzWE/s1600/IMG_0971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKnloMbjEXsFaZO7_Eq6912XRj1lVQ65YpEJ4_tVEs7XvPx7Nz7hJVzZ-N3b8h-1T_o5Jrs-NmgV_fp6XM8glGs4teeINxexqrnA_d9Qit3D2Ee7HsbnbtAHizkZqevVP0u5q3MeuzWE/s1600/IMG_0971.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Heide's Ice Cream sandwiches at the Belfast Farmers market</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEsLgiSkKzoC-RFBHlzEUsw_-2kTq9uMte6ZNcGVtVsj5MyjlSz9sfnM91jnxIaaCM-yvSYXBo4j4J0UZkA8yBD8ruXYcsC8tdLddIm9yKXXGEWPalQOWheS-q-u2xNKCmz0Pg0xKCXc/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEsLgiSkKzoC-RFBHlzEUsw_-2kTq9uMte6ZNcGVtVsj5MyjlSz9sfnM91jnxIaaCM-yvSYXBo4j4J0UZkA8yBD8ruXYcsC8tdLddIm9yKXXGEWPalQOWheS-q-u2xNKCmz0Pg0xKCXc/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<i>Applesauce!</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fnDzU6HMs4mYxAHbwGUV8dJ0JCCB073FVor2C-B7pot41Peqns44HpX0kzhVgeUmDt8kwQDEQ2jFYv-vU3gL_LQY3rXm-sz7oL-3Fs95OREVUn9jdzeA4fIhfBb3RoWRb3adgX2vhto/s1600/IMG_0981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fnDzU6HMs4mYxAHbwGUV8dJ0JCCB073FVor2C-B7pot41Peqns44HpX0kzhVgeUmDt8kwQDEQ2jFYv-vU3gL_LQY3rXm-sz7oL-3Fs95OREVUn9jdzeA4fIhfBb3RoWRb3adgX2vhto/s1600/IMG_0981.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Pine needle carpet in the play yard</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXsta1wqCy6D91dtLkolzTKoRBLplq61JlDfkJiYZ9srUo9JAYcxX5woY5l7H_WfrdXMoq2_FccBsZhF4cf5zo7Ubr2AIzveIYfWX11CFuUIcaess5noDM1PJGzJ_uimaaP9fo1N8XLA/s1600/IMG_0992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXsta1wqCy6D91dtLkolzTKoRBLplq61JlDfkJiYZ9srUo9JAYcxX5woY5l7H_WfrdXMoq2_FccBsZhF4cf5zo7Ubr2AIzveIYfWX11CFuUIcaess5noDM1PJGzJ_uimaaP9fo1N8XLA/s1600/IMG_0992.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<i>Mac and Cheese's last afternoon. They had a good one. </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4tMRgez6ydt7Xp2lzk1HXEKks_ZlbnXVBq6ymohfMv0SnMxZM1l3cFnHaesbdLsCOcdW2-Y4yneQlq7e9mpM4sVCCHVow-Ld-bH_gGvmEkY3L2Fwhl1ObfClBScs-v-IX2TKHACZ7Aw/s1600/IMG_0998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4tMRgez6ydt7Xp2lzk1HXEKks_ZlbnXVBq6ymohfMv0SnMxZM1l3cFnHaesbdLsCOcdW2-Y4yneQlq7e9mpM4sVCCHVow-Ld-bH_gGvmEkY3L2Fwhl1ObfClBScs-v-IX2TKHACZ7Aw/s1600/IMG_0998.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i> Not many, but a few more pears on the tree this year</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwHPVajn71CsWr6AupnvH_podvY1vplI6tmrekkjg82RIpNSY3TphzrvxFZgDWTEWosweY47_EdKXkdoKNnVl8QaGo1vaHoUXREJ7eq2RgNJjXdKfSy-5vIwkDLIx6oMh1ov044iDPYs/s1600/IMG_1010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwHPVajn71CsWr6AupnvH_podvY1vplI6tmrekkjg82RIpNSY3TphzrvxFZgDWTEWosweY47_EdKXkdoKNnVl8QaGo1vaHoUXREJ7eq2RgNJjXdKfSy-5vIwkDLIx6oMh1ov044iDPYs/s1600/IMG_1010.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Fall in the cranberry bog--it looks like no berries this year. <br />
Its always a mystery to me. Some years are fantastic, others nothing. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkY7wIhss7ESYtMU4TQa_jy_5IK3UbWK9PYfe3A9no53cOldMdNFviyeJUGc5eqZpXQ43b2CymaZEV9jckZTBA-72q7ITKCUy5RZ7zhC9wZ8rn_ARSy4uLI5hmBi6zNwFHX8YnjN9vj0/s1600/IMG_1017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkY7wIhss7ESYtMU4TQa_jy_5IK3UbWK9PYfe3A9no53cOldMdNFviyeJUGc5eqZpXQ43b2CymaZEV9jckZTBA-72q7ITKCUy5RZ7zhC9wZ8rn_ARSy4uLI5hmBi6zNwFHX8YnjN9vj0/s1600/IMG_1017.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A month ago Rob finished this little addition onto the barn. We call it B barn (<i>to distinguish it from A barn? The kids came up with it.</i>) Its just right for housing bicycles, bee equipment, and the boat and Adele off season. It will make Rob's job plowing much easier as he won't have to move bikes and sleds out of the way to get the tractor out. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcAEF6WbPHotLy-jD4UiZQMx6GuJxJYAQPH9PoaZlxyJ63u-z8DXFsGf3x2z9gn1iSaBJL_JZvmgjL8zkTDbCOovJMKfMasNgbk3EpJQpZ4meT1cXQ2t6nRedd69BRN7funu7A_hgoI8/s1600/IMG_1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcAEF6WbPHotLy-jD4UiZQMx6GuJxJYAQPH9PoaZlxyJ63u-z8DXFsGf3x2z9gn1iSaBJL_JZvmgjL8zkTDbCOovJMKfMasNgbk3EpJQpZ4meT1cXQ2t6nRedd69BRN7funu7A_hgoI8/s1600/IMG_1026.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesgBqyGy4HIG_9I09qGbMwry34-tunnS9TRu3ZcIPVMx29UlxCOxzeBfEBTRiXHPpq_wvCxFEjrOB93Cu3gJdlVg-YzQhyphenhyphenMXr8EHAPz47CbRSUJ1kHk7rQ0x5xr9IIlhfMRN6pX0LhQY/s1600/IMG_1021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesgBqyGy4HIG_9I09qGbMwry34-tunnS9TRu3ZcIPVMx29UlxCOxzeBfEBTRiXHPpq_wvCxFEjrOB93Cu3gJdlVg-YzQhyphenhyphenMXr8EHAPz47CbRSUJ1kHk7rQ0x5xr9IIlhfMRN6pX0LhQY/s1600/IMG_1021.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw7xzToNu9OrAU-7PoPSs07WBv8OfEkNyEbTKrZaPlM4kBmJq9PGXW9h9OHkfMiZmE-kdKRspxE8uxSj4L22pPo3FIu9JcUD0-zA3UCkjxPPzxFF5B7djBqcQ0sHccFcd_dRQn96Doq8/s1600/IMG_1023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVw7xzToNu9OrAU-7PoPSs07WBv8OfEkNyEbTKrZaPlM4kBmJq9PGXW9h9OHkfMiZmE-kdKRspxE8uxSj4L22pPo3FIu9JcUD0-zA3UCkjxPPzxFF5B7djBqcQ0sHccFcd_dRQn96Doq8/s1600/IMG_1023.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-obdjSwvMw-bgkj1D9gw_YqbiY244HZm0dFJbjJXSg0S5WuZuzENX67YSYrmcr-j-Fjv21RYJdY5LPff8mlqhHNTROg40SVjM29xJZ-Q2gfxVm0ZJIuJbcc_KdPzBnH-PTLKfxJk3UCY/s1600/IMG_1025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-obdjSwvMw-bgkj1D9gw_YqbiY244HZm0dFJbjJXSg0S5WuZuzENX67YSYrmcr-j-Fjv21RYJdY5LPff8mlqhHNTROg40SVjM29xJZ-Q2gfxVm0ZJIuJbcc_KdPzBnH-PTLKfxJk3UCY/s1600/IMG_1025.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Fall lettuce, in need of weeding (it won't happen). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvN5LMS8BpOoQuUfjrulmWBDi169DISPySn0Y77CpSTczhHMH6zEA6OyKkyuVscrFb4HsehJEwQdP2wzOaIH-YZhHys2BumNEBZzmXdguW7NxnqGogBuJ5lGyUsbmK7LvEiglL1gHa9w/s1600/IMG_1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvN5LMS8BpOoQuUfjrulmWBDi169DISPySn0Y77CpSTczhHMH6zEA6OyKkyuVscrFb4HsehJEwQdP2wzOaIH-YZhHys2BumNEBZzmXdguW7NxnqGogBuJ5lGyUsbmK7LvEiglL1gHa9w/s1600/IMG_1027.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5bIuo5aaTUdOdk5glTUwjUA0rcwu5qsy2JI41MAaWOLtxyb3d9XdHj45P19CuvumPKpH1_2ehp9TqvjVOWX0fatUJqoVzbap7lkKniToQT-U1zYzKKqEhxcV82uvKEns9mxHiOWmqpM/s1600/IMG_1008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5bIuo5aaTUdOdk5glTUwjUA0rcwu5qsy2JI41MAaWOLtxyb3d9XdHj45P19CuvumPKpH1_2ehp9TqvjVOWX0fatUJqoVzbap7lkKniToQT-U1zYzKKqEhxcV82uvKEns9mxHiOWmqpM/s1600/IMG_1008.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jdszLqbj97MIIegWRilRVy0_gTL6KaM2tX2ethqtAWs9R5_HP5hvz8cdkuMM_HLoSMtQ7OL9KfjTf_Ii8XFh6LCURA-8SUwa6LRCcBSEzeGROTZqOz6zRBTKXGAgPK6LwWPxe128qLI/s1600/IMG_1038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jdszLqbj97MIIegWRilRVy0_gTL6KaM2tX2ethqtAWs9R5_HP5hvz8cdkuMM_HLoSMtQ7OL9KfjTf_Ii8XFh6LCURA-8SUwa6LRCcBSEzeGROTZqOz6zRBTKXGAgPK6LwWPxe128qLI/s1600/IMG_1038.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-46718090843148112862014-10-07T12:48:00.000-07:002014-10-07T12:48:56.002-07:00Farewell to Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This year made it our 7th annual equinox celebration atop Mt. Batty in Camden. We gather with a small hand full of friends to watch the last sunset of summer over the western hills and Appleton Ridge. The photos are lovely, but do not be fooled by the sun and the T-shirt clad children, this year was the worst weather yet. The wind was gale force and made it nearly unbearable. When we stood up our chairs were blown over, and any stray jacket was whisked away. We barely made it to sunset, but we did. Another season passed with good friends by our side. We love this tradition. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg4Z2mwMzPYiJc1rV9P_VUi5_vvRz02vBk-oHPU-6yFspUG2uK4AVox4_DeklEMg19UbU5YOPWhWXJid6QzsYYSLfdLhOCzuZotD2zzF9BNsKCj0CZkpl7BBACdt5qvW64zdRmn7nL8w/s1600/IMG_0883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg4Z2mwMzPYiJc1rV9P_VUi5_vvRz02vBk-oHPU-6yFspUG2uK4AVox4_DeklEMg19UbU5YOPWhWXJid6QzsYYSLfdLhOCzuZotD2zzF9BNsKCj0CZkpl7BBACdt5qvW64zdRmn7nL8w/s1600/IMG_0883.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM465PccNdsJmAOy1-uCw610gZPqyLFIN2BrkssEVw7-y1k15QOgHK6DqHEXt9Yy7Zi5jfUJ8A5wwpYDLRnACSpKM4UN7Fi-V8BixAQbE4RznBKWO0wqscGp_cB7DddxRFAyVhYueqec/s1600/IMG_0886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM465PccNdsJmAOy1-uCw610gZPqyLFIN2BrkssEVw7-y1k15QOgHK6DqHEXt9Yy7Zi5jfUJ8A5wwpYDLRnACSpKM4UN7Fi-V8BixAQbE4RznBKWO0wqscGp_cB7DddxRFAyVhYueqec/s1600/IMG_0886.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9953Ifu8Z5JrraG3KNLPIKg5fCxMEeUhU7R57CIby_ReONEXa2yai9fVO4jna23_P5yd27PRQ4GkwpaMzOL6iVmz41jCtEje08TkXnTNt-4FW18VWJO39hDw_2bHCtuPtsW7PrNPnM0/s1600/IMG_0893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9953Ifu8Z5JrraG3KNLPIKg5fCxMEeUhU7R57CIby_ReONEXa2yai9fVO4jna23_P5yd27PRQ4GkwpaMzOL6iVmz41jCtEje08TkXnTNt-4FW18VWJO39hDw_2bHCtuPtsW7PrNPnM0/s1600/IMG_0893.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvLBuU7CNg-ye00BBS4LjztgwsboHwHuijpVySGoQtdsnOQtqx6SfejKIZGOBgeuUlN0VcwBl2g3jfvL0H7qLrBjogSQ5OCrrW3wSS41yx8rvFGkUQWjbnAJSwvlParz6Iqhmc9jJEpk/s1600/IMG_0896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvLBuU7CNg-ye00BBS4LjztgwsboHwHuijpVySGoQtdsnOQtqx6SfejKIZGOBgeuUlN0VcwBl2g3jfvL0H7qLrBjogSQ5OCrrW3wSS41yx8rvFGkUQWjbnAJSwvlParz6Iqhmc9jJEpk/s1600/IMG_0896.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMtXqE2nQjcF-el5cvn71coFUave51jJCVXbf4yuXozsiv6caGPUFy2Ehp-ZSHNrwshYOWMfNgZV2EMXHhjqip4mV24wwHUiJ5eYlLzkkz91pizh1e5t7waC34uol20IXiNrcrmWf_YI/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMtXqE2nQjcF-el5cvn71coFUave51jJCVXbf4yuXozsiv6caGPUFy2Ehp-ZSHNrwshYOWMfNgZV2EMXHhjqip4mV24wwHUiJ5eYlLzkkz91pizh1e5t7waC34uol20IXiNrcrmWf_YI/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZw8qEuugysSpxeouV5WsuDT3A72WACfH4AxyBPKR4v1RzihMJaESymGHoQyjcoESbcXXgX9V_lZxhlkloh4H4udw8OAApc1M3iwYTjT0n7JWtrvibv7UyKz-3DrHKPT1aO3LqrYo-vU/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZw8qEuugysSpxeouV5WsuDT3A72WACfH4AxyBPKR4v1RzihMJaESymGHoQyjcoESbcXXgX9V_lZxhlkloh4H4udw8OAApc1M3iwYTjT0n7JWtrvibv7UyKz-3DrHKPT1aO3LqrYo-vU/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oF5VYSdKA-FRaPQnVGwPZLByFz_7Pec7Cd_QBuC82VMw85lZslnedUCI6ci9HkCH5vL2OroyLczJIa__-QEP6BSoDVhas662dbncbvU9tOmzU8ARZoP6UnXegJuxdEEWxiQQP9LG3Z4/s1600/IMG_0924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oF5VYSdKA-FRaPQnVGwPZLByFz_7Pec7Cd_QBuC82VMw85lZslnedUCI6ci9HkCH5vL2OroyLczJIa__-QEP6BSoDVhas662dbncbvU9tOmzU8ARZoP6UnXegJuxdEEWxiQQP9LG3Z4/s1600/IMG_0924.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhCj8I45VY9KhcsQQR3NojVMJ6R2fc6Ze2M4g7IzTERaNbtnrzkCYDppcwgLUQRjDGveofHW2o38wXF4LLtb_ABO_Hhc42XCIBO1kx-ym6YmH6p6E3iMZZWGXWOpjgl0T15t7jcxFLdQ/s1600/IMG_0928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhCj8I45VY9KhcsQQR3NojVMJ6R2fc6Ze2M4g7IzTERaNbtnrzkCYDppcwgLUQRjDGveofHW2o38wXF4LLtb_ABO_Hhc42XCIBO1kx-ym6YmH6p6E3iMZZWGXWOpjgl0T15t7jcxFLdQ/s1600/IMG_0928.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3DBjXFP_EvR3WX0Hmbk91MJeBa-TkuYt2BHxGHuZcaOZsF9Jyqsz9uK3BsLvIySdqRIVhN8IOPLAmns2nSfxU1ISIwbiIRLXm96Hs_qFJ6HvCM5gOAuQoAmMhzGgvuHvLYfzLYI4sTk/s1600/IMG_0921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3DBjXFP_EvR3WX0Hmbk91MJeBa-TkuYt2BHxGHuZcaOZsF9Jyqsz9uK3BsLvIySdqRIVhN8IOPLAmns2nSfxU1ISIwbiIRLXm96Hs_qFJ6HvCM5gOAuQoAmMhzGgvuHvLYfzLYI4sTk/s1600/IMG_0921.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Below, a few shots from the first few years. Mostly the same kids, only much smaller!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>1st year</i> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNSvIQNZN0Nv8P023d1474DeK_zUWaeLUBS9u6NheMHv-SxCtNQuItqc3COP7urFYhix9ldVSgxLwKAHzC4icdVYIxeZi5Z3dzPq02h3J_hjeJg4uJFo-ywU2w_XwvXAj-CkEn-OBkmA/s1600/DSCN4678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNSvIQNZN0Nv8P023d1474DeK_zUWaeLUBS9u6NheMHv-SxCtNQuItqc3COP7urFYhix9ldVSgxLwKAHzC4icdVYIxeZi5Z3dzPq02h3J_hjeJg4uJFo-ywU2w_XwvXAj-CkEn-OBkmA/s1600/DSCN4678.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<i> </i><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i> 2nd</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3BiBwY91O_neviP5tRehZuAmWjkV09kCkeyESb5GwyNjCxUxsL7zQiS-w4GyJ2tlJdJi49yL124WgDsd883ZTjlQbshVmoeVZd8pcGdiVdz4zu4TOwi4eJzjT1pjk2F5Iq-S2hXauv4/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3BiBwY91O_neviP5tRehZuAmWjkV09kCkeyESb5GwyNjCxUxsL7zQiS-w4GyJ2tlJdJi49yL124WgDsd883ZTjlQbshVmoeVZd8pcGdiVdz4zu4TOwi4eJzjT1pjk2F5Iq-S2hXauv4/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>3rd</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhic6XcDUYCOyWbU9ajJ6VkNJFizBwqfEEWorn2OH-GH0fqXcyQZZDvtVLLP_oufbCQj88yDoNtOeigf9vkNz7TOTF20yZme_2PdjDU5RD5G862B8R5-FIvaAkTLNGyy2Jej3p3YkLJ2mA/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhic6XcDUYCOyWbU9ajJ6VkNJFizBwqfEEWorn2OH-GH0fqXcyQZZDvtVLLP_oufbCQj88yDoNtOeigf9vkNz7TOTF20yZme_2PdjDU5RD5G862B8R5-FIvaAkTLNGyy2Jej3p3YkLJ2mA/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
(<a href="http://frogwaterfarm.blogspot.com/2011/09/good-bye-summer.html">4th</a>, 5<a href="http://frogwaterfarm.blogspot.com/2012/09/welcome-autumn.html">th</a>, <a href="http://frogwaterfarm.blogspot.com/2013/09/september-family-month.html">6th</a> years here). <br />
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-12844676842580295752014-10-06T09:33:00.000-07:002014-10-06T09:33:20.892-07:00Marathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday I ran my second marathon. Two years ago I ran the same race, in the pouring rain. This year the weather was perfect for running, and just right for my cheering squad. Rob and the kids came down with signs, and many of the women from our running group were there participating, cheering, and pacing for the finish. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For my <a href="http://frogwaterfarm.blogspot.com/2012/10/262.html">first</a> marathon I trained and raced with my sister Heide (<i>my other sis would surely have joined us if she didn't live so far away--and if we had any hope of keeping up with her!</i>) Our only goal was to finish and we did that with smiles on our faces, despite the 4 hours and 17 minutes we'd spent running in a deluge and chilled to the bone. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This year I was alone for the run, but with so many people around (marathon runners really are the friendliest group I've ever met) I wasn't lonely. I ran half the race with a guy from Burlington, VT who was going for the same finish time as I was so we paced one another. He was good company. But the best part was having family and friends popping up where I least expected, cheering me on, or jumping into the race to "pull" me up the hill. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This time around I had a goal in mind, and pushed myself hard. The running was not nearly as relaxed or as enjoyable as my first race, and I spent a good part of the last 8 miles silently repeating a spectator sign I'd just read, "left, right, repeat". It kept me going. Then my rock star of a running friend (and 5 time marathoner herself) joined me at mile 24 and said, "this is where I'm supposed to tell you that if you want to make 4:00 you need to work". I somehow made my legs move faster and pushed through the longest 2 miles of my life. The whole way Laura ran just ahead of me shouting to the spectators <i>"this is my friend, she's awesome, cheer for her!"</i> And they did, loudly. It was pretty amazing. I finished 3 minutes after my goal time. But I moved as hard as I could the entire way, and took 15 minutes off my fist race, so I feel really good about the whole thing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
