Last week we were invited to observe our daughter in her classroom. I was so excited to watch her work since I'm never sure what she is doing there. When we ask her, it's usually "nothing" or it's about the games in the playground. This I know to be normal from most 3- 4 year olds from the time I was teaching and hear parents say this is what their children would say at home. Well, now it's my turn.
I went into the room and sat on the chair that was provided for me. Notebook in hand, I watched my daughter in the middle of a lesson. It was pouring into three different cups. This exercise has a small pitcher and 3 glasses of varying heights and sizes, and the child is to pour into each one stopping between each. There is a place mat, sponge, and bucket for spills and clean up.
As she was receiving the lesson she kept turning to see if I was watching. She would smile at me and go back to the lesson. I knew she was distracted and maybe not benefiting from the full presentation with my presence there. Regardless, she watched, followed the teacher outside to pour out the water, and watched the clean up process. Then it was her turn. She followed the exercise, but when it came time for clean up her excitement in seeing me there was uncontrollable. I could see it in her face and how she kept looking at me from the corner of her eye, and smiling.
What I realized as I sat there smiling inside at my daughter, similar to a room that I used to be in, was that I really missed teaching. I missed being in a classroom that had the energy and joy that a Montessori room such as this contained. Soon my eyes began to drift from her and instead of being her mother, I became an observer. My hand picked up the pen and I began writing furiously. It was instinct. My training was coming back to me, like it or not.
I noticed the various children working independently. The singing while working. The older child who had come to help the smaller child clean up and put away a work. A 4 year old working with sounds and tracing them while sounding them out, then writing them over and over on a chalkboard. Another child in the corner reading a book. An older boy working with the small moveable alphabet writing out a story and singing out loud. Another child in the middle of the room punching out continents to glue and create a map, she is completely focused and not disturbed by the child singing less than 2 feet from her. The teacher meanwhile giving a lesson to another child and after looking through the corner of her eyes noting all that is going on. The assistant helping a child but watching my daughter as she struggles to roll up the place mat. Once the assistant is done with the other child, she comes over and speaks in Spanish to my daughter asking her to try rolling up the mat once again, but this time making it smaller to fit into the napkin ring.
Finally after my daughter finished and put away the work on the shelf, took the bucket of water outside, refilled the small pitcher with a larger pitcher by walking up 2 steps to open the faucet and fill it up, she had snack. The snack table is arranged with cut fruit and other items I was unable to see. She took the amount designated that morning, and what appeared to have been prepared by the children. She then carried her bowl and sat outside to eat it. This is another time for socialization. She chit chatted with another child pointing to me which made me guess that she was telling them "my mom is here". I did not want to leave. My time was up. I had to leave without saying goodbye, as it is meant to be. I slipped out of the room excited for her, and excited to one day return to be in the presence of the most amazing human beings. There are no judgement, no prejudices, no lies, no backstabbing, no fronts, no acts, no expectations in an environment where the minds and hearts are pure. Being with children you get to truly be yourself and be honest and open with them. They love you for you, and in turn you love each and every one of them.
The classroom is a sacred place, it is a place where children can be children, and a place that is completely their own. It is a home, a house, a heaven just for them.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Motherhood = Bipolar
If anyone asks me these days to describe motherhood, I think the best
word is to stay "bipolar". It seems to be a life of extremes at times,
and it can be in the same day, or it can be in the same moment. You
can be so in love with your children, your life, and then 5 minutes
later, you want to run away.
OK, so I seem to be getting a lot of words of reassurance these days that all will be well. So, let me be clear on this. I do write this with my sense of humor added to it. Yes it's hard, yes, it's irritating at times (when you clean the floor 10 times in a day, no lie), yes, it's tiring, yes, it's exhausting, and yes, I do want to run away sometimes, but YES, I love my children more than anything in the world, and I do love my husband, and my family we have created. Contrary to how I come across in some of these posts I'm not sitting at home depressed and in melancholia. In fact, it's been the opposite. It's been so busy and hectic, it's tiring to keep up with it all.
I've been having some wonderful discussion with friends about motherhood and how it's an unfair portrayal. If you had to get paid for this, man, we'd be bringing in some good money. Alas, it is a life of choosing and so you choose no personal freedom, and the right to sit in front of a group of people as a panelist only to realize you have egg yolk stains all over your black sweater which luckily was put on the right side, this time.
