The days are hot, but the nights cool down and we all head outside. We watch the sun set over our little valley with a glass of wine as the kids play into the starlit night.
July 29, 2011
July 28, 2011
"mama, will you teach me how to sew?"
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to teach my baby how to sew. There is only one answer to the question above and it requires a slamming on of brakes and a focus of attention! She has caught on so fast and is pushing ahead with dexterity of finger and the diligence of a monk. Here is her first project.
Della and her brother both love ugly dolls. I don't like having to pay actual money for an ugly doll. When I suggested they make their own, they ran at mock speed to the felt bag to claim their colors. She powered through this in about an hour. Lew and Max both know how to sew but they aren't so willing to fix their mistakes. Della sees the problem and finds a solution. I LOVE this about her!!!
I also just finished a three night program on C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, for twelve rowdy kids. It was a book club in disguise and I think they all had a blast. Lots of fun projects, yummy food, crazy activities, and some learning snuck in on the side. More on that later.
I'm still purging like mad and am sort of consumed with it and will share that, too.
The garden is FREAKING on me. So exciting!
And I am going to introduce an awesome sponsor in the next few days. Let me say this....do not buy your back to school lunch supplies yet!
BUT RIGHT THIS MINUTE......
I'm sewing with my baby.
Della and her brother both love ugly dolls. I don't like having to pay actual money for an ugly doll. When I suggested they make their own, they ran at mock speed to the felt bag to claim their colors. She powered through this in about an hour. Lew and Max both know how to sew but they aren't so willing to fix their mistakes. Della sees the problem and finds a solution. I LOVE this about her!!!
I also just finished a three night program on C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, for twelve rowdy kids. It was a book club in disguise and I think they all had a blast. Lots of fun projects, yummy food, crazy activities, and some learning snuck in on the side. More on that later.
I'm still purging like mad and am sort of consumed with it and will share that, too.
The garden is FREAKING on me. So exciting!
And I am going to introduce an awesome sponsor in the next few days. Let me say this....do not buy your back to school lunch supplies yet!
BUT RIGHT THIS MINUTE......
I'm sewing with my baby.
July 26, 2011
how to travel light
I think that travel brings out funny things in people. Some folks want to feel like they never left home. They want to experience everything in the context of what they are familiar with. They pack for every possible scenario and leave nothing to chance. And then there are those who want to immerse themselves in the experience completely. They pack only a minimal amount and chance is the tour guide. I used to be the latter and children have nudged me a bit towards the former.
Not totally, mind you. We are fairly intrepid. But I'd like to push that envelope a bit.
On this trip I packed WAY too much. That's often the case. I always end up wearing pretty much only one or two things. That's often the case, too. So what gives?
There's a very long answer to that and I'm not going there. (You'll see why in a minute.)
The fact is this. I consider myself a light traveller.... while traveling and in life, in general. I am not a consumer at all. But I am still dealing with way too much 'stuff'. There is always too much laundry, too much food, too much clutter and too many tasks at hand. I have never felt particularly in control of all these things.
Those days is over, Sista.
I am purging in a bigger way than I ever have before. I am lightening my load and taking control. Room by room and task by task. If it doesn't work for me, I'm changing it. If I don't love it, it's ancient history.
I want my life to fit in a daypack, not a zircon. This is metaphorical, of course, but I want it all, and I'm even talking about the contents of my brain here, to be well edited for saner days and clearer dreams.
I started with our clothes. I'll tell you about it tomorrow.
Not totally, mind you. We are fairly intrepid. But I'd like to push that envelope a bit.
On this trip I packed WAY too much. That's often the case. I always end up wearing pretty much only one or two things. That's often the case, too. So what gives?
There's a very long answer to that and I'm not going there. (You'll see why in a minute.)
The fact is this. I consider myself a light traveller.... while traveling and in life, in general. I am not a consumer at all. But I am still dealing with way too much 'stuff'. There is always too much laundry, too much food, too much clutter and too many tasks at hand. I have never felt particularly in control of all these things.
Those days is over, Sista.
I am purging in a bigger way than I ever have before. I am lightening my load and taking control. Room by room and task by task. If it doesn't work for me, I'm changing it. If I don't love it, it's ancient history.
I want my life to fit in a daypack, not a zircon. This is metaphorical, of course, but I want it all, and I'm even talking about the contents of my brain here, to be well edited for saner days and clearer dreams.
I started with our clothes. I'll tell you about it tomorrow.
July 25, 2011
jackson hole
We are back. There is a reason that Jackson, Wyoming is the premier mountain destination in the U.S. or most probably, the world. It is breathtaking. Stunning. I live in a beautiful mountain town. Every day I am in awe of my landscape. Jackson still blew me away. I should also mention that we used to live there. For years we called it home base. I haven't been there since I had children, but certainly knew what to expect, and was still bowled over.
It's like a sucker punch to the soul.
The immensity of the landscape can't be described. I wanted to climb every mountain and sink low into every lake and river. We did. With cousins and aunts and uncles and grand parents. Here's a quick look.
If you go, take lots of money.
Or camp.
Whatever it takes, you should try to get there.
Yellowstone is right next door. Don't miss Old Faithful Lodge.
I loved the thermals as a child and still love them. They're just fascinating.
We never hesitate to stop the car and swim in whatever scenic body of water is flowing beside the road. This is the Fire Hole River and it was cool and wonderful. My kids are warming themselves on the rocks like lizards because we had no towels.
