Ahhh....

Hutters. I am completely ruined by a project I've been working on and so today my friend Krista saved me by suggesting a hike at Jenkinson Lake (Was she tired of supplying liquid inspiration/sympathy? Maybe. Regardless, she is a gem at pulling me away from madness).

The Littles (hers and mine) were very creative with littered beer bottles on the shoreline. They recycled these bottles as a water source for the dam and village below, yes...we packed them out.

There were a tremendous amount of ladybugs, a few crickets and an alligator lizard missing it's tail just waiting for Littles' prying eyes and stick-poking. We saw a bald eagle but these Littles acted like that nonsense was old news (oh country bumpkins and their everyday type ho hums...).

Savannah

Savannah and The Goo took liberties with the mud and clay, fully  indulging in it's slimy and gritty qualities. Ivy was proud to be "clean as a mouse", which I think might mean the opposite of what she was trying to communicate.

So a morning/afternoon in the sun, aside the most peaceful of waters is really the best medicine and exactly what we all needed to nearly wrap up this Spring Holiday.

Botting's Brew.

Three weeks ago Tim brewed his own beer. 43 bottles of Porter. He opened his first bottle last night, the chocolate-y rich brew was delicious. It has been so fun to see the pride Tim had in this project. The sense of pride in learning to make something yourself is incredibly fulfilling. I'm so happy to share in his delight.

Cal Day.

Tim and I took The Littles to Cal Day on Saturday.

Savannah just finished an extensive dinosaur research project at school, so the exhibit in the gallery of the Life Sciences Building was thrilling.

The Big Bugs display was fantastic,

these metallic beetles? Incredible.

We went to The Art Studio and watched a ceramics demonstration, walked through Kroeber Hall so see the Student Art Show then we stopped to listen to the Cal marching band. Their performance was awesome, this student-lead group owned their Bear pride.

The Little Girls are already talking about going back to Cal Day next year and we've had deeper conversations about what they are excited to study in school. Their college years are distant we know. But starting early to dream with them is so much fun.

 

French Baguette.

For a long time I've wondered about how to make authentic tasting, with crispy crust, French baguette. Figuring success was unlikely, I shied away from any research or further questioning until Saturday when a rush of bravery mixed with a fierce craving got the better of me. My search took me to this blog. I watched the accompanying video, mulled it all over and got to work.

Hutters: This baguette is the real deal. The prep/baking was so easy. My Littles are drunk off baguette and now that I've made the recipe a couple times, I'm not sure we can ever sit down to dinner without this bread. Now I'm ready to try some other new bread recipes. Except sourdough. Sourdough freaks me out.

Potato Farming.

This weekend seed potatoes were prepped and planted.

Perfect seed potato. Two healthy sprouted eyes. This one is ready for the trench.

Potatoes cut and dipped in ash, toughening the flesh and keeping them from rotting.

Of all the fruits and vegetables we are planting, potatoes are the harvest Tim is most looking forward to.

This trench/trough digging was intense, Tim was a maniac preparing the rows. Surely his excitement gave him motivation. Then he taught Ivy how to plant the potatoes "sprouted eyes up". Looking forward to mounding these as the leaves push through the soil.

Sweet Memories.

Typically for my Mom's birthday I buy a bundle of flowers and place them at her grave. This year I wanted to do something different in remembrance of her, something I think she would have done or enjoyed. My Mom loved working in her garden (we once had a cat who would climb up my mom's leg, lay down on her back while she was bent over weeding and fall asleep!). So Goo and I went to the nursery and purchased two fruit trees for The Hut. I was a little late at the nursery for the peach trees I was hoping to buy so instead I picked out a kiwi vine and a fig tree. They don't look like much right now but in the future when I pick this fruit from these trees for my Littles on my acre, I will think of the wholesome life my Mom created for her Littles in her garden on her acre.

Right Now.

This post is meant to be a future inspirational touchstone for me to look back on and draw strength from. Amen.

 

The sunsets here at The Hut are really incredible these last few days. The sky is the clearest and air, crispest after this early Spring snow. I have so many projects coming up regarding the acre here. So much hope and excitement.

Tim asked me the other day, "When you think of retirement later in life, are you excited?" I answered quickly without putting any thought into my words at all, "No! Because if I'm retired, The Littles have grown up and we aren't doing exactly what we are doing right now. And I love life right now." And then as our conversation went on and I reciprocated the question and he replied how excited he is for retirement, I started thinking about what I had said. And yes, I'm sure retirement will be grand. My Dad loves it and I know Tim's parents are really going to enjoy their new freedom immensely but I love everything about right now in my life even moments like yesterday when all three Littles were crying at the same time about some ridiculousness they went to battle over or when I am physically and emotionally spent from their care and needs. Still, right now, this is the very best. I have everything I'll ever need and want, right now.

p.s. Remembering my Mama today. It would have been her 62nd birthday.