Yes, this is motherhood, and it was a choice. It was a choice not once, but twice, and I'd do it all over again for these two crazy kids. They are just so fun and loving, and wonderful to be around. They have fun together, they have the best smiles and giggles, and they love with all their might that you know you are loved more than anything else in their world, and that is worth all the aches and pains of the day. The wet snotty kisses, and the hand prints on your thighs in mango smoothie, to the waking in the morning to two sleepy heads climbing over you, or the endless chit chat or "why, why, and why" are the delights that make this unpaid job rewarding.
So, I chose this as my career for now, but I also realize this will come to an end soon, and maybe sooner than I wanted it to. For now, I am realizing how much I love my time with the girls and how fortunate I am to have had this time. In all the years ahead for me, I will have all the time I need to work, but these years when words are mispronounced and i make no effort to correct them since that indicates that she will be all grown up; these are the years that will be their baby years. These are the years you don't get back. They go by in an instant and I don't want to miss any of it. I chose to be a stay at home mother before we even got married. I knew it was something I wanted, but I had no idea how hard it would really be. Being away from any family only makes it 10 times harder, so to anyone who lives near any family, consider yourself blessed. My husband and I talk about how nice it would be to have either one of our parents nearby where we could drop them off on a Sunday and he and I could go watch a movie and have some lunch together. Oh well.
Well, like I said, motherhood is a little like being bipolar. You have your high highs and your low lows. But at the end of the day, those little sleeping bodies with their drool on their pillows, cuddling stuffed rabbits and bears, with their legs off the bed, or their bodies off the bed and only head on the bed, are all that you think about. Case and point, it's 10:50 and I'm writing about them instead of taking a shower, drinking a glass of wine, or catching up on Mad Men. I tell you, but most of you already know!
Happy Belated Mother's Day! Why is it only 1 day that we get?.....
OK, so I seem to be getting a lot of words of reassurance these days that all will be well. So, let me be clear on this. I do write this with my sense of humor added to it. Yes it's hard, yes, it's irritating at times (when you clean the floor 10 times in a day, no lie), yes, it's tiring, yes, it's exhausting, and yes, I do want to run away sometimes, but YES, I love my children more than anything in the world, and I do love my husband, and my family we have created. Contrary to how I come across in some of these posts I'm not sitting at home depressed and in melancholia. In fact, it's been the opposite. It's been so busy and hectic, it's tiring to keep up with it all.
I've been having some wonderful discussion with friends about motherhood and how it's an unfair portrayal. If you had to get paid for this, man, we'd be bringing in some good money. Alas, it is a life of choosing and so you choose no personal freedom, and the right to sit in front of a group of people as a panelist only to realize you have egg yolk stains all over your black sweater which luckily was put on the right side, this time.
Yes, this is motherhood, and it was a choice. It was a choice not once, but twice, and I'd do it all over again for these two crazy kids. They are just so fun and loving, and wonderful to be around. They have fun together, they have the best smiles and giggles, and they love with all their might that you know you are loved more than anything else in their world, and that is worth all the aches and pains of the day. The wet snotty kisses, and the hand prints on your thighs in mango smoothie, to the waking in the morning to two sleepy heads climbing over you, or the endless chit chat or "why, why, and why" are the delights that make this unpaid job rewarding.
So, I chose this as my career for now, but I also realize this will come to an end soon, and maybe sooner than I wanted it to. For now, I am realizing how much I love my time with the girls and how fortunate I am to have had this time. In all the years ahead for me, I will have all the time I need to work, but these years when words are mispronounced and i make no effort to correct them since that indicates that she will be all grown up; these are the years that will be their baby years. These are the years you don't get back. They go by in an instant and I don't want to miss any of it. I chose to be a stay at home mother before we even got married. I knew it was something I wanted, but I had no idea how hard it would really be. Being away from any family only makes it 10 times harder, so to anyone who lives near any family, consider yourself blessed. My husband and I talk about how nice it would be to have either one of our parents nearby where we could drop them off on a Sunday and he and I could go watch a movie and have some lunch together. Oh well.
