tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61093492888010748912024-03-12T19:53:30.010-04:00At HomeA new phase...our lives as we become at home.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.comBlogger359125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-18595038870975936522013-01-17T17:45:00.001-05:002013-01-17T17:45:15.743-05:00Three Bros. Farm and Orchard: A Growing Season in Review<div style="text-align: center;">
After years of daydreaming, planning, reading and <a href="http://www.amanda-athome.blogspot.com/2008/06/lets-get-real.html" target="_blank">practice</a>,<br />
this year, Matt and I hired an accountant, registered a farm name<br />
and created an LLC (limited liability company).<br />
<br />
And thus was the birth of<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThreeBrothersFarmAndOrchard" target="_blank">Three Brothers Farm and Orchard</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The images I am sharing tell a sweet little picture story of our growing season for 2012. Some of the images are specific examples of our farming practices and some are sights evident of seasonal change, like laundry drying outdoors (or indoors depending upon the season). I have provided captions with little tidbits of information and dates and such, but this is primarily a pictorial review.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhwsK-4Tev9ruMA4uKHlA7_ABHRmMizUAHhW_Re9JDLyX1PBIbvlpSpR4Y7QinWaAcCO9g-c9MYQX4T0c9abwu8Egv7-zrdSG-o5J21IHk7QHY_4HM20RVvcKleQkkCHCiKEZwWrWBxy3/s1600/IMG_1586-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhwsK-4Tev9ruMA4uKHlA7_ABHRmMizUAHhW_Re9JDLyX1PBIbvlpSpR4Y7QinWaAcCO9g-c9MYQX4T0c9abwu8Egv7-zrdSG-o5J21IHk7QHY_4HM20RVvcKleQkkCHCiKEZwWrWBxy3/s320/IMG_1586-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>March fog.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHzLGfRGSr29NVVLIMQGDiWg7Pu0qz8b_OHrex4IgqfbTPavteRuBLoqJEu0QFTusT2dFmt8fBXh-7W73FCghK_obOA3H-tG17j6UwX7o4get1kQZPvzIWY3p5rh2CPRYpkYYgdWHs2xB/s1600/IMG_1523-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHzLGfRGSr29NVVLIMQGDiWg7Pu0qz8b_OHrex4IgqfbTPavteRuBLoqJEu0QFTusT2dFmt8fBXh-7W73FCghK_obOA3H-tG17j6UwX7o4get1kQZPvzIWY3p5rh2CPRYpkYYgdWHs2xB/s320/IMG_1523-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>At Otis' 3rd birthday in March, the kids took it upon themselves to help prepare the garden for planting. This is a good example of what our early spring plating site looks like. You can see some apple trees we over-wintered in the background in a fencing cage and the chicken tractor in the far background. We often use the chickens to scratch up the garden space during the off season.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NG16V2Q12TFnSf_hnctbgFLf2FviH6dVdDWNagDCcFAaArsLpzePevvs6UeF2LnofgxaGKgCDvniDLetqgHeHWV6_nJOKDN5TfJwVdffLRet9MvOWqw357PWFIu17vFzw3cjHwS1ispM/s1600/IMG_1571-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NG16V2Q12TFnSf_hnctbgFLf2FviH6dVdDWNagDCcFAaArsLpzePevvs6UeF2LnofgxaGKgCDvniDLetqgHeHWV6_nJOKDN5TfJwVdffLRet9MvOWqw357PWFIu17vFzw3cjHwS1ispM/s320/IMG_1571-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We successfully collaborated farm</i><i>ing efforts with our close friends, the Ginzel-Hill family! Jerry and Melissa, along with their daughters, Ailee (9) and Ada (6), spent many, many hours working our land with us in exchange for produce, eggs <span style="font-size: small;">and free-range chicken meat</span>. It was a fabulous arrangement we will continue this year as well. Here Otis and Ada were playing while Melissa and I worked in the garden in April.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLiFfJzpryyPaSGu5aOkLpmhSqr97zx37PMHPu-VJKqztl94OV9FEAa5KgXWRYXDS-W3u5qjzib6MSs7kFJdkC6avT8lDZ-iTbkSw4qHoJpYW0w8-Wkb_bUpBEyBn08kpLQki0Vka0VVe/s1600/IMG_1589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLiFfJzpryyPaSGu5aOkLpmhSqr97zx37PMHPu-VJKqztl94OV9FEAa5KgXWRYXDS-W3u5qjzib6MSs7kFJdkC6avT8lDZ-iTbkSw4qHoJpYW0w8-Wkb_bUpBEyBn08kpLQki0Vka0VVe/s320/IMG_1589.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzvc628telt0tQIQVx0k4WVnmbhb3ng352kyVnxUiKaaKZa3ARX1d9f8xo_WoyNKsHdnzUziwZAMfZjRRuMviR3-nRXkj9S_bhBuZLvWc-upA-izoVtcP7N-4cvZS2w1zsSD2jPxheEGf/s1600/IMG_1616-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzvc628telt0tQIQVx0k4WVnmbhb3ng352kyVnxUiKaaKZa3ARX1d9f8xo_WoyNKsHdnzUziwZAMfZjRRuMviR3-nRXkj9S_bhBuZLvWc-upA-izoVtcP7N-4cvZS2w1zsSD2jPxheEGf/s320/IMG_1616-1.JPG" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A Cedar tree fell in a strong, Spring storm. Matt cleaned it up and kept the trunk. He turned it into the post for our dinner bell, which lives in a flower bed by our back porch. It is a great tool for calling kids in at me<span style="font-size: small;">al or chore times and they will often fight over the right to ring it!</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQfJaWoJG7FONbql323RlpWBUnvpfNuCyzsJ2PCf5JJGlNrNB_yNDafO8MkIvkUJqH0jM8c8Ly_bpvC6OXeDOy9JRWpvbj01BF3POzPDNFfDrLT65GDO1RnPH5-mle2aQ2KrlILvMB49E/s1600/IMG_1630-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQfJaWoJG7FONbql323RlpWBUnvpfNuCyzsJ2PCf5JJGlNrNB_yNDafO8MkIvkUJqH0jM8c8Ly_bpvC6OXeDOy9JRWpvbj01BF3POzPDNFfDrLT65GDO1RnPH5-mle2aQ2KrlILvMB49E/s320/IMG_1630-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>First flowers of the season!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs80rYHKyxKiL0ygT70WCSDShbLlOeA526rXlAjGhdqoi5o15-bOy6tghCs2dNe9UTYeAXUIluv0SiZDRjDiUB3ewon_xo3Vmjyi7VNRVcGiwsO02exVR8Y2UAkHuPv6bj-YyRkJPCg3e/s1600/IMG_1618-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNs80rYHKyxKiL0ygT70WCSDShbLlOeA526rXlAjGhdqoi5o15-bOy6tghCs2dNe9UTYeAXUIluv0SiZDRjDiUB3ewon_xo3Vmjyi7VNRVcGiwsO02exVR8Y2UAkHuPv6bj-YyRkJPCg3e/s320/IMG_1618-1.JPG" width="243" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXykzdM3TsZOT4ToPtqo-Icx6yXgiSxBNBH0v3TsXy09g8sfP38AqUB5qdqF-2gB5ET_VFsm3Alky0EuG0FQotLbJEf3DMtfq-F-zMa-0raimQ7vj_TWSdrqvmAIUjK3YZoae8z1t9ojQ8/s1600/IMG_1859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXykzdM3TsZOT4ToPtqo-Icx6yXgiSxBNBH0v3TsXy09g8sfP38AqUB5qdqF-2gB5ET_VFsm3Alky0EuG0FQotLbJEf3DMtfq-F-zMa-0raimQ7vj_TWSdrqvmAIUjK3YZoae8z1t9ojQ8/s320/IMG_1859.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>One surprising evolution that came with mostly full-time farming was the change in work attire! As an at-home mom my day to day attire fluctuates drastically depending upon the activity planned for the day. While farming this season I found that almost everyday I wore work jeans, gloves, boots, sunglasses and some sort of hat or hair scarf. It became pretty boring, pretty fast. I began wearing more work skirts and purposefully wearing "fancy" earrings to shake things up!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIr68_regwwiGp_vUARkZA5bbAmSFgjMRQEYF77xfhZz3d5issPyshvjko1GCZcX7AKWDOF6axnEnbE2Q_eNlfwOdjfph3ktEU5YGlEOTy9Gr-xzMGcbTENfS2ONNqiyjL3_b0ZBH63Q9/s1600/IMG_1858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIr68_regwwiGp_vUARkZA5bbAmSFgjMRQEYF77xfhZz3d5issPyshvjko1GCZcX7AKWDOF6axnEnbE2Q_eNlfwOdjfph3ktEU5YGlEOTy9Gr-xzMGcbTENfS2ONNqiyjL3_b0ZBH63Q9/s320/IMG_1858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6c35LS6_tkbvZ3LPZujVCSDKc8yp2obeK4EyzzK4teWCN-U44Gk26tYDGj4V2CtZ3Jt8RVreSV5wMaVwD3PPig76GwMUCAKxZz-94qCYobWjOqNxFkWRqIkSTPsCtU5ZpRQC1afyCF_Q/s1600/IMG_1846-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6c35LS6_tkbvZ3LPZujVCSDKc8yp2obeK4EyzzK4teWCN-U44Gk26tYDGj4V2CtZ3Jt8RVreSV5wMaVwD3PPig76GwMUCAKxZz-94qCYobWjOqNxFkWRqIkSTPsCtU5ZpRQC1afyCF_Q/s320/IMG_1846-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGqoWyTnQGhe-kxRwYm9o4g_JFsavfRtUzRUPGk-8TyBx545KSN7ERMI9HprGFcdRiBZyQLgB0V5-7tBakHbRUsocgsucRWaFjm1B5aCKiay-OvITC_VGGTYXE1DUiv1OS5-xNstVBW-B/s1600/IMG_1896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGqoWyTnQGhe-kxRwYm9o4g_JFsavfRtUzRUPGk-8TyBx545KSN7ERMI9HprGFcdRiBZyQLgB0V5-7tBakHbRUsocgsucRWaFjm1B5aCKiay-OvITC_VGGTYXE1DUiv1OS5-xNstVBW-B/s320/IMG_1896.