About mile 16, with all the glycogen in my legs gone, and only Shotblocks and a mouth-full of tepid water every two miles to keep me going, I was sure that I would never run another marathon again. But somehow its a bit like childbirth (<i>well, maybe</i> <i>if while running 26 miles someone was simultaneously stretching your most sensitive flesh to the point of tearing)</i> but similar in the way that by the next day my memory of it has already changed from excruciating to highly manageable, and that in a week or so I know I'll remember it as an enjoyable run. After the race I met a man who had just finished his second marathon of the weekend, and his 124th overall. When we congratulated him he told us of the man he'd run with who has completed 400+ marathons. I guess we all forget how much it hurts. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But the finish, that feels pretty darn good. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtVhu6ZB5VXsSgGKzxCrCtiesbbjrwgLKBIUfmp-H-27iaB9bYPMc1zB00UuhwxA7TB5vCfrrjD0Wnu7ZYCEMqavYRq5cvrLnUUQK6UEPid_Bz2wQ2sh0A5U28stRa6FarmFZYo0h6Rk/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtVhu6ZB5VXsSgGKzxCrCtiesbbjrwgLKBIUfmp-H-27iaB9bYPMc1zB00UuhwxA7TB5vCfrrjD0Wnu7ZYCEMqavYRq5cvrLnUUQK6UEPid_Bz2wQ2sh0A5U28stRa6FarmFZYo0h6Rk/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzq8tmosrvOWyXP-FH45JwYe6RJHB9Qdkh0tyuxGtO1OcK7X1lvs2LOxXI3TWmxbv4pc-7HskPXjk7oiFAHuJ1D_JgFx4Mb3tlSkmDy8Xqp3rz4Ek99YH6UK3kcPcKSoCdFoWT85zTQg/s1600/IMG_1044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzq8tmosrvOWyXP-FH45JwYe6RJHB9Qdkh0tyuxGtO1OcK7X1lvs2LOxXI3TWmxbv4pc-7HskPXjk7oiFAHuJ1D_JgFx4Mb3tlSkmDy8Xqp3rz4Ek99YH6UK3kcPcKSoCdFoWT85zTQg/s1600/IMG_1044.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OeRIBC7OvI5rVnzfhd2_8a9zEUfmhzFXK3FY-mxXZ55rrxWtQ8ONEKONr9WByCFRSiP4yrvmGYmUtOomEAy3GrL-z4Y_FziBE00G9aZh-1eJO9jA2F-b_eeAvK1CvPu5LI5sZq4o-T0/s1600/IMG_1051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OeRIBC7OvI5rVnzfhd2_8a9zEUfmhzFXK3FY-mxXZ55rrxWtQ8ONEKONr9WByCFRSiP4yrvmGYmUtOomEAy3GrL-z4Y_FziBE00G9aZh-1eJO9jA2F-b_eeAvK1CvPu5LI5sZq4o-T0/s1600/IMG_1051.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_UuWrY6nY-fdSBkataeL7A6rmZsLXJj4YQb9XHcEVKGIgHx0tfkwEqt_2Eg_8ofLEaYyywsQYHn2JSjzhv-d7GwfILWYRYetWL5KqQ8QP5ybhxeR1q3M493ym1SvW5plWjXWcl3qQJA/s1600/IMG_3094.JPG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_UuWrY6nY-fdSBkataeL7A6rmZsLXJj4YQb9XHcEVKGIgHx0tfkwEqt_2Eg_8ofLEaYyywsQYHn2JSjzhv-d7GwfILWYRYetWL5KqQ8QP5ybhxeR1q3M493ym1SvW5plWjXWcl3qQJA/s1600/IMG_3094.JPG.jpeg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-37715351580807899992014-10-01T18:04:00.000-07:002014-10-01T18:04:12.003-07:00New Skill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQiqui3_vJc7ntbr8ZO0dgQNOQQ0BjXe7SSBcPGplzOZxz6vuRZGwfAFGxuCYbvfeb0GrYm6gJiS21bVbJ6mEtChSzgPmE0LNMF9glmHo9ugeLz05nj2KTXgXOyOv-1VQnvs3u1hchjM/s1600/IMG_0943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQiqui3_vJc7ntbr8ZO0dgQNOQQ0BjXe7SSBcPGplzOZxz6vuRZGwfAFGxuCYbvfeb0GrYm6gJiS21bVbJ6mEtChSzgPmE0LNMF9glmHo9ugeLz05nj2KTXgXOyOv-1VQnvs3u1hchjM/s1600/IMG_0943.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqIuVSmPIoCWvdh-xhFjQsznWaAsETAUasY-qjLlBqTNSz5YfELMdZHiE_9HGGXc5SF_6jNQGV5m00Pa0TpPVIEriJ4MCEeR2x-GQZlEKtX1CgPnx8SI4hc855CFFkQDq8rTdKZM-jj8/s1600/IMG_0946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqIuVSmPIoCWvdh-xhFjQsznWaAsETAUasY-qjLlBqTNSz5YfELMdZHiE_9HGGXc5SF_6jNQGV5m00Pa0TpPVIEriJ4MCEeR2x-GQZlEKtX1CgPnx8SI4hc855CFFkQDq8rTdKZM-jj8/s1600/IMG_0946.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbKMOlYUYk5laheRIhwwzv-mUvs05fXeSpB4mwyZRcB3E2ManvDqcgc6ijQcsIvdhy808lReBsm8KxGh5lACoapKsm79ecRia65IE1zHKZ1q001OO8AyCn1ObFeMAYkGPiZ3TxW_c0Tg/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbKMOlYUYk5laheRIhwwzv-mUvs05fXeSpB4mwyZRcB3E2ManvDqcgc6ijQcsIvdhy808lReBsm8KxGh5lACoapKsm79ecRia65IE1zHKZ1q001OO8AyCn1ObFeMAYkGPiZ3TxW_c0Tg/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-68519394429285077572014-09-18T16:34:00.000-07:002014-09-18T16:34:19.090-07:00End of Summer (almost)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Our end of summer has been even busier than the rest of the season, but packed with so much fun and adventure I'm not complaining. Though we may need a vacation from it soon! I always think fall will be that--a settling in and resting up time, but then it begins and what do you know? We are busier than ever with homeschooling, 4-H, chorus, music lessons, etc. Maybe we'll slow down for winter. <br />
<br />
Anyhow, here are the few pictures I managed to take on our latest adventures: Camping at Hermit Island with family and friends, and a women's only (dogs too) hike up Tumbledown Mountain. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOYjrjOX5f44QQuTYLoVfvCEz7s2D5MAQUsSUxScpFPfFUmfOol1zgmpKbwoN9FNfaX6eVtdawkW_354TItWeUnfBIt4N43I1IxZcg05PLZFO-1wqZxQhVb4kizMXr4DFB8znw8FRsdY/s1600/IMG_0800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOYjrjOX5f44QQuTYLoVfvCEz7s2D5MAQUsSUxScpFPfFUmfOol1zgmpKbwoN9FNfaX6eVtdawkW_354TItWeUnfBIt4N43I1IxZcg05PLZFO-1wqZxQhVb4kizMXr4DFB8znw8FRsdY/s1600/IMG_0800.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz33hKC_GSnAiE8iMRhPORgN8282y5qkA_vsPgTP_ICszTz6bgQkMqKYSGIMx8c27u57IbAKZnP4-EMvBHR4jzmOq0H1jXhlIopIoSPaQgl_vQmrApDeIGPPOZvivMaiBRtgXIJ_O5O-0/s1600/IMG_0811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz33hKC_GSnAiE8iMRhPORgN8282y5qkA_vsPgTP_ICszTz6bgQkMqKYSGIMx8c27u57IbAKZnP4-EMvBHR4jzmOq0H1jXhlIopIoSPaQgl_vQmrApDeIGPPOZvivMaiBRtgXIJ_O5O-0/s1600/IMG_0811.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrsODAE60XSPR2cWXpNOKK7U3Yp6QE8tGbH_U08W_u_DJfvx2tO5RhJHh-SO3N3TkhqtzwumYpgP3442ocMvPEfRpx7N_qfQKo308tfDT0LTmaaomAMFBC1GDfbRMe3UAmGzl5XpEwC8/s1600/IMG_0812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrsODAE60XSPR2cWXpNOKK7U3Yp6QE8tGbH_U08W_u_DJfvx2tO5RhJHh-SO3N3TkhqtzwumYpgP3442ocMvPEfRpx7N_qfQKo308tfDT0LTmaaomAMFBC1GDfbRMe3UAmGzl5XpEwC8/s1600/IMG_0812.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKuPr2JGIczxWArgwW1_kwE4QRiHCPkTSB1jJ63-b3UZTBxyrRJT1jJxSFwGWrwtv3_QQtvK8ZARIWri-NBnO1v2c3mxfDsEPwFZnPp7xkPRJSqMNvqyiZlxIyr67WUgwpz8iZimbkGQ/s1600/IMG_0827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKuPr2JGIczxWArgwW1_kwE4QRiHCPkTSB1jJ63-b3UZTBxyrRJT1jJxSFwGWrwtv3_QQtvK8ZARIWri-NBnO1v2c3mxfDsEPwFZnPp7xkPRJSqMNvqyiZlxIyr67WUgwpz8iZimbkGQ/s1600/IMG_0827.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkOmzHzaUts3udCY8JxLaqiJajd3EiBtrV7OK98Cl2lyKv4FPMblBHkTxVoE1uPSdoqSqWQTZK3gju7Wd3TgCt3NuDVqNhJA23XqCnfz3gEhHhe1J-V8_b71sLSZ35V3PM7ZD2xKwFAw/s1600/IMG_0832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkOmzHzaUts3udCY8JxLaqiJajd3EiBtrV7OK98Cl2lyKv4FPMblBHkTxVoE1uPSdoqSqWQTZK3gju7Wd3TgCt3NuDVqNhJA23XqCnfz3gEhHhe1J-V8_b71sLSZ35V3PM7ZD2xKwFAw/s1600/IMG_0832.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sYmgHJKKVRXd_Zsc_D_whG5lNRrZLAMOMztz2WP7Q0BJDreaoZAAXiRO7O3LyOsnxmDWZijoc-xteqn9ethmGWZl16l_bpXVRV2yTJA7rFUe6etP35vaMIniWUG-ylnzrmYcn7-3cBs/s1600/IMG_0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sYmgHJKKVRXd_Zsc_D_whG5lNRrZLAMOMztz2WP7Q0BJDreaoZAAXiRO7O3LyOsnxmDWZijoc-xteqn9ethmGWZl16l_bpXVRV2yTJA7rFUe6etP35vaMIniWUG-ylnzrmYcn7-3cBs/s1600/IMG_0838.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZE7MZkKNaZKH2tWo0BagTe9Fm-D3n3MY7W2AiZ_88IXvG1DOPceOT4QJJpPQ3pi8kU8Hv48-ehiOoLTB9nNH_O_m-f53stqVC9MwbN9qqPW-cvRsAL1VjaT9q3Ju6RkYNU-O8z4iGjY/s1600/IMG_0843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZE7MZkKNaZKH2tWo0BagTe9Fm-D3n3MY7W2AiZ_88IXvG1DOPceOT4QJJpPQ3pi8kU8Hv48-ehiOoLTB9nNH_O_m-f53stqVC9MwbN9qqPW-cvRsAL1VjaT9q3Ju6RkYNU-O8z4iGjY/s1600/IMG_0843.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYT1-yIDWD0doNQvmcXVt7Mz83wOdiVyyX8V_M-oswg2VboC7a7ZPHChnauy6KX4eFr7LuFKJFbDbCVP2y71a7LoykPsGWvTiJXqNHj55p4FQaHvKJp7fduvhIvbBQAZwKlxFAI5_hYw/s1600/IMG_0845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYT1-yIDWD0doNQvmcXVt7Mz83wOdiVyyX8V_M-oswg2VboC7a7ZPHChnauy6KX4eFr7LuFKJFbDbCVP2y71a7LoykPsGWvTiJXqNHj55p4FQaHvKJp7fduvhIvbBQAZwKlxFAI5_hYw/s1600/IMG_0845.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
More to come soon--in the next couple weeks: Common Ground Fair, Deerfield Fair, Burlington, VT and the Portland Marathon! Whew. I'm tired already. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-64682213755595864392014-08-19T16:24:00.000-07:002014-08-19T16:24:05.910-07:00Summer Work (mine)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i> Summer work: Harvesting, cooking, lots of weeding, some bee keeping, swarm watching (unfortunately not catching), lots and lots of running, beach days, bike rides, BBQ's, a bit of sewing, a little preserving.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i> </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkLtwfoTDyWyYQgyi9qeqfY1lk73Lhk0dkrdsweoh82SJ7NVdOrO8BGCMeIodFJw0Lpr675BmOaxuBuU2cX1WeSIIdLaaR056l22l1yN3_tdzk-17GGwMxw3TWa4AdR1KJgssNSDktm0/s1600/IMG_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkLtwfoTDyWyYQgyi9qeqfY1lk73Lhk0dkrdsweoh82SJ7NVdOrO8BGCMeIodFJw0Lpr675BmOaxuBuU2cX1WeSIIdLaaR056l22l1yN3_tdzk-17GGwMxw3TWa4AdR1KJgssNSDktm0/s1600/IMG_0535.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDFp0tHWR0e2tjimI0tOjsLeLU1VHdImMiJCEzYUWsFoBKM1ZfQGtaAMnY-BoU1onq_acA0bEtMgyTUd9gVEe-h8y5znfVu_B-yEeG_OHxVt9WOFFkDg1b5vOTnQvCkrnqMrdIobKyrE/s1600/IMG_0605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDFp0tHWR0e2tjimI0tOjsLeLU1VHdImMiJCEzYUWsFoBKM1ZfQGtaAMnY-BoU1onq_acA0bEtMgyTUd9gVEe-h8y5znfVu_B-yEeG_OHxVt9WOFFkDg1b5vOTnQvCkrnqMrdIobKyrE/s1600/IMG_0605.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04bxCB_MFJ-uqDQ_a888UdzCKMxxMg3Yis_RuTRMnJHMXuuMCSJNpu7w9QNZJ9XL2RDloCiQJ1gK6wbMv13qkRSKAH1NuE19f4Nj7eWPtUwW7X34Qnww-T9zE0hbSv72QtPLjp232n7w/s1600/IMG_0709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04bxCB_MFJ-uqDQ_a888UdzCKMxxMg3Yis_RuTRMnJHMXuuMCSJNpu7w9QNZJ9XL2RDloCiQJ1gK6wbMv13qkRSKAH1NuE19f4Nj7eWPtUwW7X34Qnww-T9zE0hbSv72QtPLjp232n7w/s1600/IMG_0709.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoy36oOCX3iVvM7nXjP7KqHS-vR-2KnrCdBcpXWAm1jUQnPUgKx_TpdGgwlknYIFjfYUIt3mx0Ay10OSa_6HI-AVfE34A622iWKMOUFwV9ukt6iz6yjQdMK5turXmmMj-PeP0PuTCkuw/s1600/IMG_0542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzoy36oOCX3iVvM7nXjP7KqHS-vR-2KnrCdBcpXWAm1jUQnPUgKx_TpdGgwlknYIFjfYUIt3mx0Ay10OSa_6HI-AVfE34A622iWKMOUFwV9ukt6iz6yjQdMK5turXmmMj-PeP0PuTCkuw/s1600/IMG_0542.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjireUmUxFLWTACZbVmrxujrIC2a9ufhXrA_tr6ATh4e-7GNlEsT4a-hDh8rH_H06yAnm1XQg7X5Sq0O58m3ewWzk_jh4nnhZPxEF8RgCqippIk9YfMVEfaL8pbNJs4Z9PCKtEThlmRdpA/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjireUmUxFLWTACZbVmrxujrIC2a9ufhXrA_tr6ATh4e-7GNlEsT4a-hDh8rH_H06yAnm1XQg7X5Sq0O58m3ewWzk_jh4nnhZPxEF8RgCqippIk9YfMVEfaL8pbNJs4Z9PCKtEThlmRdpA/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVptcPVod8wPYYh4YSLk9t625knTnZzEbdJkPVhl_H1SqrBQ5xjijHKJm7VqlbBgKlCz5sANlBx9yamsNpeatKUkoUkNqosq6FRi3QRlNlY0vvwl3W3FWN-VoL9lgrSIin8AxzHeVf9Y/s1600/IMG_0599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVptcPVod8wPYYh4YSLk9t625knTnZzEbdJkPVhl_H1SqrBQ5xjijHKJm7VqlbBgKlCz5sANlBx9yamsNpeatKUkoUkNqosq6FRi3QRlNlY0vvwl3W3FWN-VoL9lgrSIin8AxzHeVf9Y/s1600/IMG_0599.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJMuxOkn3fESVtOrYg2od6Ri3vCAb-9m0ucirbJUclR1GaFkAarLsiVWYeon5nNmZfTmjeDQXdZ5lA474VoWImQqM-ybeP4EBnFCwfm1_rwfaaKWDiM3jzMNNtZM6X8E8Zrk8y_kIDgA/s1600/IMG_0602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJMuxOkn3fESVtOrYg2od6Ri3vCAb-9m0ucirbJUclR1GaFkAarLsiVWYeon5nNmZfTmjeDQXdZ5lA474VoWImQqM-ybeP4EBnFCwfm1_rwfaaKWDiM3jzMNNtZM6X8E8Zrk8y_kIDgA/s1600/IMG_0602.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFhiHHwp_uOzvTbnl2YIG4gyWmhtY0HfM-REHeQ0Xqfbh6PBBl-kFMBnxQnnZRNmxtyIt-EKsqyTr9i0Zt3Ju7RAwIPCrLQlzAY8xy6LVdwyO6M8bBEt_Vbn2QgskFJMDIOElWvpiVqU/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFhiHHwp_uOzvTbnl2YIG4gyWmhtY0HfM-REHeQ0Xqfbh6PBBl-kFMBnxQnnZRNmxtyIt-EKsqyTr9i0Zt3Ju7RAwIPCrLQlzAY8xy6LVdwyO6M8bBEt_Vbn2QgskFJMDIOElWvpiVqU/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4mBoBDIvoFE9KOYQDc8YjFlDvGKA3sgEzxyajRjCUW8M-lIlTnUeTZPnTC_2bkR1oMlp-pYgah0MK18_HI4THRlB2PHbpK-PE28W-nMEEBKiYBSLxyZy52dU705LIbp5R-t43Dpv05o/s1600/IMG_0768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4mBoBDIvoFE9KOYQDc8YjFlDvGKA3sgEzxyajRjCUW8M-lIlTnUeTZPnTC_2bkR1oMlp-pYgah0MK18_HI4THRlB2PHbpK-PE28W-nMEEBKiYBSLxyZy52dU705LIbp5R-t43Dpv05o/s1600/IMG_0768.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-32410890234446360122014-07-30T11:39:00.000-07:002014-07-30T11:39:02.842-07:00birthdays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
These goofy kids have birthdays this week. Eleven and Nine. The past few years we have had a separate party for each child, but this year the adults pulled rank (and some bribery too) and convinced them to have one shared party. Its amazing what your kids will agree to for a bouncy house. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vbU-btuE_J1tX4nMCv3r7rwuDl5fsvdJECCr9nBN9JrPLsoq165RLqLVbXYlYuUs2Qoh-j0wjLgLyj3UXOIqO56HdkcS9uBIguQklRMftQSziVNMv_LEW6JqQ46rq4EaSat1QzPdaJg/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vbU-btuE_J1tX4nMCv3r7rwuDl5fsvdJECCr9nBN9JrPLsoq165RLqLVbXYlYuUs2Qoh-j0wjLgLyj3UXOIqO56HdkcS9uBIguQklRMftQSziVNMv_LEW6JqQ46rq4EaSat1QzPdaJg/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHcn4aZboL8DIRZ5Doi-sInLzU_prCyVyxp8blxQkRN0Zere6NHY-4XzzVH0Yk2QTubE3Mopkx3xxPEsVSJp0JwSEnBawB2KE2PVIlcSUEQg4LBs4iXS-HxWPQOu6ip3Oq62m3vyznJs/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHcn4aZboL8DIRZ5Doi-sInLzU_prCyVyxp8blxQkRN0Zere6NHY-4XzzVH0Yk2QTubE3Mopkx3xxPEsVSJp0JwSEnBawB2KE2PVIlcSUEQg4LBs4iXS-HxWPQOu6ip3Oq62m3vyznJs/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Waiting for guests to arrive</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLNHFho22UCtnzao-gJWeXMBkU_KOrvB3ZHW5JRD2tPlyFw1Ny2AHGZniGxm_WTxRNWODSMe1Rg86FtbUEmCXxcL8a5O_0VsLvW0Rx-tQ74zFQOny83bM3G5D7cQ5DMAzWehUux4sOt0/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLNHFho22UCtnzao-gJWeXMBkU_KOrvB3ZHW5JRD2tPlyFw1Ny2AHGZniGxm_WTxRNWODSMe1Rg86FtbUEmCXxcL8a5O_0VsLvW0Rx-tQ74zFQOny83bM3G5D7cQ5DMAzWehUux4sOt0/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Still waiting....</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeypCLXcF2IxevlvUGuitirOqSr04f6L5Wra0hiGjocneYKi6qs50HIP___AeQ9lBZ7tMOEDmG8i8fpHfViF502_zugJQjF7u7AEHaKjCl9CFi_bcSqlxLelb7LLr99Z4SkRCSdwawiwM/s1600/IMG_0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeypCLXcF2IxevlvUGuitirOqSr04f6L5Wra0hiGjocneYKi6qs50HIP___AeQ9lBZ7tMOEDmG8i8fpHfViF502_zugJQjF7u7AEHaKjCl9CFi_bcSqlxLelb7LLr99Z4SkRCSdwawiwM/s1600/IMG_0661.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i> Lemonade stand</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKc0kgG0upsait8m8q2wHGfxhOsrAFqsG82Jq5WtN8KVd6Dpi8CtbcHi54nnJTjCGRj5if4_JPFCR-SZ6wF0GRqAybbNhFMqTvLcmovxenZJaBnSJ3mmBodOT8P0bnV94A3MLbEA1uuA/s1600/IMG_0619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKc0kgG0upsait8m8q2wHGfxhOsrAFqsG82Jq5WtN8KVd6Dpi8CtbcHi54nnJTjCGRj5if4_JPFCR-SZ6wF0GRqAybbNhFMqTvLcmovxenZJaBnSJ3mmBodOT8P0bnV94A3MLbEA1uuA/s1600/IMG_0619.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHr-A5th_NZZrqFdVzYHf8LPIjMg2J9avumGeYNd37AOOHy5zlcdgNq18b9Q52GsZoiT72OJN3OurGm8TJxUuEDDg_wgGzclY5AKF0dn3MsmWXM1bttEF_4BYQxFQkUnRdEy5jaIURuhw/s1600/IMG_0623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHr-A5th_NZZrqFdVzYHf8LPIjMg2J9avumGeYNd37AOOHy5zlcdgNq18b9Q52GsZoiT72OJN3OurGm8TJxUuEDDg_wgGzclY5AKF0dn3MsmWXM1bttEF_4BYQxFQkUnRdEy5jaIURuhw/s1600/IMG_0623.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i> Fun with washi tape</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHmW5p1Hkc5VrszzYJuRwxotGXwDOetuZzYqaJ0FiCQrT8-dPqlXjO_AZFoZxUmHFOgFnfbe6_boPCbQmlOpCxjlMalO8dGR27hz8yqoZBhtLRJ0YdxIbq25aLy6evVDy9o12lbPQF_A/s1600/IMG_0629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHmW5p1Hkc5VrszzYJuRwxotGXwDOetuZzYqaJ0FiCQrT8-dPqlXjO_AZFoZxUmHFOgFnfbe6_boPCbQmlOpCxjlMalO8dGR27hz8yqoZBhtLRJ0YdxIbq25aLy6evVDy9o12lbPQF_A/s1600/IMG_0629.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RoRTtsUS83-U4ZxOgJyRBXZn9rhQCyXb4zDfeUqk8B_FcVyqkK5YDsOvMcsamj7q4XYlaN-qqIi4gw0lxxEmFao-9a90TisI_bE5zZUdfD7iCetRUFQOnsMALYbjkNhGuiEtOgKwR-4/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RoRTtsUS83-U4ZxOgJyRBXZn9rhQCyXb4zDfeUqk8B_FcVyqkK5YDsOvMcsamj7q4XYlaN-qqIi4gw0lxxEmFao-9a90TisI_bE5zZUdfD7iCetRUFQOnsMALYbjkNhGuiEtOgKwR-4/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i> More fun with washi tape</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUyDN57TR8FzvBHvMyFW4MjFi9ry5n0SQeXpqMYRQd_mQqrR3DvdotJtQTQcNLZiyp8DEYAde4IfJtTq5KDNiS6a7uY3lnUudtUEjs6BR95AjwlzSgXs5TleSvTxtmf2nZxt5-lfnNI8/s1600/IMG_0635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUyDN57TR8FzvBHvMyFW4MjFi9ry5n0SQeXpqMYRQd_mQqrR3DvdotJtQTQcNLZiyp8DEYAde4IfJtTq5KDNiS6a7uY3lnUudtUEjs6BR95AjwlzSgXs5TleSvTxtmf2nZxt5-lfnNI8/s1600/IMG_0635.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i> </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4zyqz25XG3ozp7PgexdE8tSCt1w1CYQucsAugpzLm8MG2C4zGT-upwEagKBa8CFMW_XbhsL4_GcLGaVoYo4DjKLyJdcvjuBRYDgtRljRf7t8fwDsgQ3lepjyu8J-uofS7YjhL8LPjIg/s1600/IMG_0634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4zyqz25XG3ozp7PgexdE8tSCt1w1CYQucsAugpzLm8MG2C4zGT-upwEagKBa8CFMW_XbhsL4_GcLGaVoYo4DjKLyJdcvjuBRYDgtRljRf7t8fwDsgQ3lepjyu8J-uofS7YjhL8LPjIg/s1600/IMG_0634.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i> Squirt guns left over from a hospital event (just as much fun as the bounce house)</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7FnyYuf012sgzrElrl-l6QCQHqmZoCQzcbBsqkUDCpiWwk4Obm8Umdrcpa5i9ANRvshrHDshAyX6n3sIKO5LIDAD8zL76hyogPFsx0vJL0nvKKzaD9GCqXrKgtmB0ItOn38SE7-FHMY/s1600/IMG_0641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7FnyYuf012sgzrElrl-l6QCQHqmZoCQzcbBsqkUDCpiWwk4Obm8Umdrcpa5i9ANRvshrHDshAyX6n3sIKO5LIDAD8zL76hyogPFsx0vJL0nvKKzaD9GCqXrKgtmB0ItOn38SE7-FHMY/s1600/IMG_0641.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Of6Ys5kiCzx32EXyhyphenhyphen4i2tVggrIlnTw-U-GsXdslPMi7iWaEdiT0119e5-GNKKhnGhLeveAExlPBHvUk7hSuth3tNJfGsUqmBWEYHnz6eAe7-OuzofmKXgYvJEgSr7TH4yRO5crrIcc/s1600/IMG_0643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Of6Ys5kiCzx32EXyhyphenhyphen4i2tVggrIlnTw-U-GsXdslPMi7iWaEdiT0119e5-GNKKhnGhLeveAExlPBHvUk7hSuth3tNJfGsUqmBWEYHnz6eAe7-OuzofmKXgYvJEgSr7TH4yRO5crrIcc/s1600/IMG_0643.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Preschoolers "smoking" pretzels</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVhRvyuNeI7aE5G7jBAcoNYG6pq6GdC16EaVckL1kiYrniMOJ-DIGkiv3hUu3G_JZogRxz0nmdJIfwJQy8s8d3f0iLCVa3RlXrNx5a9dvTQwBOUZHQ9DgjnrUF3AAR_C4lVWuYr3_dBQ/s1600/IMG_0669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVhRvyuNeI7aE5G7jBAcoNYG6pq6GdC16EaVckL1kiYrniMOJ-DIGkiv3hUu3G_JZogRxz0nmdJIfwJQy8s8d3f0iLCVa3RlXrNx5a9dvTQwBOUZHQ9DgjnrUF3AAR_C4lVWuYr3_dBQ/s1600/IMG_0669.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Paint markers on glass</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADrh-zu4EmSneF04tbBaarAE5hHqZXExmT6P8BXprErOrdiYsBowrhcRmyEK2DWwRDWx1WVlXSUXd8IPxM9tDWiQMnfbQ4r7Ka7eLQNtE7DN-TXp_EejWqV_4HBUr93D-y42PbAK8BzE/s1600/IMG_0686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADrh-zu4EmSneF04tbBaarAE5hHqZXExmT6P8BXprErOrdiYsBowrhcRmyEK2DWwRDWx1WVlXSUXd8IPxM9tDWiQMnfbQ4r7Ka7eLQNtE7DN-TXp_EejWqV_4HBUr93D-y42PbAK8BzE/s1600/IMG_0686.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i> The giant giraffe bounce</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kglaaVjWSsrTXe5peMNize4AE6ACnVdXSqCumB4PtAzGZQ5KVKJ9ws1j_SGe_5HiGUzN0uZaqDrGr4P4qkhXVc8LKlJUcQ8RBy0zAIpPrg8BAkav7uoSVnObR99GWUOrrC5jjx6QDM0/s1600/IMG_0638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kglaaVjWSsrTXe5peMNize4AE6ACnVdXSqCumB4PtAzGZQ5KVKJ9ws1j_SGe_5HiGUzN0uZaqDrGr4P4qkhXVc8LKlJUcQ8RBy0zAIpPrg8BAkav7uoSVnObR99GWUOrrC5jjx6QDM0/s1600/IMG_0638.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUE_-J_W9LaeqUIq9BpVSDsS44LwO3gjMIQ_pqeW3oAX9KGZmcTHZblKSUTo_YvsW-t_QxolgekL1WipKEF56LouxKqQEEk2dWflMLwuUFuISKYnXAV95keCKjEaZApZ1c0tKBoxeYQ8/s1600/IMG_0692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUE_-J_W9LaeqUIq9BpVSDsS44LwO3gjMIQ_pqeW3oAX9KGZmcTHZblKSUTo_YvsW-t_QxolgekL1WipKEF56LouxKqQEEk2dWflMLwuUFuISKYnXAV95keCKjEaZApZ1c0tKBoxeYQ8/s1600/IMG_0692.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkWixx6qluziDaCHfiwhbdBsnpwrIbOzhcdFBKrEml38RfcI0neodJ-BhDt-Vps9wjnIB0f2Vi-09cmU6wXGl-Syv-eaXCi4NMbu6GnQCPWMpGSWgFvuR2N0Oq7yRwNKgdGtpZCM1eTo/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkWixx6qluziDaCHfiwhbdBsnpwrIbOzhcdFBKrEml38RfcI0neodJ-BhDt-Vps9wjnIB0f2Vi-09cmU6wXGl-Syv-eaXCi4NMbu6GnQCPWMpGSWgFvuR2N0Oq7yRwNKgdGtpZCM1eTo/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5farkMy3CBZcukaEGaLUy3YoLplKzAmHMzPXELtyOSwBQExDsQrP6Sh36LlGjdexLn_I5W1mLb4ptLJsEJhffhOXAb0TfVrdUUISY9ELeAoIJMU4dSMPc3tLNLdHaSkiIZ1iEXMUaszo/s1600/IMG_0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5farkMy3CBZcukaEGaLUy3YoLplKzAmHMzPXELtyOSwBQExDsQrP6Sh36LlGjdexLn_I5W1mLb4ptLJsEJhffhOXAb0TfVrdUUISY9ELeAoIJMU4dSMPc3tLNLdHaSkiIZ1iEXMUaszo/s1600/IMG_0654.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Whew. <br />