Well, like I said, motherhood is a little like being bipolar. You have your high highs and your low lows. But at the end of the day, those little sleeping bodies with their drool on their pillows, cuddling stuffed rabbits and bears, with their legs off the bed, or their bodies off the bed and only head on the bed, are all that you think about. Case and point, it's 10:50 and I'm writing about them instead of taking a shower, drinking a glass of wine, or catching up on Mad Men. I tell you, but most of you already know!
Happy Belated Mother's Day! Why is it only 1 day that we get?.....
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Garden Special: Will be built for you!
This is a very exciting and amazing opportunity for anyone who would like to have a garden but does not know what to do or how to get started. For $300 a garden is built, planted and set up for you. Trust me, after our years of doing this $300 for someone else to do the work is a FANTASTIC deal!
Friday, April 27, 2012
The Garden- In photos
We recently got a new macro lens and have been enjoying taking some photos of the kids and the garden. My husband took some amazing photos this evening of some of the things out there. Here is a photographic tour close up!
A Bee on the thyme flowers
Tomatoes basking in the sun before the plant sale.
Blueberries about to turn ripe.
Broccoli Raab flowers
Carrot tops.
Onion tops
Chamomile flowers
Nasturtium
Inca Purple potato flower buds.
Swiss chard that has been cut and new leaves poking through.
The back veins of a chard leaf.
Wine grapes
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Cooking with Kids
One of the main activities around this house is cooking. It is exhausting, time consuming, messy, and delicious. It takes all of us to get something cooked. I try to involve the children (yes even the little one), when we are making meals, or snacks.
One of the main reasons I started this blog was because of all the cooking and cooking photos that I don't have room to post on our private blog. Between the garden and what we cook, it has become more than a passion or hobby and now a way of life for us. I would love to become someone that says "if we don't grow it, we don't eat it", but that's not very likely. Instead, we do follow the practice that "if it's not in season, we don't eat it". I also don't see the point in eating organic if it is from another continent. I have deep passions toward food and food culture as it is lifelong and it impacts the environment and our health greatly.
The more I read and the more I cook, I realize that our traditional way, and the ways my mom and grandmother did things truly are beneficial to health and nutrition. Somethings do take a long time to prepare, and taking that time is worth it. The convenience foods that we have adopted are easy, quick and delicious, but they have lasting impacts on our long-term health; and all the trash it produces impacts the environment. I suppose I could go on and on about this and I probably would upset many, but I write this as someone who is trying to change the way this household is run, and to make a lasting impact on my family and my children and hope that the ripple effect will take place.
Staying at home has it's perks to write blogs, take photos of your children doing things, and to cook long meals, but it's also exhausting and 24/7. My only hope is that I can inspire a few to take on the challenge of cooking with your children, and to try and do it from scratch at least once a week. Once you have established a comfortable routine for you and your children, you will realize you can do it more often. Our bodies can tolerate some of these toxic chemicals and processed foods, but the little bodies are so pure and still developing that we should try and give them wholesome foods.
One of the key principles is: if you have to open it, it's probably not good. Meaning, if it's in a bag or box, there are probably a few too many preservatives and additives that we should not be eating. I understand this is not possible all the time especially how busy we all our. I absolutely hate cereal, but my husband grew up eating it, and so it's around the house. Now, he no longer eats it as much but somehow it has become easy for the kids. In the last few months we are trying to do away with cereal, and other snack foods at least while at home. One of the strictest rules I have is that "bars" are not eaten at home. They are for when we are hiking. I've been wanting to make my own crackers at home, and after an attempt at making graham crackers, I realized how easy it was just to buy a box. But, now being gluten free, I hope to make the attempt once again. As to why I'm opposed to cereal, I don't agree with the first meal of the day after such a long fast to be one that is high in sugars (added and carbohydrates) and with cold milk.
Now, how we cook around here. It is a lot of prep work and planning ahead. However, there are many impromptu sessions in which I have to quickly asses what is needed and keep saying "wait, wait." So, what you need is a workspace with adequate room and at a height in which they can work. Ideally having a small table where they can sit and work is best, but you have to have room for that. I'm still working on our Practical Life section of the kitchen, but in the meantime we've adapted to using the existing kitchen counters, island, and two step foot stool. This also enables her to be engaged in what is going on and cut, clean, mix and watch right next to me. Often, we use the same space.
