Lawn and Garden

Garden Update:

Brussel sprouts were a colossal fail. Out of four plant, we got these...

...plus about five more that we ate the month before. I guess my Dad was right - too hot.

Still, I roasted some potatoes and the sprouts, and Anthony ate them (he and I are the only ones who care to anyhow.)

 At the very least, it was one more start that Anthony grew to harvest (however meager the harvest), and we can count it toward his gardening merit badge. :)

Annika decided that she'd like to start mowing the lawn.

That five dollars was looking mighty good.

 

...but, we don't water it...so it's pretty much died off for the season.

We DO water the garden boxes, and it looks like Jonny's watermelons are determined to do something (like take over the front yard).

Cozy and James were excited to see that we had planted a "pickle jar plant".
The jar must be the part that develops last.

Sunflowers. Ahh. I remember one of my worst gardening experiences ever was with sunflowers. Squirrels kept digging up the seeds and eating them. Lucky for us, the squirrels here are content with emptying our bird feeder in the back yard!

Next year I want a whole field of them...with tunnels for the kids to hide in.

Cherry tomatoes. These ones ripen to a purpley green - delicious.

Big fat tomatoes...and we haven't had one ripen yet.

Zucchini. We only got 2! ...before it died of vine rot. I was totally counting on a prolific zucchini plant. I thought that was a given.

Still. Not bad.

How does your garden grow?

Ruining Sofia...

This is a somewhat belated post. Oops. I was busy.

At the end of the school year, Sofia was awarded a second blue ribbon for her "Washington" picture. She didn't get best in show, but no shame - the girl who did produced an amazing piece. Besides which, the contest "theme" was diversity....and I'm really not sure that Sofi's mountain range framed in orcas qualified. At the very least, it was a stretch.

The award ceremony took place at Rockville Library (not the little branch we usually go to), where I discovered this....

Yes, I know they're books! Look closer...

That's the biggest Russian section I've ever seen outside a university. So, Dad or Johnathan, next time you come to visit I'll take you by our library to pick up a little light reading in the Russian children's aisle.

The library is also right next door to La Tasca. We may have ruined Sofia by getting her yummy food at a nice restaurant. ("Much too good for children!" - said in my best Ms. Trunchbull voice.)

She does this pose sarcastically, but I still don't love that she taught it to Cozette.

Who's afraid to post ridiculous pictures of themselves? Not me!

Through Virginia

We went to pick Anthony up from EFY at Southern Virginia U. Lucky for me, Tony realized it was quite close to Berriedale Farm. We were able to go pick up our 1/4 cow in the same drive.  Nelson and Lizzie upped their time table so it would be ready for us. So sweet! They're just the nicest people.

Cozy and James were happy to see the farm again. There was a bit of sorting to be done to get our order together (they came home from the butcher almost right when we got there!), so Cozy "helped" downstairs with her Daddy, while I watched James throw the ball for the dogs....

...again...

...and again...from various locations. :) 

Sofi taught Coze how to pose for pictures. ...the duck-face, peace sign way.... Thanks. 

Lizzie pulled the "steamshovel" out of the basement for the kids to dig with.

They took turns like pros, even though I think it was quite painful for James to watch Cozy try and navigate the shovel. She got the hang of it!

We saw lots and lots of Bambis.

...and eventually even picked up Anthony! Yay! So nice to have everyone home for a little while!

My Loot

No, my painting spree wasn't the only birthday gift I got. Tony got me some amazing new toys.

A cuckoo clock from Target...

(thought Tony and I were a little irritated to find out that the cuckoo doesn't come out on it's own. Really? Because I'm pretty sure cuckoo clocks could do that before electricity was invented.) 

I was so happy Sofia steered him toward the yellow!

...a basket for my bicycle...

...and a book stores seem to be out of.

I also got some fun-ness in the mail.

...cute vintage pillow cases(from my friend Kriste)....yellow poppy seeds! (they're hard to find...unless you look in Beth's garden)...

...lots of charm packs from my Mommy...

...German sweetness from Sarah....

...and Rachel and her fam got me 3 of these. 

They each came in a different card, and it got funnier and funnier every time I got one.

Plus I got a whole mess of cards!

Birthdays are fun.:)

Happy Birthday to ME

Yay! I turned 36 last week. It was lovely. 

Tony and the kids made me a pink cake with sprinkles! (I'm guessing Cozy was a part of that decision-making process.)

I gave myself a present too...one I've been wanting for quite some time...a new color in the kitchen.

Can you see the glare off of the high-gloss yellow paint?  Not pleasant. As much as I love yellow....

...it just needed to go. I did all of the painting myself. Tony was totally against it....so he just helped by watching the kids and cooking and stuff. That way we both won the fight. :)

Now the trim is glossier and brighter than the walls. 

This is the most honest shot of the new color. Pistachio. (Technically Feldspar 410C-2, by Behr.) I used the combined paint and primer, but it still needed two coats. 

Step two of my plan involves removing all of the red from the room...which is a little sad..but I'm just trying to tone the whole thing down a bit.

...and I'll finally be painting the buffet. Yes, I took the hardware off a year ago, planning to paint it. It will be so nice to be able to shut the drawer again, and not have to shimmy them open with two butter knives! 

Can you guess what color?

I'll be sending you off with a birthday serenade, compliments of Phinneas and Ferb and my children. (I would have given you a link to the original, but the Disney channel is mean and has blocked them all. Something about a copyright....)

Baby Chicks!

No, I don't have any chickens, just Semperviven (or "Hens and Chicks"). ...and my Hens have had chicks in abundance this summer. My brood hens came in a baggie, in my Mom's carry-on from WA.

See the little ones nestled under their mama!

Next year I think I'll be passing these pullets on to someone else...

...or I could get a bigger bowl...?

We got Annika's ears pierced! 

She was super brave (in spite of the horror stories Sofia told her on the way there!) 

Sofia on the other hand, used the momentary distraction of piercing to get into trouble.

I should have know from her Loki-ish attire that she was in an "I do what I want" mood.

She ran to the store across the way and spent most of her dollars on "awesomeness". 

Said awesomeness being a Captain America sweatshirt that will fit her someday, future college boyfriend/husband (because it sure doesn't fit her!)

Nice. More supervision required.

The front of my yarrow dress. 

I told you the back was cuter. Actually, Sofia has stolen this dress occasionally, and I must say it looks better on a tinnier person. (...not that that is going to stop me.)

Jonny's new haircut....if you can call it that.

I don't especially like it and did not participate in the cutting...not that I'm in a position to judge such haircut choices...

Still....I think he looks like a chemo patient....Tony (who maintains a similar cut), thinks he looks like a giant baby. 

We're nice parents, right?