Happy Birthday Kiddos, we love you!Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-68368203733686777302014-07-18T10:41:00.001-07:002014-07-21T18:11:31.791-07:00Summer Through RunningEvery spring my man tries out running, for about two weeks. <br>
<div>
This year it stuck. Early each morning as the sun is clearing the tops of the trees we slip out the door for an early run. Every morning he gives me the running update: day 67, day 71, day 79 and counting. <br><br>When we started this routine it was cold and dark at 5 a.m. We layered on hats and pants, pulled our fingers into our sleeves and watched for slick spots where the night's dew may have frozen on the pavement. </div><div>
<br>
We run only 2-5 miles, depending on the day. Its a quiet, often fast run with little time before our respective days must begin in earnest. Rob wears his high tech ear phones, wireless. He dons his sleek iPod holder (<i>he's always had a thing for fanny packs!) </i>I'm in my running uniform: black tank, blue shorts circa high school track.</div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The mornings grew warmer and brighter, until the end of June when we rose at 5:00 to daylight bright and hot, and mornings so muggy it was hard to tell if we were sweating or if the moist air was just condensing on our skin. Back home we stretch on the porch, sweat wet back prints marking our place when we stand. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">These mornings the garden snails cover the road with slick trails of slime. They congregate in hundreds, and crunch under our feet when we are careless. The mama in me toe steps around them, but the gardener in me cheers a bit at the sight of so many massacred by passing cars. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Rob runs each day without fail (against the better judgement of many seasoned runners). He rolls sore muscles, stretches daily, and drinks more water than he's ever drunk. He is excited about salads for dinner. He is adding miles, feeling good, looking</span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> fine</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">, and did I mention he is fast?! I haven't had a speed workout like these since high school (could be the shorts). </span></div><div><br>Still high summer, but already the shift in sunlight is noticeable. With prickly skin and deer flies hovering we watch the sunrise over the tops of neighbor's barns. Breathless and light on our toes we alert deer in the fields, and avoid escaped cattle in the road. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We wave to the farmers as they start their days, the only people we ever see on these early runs. </span></div><div>
<br><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This morning the air was cool, and dry. It was a welcome change from the sticky humidity we've been wading through for the past few days. Today's was the kind of air that leaves you feeling feverish while you run, sweat cooling fast on prickly hot skin. Giving me goosebumps even as I sweat. </span></div><div><br></div><div>This weekend Rob raced his first 5K since high school. He rocked it. Before the race he was so nervous he said he'd never do it again. Afterward he was already planning for the next one. I think he's hooked. And it's pretty sweet. </div><div><br></div><div>Thanks for running with me Babe. </div><div><br></div>
Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-24701329536254650242014-07-16T18:26:00.001-07:002014-07-17T05:01:40.750-07:00Running through Summer<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I'm deep in the throws of marathon training, past the halfway point and not looking back. </span></div><div>That means lots of running, the bulk off which happens at 5:00 a.m. before the kids are up. </div><div>That means by the time bedtime rolls around (theirs) I'm ready for sleep myself, or close to it. That means I haven't felt the desire or capacity to sit down at a computer and craft some intelligent, possibly witty, or endearing, (could I maybe hope for even inspiring?) thoughts on our family happenings and the challenges and wonders of my life these summer days. Its been nearly a month since my last post, but everyone in my house is in bed already (I won't mention how embarrassingly/wonderfully early it is) and I'm not long behind, so a very quick note on our days<font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">.</font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It finally got hot here and we've launched into summer proper with camping, family reunions, beach days, lake days, pond days, and too hot to do anything but close up the house and read on the couch days. Ice cream has become a staple here, including my sister's amazing Sheep's Milk Gelato from Toddy Pond Farm (I don't know how to make a link on this mobile device so you'll have to look it up--it's worth your time).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Wylie has been researching our family history and putting together a family tree. He's approaching it as he does all projects: with the voracity (voraciousness?) of a hungry bear cub devouring a meal; all gangly and never still, but focusing all attention to the task of the moment. Before this it was Ham Radio and I sense that we're fast moving onto music publication and song rights. We're not bored much. Exhausted comes to mind. I often wonder how much pressure I should put on him to complete these endeavors. But often his goals are so high that completion is highly unlikely if not damn near impossible (ie. mapping a family tree that will demonstrate that we all--you, me, all of us, have some similar ancestor from nomadic times) so it seems best just to encourage his hard work until a new passion emerges. It's the process right? </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">He and Juniper, along with their two good friends Belle and Ezra, make movies of their own creation every chance they get. Last week they learned that one of their films won first place in the Maine Student Film Awards, pre-teen division! We are obviously psyched, and proud. This weekend will be the public film release, being show as part of the International Film Festival in Waterville, Maine. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Juniper and Kale spend almost all of their time side by side in the throws of some fantasy game, and are ridiculously cute about it. Juniper is strong and leads well, and is as savvy as a politition when it comes to getting her way in a game. She can sweet talk her idea into Kale's head without him realizing it's not his own. Kale has taken to talking like a teenager, announcing at the dinner table this evening, "I am <i>so </i>done with this soup", and using the word "like" as often as a 12 year old girl. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">We've been running from one weekend activity to the next, Acadia National Park, NH, summer camp, Grandparent visits, craft fairs, cousins, BBQ's, pool parties etc. Summer is like a race the way we try to cram it all in before the weather shifts. But, it's also like a long early morning run. There's space between the steps to let ourselves sink into the rhythm of it all. To let our minds wander, to listen to bird calls, and admire the morning haze before the sun burns it off for the day. We may be hot, sweaty, and exhausted, but hey, this is fun! And in the end we get to jump in the lake. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">A few camping snaps curtesy of Rob's iPhone:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCGe0HBH72Z8IQ3ebsHU52cgvOZQtIKZpJJT9TWlQY1THzl6Ak6K-H6itnhXp2-fGf61Ep4FixBK-jKWY6Eo2sQBiZKrb255pLyGzOIhAdoh6PCNjBlUwZSAUHDZeD8Yy-dZpGUL_TyU/s640/blogger-image-862869710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCGe0HBH72Z8IQ3ebsHU52cgvOZQtIKZpJJT9TWlQY1THzl6Ak6K-H6itnhXp2-fGf61Ep4FixBK-jKWY6Eo2sQBiZKrb255pLyGzOIhAdoh6PCNjBlUwZSAUHDZeD8Yy-dZpGUL_TyU/s640/blogger-image-862869710.jpg"></a></div><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzveQHSAodOWwkw9N2djFAtt6G7yGWY6MkWQv04W97TWomTzNvrOPkChIWZsiIsxCto56MEJ8w1b3HTAul5fEpJ9s_qSvNQT2e8jLkou9xX4QOhtJf7PCSxK2SIkea_nV5hwarW6T-3Js/s640/blogger-image-609298402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzveQHSAodOWwkw9N2djFAtt6G7yGWY6MkWQv04W97TWomTzNvrOPkChIWZsiIsxCto56MEJ8w1b3HTAul5fEpJ9s_qSvNQT2e8jLkou9xX4QOhtJf7PCSxK2SIkea_nV5hwarW6T-3Js/s640/blogger-image-609298402.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht44Q2h1p9bpPa2Z1wiaUL8unotkDhr-TBLu4IIJwflkYzKnh2mMzvrCTSe87L09JAewxphprsNBSFQ1eTyXSqlEXAc356ycZnZ6cwkUVR4CwaQ-BU_o5oG42jngy1pl1Z13ghicEp2t0/s640/blogger-image-1332046151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht44Q2h1p9bpPa2Z1wiaUL8unotkDhr-TBLu4IIJwflkYzKnh2mMzvrCTSe87L09JAewxphprsNBSFQ1eTyXSqlEXAc356ycZnZ6cwkUVR4CwaQ-BU_o5oG42jngy1pl1Z13ghicEp2t0/s640/blogger-image-1332046151.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JH-AytD1PqcC0_AnMY73L5tSi3kfcSJb7s7fZ8pAKsDFfbpAd6AS9q4RGj0jR-sYbnRVNpNpVXl0h7dhGpl5sgD1fhOU8ewgVB7UHPPKMtPbgPUrIWqz7WaGbxbmo9xuLTz3gDdQ05E/s640/blogger-image--1092393085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JH-AytD1PqcC0_AnMY73L5tSi3kfcSJb7s7fZ8pAKsDFfbpAd6AS9q4RGj0jR-sYbnRVNpNpVXl0h7dhGpl5sgD1fhOU8ewgVB7UHPPKMtPbgPUrIWqz7WaGbxbmo9xuLTz3gDdQ05E/s640/blogger-image--1092393085.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8uVdfqi3yQe1Sibs6gNmvZTNvRmQX_i_AxRNh3TUYlTlIktmj281OAZukkVIfeqRTUSD3R2-r0y_sCXttDJcS2-NBaNndJFQAeCABLNLTyF8SkC1xI45tvddTy5X0y8317eM167KuWI/s640/blogger-image--1112768922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8uVdfqi3yQe1Sibs6gNmvZTNvRmQX_i_AxRNh3TUYlTlIktmj281OAZukkVIfeqRTUSD3R2-r0y_sCXttDJcS2-NBaNndJFQAeCABLNLTyF8SkC1xI45tvddTy5X0y8317eM167KuWI/s640/blogger-image--1112768922.jpg"></a></div><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Good night y'all. </font></div>Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-5068401977712249092014-06-25T16:59:00.001-07:002014-06-25T16:59:23.493-07:00Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We celebrated the solstice with two very different parties on a day that felt just how Summer Solstice should feel. The first was wild and raucous, with a band, swimming pool, trampoline, zip line, and badminton. The second was a quiet bonfire with kids riding bikes through the grass and poking the fire with sticks.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The two combined were the perfect lead in for what summer is for us: a time to cram in as much outdoor fun, games, and adventure as we can in 2 1/2 months; and a chance to kick back with friends and let go of schedules while the children play in the mud well past bedtime. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77RQ7r_MtsHKNjNI7QOUBamIMO2hgpI-Xs3xIbqfOU0pkWr_JoiGjgpb_TgzRmbr8kLs-EnRiqFs5YMeL-1RVHqLkj9cRXB6csxPZfzzyXaTYbT_38Qw0FDcbDoQ7kJ3P-iUrZnbAh3E/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77RQ7r_MtsHKNjNI7QOUBamIMO2hgpI-Xs3xIbqfOU0pkWr_JoiGjgpb_TgzRmbr8kLs-EnRiqFs5YMeL-1RVHqLkj9cRXB6csxPZfzzyXaTYbT_38Qw0FDcbDoQ7kJ3P-iUrZnbAh3E/s1600/IMG_0459.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The bees arrived a few weeks ago and are busy with their sisters (and a few brothers) in the bee yard. I purchased two new nucs, to replace the one I lost to swarm late last fall, and the other that I combined with my weaker hive. That "double" hive survived the winter, and now there are three hives full of bees. When the wind is right the smell of honey is magical. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmAg5TqQBTYkKLBlxQXx_BXiGpu3T-HaVB1ESr9Fy9AXk7p92AXxz0RpPL8OvZuOJDhq1kKxb-ubZDBOqDHqi_NUk0OAMusVXwt4jgBv_GZAYSZwNeiBMhpvlnRbEtuyj2xJ5yk5A3uM/s1600/IMG_0341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmAg5TqQBTYkKLBlxQXx_BXiGpu3T-HaVB1ESr9Fy9AXk7p92AXxz0RpPL8OvZuOJDhq1kKxb-ubZDBOqDHqi_NUk0OAMusVXwt4jgBv_GZAYSZwNeiBMhpvlnRbEtuyj2xJ5yk5A3uM/s1600/IMG_0341.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Kale has his own little garden bed this year and dutifully harvests what he can, along with gathering the eggs, several times daily. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOf-M82Z6MiYb-cei5yhfF9b6K1Mg5H2oT-UZApNMvyGhwu_R7Hh4tjy7-PEn6E4P0KhcTVpliqTaPfN6vdNFYDa-OwF1OFkamN6NmiClcR0R4XW6ZHjNg4iKkpEkJjdjIS6PwWnJWT08/s1600/IMG_0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOf-M82Z6MiYb-cei5yhfF9b6K1Mg5H2oT-UZApNMvyGhwu_R7Hh4tjy7-PEn6E4P0KhcTVpliqTaPfN6vdNFYDa-OwF1OFkamN6NmiClcR0R4XW6ZHjNg4iKkpEkJjdjIS6PwWnJWT08/s1600/IMG_0373.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Kale's kale.</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmTTRWXZBE7GOYi91AXxttzGBHPIpIrY-wh3RR_pTkDBrtVnkEzbOtxWaYKIGIIH7XmzVXZcd4Y4LwYPQIKkDUtBPJeOgD1HUpCbP-jBbduGWTUNWDFAadsioKJ2Dfk_diq4iI2SlsBc/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmTTRWXZBE7GOYi91AXxttzGBHPIpIrY-wh3RR_pTkDBrtVnkEzbOtxWaYKIGIIH7XmzVXZcd4Y4LwYPQIKkDUtBPJeOgD1HUpCbP-jBbduGWTUNWDFAadsioKJ2Dfk_diq4iI2SlsBc/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
One of the parties we attended was an Juhannus Party, a Finnish celebration of the Solstice. According to our Finnish friend the direct translation is "midsummer celebration" which is a strange name for the first day of summer. But then again, she reminded us, "summer in Finland is very short!" <br />