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Keeping Otis busy while working in the garden was sometimes a very hard task. When there weren't other kids to play with and/or I was doing a very tedious or fragile task, like weeding seedlings or transplanting seedlings, it was a necessity to help him find entertainment. Worms worked every time, and <a href="http://www.amanda-athome.blogspot.com/2011/06/otis-and-his-worms.html" target="_blank">not just this year</a>!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMChqdFhN-mWrqAfN2NRd5qDaz4ZToCr7anUS2r_1PyBdUhAyxtdBO3SvPlcaeRsKbxpKo7hU3xDvelU4o2Dz0KxwTYRqxwinjnrDWxbh7nt-jZSiqm2XeoDP73DqrXqfWW0aGaQF1l3bg/s1600/IMG_1861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMChqdFhN-mWrqAfN2NRd5qDaz4ZToCr7anUS2r_1PyBdUhAyxtdBO3SvPlcaeRsKbxpKo7hU3xDvelU4o2Dz0KxwTYRqxwinjnrDWxbh7nt-jZSiqm2XeoDP73DqrXqfWW0aGaQF1l3bg/s320/IMG_1861.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Though we are attempting various no-till methods for our growing space, we have found that we do still need to occasionally, especially when working ground that was not worked in recent years (like in this photo). To Matt's right you can see a patch covered in straw. This is our small strawberry patch. It started in 2011 with 15 plants and grew in 2012 to 75 plants! Our harvest amounted to sporadic handfuls that never left the patch, but we are hopeful for this season. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mPiO_Dmcr5BqPG-745OuUN-7V590hOiT_1Wm4Ua5U6lkNvGYhkyYK0VdSklBmgU91LeWE9TvVlV5BEPPMGQn8n1txhiGcDN4H7WpkaG_7y1sbPFnV0XTrYv1vK5iynVEkPT9OMhjzuk7/s1600/IMG_1912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mPiO_Dmcr5BqPG-745OuUN-7V590hOiT_1Wm4Ua5U6lkNvGYhkyYK0VdSklBmgU91LeWE9TvVlV5BEPPMGQn8n1txhiGcDN4H7WpkaG_7y1sbPFnV0XTrYv1vK5iynVEkPT9OMhjzuk7/s320/IMG_1912.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A rare moment of rest.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivev5PA7mBIlNwG4vvZE0LVqJtQkKCOi2yg_bVm_tTgrDJb0U2YbiIfsoz4upztkkb9pQiljtGq7L2OLHT5M0RxE4AUsrlFw7XmtUDctaRgzhogmQR8_s_pyMjKnOeHsgQOt16CyNwolgl/s1600/IMG_1919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivev5PA7mBIlNwG4vvZE0LVqJtQkKCOi2yg_bVm_tTgrDJb0U2YbiIfsoz4upztkkb9pQiljtGq7L2OLHT5M0RxE4AUsrlFw7XmtUDctaRgzhogmQR8_s_pyMjKnOeHsgQOt16CyNwolgl/s320/IMG_1919.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z6KrM9T4n-PWCRBEhE7m7nFw4aUGmOlKHPfvns6tq_4hzgvhwP_kCheSDXhKHXEVAvPnCd32hZ789vq0vPcG49lWpswX-DGPSoYso5OWR-TITY2QpzwtOaQSfGSywq3oPjC89ezK-lYp/s1600/IMG_1968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z6KrM9T4n-PWCRBEhE7m7nFw4aUGmOlKHPfvns6tq_4hzgvhwP_kCheSDXhKHXEVAvPnCd32hZ789vq0vPcG49lWpswX-DGPSoYso5OWR-TITY2QpzwtOaQSfGSywq3oPjC89ezK-lYp/s320/IMG_1968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_4iboFhIR5U2GSc4zGttmXs0RyflsDFtOta_azapXjkH5C3MC3B8PfhaKAwF56cmVA0DcKqZPFWfmPJFWXTU9qXFJgL9vuQOT4C61ywTT1xvf_Be0IrtxUNSP5DMbQsz6potV7kwgIFc/s1600/IMG_1961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_4iboFhIR5U2GSc4zGttmXs0RyflsDFtOta_azapXjkH5C3MC3B8PfhaKAwF56cmVA0DcKqZPFWfmPJFWXTU9qXFJgL9vuQOT4C61ywTT1xvf_Be0IrtxUNSP5DMbQsz6potV7kwgIFc/s320/IMG_1961.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Due to Matt's diligence and persuasion, we added "Josephina", a 1949 International Harvester Farm<span style="font-size: small;">A</span>ll tractor, to our farming equipment menagerie. She has a 60" belly mower that has reduced our mowing time to only 2.5 - 3 hours a week, which is significantly less than before AND we have a few "ground working" implements that I cannot name specifically. The kids enjoy rides and I enjoy driving her. <span style="font-size: small;">T</span>hough I was initially reluctant, Josephina has been an excellent work horse for her age and she adds a bit of nostalgia, in which I am always happy to indulge. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRMtwtT-6buejzjh1tdtaf2WtvC1EmnTzFBkbswAw_p5zm8Qz0JmSz4c5PilSJwWu8nJQN_1dEyMarkNc-Nd7wlOFdawmfTTTJC8cAuATdF-paxg-O4jxHUX1UeiYqi7Z2x8M7jWzq8_X/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRMtwtT-6buejzjh1tdtaf2WtvC1EmnTzFBkbswAw_p5zm8Qz0JmSz4c5PilSJwWu8nJQN_1dEyMarkNc-Nd7wlOFdawmfTTTJC8cAuATdF-paxg-O4jxHUX1UeiYqi7Z2x8M7jWzq8_X/s320/IMG_1965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrfxItiSg9-5pN-4wuOtEhT3CQqmDukTzQD8ligyoJ9sCWHiYuIua2UtV5bhYpKTZntbyVFADVH0V9qILVclV6RF1vfX5PXdQan3njZxb7sNCUY9SVGNi8kOOqarQ4TR89a_-CJr3-fqO/s1600/IMG_2066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrfxItiSg9-5pN-4wuOtEhT3CQqmDukTzQD8ligyoJ9sCWHiYuIua2UtV5bhYpKTZntbyVFADVH0V9qILVclV6RF1vfX5PXdQan3njZxb7sNCUY9SVGNi8kOOqarQ4TR89a_-CJr3-fqO/s320/IMG_2066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoTZpnJgdm4Oh4SJBqluln3C6r2j-gEWXphtIp7QPULSXuQTxWjiJkeZRBn3OPVOKu_EWG2CPmN2UMZex6r71ytObckkV1zY-XlyyepLIZ7MXBTyreCP4qXZFFBB95mivhBoae_s9az2N/s1600/IMG_2067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoTZpnJgdm4Oh4SJBqluln3C6r2j-gEWXphtIp7QPULSXuQTxWjiJkeZRBn3OPVOKu_EWG2CPmN2UMZex6r71ytObckkV1zY-XlyyepLIZ7MXBTyreCP4qXZFFBB95mivhBoae_s9az2N/s320/IMG_2067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LFoaYDJabvrpmMnk6s3ngDohGQxgp6GC12a70npnSTOJiPVvmHbZmN34wBajBwNkbnLXylSnyWnMSpe7CsvJdeLazFEpPXNSWTZJVN1VT1UwrfpgDdfwQ-5C8yVR0FpljRMCDTBgfwHd/s1600/IMG_2073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LFoaYDJabvrpmMnk6s3ngDohGQxgp6GC12a70npnSTOJiPVvmHbZmN34wBajBwNkbnLXylSnyWnMSpe7CsvJdeLazFEpPXNSWTZJVN1VT1UwrfpgDdfwQ-5C8yVR0FpljRMCDTBgfwHd/s320/IMG_2073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuluV_EtZ8-T2z0d5oATbhvrN0SkrTJWw-EhDim-ateB5uugHBFb9WOxG9xdwen35IYg-yl89APHVVfPFkka9Kg8boTzZyyas_GR44LctivUaSkLv0xEebJqWUVDup_SFGntmpN9H66GcF/s1600/IMG_2130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuluV_EtZ8-T2z0d5oATbhvrN0SkrTJWw-EhDim-ateB5uugHBFb9WOxG9xdwen35IYg-yl89APHVVfPFkka9Kg8boTzZyyas_GR44LctivUaSkLv0xEebJqWUVDup_SFGntmpN9H66GcF/s320/IMG_2130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVdBRgcSp7LLM6GbZVKDvxjD38knXqy9i_BLtmfMLI_ohd9gf6rSb0WXP6rIbM2DpP3lD_TLNjxb6pIVGBXDIIT70-gSC_7YEwhs9nWnC7Mo8-p84-U5epyYWbM4bcnNfeI2Y1QqkP02n/s1600/IMG_2172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVdBRgcSp7LLM6GbZVKDvxjD38knXqy9i_BLtmfMLI_ohd9gf6rSb0WXP6rIbM2DpP3lD_TLNjxb6pIVGBXDIIT70-gSC_7YEwhs9nWnC7Mo8-p84-U5epyYWbM4bcnNfeI2Y1QqkP02n/s320/IMG_2172.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>In previous gardening years we have attempted various versions of a children's garden. None were particularly successful and this year was only slightly so. We planted a pole bean teepee (seen in progress here), a few tomato and basil plants, a square of corn, and a small patch of sunflowers. The boys were excited to help in spurts, but for the most part I found myself having extra space to weed and water. In the end we had a kid sized harvest. Overall it was a better experience for them than it was for the adults, but we will do it again!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmYyEgiIL7PWgilDdSXTCouy2O8hNC7QnctDrJEdMBUusTOPMpD0BYDSXPEM-B8CJ-6JbQohGISp5EKYl1z5jz_0_I0FHoIVSq_rMCmOVMuKmnvSHwbK7qSymJJ1XFzjc7JNwetHgHYIX/s1600/IMG_2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmYyEgiIL7PWgilDdSXTCouy2O8hNC7QnctDrJEdMBUusTOPMpD0BYDSXPEM-B8CJ-6JbQohGISp5EKYl1z5jz_0_I0FHoIVSq_rMCmOVMuKmnvSHwbK7qSymJJ1XFzjc7JNwetHgHYIX/s320/IMG_2176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3olWnaRwFI9F1OIn-iH9DHz1w3E-5UPxv_nDpkWG0tTBeqg-lSlpwUbpYj73TdM7DXmemc9DKbPQ188tQd1ib6VK5sbqioj-vvOlbDiabgv-2k_-noSy4YHINaIW3LN7nlarlTS38Kh43/s1600/IMG_2195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3olWnaRwFI9F1OIn-iH9DHz1w3E-5UPxv_nDpkWG0tTBeqg-lSlpwUbpYj73TdM7DXmemc9DKbPQ188tQd1ib6VK5sbqioj-vvOlbDiabgv-2k_-noSy4YHINaIW3LN7nlarlTS38Kh43/s320/IMG_2195.