Welcome Summer!

I didn't intend to be away from blogging for so long. It just happened and it felt good! What have I been doing?  Well... I have been busy enjoying summer.  Tending to plants take up a good part of my evening.  I think this might be one of the best years for my annuals.  It isn't even July 1st and they are overflowing from their containers.  Makes me a happy girl!
 

The garden is doing well.  Just ignore the weeds. :)  The green beans, cucumbers and zucchini are blooming.  There are even green tomatoes on the vine.  I am looking forward to all of the fresh goodies. 

Lots of watering is going on as we are on day 16 of no rain.  It sounds like the farmers are starting to get a little nervous. 

The lack of rain has meant plenty of days spent outside. 

Playing in the backyard and

visiting Grammi & Grandpa's for a swim.

Megan has declared Tuesday morning as famous flying pancake day. 

It is nice that something as simple as pancakes brings such joy to the kids.

Most of Father's Day was spent at my father-in-law's.  I packed up everything needed to grill out and we headed over there.

It was a great afternoon.  Slow, relaxing, good company and Megan and her cousins had a blast "swimming" in the hot tub. 

All of the summer fun sometimes wears a person out.  Naps are rare for Megan.     

When she sacks out it reminds me that she is still a little thing.  I am trying to cherish the moments as she is growing up much to fast. 

I hope that you are having plenty of days with sunshine and blue skies.  With just the right amount of rain mixed in. :)

May your day be filled with joy and contentment.  Happy Summer!

Laundry Lessons

Like most of you I spend a good deal of my time doing laundry. Once upon a time I detested laundry. It was the chore that seemed to pile up and then it took forever to get it done.

That was before I stopped working and had the time to really embrace home keeping. I now have a laundry schedule and for the most part I am able to keep up with it. I especially like doing laundry when I am able to hang it out on the line. Not only does it makes it smell good it gives me time to think.

Just as laundry must be cleansed often, diligently, I must also take the time to cleanse my heart. For I am human and have many faults.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. ~ Psalm 19:12

Laundry is cleansed by soap and water.  I am cleansed by God's word.

How can a young man cleanse his ways?  By taking heed according to Your word. ~ Psalm 119:9

If we confess our sins.  He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ~ 1 John 1:19

When the laundry is complete you end up with fresh smelling clean clothes.  When I cleanse my heart by the word of God I end up with peace.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ~ Colossians 3:15

May your day be filled with joy and contentment.

Jam Time

Over the weekend we made a trip to get strawberries.  In the past we have picked our own, but this year it seems that we are busier then ever.  I opted to buy berries from the U Pick farm stand instead.

I wasn't sure if I was going to have enough for jam since Megan was eating tons of these.

In the end I had just enough for a batch of jam.

There was just enough left in the pan for a taste.  Megan proclaimed "Yum!"

This is just the first of the canning season.  Beets are in and I plan to pickle some for my father-in-law.  I always this time of year referred to as the lazy days of summer.  I don't know about you, but I find these anything but lazy. 
May your day be filled with joy and contentment.

Salad in a Jar

Our time away from the daily grind was fantastic! With a death in the family and then a sick little girl the to do list went out the window, but it was still relaxing. After our romp through the family farm we encountered some ticks. Megan ended up with one on her back. It was removed and then she started to complain of a headache Friday evening and was running a fever by Saturday morning. I spoke to the doctor and was told we would monitor her the next 24 hours. She didn't seem concerned about the tick bite. On Sunday morning she was running a 102.9 temperature with Tylenol. I am not a freak out kind of mom, but with the recent tick bite I was being extremely careful. We took Megan to the after hours clinic and this doctor was also concerned because of the tick bite. We started a round of antibiotics (which is the first time Megan has been on one) and hope and pray that is the end of it. Thankfully she is already feeling better.

Have you seen the salad in a jar on Pinterest and other blogs? I have seen several of them and thought what a great idea! While Megan spent time sleeping I was busy in the kitchen whipping some of them up.

I started out with a bagged lettuce mix that was on Managers Special at Kroger.  I then added chopped carrots, a hard boiled egg, some cut up roasted chicken breast and topped it off with a little cheese.  Really the combinations are endless.

I love a good salad in the summer.  I don't always make them because sometimes lunch time is hectic with little ones ready for a rest.  I  am looking forward to enjoying a good salad without all of the last minute prep.

May your day be filled with joy and contentment.