Old Tricks.

There are typically only 2 or 3 days during the summer when we wish we had air conditioning. Usually those days are spread throughout the summer months and not in a row. This week is an exception. So this morning when I was awake at 5 am without the typical cool breeze coming through the window, I knew I'd have to come up with some tricks spaced well enough apart to keep My Littles sane instead of edgy.

1. Sprinklers.
2. Letting the chicks out of the coup and on the soft grass for the first time.
3. Popsicles, lots of Popsicles.
4. 2 trips next door to see neighbor Nita.
5. Berry Milk Shakes.
6. Water Balloons.
7. Cool Taco Salad for dinner.

Tomorrow I'm going to a pool.

High Hand Conservatory.

Tim's parents took us to a very special place last Sunday: High Hand Conservatory.

This nursery/conservatory/boutique boardwalk in an old wheat/fruit mill is a dream. The grounds are lovely, we enjoyed the koi pond before brunch and after.

This Rug Shop caught my eye, the smell and visual sensation was inspiring.

I really wanted to take home these fruit boxes and make them into shelving as one of the boutiques had done.

My favorite display was this old cook stove turned succulent garden.

The Goo was enamored by this old truck turned vegetable garden.

And this old Tonka gave me an idea...must search thrift shops for old trucks!

Yahoo!

Look Hutters!

The Little Girls have learned to blow up balloons! They are hyper-excited and spent many minutes giggling and showing off their new tricks to Great Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Zzuzzanne (Susanne).

What are you up to this weekend? We have fun, busy plans that will keep us out of our almost finished kitchen (the tile back splash is going in as I type this...eeek!) If you live in Northern California you know we are just beginning a week-long stretch of muggy heat. If you by chance have elderly neighbors, will you check in on them these next couple of days? Even if it is a wave hello or sly peek through the window? I just worry about older folks during hot spells...thanks. Happy weekend to you!

Berry Good.

I have been wanting to learn how to make jam for a while now. Each time I bring home berries from The Ranch, I think about what the process might be, do a little research and then stop...paralyzed by the intimidation of canning jam. Mostly I have been stumped by how to do exactly what I want to do when making jam. And what I want to do is make jam with only two ingredients; berries and sugar. I bit the bullet and got down to business. And let me just say, IT WAS SO EASY (This was my guide)! I used Marion Berries and Olallieberries, 7 -8 cups of berries to 2 cups of sugar--that's it.

We picked berries this morning with Jenny, Jackson and Hank at The Ranch.

At home, I rinsed then put super ripe berries in a pan with a little sugar.

After boiling for an hour with constant stirring.

Poured into hot disinfected jars, lids and rings.

Then into the boiling-water canner for 15 minutes. Done when sealed.

Time With Grandma Is THE BEST!

The Little Girls spent last weekend with Grandma Margaret doing all their favorites. Grandma introduced two new games early Saturday morning; a princess game and BINGO!

They went to church and then on to Gibson Ranch to feed the hissing ducks.

The Little Girls frosted cupcakes and then went to Chuck E. Cheese Restaurant/Little Kid Heaven for lunch and games.

Savannah told me she was proud of herself for taking a photo with good ol' Chuck.

Thanks to both Margaret and Gordon for the photos and for loving on My Little Girls throughout the weekend!

 

A Fun 3 Months.

Today I collected the last of my belongings from my studio on Main Street. My studio mate, Penny, is expanding her business (The Parlor) by taking on an employee so she can use the space as her office/reception and I just don't have time to travel in order to create. I need my studio here at home, in my hut. So call it bad timing or good timing, I'll call it "an adventure in trying to make time for myself", ha! I will miss being a "townie" and feeling a part of the hubbub, the light in the room all day...oh the light..., the rad hardware store below (I could spend all day there), Penny popping her head in between appointments and chatting but I won't miss any attempt at intentional and organized creating (sewing, drawing, painting, making jewelry) which for me is quite challenging. I realize more than ever how I thrive when a new idea is organic and not forced. So my Honey Hut is full again and I couldn't be happier. (Plus, I kept worrying about The Fairchild building burning down by an unsupervised candle or a kitchen fire from the pub below.)

Sweets.

Back on The Ranch today we picked more blueberries and the olallieberries are ripe now too. I'm counting down the days until my favorites are ready: marionberries.

Today is Tim and my 14th anniversary! When I told The Little Girls earlier in the week about our anniversary Savannah got super excited and said "YES! What Are we going to do? Can we go to sushi?" I LOVE how she wants us to celebrate all together.