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVzelzWjGErsVol-RMQGm3zLTaO5OFCMey_SNBU9O2G4WEkP0OeLubulPgYAGOa5uo41vI8ehCxxdYQHxxH0QihrwKV-WM7Piqc-5i58dPGGtULpdb7kobK5wNsTOs_HMPJjQibkw7huW/s1600/IMG_2378-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVzelzWjGErsVol-RMQGm3zLTaO5OFCMey_SNBU9O2G4WEkP0OeLubulPgYAGOa5uo41vI8ehCxxdYQHxxH0QihrwKV-WM7Piqc-5i58dPGGtULpdb7kobK5wNsTOs_HMPJjQibkw7huW/s320/IMG_2378-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj278gw7HY1viC2CpLwfnzeQLEwjMhNWqJFdEOgHxJ0Tny0IQqt-MlDjVd3msH-_JUFiBVADNnw_KtiOm4EUB4IzoxOxZkLM9n4KPGZqmXdHS5JetguKRCR0MUbt7fs0T1eGOKk3pVnj0VO/s1600/IMG_2214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj278gw7HY1viC2CpLwfnzeQLEwjMhNWqJFdEOgHxJ0Tny0IQqt-MlDjVd3msH-_JUFiBVADNnw_KtiOm4EUB4IzoxOxZkLM9n4KPGZqmXdHS5JetguKRCR0MUbt7fs0T1eGOKk3pVnj0VO/s320/IMG_2214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytXV8Eu8k9pkDrxy4N9IyQ_AIjXVCtr1WHBny-V-zRiBh3rDkEyL8acWzW9L0Rpjkx5-w0hLbiT1TIAFy-UOIpmRQftilKAt6fIntLimGeQx6Eg4A2oQr5WibjmcoMnoxwevTWYnBRD16/s1600/IMG_2264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytXV8Eu8k9pkDrxy4N9IyQ_AIjXVCtr1WHBny-V-zRiBh3rDkEyL8acWzW9L0Rpjkx5-w0hLbiT1TIAFy-UOIpmRQftilKAt6fIntLimGeQx6Eg4A2oQr5WibjmcoMnoxwevTWYnBRD16/s320/IMG_2264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbpav-uIHgzGX6jUjM3fRfXFrFCCHskzYCl4G1SucXf1SBwBLRjtk3NP5Fe_M3owOjWYClAMip2ch6_VkRuZJ69RZYv1hb1fBtKoiB4Uwli1KcV_9oUB3lZvA3k2sDn_sTiABMCAdh7Sa/s1600/IMG_2225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbpav-uIHgzGX6jUjM3fRfXFrFCCHskzYCl4G1SucXf1SBwBLRjtk3NP5Fe_M3owOjWYClAMip2ch6_VkRuZJ69RZYv1hb1fBtKoiB4Uwli1KcV_9oUB3lZvA3k2sDn_sTiABMCAdh7Sa/s320/IMG_2225.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><i> <span style="font-size: small;">K</span>nowing how much I love good, organic greens early and late in the season<span style="font-size: small;">, </span></i></span>I planted three raised beds, 3' x 6' each, with a variety of hardy greens (<span style="font-size: small;">I</span>t was also an attempt <span style="font-size: small;">in modest marketing</span>. <span style="font-size: small;">Sustainably</span> grown<span style="font-size: small;"> and<span style="font-size: small;"> organic g</span></span>reens are hard to come by locally here. There is definitely a solid niche to be filled.) </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span> I planted Swiss Chards, Spinach, Arugula, micro-greens and lettuces of all kinds, including a popular spicy mustard blend. I spent SO many hours weeding, watering, harvesting, washing, sorting and bagging the greens! They were the first harvest to be sold, outside of eggs, and were quite popular. A neighbor of ours boasted that her sons would not eat greens before trying ours! Anytime I began wonder<span style="font-size: small;">ing</span> why we were working so hard for little return, remembering her comment would help me finish weeding that last row before turning in on a long day.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuOE-B08uy6BUMR2YODpv9kKoLSg2uCippy0rJIkHz5CQotnP5rpguKR3VxQTbkwcbs3yt0tRkPLlNjofAcVJG4h3GNsB1R0VfGzJQ_Jol_trJFxtnU0FalkhE7NboxHetQx3xXcat5bf/s1600/IMG_2266-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuOE-B08uy6BUMR2YODpv9kKoLSg2uCippy0rJIkHz5CQotnP5rpguKR3VxQTbkwcbs3yt0tRkPLlNjofAcVJG4h3GNsB1R0VfGzJQ_Jol_trJFxtnU0FalkhE7NboxHetQx3xXcat5bf/s320/IMG_2266-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLACJ0TG7XthfvfXTCO9HJhSbP2UJGXhIPqIzUb_BWHjppN3f5ggxzHI_cDKQrSFlbqcoz2xz7z_2c6eUhO5VxsBfXPhguVWTOxTiPRDEMxkEg4_qQM74ky-k6SuiYKzAxTkHWkdZtk-1/s1600/IMG_2240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLACJ0TG7XthfvfXTCO9HJhSbP2UJGXhIPqIzUb_BWHjppN3f5ggxzHI_cDKQrSFlbqcoz2xz7z_2c6eUhO5VxsBfXPhguVWTOxTiPRDEMxkEg4_qQM74ky-k6SuiYKzAxTkHWkdZtk-1/s320/IMG_2240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNM-GMmXEif-KyN0B9jnsfbgsKPJQoTUumMZyuYKpZojKpd5D1UDS5A8QUhFZPZzhPbD5_RXdNhftk8Y8VhGWU-f8XZia1mJBOYFWJ8huKctRG8x3lu0WTJ9Z_KVCV0A-miS-E-VMjaPGu/s1600/IMG_2247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNM-GMmXEif-KyN0B9jnsfbgsKPJQoTUumMZyuYKpZojKpd5D1UDS5A8QUhFZPZzhPbD5_RXdNhftk8Y8VhGWU-f8XZia1mJBOYFWJ8huKctRG8x3lu0WTJ9Z_KVCV0A-miS-E-VMjaPGu/s320/IMG_2247.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>We've been keeping chickens on our farm since <a href="http://www.amanda-athome.blogspot.com/2008/04/spring-brings-new-babies.html" target="_blank">2008</a> and it has been an ever evolving practice filled with lessons and learning. We love it despite the harder aspects. Predators were a HUGE issue in 2011 with frequent raccoon attacks. 2012 provided new challenges with weasel attacks! While Matt was traveling in June we lost 8 baby chickens in an attack and 4 more were injured. I nursed them back to health with herbs and constant attention. We set up a "chicken hospital", as the boys called it, in the garage with heat lamps. They would help me wash the wounds and tend to them. Each one was given a name and eventually they were returned to the larger flock. For a few months after their return outdoors, we could call them by name and they would come to us! It was astounding to me and a solid reminder of how intelligent all species really are.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqOuYIt0w_KisIpP1hn4cY7JmCFXpM-OvCxFy_qA4ZLGEnK7X99slv_gstqW0gv5LskjLxHiM1UxL1sH_Kig9Fm7BKYaCq-SvMi2rv_mfxfrybEdXCkrKIsAMNsCTw89D2IwpqC2XYozR/s1600/IMG_2253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqOuYIt0w_KisIpP1hn4cY7JmCFXpM-OvCxFy_qA4ZLGEnK7X99slv_gstqW0gv5LskjLxHiM1UxL1sH_Kig9Fm7BKYaCq-SvMi2rv_mfxfrybEdXCkrKIsAMNsCTw89D2IwpqC2XYozR/s320/IMG_2253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._McGregor" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2Pm2uvW7sTfI-KEVVwFD7N6gGPNr9VqH6FA3EV8nW9z1AZr7sOdhtyq0g7zPuZdpI3bG-TEVguTE1r0AicnzHx2tagLkfhyix60UisPCi1-DXiFUUg_wPZZ7eoI8nyz8mithMzwj5Vx2/s320/IMG_2284-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had record temps in Mid-Michigan this summer. To beat the heat I did most of our cooking outside over an open fire, in the smoker that Matt and Jerry made, or using the gas grill. In this photo I am cooking some rabbit that Matt killed near the garden. The boys liked to joke that it was Peter Rabbit we were eating, but as it turns out, Matt is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._McGregor" target="_blank">Mr. McGregor</a>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMimyQF8GQJmRMiaH74u3YEQQ6_5Ud1e0ewlzsNRk8g4QQif3lc1GkuC4_QNtaZVk9qQOJoVeu_uYGbgVbVKXs5u9WZZ7yayGEtCvDMC_at3D11PJfa4nldsHNEJFrA370u9ZhQuEBtuoV/s1600/IMG_2349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMimyQF8GQJmRMiaH74u3YEQQ6_5Ud1e0ewlzsNRk8g4QQif3lc1GkuC4_QNtaZVk9qQOJoVeu_uYGbgVbVKXs5u9WZZ7yayGEtCvDMC_at3D11PJfa4nldsHNEJFrA370u9ZhQuEBtuoV/s320/IMG_2349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb3jwipClzOQd_Q_fQReIiWDSjW032D11FgFtYS-V7AIi_-MnOP0yR9NSFmx6-yXStO9REkNkUCfLZ1f8Gy1f4izS69Bgvvd1nMJiGPFa9U7e_ck8OF57Cvc5goAx01yw5TL6cEsaecxP/s1600/IMG_2291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb3jwipClzOQd_Q_fQReIiWDSjW032D11FgFtYS-V7AIi_-MnOP0yR9NSFmx6-yXStO9REkNkUCfLZ1f8Gy1f4izS69Bgvvd1nMJiGPFa9U7e_ck8OF57Cvc5goAx01yw5TL6cEsaecxP/s320/IMG_2291.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>If we can't grow it for our family we try to source it locally. U-pick fruit is the most affordable way to acquire larger quantities of fruit, especially for preservation. I took the five kids (my three plus Ailee and Ada...we've become an oddball family) to a near-by strawberry farm to pick in June. It was a great afternoon until we lost Otis, who was later found hiding behind a barn pooping in his pants, but not before the other 4 kids and I ran up and down the berry fields yelling his name in panic. We ended up freezing nearly 3 gallons of berries.