It feels that way here some times too. In acknowledgement of the short season we brave cold water in May, squeezing in as much swimming as we can, until that last warm afternoon in October. But this spring didn't offer us any opportunities for pretend early summer. Now that its officially here we're living it up. State Park swimming one day, crab gathering on the seashore the next, followed by pond swimming off the end of the john boat, and camping this weekend. It feels a bit overwhelming, and entirely necessary. June in Maine is good. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38SRfzso2p-0bbldKXe9qTHnNm4G0AnTQsAZU1sqU6cxYSen7HSI24DVRnyJXk11owUlO82_KSv82VnSQZxu_M0hUne83hQIhaDBw9nUziY09z1Jbt3h6J2_4CuDB1h6XF2HR-U0CphE/s1600/IMG_0394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38SRfzso2p-0bbldKXe9qTHnNm4G0AnTQsAZU1sqU6cxYSen7HSI24DVRnyJXk11owUlO82_KSv82VnSQZxu_M0hUne83hQIhaDBw9nUziY09z1Jbt3h6J2_4CuDB1h6XF2HR-U0CphE/s1600/IMG_0394.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5CKcy5wY9zfCB117xWVBLp3EtjlpecQ7yyeXHTQJAdYTQ7n2jSBy9w7ABTcJmb2AiqZc7Qsqn3WQb_PHAu-y9-FG5abXiBrQhQLGQ86PfwfhOXsjSMU-b7D2wJKFh6kqHYwjH91mvjM/s1600/IMG_0406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5CKcy5wY9zfCB117xWVBLp3EtjlpecQ7yyeXHTQJAdYTQ7n2jSBy9w7ABTcJmb2AiqZc7Qsqn3WQb_PHAu-y9-FG5abXiBrQhQLGQ86PfwfhOXsjSMU-b7D2wJKFh6kqHYwjH91mvjM/s1600/IMG_0406.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEOU1JR6W54dy3J65iSvT2Xc0fyMFoYNLixhc828yTwaz8g9dlaU9jaxcXzOl6mNNd_tSq-q9lH8bEtjmdZNk3vQvzAGTvAVHFiqiuIh9cI_H_gTW6vRdApkw94N2Vsi77LyXE9vo1o4/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEOU1JR6W54dy3J65iSvT2Xc0fyMFoYNLixhc828yTwaz8g9dlaU9jaxcXzOl6mNNd_tSq-q9lH8bEtjmdZNk3vQvzAGTvAVHFiqiuIh9cI_H_gTW6vRdApkw94N2Vsi77LyXE9vo1o4/s1600/IMG_0424.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdztDvoQdMNlEkzFU__oMC0jkhHjiBoZgG7Mv21ibQGVP7Ehypimff2bV-h0JL0eDRwOFxsXBdK99kSQvbXbJykpyNpDHXN5S_nPNs_haOobzsWG0h9JISXtzEiVFgGGivmRTwf6jlcI/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdztDvoQdMNlEkzFU__oMC0jkhHjiBoZgG7Mv21ibQGVP7Ehypimff2bV-h0JL0eDRwOFxsXBdK99kSQvbXbJykpyNpDHXN5S_nPNs_haOobzsWG0h9JISXtzEiVFgGGivmRTwf6jlcI/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KDtTYrSX77T9MliMGoyb08AA09XZC3HoGRvYeS_gI8H3ZcWKvnnNKslQQ_A21VKziFJ0tZU5ld6l1D9ZmUDocsNiOyzqGvcJLIPk-tjKQxlJESP5Q5soKCN_ysHs1dkygiwpGH8obGE/s1600/cross+pond+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KDtTYrSX77T9MliMGoyb08AA09XZC3HoGRvYeS_gI8H3ZcWKvnnNKslQQ_A21VKziFJ0tZU5ld6l1D9ZmUDocsNiOyzqGvcJLIPk-tjKQxlJESP5Q5soKCN_ysHs1dkygiwpGH8obGE/s1600/cross+pond+2.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i> This boy is happy to be out of school!</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNh7bdYMISnULjwIKdnPq11g0sAFousaWTS9yRwJMGkCeFSPHWD8vSil5fjlzClpUO6HbdgI6BWlrqaNKjNJbick2uTuxG40dPt8Yj5BplCY_YAlTmDFUObWhzW4up_SrNaDHyeyskxU/s1600/cross+pond+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNh7bdYMISnULjwIKdnPq11g0sAFousaWTS9yRwJMGkCeFSPHWD8vSil5fjlzClpUO6HbdgI6BWlrqaNKjNJbick2uTuxG40dPt8Yj5BplCY_YAlTmDFUObWhzW4up_SrNaDHyeyskxU/s1600/cross+pond+3.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-2180716677473753362014-06-24T14:15:00.003-07:002014-06-24T14:15:52.540-07:00Simple Summer (or anytime) Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We've been working on a few small projects so far this summer--aside from the many garden and yard projects always underway. They have all been quick and easy, not revolutionary, but still worth sharing for others to try. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A few fun, inexpensive, ideas for rainy days...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Crepe Paper Flower</i>: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Back in April I bought supplies to make crepe paper flowers. We didn't get to them until the real flowers outside were blooming, but they are still nice in our office window. These were simple to make and a little paper goes a long way. A quick internet or Pinterest search will show many ways to do them. I'm dreaming up a whole "garden" full for next winter. Maybe we can try <a href="http://www.elsiemarley.com/tag/washi-tape">this</a> idea from Elsie Marley. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'd pretty much like to try all of her ideas. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhi3h-TBpMsb0pVYv-YY7QNgTfyovgUD3yaiG_uCb-rleZmkQAOcnkcD7Uf6r-LhBkigEkBrU8mXT1qaMhadRYtsbFPEi2qJeRU_4plPzS1xhpZWpeeJGcuYDS3QAj91t4NbTLmeh1Is/s1600/IMG_0346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhi3h-TBpMsb0pVYv-YY7QNgTfyovgUD3yaiG_uCb-rleZmkQAOcnkcD7Uf6r-LhBkigEkBrU8mXT1qaMhadRYtsbFPEi2qJeRU_4plPzS1xhpZWpeeJGcuYDS3QAj91t4NbTLmeh1Is/s1600/IMG_0346.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Home-Made Stationary:</i><br />
The Montessori school in our town prints the children's artwork into cards. We keep receiving Thank You's and invitations on "official" stationary made by our friends. Super cool, and way easy (we've done this before, but then forgot how simple and fun it was). So, using our copier I shrunk a few of each of the kid's masterpieces (and random drawings scavenged from the recycling bin) and copied them onto card-stock. We've gifted a few sets and are using others for ourselves. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6l7nEC8M2h2LkVGyOZFRbecisAcK5JAmFSrnbfyrP-tRbphnAkhPCik0K_ZCRpvigvpt0mGUAKLiGZEWTdbZxo7FARLasB885bbmaj0fWZoZ_6oyX0ZyNsopUoJV3ci5Qb7J84HOX9Y/s1600/IMG_0370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6l7nEC8M2h2LkVGyOZFRbecisAcK5JAmFSrnbfyrP-tRbphnAkhPCik0K_ZCRpvigvpt0mGUAKLiGZEWTdbZxo7FARLasB885bbmaj0fWZoZ_6oyX0ZyNsopUoJV3ci5Qb7J84HOX9Y/s1600/IMG_0370.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Peg Board Room Divider:</i><br />
Wylie has been asking for his own room, which can't happen without some complicated room finagling. But, we thought up a plan to give him a bit more private space in his shared room. Kale and I set it up one afternoon while the two big kids were away. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrRRgt9t9-2NVLZtU8843GKgwUWXZ26bRpFmTDWNM6xGIO6gu-3XlfzVi2NxMX0OzflSDL-SWlrntGg0JSkcDHsuXMcksjEm6h0ZipbblQGNbJ0LgMxsPWtwc5a7uDZua98Xb1mgF1yM/s1600/IMG_0383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrRRgt9t9-2NVLZtU8843GKgwUWXZ26bRpFmTDWNM6xGIO6gu-3XlfzVi2NxMX0OzflSDL-SWlrntGg0JSkcDHsuXMcksjEm6h0ZipbblQGNbJ0LgMxsPWtwc5a7uDZua98Xb1mgF1yM/s1600/IMG_0383.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBOlmEiFlPPfHJL_G1-mgZjVeGbqdAtJ4mdlUjy46fX21N8J4Ww0NP1Tao8oZrQh_OhI7MS4oWVpFNt0loRp0k8pXUC_tZysbaj-nhqUCvmsWiBgb1phDcqYeV3e_NzWKo2fbjyGSdJs/s1600/IMG_0386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBOlmEiFlPPfHJL_G1-mgZjVeGbqdAtJ4mdlUjy46fX21N8J4Ww0NP1Tao8oZrQh_OhI7MS4oWVpFNt0loRp0k8pXUC_tZysbaj-nhqUCvmsWiBgb1phDcqYeV3e_NzWKo2fbjyGSdJs/s1600/IMG_0386.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF64R98Y6RE-9XT4hn0lJZBlntuzD07eE45VqyT1pjLGhDM7GKYMJZWaP5_CnSBO0YpCuY5c4WQHFyHhNOVi1mnpjJIEd1Eq0HxgDdgfgyhfEvt_-ZwWSZgknQMLeDaqUMzVkVjmAbomo/s1600/IMG_0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF64R98Y6RE-9XT4hn0lJZBlntuzD07eE45VqyT1pjLGhDM7GKYMJZWaP5_CnSBO0YpCuY5c4WQHFyHhNOVi1mnpjJIEd1Eq0HxgDdgfgyhfEvt_-ZwWSZgknQMLeDaqUMzVkVjmAbomo/s1600/IMG_0463.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEr5Nit5cBtZr_hDISL2eLZLcBsMDZgrPpZ-4pEHnpz1tIxpDC3aW0yP_NgkG4-d5QQS9kyoTtf3JVe4l9kXtUgKlv4pcCxIKiHB6aWfFJfEcrAHiG3dqkphRhb9PUXqSJTuXpKh27Q4I/s1600/IMG_0464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEr5Nit5cBtZr_hDISL2eLZLcBsMDZgrPpZ-4pEHnpz1tIxpDC3aW0yP_NgkG4-d5QQS9kyoTtf3JVe4l9kXtUgKlv4pcCxIKiHB6aWfFJfEcrAHiG3dqkphRhb9PUXqSJTuXpKh27Q4I/s1600/IMG_0464.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gPnacRzDmoZZthpIJ4S6Vs6_T3v_D-tBJ3UQM9UM68TppR78jgUEispoaonC4AVIKjV1q4GSdOyAIhyg7zPGxTnFUf9Tg60YPPZZSnE0m433zPpkoc6rXLUZDRqJA_U8L0pXZ3uTePo/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gPnacRzDmoZZthpIJ4S6Vs6_T3v_D-tBJ3UQM9UM68TppR78jgUEispoaonC4AVIKjV1q4GSdOyAIhyg7zPGxTnFUf9Tg60YPPZZSnE0m433zPpkoc6rXLUZDRqJA_U8L0pXZ3uTePo/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We used one 4x6 sheet of peg board ($26 at our local lumber yard), some painter's tape, and left over paint. I attached the board with twine so we didn't have to put screws into the bunk-bed. Now the front half of the room is Kale's, and Wylie has privacy in the back section. The holes conveniently let us see just enough to know if someone is moving around back there, which is settling if you are walking into a quiet room and are not sure if you're alone (<i>or you are a nosy parent wondering what's going on back there). </i>Of course I couldn't resist the chalk board paint for at least a little bit of it. <br />
<br />
(<i>Confession: I wrote the message myself. The original message read: Party 8:00, or when my mom leaves.)</i>Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-10393871764491967182014-06-11T19:07:00.000-07:002014-06-12T12:14:09.312-07:00Real and Green!<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAv4CtV5FIq3RdJivlMoc-AijqUTsrJCtapDrD59BfaHR1kMSjsPFBAiJYplmW4UVILrPlR8j7oZ8rr0a__nRzTIhmDoWlmORv-5jiMLOUC7KQuI7SgNiPY6sYEmK6pcbPV-_B79_dHE/s1600/IMG_0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAv4CtV5FIq3RdJivlMoc-AijqUTsrJCtapDrD59BfaHR1kMSjsPFBAiJYplmW4UVILrPlR8j7oZ8rr0a__nRzTIhmDoWlmORv-5jiMLOUC7KQuI7SgNiPY6sYEmK6pcbPV-_B79_dHE/s1600/IMG_0325.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></div>
<br>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I originally titled this post Green! and was going to write about the shift in season we've just had here with swaths of green wrapping around us in near claustrophobic closeness. About the absolute contrast of June and January in Maine. But I'll let the pictures share that story through a recent walk through the woods to the neighbors field.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'll tell another story. I spent the day with a friend yesterday, the mom of two young children and we shared a lot about the hardships of parenting, societal views of mothers, homeschooling, money--it was not light conversation. At some point she mentioned the need for more "real" stories of mothering. The ones where its all laid out there. Where no one walks away judging themselves against another's perceived perfect life. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I don't consider this space, on my blog, the place for lamenting the bad stuff. I choose to document the times I want to focus on and remember. I believe our lives are very much made of the stories we tell ourselves, and I want mine to be a good one. I don't want to dwell on the faults, or publicize my weakness. I believe the <i>"I'm a worse mom than you"</i> Facebook posts can be just as damaging as their perfect counterparts. Even so, a bit of reality is necessary. No one's life is perfect, and one lovely walk in the woods is just that-- it doesn't tell of the 9 other hours in the day. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>So today, a bit of the hard stuff (only the pictures are pretty)...</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">W</span>e just finished a stint of two weeks without a working leech field. Two weeks of peeing outside, washing dishes in the shower outside, two weeks where we had very few flushes allotted to us (lest the tank fill and back up into our house), did only one load of laundry, and spit into bowls while brushing our teeth. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then they installed a 15 foot tall! vent in our yard, filled the sand back in, and said, <i>"It might work for another 7 years, or you might need a whole new system. Let's wait and see". </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaSPf7c1E2_4EGd5As4wF9iZXB7A_RFaKfgH6wX1IezEQyrCtcmIlK6YIAEDrLQkxxHmT88DzqtOQL5weUHjOpU3suvkixuwAuU1WTkEihjW3BKcAmZQ03goVumOx8XBsr8Mv1WpLbmk/s1600/IMG_0287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaSPf7c1E2_4EGd5As4wF9iZXB7A_RFaKfgH6wX1IezEQyrCtcmIlK6YIAEDrLQkxxHmT88DzqtOQL5weUHjOpU3suvkixuwAuU1WTkEihjW3BKcAmZQ03goVumOx8XBsr8Mv1WpLbmk/s1600/IMG_0287.JPG" height="640" width="480"></a></i></div>
<br>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Its been two weeks since then, and I'm sure we won't know if its really working for another year or two. What's definitely <i>not </i>working now, is the washing machine. Take a minute to image what it might be like to open a front loader with 8 inches of water that won't drain. Right. Now imagine that water is soaked with a week's worth of dirty running clothes, 10-year-old boy underwear, and a sleeping bag that was peed on the night before. Yup. Imagine hauling said smelly, nasty, sopping, laundry across the bathroom and dumping it in the bathtub to drain for the night. Yup. It took three towels to wipe up the mess. Two days for the smell to dissipate, 1 day for the repair guy to come, not sure when the part will arrive. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia0rsSW7TK9rYe85-9FMcCaFAOugsS0PeQ0WhjMOaWC-Dp4mtFavVCE1WpyjTXJbJ3tkzADslX6VpX0pvpl3taYin4AfqD4qVcuLW0S1nmJsdWnIDDmjAQ0Bx5kc19rjFZyYTsuHrPf0/s1600/IMG_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia0rsSW7TK9rYe85-9FMcCaFAOugsS0PeQ0WhjMOaWC-Dp4mtFavVCE1WpyjTXJbJ3tkzADslX6VpX0pvpl3taYin4AfqD4qVcuLW0S1nmJsdWnIDDmjAQ0Bx5kc19rjFZyYTsuHrPf0/s1600/IMG_0289.JPG" height="640" width="480"></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I forgot that my 4-year-old asked me to wipe his bum, and left him sitting on the toilet crying for 15 minutes while I weeded the garden. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3OkMBdS3rtlfl4LIEpNmDC5nF3-jNW-x4ot3ep0N6QI7F62tfRtTb1C7CcrYpE8-oOk408fUCfD_PNorYzuU21MwYe_ARXALdn-EvMyNEws8I4RImFcZzVCaBOIubCegQNEXkQkP5RE/s1600/IMG_0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3OkMBdS3rtlfl4LIEpNmDC5nF3-jNW-x4ot3ep0N6QI7F62tfRtTb1C7CcrYpE8-oOk408fUCfD_PNorYzuU21MwYe_ARXALdn-EvMyNEws8I4RImFcZzVCaBOIubCegQNEXkQkP5RE/s1600/IMG_0291.JPG" height="640" width="480"></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My big boy had rocks thrown at him at recess--<i>and I'm pretty sure he deserved it. </i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEp0XYhlmhor0oUXjEBVhOvvyzSWVxdO9nMnGzAL0fCTmwOH0obdmdUBcKIAFpZFoE3kdW5zErh0j7KjQBFGKnng0R8SQv22pvYaoAdaT5HuZrmG2OQCihB8i4_lczVc9GzrnySfgDtw/s1600/IMG_0297.JPG" height="640" width="480"></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
The lawn mower won't run. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsW3puynxKVJOF_M63iUxr27wAkxQF1btFOpedO2ilswyTLme6wek5BBMY4WLqeb4kTsZPUQJAjkFodFWO05PE5k1GstgPtzf-NjoIEQjnOqg197OCk23Ywm9jqA_kkKHXLorOJWn8MY/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsW3puynxKVJOF_M63iUxr27wAkxQF1btFOpedO2ilswyTLme6wek5BBMY4WLqeb4kTsZPUQJAjkFodFWO05PE5k1GstgPtzf-NjoIEQjnOqg197OCk23Ywm9jqA_kkKHXLorOJWn8MY/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></div>
<br>
<br>
Most days I yell at my kids. Many days I swear in front of them (<i>almost never at them</i>). <br>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
I haven't thrown a book in three years, but I have wanted to many, many more times since then. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUJqVSo9WhT1rhb7VzkcdIudhl4ZYyZBGLeXVc2ceNAYWTMdODX8wpd366ooK9hh8D1K6RMrsLnka_UKBfLn1JfdaU4lQ-kVh8uCtKyayTJ2Whh68skxul4Z4O5Kh28gpQTS8eGw6km4/s1600/IMG_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUJqVSo9WhT1rhb7VzkcdIudhl4ZYyZBGLeXVc2ceNAYWTMdODX8wpd366ooK9hh8D1K6RMrsLnka_UKBfLn1JfdaU4lQ-kVh8uCtKyayTJ2Whh68skxul4Z4O5Kh28gpQTS8eGw6km4/s1600/IMG_0309.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
My 4-year-old sings rap songs about "Call of Duty" (<i>though no one here has ever played the game)</i>, and educates his friends about AK's, snipers, and missile launchers. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44P18Ojip5Cp_HvFkD4x26QMMoCVUoPpcPbUY2JT8zQz0_qVs_i8VXRO3iPHgyJ4D5wGCpjHBCFGRYH0y7zsVHvagLjPzH69PecAZ46HxeIAl8VCj3xAeNqlHW7KetsUlS77fObQfnJ4/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44P18Ojip5Cp_HvFkD4x26QMMoCVUoPpcPbUY2JT8zQz0_qVs_i8VXRO3iPHgyJ4D5wGCpjHBCFGRYH0y7zsVHvagLjPzH69PecAZ46HxeIAl8VCj3xAeNqlHW7KetsUlS77fObQfnJ4/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
The renters in our cabin are complaining of ants. Lots of ants. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKphy2evcBjCt2gtHUBoKT4FN6AU4HANk6HCEmbm9kd2J9HRSCbG0I96woiCD-aEokr-rIAg5EW3T4zVPBdils2ff5NNcxZqEmhktIjtPcvjYnhUOs3dZJU5Qj2iOrTrfYFmuH3KeCEXM/s1600/IMG_0321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKphy2evcBjCt2gtHUBoKT4FN6AU4HANk6HCEmbm9kd2J9HRSCbG0I96woiCD-aEokr-rIAg5EW3T4zVPBdils2ff5NNcxZqEmhktIjtPcvjYnhUOs3dZJU5Qj2iOrTrfYFmuH3KeCEXM/s1600/IMG_0321.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></div>
<br>
And their pipes are leaking. Still.<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0mllYHRw2fbRuhEDIikcpjze346G2vY4edxMGL2wkoUv0h6Cgh7RzEDRxiVMKEs3UyXMkhEYoxVPnVdJhQlPK08u6v7frDjjFEO4kvBKzci7z-m0CxVsJ7mW-pX0FnNI6ZqWxYG3rAg/s1600/IMG_0324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0mllYHRw2fbRuhEDIikcpjze346G2vY4edxMGL2wkoUv0h6Cgh7RzEDRxiVMKEs3UyXMkhEYoxVPnVdJhQlPK08u6v7frDjjFEO4kvBKzci7z-m0CxVsJ7mW-pX0FnNI6ZqWxYG3rAg/s1600/IMG_0324.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></div>
<br>
<br>
We waited 15 minutes in the 85 degree sun, without shade, for ice cream. Kale's came on a blue cone, with blue candy on top. Two days later his poop is still blue. <br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty3pxt8NeNe_xI07WTGaoT02_G1u4g1OBodtvtfT4J8jkj5-CXiSWOJj563eC7Di16Njtk4hP-LdleUQyapQXtuzTIJz_N3MnuLW2kQdr6uWyryPOciKfYm6OdjXu7lZFvLBhnD-kkgE/s1600/IMG_0317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty3pxt8NeNe_xI07WTGaoT02_G1u4g1OBodtvtfT4J8jkj5-CXiSWOJj563eC7Di16Njtk4hP-LdleUQyapQXtuzTIJz_N3MnuLW2kQdr6uWyryPOciKfYm6OdjXu7lZFvLBhnD-kkgE/s1600/IMG_0317.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></div>
<br>
<br>
I wasn't sure if I should feed the pigs crappy left over pizza from the corner store, because it might not be good for them. Then I realized I'd just served it to my kids. <br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8N8MVnAF4Al34ljT-5zWoFMPRqhfBg1ds933Un-7QZIieWUDP0YcyVqvvYCl54MN2JaQ99YteVdAmv8d4paCopn5jujnvYzMLo5WC6sCTQMSdIM7QBwvkrHoWPAn6POmek-UNCnVqKM/s1600/IMG_0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8N8MVnAF4Al34ljT-5zWoFMPRqhfBg1ds933Un-7QZIieWUDP0YcyVqvvYCl54MN2JaQ99YteVdAmv8d4paCopn5jujnvYzMLo5WC6sCTQMSdIM7QBwvkrHoWPAn6POmek-UNCnVqKM/s1600/IMG_0333.JPG" height="640" width="480"></a></div>
<br>
<br>
The kids were nervous about a garter snake in the driveway. <i>"Don't be scared," I told them, those won't hurt you. You can even catch it."</i> <br>
When Juniper leaned in for a closer look it reared up and struck at her. <br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKZNoj0hBPwr1klUVHrgH6X88hblmyi2uxPW4RivuED-6DSFLYTQ-d1fBiWZse5idY4TFmiXQ_PPLXryHbnDEFEwBGG_FydLECut9tQ943mAXAnVStKExPdHztk33lKSrEClmPdDRNeA/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKZNoj0hBPwr1klUVHrgH6X88hblmyi2uxPW4RivuED-6DSFLYTQ-d1fBiWZse5idY4TFmiXQ_PPLXryHbnDEFEwBGG_FydLECut9tQ943mAXAnVStKExPdHztk33lKSrEClmPdDRNeA/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG" height="480" width="640"></a></div>
<br>
It was a lovely walk.