To start with you have to have all the things they will need. When baking and having them crack the eggs, you need a bowl (or carton) with only the number of eggs you will be using, another bowl for the shells, another bowl or cup into which the eggs are cracked. The eggs are cracked into this bowl one at a time, checked for shells and then added into whatever you are making. If you need multiple eggs to be mixed, then you will do the above steps and then place all the eggs in one final bowl which they then mix the eggs in (see how this requires lots of patience and washing). It's best to have rules that must be enforced consistently, such as no licking of the fingers when cooking, and that hands must be washed before and after, and in between when necessary. The stool comes in handy so that they can also reach to wash their hands, or go to the bathroom and wash them instead.
Here are a few photos of our popsicle making from yesterday. There were a few messes, and a mistake on my part in starting with a large pouring pitcher, but then I quickly switched to a smaller one. The biggest mess was made by me when I tipped one of the popsicles over and it spilled all over the freezer and down the door.
We have made some delicious meals in this small kitchen, and we have made some complicated and challenging ones as well. The boeuf bourguignon she helped make at age 2 will be my all time favorites. I couldn't believe the dedication, patience, and perseverance she had at such a young age in wanting to make this dish. It took so long that we didn't eat it the night it was prepared but the following day. She cleaned each mushroom with a paper towel and then cut them all. She then took each piece of meat that I had cut up, and dusted each one, one at a time in the flour mix that was in the bowl. I think she even cut up some of the vegetables.
Anyway, here are some other creations from our kitchen which I hope will inspire you to cook with your children. Even if they dont' eat it, they will have made it, and they will at least want to try it. But, the more they help you the more they will eat the things they make. If it's chicken nuggets they eat, then make it from scratch!
All you need is chicken,
buttermilk,
seasonings, breadcrumbs,
and bake it.
No, I don't have a recipe, but I'm sure you can find one! I don't make them.
But we did make chicken fried stake back when I was pregnant.. mmm.. yum!
layered popsicles for our housewarming few years ago
One of the main reasons I started this blog was because of all the cooking and cooking photos that I don't have room to post on our private blog. Between the garden and what we cook, it has become more than a passion or hobby and now a way of life for us. I would love to become someone that says "if we don't grow it, we don't eat it", but that's not very likely. Instead, we do follow the practice that "if it's not in season, we don't eat it". I also don't see the point in eating organic if it is from another continent. I have deep passions toward food and food culture as it is lifelong and it impacts the environment and our health greatly.
We're trying to grow some onions this time around
She loves to mix the ingredients for burgers. This time, we used a 50/50 mix of grass fed beef and pork with quinoa instead of breadcrumbs. Also, added some squash when caramelizing the onions which all went into the pattie.
The more I read and the more I cook, I realize that our traditional way, and the ways my mom and grandmother did things truly are beneficial to health and nutrition. Somethings do take a long time to prepare, and taking that time is worth it. The convenience foods that we have adopted are easy, quick and delicious, but they have lasting impacts on our long-term health; and all the trash it produces impacts the environment. I suppose I could go on and on about this and I probably would upset many, but I write this as someone who is trying to change the way this household is run, and to make a lasting impact on my family and my children and hope that the ripple effect will take place.
Making the nectar for the Humming bird feeder
Staying at home has it's perks to write blogs, take photos of your children doing things, and to cook long meals, but it's also exhausting and 24/7. My only hope is that I can inspire a few to take on the challenge of cooking with your children, and to try and do it from scratch at least once a week. Once you have established a comfortable routine for you and your children, you will realize you can do it more often. Our bodies can tolerate some of these toxic chemicals and processed foods, but the little bodies are so pure and still developing that we should try and give them wholesome foods.
One of the key principles is: if you have to open it, it's probably not good. Meaning, if it's in a bag or box, there are probably a few too many preservatives and additives that we should not be eating. I understand this is not possible all the time especially how busy we all our. I absolutely hate cereal, but my husband grew up eating it, and so it's around the house. Now, he no longer eats it as much but somehow it has become easy for the kids. In the last few months we are trying to do away with cereal, and other snack foods at least while at home. One of the strictest rules I have is that "bars" are not eaten at home. They are for when we are hiking. I've been wanting to make my own crackers at home, and after an attempt at making graham crackers, I realized how easy it was just to buy a box. But, now being gluten free, I hope to make the attempt once again. As to why I'm opposed to cereal, I don't agree with the first meal of the day after such a long fast to be one that is high in sugars (added and carbohydrates) and with cold milk.