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQSUW1UAaR83XQL92YNv6qZWT3yasVE2xFHoll5-iS5-NbvQ-DVjvdoo4fTgdeo2Xq4VHhh2md-_K9qrsxwAKtIsx7_J5Q2xy57JqS5lptJBQUAeezxnv6S2mcpbc_vC2-95zAz8RrMmQ/s1600/IMG_2350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQSUW1UAaR83XQL92YNv6qZWT3yasVE2xFHoll5-iS5-NbvQ-DVjvdoo4fTgdeo2Xq4VHhh2md-_K9qrsxwAKtIsx7_J5Q2xy57JqS5lptJBQUAeezxnv6S2mcpbc_vC2-95zAz8RrMmQ/s320/IMG_2350.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>One of my more popular lettuces called "Deer Tounge". It was deliciously thick and juicy!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLE7D3JXZzhNy9z5jyBaef2XJToawd7oOGpK8tdXGVo8AeyMmbdA5VTzLTaUZ90HhqJK4FF278eyx7_VEOYmr7c2zHyYlZCOfCiwzxnnsS1-sAsmkOdejRrpbFhNkZkZXFQP5JFOhKzghw/s1600/IMG_2571-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLE7D3JXZzhNy9z5jyBaef2XJToawd7oOGpK8tdXGVo8AeyMmbdA5VTzLTaUZ90HhqJK4FF278eyx7_VEOYmr7c2zHyYlZCOfCiwzxnnsS1-sAsmkOdejRrpbFhNkZkZXFQP5JFOhKzghw/s320/IMG_2571-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsat2myvLDnZpoVc_DW1F5MhNMeU-_MpkoGCl25FdnitLELPlWnA4ucE_2iAQ_VPAKjegNijxlkjOpjfplDIiA0N-GWcN6uFhc1vYf06cOVmjYqdtBK3VnVyJ_Ikhq9IDxoIjUJT3UAQN/s1600/IMG_2660-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsat2myvLDnZpoVc_DW1F5MhNMeU-_MpkoGCl25FdnitLELPlWnA4ucE_2iAQ_VPAKjegNijxlkjOpjfplDIiA0N-GWcN6uFhc1vYf06cOVmjYqdtBK3VnVyJ_Ikhq9IDxoIjUJT3UAQN/s320/IMG_2660-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This may have been the first meal entirely from our farm and homestead. Lettuces with radish and homemade farm cheese from our raw milk (the milk comes from another farm about 25 miles away). We are still occasionally eating meals entirely grown on the farm from preserved food.</i></span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qUa7ovj_Osd3TkKMf9yGwldujhIl2w4btjABMXKHkJkGg7jlRHO24YBliD5D2mLfGpkI1wbkeAPiT-ObkxXH8HutwDBjcu26B6OXcVWfy_Rk02PK8LCSmR0XPoscUbRgvvh72CKAgYZn/s1600/IMG_2689-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qUa7ovj_Osd3TkKMf9yGwldujhIl2w4btjABMXKHkJkGg7jlRHO24YBliD5D2mLfGpkI1wbkeAPiT-ObkxXH8HutwDBjcu26B6OXcVWfy_Rk02PK8LCSmR0XPoscUbRgvvh72CKAgYZn/s320/IMG_2689-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>We lost this large tree due to old age and slowly over the summer Matt and Jerry chopped away at its fallen piece<span style="font-size: small;">s all summer and w</span>e continue to enjoy the heat it provides <span style="font-size: small;">this winter.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6cDnKnbOLYeeE-1Vk02y93bVvNYqpl0sa2E6Ek3R9FF4EhBxHcEVEUkeSHaP5eeiqOyQVJ6JBwGFMPk3M-4spADfvKV4XS4MRAADAAdbap-3r7K-hBdkzqKuCjwj0AmA0_yYNZoWJ8Te/s1600/IMG_2699-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6cDnKnbOLYeeE-1Vk02y93bVvNYqpl0sa2E6Ek3R9FF4EhBxHcEVEUkeSHaP5eeiqOyQVJ6JBwGFMPk3M-4spADfvKV4XS4MRAADAAdbap-3r7K-hBdkzqKuCjwj0AmA0_yYNZoWJ8Te/s320/IMG_2699-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>In July we endured a number of days without indoor running water due to our main sewer lines being clogged with tree roots. We washed all dishes outside and created an outdoor bathroom in the back acreage! The boys got a kick out of that.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzdd-ty7rui-tDdw0bfqr3fchtbmLUPLYhVqdpwZLbbsdVAmGbo1njMgw3gfMTZkrP2Oa94rOE19XKo0hyjUb4ZKx5BRwXkUyEcIpIIjbv2d7fqiVU499jaRZmyweI8ZQbtwRG8pcGLBu/s1600/IMG_2807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzdd-ty7rui-tDdw0bfqr3fchtbmLUPLYhVqdpwZLbbsdVAmGbo1njMgw3gfMTZkrP2Oa94rOE19XKo0hyjUb4ZKx5BRwXkUyEcIpIIjbv2d7fqiVU499jaRZmyweI8ZQbtwRG8pcGLBu/s320/IMG_2807.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sam has slowly taken on more and more responsibility in the care of the chickens. <span style="font-size: small;">I</span>t is his daily job to take them kitchen scraps and collect eggs. He is expected to help whenever we have a large chicken project and, after some disgruntled arguing, he is quite adept at his job. We had little rain this year, but one day it was particularly rainy (and obviously warm - no pants) and Sam was a bit pouty about having to complete his chore. You can see the chicken tractor in the way background with the blue tarp. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjA7VK5mu1DJu8fUj4Kaqn7wVfU2sy808frbi00JqMHxnO1VLlY4pa0sML9WHcY5P1pwllVA2Vb0RKnoagOCcWlAeBtnXFSToIqXM6eM4PvxSOnGVo7xG2XhfWWS2390v6AR85HtJPLzAs/s1600/IMG_2819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjA7VK5mu1DJu8fUj4Kaqn7wVfU2sy808frbi00JqMHxnO1VLlY4pa0sML9WHcY5P1pwllVA2Vb0RKnoagOCcWlAeBtnXFSToIqXM6eM4PvxSOnGVo7xG2XhfWWS2390v6AR85HtJPLzAs/s320/IMG_2819.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>As friends and family came to visit us this summer, we would rope them into helping on the farm, one way or another, but always with the promise of a cold drink and hearty meal after. In July we saw friends from Vermont and here you see David pulling weeds one evening.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kOST0pmQrj8pMSJLnfh92zgBwNCQBDaMtsGpxBicCP-HI0vfhf4drSTDe8dyRzyl2YoaXad7yBT8rwpAJ5JIW-B5sVewI0ogoaj6-JIYZ8pTTcrihO3YjYAzxsP844ufblXtuNdvR1Rh/s1600/IMG_2821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kOST0pmQrj8pMSJLnfh92zgBwNCQBDaMtsGpxBicCP-HI0vfhf4drSTDe8dyRzyl2YoaXad7yBT8rwpAJ5JIW-B5sVewI0ogoaj6-JIYZ8pTTcrihO3YjYAzxsP844ufblXtuNdvR1Rh/s320/IMG_2821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXWKvhwwmj6kjXY1A72E4EeinNZM5vpUEWMblVyPqMRoqETJdfWAVIdppNZ_6uUGiEz0CpoIJDEMlwxVjvuLFwGUlGn_h96bG_ikLxADMBtfqsJZaFv8dpztn7veW5TIU3S8COk8PyMfT/s1600/IMG_2822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXWKvhwwmj6kjXY1A72E4EeinNZM5vpUEWMblVyPqMRoqETJdfWAVIdppNZ_6uUGiEz0CpoIJDEMlwxVjvuLFwGUlGn_h96bG_ikLxADMBtfqsJZaFv8dpztn7veW5TIU3S8COk8PyMfT/s320/IMG_2822.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>We took the time to install a drip-tape irrigation system this summer, which is the black line of tape you can see on the left side of the image. Our efforts were rewarded during the many dry weeks of the summer. It is a much more efficient watering method and our mildew and mold issues were reduced. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYitZ0Au035cYIIlRNe6ff7Q3ZcqC1TsNnp0yUH8GRxwLLwf1KKk-JdQvOGxkYKnhyMR-kKF2pXfstSn7bhR7LRVUSiVVbjJsiS7I8ze_-EMaJOfxgfkm3nMm3Ul-huEZG1283RlupxfNv/s1600/IMG_2824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYitZ0Au035cYIIlRNe6ff7Q3ZcqC1TsNnp0yUH8GRxwLLwf1KKk-JdQvOGxkYKnhyMR-kKF2pXfstSn7bhR7LRVUSiVVbjJsiS7I8ze_-EMaJOfxgfkm3nMm3Ul-huEZG1283RlupxfNv/s320/IMG_2824.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgXiL_uqejEXj-aZKpa-kh75iESzFz3vi9PnbMkRT9bTYl435eM3WfbbXPtbftkO1eOjbROiWYFk4aC7Gc34UCPBwbIOn7FEqW6xSzzeQNqxElIQg0_z1mowFCPVz-bnr6L0IKR-mB6Zt/s1600/IMG_2839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgXiL_uqejEXj-aZKpa-kh75iESzFz3vi9PnbMkRT9bTYl435eM3WfbbXPtbftkO1eOjbROiWYFk4aC7Gc34UCPBwbIOn7FEqW6xSzzeQNqxElIQg0_z1mowFCPVz-bnr6L0IKR-mB6Zt/s320/IMG_2839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTexh01UlhWn3CVtQiHkkjb03kuu6KOZ1oVxY5D37uQOWuL67beatbxlWrqNGa-zzWIVFtqtoCjoLUzt8ceGgbqb92pcv3o-u4JpprnWpFs-22CwSsnomhu5dY2Dgpe7IQU6tZYDPk62lm/s1600/IMG_2847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTexh01UlhWn3CVtQiHkkjb03kuu6KOZ1oVxY5D37uQOWuL67beatbxlWrqNGa-zzWIVFtqtoCjoLUzt8ceGgbqb92pcv3o-u4JpprnWpFs-22CwSsnomhu5dY2Dgpe7IQU6tZYDPk62lm/s320/IMG_2847.