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty3pxt8NeNe_xI07WTGaoT02_G1u4g1OBodtvtfT4J8jkj5-CXiSWOJj563eC7Di16Njtk4hP-LdleUQyapQXtuzTIJz_N3MnuLW2kQdr6uWyryPOciKfYm6OdjXu7lZFvLBhnD-kkgE/s1600/IMG_0317.JPG" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty3pxt8NeNe_xI07WTGaoT02_G1u4g1OBodtvtfT4J8jkj5-CXiSWOJj563eC7Di16Njtk4hP-LdleUQyapQXtuzTIJz_N3MnuLW2kQdr6uWyryPOciKfYm6OdjXu7lZFvLBhnD-kkgE/s1600/IMG_0317.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-EJ-C84Xi1Rc%2FU5j_4FaqBZI%2FAAAAAAAAkYE%2FFpO6BkdT22s%2Fs1600%2FIMG_0317.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty3pxt8NeNe_xI07WTGaoT02_G1u4g1OBodtvtfT4J8jkj5-CXiSWOJj563eC7Di16Njtk4hP-LdleUQyapQXtuzTIJz_N3MnuLW2kQdr6uWyryPOciKfYm6OdjXu7lZFvLBhnD-kkgE/s1600/IMG_0317.JPG" -->Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-77626692318884547262014-05-29T06:30:00.001-07:002014-05-29T06:30:36.556-07:00HomeSchool Thursdays: Chalk Board Paint and Bacon GreaseWhen you homeschool you don't have to follow traditional school times, school days, or seasons. New schedules aren't just for September. We can get excited about new school materials anytime! Right now we're having fun creating a new schedule for summer months, and re-organizing--which is always my favorite part of starting anything new. I know I'm not the only one who goes a little crazy for new chubby pencils, and nice pens. <br />
<br />
Right now its all about the chalkboard paint...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTl44QQbXG7irjDX2UKHGXCKid2WCS49I0r1vbYXD_HPEbli4AqNmF9QVOHilw4IcP76Zh2QE7il1TtO8o8bvtvinpn2xV6vT72hbeStCAhJvPbJXH1EI_06w3t3TiW-s0y0wYdKmkN8/s1600/IMG_0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTl44QQbXG7irjDX2UKHGXCKid2WCS49I0r1vbYXD_HPEbli4AqNmF9QVOHilw4IcP76Zh2QE7il1TtO8o8bvtvinpn2xV6vT72hbeStCAhJvPbJXH1EI_06w3t3TiW-s0y0wYdKmkN8/s1600/IMG_0251.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been wanting to paint everything chalkboard this week, but so far have kept myself to these clip boards (a pinterest idea) and a larger board for other use. We found some chalk board markers in town that write beautifully, though they don't erase very well (ughh). We're setting up some new "plan for the day" charts, thinking about how we'll do math for the summer (workbooks? online? games only?) and what kind of structure we want for our days/weeks. Our chore charts that previously lived on the fridge needed some re-order as well. Chalk board paint to the rescue. I'm not loving the new chore cart yet --and I'm already tired of the neon, but its a beginning. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0Vd9ABeF6B7jjAqhO4Jm9Bj217QV5HCpVD7NG-7_Lm5WXJivUk5RNVhcPDzQz4I-xYBBdcF__vDwPoGg5YBzjiEk92CHn-_UZj-saBpypnwimV88fjtN_enUzlTYxi2uo8naMjDwaRU/s1600/IMG_0280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0Vd9ABeF6B7jjAqhO4Jm9Bj217QV5HCpVD7NG-7_Lm5WXJivUk5RNVhcPDzQz4I-xYBBdcF__vDwPoGg5YBzjiEk92CHn-_UZj-saBpypnwimV88fjtN_enUzlTYxi2uo8naMjDwaRU/s1600/IMG_0280.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH-9B5HRu0s6m9Yx4MYvtXMbpe2dqygqDVt7RIDbFsJhhej9NHOeb49Nh5XhWTOU2LGMlC0eFry5XfU39kg8z0cp5WVUFuZkY7xdGlWI6ZDhyYGlohUIuImvIaJsw0RbBzn9zLIwnmFQ/s1600/IMG_0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH-9B5HRu0s6m9Yx4MYvtXMbpe2dqygqDVt7RIDbFsJhhej9NHOeb49Nh5XhWTOU2LGMlC0eFry5XfU39kg8z0cp5WVUFuZkY7xdGlWI6ZDhyYGlohUIuImvIaJsw0RbBzn9zLIwnmFQ/s1600/IMG_0281.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another new routine we're working on is Wednesday night kid dinners. Last week Juniper made zucchini lasagna that was fantastic (I didn't get any pictures) and this evening Wylie baked us homemade Mac and Cheese, followed by carrot cake with rhubarb sauce. All delicious. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The kids always help bake cookies and pancakes. They grate cheese and chop veggies, but its new for me to include them in the "how to" of cooking dinner. I've always enjoyed and agreed with books and blogs that show young children cooking with their parents. It seems so sweet and homey. But, honestly the pre-dinner stretch has often been a hectic, tired time of day when I am happy to focus on something other than my kids while they hang with Rob, play by themselves, or watch a video. They were always nearby, watching me cook, but often not invited to help. (<i>Sad? Perhaps, but real</i>). Now that they are all older a shift has occurred. Its easier to have them help with cooking. My patience is not as frazzled by the end of the day (most days), bedtime is later so there's not such a rush to eat by a certain time, and really they're just older and quite helpful. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My only rule for Kid Dinner night is there has to be vegetables, it has to be gluten free, and they need to choose the menu with enough time for us to get the ingredients. Kale is planning mini pizzas for his night. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
With Juni and Wylie's nights I worked side by side with them, either pointing out the recipe, or explaining each step as we went along. I showed them how to chop veggies to size for cooking, how to melt the cheese, how to best mix the cake etc. They often fix their own breakfast and snacks, and its my hope that in a few months they'll be able to go into the kitchen and make a meal for the family by themselves. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Seems likely. In fact, I'm sure Wylie already could--I'm just not sure I'd want to eat it. But tonight's was fantastic. We all had seconds. Salad too. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatClMqTv7-c6YO0SM2Hna9GOWRntzEMBTTgvhcBdCDdBvexCR0hWVuNMOWnysG6qByKKgsOzMNWQZzbO14RQV8YAckB-hfJi6gqWv4L_3Y1oPigM3CYqj-sLyRW35lpiXayOHedks7eU/s1600/IMG_0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatClMqTv7-c6YO0SM2Hna9GOWRntzEMBTTgvhcBdCDdBvexCR0hWVuNMOWnysG6qByKKgsOzMNWQZzbO14RQV8YAckB-hfJi6gqWv4L_3Y1oPigM3CYqj-sLyRW35lpiXayOHedks7eU/s1600/IMG_0277.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWOS2bBiC-Izlvwqxlh5VM2tBaUi6clj6tnyITwQGgMTo74y-4PtMgBRlIvOkzcEqI3ISvDX8XHONaEh3Evi9xuUNNoN6rfmsS0Qfp2hesngZrIlg4LiRpdrGfNniOg7DQefh2PbwbZ4/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWOS2bBiC-Izlvwqxlh5VM2tBaUi6clj6tnyITwQGgMTo74y-4PtMgBRlIvOkzcEqI3ISvDX8XHONaEh3Evi9xuUNNoN6rfmsS0Qfp2hesngZrIlg4LiRpdrGfNniOg7DQefh2PbwbZ4/s1600/IMG_0273.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i> Lunch on Memorial day--too much outdoor work for anything else. </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsN0Hnu_MwWRLnXQOwlV2BoI7vRjotXWiYI3FkEBALsIsLlslUkSycy2DI622PPLGQUEYE4hSuJgwI-xy4Y6Obp8tvUDivlg0uDjc8K6PM0jqxTlU9bGZ7UZZHTtBlu2lURabrXgFpn0/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsN0Hnu_MwWRLnXQOwlV2BoI7vRjotXWiYI3FkEBALsIsLlslUkSycy2DI622PPLGQUEYE4hSuJgwI-xy4Y6Obp8tvUDivlg0uDjc8K6PM0jqxTlU9bGZ7UZZHTtBlu2lURabrXgFpn0/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Wylie did his favorite kind of cooking Sunday: Outdoors, over a big flame. This treat was dandelion fritters fried in bacon grease. They were pretty tasty. But as he commented, "Mom, I think we could cook anything in this stuff and it would taste good!" Just about. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-H6d5MtPd1_oAJHsApKFrrJ8uMw8Zwz3kSBJW-9eLmG6DGjyhQFnR5mzNIdI-lUwSrhYkRbFq7QBPwZ9DcgegUCDFVj67qM62QbAsNRax6k2PEFr2NzozBk9-9xfUq_PUsKIajHiUDN4/s1600/IMG_0255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-H6d5MtPd1_oAJHsApKFrrJ8uMw8Zwz3kSBJW-9eLmG6DGjyhQFnR5mzNIdI-lUwSrhYkRbFq7QBPwZ9DcgegUCDFVj67qM62QbAsNRax6k2PEFr2NzozBk9-9xfUq_PUsKIajHiUDN4/s1600/IMG_0255.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGdbSzCNW9DnMIR5ToBa7-z_Q5UGHJrjunHPxl2G-zDWC3O_friAjKAGsfubDDMRtzNluW7QO7cTFR9s75F6nmFB5yThEdpclAJsFOv407YPiANV94mn1qjfG9IFSixWxwAKyRQ-zv3w/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGdbSzCNW9DnMIR5ToBa7-z_Q5UGHJrjunHPxl2G-zDWC3O_friAjKAGsfubDDMRtzNluW7QO7cTFR9s75F6nmFB5yThEdpclAJsFOv407YPiANV94mn1qjfG9IFSixWxwAKyRQ-zv3w/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-11872710951438767782014-05-21T17:56:00.000-07:002014-05-21T17:56:04.070-07:00May Morsels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
First, an introduction: This scary guy (my new header) is the troll who lives beneath the bridge in the "Three Billy Goats Gruff", drawn by Kale. He now lives on our upstairs hall light switch. Awesome. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V0KuDZiVAuK1PYbBWsXD86VHwoZK0VYtJt_Zz5FEFzRdjXkIXB7oiffvcVvhuA0b901-B6c9GmCjtGzvSEK-pj-XNZ95AcyGdmZ76IXGxWEcbgyRmVSLVNtFIZMd5VfQ5tPLJahoUlE/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V0KuDZiVAuK1PYbBWsXD86VHwoZK0VYtJt_Zz5FEFzRdjXkIXB7oiffvcVvhuA0b901-B6c9GmCjtGzvSEK-pj-XNZ95AcyGdmZ76IXGxWEcbgyRmVSLVNtFIZMd5VfQ5tPLJahoUlE/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>May Morsels: </i></div>
In the past few days it feels like someone waved the magic wand of spring over our little piece of the world. <br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Beech, lilac, birch and other early leaves unfolded overnight, the pear and cherry trees exploded with blossoms and the perennials are doubling in size each day. We put up the screen doors and have been throwing them open each morning to greet the morning warmth. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the time of year when our house is cold. We have a well insulated, radiant heated (by our woodstove, with propane back up) exposed concrete slab in our home. All winter we are toasty to over heated. But in the spring and early fall, when its too warm to warrant lighting a wood fire, the slab temperature drops quickly. Early mornings we find it is often a few degrees colder inside than out. It's a blanket breakfast kind of season. But by mid afternoon, with all the windows thrown wide open, its lovely. We're not complaining (much). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the season when the indoors shifts to out. When the end of the day brings toys and blocks scattered on the porch and lawn, when art supplies are hauled about in baskets, and the mess inside builds until a rainy day insists we clean up a bit. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtr0N3jMiFqmOxYCoajlL-4f8piw6cA8b1BmMjyztVOqTBPpt121oSaJ1T18Qu9mjLHDaLEhnxGpm0UwdlOd9xD2jwBq-fdHjQrSejWvpNPJX6NgzaXcP_RXl_IfmBKHjp_HnfP3oJNc/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtr0N3jMiFqmOxYCoajlL-4f8piw6cA8b1BmMjyztVOqTBPpt121oSaJ1T18Qu9mjLHDaLEhnxGpm0UwdlOd9xD2jwBq-fdHjQrSejWvpNPJX6NgzaXcP_RXl_IfmBKHjp_HnfP3oJNc/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>(this one's for Clove)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nim7fnsxgYDsX58uwrGURRmQBlGT7lj1HDJ59OaFyoYZVtLzYDiwhnZQWAuQxkj1SUZ6jQV_0HDfwnkCP9XTbTvxQGpPmOTaD6eFbVwx1PuvqrhcUrSvQFTZKgH0WdooBinFT6GxPdU/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nim7fnsxgYDsX58uwrGURRmQBlGT7lj1HDJ59OaFyoYZVtLzYDiwhnZQWAuQxkj1SUZ6jQV_0HDfwnkCP9XTbTvxQGpPmOTaD6eFbVwx1PuvqrhcUrSvQFTZKgH0WdooBinFT6GxPdU/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG" height="640" width="524" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL72njK_SFBYyHm86GlBSfR2Gg5D-lf8PNd_yJyHWPJZRaqJKr1feqlQBYLgBw3ZvnvCqwuYMuIWLCePc7r39jMDEamwizZ5alGGs6adeAWBJ6IIQ1c5V9hw7GGsckHQoq7vWJQtASSR4/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL72njK_SFBYyHm86GlBSfR2Gg5D-lf8PNd_yJyHWPJZRaqJKr1feqlQBYLgBw3ZvnvCqwuYMuIWLCePc7r39jMDEamwizZ5alGGs6adeAWBJ6IIQ1c5V9hw7GGsckHQoq7vWJQtASSR4/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" height="640" width="416" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojXom3fbJJa1qci6f3K9nANtm4UYvQhGkGR_6NmNxzrWuImsrg1VPQwUv4fiVC18pZN6UPkHznzL8AqaADJd2bwqlNN6pzNRmn0PeI4aZ_UZPUwqguwpWb_AEYXYPHEW4bTFwde9BaBw/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojXom3fbJJa1qci6f3K9nANtm4UYvQhGkGR_6NmNxzrWuImsrg1VPQwUv4fiVC18pZN6UPkHznzL8AqaADJd2bwqlNN6pzNRmn0PeI4aZ_UZPUwqguwpWb_AEYXYPHEW4bTFwde9BaBw/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Our chicks moved outside two weeks ago. As of last weekend they are off their light completely, and nearly all feathered out. Soon we'll begin the interesting process of introducing them to the old ladies. It never goes smoothly. Our system needs a bit of work. I'd like to set up some summer housing for the ladies that can be in the electronet fencing we got last year (the one they fly out of every time I put them in it). Then the new chicks can have the coop to themselves long enough to feel like its theirs, while the old ladies live in the orchard for the summer. Then they can all bunk together when the weather turns. Someday I'll get it all worked out. Until then we'll muddling through chick introductions, chasing chicks back into the coop each night (where they don't want to be because of those old meanies). Maybe this time will be different. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeluHM-uCt4l1ao-1z60ZVkJkn2zF6FaQaL6mxNE4a7yYk9a-OE90H5Gz_MT-l5GOa_sereKendNI5X_fphl_zWQ-B1crhkgKKvya71-uUnsDUQSm5nwzFjRnzKrdraqlKmKAUlXkRd2g/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeluHM-uCt4l1ao-1z60ZVkJkn2zF6FaQaL6mxNE4a7yYk9a-OE90H5Gz_MT-l5GOa_sereKendNI5X_fphl_zWQ-B1crhkgKKvya71-uUnsDUQSm5nwzFjRnzKrdraqlKmKAUlXkRd2g/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A couple of weekends ago Rob repaired the front of the fence. Some of the posts had floated up, and the chickens were beginning to sneak underneath it. The new set up is sturdy, and spiffy as all get out. I'm working on two rows of raspberries along side (with a path for mowing in between). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxBE41TLEas0cdWKBkTeBFQtymKyjaO9pvmS4jRduofp5VJtWjbvONH3lOajEKAs7AhPLhmI2rBBMesRH7AuaMM-zF0Eo3rD-CuEnT5gAIQ1TfKNPpme3tUxEv8abnoJYral0a7O_FqQ/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxBE41TLEas0cdWKBkTeBFQtymKyjaO9pvmS4jRduofp5VJtWjbvONH3lOajEKAs7AhPLhmI2rBBMesRH7AuaMM-zF0Eo3rD-CuEnT5gAIQ1TfKNPpme3tUxEv8abnoJYral0a7O_FqQ/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xS3XKnzLiekw6r2QL6bEp0xOmPBh4yNQ8DUSByQnY54nZ917GVoPkcAxH8lR7_0UHFS-c4lCGJY02JBA24ajUourghWByMstoPxN0z4nAAu9GueLV5nmD9KAF_d2jDGjcSC1G3YqdG0/s1600/IMG_0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xS3XKnzLiekw6r2QL6bEp0xOmPBh4yNQ8DUSByQnY54nZ917GVoPkcAxH8lR7_0UHFS-c4lCGJY02JBA24ajUourghWByMstoPxN0z4nAAu9GueLV5nmD9KAF_d2jDGjcSC1G3YqdG0/s1600/IMG_0246.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The garden is still mostly mud, with more green in the paths than in the beds. But its getting there. The garlic is up, the peas are up, lettuce is coming along. We had our first salad from the cold frame last night, along with fresh picked asparagus and chive pizza. Yum. This is the first year I didn't start any seedlings indoors. I put a bit in the cold frame, stuck the early stuff in the ground (peas, lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots, radish) and bought the rest of the plants from our good friend Polly over at Village Farm. Their seedlings are beautiful, and it feels a bit like magic to suddenly have big robust plants in a bed that was empty minutes before. Insta-garden. I think I like it, but I'm not quite sure. There's something about coaxing all those tiny plants along, nursing them through those early stages, then celebrating when they're big enough to leave the kitchen. Of course, Polly's seedlings are twice the size mine ever are, and far more beautiful. And, I didn't have to rearrange our kitchen for two months. Compromise. A girl could get used to it. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4i_wNUo_DYWS8k63O0v48odK7dxYoTEyjL7WRcgJjaP6g88k9duJ1L9WjsrQAOKjh3JcEz1Wvr3mOOKQ_jVEyYpGeGG8tFl4cjCjOU_G0VbZkoqfKqULJsT_v13VYso6b7sOR6zG46Q/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4i_wNUo_DYWS8k63O0v48odK7dxYoTEyjL7WRcgJjaP6g88k9duJ1L9WjsrQAOKjh3JcEz1Wvr3mOOKQ_jVEyYpGeGG8tFl4cjCjOU_G0VbZkoqfKqULJsT_v13VYso6b7sOR6zG46Q/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Our tadpoles hatched, and they are not salamanders! Hooray.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D_s0clNE2rRzFlDBSJhZuUhlyWGiU_sYx4R73jsFvwTAkQ99MABjloGg3amT7HfvocH23ksXCZZw_wXhUaw0vLkYFDM-PxlAaXlejebeY5jrtTvval8ZQ1qoLhQ1cHsqEIMrCBve2go/s1600/IMG_0146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D_s0clNE2rRzFlDBSJhZuUhlyWGiU_sYx4R73jsFvwTAkQ99MABjloGg3amT7HfvocH23ksXCZZw_wXhUaw0vLkYFDM-PxlAaXlejebeY5jrtTvval8ZQ1qoLhQ1cHsqEIMrCBve2go/s1600/IMG_0146.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Its become an annual tradition for the kids to get me a fruit tree for our growing orchard each Mother's Day. This year it was a cherry, decorated with sayings about why they love me. Pretty great. For my special day I requested that we work outside in the yard all together. I started the day with a long, sunny run with friends, then showered outside in our newly re-installed outdoor shower. We all worked on finishing the cedar surround for the shower, planted the tree, mulched gardens, stacked wood, and finished the day with a BBQ at my sister's with her family and Mimi. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was the best kind of Mother's Day. Uncomplicated with lots of outdoor family time, and good company at the end of the day. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmge7S3tXYT_TzYY0rpypATboxD7FH-AzQcFopcsFRZ-cqCSOi4BHoX-ichv2R54dJL721-HEEz9kzosfnNBRTXDHrH5gdR732yRBtXtpfycs8vyEMnWRptJtRK7SnjiXndhLN12-VZKI/s1600/IMG_0153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmge7S3tXYT_TzYY0rpypATboxD7FH-AzQcFopcsFRZ-cqCSOi4BHoX-ichv2R54dJL721-HEEz9kzosfnNBRTXDHrH5gdR732yRBtXtpfycs8vyEMnWRptJtRK7SnjiXndhLN12-VZKI/s1600/IMG_0153.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP7kartQuNE5erbeuV4mtPi6KkgDukct9pJGNMknEkdoFSHiDj-fKM9tg8YzNF46Z1heOGJSgD4TMaUPgzD2uZSnGkSxd4xoOP9hVvLjd1i7K7s-MOdcO1wUY8HVsYQbso6EDUudlp9k/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP7kartQuNE5erbeuV4mtPi6KkgDukct9pJGNMknEkdoFSHiDj-fKM9tg8YzNF46Z1heOGJSgD4TMaUPgzD2uZSnGkSxd4xoOP9hVvLjd1i7K7s-MOdcO1wUY8HVsYQbso6EDUudlp9k/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Outdoor tubbing--after water is hooked up, before shower stall. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnAvj02xP_5_9v5ReyDkPxemKF3qCtCbbCitPy3NIzZ_Lqd-jXqgW9OfpkK0tbOIspnVx9wDwT9-pLLSnFizAeUx1JPvTyKzoJyDuOCukHbwDEQtr_6XgRKyGxpsAG0hXXZpyHfdrTbU/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnAvj02xP_5_9v5ReyDkPxemKF3qCtCbbCitPy3NIzZ_Lqd-jXqgW9OfpkK0tbOIspnVx9wDwT9-pLLSnFizAeUx1JPvTyKzoJyDuOCukHbwDEQtr_6XgRKyGxpsAG0hXXZpyHfdrTbU/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I love, love, love the new shower. Good thing too, because the next day we had our septic pumped and leech field dug up. We've been showering ( and peeing, and rinsing laundry, and doing dishes) out in the yard for more than a week now. They'll come put it all back together and fill it in after its all dried out--which would be quicker if the sun would come out for more than an hour at a time.<br />
