raining

It has been raining. Things are greening up and we head outside to the garden whenever there is a break in the weather. Out in the garden, digging and weeding and getting ready for planting. Rescuing worms and placing them ever-so-lovingly into the compost.

Feeding the chickens "chicken treats" - clover and dandelions.

Picking nettles (and eating nettles- soup and omelets and nettle pesto! yum.)

Getting out in the rain too- fun with friends at a local park.

And lots of inside time too. We've been making stuff- this is a "monster campsite" complete with a monster who can go in his sleeping bag and his tent, and can go fishing in his monster boat and roast his supper over the wood on his monster campfire. Playing with friends- "riding on a train."
Playing with the new castle set- this is the second time around with this pattern and it was Ari's birthday gift from me- the only thing he asked for. There is a horse too, but it is in the repair basket awaiting help with a lost tail.

And I've been knitting amongst all that too-much-inside-time chaos. It has been a good week. I hope your week has been good as well friends.

morel day

I only seem to get here for weekend reports these days- but we are doing well up here on the Small Wonders Ranch. We had a lovely busy weekend with my sister and her husband in town. We all took a day trip for some morel hunting. The kids were great little mushroom hunters, finding many more than Perry and I. Though my mom wows us all with her mushrooming abilities.
We found a beautiful spot by the river for a picnic. Ari declared the rocky edge to be a castle and was off in his imaginary world. The boys fell asleep in the car but woke up in time for supper, which included a few precious little mushrooms.
Its been raining since, though the morels love the rain. There are probably some growing out there in the woods behind the house as we speak. Perhaps a rainy morel hunt on the property is in order for tomorrow.

And thanks so much Annie for rescuing Ari's birthday post from your blog feed! The comments were lost, but the rest is all there and I didn't have to re-write it. Thanks dear friend.

weekend: sun and raspberry canes

We had such a glorious productive weekend. The sun shone and it was so wonderfully warm and we were outside working and playing all weekend long. I took the kids in for quiet time but they were so desperate to get back inside that Ari decided taking some toys out to play quietly would be a good compromise. I found him a little while later, having dragged out our picnic blanket and several loads of toys to the other side of the yard near where Perry was working. He played happily with his gnome house for awhile, until other exciting outside tasks drew him away.
We were working on a few projects- digging up and replanting some raspberry canes, cleaning and painting the chicken house, shoveling compost and llama poo. Ari dove into the role of "farmer boy" (not a Laura Ingalls reference as he has not been introduced to these books yet, just a good name for a boy who works on a farm!) and worked steadily on planting the raspberry canes- digging the holes, adding in the manure, choosing a cane, putting it in carefully in the soil. I am amazed at his focus and concentration and how amazingly helpful he is these days. Of course he has times of running around screeching like a banshee to balance out all that focused concentration, like any good five year old should!
These moments of all of us working together and actually getting things done is utter magic.

Dorian worked very hard on watering the canes after they were planted, moving down the row slowly with great concentration. He is so determined to do things himself these days, and sometimes it seems we can only just try and help him to do as little damage as possible. He is so proud to help though, and when I thank him he says "you're welcone" in his sweet little voice with such happiness and pride. He was completely soaked and the canes had to be properly watered once he was out of sight, but I appreciate his efforts!

Here is the composter Perry built last weekend, all loaded up and working its compost magic. There is a lid that is not-quite-done that should speed things along even faster.
And this is a view of our new-to-us garden. We have been getting to know it this spring, trying to make plans about where to plant what and how to make it our own. I am excited to have a little extra space to grow in, and and a small greenhouse to grow tomatoes in. The kids have been loving the little shade/play house at the back too. Today we spent some time together transplanting a bunch of strawberry plants in the beds around it for them to graze on this summer.
On Sunday night we had a campfire supper in our backyard and got the boys all ready for bed before we got back in the house. There was time for one gleeful swing on the barn swings in Pj's before bed.
The boys were so tired today after such a busy weekend. This afternoon they both fell asleep- which never happens anymore- Ari fell asleep on the kitchen floor! We had a nice home-day full of home tasks: cooking and gardening and playing. There was even a moment of sitting and knitting in a quiet house when the boys were both asleep- bliss!

I made our weekly yogurt today, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to post the recipe that has been working for me. This makes three tall mason jars full which seems to be a good weekly amount for our family.

Homemade Yogurt

10 1/2 cups of milk

3 tbs good commercial yogurt

3 tall wide mouth mason jars

milk thermometer

Heat milk slowly in a large pot until it reaches 180 degrees F. It will be steaming but not boiling. Turn off heat and let cool in the pot, stirring whenever you think of it. The more you stir the less of a skin will form.
Add 1 Tbs of yogurt to each jar. When the milk reaches 110 degrees pour it into the jars. Stir and screw on lids. Let it rest in a warm place. I use my dehydrator which can hold the jars and keep them at 90 degrees, but the recipe I used suggested setting the jars on a hot pad or on top of your water heater. Keep jars warm for about 8 hours and then put them in the fridge and enjoy your yogurt cool the next day.