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuWx72r6DJiw64UoqZ0V8ytpGp41ytFi8rEwe1v_AZCBHUxIOb6zuE9erT_khgPRa9D1BaL2MffNSGTnCMSWCjerKGx5y1o5i6akcCd32D2CKXC1McjZ0U_KlbebeV5zF6tHDnBOcltLK/s1600/IMG_2851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuWx72r6DJiw64UoqZ0V8ytpGp41ytFi8rEwe1v_AZCBHUxIOb6zuE9erT_khgPRa9D1BaL2MffNSGTnCMSWCjerKGx5y1o5i6akcCd32D2CKXC1McjZ0U_KlbebeV5zF6tHDnBOcltLK/s320/IMG_2851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6_i1GzbW-bnkst45B91AFb3xbDxetQVsp1ldtbPljUn1dVCx1A4_rxl1NjHuPv4aDDgAEziwrzeb7w1w2qdulCbtzEnHhY9RLfRqj7BVtN9GqlPaQ1HS-gxRdERDYjqnWEbhuFm3I-cc/s1600/IMG_2906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6_i1GzbW-bnkst45B91AFb3xbDxetQVsp1ldtbPljUn1dVCx1A4_rxl1NjHuPv4aDDgAEziwrzeb7w1w2qdulCbtzEnHhY9RLfRqj7BVtN9GqlPaQ1HS-gxRdERDYjqnWEbhuFm3I-cc/s320/IMG_2906.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Greens, greens, everywhere!! It really was the season of greens. In June I started up the Back Porch Farm Stand. Once a wee<span style="font-size: small;">k </span>neighbors and clients could stop by and purchase eggs and veg on the back porch. It was more work than I had anticipated, but we kept it up for most of the growing season. I took this image one evening after a big, pre-farm stand-day harvest.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bq3OC8_TG_80omeXsyGwVCAxTQDTn6FSxkCQeqWM9G3toacVuSgoWftOUWspyVB_rSvOyFwI6GxwZ7PjNm6XXPhNqIElFPRRZlik-HNvOfewUzh6wqXuElc4GpEn6JG1hd1amBCaULaN/s1600/IMG_3275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bq3OC8_TG_80omeXsyGwVCAxTQDTn6FSxkCQeqWM9G3toacVuSgoWftOUWspyVB_rSvOyFwI6GxwZ7PjNm6XXPhNqIElFPRRZlik-HNvOfewUzh6wqXuElc4GpEn6JG1hd1amBCaULaN/s320/IMG_3275.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLi2ApllHhtfBNp7Cye6dBfYOZVytyxFj7sRKQ9_iGXUoJ8eKljZ-UtFc4BtO48iQYCPnTCAjd3a6ir5CfaksBouLDxHQI9KGIg98JceNU3Te3M7QdLcc98_-YPTMMSNyF-nKX4ek9OCF/s1600/IMG_2922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLi2ApllHhtfBNp7Cye6dBfYOZVytyxFj7sRKQ9_iGXUoJ8eKljZ-UtFc4BtO48iQYCPnTCAjd3a6ir5CfaksBouLDxHQI9KGIg98JceNU3Te3M7QdLcc98_-YPTMMSNyF-nKX4ek9OCF/s320/IMG_2922.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi009oyTDqTo8HNw9gUwRal_B_othvGesPIoMPE3tGui0jGHMY1szFlVorvKWzMcSOFXTELRgKP3llUFEb089eb2im9k0i8RFMCe5GCTICQ5xGvAT6bh0Hfg8vY3oV7t0rL0IGqk58RIaQS/s1600/IMG_2903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi009oyTDqTo8HNw9gUwRal_B_othvGesPIoMPE3tGui0jGHMY1szFlVorvKWzMcSOFXTELRgKP3llUFEb089eb2im9k0i8RFMCe5GCTICQ5xGvAT6bh0Hfg8vY3oV7t0rL0IGqk58RIaQS/s320/IMG_2903.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRbrYxu_QgcuMYxoDuJO8gRxdbyUomMQYSlB3rV1FYE92cpQlN8IeTJnBJYz2Vm-eiH7KmnSs48D32xXzkahj8xxk3E0XgTmdS9tgHvu4NlxVyI_HWiagNjpmrhtfZM0CBH6ZbpEEpkQ_/s1600/IMG_2879-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRbrYxu_QgcuMYxoDuJO8gRxdbyUomMQYSlB3rV1FYE92cpQlN8IeTJnBJYz2Vm-eiH7KmnSs48D32xXzkahj8xxk3E0XgTmdS9tgHvu4NlxVyI_HWiagNjpmrhtfZM0CBH6ZbpEEpkQ_/s320/IMG_2879-5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzf4i5BLjbFbfl4-OXxaPvt28WTfpG8yk9f_YwWvWhZLYjftzwiUmqM5TDHFeD84RCq-kn6jrFzFzyiyBa4Yqd7aa9HugZUf8nmAlWqbUhjrtaOSl1iXEPD1auTNDEokDkSULBW3vy5SY/s1600/IMG_2951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzf4i5BLjbFbfl4-OXxaPvt28WTfpG8yk9f_YwWvWhZLYjftzwiUmqM5TDHFeD84RCq-kn6jrFzFzyiyBa4Yqd7aa9HugZUf8nmAlWqbUhjrtaOSl1iXEPD1auTNDEokDkSULBW3vy5SY/s320/IMG_2951.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>We had a lot of camp-outs and sleep-overs with the Ginzel-Hill clan, and it was common for us to cook a weekend breakfast over the rekindled late-night campfire. Mornings are beautiful here on the farm, especially with a good cup of coffee and a fire.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2d55h8Uu-Dwjdddoid6OhPkIu7aA6o7S0DdwmGOcN-leFOOsV-m6G1TJ8EgfRDvCuRoKouf9YL47_Ykt0qig2rfha33ZisU82t8vql-eMgxqXNK8ovF1XEGircwQcGT32wo6V05G4CFh8/s1600/IMG_2969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2d55h8Uu-Dwjdddoid6OhPkIu7aA6o7S0DdwmGOcN-leFOOsV-m6G1TJ8EgfRDvCuRoKouf9YL47_Ykt0qig2rfha33ZisU82t8vql-eMgxqXNK8ovF1XEGircwQcGT32wo6V05G4CFh8/s320/IMG_2969.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXN7Wk_2kHQvSxVQhN-Bp-tB0KVBMMeC8tE6djJVOhGCJ0NLSRDyp68UpDS7DVTu3pH50Z3mWxnH-n8Jk8rP5h5QZEiqWGrv6HIByheqjnkp1-2aqu45HDrenZqVrTNLyaCiKZcjHnnKjd/s1600/IMG_2984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXN7Wk_2kHQvSxVQhN-Bp-tB0KVBMMeC8tE6djJVOhGCJ0NLSRDyp68UpDS7DVTu3pH50Z3mWxnH-n8Jk8rP5h5QZEiqWGrv6HIByheqjnkp1-2aqu45HDrenZqVrTNLyaCiKZcjHnnKjd/s320/IMG_2984.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This is a harvest of Chinese cabbage that Melissa, the kids, and I turned into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._McGregor" target="_blank">Kimchi</a>. It was a large task and my first time fermenting cabbage and veg this way. It turned out amazing and we are still eating it!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4kCdIewwda1IdwqrYjEEM13JYpiTWahWZk8CSkOVodP9-XQRtExFR-JI-mKjGdkvK-SxCMtlpdj2opO1Bk8wezJuTO8mLsoO3DyEiv2GKOXxpa7G-5VejGJYy-OFolR0PPDkeLwbikVu/s1600/IMG_3005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4kCdIewwda1IdwqrYjEEM13JYpiTWahWZk8CSkOVodP9-XQRtExFR-JI-mKjGdkvK-SxCMtlpdj2opO1Bk8wezJuTO8mLsoO3DyEiv2GKOXxpa7G-5VejGJYy-OFolR0PPDkeLwbikVu/s320/IMG_3005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHib2BbTTnzty1yEvhSES33JpGx1IK1_DoqEBYUpTE-GuPpDaAphpr3mCrCYLZf22TxbG84bOb_bnWtd8Sz68YCtvGl3ijf6wV-xnFCx4M-wvZsCtb3wjbXvX_lQ5sylDXiRC6VDL1PaI/s1600/IMG_2995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHib2BbTTnzty1yEvhSES33JpGx1IK1_DoqEBYUpTE-GuPpDaAphpr3mCrCYLZf22TxbG84bOb_bnWtd8Sz68YCtvGl3ijf6wV-xnFCx4M-wvZsCtb3wjbXvX_lQ5sylDXiRC6VDL1PaI/s320/IMG_2995.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMRRoo_3U3lM9B9SJmEHWJtX6cjiSySkuTtluJsitUP_BzJmuxEkfU78ywUqjq6x85esHK38FldD1s6kmvzse1XsK-uUzx4eIUOh-YIykDq7NLLmtVtMulyVcVdJZXXml2cACNyPN3Rc8/s1600/IMG_3003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMRRoo_3U3lM9B9SJmEHWJtX6cjiSySkuTtluJsitUP_BzJmuxEkfU78ywUqjq6x85esHK38FldD1s6kmvzse1XsK-uUzx4eIUOh-YIykDq7NLLmtVtMulyVcVdJZXXml2cACNyPN3Rc8/s320/IMG_3003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1LKaeWOm2l2WX-rUD-1Qx7Kb92pHlq6eTcvS74tqpjhgU72WI5IYE0rROH4WceYd8e5U8SLnpFfJx7wdKz89YETiN7QWp-e8W5289ObyZaNyoySjXvc4cOims29t_diCstUbpVfWD9CT/s1600/IMG_3231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1LKaeWOm2l2WX-rUD-1Qx7Kb92pHlq6eTcvS74tqpjhgU72WI5IYE0rROH4WceYd8e5U8SLnpFfJx7wdKz89YETiN7QWp-e8W5289ObyZaNyoySjXvc4cOims29t_diCstUbpVfWD9CT/s320/IMG_3231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLcmXDTO85qxHyvIqiogrVu54fyJzAFSQYIXKxi8CM4LbfP3iv5RLhRDpT0yMAJl_zsb6lYrq6XVeOvhcc-SvCO84ppBZqtOOtYs_zuPdgZnpXOedpUJHrPM2h3wwivaFtOKFRATWsUy-/s1600/IMG_3246-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLcmXDTO85qxHyvIqiogrVu54fyJzAFSQYIXKxi8CM4LbfP3iv5RLhRDpT0yMAJl_zsb6lYrq6XVeOvhcc-SvCO84ppBZqtOOtYs_zuPdgZnpXOedpUJHrPM2h3wwivaFtOKFRATWsUy-/s320/IMG_3246-5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Melissa is an artist in addition to her many other persona. Amidst the hard work, down time was sprinkled here and there, but when it was here, this was a common sight for us around the farm.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQDy-QRts46xRmPkGuAIe-3u_7azHUPgj7a9VqQ_4xqq5Qjyy8LZjyd_hLmp6ZhwKQisQ5itvqMheaO9v9HneQNjL2kFyf2qGXAumu2E7Of6-wCmRFoYeGdSENab4qjXsKEvhlKrn2hVV/s1600/IMG_3472-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQDy-QRts46xRmPkGuAIe-3u_7azHUPgj7a9VqQ_4xqq5Qjyy8LZjyd_hLmp6ZhwKQisQ5itvqMheaO9v9HneQNjL2kFyf2qGXAumu2E7Of6-wCmRFoYeGdSENab4qjXsKEvhlKrn2hVV/s320/IMG_3472-3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Milo and his pal, Pandora. </i></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Pan lived with us for a few months and brought with her a lot of energy and mischief!