Hello Mr. Buff.
This is Kelly Warm Springs. Locals dump their fish tanks in here when they leave town, so it's fun to look for colorful fish in the crystal clear water.
My folks and all the cousins. This 'hole' thing was their idear and I'm very grateful!
Uncle Ben (my bro), a long time Jackson resident and fisherman extraordinaire, took us to a secret spot to see spawning trout.
The classic Teton shot.
Jenny Lake was only frigid, as opposed to Taggert Lake, which was 'stop your heart' damn near frozen. We swam in it all. And canoed, too.
It was all glorious and I had a few aha moments that I will share with you through out the week.
It's good to be back!
July 13, 2011
July 7, 2011
how to bake a rattlesnake
I know. I know. I said I was signing off and I am after this, but today was spent packing and getting ready to go on our trip and....
Well. Sometimes your day goes differently than planned.
This was one of those days.
Long story short, our next door neighbor, Kristin, found a rattlesnake hanging out of her house between the siding and the foundation right next to her front door. It became necessary to kill him in order to prevent him from disappearing into her house. As soon as it became clear that the snake was going to die, Max claimed the rattles. He then decided that he also wanted to skin the snake, and make something from the skin.
OK.
He ran inside, googled 'how to skin a snake', watched a quick video, and was back in a flash with a knife, a piece of wood, and a plan. Please note the innards down on the board. They come into play in a moment.
He chopped off the rattles and pulled the skin off. (The head was gone already.)
He tacked it to a table on the deck and salted it. Lewis, in the meantime, had fully gutted Senor Snake with help from Della and a friend. They found it's little heart, which was still beating, incidentally, and fully investigated all his parts. '
We should eat it, Mom.' said Lewis.
I have actually been working on a post about how to raise good eaters. I have tried to instill in them the notion that nothing is off limits when it comes to good food. So what was I to do?
Cook a snake, that's what.
It's my turn on Google now, right?
Let me tell you. The snake recipes are limited. No, I'm not making snake chili. That sounds gross. Bake him on low for a long time? I'm not embracing him THAT much. And enough already with the venom information, give me something I can work with, OK?
I found nothing that was appealing. So I made up my own recipe. Let me share my quick and easy sauteed snake recipe. Saute cleaned snake in a bit of butter and olive oil. Add garlic, salt and pepper and lemon juice and sprinkle with fresh chives when meat looks done. That's all. A simple weeknight meal.
They came running when it was done.
Della dressed for the occasion.
There were lots of bones.
Well. Sometimes your day goes differently than planned.
This was one of those days.
Long story short, our next door neighbor, Kristin, found a rattlesnake hanging out of her house between the siding and the foundation right next to her front door. It became necessary to kill him in order to prevent him from disappearing into her house. As soon as it became clear that the snake was going to die, Max claimed the rattles. He then decided that he also wanted to skin the snake, and make something from the skin.
OK.
He ran inside, googled 'how to skin a snake', watched a quick video, and was back in a flash with a knife, a piece of wood, and a plan. Please note the innards down on the board. They come into play in a moment.
He chopped off the rattles and pulled the skin off. (The head was gone already.)
He tacked it to a table on the deck and salted it. Lewis, in the meantime, had fully gutted Senor Snake with help from Della and a friend. They found it's little heart, which was still beating, incidentally, and fully investigated all his parts. '
We should eat it, Mom.' said Lewis.
I have actually been working on a post about how to raise good eaters. I have tried to instill in them the notion that nothing is off limits when it comes to good food. So what was I to do?
Cook a snake, that's what.
It's my turn on Google now, right?
Let me tell you. The snake recipes are limited. No, I'm not making snake chili. That sounds gross. Bake him on low for a long time? I'm not embracing him THAT much. And enough already with the venom information, give me something I can work with, OK?
I found nothing that was appealing. So I made up my own recipe. Let me share my quick and easy sauteed snake recipe. Saute cleaned snake in a bit of butter and olive oil. Add garlic, salt and pepper and lemon juice and sprinkle with fresh chives when meat looks done. That's all. A simple weeknight meal.
They came running when it was done.
Della dressed for the occasion.
There were lots of bones.
They ate every last bite.
Karmically, I think we did right by this snake. I don't ever like the idea of killing an animal needlessly, but there are certainly times when it is necessary. Some cultures believe that the snake is descended from lightening. I like that idea. Max tacked the rattle over his door to ward off bad mojo. I imagine the skin will soon follow. I am NOT making a necklace from his bones as one website suggested. But that does remind me of something that I should share..............
NOW, I'm signing off for real! See you back here in two weeks!
July 5, 2011
long weekend
Our weekend was filled with:
Rock stacking.
Snake handling.
E.R. visiting.
Fractured foot.
And the thrill of crutches.
Sandhill Crane sighting.
Small town celebrating and cousin Sophie rocking the mike.
Rock climbing.
When Granne and Grandaddy added this room they had the mason build the chimney with holds for climbing. Very cool grandparents, I'd say.
The thrill of the crutches wore off right about here.
"Mom, will you carry me to the croquet game?"
And I leave you with some big sky, sunset, hula hooping.
I am signing off for a few weeks. We are meeting my family in Jackson, Wyoming and we are so excited! Hope your days are fun filled and I'll see you back here soon!
July 1, 2011
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