Now, how we cook around here. It is a lot of prep work and planning ahead. However, there are many impromptu sessions in which I have to quickly asses what is needed and keep saying "wait, wait." So, what you need is a workspace with adequate room and at a height in which they can work. Ideally having a small table where they can sit and work is best, but you have to have room for that. I'm still working on our Practical Life section of the kitchen, but in the meantime we've adapted to using the existing kitchen counters, island, and two step foot stool. This also enables her to be engaged in what is going on and cut, clean, mix and watch right next to me. Often, we use the same space.
The children's size tools that my daughter uses when helping cook. The two knives on the far left are both wavy. The one on the far right is slightly serrated to help cut through.
To start with you have to have all the things they will need. When baking and having them crack the eggs, you need a bowl (or carton) with only the number of eggs you will be using, another bowl for the shells, another bowl or cup into which the eggs are cracked. The eggs are cracked into this bowl one at a time, checked for shells and then added into whatever you are making. If you need multiple eggs to be mixed, then you will do the above steps and then place all the eggs in one final bowl which they then mix the eggs in (see how this requires lots of patience and washing). It's best to have rules that must be enforced consistently, such as no licking of the fingers when cooking, and that hands must be washed before and after, and in between when necessary. The stool comes in handy so that they can also reach to wash their hands, or go to the bathroom and wash them instead.
helping her sister wash hands
Setting up for the popsicles to be poured after I mixed up the fruit and yogurt.
First attempt pouring with the larger container.
Second and more successful attempt using a child size pitcher which she filled up with the larger one.
Placing the lids on,
and then I make a mess putting them into the freezer.
We have made some delicious meals in this small kitchen, and we have made some complicated and challenging ones as well. The boeuf bourguignon she helped make at age 2 will be my all time favorites. I couldn't believe the dedication, patience, and perseverance she had at such a young age in wanting to make this dish. It took so long that we didn't eat it the night it was prepared but the following day. She cleaned each mushroom with a paper towel and then cut them all. She then took each piece of meat that I had cut up, and dusted each one, one at a time in the flour mix that was in the bowl. I think she even cut up some of the vegetables.
wiping down the mushrooms
rolling each piece of meat in the flour mix
The final and very delicious product over creamy polenta.
Anyway, here are some other creations from our kitchen which I hope will inspire you to cook with your children. Even if they dont' eat it, they will have made it, and they will at least want to try it. But, the more they help you the more they will eat the things they make. If it's chicken nuggets they eat, then make it from scratch!
All you need is chicken,
buttermilk,
seasonings, breadcrumbs,
and bake it.
No, I don't have a recipe, but I'm sure you can find one! I don't make them.
But we did make chicken fried stake back when I was pregnant.. mmm.. yum!
watermelon jello which she helped by scoping the watermelon out (see above).
Sri Lankan hoppers which take all day to make.
Shared on: More the Merrier Mondays, Eco-Kids Tuesday, Tuesdays with a Twist, wildcrafting wednesday, Wildlife Wednesday, simple lives thursdays, HomeAcre Hop, small footprint family, Friday Nature Table, fresh eggs daily, Transformation Thursday, Thrifty Home, Fresh Bites Friday, Wednesday Fresh Food, Sunday Parenting Party, hip homeschool moms, No Time for Flash Cards, Living Green Tuesday, Montessori Monday, Farm Girl Blog Fest, Food Renegade, Eat Make Grow, Saturday Show and Tell, Kids in the Kitchen, Learning for Life, Mums Make Lists, It's Playtime, Frugal Family,
Monday, March 19, 2012
Oh! Balls.
The most versatile and simple toy that seems to be universal and timeless is the ball. Today it seems as though it will be ball! No seriously, the little one has had endless fun this morning playing with various balls around the house and kitchen.
We started off with a basket of balls that I try to have ready for her. Most often we have to hunt and find them from the four corners of the house, under dusty beds and couches. But, when it's all nice and neat and kept for display, it is always enticing for activity. I purchased a variety of balls with size, color, and most importantly texture.
Most people think I hate plastics and that I don't have anything like that in the home, NOT true. To anyone who has been to my house, we do have some plastic toys. Balls are one of them. I think it would be pretty difficult to have children throwing wooden balls around the house. No, no. The other thing I have been opposed to are light up and sound making toys. This is generally true. Unless it's a music instrument, there are no electrical noise making toys. The one light up toy that I okay-ed was one of those hard bouncy balls that light up upon impact that my husband brought home from a work freebie.
