Life is amazing

I have spent tonight trying to tune-up my sluggish computer. I think it is a little better, but we'll see tomorrow. I've also spent time deleting some old accounts online and editing through old blog posts. Some of them are just plain outdated.

As I have read through the old posts, I have been amazed at how much I have made it through the last couple of years. Some weeks and months seem to glide by, and others seem to be endless trials, but they always pass.

I am grateful for where we are today, given everything that we have been through. I know that we will make it through whatever comes. I just hope I didn't disturb Murphy.

Innocent? I think not!

Look at this face. Isn't he adorably cute? The white fluff, charcoal black eyes and nose. And when he smiles, you can see his perfectly pink tongue. There is a reason this breed is used in advertising and magazines quite frequently.

But don't let his cuteness fool you. He is a petty thief.

Over the past couple of months, I have watched my tomato plants grow and bloom and set perfectly round green tomatoes. Eagerly, I have been awaiting the first one that was turning red. It was just about perfect. Then, one morning, I glanced out my window and saw only green tomatoes. But there was a nearly perfect red one just the other day. I quickly inspected my counters to see if my husband had picked it, but we only had a couple of tomatoes from our farm co-op.

That is when I knew our thief was back.

He will sneak into the garden when we are not watching and steal tomatoes. I had not seen any evidence of theft so far this year, so I had hopes for a full harvest this year. But no. When this one tomato was just about at its peak, before we could get to it, he stole it and ate the whole thing. Then he went back and snuck a green one or two. He deserves the upset stomach he has had since.

He also has a fondness for strawberries, and last year ate my entire new cilantro starts. It is hard to grow much of anything when you have a thief coming to steal it all.

I just have one question....why couldn't he have a thing for zucchini???

Sister's Camp

Here are pictures from the Sisters' Camp at Gilbert Ranch. Miss M and my husband were busy from sunup to sundown. Miss M was out not long after she got home last night and has been stuck on the chair watching TV all day--she is so tired from her adventures. She reportedly was a good shot with the BB gun, hand washed a sock, rode a horse, panned for (fool's) gold, fed the animals, groomed a horse, played games, shot arrows, dipped candles, made a leather pouch wallet, did chores at the ranch, and loved the food. It was a bargain at any price.

Summer

Our summer started out very quickly, with my husband's parents coming to visit us for a week, then we all went up to Canada together. We really enjoyed visiting the Canadian Rockies and seeing the amazing lakes, mountains, and wildlife again, four years after sabbatical. By the end of two weeks, we were glad to be home again. And I have sworn not to go anywhere for the next two years. That hasn't applied to the rest of my family, though.

We got home on a Sunday and sent Miss A off to her first year of girls' camp on Tuesday. She really enjoyed being at camp, but she was a little homesick, especially after being gone so long.


We had a quiet fourth at home, especially since DH was working swing that night. He did take some time off to enjoy a backyard fire and fireworks. The following week, he went on a fifteen mile hike with the Scouts.

About the middle of July, we started to feel like we were actually home again. But not for long. Today, DH took Miss M to sister's camp at a Boy Scout property. It is sponsored by our local Council, but it's all for the girls. Miss M was very eager to get out the door today. She was looking forward to horseback riding, shooting bee bee guns, and other such activities.


Miss A and I get some mom/daughter time. It kicked off at church when a boy who likes her gave her a flower right before church started. I don't know which was redder, her face, or the flower. She didn't focus all that well the rest of the meeting. It made for some good chuckles, though.

We are looking forward to seeing a movie, going out to dinner, and bowling while her sister is gone. Miss M will get back just in time to pack Miss A up to go down to the Shakespeare Festival with our homeschool group. (And the boy who gave her the flower....)

I'm glad I haven't had to go anywhere. And at least things worked out so that DH doesn't have to go to Boy Scout camp next week. Of course, we will be starting school next Monday, so it's so long summer for us. :(

Food

The other night, the girls and I were watching a program that included a family that ate raw everything. I saw them both look back at me, wondering if I am going to go that crazy on them. No, not me. But I am surprised by the changes in our diet.

The organic meat and produce is paying off. I used our first organic chicken breasts this week. They were a beautiful, golden color, unlike the ones I usually buy. But what really surprised me was that Miss M, who rarely enjoys what I cook ate some, then ate some more and finally made sure she had leftovers for the next day. We also ate an organic watermelon, which was the best one we've ever had. Miss M thought it was so good she wants to buy another one herself.

I find myself craving fewer sweets eating more organic foods. I am much more satisfied by a home-cooked meal with quality ingredients than when I use more convenience foods in the kitchen. When I grabbed some fish sticks and mac and cheese for a quick lunch this week, I spent the rest of the day feeling sick.

And I can't fail to mention that my depression is doing much better since I gave up artificial sweeteners.

The more I see these improvements, the more I want to eat naturally and organic. It is a bit more expensive, but I am enjoying my food more and feeling better. That is worth it to me. And since we have purchased so much of our meat in bulk, that helps my food budget cover the organic options.

(I highly suggest reading Animal, Vegetable, Mineral by Barbara Kingsolver or In Defense of Food by Michael Pollen to learn more.)