Fortunately, its not too bad thanks to this new set up. Maybe we just need a sink out there too. Hmm. <br />
<br />
<i>New shower</i> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIcmqMa85JcdXSlQ790NqFNM2MeruItdMHBAULDFMab5qBpk-SDKNA9q-mjl3C-G-GoZN3QgVxV4GzqSTp6qDdUaFuNCFnnYjuMh8nVsFtDCaYqaJzd8yPowIosfPfUgjckmu1FWyj5E/s1600/IMG_0229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIcmqMa85JcdXSlQ790NqFNM2MeruItdMHBAULDFMab5qBpk-SDKNA9q-mjl3C-G-GoZN3QgVxV4GzqSTp6qDdUaFuNCFnnYjuMh8nVsFtDCaYqaJzd8yPowIosfPfUgjckmu1FWyj5E/s1600/IMG_0229.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67PXErh5g9qCDLcdxzrQGePKiGODO5AISFXMYjF3SWA-J8tDEZahK3Ks2ltaS7L2RmiLTNbRwj79vbJh16P-loiUssZgdpzEXe01u3viQAE-6ot6cqqa4E49ro7mdpUaVn-yUO3vjyPk/s1600/IMG_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67PXErh5g9qCDLcdxzrQGePKiGODO5AISFXMYjF3SWA-J8tDEZahK3Ks2ltaS7L2RmiLTNbRwj79vbJh16P-loiUssZgdpzEXe01u3viQAE-6ot6cqqa4E49ro7mdpUaVn-yUO3vjyPk/s1600/IMG_0164.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2lq6STF7y3oj8hIp3i9FCVrAErwy59idQ1qmrkSe2Hd5Y959EPozvg9PA9ZOas8N_H5ZPRc6qM6Zf_5UpIPQ0oNVQwEVZT3aQ_kD6yxBBiqWwmjGpaQsbG0zQz5NK62HqTsgGvm2J60/s1600/IMG_0185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2lq6STF7y3oj8hIp3i9FCVrAErwy59idQ1qmrkSe2Hd5Y959EPozvg9PA9ZOas8N_H5ZPRc6qM6Zf_5UpIPQ0oNVQwEVZT3aQ_kD6yxBBiqWwmjGpaQsbG0zQz5NK62HqTsgGvm2J60/s1600/IMG_0185.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupo2Eh-3Qfze8GG4BMM3NN5kPgQ0xLumD97Q8qMGcq9rRa1JLY_XLctByGPqeXzMJhLiKAuVApd3bozC175SmZiA4w9O13ZTOdjMP1q7GmE6DGATobRuVS-rtk8UaDaLxlUGYW1JV1Mg/s1600/IMG_0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupo2Eh-3Qfze8GG4BMM3NN5kPgQ0xLumD97Q8qMGcq9rRa1JLY_XLctByGPqeXzMJhLiKAuVApd3bozC175SmZiA4w9O13ZTOdjMP1q7GmE6DGATobRuVS-rtk8UaDaLxlUGYW1JV1Mg/s1600/IMG_0187.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4bZE4gAdOccDJ7kH-Flqwq-5eXfbu_X4F4cC7wf-lVXZsMOsE3j31ke2mRW9ZDjyaLwfEOM510Ac8I8y7mSDgEFTy5jOTX03Y5PCBPy_0ZXor2PpYh6F3J0ALEzGu7zI9oivRIqCtkg/s1600/IMG_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4bZE4gAdOccDJ7kH-Flqwq-5eXfbu_X4F4cC7wf-lVXZsMOsE3j31ke2mRW9ZDjyaLwfEOM510Ac8I8y7mSDgEFTy5jOTX03Y5PCBPy_0ZXor2PpYh6F3J0ALEzGu7zI9oivRIqCtkg/s1600/IMG_0168.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-Xn-6cr6yVl8tFm-kPS4d-Iu9kT_6JbsCByV__Nkg4ExwrNacByl-qJ1W_K4Kj9WmapJ5RjbypwNL-lQaP4EZ0NRnhQ-3yiGjrLuqBJqw81BIYKe5yGMuzL7N_QwmF5qn3Mc0qN1eG0/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-Xn-6cr6yVl8tFm-kPS4d-Iu9kT_6JbsCByV__Nkg4ExwrNacByl-qJ1W_K4Kj9WmapJ5RjbypwNL-lQaP4EZ0NRnhQ-3yiGjrLuqBJqw81BIYKe5yGMuzL7N_QwmF5qn3Mc0qN1eG0/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPt5subXsT1UzgPe7uZ0dIMcKU4XdSjJaNUB6t3qLPMJ4svW0TY8Tk6QdMOClK9HxAagD9SD3e3Czd2lE3Tluk8HkNq48G5yu9faH2R6duCf-eBFerrw8X1lgVdVkz1HLgVVJ2PUljLA/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPt5subXsT1UzgPe7uZ0dIMcKU4XdSjJaNUB6t3qLPMJ4svW0TY8Tk6QdMOClK9HxAagD9SD3e3Czd2lE3Tluk8HkNq48G5yu9faH2R6duCf-eBFerrw8X1lgVdVkz1HLgVVJ2PUljLA/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The buzzing ladies made it through the winter and are enjoying the pear blossoms. Two new nucs (small colonies with an established queen) will be making there way to the bee yard very soon. Tomorrow's project will be to get the hives in order for their arrival. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMq2ky2l9zBD2MdobaqyPphQfb2OvlCmJZkquvML5C4dVJPr-9ov_f_W6S8jCwbAgD0nHy5A8Mv1BAZdEAKJ-claL7_aaxbDmhaPzQBnaYVLWygP15c-Mw50OlHCyFmUhxW1RTbMezM8w/s1600/IMG_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMq2ky2l9zBD2MdobaqyPphQfb2OvlCmJZkquvML5C4dVJPr-9ov_f_W6S8jCwbAgD0nHy5A8Mv1BAZdEAKJ-claL7_aaxbDmhaPzQBnaYVLWygP15c-Mw50OlHCyFmUhxW1RTbMezM8w/s1600/IMG_0239.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwwOe_UepX54Ac_MYbK9v4llXAvbelBp9AIj49FC_dfusdf1wI3Wy4XoxOjsvOF_qGdzho_TVnazkZfMrCs-5k_Ljx1AMF121JYm3X7nZVwODzIwiuCNRzPgLpAP4Djcl88NRsCCnnAc/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwwOe_UepX54Ac_MYbK9v4llXAvbelBp9AIj49FC_dfusdf1wI3Wy4XoxOjsvOF_qGdzho_TVnazkZfMrCs-5k_Ljx1AMF121JYm3X7nZVwODzIwiuCNRzPgLpAP4Djcl88NRsCCnnAc/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoqK88V5Xv5P2rJZANDkOSRo77stv4MSIXHzLe6L7fSF_DtNaX1DBnz9mwx1E1tyVfWEGCunEwmjZcMylaLFx4poHh2a_4UwlhvTeWY6IKP8633X5w_ZLORJa2XFFdSC-sVQPR8xLMIg/s1600/IMG_0248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoqK88V5Xv5P2rJZANDkOSRo77stv4MSIXHzLe6L7fSF_DtNaX1DBnz9mwx1E1tyVfWEGCunEwmjZcMylaLFx4poHh2a_4UwlhvTeWY6IKP8633X5w_ZLORJa2XFFdSC-sVQPR8xLMIg/s1600/IMG_0248.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-69291069803089488442014-05-01T05:29:00.000-07:002014-05-01T05:29:27.537-07:00Homeschool Thursdays: Map Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We have a block of time set aside for "project work" a couple of times each week. Sometimes the project is independent, research based, like Juni's Blue Jay project, other times is something more tangible like a sewing project or art based. For the past month or so we've been working on a "map project". This project started with the picture book, "The Way to Captain Yankee's" (below) that shows the map of an island, and tells the story of a Ms. Calico who loses her way--but fortunately has a map with her. It was cute, though not a book I loved. But, the kids loved following along with the character's route as she went. The project launched from there. We drew maps of "Barefoot" Island (an idea I found on Pinterest). They created different parts of their island, included a key with symbols similar to the ones used in the book, a directional arrow, and labels for different parts of the map. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeHfJP_iIfqKLpSKxuvwaK6pK59fpralMJTk0-JVF1vqoH-msQhIEXEJSRKxWsBiR95aI1W1dr3cCbhmPtwU9SsaYwiG6yuAg8Bi0xjbMKlbBFJCIxSEb457FbXDf_9nOif7F-baVQFA/s1600/IMG_1527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeHfJP_iIfqKLpSKxuvwaK6pK59fpralMJTk0-JVF1vqoH-msQhIEXEJSRKxWsBiR95aI1W1dr3cCbhmPtwU9SsaYwiG6yuAg8Bi0xjbMKlbBFJCIxSEb457FbXDf_9nOif7F-baVQFA/s1600/IMG_1527.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8jkjtjIV-gMRnexXJC7p_2V8FMzw_1Y-kioy6uU-Yq-NGI2sxFXSFp12RSARndRfOwBzaymLeZAWmyMuTt01YZdxK81n3-eRDD904oui2TiW4dcLrjqW7Ynn1Ndnm9yZ3P83k5vlvuY/s1600/IMG_1526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8jkjtjIV-gMRnexXJC7p_2V8FMzw_1Y-kioy6uU-Yq-NGI2sxFXSFp12RSARndRfOwBzaymLeZAWmyMuTt01YZdxK81n3-eRDD904oui2TiW4dcLrjqW7Ynn1Ndnm9yZ3P83k5vlvuY/s1600/IMG_1526.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrx1UPJJJXt7t0YoI5CwFE3sT7iPoomRpCa3XjJDZsFX4WVZOgpZ4T3GZM6SEfJy2jhwY3Yjl_NyR8txFEWmFqcF5skP5ykGwfgyRMBJ2DDoFSJ15TvqIs3bWDtrgczECWjPuOr_7IV4M/s1600/IMG_1534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrx1UPJJJXt7t0YoI5CwFE3sT7iPoomRpCa3XjJDZsFX4WVZOgpZ4T3GZM6SEfJy2jhwY3Yjl_NyR8txFEWmFqcF5skP5ykGwfgyRMBJ2DDoFSJ15TvqIs3bWDtrgczECWjPuOr_7IV4M/s1600/IMG_1534.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From there we practiced reading different kinds of maps: the World Map in our bathroom, the elevation and trail maps from Maine Huts and Trails, some vintage gift wrap from the bookstore that included a map of Washington DC from 1945, and greeting cards with maps of Penobscot Bay. We pretended we were lost in DC and practiced navigating from one Embassy to another. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We've been playing the "which way" game in the car, where Kale and Juniper navigate while we drive to familiar places. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
With the Gazetteer we calculated distances, and then to work with a smaller scale, began drafting the footprint of our house, to scale, on graph paper. This has been Juniper's favorite part so far, and she is fastidious about measuring each wall and piece of furniture before adding it in. (I have always had a love affair with house plans, so the kids are very familiar with how to draw them--but this is her first, very own house project). This has been a good introduction to fractions. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01HoH0zm92jx00OLGg9C6q5Gb7PoQexkCtsyTpLY5emKpa39odHBz2cU5CT0pgBNN2DlV6opv2DZKj1yNLt6xyF-6WKpDzghK6N_OQmu8dx2ujTUUm_P47dgoKPaBtWi5gTx1LobAlmU/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01HoH0zm92jx00OLGg9C6q5Gb7PoQexkCtsyTpLY5emKpa39odHBz2cU5CT0pgBNN2DlV6opv2DZKj1yNLt6xyF-6WKpDzghK6N_OQmu8dx2ujTUUm_P47dgoKPaBtWi5gTx1LobAlmU/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxP81qHMwowv8pU26D-uc4V2hT4MoH-ckDJ6_qs8xvScG4XZBM-z5418xJxn9myjT6eJP1zejni2_3xat4YEGfH-2kCKDfWt7-mXGK_cyZUyiVRV4s6rFTg8mSDhseOVUI9Ho0ZdScbY/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxP81qHMwowv8pU26D-uc4V2hT4MoH-ckDJ6_qs8xvScG4XZBM-z5418xJxn9myjT6eJP1zejni2_3xat4YEGfH-2kCKDfWt7-mXGK_cyZUyiVRV4s6rFTg8mSDhseOVUI9Ho0ZdScbY/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdLeWcr9SkNp6qAfiJ0TPUHll2BDlltmX0HpmGLmIhvX0UDkJFTnAiyKT9yLu0DJh0t99oBuUoRA9AhLRKbn7AJ8jlKEKUmtyqMM8dTL9pTHxilnBga075MKx60SKkB-QuMsGCf2-Oi8/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdLeWcr9SkNp6qAfiJ0TPUHll2BDlltmX0HpmGLmIhvX0UDkJFTnAiyKT9yLu0DJh0t99oBuUoRA9AhLRKbn7AJ8jlKEKUmtyqMM8dTL9pTHxilnBga075MKx60SKkB-QuMsGCf2-Oi8/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
From here I've got ideas to map our property, using Google Maps, and other techniques for measuring large spaces. Or possible drafting some made up houses, creating a village or town based on the Busy Town books, or maybe making a relief map with playdough. Maybe all of the above. When Juniper is done with the house drawing we'll make a plan together for our next steps. I'd love to include GeoCaching as well when the weather warms. <br />
<br />
<br />
Kale loved the Barefoot Island project, and is always up for measuring, but otherwise has had little interest in the Map Project. What he is totally into right now is coloring, writing, and words. We can't make it through a page of any book without him asking about the meaning of a word. Then he will immediately add that word to his vocabulary. Often he asks about the meaning of words from books we've read in the distant past, or words from songs, or overheard phone conversations. (<i>We have to be careful about what we say around him</i>). And, he is writing. He has always been a story teller, but he is suddenly (maybe from all of the coloring?) so patient and focused at wanting to write for himself. He identifies about 1/2 the alphabet and can draw 5-6 letters independently. The rest he asks how to form, and then painstakingly, with his tongue working his lower lip, forms each one until his message is finished. Pretty darn sweet. There's almost nothing I like better than an E with centipede legs. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qiuPVLxY0R-KzAYthrkOk7bDT-UpmvzSAax8mHsOhvrshtRZdLNsQHEfWn9kAshyeemkmN983kPdIGCcbPD9WcMkX_gu0K4V1oe5eJ4hnOdqiCQYNVf4hWUr1SzsXSop30xx25Esy-A/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qiuPVLxY0R-KzAYthrkOk7bDT-UpmvzSAax8mHsOhvrshtRZdLNsQHEfWn9kAshyeemkmN983kPdIGCcbPD9WcMkX_gu0K4V1oe5eJ4hnOdqiCQYNVf4hWUr1SzsXSop30xx25Esy-A/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-77022942812443427002014-04-23T17:54:00.000-07:002014-04-23T17:54:49.385-07:00Morsels: Easter, Chicks, Tadpoles and more<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Morsels: Tiny bits of goodness from the past weeks....</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>(Sorry for the list like post, and so many pictures. It seems to be the only way I can get things recorded these days). </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The weather is ever so slowly creeping toward warm, but just won't quite get there. I keep trying to clean out our mud room but since we're all still wearing our winter coats some part of each day, its a slow process. I think we're done with the snow pants. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The day before Easter we were busy with yard work and gardening. My running group was mostly out of town or injured, so Wylie biked beside me while I did an afternoon run in the sun. It was a good fast pace, and a fun way to visit with this growing boy of ours. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That night I stayed up late, hiding eggs by head lamp, stitching ears onto stuffed bunnies, counting out jellybeans to be fair. Rob slept on the couch. Hmm. It seems that this is the norm at our house and many of our friend's houses too-- Dads who are more than happy to participate in holiday traditions, but moms pulling all the stops to make them happen. Is that true for you? I suspect this has been the case historically, for women to create and uphold family traditions. Which doesn't mean it shouldn't change, or be challenged. But, it also feels somewhat comforting to imagine my mother, and grandmother, great grandmothers before them, all staying up late, sneaking in times to gift for family, to stitch special surprises for their children, to hide eggs after bedtime and hope the dog doesn't eat them before dawn. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our family is not Christian and does not celebrate Easter as a Christian holiday (though we talk about why others celebrate it). For us it is a celebration of spring, rebirth, eggs hatching, bulbs pushing up through the dark earth, all that good stuff. Dyed, hard-boiled eggs and candy too. I'm ok with that. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We started our morning with coffee (for the tall) and jelly beans (for the short), and a small egg hunt. Somehow the eggs seemed so much better hidden at 8:30pm by headlamp than they did at 7:00 am in bright sunlight. It was a short event. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Easter Sunday was sunny and 50's, and when sitting directly in the sun, on a protected south facing deck, it felt near 80 for an hour, which was just enough time to leave a bright red collar of sun burn at my neckline, but more importantly to pretend it was summer while I sat and visited with my sister and her family, and Mimi over an Easter lunch and wine. The kids hunted 50 eggs or so with cousins, and ate too much candy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Friday before, we made an impromptu trip to Tractor Supply for inner tubes for tires we needed, and a few new chicks for our flock. Our older ladies have not been earning their keep. They're lucky summer's coming and upkeep will be cheap for free range birds. Come fall they'll be taking a trip (perhaps the freezer, perhaps your house? Anyone interested?) So, 6 new biddies, Elsa and Anna (of course), Lollypop, Snowflake, Shelby, and one more. They are not breeds I love, but its hard to say no to chicks. We may pick up a couple of Buff Orpingtons (my favorite along with Americanas) when they are available at the hardware store in town. And, we'd love to adopt some 16-20 weekers if anyone has some. