Where Were The Marshmallows?

Sunday was chilly.

After church, the kids department had Family Fun Day.

Everyone had a blast.

They fed us mexican food... yum.

Then the kids played on inflatables.

When we got home, the weather was perfect for getting some jobs done that just can't be done during the hot weather.  Who wants to do anything when it is boiling outside?  Not us!

There was some painting and cleaning up of the outside... which is a huge problem for me.

We all like a little pride in our homes when we drive up, right?

Anywho...

My dad started asking me some questions about our garden next year.

What did I want to plant?

How big did I want to make it?

We got busy talking this over and then took a walk out in the left front field to kind of map out how big we want this thing.

I was told that we would need to mow very slowly through the overgrown brush around the perimeter and then burn the inside.

I guess those boys meant NOW!

Then next thing I knew, Dad was mowing and then as the sun was going down...

the kids came running in to tell me that they were setting the field on fire.

I walked outside with the bigger girls and...

indeed...

fire was everywhere.

But...

it did warm things up a bit!

Mark is seriously having too much fun out there!

The little firebug!

Buck doesn't really care for the fire..

He proved several times why he is named Buck.

Above is Miranda and Sydnee...

my walk around the perimeter of the fire, "garden", partners.

and...

To prove that I actually live here too...

A photo of me at the fire.

It was a fun and productive way to watch the sun go down on a sunday afternoon...

But, where were the marshmallows?

Vegetables With Grandpa...

We didn't get out here in time to put in our own garden...

and I had to leave what I had planted behind in Utah.

However, my dad had planted some cantaloupe and cucumbers.

The kids love going out there and picking the veggies...

now please don't write to inform me that they have seeds and so they are fruit.

I will not listen to you.

I will not.

I will ignore you while I peel and eat a lovely cucumber with my kids.

We have a turtle or ground hog that has been snacking on our cantaloupe...

I love this photo.

The kids working together to bring in the harvest...

It was so hot and the pot was heavy, but they worked together to get it to the kitchen.

It just makes me smile!

The best thing about all of the cucumbers is that the kids are filling up on them.

My dad breaks out his trusty knife and peels them right there in the yard...

The kids find a seat and eat the whole thing.

How much better can a snack get!

Look What We've Been Eating...

As you can remember from a couple of months ago...

we planted several items this year.

Our favorite thing (always) is tomatoes. We planted several types this year... roma, yellow pear, supersweet, cherry, and a couple others. Let's just say that we have been eating tomatoes with almost every meal... and loving it!

This is what I picked off of the vines this morning.

Yummmmmm......

Tonight for dinner we will have all of the small ones, cut with salt and pepper. Oh yeah.

We have the others on sandwiches, in salads, just wherever and however...

I will be sad to see the season end...

Summer Project...

Our new project...

Mark and I decided that we would take a really old table that we had and break it up to make some raised beds for gardening. Then we couldn't decide on only a few plants so we brought in some planters as well.
We figured this would make a nice summer project for the kids. Now, we just have to keep the dog out of it... and the little ones. Miranda is totally excited about this and checks it out every day to see what changes are occurring.

I just think everyone should know a little bit about what goes into growing the food that you put on your table... and it tastes so much better than what you can buy at the store.