Just Some Summer Happenings

Just a hand full of some summer photos-

A few more Jamaica photos-

Trip to Tennessee
(FYI, pics of a DEAD pig below)

Pickin' onions-

 Tram ride to Ober Gatlinburg

Chair lift ride to Alpine Slide

Smoking a whole pig.  I forget how many hours it smoked, 10 hours?  I know it went all night and Dad had to keep getting up through the night to put wood in it.

Dad and brothers pulling the meat.  Probably the most delicious and flavorful meat I have ever eaten.

My brother's dog Sterling.  He is a rescued pit bull mix and a big, sweet boy-

And photogenic-

This is my old dog Boss, still full of energy (we think he is 16 years old, but we stopped counting).  Mom and Dad are letting him live at the farm where he gets more attention than I am able to give these days.  Kids want him to come back and live with us though.

Another reason I miss home (this table is stocked by the church community, sharing with their neighbors from their gardens, I thought it was a great idea)-

Some pictures of us enjoying Douglas Lake-

Yes, little man was as hesitant at first as he looks here.  He ended up liking it though.

My Dad (he's 64) showing us all he still has IT.  My sister-in-law, Kalissa, was quite good too.

Back home, enjoying our pool-

First face painting experience-

Double piano lesson.  Baby girl doesn't seem to be paying attention.

Rest up, summer isn't over yet. :)

Making Our Family Barn Mural

During our recent, yearly family get together we completed a family barn mural.  You maybe have seen barn quilts, we went with a symbolic mural design instead.  My family has owned and farmed the land my parents live on for over 100 years.  The mural shows some of the main crops and livestock that have been a part of the farming history:  tobacco, corn, cattle and pigs.  A tree was added in the middle to represent family.

First, the painting process.  Everyone chipped in on the painting-

And done!
The gray was painted around the edges to blend with the weathered barn wood.

I wonder if my great great grandparents would approve.

Beets Are Beautiful

Some of you have already heard this story but I would like to share again for those possible beet haters.
First some beet photos to warm you up to them-

Lovely-

Beets modeling in a row-

How about if I add a little girl-

Does a pouty face help?

How about with a cat?

Yeah, the last one isn't so appealing.

Back to my story-
Beets used to taste like dirt to me.... literally.... they tasted exactly.like.dirt.  I had only tried home canned pickled beets and boiled/steamed beets.  Some people love these and that is great.  I did not.
That is until my husband, who was a beet lover before we met, insisted that we grow them and eat them regularly.  He liked them steamed and I just could not eat them (and I am NOT a picky eater, I will eat most anything).  So to save our marriage (*exaggeration) I tried roasting them instead since I knew roasting usually makes all vegetables sweeter.  It worked!  And our marriage was saved.... then this happened:

Yes, we became known as a beet loving family (notice the shirt, what did you think I meant?).

I was willing to continue to give beets a try because of their nutritional value.  More on that here.  Also, since it is a cool weather vegetable, you can plants them early in the spring for an early summer harvest.  Then plant something new in their place for the summer.  We also plant some beets late summer for a fall harvest.

So what do we do with the beets.  Like I said I roast them, like this-
Wash, crop tops to steam the greens (don't peel):

Drizzle them with some oil, seal them in a pouch and roast for around an hour at 375F (depends on size and amount):

Pierce with fork to ensure soft, let cool to touch and skins should slip right off:

Our favorite way of eating them is quartered with roasted almonds and feta or goat cheese.  Really good.  The kids even love these.  They are sweeter than roasted carrots, almost as sweet as roasted sweet potatoes.  Jonathan LOVES the beet greens steamed (yes, I used to think this was weird too).

The excitement of eating beets might cause problems with eye hand coordination.

There we go.

I have also substituted beets for carrots in shepherds pie.  We will also roast them with carrots.  Roasted beets and carrots are a classic combination.
Recently, I skinned and grated raw beets to make a slaw with aioli dressing.  I would assume there are other dressings that will work.  It was very good, kids were not as fond of this one though.
(Used red and golden beets)

I am sure there are many things you can do with them, like beet chips, but as insinuated before I am new to this beet cooking.  If you have a beet favorites please share.