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Monday both big kids had play dates for the afternoon, so Kale and I kept busy by collecting frog's eggs (we hope). Every year we go out for frog's eggs, and more often than not, hatch salamanders. Salamanders are pretty cool, but they're not tadpoles. This year I think we may have got the real deal. Too early to be sure. If anyone knows a sure fire way to tell them apart I'd love to hear it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Almost green grass (and trucks), my retaining wall project in the background</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxIjDuaxVaP9iT3GKFXgMMTGOcZcJimK3ltKZGAtaWIdV4S_Nzn939KToyFMdQo4SjFOdhmNCpR6GbD6E5wgvzKPwUFc5305YdfXjkKG-eIIklp1nehyk6Jzp5zqRV58wgibsYzRctqU/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxIjDuaxVaP9iT3GKFXgMMTGOcZcJimK3ltKZGAtaWIdV4S_Nzn939KToyFMdQo4SjFOdhmNCpR6GbD6E5wgvzKPwUFc5305YdfXjkKG-eIIklp1nehyk6Jzp5zqRV58wgibsYzRctqU/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Wa0BQdLvjCCaLf26_yjq6A00asst98XHgxK8_56L6MLlf-HOVwq72VYggVgfpJLdUYDdqhbywwyG2Ovn8DIcy3yKsigDBcbB7TqSIas1ZIb6ITEE5pAmwJjZxXFB-JLWIL9dxVUIGWg/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Wa0BQdLvjCCaLf26_yjq6A00asst98XHgxK8_56L6MLlf-HOVwq72VYggVgfpJLdUYDdqhbywwyG2Ovn8DIcy3yKsigDBcbB7TqSIas1ZIb6ITEE5pAmwJjZxXFB-JLWIL9dxVUIGWg/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl64Joo51hdvlcQ-qb2eRZA3ydZN9-ohPZNmthumKGcprIoOqcQ6sSi76QgAldTZjUhAg6Qc3clT08ZIHx5ELYDvprj0pRb8XxyUiu3shB3SWNJ6iG1OZ1YvZTy39dvhuQ2ceTmh8rjuI/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl64Joo51hdvlcQ-qb2eRZA3ydZN9-ohPZNmthumKGcprIoOqcQ6sSi76QgAldTZjUhAg6Qc3clT08ZIHx5ELYDvprj0pRb8XxyUiu3shB3SWNJ6iG1OZ1YvZTy39dvhuQ2ceTmh8rjuI/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i> Marley's new spring haircut, before....</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKDgJwS0KKzkWy4rYwsLE2IObRRKRbd_nDPR4AkpuPpmrAa7r-96y68yxJGcog0y-PdfAK9_eyYrGmFFnqp_MkPn6hA076-ZKyqRnHojZlnro4-Zme6yjtebT5-x-1Qu0cpwaPZVQZtk/s1600/IMG_1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKDgJwS0KKzkWy4rYwsLE2IObRRKRbd_nDPR4AkpuPpmrAa7r-96y68yxJGcog0y-PdfAK9_eyYrGmFFnqp_MkPn6hA076-ZKyqRnHojZlnro4-Zme6yjtebT5-x-1Qu0cpwaPZVQZtk/s1600/IMG_1654.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>and after. She goes to Dogwood ReTreat to be groomed a couple times each year. We love it there! </i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9rQ2cg9X7D_6vTjdFlaTDLOLymUAZmfgdIqbJG-LGzrKkwY0APgZPS-vPUMD1-uDRKCWFImpIQhavFsFGSf1d3wj1qkXOF4ksx7DJ-Kl2wbFm2mIfGDeePMbym2sEIr9J1ZbHKp5LKM/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9rQ2cg9X7D_6vTjdFlaTDLOLymUAZmfgdIqbJG-LGzrKkwY0APgZPS-vPUMD1-uDRKCWFImpIQhavFsFGSf1d3wj1qkXOF4ksx7DJ-Kl2wbFm2mIfGDeePMbym2sEIr9J1ZbHKp5LKM/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln0pJLbJUcVo3h66mK4jAbWaMZBUdT3lmPObCUHX8oKsG58ByXPukmHrI_gX0tkznyHz13QozhU2icP9kxM7EDSsY3KMqVsw2kz-gCsR3pKjVbmHRg0qE6dZP1H4WC7yEZtPFTAd1QCQ/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln0pJLbJUcVo3h66mK4jAbWaMZBUdT3lmPObCUHX8oKsG58ByXPukmHrI_gX0tkznyHz13QozhU2icP9kxM7EDSsY3KMqVsw2kz-gCsR3pKjVbmHRg0qE6dZP1H4WC7yEZtPFTAd1QCQ/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BDSJDAWg-vl4qNpJFjsxwlw068cV7lp3nWWhg2vN0N5QlxaLujFn8W63CXbAroTPGwIjHksU-kUQsiWthBVLDJw1WNsivfEjH8HrlDDzqWf7e3RgGDYMuDy2jNdHcie4vnKP3G0WVsU/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BDSJDAWg-vl4qNpJFjsxwlw068cV7lp3nWWhg2vN0N5QlxaLujFn8W63CXbAroTPGwIjHksU-kUQsiWthBVLDJw1WNsivfEjH8HrlDDzqWf7e3RgGDYMuDy2jNdHcie4vnKP3G0WVsU/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMGExUGkZ6sISY2mJ2T39tOSsaloPzHl1yI5Tv9G4tcMwCJ7fOSFyyvgb495cijT2BRcWFDMalwLFxdFamTjAouNk3H5LO0104FH-R-wtCC8wtb4dDSlTzj_C9l7DiG487tR5fFlyJ7s/s1600/IMG_1738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMGExUGkZ6sISY2mJ2T39tOSsaloPzHl1yI5Tv9G4tcMwCJ7fOSFyyvgb495cijT2BRcWFDMalwLFxdFamTjAouNk3H5LO0104FH-R-wtCC8wtb4dDSlTzj_C9l7DiG487tR5fFlyJ7s/s1600/IMG_1738.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXIfcyljYiwjSFKSKe_RRt6tUlOWcqerByMg3eJb17V4F7eZjyaffeasQUaH4-1DwKOT8xuk16TfJ5_vZiKaI5AzrGWQKfBAFDslcpOjqgL8KQG7zbuf_WD8OqlZjfbP3QhD41i19AEI/s1600/IMG_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXIfcyljYiwjSFKSKe_RRt6tUlOWcqerByMg3eJb17V4F7eZjyaffeasQUaH4-1DwKOT8xuk16TfJ5_vZiKaI5AzrGWQKfBAFDslcpOjqgL8KQG7zbuf_WD8OqlZjfbP3QhD41i19AEI/s1600/IMG_0052.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3VmRw-Tv_pBYrIE3-geOI5hV_Tqo2ffRKWbp0mJTUjShY_FKzXE8Wt4yAgCNsfOyFkq7t90zzbKr_CQvH4kOUTVsVraigeMSLB8dYeSZE8hc93GaAgkLBAoQAeFDN2a9-8oJbRlZJXo/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3VmRw-Tv_pBYrIE3-geOI5hV_Tqo2ffRKWbp0mJTUjShY_FKzXE8Wt4yAgCNsfOyFkq7t90zzbKr_CQvH4kOUTVsVraigeMSLB8dYeSZE8hc93GaAgkLBAoQAeFDN2a9-8oJbRlZJXo/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: left;"> </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: left;"> Kale got some spiffy new stripey pants made from a Goodwill tube top find. Score. </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NkTu7lK2mRfKj5e50bOzAs4FkuiLn23g328aEif6cPdlLbA-rOEMkDUuzJlK-adRJgHqjcLGp-LxED_lzYzPRLTQlgGitiJRUnP-1dQGG9l-MpadGPVEXhaUuwKQb8V2FDF2orWkcxI/s1600/IMG_1693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NkTu7lK2mRfKj5e50bOzAs4FkuiLn23g328aEif6cPdlLbA-rOEMkDUuzJlK-adRJgHqjcLGp-LxED_lzYzPRLTQlgGitiJRUnP-1dQGG9l-MpadGPVEXhaUuwKQb8V2FDF2orWkcxI/s1600/IMG_1693.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Mac and Cheese, hamming it up for the camera...</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq56PKztM9HHgEcsj0RGOOD0ryCsi_-q2mupikgFCjMZz5geDDcm5-60C4NxYhKnObJuagtGQZLCAX7WgCPVdVZouw85oUH3xENxu5HFzZj35LZrjm-SWgFXS3UY0VAl7kpcjmvj1IAx8/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq56PKztM9HHgEcsj0RGOOD0ryCsi_-q2mupikgFCjMZz5geDDcm5-60C4NxYhKnObJuagtGQZLCAX7WgCPVdVZouw85oUH3xENxu5HFzZj35LZrjm-SWgFXS3UY0VAl7kpcjmvj1IAx8/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOM7z7heNMga5kiRofEMapeezTzegbkO6JmLQsY-qPqCsUBK8qWGiHjjIuyMmhbkZeikoSd3a1DckwQS5Re7OhDeCCfvGFNcuPXWcH2W-u9oONCXoSlpdh4cgwhRgTJdYoIZNEu0Bg6xc/s1600/IMG_1707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOM7z7heNMga5kiRofEMapeezTzegbkO6JmLQsY-qPqCsUBK8qWGiHjjIuyMmhbkZeikoSd3a1DckwQS5Re7OhDeCCfvGFNcuPXWcH2W-u9oONCXoSlpdh4cgwhRgTJdYoIZNEu0Bg6xc/s1600/IMG_1707.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Early garden work</i></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-8IE5RKb4pYN7Y_VAwj6a0YPtS4T9opQxMfIxE0lz2asScofsrUqYd0VrTJX-7JwrOoiC-oTH5tj-my0fbAtjSxhCofgAb0NPL4yDm7lfN_lAWfeptJLNb0uW3g-kG1VV7Gi2pLWyWk/s1600/IMG_1700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-8IE5RKb4pYN7Y_VAwj6a0YPtS4T9opQxMfIxE0lz2asScofsrUqYd0VrTJX-7JwrOoiC-oTH5tj-my0fbAtjSxhCofgAb0NPL4yDm7lfN_lAWfeptJLNb0uW3g-kG1VV7Gi2pLWyWk/s1600/IMG_1700.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjzQPTjtOJ3bZAoyHSociY3hAJ8tpDi0b3SKfLefG2fdWyZ81GaGY-2SH_atq5JHQdfiXvPsXTZOgydu_RMrNNBw50i-t68mRZipJ3lg2fL7SSy1W1Q9JvUPfrhocNYzKArcqPi6Rh6s/s1600/IMG_1711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjzQPTjtOJ3bZAoyHSociY3hAJ8tpDi0b3SKfLefG2fdWyZ81GaGY-2SH_atq5JHQdfiXvPsXTZOgydu_RMrNNBw50i-t68mRZipJ3lg2fL7SSy1W1Q9JvUPfrhocNYzKArcqPi6Rh6s/s1600/IMG_1711.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i> Searching high and low for eggs</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffiG5YLD6YnH10JtD0KQUOmaKvi4uPoNw_y-LS4-QLV27TUhuSzX9P0NJFJcbqvNlbxdIRjsUu4t_G0yalRJIVmgNheq7mwaG1pokyRmu9xiI-azeWZzKCQIbcrhRI72_d_jvai9Or-o/s1600/IMG_1718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffiG5YLD6YnH10JtD0KQUOmaKvi4uPoNw_y-LS4-QLV27TUhuSzX9P0NJFJcbqvNlbxdIRjsUu4t_G0yalRJIVmgNheq7mwaG1pokyRmu9xiI-azeWZzKCQIbcrhRI72_d_jvai9Or-o/s1600/IMG_1718.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHF2sqprQ4Nz2tCaVDj5GRg9oX2WiVs-qV7gKtKC4lhdX0XkSdRyHLcs7x2Y8LuQjVCJWRAOeoRP1mMyul-LzJf7XZlkr9T4xDOAnKvzoYB0WYPQhC98ISw3P3vpLiAr-tnN1ADxetq3Q/s1600/IMG_1722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHF2sqprQ4Nz2tCaVDj5GRg9oX2WiVs-qV7gKtKC4lhdX0XkSdRyHLcs7x2Y8LuQjVCJWRAOeoRP1mMyul-LzJf7XZlkr9T4xDOAnKvzoYB0WYPQhC98ISw3P3vpLiAr-tnN1ADxetq3Q/s1600/IMG_1722.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Leaving Mimi's after a lovely Easter celebration</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKykPYyve5qkoz2KPmdSIr8sV4IFOYcPd98BKP8UVpJd9w9ehQetlVj9aWD_azv0Ynewf1tPzEkVii5QKssoYStLkUzJN5cFxto1EI-x9UqP-xvoVorA_oW5Q6w5CSQNWkP6YTh63cYyk/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKykPYyve5qkoz2KPmdSIr8sV4IFOYcPd98BKP8UVpJd9w9ehQetlVj9aWD_azv0Ynewf1tPzEkVii5QKssoYStLkUzJN5cFxto1EI-x9UqP-xvoVorA_oW5Q6w5CSQNWkP6YTh63cYyk/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-72415208603885476132014-04-17T18:24:00.002-07:002014-04-17T18:24:34.219-07:00The Girls at 8<br />
<b>The Girls at 8</b><br />
<br />
My daughter and her friend<br />
in matching culottes,<br />
shirts knotted above the midriff<br />
trying on their femininity like gaudy lipstick,<br />
too bold for the occasion <i>(a walk home from the food coop).</i><br />
Hips swaying for two blocks,<br />
a nod at what's to come too soon.<br />
But the early spring sun is warm. <br />
By the third block they are bare-chested, tee shirts tossed in the bottom of the buggy<br />
little girl chests flat and strong, yesterday's fuzzy braids<br />
slapping bony shoulder blades,<br />
bare feet cracked and muddy. <br />
Raspberry popsicle stains their faces--<br />
The lipstick of the eight-year-old. <br />
<br />
<i> -Jasmine P. Fowler</i>Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-74883328649135745042014-04-17T18:06:00.000-07:002014-04-17T18:06:21.977-07:00Really Good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last week we had a few days of indoor type weather, perfect for color mixing, garden planning (on paper), and fireside napping. We've all been passing about a chest cold that's had me hacking like a pack-a-day smoker every evening, barely able to read bedtime books, and croaking through the first hour of each morning. I'm about done with this cough. Truly. But, its hard to complain now that spring is honestly here, and if my only complaint is that I only have enough energy to sit in the sun and look at the garden, well--its just not worth complaining. For now we're soaking up this well deserved spring sun every chance possible (<i>except that one snow day--what the heck?</i>). The pigs have been in their new electric wire pen for two weeks now, and are mucking it up the way pigs should. There have been picnics on the deck, school work on the deck, knitting on the deck, yoga on the deck, coffee on the deck <i>(do you sense a theme?</i>) fairy houses everywhere, barefoot play, raking out of garden beds, sap boiling, and plenty of mud play. The bulbs are pushing their way through the newly thawed earth, red maples have started to bloom, and the frog chorus is going full tilt. Our magic marker list of "signs of spring" has grown to two columns, including colt's foot blooming, flickers spotted, the wood thrush calling, and mourning doves mating below the feeders. Spinach and lettuce are coming up in the cold frame, and the garden is <i>nearly</i> dry enough to put in some peas. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Its really good. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVsUb-GCAhRA0Wf_DJSHsD8OvJHQPxDyxbxlL9G02lLbqickdVT-uqOUO7tMLq_eqUsA5_yQDHPWfCbIWZfYUypTuhxeburQEQ7hsUwMANtSgO7_ILr2Zk-VkhTRTc3lQFRD6wCGPzPU/s1600/IMG_1625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVsUb-GCAhRA0Wf_DJSHsD8OvJHQPxDyxbxlL9G02lLbqickdVT-uqOUO7tMLq_eqUsA5_yQDHPWfCbIWZfYUypTuhxeburQEQ7hsUwMANtSgO7_ILr2Zk-VkhTRTc3lQFRD6wCGPzPU/s1600/IMG_1625.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DY777dZ_cASyVbUPhIPl3Lu6FFAMYYw_K-r-RNDdB96kL5bTQfsdwxNuCI6yDtnpPNGlp1-KbWRmdIk_7u5Kjqt_E9wy7YN1OnpEeh8iLgU1QWv82DiaWS7RDoGti1oI579v73Se1Wc/s1600/IMG_1646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DY777dZ_cASyVbUPhIPl3Lu6FFAMYYw_K-r-RNDdB96kL5bTQfsdwxNuCI6yDtnpPNGlp1-KbWRmdIk_7u5Kjqt_E9wy7YN1OnpEeh8iLgU1QWv82DiaWS7RDoGti1oI579v73Se1Wc/s1600/IMG_1646.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiY3p_S7TMruASlRnY4zoNJ39j6cP5VXYRITXWExxR3X_TSHcKKpOsplhWaIwHL-mt5zhHuE4lI6V5LPFM2wvyOFqo2u1_AIm46agcGH7F4vN-dw5Eidm5xtj52udkx_FH-muIzuHLQI/s1600/IMG_1648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiY3p_S7TMruASlRnY4zoNJ39j6cP5VXYRITXWExxR3X_TSHcKKpOsplhWaIwHL-mt5zhHuE4lI6V5LPFM2wvyOFqo2u1_AIm46agcGH7F4vN-dw5Eidm5xtj52udkx_FH-muIzuHLQI/s1600/IMG_1648.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHj2vxXPp_Jp3FALfSlXfvhDj7CltbjHSchv2sk4Mn5HVM4dTWU89KhgNmYAJG6WNALll7DYWAdySV_di0BIaNhKLhCVgGoAEUQrww5APcKq4bB4q53ZNvYKN7CEFydPU5G6b6r9F8HYc/s1600/IMG_1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHj2vxXPp_Jp3FALfSlXfvhDj7CltbjHSchv2sk4Mn5HVM4dTWU89KhgNmYAJG6WNALll7DYWAdySV_di0BIaNhKLhCVgGoAEUQrww5APcKq4bB4q53ZNvYKN7CEFydPU5G6b6r9F8HYc/s1600/IMG_1654.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_fo3wkzwsq0nj_uROGwfyFvVFikmj7zxplR0HaWtwQh8aAt2XT_irqrfyABLEtDhRJWpMU-AmF7BOZ68MVORGie7tjbqKki1l-0WPZZLD4ZHjpuUljMAlF68sOAZHxGjVLlJKctonkk/s1600/IMG_1661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_fo3wkzwsq0nj_uROGwfyFvVFikmj7zxplR0HaWtwQh8aAt2XT_irqrfyABLEtDhRJWpMU-AmF7BOZ68MVORGie7tjbqKki1l-0WPZZLD4ZHjpuUljMAlF68sOAZHxGjVLlJKctonkk/s1600/IMG_1661.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIorJ4iy7vTz1SeIutLey6sF1R10zUdlnyI1rRCC78RFmOSeV1H7nuq9KBKgGRpMxqMwejLOFm0qbWS1FYJPM-th3rzuXFUp5gc8XsNrUSIl3cD2xGU6cO6AFAam24KmNTTq13iENjUxg/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIorJ4iy7vTz1SeIutLey6sF1R10zUdlnyI1rRCC78RFmOSeV1H7nuq9KBKgGRpMxqMwejLOFm0qbWS1FYJPM-th3rzuXFUp5gc8XsNrUSIl3cD2xGU6cO6AFAam24KmNTTq13iENjUxg/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFpBHUpOocHG5GF3B-QA94PxrH216_IkA66iQOfl2WnoUb1d-EcFQxmYN526Hvr6KkpMeLJn3E6LDEpPGZ7zweCTfd44XjHVXsb75GMgbE5WbZNr9Is7F6f-vm5TdWVk_qYx26zyISPQ/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFpBHUpOocHG5GF3B-QA94PxrH216_IkA66iQOfl2WnoUb1d-EcFQxmYN526Hvr6KkpMeLJn3E6LDEpPGZ7zweCTfd44XjHVXsb75GMgbE5WbZNr9Is7F6f-vm5TdWVk_qYx26zyISPQ/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguR79Q-W6vdL_1cDIM6_gzYVVOZ9cGabTk-1iYaw_QkXAw0QwJQOpAvSYrb8e3_WWqujFYGen0DLvFo4FFWxVBX0YszmIkA-iF1In7Ga_53OvVdL1oYqy8ECARYojnM0WTwc8RDuXFBFk/s1600/IMG_1643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguR79Q-W6vdL_1cDIM6_gzYVVOZ9cGabTk-1iYaw_QkXAw0QwJQOpAvSYrb8e3_WWqujFYGen0DLvFo4FFWxVBX0YszmIkA-iF1In7Ga_53OvVdL1oYqy8ECARYojnM0WTwc8RDuXFBFk/s1600/IMG_1643.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-42994934471688971782014-04-02T11:17:00.000-07:002014-04-02T11:17:26.787-07:00Nature!<i>Kale called to me from across the deck, where I was enjoying the sun and a mug of tea</i>. <br />
"Mama, look!"<br />
"What is it?"<br />
"Come look! Quick"<br />
<i>(me not wanting to get up</i>) "Can you tell me what it is?"<br />
(yelling) "Nature! Life!" <br />
Well I had to get up for that. <br />
<br />
<br />