I hope your weekends were full and sunny and nourishing, friends.

good stuff

The party for Ari this weekend was so much fun. It was raining when people arrived and since I hadn't planned much aside from letting the kids roast hot dogs and run around outside, I was a little worried. But the sun came out and it turned into the first really lovely day of the year and everyone was just so happy to be outside visiting and playing and enjoying the day. The one activity I had planned for the kids- making and decorating pinwheels-never happened as there was too much running, giggling, fort-building, kite flying, sand-ice cream-serving-fun happening out in the sun.

I wish I had taken a picture of the gifts people brought (or really, of most of the party- I just was too busy enjoying it!) but they were perfect for our boy. There were several special rocks and seashells chosen by his friends, hand-made art, a homemade cd of favorite tunes, a kite,a story box to inspire made up stories, marbles. The simplicity of the gifts made me love my friends even more, and Ari was thrilled!


This was the cake Ari requested. White cake (I used Orangette's Banana cake recipe, only subbed applesauce for the bananas and it was yummy,) with strawberries, vanilla yogurt topping (I just strain it for a bit-) and chocolate sprinkles. Pretty good taste for a 5-year-old I'd say. We served it with homemade vanilla icecream and we were just able to squeeze out pieces for the 40(!) people that came.

::popsicle weather!::

Sunday was beautiful- we spent most of the day in the garden building a new composter and working to layer the compost properly- something we've been wanting to do for years. We stayed out well after the kids bedtime enjoying the day. Which was good since it has been raining ever since and we've been spending more time inside. Though we did head to the lake for a walk with friends in the rain yesterday, which was lovely in its own way.

And as if the sunshine and party were not enough excitement for one weekend, we were able to attend the first farmers market of the year (my kids favorite thing in the world- There are bunnies to pet, and cookies to eat and pony rides and spanikopita and live music and all their friends! So much fun.) We also went to a community arts event with dancing and a symphony performance, and then there was this- this amazing huge basket of wool!

My friend gave me a heads up about a garage sale that was selling off lots of yarn and fiber items. I got up fresh and early and scored this incredible stash of wool, bamboo needles, wool wash and the beautiful basket! Most of the skeins were being sold from .75 cents to 2$! I will be set for a good while with all this yarn. I was positively giddy! I just keep sifting through it, feeling each skein, trying to decide what my first project should be. Oh, the possibilities!

This week has continued to be busy, with visits and appointments, the house is a bit of a wreak and we are all a little tired, but happy. Planning some down time, some garden planning and some knitting. I hope you are well, dear friends.

celebrating

It is busy around here, so not time for many words, but wanting to pop in and share a couple pictures of Ari on his big day. We had a lovely family celebration of our beautiful boy, and will continue celebrating with a party for him this weekend. It is going to be a big one, as our friendly little fella has been inviting people everywhere we go! We celebrated with our usual traditions- birthday table laid with gifts and crown and wreath and baby pictures with a trail of sparkling stars leading from his bedroom. Morning gift opening and lots of time to play with the new treasures. A birthday supper and cake and a birthday story at bedtime. I made a simple an icecream cake (using our homemade yogurt with raspberries and maple syrup) And just spread the top with vanilla yogurt and "healthy" sprinkles. Perfect for our boy who likes the idea of cake but doesn't actually enjoy eating it. He does have plans for a strawberry chocolate cake for his party though. I love this series of pictures taken by Perry:

I have another post with a birthday letter and lots of pictures half-written which I'll get to posting when I get a chance (I also have Dorian's unposted one (gulp) waiting in the wings, and a homemade yogurt post, and a easter-egg-pocket post and a post about some recent crafting...) suppers on the stove- better get back to it!

Have a lovely day friends.

the state of things

Feeling rather despairing this morning after the results of yesterday's election. Thankfully the results in our riding were great- re-electing our wonderful, progressive NDP candidate (who happens to be a friend of ours,) but I am shocked and saddened by what the country has chosen. Our very own George W. For 4 years. I am trying to find the positive in this- maybe this will be what we need to mobilize for some real change?


We watched the results with other NDP supporters last night, and though we've tried not to burden the kids with our weighty political woes, they certainly picked up the feel of disappointment in the room last night. I feel the need now to "practice optimism" as a friend said this morning- for my children and for myself. So here I am, taking some deep breaths and trying to focus on what is good in the world. Like my beautiful children and my big boy who is turning 5 tomorrow. Politics aside, we have some celebrating to do!

::self portraits in the car mirror::