Ladies and Gentlemen.... A Curtain!

That's right my friends, step right up and BEHOLD this curtain.
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Why so special you ask?  Because this curtain was 100,000 million years in the brainstorming phase.
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If it was normal to talk to a curtain I would say this, "Hey curtain, you must be tired because you have been running circles through my mind for like 100,000 million years".
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(Note that I don't think the world has been in existence that long, for those that were concerned.)

In all seriousness though the brainstorming process of this curtain did feel that long.  I mean.... I stink at decision making (apparently) and home decorating.
OK, I think the long intro has built up too much excitement, so take a moment to lower your expectations for a very normal curtain.
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Maybe I should start over just to be safe.
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Hi everyone,
I finally have made my first curtain.  This is the first version of the curtain and I plan to make a few minor adjustments to the next ones..... but for now.... ta-da here is it:

Making the curtain was not that difficult and maybe I will share those details after I make the planned alterations.  For now though it is just a cut square with the edges sewn under and a curtain rod pocket.  It typically would not take long at all to actually make..... typically is the key word here..... my 'helpers' maybe slowed the process somewhat-

 

Then little man got a hold of the camera-

Yep-

Back to the curtain.
For now it is tied up with some twine (which is just thrown across the curtain rod).  I am not planning on using twine in the end, it looks a little too primitive for me.
For now its just a basic tie up curtain.

Fabric is gathering nicely when tied up.  Was going for a french linen look and I think this Joann Fabric knock off is doing fine.

'Real life' pictures of the prototype curtain-

Tied up even higher-

I hope to have the others up soon.

A House to Home: As Promised.... The Tale of the Traveling Pickles

A House to Home: As Promised.... The Tale of the Traveling Pickles: Posted July 26, 2012 Just like all the pickles I know, we had the same humble beginnings….. as cucumbers.  There were seventeen of us ...

Baby Goes On Vacation

You might be surprised to know that my day isn't always filled with Mommy cuddles and silky taggie toys.

Somedays it can be quite stressful laying around on the floor in this noisy house.

People don't really think about it but-  babies need a vacation!

Thankfully Mommy and Daddy love me SO much that they took me on a much needed vacation.... all the way to a place called Jamaica.  First thing Mommy did (after getting that drink) was take my clothes off.  Woohoo, this was good start.  Unrestricted access to my toes!

Brother and sister stayed behind at Grandma and Pa's.  So for the first time, I had things all to myself.

Most importantly, I had Mommy and Daddy ALL TO MYSELF.  Oh yeah....

I will even take this way of being carried, doesn't matter, someone is holding me and I love it.   Hello sandy ground.... I wonder how you taste-

Apparently when on vacation one is supposed to chill.  This is my chillin' face-

This is me chillin' with my mom listening to island music-

This is me chillin' with my daddy, on the back of a bike.  "When I push with my foot Daddy I want you to go faster"-

This is me chillin' on the beach-

When I am chillin' my Mommy and Daddy are very happy.  They did laugh and smile more than usual-

They also took me to this beautiful ceremony with a whole LOT of beautiful smiles-

They gave me this amazing crinkly toy.  I'm serious guys, if you have never squished and crinkled a tissue package for a half an hour.... you haven't lived.

The reception site had Dr. Suess trees y'all-

I also got to meet some new friends that held me at times too!  Good looking peeps right?  I stared closely at their faces and pulled on their hair..... especially that pretty blonde lady next to mommy.  And the guy in the blue pants and sport jacket..... he is pretty much my boyfriend.

As you know, vacations have to end.  But I soaked up as much Mommy arm time as I could before we got home-

So here I am back to normal life.

I love my brother and sister, so let's not tell them that sometimes I need a vacation from them.  It will be our little secret-