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_UnJk4fD_vaD2-5W-JDymiccTBnm5NaxbIInuCAkygKE5PY4n0jl_eSROYSUcmk8rhPt8GuNpC8NOFlqFSMCUo2Pr_gwYtlQmvfmxxfuLerKR4esBR87qBioTQev9KZsodFUfgr-sBBq/s1600/IMG_3474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_UnJk4fD_vaD2-5W-JDymiccTBnm5NaxbIInuCAkygKE5PY4n0jl_eSROYSUcmk8rhPt8GuNpC8NOFlqFSMCUo2Pr_gwYtlQmvfmxxfuLerKR4esBR87qBioTQev9KZsodFUfgr-sBBq/s320/IMG_3474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLiGkcUtvgzolp1QW-ZLRrjUl4AyTfVpeCnfEarZKfOs4-ooodyaE2VMdL1-opD5EEYjfL29bzSCqKUmYfk-61fJkT4EGVebqRtEDL5FoMjyeXsrPHSBNZq8Ftda8cJQAXTyYIWmxAebu/s1600/IMG_3594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLiGkcUtvgzolp1QW-ZLRrjUl4AyTfVpeCnfEarZKfOs4-ooodyaE2VMdL1-opD5EEYjfL29bzSCqKUmYfk-61fJkT4EGVebqRtEDL5FoMjyeXsrPHSBNZq8Ftda8cJQAXTyYIWmxAebu/s320/IMG_3594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qA65I0tUjJwyVd-_r3WfYeiyNTP8Fl1dkwxNVWs_wOtdQIaUeklSoaYt0w57mg0pSHWZyHIul3ZLsaX5KBhxuiKmVDLOp5gSCkwLxT8aWOEwpl5-C4sjR422W53WC6EmW5VgiK7nRuJk/s1600/IMG_3480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qA65I0tUjJwyVd-_r3WfYeiyNTP8Fl1dkwxNVWs_wOtdQIaUeklSoaYt0w57mg0pSHWZyHIul3ZLsaX5KBhxuiKmVDLOp5gSCkwLxT8aWOEwpl5-C4sjR422W53WC6EmW5VgiK7nRuJk/s320/IMG_3480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7y7Jb8ooBHfWWG2j37AfODdWcRuX46SEHbtsL_wopvxlLf6InwuJLODPB618-DLNVzMtoz5Cc-nY2eJ8-sXgZR6DujfbGKdBIavLsAa6qetwFHqfCEXkkKlCaJO6RnHxGbBKcgIHvpSz/s1600/IMG_3809-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7y7Jb8ooBHfWWG2j37AfODdWcRuX46SEHbtsL_wopvxlLf6InwuJLODPB618-DLNVzMtoz5Cc-nY2eJ8-sXgZR6DujfbGKdBIavLsAa6qetwFHqfCEXkkKlCaJO6RnHxGbBKcgIHvpSz/s320/IMG_3809-4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>We grew <span style="font-size: small;">s</span>weet corn and the popping variety. Both were successful and we're still eating them! We did a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Sisters_%28agriculture%29" target="_blank">three sisters</a> planting with the corn and here you see Melissa harvesting dry black beans.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRDEJzmD43P3wokouVJ05dqEkfLs9QdMfewnm9y3t9Zo7ARPfeneF7e7dAj6uxqWZTIWvB4-1mTsuSnLhdw4jCSbGE7nxBWc39EDz44lyPEL995DR3ds9dG6Qj_8cwpxzvFrtBr1XM_J6/s1600/IMG_3952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRDEJzmD43P3wokouVJ05dqEkfLs9QdMfewnm9y3t9Zo7ARPfeneF7e7dAj6uxqWZTIWvB4-1mTsuSnLhdw4jCSbGE7nxBWc39EDz44lyPEL995DR3ds9dG6Qj_8cwpxzvFrtBr1XM_J6/s320/IMG_3952.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDooJm9U_rYdrcGRWT1co3dOm6bfZsNYT0bV-6UGjD_bCVAFk1S4x6mVTg7Muyq3nxfdccbROTO3jihtP7Ru63ParEhdvNqSs3AofPg2GG3PIlBBjDttZ5g4UBDsxtGPgg88b3_eysa59n/s1600/IMG_3849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDooJm9U_rYdrcGRWT1co3dOm6bfZsNYT0bV-6UGjD_bCVAFk1S4x6mVTg7Muyq3nxfdccbROTO3jihtP7Ru63ParEhdvNqSs3AofPg2GG3PIlBBjDttZ5g4UBDsxtGPgg88b3_eysa59n/s320/IMG_3849.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Our laying hens transitioned from moveable chicken tractors to a larger free-range area enclosed with a moveable, solar powered, electric fence. Every month (or when the ground showed signs of distress) we would move the whole lot to a new area of the farm. They lived all over and loved having constant access to grass and dirt and bugs. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbWWBolBjJTmAdFYud7cy86hd3noMJZXz6lFcXdeDV1p-mouMR0qSELtQGpBkAbI7ZguDc-E5PhJKwxZy6JaclNkL9yea5SaP2T83EnLvoGfXZjEGwZMoyXubifBE-9iqr6ZBij7254VO/s1600/IMG_4343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbWWBolBjJTmAdFYud7cy86hd3noMJZXz6lFcXdeDV1p-mouMR0qSELtQGpBkAbI7ZguDc-E5PhJKwxZy6JaclNkL9yea5SaP2T83EnLvoGfXZjEGwZMoyXubifBE-9iqr6ZBij7254VO/s320/IMG_4343.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFML3JIYRyVQlFZk7yucO31PR37uYGcZ9P6QEHhwpXJEY0PbrGjUS4TeWCN7rZ1dH10eRHxEp4GOCvde_C-v1tIWTp0IVfxG6FYh5Lx3CBfpONQUc3QRndaL78FjKfK2wIbEjFlBUzEpIY/s1600/IMG_4028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFML3JIYRyVQlFZk7yucO31PR37uYGcZ9P6QEHhwpXJEY0PbrGjUS4TeWCN7rZ1dH10eRHxEp4GOCvde_C-v1tIWTp0IVfxG6FYh5Lx3CBfpONQUc3QRndaL78FjKfK2wIbEjFlBUzEpIY/s320/IMG_4028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVNuuGqK5kmhNK80PwTJY45I9odHQJaUT9mPPCfcz8V3tO6bPbyIG0TVUIJFKuWtIRhfUr6uD4xy_DWMA7nCFZ1MahEoWZoqiQDpBsGz0LRTNdNbYSiWCcYgzETEf2TrfQMlidwVeEWa2/s1600/IMG_4287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVNuuGqK5kmhNK80PwTJY45I9odHQJaUT9mPPCfcz8V3tO6bPbyIG0TVUIJFKuWtIRhfUr6uD4xy_DWMA7nCFZ1MahEoWZoqiQDpBsGz0LRTNdNbYSiWCcYgzETEf2TrfQMlidwVeEWa2/s320/IMG_4287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4LjRk73ER1OY09HUhSNIs4jc9Vuxc2EN7UHjEEa9IWwEq9VhZVrvHqHs4CeK5BBgcmmU66RIfhtawoLqOROngQ89ypFCaLyflnUoJszhM9-CSs_Zb9n51y0Bugr6UQIDm6xAcy8ofakQ/s1600/IMG_4285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4LjRk73ER1OY09HUhSNIs4jc9Vuxc2EN7UHjEEa9IWwEq9VhZVrvHqHs4CeK5BBgcmmU66RIfhtawoLqOROngQ89ypFCaLyflnUoJszhM9-CSs_Zb9n51y0Bugr6UQIDm6xAcy8ofakQ/s320/IMG_4285.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Our kale survived frost and snow and became sugar sweet! Just this past weekend we had our January thaw<span style="font-size: small;"> and </span>Matt, the boys and I harvested the last of it filling a full bushel basket! I've been eating it everyday with our fried eggs on top!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2Dr2zu1cOaTOdcOcGRRJqXhXlEN24XUAvRcMEcf-UEahQ7mmO6FCxM8L2DFaT7VZQVzgaTjjxPYrDSIKQXvvcpm0kkC31pBgu3BFuFjkgbXchh3GFOHPEKYI8HnoQXlWojFPKQTarrSo/s1600/IMG_4558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2Dr2zu1cOaTOdcOcGRRJqXhXlEN24XUAvRcMEcf-UEahQ7mmO6FCxM8L2DFaT7VZQVzgaTjjxPYrDSIKQXvvcpm0kkC31pBgu3BFuFjkgbXchh3GFOHPEKYI8HnoQXlWojFPKQTarrSo/s320/IMG_4558.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebQHUr7eqQ6X2dfY0G1XZlSciu5nTWwvkXeBhBywsAs_hEAN5rEz5cEcG1L3hLcJ8yp6_GHduUobmW0feUSUG2SN_qmZtVPI0eZxrZMgHAlT1qPJNVRptT9Bo5rhd0lVaVpcxF80QChUE/s1600/IMG_4544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebQHUr7eqQ6X2dfY0G1XZlSciu5nTWwvkXeBhBywsAs_hEAN5rEz5cEcG1L3hLcJ8yp6_GHduUobmW0feUSUG2SN_qmZtVPI0eZxrZMgHAlT1qPJNVRptT9Bo5rhd0lVaVpcxF80QChUE/s320/IMG_4544.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsxCvM5-4pRPew10pgoAqYxolmdL1R-gYfIGql-MKArplj7PM9mTQ7p5Oi0Tfs7zTH8JmIGKBlo9jSPE1aqhbq1JQ1cbP3j1ECS-o29e-GhoO022EeZuj0wM51RJge5xosHlcU0kNafr4/s1600/smallest+egg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsxCvM5-4pRPew10pgoAqYxolmdL1R-gYfIGql-MKArplj7PM9mTQ7p5Oi0Tfs7zTH8JmIGKBlo9jSPE1aqhbq1JQ1cbP3j1ECS-o29e-GhoO022EeZuj0wM51RJge5xosHlcU0kNafr4/s320/smallest+egg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUVXRvWmp6WRqRMyKukssn3kk86azXpqZnxT2GYjWSbUxGjxhLi3nUMYQwOrthr9HeF56TmAwPgvuD5bci73Ia6_F-FxnT02Xqne7QVC44CbocH2dJJBtVkNTCF8LbRiBzXB4HtTumMBF/s1600/winter+chickens+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUVXRvWmp6WRqRMyKukssn3kk86azXpqZnxT2GYjWSbUxGjxhLi3nUMYQwOrthr9HeF56TmAwPgvuD5bci73Ia6_F-FxnT02Xqne7QVC44CbocH2dJJBtVkNTCF8LbRiBzXB4HtTumMBF/s320/winter+chickens+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>After we harvested the remainder of the winter greens last weekend, we moved the chickens, for the last time before spring, onto the garden. This year we are continuing to let them free range and they are SO happy here. We are collecting an upwards of seventeen eggs per day and our, previously stalled, egg business is up and running once again. <span style="font-size: small;">We have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThreeBrothersFarmAndOrchard?ref=hl" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">F</span>acebook</a> page<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>and if you are located in the area, please <span style="font-size: small;">think of us when you are in need of<span style="font-size: small;"> sustainably grown garden <span style="font-size: small;">goodies!</span></span></span></span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-36400967628420820022013-01-11T22:40:00.000-05:002013-01-11T22:40:14.166-05:00The Quiet of Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Around here, January is a time for me to take a deep breath and sit down. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We are in the quiet of winter. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I find myself gravitating toward knitting projects that have been tucked away, books that have been shelved and even old photographs from the warmer months. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
