My New Favorite Toy

I got this cast iron drop biscuit pan for my birthday. I've made biscuits in them once. My recipe still needs some work but they were the best biscuits I've ever turned out.

I've also made Apple Spice Muffins...



and Corn Spoon Bread.


Sylvia really dressed the part for this picture!

A Day at the Lake

This has got to be one of my favorite swimming holes. It's a small lake at the top of a mountain. There's a clean, sandy beach and calm, clear water. And lots of shade too.



The bath house was built in the early 1900s.


Sylvia actually waded out up to her neck. I think she even got her face wet. Accidently of course.



It was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.

Baby and Dirt

Millie just wanted to say "Hello".

The Garden

The Good


A couple of the wave petunias that I planted last year survived the winter.


And these popped up unexpectedly by the steps leading up to our patio.


I planted these mums at the end of last summer. I guess I planted them too early. I must have been really excited about fall. They failed to thrive last year. I thought the drought did them in. I almost uprooted them several times. Now finally they've bloomed. The timing's still screwed up and it's too early I fear. They were looking pretty weather worn today.

The Bad


Several of our tomato plants are not producing fruit. And of course it's our favorite heirloom variety. Rex thinks they were hit by an early blight.

The Ugly



I planted these zinnias from seed. They actually grew very nicely. I even got a bouquet out of them. But this is all that's left of my flower patch. Something else liked them too.

Gas Calculations

Rex made up a list of places we regularly drive to and then calculated the round trip gas expense for both the truck and the minivan. Interestingly enough, from driveway to driveway my parent's house is exactly 100 miles from our house (according to Google Maps). It's a $40 roundtrip in the van. Yikes! I kind of wish I didn't know that. I guess you guys will just have to move closer.

Rex's daily commute runs him $.91. A trip to the grocery store costs me $2.36. A ride up to the family farm costs $9.28 in the van and $12.37 in the truck. I'm guesstimating that a trip to our favorite bakery would be about $2.75. So that turns a $4 loaf of bread (which already makes me cringe) into a $6.75 loaf!

But with 3 children I tend to stay home as much as possible anyway. Looks like these kids are saving me money!

Hints on Child Training

Since I hadn't read a book pertaining to discipline in awhile and perhaps because of a harried day or two, I went in search of something to give me some new ideas. I think it was an Amazon search that led me to this book, Hints On Child Training by H. Clay Trumbull.

The book was originally published in 1890 and written by one of America's most prominent Christian authors and spokesmen. He shares his experience of teaching and raising eight children.

I got it in the mail and forgot about it for a week or so, but once I started reading it, I could have devoured it in one sitting. However, to let the information really sink in, I limited myself to a chapter a day. And now that I'm done, I will keep it by my bed side and read it again.

We Start Them Early Around Here

American Nachos

I wanted to clean out the fridge. This is what I came up. Potato chips, leftover mac and cheese, some broccoli, and some sliced cherry tomatoes. Who wants to come over for dinner?

Gus' New Shirt

Thanks for the t-shirt Kim. Gus loves his "football" shirt!

Our Happy Father's Day

My parents and one of my sisters drove up to help celebrate. We decided to picnic at one of our favorite local parks. But not without first stopping by our favorite local bakery and then our favorite local coffee joint. I love the days we do that.


Sylvia surprised and delighted Rex and my dad with her personalized story books. Both of which involved eating cakes.


Gus got a few more birthday presents.


Millie ate some cake.


And we all took turns paddle boating.

What a great Father's Day. Over the past 5 years that Rex has been a father, we've honored this day at some nice restaurants around town. But I think it's safe to say that this one tops the list of favorite ways to celebrate. Locally of course.

Sylvia asked me why many of the other little girls at her dance recital got flowers and she didn't. I immediately felt a twinge of guilt because originally I had been too cheap. Then I changed my mind the night of the show. But they were sold out by the time I reached the lobby.

So I let her pick out a bouquet from the grocery store.

Happy Birthday to...

GUS!!!

Or should I say Augustus? Boy, he's growing up.



Here's a little conversation we had a week or two ago.

Me: Hey Gus. What kind of cake do you want for your birthday?

Gus: Bew.

Me: I mean what flavor cake?

Gus: Train.

Me: What do you want it to taste like?

Gus: Uhhhhh....TRAIN.

Okay buddy, here you go.

Happy Birthday to...

ME!

We spent the morning doing yard work but I had fun, really! Sylvia wished me a Happy Birthday about 10 times and gave me several stickers and pictures. I was presented with presents after breakfast and we brought lunch in from a great little deli down the road. One of my favorite things from this day was the card accompanying the gifts and the hilarity it imparted. It has a picture of a bluegrass band on the front and when you open it, the card starts to play Foggy Mountain Breakdown.

Here's the card.



Here's the hilarity.

Paper Dolls

I got two new Arts & Crafts books a couple of weeks ago, Primary Art by MaryAnn Kohl and The Little Hands Art Book. Both are chock full of creative and inspiring activities. The latter book especially takes me back to my crafting days of yore with projects like a paper bag picnic basket, clothespin butterflies, and paper weaving. It was this book that reminded me of paper dolls and Sylvia took to the idea right away. Her new skill has been a source of much entertainment over the past week.



Gus isn't as enthralled. When Sylvia sits down to fold and cut out her figures, Gus always joins her at the table but he usually does his own thing.



But this morning he picked out a blue sheet of paper and asked me to draw a little boy on it. I ended up cutting it for him as well and he was very excited when I handed him back his "little Guses". Alas...they didn't last long. About an hour later this is what I found on the table.



I guess the temptation was just too much for a little boy!

Bathtime Baby

Millie loves her bath. And I love babies in the bath.

Futon Follies

I've discovered a new purpose for the futon. It creates a multi-level play area. Just what is needed in a house where a little boy creates lego houses and a little baby likes to eat legos.

Vintage Educational

Here's a great resource for all you moms of younger kids out there. The following albums can be downloaded for free here. These were recorded in the 1950's. Sylvia loves them. We've probably listened to each album at least 10 times. Seriously.

Yankee Doodle

Sylvia had her dance recital on Tuesday night. Her class performed to Yankee Doodle.




Hey Sylvia! Why don't you do a little dance for all the folks who couldn't be here?



"Who? Me?"


"Well, okay."







"Hey Mom. I think it's time to go inside."




Sorry, I didn't get any presentable pictures of her onstage but she did great. I got some video footage of the rehearsal on my little digital camera. I need to get Rex to tell me how to upload it.