A little stink bug or something similar. Outside, and alive. Surely a sign of spring. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9qBP9xscdOapDzu1HOSyKFII4zujqsJ9mFgP6ok8C_MWwTdZUq-JKTO6ePJGoIzgdQYA_n2P15OidV-hoiMqDNTVivXlugoLKvX2ElPV-jnfe5mXnXhadMKBmccZkC9p-rTj91IOsy8/s1600/IMG_1637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9qBP9xscdOapDzu1HOSyKFII4zujqsJ9mFgP6ok8C_MWwTdZUq-JKTO6ePJGoIzgdQYA_n2P15OidV-hoiMqDNTVivXlugoLKvX2ElPV-jnfe5mXnXhadMKBmccZkC9p-rTj91IOsy8/s1600/IMG_1637.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Also, kids in trees, another sign the seasons are shifting...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjce5bVvmUYHskzBPhKhJBZGQPzrlIK952uAW4Noy4Q5M8SiSr55vhqBhQUU1SHc6C9wG-uwZJPESMU1uHIUSWX9FC8aVXxaMl-C2xEE390Oxhvg0jejRhEZ_gkpY9-Qe_PahTAHQhcOsk/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjce5bVvmUYHskzBPhKhJBZGQPzrlIK952uAW4Noy4Q5M8SiSr55vhqBhQUU1SHc6C9wG-uwZJPESMU1uHIUSWX9FC8aVXxaMl-C2xEE390Oxhvg0jejRhEZ_gkpY9-Qe_PahTAHQhcOsk/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-50753992306494182082014-03-31T08:51:00.001-07:002014-03-31T08:51:52.881-07:00Homeschool Happenings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have a habit of being overly enthusiastic about new routines. We're only two weeks in with this one, so of course I'm loving it. I can't help myself. I love the idea of organization. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is not a new idea, just a new practice for us. So far I'm finding it helpful, maybe you will too. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But first a brief back story: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have recently been inspired by a homeschooling friend to re-explore some play-based and project based early childhood practices. Specifically my friend was telling me about a curriculum developed in the 90's, called "Tools of the Mind". It sounded very familiar to me, and the more I heard, the more I liked it. I made a note to look for a book. Then, out of the blue, in the middle of the night (of course) this image came into my head, and suddenly I knew I not only had read the book she'd been referencing, but owned it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I resisted the urge to get up and search right then, but the next morning I found the book on our shelf, "Tools of the Mind: a Vygotsky approach to early childhood education." It had been a text from my college years. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I haven't read it for 15 years, but have read a few bits about the approach recently that reminded of some of the really cool things going on in these "tools" classrooms. And so have been inspired to include a new practice in our daily routine. <i>(One of the coolest parts of this curriculum has to do with "planning to play" which is a different take on the plans we're making. Their plans are set with the goal of helping young children learn to pretend play--which sadly is something many little kids seem to have forgotten how to do in recent history. Since my kids spend more time in pretending than reality, we're planning the real stuff. The pretend they've got covered. If you work in a classroom this approach is worth looking into.)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The actual work we're doing each day hasn't changed, but I've added a "plan for the day" where each of us (Kale, Juniper,and I) make a plan for what and when we will do things each day. (<i>Revolutionary!</i>) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our planning sheet is a daily timeline from 9:00 am to 3:00pm slipped into a clear plastic sleeve. We use dry erase to record our plans. For the kids, I circle the things I want to work on with them, and they indicate when in the day then want to do them. When there are things to do as a group I ask them to work together so the plans will correspond. Then they add in any extra things they want to do, such as painting, playing with Playmobil guys, a special cooking project, sledding, etc. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Of course there are some things that don't get done each day, and plenty gets done that wasn't planned. But, overall our planning has made a noticeable difference in the ease of transitions between work and play. Somehow when the plan is their own they are much more willing to move onto whatever is next. (<i>A lesson I learn again and again from my kids--when its their idea it always works better!)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For myself I have found that a timeline keeps me on track better than a "to do list", and knowing when they'll be working on what lets me know when I'll have some free time to get my work done. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ideally we would review our plans at the end of the day, but that hasn't happened. The next morning we wipe of the dry erase and start a new plan. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As far as I can tell this has all the right pieces for a successful routine: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1) It takes less than 3 minutes to do </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2) the kids do almost all of it themselves</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3) The sheets take up no visible space in our home. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Plus, it is is a good practice in time management (especially for me) and for time sequence and decision making. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As I said, we are only two weeks in, but so far so good.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKk9ibeLSksVPBsJurKVg969nKt_cbw6CtXTjEqBNuQjGRjUdsq2FPZJsbemlUZS565ORCl-SiZ2GtG23u5Gt7qA-Cu2BAPgIbg0cWZxvppgh6Ou9I1HEbAsCWXsEfNSIMPbaAiEb_9yg/s1600/IMG_1616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKk9ibeLSksVPBsJurKVg969nKt_cbw6CtXTjEqBNuQjGRjUdsq2FPZJsbemlUZS565ORCl-SiZ2GtG23u5Gt7qA-Cu2BAPgIbg0cWZxvppgh6Ou9I1HEbAsCWXsEfNSIMPbaAiEb_9yg/s1600/IMG_1616.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>When we're done we wipe it off, and close the cupboard. </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-PiAa7C7LxDV2al1-CIY3SS2mygRen73RV2tLW_BAebq4bpedZy6_ttc5IsoBYZACIEzrSDo9IoDYwlN_wIPCnv65lCYvnUEydHq8JZBH3Y5T0-mcH_RmIbvDdUgvksdk-bSdfe90Dg/s1600/IMG_1617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-PiAa7C7LxDV2al1-CIY3SS2mygRen73RV2tLW_BAebq4bpedZy6_ttc5IsoBYZACIEzrSDo9IoDYwlN_wIPCnv65lCYvnUEydHq8JZBH3Y5T0-mcH_RmIbvDdUgvksdk-bSdfe90Dg/s1600/IMG_1617.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And, a brief look at what's keeping us busy these days: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Spring Skiing </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsDaN9rU5M6zyYrh0GmQrqnCCxYy1Vta0qPPqDKfMgi287IIR9ZGhFKcX-PPqAO4JXxPZSnBKAIr4N-J0hd9dO3WbKFk2dds80DnAtwaEwcT3CWMP84-1PwZWLc43oeNzurY75FYpohI/s1600/IMG_1564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsDaN9rU5M6zyYrh0GmQrqnCCxYy1Vta0qPPqDKfMgi287IIR9ZGhFKcX-PPqAO4JXxPZSnBKAIr4N-J0hd9dO3WbKFk2dds80DnAtwaEwcT3CWMP84-1PwZWLc43oeNzurY75FYpohI/s1600/IMG_1564.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Independent reading! Such a nice new practice happening with both big kids these days...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw-6a8gktNaFXypzOY8o59UbVzkXPYhRDRrLdETCdn63i1cfyO0ZibLRk_-sM2tM2aiwj0J8qvAV6UGzcwSX4vKYAJENEGeovTyWJxpeL6ItpndiisqAs54-qjx1Um-wDqKo1_TDLqOo/s1600/IMG_1614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw-6a8gktNaFXypzOY8o59UbVzkXPYhRDRrLdETCdn63i1cfyO0ZibLRk_-sM2tM2aiwj0J8qvAV6UGzcwSX4vKYAJENEGeovTyWJxpeL6ItpndiisqAs54-qjx1Um-wDqKo1_TDLqOo/s1600/IMG_1614.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Lots of coloring work by Kale. </i><br />
<i> When he's done he flops on the table and says, "uugh, my hand is ti-red!</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOF25YVCuHaW8f1OGaXmf1hRTbnCus_L4K0oYM2jI3n6gmpR3p0yd_CP1poTol71fkdCU_cqmbaKw3qNSctWn8wmGmyGUUvwsgLi2r-51zl_rTY8s8tvhD5R1vSsTz9D9hA2nN1iC2TcU/s1600/IMG_6872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOF25YVCuHaW8f1OGaXmf1hRTbnCus_L4K0oYM2jI3n6gmpR3p0yd_CP1poTol71fkdCU_cqmbaKw3qNSctWn8wmGmyGUUvwsgLi2r-51zl_rTY8s8tvhD5R1vSsTz9D9hA2nN1iC2TcU/s1600/IMG_6872.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i> Money games, learning to subtract by counting up, making change...</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0RNUNxfXDwGHTw2Jj89iqQeTGHXHHF_lFUgxgstr_S27PquJ_VBTqLQR2ez0vIEZaAuGw20zjlfHntvrHSxzqJpReuyX47bChTlLSNCF67PzD66_m2oEY8qd1D6SAq0D-y-Z3AsyKHU/s1600/IMG_6873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0RNUNxfXDwGHTw2Jj89iqQeTGHXHHF_lFUgxgstr_S27PquJ_VBTqLQR2ez0vIEZaAuGw20zjlfHntvrHSxzqJpReuyX47bChTlLSNCF67PzD66_m2oEY8qd1D6SAq0D-y-Z3AsyKHU/s1600/IMG_6873.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i> Picture Sudoku</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3u5tU85FkV0NeZdwFlZiRkD4YWATAmE8IIQh0jM1Mi7tSSNnK4Jr3h63oPvnJ1Zwx9XMzaLfXV_9RQNhegqJdWnPAvgJH0p43a1oBzSDwSjr9BXGtVsNajxO9HR021dYn91LdhUwxsQ/s1600/IMG_1500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3u5tU85FkV0NeZdwFlZiRkD4YWATAmE8IIQh0jM1Mi7tSSNnK4Jr3h63oPvnJ1Zwx9XMzaLfXV_9RQNhegqJdWnPAvgJH0p43a1oBzSDwSjr9BXGtVsNajxO9HR021dYn91LdhUwxsQ/s1600/IMG_1500.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Lots of silliness</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgEM3WWw5mB34qTSvzSHydhMCmMoc7doxludxVBAS7axUTXgOC-VQbDK5qvW3AMS6Afrqe1CQfaZ3CXY2S_3_GEPhL5V6DMXBxTz-aPU_WNqTfVYYRQ-eoGpwSMQ2imHNE8hgaBWYtPE/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgEM3WWw5mB34qTSvzSHydhMCmMoc7doxludxVBAS7axUTXgOC-VQbDK5qvW3AMS6Afrqe1CQfaZ3CXY2S_3_GEPhL5V6DMXBxTz-aPU_WNqTfVYYRQ-eoGpwSMQ2imHNE8hgaBWYtPE/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Juniper has been setting up elaborate scenes with anything she can find...clay and tiny animals, Playmobil figures, molding wax, paper....She sets up a scene then plays for hours with different voices and accents for each of the characters. </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcg4rHiwl_V-g8jBeCBAJqSxy7ESlVXc5hMe6JXkXvX66fW5jheVBpPi4PzAG4hkdcHAcNS1it8QPLAPdp8nlvS8szchH-hbUR3MVLBe_cM5fhQ1PiHlpuMWQ1FQWhQV_kpP8sj4wgWY/s1600/IMG_1504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcg4rHiwl_V-g8jBeCBAJqSxy7ESlVXc5hMe6JXkXvX66fW5jheVBpPi4PzAG4hkdcHAcNS1it8QPLAPdp8nlvS8szchH-hbUR3MVLBe_cM5fhQ1PiHlpuMWQ1FQWhQV_kpP8sj4wgWY/s1600/IMG_1504.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Playmo curling match, by Juniper. If you haven't ever seen a curling match, Google it. Her set up is crazy accurate (minus the red robot). </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0VGWCnKtMRktzkeSDAUv7ZIDtkmO3ue8pANwrt_AI_9TfT4oojaquZWTHNv4wTzZK1hDGYlpD4n23XPsiHXDgGFxwUpNKo5GWOK3-jqQiHt59H7CQCX4Jxlf-JpMhEN2aZbI8h-7nhM/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0VGWCnKtMRktzkeSDAUv7ZIDtkmO3ue8pANwrt_AI_9TfT4oojaquZWTHNv4wTzZK1hDGYlpD4n23XPsiHXDgGFxwUpNKo5GWOK3-jqQiHt59H7CQCX4Jxlf-JpMhEN2aZbI8h-7nhM/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i> Patterns using yummy manipulatives </i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIejnVNsVo2pE9EoPiIDfUGdrIIIcCLtcMrmVn33WO43dI1KYsi56wlVv9im1GeQW38pSVUzGJTAbCdwuhykdoBfBz-_Qr1kvFlMU3F3U8YtH5LlOzT-w5PW5WOnGYdqpSj7FL4fk7IRY/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIejnVNsVo2pE9EoPiIDfUGdrIIIcCLtcMrmVn33WO43dI1KYsi56wlVv9im1GeQW38pSVUzGJTAbCdwuhykdoBfBz-_Qr1kvFlMU3F3U8YtH5LlOzT-w5PW5WOnGYdqpSj7FL4fk7IRY/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSg69m2n-ShFiLWYG67Ta9gQeq6cVwlDQ1PLGn05GVifefngekPgFdVdu00ZKllOEPU_1giHlIk4860t9uVTLEVGZbo-KWlQlxY-uE6ccMhqnuN2ILswLgTLH64JOUXFDuf8Aot8qBnqk/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSg69m2n-ShFiLWYG67Ta9gQeq6cVwlDQ1PLGn05GVifefngekPgFdVdu00ZKllOEPU_1giHlIk4860t9uVTLEVGZbo-KWlQlxY-uE6ccMhqnuN2ILswLgTLH64JOUXFDuf8Aot8qBnqk/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<i>Lots of history reading, coloring, and crafts </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vf2HdVhy7e8Q2MCrWrkaXVH-_jM4HXeVJG3uZXFkyvh9SPJcABwo2xwbun9RqAqOSoZOt3VMzsVLeoMDSMqNMrIu_yLBKEHzPl8meKvGLNmdd59LP7me_Lf1JbPuL__f4TmyGh5vChk/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vf2HdVhy7e8Q2MCrWrkaXVH-_jM4HXeVJG3uZXFkyvh9SPJcABwo2xwbun9RqAqOSoZOt3VMzsVLeoMDSMqNMrIu_yLBKEHzPl8meKvGLNmdd59LP7me_Lf1JbPuL__f4TmyGh5vChk/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2306250674249202410.post-68886265489275461522014-03-24T18:57:00.000-07:002014-03-24T18:57:11.733-07:00Seasonal TableWith each season we spruce up our seasonal table with more appropriate seasonal findings. As each season ends the pieces from nature get tossed back outside (<i>usually flung right out those windows</i>), while hand made items or special treasures get stored in the drawers below to be used for the next season. Someday maybe we'll organize the drawers, but for now its almost like a treasure hunt, digging through the drawers to find the favorites from previous years to be added to the new artwork and bits of outside brought in. <br />
<br />
Over the years the table itself has changed and the corner has been rearranged to suit the space and the height of the kids. Sometimes there are live critters, other times nature games, always things to hold, look at, and explore. It used to be an artistic endeavor of my own, one that the kids have taken more ownership of. Eventually I imagine they'll outgrow the current set up and it will take on a more grown-up nature wonders corner, or scientific/naturalists cupboard. <br />
But I hope to always keep a place for seasonal wonders and natural beauty. <br />
<br />
<i> Seasonal tables from years past....</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcRNeTr7uKHx4bsLbT-xvWPVaR6-_f3uW6B-t8WDRkUSIgnKjMKqeFUx-1A1lxB_6yK9NjAPNQHTWpVGx7hGhM2Vrbu-Y6Y3FyrKuMTGfh_3wqIe3Dxzt74EIRQjtgV5ZwfzzLZw-Gcs/s1600/June+20123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcRNeTr7uKHx4bsLbT-xvWPVaR6-_f3uW6B-t8WDRkUSIgnKjMKqeFUx-1A1lxB_6yK9NjAPNQHTWpVGx7hGhM2Vrbu-Y6Y3FyrKuMTGfh_3wqIe3Dxzt74EIRQjtgV5ZwfzzLZw-Gcs/s1600/June+20123.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This weekend our seasonal table got a much needed spring up date. So at least it feels like spring inside. <br />
On the table for spring (so far): <br />
yellow tulip<br />
felted hatching chick and duckling (from a few Easters back)<br />
flower prints from a huge old Wildflowers book found scavenged from a give away box<br />
forced cut branches: tamarack, pear, beech<br />
old Christmas cactus blossoms<br />
found birds nest w/acorns for eggs<br />
magnifying glasses<br />
The huge sheet of plexi-glass is leftover from a copier Wylie took apart. It holds the pages open nicely, and I'm hoping will inspire some tracing of the flowers with window crayons. <br />
<br />
It's a little cluttered, and is sure to become more so as frog's eggs are gathered, along with the spring's first bouquets, sprouting seedlings, colored eggs, and more. But its the best kind of clutter, particularly when the outside world continues to feel so much like winter. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstka-qR_U2VV-0_U9owqK5OMubsDqJfwUoJIihgJqIHh3iBBt_qdI5kv8EltlPai-Vx6CezbM5L8JdhJ5nxTaU3vdjM6M-P8ZMprtX0nmWgfrtW1BSsNiXi6SlhezBCpMU_R30a8qZT8/s1600/IMG_1543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstka-qR_U2VV-0_U9owqK5OMubsDqJfwUoJIihgJqIHh3iBBt_qdI5kv8EltlPai-Vx6CezbM5L8JdhJ5nxTaU3vdjM6M-P8ZMprtX0nmWgfrtW1BSsNiXi6SlhezBCpMU_R30a8qZT8/s1600/IMG_1543.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGVwkO3SetzXOzGL3kF_aIGFgmGGTJxJ08REvi4bm82ZSrGp9Hy9OOgMYXkK7OvdqIvSOlYjwafxLyB3kj5Za7Xs4reREH2V7ZcKhV0HpT7U6jtfaa7kBJGPnM22WvN-nQ-HWz0_D2QE/s1600/IMG_1544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGVwkO3SetzXOzGL3kF_aIGFgmGGTJxJ08REvi4bm82ZSrGp9Hy9OOgMYXkK7OvdqIvSOlYjwafxLyB3kj5Za7Xs4reREH2V7ZcKhV0HpT7U6jtfaa7kBJGPnM22WvN-nQ-HWz0_D2QE/s1600/IMG_1544.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdfOWaTVyeZu7BKT_V-UQ2102bLEJdc1zXHtsCRogchifsVo5f0J2tHZ2UoqL4gdx0Z6UdFiq7ZrTs71c5GMIlcfSM5nXKm_EmGJfXFm0H5fPpqf2qJcZZp60EtEb3YUg7rmC3w9XQcY/s1600/IMG_1539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdfOWaTVyeZu7BKT_V-UQ2102bLEJdc1zXHtsCRogchifsVo5f0J2tHZ2UoqL4gdx0Z6UdFiq7ZrTs71c5GMIlcfSM5nXKm_EmGJfXFm0H5fPpqf2qJcZZp60EtEb3YUg7rmC3w9XQcY/s1600/IMG_1539.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6coUbiH7pZu6cfKG5Ch-Z6hJIVLzeh8_WYo81-UTaEYsF0PDhrkPjpy21BNo-EB_B9X6RNyN9t67_mf5GCRkk_7D3fleCID35kbqVan7egx92Kr-XF5PHWiGkp70AFvkXc60P34U_yU/s1600/IMG_1552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6coUbiH7pZu6cfKG5Ch-Z6hJIVLzeh8_WYo81-UTaEYsF0PDhrkPjpy21BNo-EB_B9X6RNyN9t67_mf5GCRkk_7D3fleCID35kbqVan7egx92Kr-XF5PHWiGkp70AFvkXc60P34U_yU/s1600/IMG_1552.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQtVTG-mm-EsbQhMisPykfTOP7jjRdiZM2ykHmmliSz68yxBoTHokubohtiJsJmlsrxTcOkk_DKRk6WZ02d2SXU-ueKXH2oh1EgxMjmMlAcJ_9GK8vySxP1b-9qGRiswhAPttBU2i0-o/s1600/IMG_1546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQtVTG-mm-EsbQhMisPykfTOP7jjRdiZM2ykHmmliSz68yxBoTHokubohtiJsJmlsrxTcOkk_DKRk6WZ02d2SXU-ueKXH2oh1EgxMjmMlAcJ_9GK8vySxP1b-9qGRiswhAPttBU2i0-o/s1600/IMG_1546.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYi1bOAsgrQYfD8TWEb3FakRR6i7ssVhKU-ha5jH9xO28-__dv0AykBxLNLYpjw9w1je78ULkhPvJHEBa1RFaPIClsh9XV1TcYQEG4CwToAVBuuhECEf8P_LQttOVR_qtwiOoPJf94E4/s1600/IMG_1547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYi1bOAsgrQYfD8TWEb3FakRR6i7ssVhKU-ha5jH9xO28-__dv0AykBxLNLYpjw9w1je78ULkhPvJHEBa1RFaPIClsh9XV1TcYQEG4CwToAVBuuhECEf8P_LQttOVR_qtwiOoPJf94E4/s1600/IMG_1547.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpKwedx6RSHXgf_OEIbr4Y_kqZwaP5E_qZL56vmfheJismj2KAIIRVMxPygE5NeSTaWFSqvN-DZjNMiYCgagZW3sOy2polZmiG-v5ArnauWhH3dX3f7MsGCJOSPtxPEFSkE1I4sSIoUs/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpKwedx6RSHXgf_OEIbr4Y_kqZwaP5E_qZL56vmfheJismj2KAIIRVMxPygE5NeSTaWFSqvN-DZjNMiYCgagZW3sOy2polZmiG-v5ArnauWhH3dX3f7MsGCJOSPtxPEFSkE1I4sSIoUs/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnvOg4ZnzFGuwNNlCHnyPQoVVW4yGWkGwNM8cbxSqU71u2VfkzoxqqhuqBKl7kxwnOH0Pf7xBt6DF0Tq_87oRHAar0q1aOFPw6XL-23YdQ_A3R7zmQbOwGZsWfA3isTEsLxfAI2bAiQo/s1600/IMG_1545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnvOg4ZnzFGuwNNlCHnyPQoVVW4yGWkGwNM8cbxSqU71u2VfkzoxqqhuqBKl7kxwnOH0Pf7xBt6DF0Tq_87oRHAar0q1aOFPw6XL-23YdQ_A3R7zmQbOwGZsWfA3isTEsLxfAI2bAiQo/s1600/IMG_1545.JPG" height="608" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Jasminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00500221462452707663noreply@blogger.com1