As I looked back at 2012 in images, the three faces below scattered my albums in waves of devilish grins, glistening pouts, and pure boy silliness and enthusiasm. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And how could they not? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These boys define our world and I would be in complete denial if I didn't acknowledge that. Sam is now almost 9, Arlo just six, and Otis is almost 4. Each one is so much their own person, and together they make quite another entity!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dsQUb-rG30qiWzbspwS1ONipIKxSwHZCdmLG11kpZgcmDI-6Rp0WvI9K6YrCvLJ1-PrCoIeP_WyyhsT-wa93NP4ELbWZK6on737VAX0GquPNAo-te-raG0E0_m8o55uBS5A3mX3Ir0tB/s1600/_MG_1236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dsQUb-rG30qiWzbspwS1ONipIKxSwHZCdmLG11kpZgcmDI-6Rp0WvI9K6YrCvLJ1-PrCoIeP_WyyhsT-wa93NP4ELbWZK6on737VAX0GquPNAo-te-raG0E0_m8o55uBS5A3mX3Ir0tB/s320/_MG_1236.JPG" width="319" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoqxptUMZmQY-Iuo9lZayJGN-g0wm44P6_7ukq2Ko10kBtLQzjOfoasQ0fLmdvGNPbJyx8aTME-K6ZLS1hWxCYceOlyNpjkmMhTOolSEB28e3_PUgjnDImtjRjl16zH-FS0-pBNoFiuQ8/s1600/_MG_1234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoqxptUMZmQY-Iuo9lZayJGN-g0wm44P6_7ukq2Ko10kBtLQzjOfoasQ0fLmdvGNPbJyx8aTME-K6ZLS1hWxCYceOlyNpjkmMhTOolSEB28e3_PUgjnDImtjRjl16zH-FS0-pBNoFiuQ8/s320/_MG_1234.JPG" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>These photos were taken in September 2012 on the morning of school picture day. Each boy chose his own clothing and neither Matt, nor I, had anything to do with the creation of the most adorable outfits ever...</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sam loves to read and, much like his father, I have to make physical contact to pull him from whatever world he is absorbed in at the moment. Third grade has been a little bit of a challenge for him, though not so much the actual school work. His teacher is very strict and structured, and although those qualities are good ones for an elementary classroom teacher, Sam is struggling with some of the rigidity, and to be very honest, so am I. Together we are figuring it out and this second semester seems to be off to a good start.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sam continues to read with his Grandma 3 or so times a week, via Skype, and they just completed <u>The Hobbit.</u> Megan and I took him to see the film over the winter break and he LOVED it, despite having to hide his eyes a couple times. Sam is still in karate once a week and he has now added chess club to his repertoire. When he is not dutifully doing his farm chores, imagining fantasy lands with his brothers, or reading a book somewhere; he can be found teaching one of his brothers or friends to play chess!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPJZAykVrrXJxPpzzORu-PVniKdkQZCxpLl0JR_o99nRMDCDI7e8yTIE4EKABtaEAN7jMXUd8DL6HiB6b0gJ1yuub3i6r5_uY5x5KWEzawnH7O244_Cuw6Fi1ZkbRv-F40esf9HdqVY-c/s1600/IMG_3365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPJZAykVrrXJxPpzzORu-PVniKdkQZCxpLl0JR_o99nRMDCDI7e8yTIE4EKABtaEAN7jMXUd8DL6HiB6b0gJ1yuub3i6r5_uY5x5KWEzawnH7O244_Cuw6Fi1ZkbRv-F40esf9HdqVY-c/s320/IMG_3365.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Arlo is a VERY silly and VERY clever little boy! Over the last year he and I have been working on controlling his curiosity. Things were being broken left and right around here and once Arlo confessed to "being curious", we were able to help him focus that energy in more positive ways. LEGO has been a big help and we also have a box of old electronics that he can dive into and take things apart. He really enjoyed exploring an old telephone this summer and then a few old darkroom items I acquired. My sister gave him a tin can robot project for his birthday that he and Matt had a blast making. Arlo is in Kindergarten this year, which is all day, 5 days a week. He loves it for the most part and it helps that his teacher is amazing. She has given him many leadership roles in the classroom, to help keep his attention. Mrs. Kim is also a middle child and really relates to Arlo and I am SO thankful!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoJp2Xr5FVHc4hpiWqf1rC2MeNw4oEVWzgcpg9kRn16oLhGq-9QJV8dzrCxNcJXgslUqqiqSXlYQAisLRLhVvbSyvcGt-AsGlpVWSg8mJGXuWT0SEFFn76yW512sRa4dPMncAHG_1itEC/s1600/IMG_3844-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoJp2Xr5FVHc4hpiWqf1rC2MeNw4oEVWzgcpg9kRn16oLhGq-9QJV8dzrCxNcJXgslUqqiqSXlYQAisLRLhVvbSyvcGt-AsGlpVWSg8mJGXuWT0SEFFn76yW512sRa4dPMncAHG_1itEC/s320/IMG_3844-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ah, and then there is Otis...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Otis has been a <a href="http://amanda-athome.blogspot.com/2009/04/six-weeks.html">challenging</a> child since birth. He is dedicated to his cause, whether it may be irritating his brothers, chasing chickens, or being adorable in an attempt to "save" his life from the wrath of an upset mommy. He is almost 4 right now and I am thankful we all survived his year 3, as year 2 holds no candle to year 3 for this boy! He is willful and smart, creative and deceiving and right at the moment you are ready to sell him to the gypsies, he puts on that charm and there is nothing more to be done <i>(except sweep him off his feet and cuddle him)</i>! Otis is in a morning preschool program at the same public Montessori school that Sam and Arlo attend...which leaves me with 5 mornings a week sans children! His teachers report that he is "adorable and sweet and loud", but also very well-behaved! He has been so interested in making art lately, drawing in particular, and he is quite good. Most of his drawings are recognizable which makes me very excited for our art future together.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiXWN02Jk_WQwaev77TM0KbxZUUrzx_7nL1CIWGEXoz_DAn1r8nhKwMGWj0XgfgbCce8tJNqHg5n3bCpH-FPYpQKnORu8YnNOP0LpLZjQt4JLyolTAKTMs-sChfwa9kTc_sucBaaNVbWP/s1600/IMG_3461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiXWN02Jk_WQwaev77TM0KbxZUUrzx_7nL1CIWGEXoz_DAn1r8nhKwMGWj0XgfgbCce8tJNqHg5n3bCpH-FPYpQKnORu8YnNOP0LpLZjQt4JLyolTAKTMs-sChfwa9kTc_sucBaaNVbWP/s320/IMG_3461.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFr30jv0iLYSWB6qToZiMbEjxWK-9C9RLY8_B5U8J1LGlkmsAFSYhSz_rptwInCMcyvKRzTV0joiK2VVKB-WW_5kqxtWOrDwjtDln3FPg3x47gaRA-CBvHUgjZP3YZcJRtwmSO9sqCg4s/s1600/IMG_3917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFr30jv0iLYSWB6qToZiMbEjxWK-9C9RLY8_B5U8J1LGlkmsAFSYhSz_rptwInCMcyvKRzTV0joiK2VVKB-WW_5kqxtWOrDwjtDln3FPg3x47gaRA-CBvHUgjZP3YZcJRtwmSO9sqCg4s/s320/IMG_3917.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