This has been so interesting to see how the little one learned to connect that the ball must be bounced hard for it to light up. Simply rolling it does not turn it on. She also discovered today that the effects of the lights are much brighter if she can squeeze between the couch and the computer table to the dark little corner, and then try to crawl behind the sofa. It's amazing to see the brain making these connections right in front of you.
Besides the plastic balls, we also have these pegs. I bought them for my older daughter for her second Christmas, but at the time was looking for small pegs and wooden board similar to Cribbage Unfortunately I couldn't find one that wasn't the actual game, or a simple version of it. I just wanted her to have the activity of putting the pegs into the holes. I saw that this activity was interesting to her whenever she helped my husband build any of the IKEA furniture. He would have her insert the pegs into the little holes and then they would assemble the furniture together. So, I found this game instead. I do like it. I does have some purposeful activities besides what I had wanted. The pegs are also stack-able and you can then have them place them in rows of colors and such. Now, I find that this is good for the little one, as the pegs are big and easy to grasp and not much of a choking hazard (One day I will also write about this).
We also started on our tomato seeds from tomato fest. I have been using their seeds for the last 3 years and have been so happy with each and every variety. I think I have some 30 or more varieties by now, no I think it's more like 40. This year, mostly a new batch with a repeat all time favorite of everyone's- the Black Cherry tomato. I'm trying to be more organized and efficient, and with my helper who is now on her 3rd year of helping has really learned the ropes, it makes it a lot more fun, more work, but more fun.
Also, in the greenhouse are some watermelon seeds, various cucumber seeds, some Thai and Chinese long beans, and colorful Asian eggplants. We've had an unusual amount of rain over the last two days including hail, so I'm hoping that my newly sprouted radishes, and carrots will survive. Also in the beds are Rainbow corn, and some Lemon Sunflowers. The 3 year old had a blast gardening in her undies and planting almost all the corn seedlings from the nursery. She dug the holes, loosened the root ball and then covered it back up. I was so happy to see that she is now able to do this on her own and that the plants will survive!
We started off with a basket of balls that I try to have ready for her. Most often we have to hunt and find them from the four corners of the house, under dusty beds and couches. But, when it's all nice and neat and kept for display, it is always enticing for activity. I purchased a variety of balls with size, color, and most importantly texture.
Most people think I hate plastics and that I don't have anything like that in the home, NOT true. To anyone who has been to my house, we do have some plastic toys. Balls are one of them. I think it would be pretty difficult to have children throwing wooden balls around the house. No, no. The other thing I have been opposed to are light up and sound making toys. This is generally true. Unless it's a music instrument, there are no electrical noise making toys. The one light up toy that I okay-ed was one of those hard bouncy balls that light up upon impact that my husband brought home from a work freebie.
This has been so interesting to see how the little one learned to connect that the ball must be bounced hard for it to light up. Simply rolling it does not turn it on. She also discovered today that the effects of the lights are much brighter if she can squeeze between the couch and the computer table to the dark little corner, and then try to crawl behind the sofa. It's amazing to see the brain making these connections right in front of you.
Sorry for the fuzzy photo, but a moving child and light up ball on a cloudy day is hard to get.
Here, I placed the pegs in the board and she mostly took them all out. Below, she is trying to place them on top of each other.
We also started on our tomato seeds from tomato fest. I have been using their seeds for the last 3 years and have been so happy with each and every variety. I think I have some 30 or more varieties by now, no I think it's more like 40. This year, mostly a new batch with a repeat all time favorite of everyone's- the Black Cherry tomato. I'm trying to be more organized and efficient, and with my helper who is now on her 3rd year of helping has really learned the ropes, it makes it a lot more fun, more work, but more fun.
Also, in the greenhouse are some watermelon seeds, various cucumber seeds, some Thai and Chinese long beans, and colorful Asian eggplants. We've had an unusual amount of rain over the last two days including hail, so I'm hoping that my newly sprouted radishes, and carrots will survive. Also in the beds are Rainbow corn, and some Lemon Sunflowers. The 3 year old had a blast gardening in her undies and planting almost all the corn seedlings from the nursery. She dug the holes, loosened the root ball and then covered it back up. I was so happy to see that she is now able to do this on her own and that the plants will survive!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Gardening and Camping
The past two weekends have been a rush of outdoor activities. Last weekend we had our friends over for an annual (since it's our second time) gardening event. We expanded the yard with boxes, pulled out the rusted rose bushes, and got a few seedlings in the ground. With all the new babies and growing kids, it was a rush of activity and LOADS of fun.
