Slate Run Again...

Slate Run has a variety of old-fashioned toys to try out. I tried the hoop and stick (not sure what its official name is). I knew it was hard, but it was even harder than that. I basically stunk at it.

Calvin didn't do much better. Well as they say, when life hands you lemons...

Slate Run Continues...

Just some more pictures from Slate Run. Would've organized them better but Blogger won't let me, and I am giving up before I throw my computer.

More Slate Run...

A few days after our family went to Slate Run Farm, I went back with my babies, Mom and younger sisters. I love it there. I wish I had my own farm where I could grow my own food so I knew for sure where it came from and what was used to grow it.

I would love to work all day in the garden taking care of the plants that would be used to feed my family for the year. Enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables in the spring, summer, and fall and canning some for winter.

Chickens would roam free eating grass and bugs and getting good and healthy so we could in turn eat them and be healthy. I would have a huge amount of compost that pigs would turn and fill with all kinds of good bacteria and nutrients so that I could put it on my garden to make my plants grow even bigger. My cows would be grass fed, and I would not have to pay $6.99 a pound for hamburger, that would be nice.

Not entirely sure I would want sheep though, maybe a lamb or two just for the freezer. But I'll have to grow my own apple mint to make some jelly to go with them.

"Meg, Why Is There a Couch Laying Across Your Garden?"

(the blanket is on the ground to kill the grass, it is not a permanent thing)

I have to admit, the recent unintentional break from my blog was a product of a phase of lack of motivation I have been going through. It has been a chore for me to get anything done lately, don't know why and I will soon be back to normal (I hope). But even in this phase, I have diligently been taking care of my vegetable gardens; taking trips out to the back of the yard where the sun is always beating down sometimes multiple times a day, just to survey the progress. Then today when my mom and sisters came over, I heard my mom ask, "Meg, why is there a couch laying across your garden?"

At first I thought she was joking, and when at first I saw it, I still thought it was a joke of some sort. But no. Someone actually did take one of the couches that my neighbors were getting rid of, out of the alley and threw it into our yard on my garden. Why? I don't know. They were bored? Who knows. This isn't the first time I have seen random acts of vandalism, and I am sure it won't be the last. It isn't a huge deal. The couch was picked up, and I notified the proper people to come and get it. One plant was smashed beyond hope, others were damaged, but life goes on. Funny though how a small thing like this can remind you to pray, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus."

Slate Run

Our little family recently took a trip to Slate Run farm. It was the first somewhat successful trip we have made. I say somewhat successful because every time we have been before this trip it was always closed. This time we knew it would be open but as we were getting out of the car we heard distant rolls of thunder. We decided to go in anyhow and see what we could while it was still sunny.

All three of us who could walk tried our legs out on the stilts. Craig and I lasted a few steps and Calvin didn't want to have anything to do with them after we tried to get him to walk with them. Evie just sat on the bench under the grape vines lookin' cute.

We didn't get to see much that trip. The storm came in pretty fast. But we tried again a few days later...

Goodness.

The plan was to make Summer Paella from this quarter's issue of Edible Columbus, but I was short on time so the main ingredients (plus some zucchini) were put on the grill. It was good, but I think the dish would've been that much better. I still intend on trying it. Next time I will actually purchase the mussels that are supposed to go in it. I chickened out this time, cooking things like that scare me. But I guess there always has to be a first time.

For anyone interested you can go online and subscribe to receive an issue from Edible Publications. They have issues for several areas. Or try visiting your local Whole Foods.

I'm Back.

Back from an unintentional break from the blog. Thank you to those who inquired about my break. I am glad you enjoy reading my blog. Here are some of the pictures I took of Evelynn over my break. These will count as her one year pictures.

These are just a few of the tasty photos grandparents should expect to get a copy of at some point.

Natural Bug Repellant

I have made my own insect repellent by following the ingredients in natural repellents at Whole Foods. I also bought a bottle of Burt's Bee's repellent just in case mine doesn't work. I was a little disappointed because Whole Foods didn't have plain citronella oil. They had citronella java which I thought smelled pretty...gross. We'll see how this goes.

An Upside-Down Kind of Day.

Things are kind of topsy-turvy around here.

Fountains At Easton

The days are hot here in Columbus, so Craig and I decided to take the babies to Easton to cool off in the fountains. Calvin wasn't interested. Partly because he is a two-year-old old man, and partly because there were miniature trains set up close by.

Evie enjoyed the water. She also enjoyed meeting all the other little ones, and watching them run through the fountains too.

She was very proud of herself for being able to walk only holding on to one of my hands.

Evelynn's Birthday Party

We had fun celebrating Evie's first birthday with family and friends (Not pictured because I didn't ask their permission to use pictures I have of them. Attention family and friends: if you don't mind me using your picture on my blog please let me know!)

There were some good ones of our family though.

I like this one.

Getting Ready.

I made pierogies from scratch for the first time for Evelynn's birthday party. Craig's Grandma Nickoloff gave me her very old recipe. It was easier and harder than I thought it was going to be. And I think they needed salt. It won't be the last time I make them. I plan on perfecting the recipe to our families tastes. Here is the recipe for anyone interested. Add whatever seasoning your family likes.

Pierogi

2 cups flour
2 eggs
2 Tbl. sour cream
1/2 cup milk
Mashed Potatoes

Combine flour, eggs, sour cream and milk; knead until dough is soft and pliable. Roll out to desired thickness on a floured surface. Cut into rounds with a glass or cutter. Place a heaping teaspoonful of filling (in this case mashed potatoes) to one side of the dough, fold over and seal edges. Drop pierogi in boiling water, and cook until they rise to the top, remove carefully.

Craig likes to saute them with butter and onions and sprinkle them with cinnamon. Sounds weird but it is so good!

This is what Evie was doing while I was making pierogies and trying to clean up for her party. Tearing stuff out. But it kept her occupied. It's funny how I had to let her undo something so I could get something else done.

My Gardens So Far...

"What's with the voodoo?", Craig asked. It isn't voodoo. They are egg shells, sprinkled around the plants slugs like best. I need more. Omelets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

The slugs have practically destroyed my pepper plant. I bought another one just in case. The zucchini plants need thinned out, but I am waiting to see which plants do the best first.

I was a dork and put my tomato plants in one of those hanging things to keep them away from the rabbits. They are doing well, but aren't getting as much sun as they need up on the porch. The plan was to move them to wherever the sun was throughout the day, but that thing is heavy!

I Want Gray Hair.

In a society that WORSHIPS youth, I am longing for my older years. I am really longing for the wisdom that comes with years. Sometimes it is extremely frustrating to be inexperienced and immature. I am not despising my youth, I love it, I just despise my present perspective, temperament, and rationale. My prayers consist of me practically begging God for wisdom. There must be something wrong with the way I am going about getting it because I am not any wiser.