Blazin' a Trail

We are a family of trail blazers. This summer, we're blazing a trail across Maryland. It's a creamery trail, and how much do you want to bet that we hit every one? 

 Lucky for us, the least convenient creamery (location-wise) was on our way to Assateague Island. I don't think we would have made the drive just for ice cream, but throw in the beach and wild ponies....and it doesn't seem quite as far.

The other dairies/farms/creameries are "on the way" to visit Tony's parents. I'm trying to save a couple for when Tony gets back from Peru, but we are going to some without him. :(

Yes, we like to "support local cows", just like the sign says, especially when we get to feed the calves.

 

So sweet! We listened to "Farmer Boy" during our drive, so I think we were all prepped to want cows anyhow.

...and then you see their big brown eyes! 

Doesn't Cozy look pleased to be patting one! I love those moments.

...and enjoying the spoils of our journey. The kids wasted their ice cream wishes on chocolate and smurf?....while I was eating my sweet cream. Yum!

Just reminds me of the story in Farmer Boy where the children are left home alone while their parents visit relatives for a week. They used up all of the sugar making ice cream and cake.... every day. Kids - they're not to be trusted with the sugar.

A Sewing Stool Redo

Another long-neglected project:

I found this stool at a yard sale a couple years ago.

It's been languishing in a closet.

I was thinking how perfect it would be to set my typewriter on...if I ever replace the tape.

Do you like my technique? I sort of just started with one staple in the middle of each side and then stapled the tar out of it (pulling it even as I went) until I got to the corners. I did fold all of the edges under (mainly because I didn't want to be bothered with serging them).

I made a nice little flat fold at the corners. It's not invisible, but at least it's consistent on all four sides.

Yep. Better.

Pajammyjams

I swear this is not going to be another post about gardening...it's going to be a normal post with a small gardening aside at the beginning.

I just have to say how amazed I am by Jonny's watermelons. We've counted 14 so far, ranging from this:

...to this:

...and they seem to grow that much overnight. It's so exciting!

Anyhow, I've been cleaning my office. It's a sort of 3-year undertaking, because I'm slow....and a little bit of a hoarder.  No, it's not my fabric stash (which is neatly folded in totes underneath my bed), it's my fabric pile. You know, bits of fabric leftover from finished projects, clothes I can't throw away (because I'm going to "remake" them, and, of course, actual neglected WIPs.

I know my organizational process isn't super-efficient, but it's all I can manage. So, I've been assembling half-finished projects and hanging them neatly on hangers. Now I can find them easily and maybe even complete them - gasp!  

In the midst of this, I found some leftover flannel - just enough for Cozy jammies....and rather than throw it away, I spent the day sewing. (No, I'm not easily distracted, why do you ask?)

If you look very closely, you can just barely discern the bow....

I sort of followed the pattern.....ish....because I had to make them just a little less frilly...and add pockets.

Can you see the mistake I made when I cut them out?

Yes, the pattern on one of the legs is upside down. Same goes for one of the arms.

Cozy didn't care. She gave me a huge, super-happy thank-you hug.

...and, since we were doing pictures, the kids insisted I take some silly ones.

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!