Summer!

In this post, I'm including pictures from 3 different events that show how our summer got started:

One day, early in June after a heavy rainstorm, Dave took Lauren out to do some puddle jumpin' in the street.

That led to shoulder rides, running around the yard. Lauren says "shodurs" and that's all it takes ~ Dave whisks her off the ground and off they go. She LOVES her daddy.

That was a little fun springtime activity, but now Summer has officially arrived and I could not be more happy!
On Saturday, we worked for hours in the yard. Lauren loved the hose and the shovel, her swing and slide. She didn't like the idea of keeping the hose in the garden. Her pants ended up soaked all down the front. :) I couldn't be mad - it was so refreshing!
Our neighbors had set up a huge bounce house with a water slide, for a family party later that day. Of course, it attracted all the neighbor kids, including Lauren, and they were nice enough to let everyone play for awhile. That was a fun distraction......and then, she discovered the next-door neighbor's wading pool, so I stripped her down right there in the back yard and put her swimming suit on. This kept her entertained until lunch, and allowed Dave to work hard, un-interrupted. Then after lunch she crashed and slept for 3 hours!!

Dave tilled the garden and a huge spot behind our garden, which was once completely overgrown with thick weeds up to his waist. (you can see it in the picture of Dave running with Lauren) I re-hoed (sp?) all the rows around the plants and watered everything. It's so fun to see the progress and growth! We have been loving the fresh spinach and are looking forward to the beets, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, peppers and melons.
Our yard needs a ton of work, but we are encouraged when we think of all the potential it has. It's a little overwhelming, but when we feel so much satisfaction as we knock things off the list little by little. We are so grateful to have the space.

What defines summer better than eating watermelon up in the canyon? This was the Saturday before Father's Day - an evening up the canyon with Dave's family.

I love Lauren's hair in pigtails. It's finally coming in enough to actually style it :) I do have to sneak it in sometimes when she's distracted and she always pulls it out, so I re-do it at least 5 times a day, but it's worth it I think.

I love summer mornings with the soft sunlight coming over the mountains.

I love the sound of a watermelon snapping open after the first cut.

I love seeing Lauren in her hat and sunglasses :)

I love working hard in the yard and drinking fresh cold water.

I love smoothies made from milk, ice, blueberries, bananas and our own spinach and strawberries. (Yay for the Magic Bullet!!!)

A Poem about Prayer

"The builder who first bridged Niagara's gorge,
Before he swung his cable, shore to shore,
Sent out across the gulf his ventureing kite
Bearing a slender cord for unseen hands
To grasp upon the further cliff and draw
A greater cord, and then a greater yet;
Till at last across the chasm swung
The cable - then the mighty bridge in air!

"So may we send our little timid thought
Across the void, out to God's reaching hands-
Send our love and faith to thread the deep-
Thought after thought until the little cord
Has greatened to a chain no chance can break,
And we are anchored to the infinite!"
~ Edwin Markham

It doesn't get much healthier than this.......and it's tasty :)

I found this recipe on Jan 15th 2009. I know that because it's written down in my calendar in the square for Jan. 15th. Each time I want to make this soup, I have to go dig out my calendar and flip through it until I find the upper right hand corner that has a lot of writing on it - then I see the recipe :) I made it again last week during our "winter weather" and I've officially decided it's a "keeper". So maybe I'll finally write it down on a recipe card!

GOLDEN SQUASH SOUP
1 med. butternut squash, cubed (abt 3 cups)
1 med. onion, chopped
3 med. cloves garlic
1 TBSP chopped fresh ginger
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp curry powder
2 3/4 c. chicken or veg. broth (plus about 2 TBSP to saute the onions & garlic)
6 oz. can coconut milk
2 TBSP fresh cilantro

Saute the onion and garlic in 2 TBSP broth, add ginger, turmeric, curry.
Add squash and broth - bring to a boil, reduce & simmer 10 min+ (to soften squash)
But in a blender - puree til smooth.
Return to pot, add coconut milk and cilantro, salt and pepper to taste - reheat.
Eat.
I know it sounds like a weird combination, but it's so good! Onions, Garlic, Ginger & Turmeric are all listed with stars (meaning they have extra special nutrient power :) in one of my favorite books, "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth".
Anything that has coconut milk in it is good - and what a great way to use up some squash! :)
Lauren even loves this soup. She asks for seconds! (which isn't a shocker - she asks for seconds of everything)

A Miracle and a Blessing

I have to take a minute and celebrate the fact that our '96 Honda Accord is still running perfectly with over 233,000 miles on it! The cruise control, A/C, power windows and locks and sunroof still work and Dave installed keyless entry and remote start for me for Christmas 4 years ago and that still works! It has been a miracle car! Every time I drive it and see the odometer I am filled with gratitude. We will drive this car until it dies. I can't wait to see how many miles we can put on it! :)

Inspiration

I am inspired.

One day my coat closet will resemble this:

The closet now:

I'm really embarassed to admit ownership of this closet, but hopefully now that it's public, I will be more motivated to reach my desired end.
You all understand. It's just one of those things you deal with every day, vowing that one day you'll get organized and make it look better.

Sometimes I do take the time to organize the shoes, but today I just got sick of them laying all over the house and I was sweeping and vacuuming so I threw them all in. It's a good catch-all place that is hidden by a closed door :)

That baby bouncy chair you see? That broke when my husband let our almost 30 lb toddler sit in it. Somehow it ended up here! What? Why?!

And the strand of christmas lights........they've been there since before we moved in. I think the previous owner left them.

Okay, so I've really put myself out there, admitting laziness and procrastination. Watch for an update. :) I can only take the humiliation for so long.

(not to mention the unsightly clutter!)