This past weekend, we went camping with some friends for two nights. Our departure times was quite a few hours later than planned which left us with cranky kids while packing, cranky parents trying to pack, a tired family heading on the road at 4 pm on a Friday, and getting to the campsite just before sunset, only to have to unpack and get kids fed ASAP before the freezing weather set in.
This had to be one of the more memorable and miserable trips we've had in the recent years. Memorable since the kids had so much fun, on their bikes, hiking, and playing in "the wild". The set up their own fort/camp just behind our campsite in the bushes under some old oaks. They ran around getting ready to build campfires and have their own adventures. It was about 10 minutes after they left their "wild" that we heard the cracking of a branch and about 30 seconds later a HUGE limb of an old oak came crashing down 10 feet from where the kids had been. Well, what can I say.
The misery came at night. The cold was tolerable wearing 3 layers of clothes and 2 jackets, a hat, gloves, and 2 pairs of socks including Himalayan yak wool ones from India. But no, this is not what was truly miserable. It was my 1 year old who decided she wanted to nurse about every hour and screamed so loud the entire campground could hear her. Since we only took our sleeping bags and lots o blankets for under, inside, and 1 for baby and me to go over, she was nice and toasty. I on the other hand, had only my feet tucked into the sleeping bag and the rest hanging out. Getting the top half of my clothes partially off to nurse her every hour and then have to get it all back on and tucked in to keep warm all took approximately an hour, so as you can do the math, I would just about fall asleep when she was about ready to be at it again. 2 nights of this and I was about to go insane. The day time, on the other hand, made up for it all, and I suppose I'm ready to do it all over again in a few months, like in April, oh wait, that's next month.
Making homemade finger paint for the kids.
The garden "To Do" list. Still lots to do.
Next year, we may need an adult size wheelbarrow.
Before, or in the process of.
After, and still more to come.
The beets that got pulled out to make room for the beds. Not fully grown, so slightly on the bitter side. Golden Beets and Chioggia.
This past weekend, we went camping with some friends for two nights. Our departure times was quite a few hours later than planned which left us with cranky kids while packing, cranky parents trying to pack, a tired family heading on the road at 4 pm on a Friday, and getting to the campsite just before sunset, only to have to unpack and get kids fed ASAP before the freezing weather set in.
This had to be one of the more memorable and miserable trips we've had in the recent years. Memorable since the kids had so much fun, on their bikes, hiking, and playing in "the wild". The set up their own fort/camp just behind our campsite in the bushes under some old oaks. They ran around getting ready to build campfires and have their own adventures. It was about 10 minutes after they left their "wild" that we heard the cracking of a branch and about 30 seconds later a HUGE limb of an old oak came crashing down 10 feet from where the kids had been. Well, what can I say.
Hiding in the "wild"
See that giant limb on the ground to the left, that's what fell. See the sprigs of a bush on the right, that's from the picture above where they were hiding under.
California lilac bush that blooms this time of year. Just gorgeous!
The misery came at night. The cold was tolerable wearing 3 layers of clothes and 2 jackets, a hat, gloves, and 2 pairs of socks including Himalayan yak wool ones from India. But no, this is not what was truly miserable. It was my 1 year old who decided she wanted to nurse about every hour and screamed so loud the entire campground could hear her. Since we only took our sleeping bags and lots o blankets for under, inside, and 1 for baby and me to go over, she was nice and toasty. I on the other hand, had only my feet tucked into the sleeping bag and the rest hanging out. Getting the top half of my clothes partially off to nurse her every hour and then have to get it all back on and tucked in to keep warm all took approximately an hour, so as you can do the math, I would just about fall asleep when she was about ready to be at it again. 2 nights of this and I was about to go insane. The day time, on the other hand, made up for it all, and I suppose I'm ready to do it all over again in a few months, like in April, oh wait, that's next month.
A mix of greens from our garden and homemade anchovy dressing, my new addiction.
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