All in all, these three boys bring us so much joy...and tumult...but mostly joy! Together, either as a threesome, or in groupings of "the bigs" and "the littles" (poor Arlo gets lumped in both), they are very creative and interested boys! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(Especially Otis. He is still my little partner for everything.)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I enjoy them so much and miss them when they are at school <i>(most of the time)</i>. However, as they get older I find myself watching them in wonder more and more.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't understand SO much of what they do and am incredibly thankful for Matt and the other really positive male role models around us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Along with the frequent phrase, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Don't put that in your mouth",</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can be found saying <i>(or asking)</i> nearly every hour of the day, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Why, on earth, would you do that?!?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(usually in sequence)</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquUFOnkn8_4UaEvglSwPTFUFXHUEVQ9nxYjYNmhcOUMoKUu7STnO8XzJKhmlQ9lOly4tkionaqDptDQDpDNmSexCOm2mjkUWV1eCCtyW78RvPH1Zv7ZDAdEFgJdlDpEn1nSEtsgmF1GKY/s1600/IMG_3660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquUFOnkn8_4UaEvglSwPTFUFXHUEVQ9nxYjYNmhcOUMoKUu7STnO8XzJKhmlQ9lOly4tkionaqDptDQDpDNmSexCOm2mjkUWV1eCCtyW78RvPH1Zv7ZDAdEFgJdlDpEn1nSEtsgmF1GKY/s320/IMG_3660.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-39769985450697332072012-05-19T22:50:00.002-04:002012-05-19T22:50:25.532-04:00At Home<div style="text-align: center;">
Upon our return from travels in late January, we were tired. So very tired. We hunkered down inside our cozy, warm home and did very little. Celebrated a few birthdays quietly, a little creativity happened, some farm planning; but otherwise we enjoyed the stillness of winter...<br />
<i>at home</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The seasons are changing once again and as the trees awaken with dustings of color, so has our family. We've been digging in the dirt and planting seeds, caring for sweet new life here on our farm (which really is a small farm now, with a name and a tractor and everything!) and selling a few dozen eggs here and there. It feels so good.<br />
<br />
It also feels very hard. We have commitments that are tiring sometimes and long days are back again. This pace will continue until the harvest is done and all the canned goods have been shelved in the cellar. I am so tired already and June hasn't even arrived.<br />
<br />
The garden is going in slowly. We work on it when we can and quite consistently when weather and schedules allow. Most evenings after dinner we are in the garden, though Matt more than me lately, as I have been recovering from a more intense bought of laryngitis.<br />
<br />
The end of the year school activities have begun with field trips, music concerts, field days, volunteer teas, fundraising auctions and carnivals! Along with continued volunteer work and photo shoots!<br />
<br />
Yikes. We are crazy.<br />
So, you'll forgive me if this post turned into a rant about our over-extended lives.<br />
<br />
I have a good excuse.<br />
I am crazy.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbx07pat_-87-vZEiSjBGB1BOPV2n5aualDrguDLY8MnkFPiZSQx8kVfChZTPb3gLBlPu5J3xSPBPi1BFRZ_DNydgFSMuDMVFRbKeITxrToBs5qymfKIjPCUraHCF8mbudl9Bk5SL2ElL/s1600/IMG_1641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbx07pat_-87-vZEiSjBGB1BOPV2n5aualDrguDLY8MnkFPiZSQx8kVfChZTPb3gLBlPu5J3xSPBPi1BFRZ_DNydgFSMuDMVFRbKeITxrToBs5qymfKIjPCUraHCF8mbudl9Bk5SL2ElL/s320/IMG_1641.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I captured a rainbow on an afternoon drive to pick up the boys at school, March 2012</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-51958429896813885772012-05-19T22:00:00.000-04:002012-05-19T22:53:37.434-04:00Almost<div style="text-align: center;">
As of yesterday at 5:56 p.m. central time, we have an 8 year old living in our house.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He's an almost 3rd grader who reads all the time. Loves fantasy and adventure of all types and really loves science, but always says he loves art "just as much"...which makes this artistic mother feel good.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5990CDsJzQNrAXihC63QGXBOgLKdmBisu0xrczNOrbgQ6uGMDjrpbceWrF-g4VZyBJjKD8z-aZca_peOOm9Y1AVOBV0fnr1Z2j80SXpB5emH4KgNs6C4CW0xa9L30UwHYKn6hQAu8NfeI/s1600/IMG_1395-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5990CDsJzQNrAXihC63QGXBOgLKdmBisu0xrczNOrbgQ6uGMDjrpbceWrF-g4VZyBJjKD8z-aZca_peOOm9Y1AVOBV0fnr1Z2j80SXpB5emH4KgNs6C4CW0xa9L30UwHYKn6hQAu8NfeI/s320/IMG_1395-1.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNhA7H6L5znJwOGcJaG4zKY4SNlronW9BVOJE0taVAZT5E-fqLK7Q2OfGXGtjdpgubjHXSy3sUZ_M0_W31wTYZFGLz0FLrvZ8039wVHFmKqoQzgMotBE1cY4_94s2dph6s4gi8i6WisKG/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNhA7H6L5znJwOGcJaG4zKY4SNlronW9BVOJE0taVAZT5E-fqLK7Q2OfGXGtjdpgubjHXSy3sUZ_M0_W31wTYZFGLz0FLrvZ8039wVHFmKqoQzgMotBE1cY4_94s2dph6s4gi8i6WisKG/s320/IMG_1394.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83wZeZn7gpv_pz6ejB2Dn6c17Ho3gqWw5ZNK7fznk-k0sa44l7NHq2eeCOZgDxhPL0kHCaeudGenQCOYQ2Srgrq-HuPK-vzTSIPTWr0H6mNqHvB3R3kgn7teQe9Vp18fpl_7nFeah4M_0/s1600/IMG_1396-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83wZeZn7gpv_pz6ejB2Dn6c17Ho3gqWw5ZNK7fznk-k0sa44l7NHq2eeCOZgDxhPL0kHCaeudGenQCOYQ2Srgrq-HuPK-vzTSIPTWr0H6mNqHvB3R3kgn7teQe9Vp18fpl_7nFeah4M_0/s320/IMG_1396-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KtXuQjx9Gxbxi0N3QYWCaGHmuLYnlYQ2aafSNypoV-onjOy-x82N6lBHDRsLlMED9C3ENUkY1Mm4i6dYQTM6H5A0AM-dV_UN5qIUtVslZ0iS8uaeyqOLsv9Wz-v0LhmVa9qlkA-8XD1s/s1600/IMG_1400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KtXuQjx9Gxbxi0N3QYWCaGHmuLYnlYQ2aafSNypoV-onjOy-x82N6lBHDRsLlMED9C3ENUkY1Mm4i6dYQTM6H5A0AM-dV_UN5qIUtVslZ0iS8uaeyqOLsv9Wz-v0LhmVa9qlkA-8XD1s/s320/IMG_1400.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVShfjHj-YoNESPluAObnHdPHzVYdtK4_59tHqpg_lXBD0nz3aLtaVL_k_8LFolJc70ydsUKZVL9vsvNqJGd0uDgc6xrx1MtrPro2VvrDb5XQfvG1Z2vAVcHepfMWz1USJqXf1DY0205mq/s1600/IMG_1397-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVShfjHj-YoNESPluAObnHdPHzVYdtK4_59tHqpg_lXBD0nz3aLtaVL_k_8LFolJc70ydsUKZVL9vsvNqJGd0uDgc6xrx1MtrPro2VvrDb5XQfvG1Z2vAVcHepfMWz1USJqXf1DY0205mq/s320/IMG_1397-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQMEc5lSJJMdrejwRsWII_HoX4-j8plUlWznZhLlA-HwI4I-qkFdzVzP6S0jRSCa7yp9XVTDRuwnJXTmYv4ij8letgnZg-F80MV1Dd4fnYa3ETLrkG4tPet6FReaUPU-g1C9Idop8o5Mz/s1600/IMG_1399-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQMEc5lSJJMdrejwRsWII_HoX4-j8plUlWznZhLlA-HwI4I-qkFdzVzP6S0jRSCa7yp9XVTDRuwnJXTmYv4ij8letgnZg-F80MV1Dd4fnYa3ETLrkG4tPet6FReaUPU-g1C9Idop8o5Mz/s320/IMG_1399-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
These photos were taken in March and he's had his hair cut very short since then. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After a long absence from writing...I think I am back for a bit.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There will be more words to accompany more photographs very soon...we're almost there.</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-44778827551689946142012-01-08T00:35:00.000-05:002012-01-08T00:35:39.562-05:00Pocket Photos: December Travels: Puerto Rico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back when I was in college I used to carry around and photograph with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holga">Holga</a> camera. It used 120mm film with 2 1/4" square frames...a hip, novelty, plastic camera with light leaking from random places. It was an art movement and I loved it. Digital photography (which I initially resisted) is returning to me that which I had lost in the shuffle of parenting. Using an application on my phone, I am having a Holga experience once again . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I call them pocket photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0w6gSPmoB0CThBItE-HQOFa_sw8pI_zqAYciHe9Nnms5gemvSfpX0ybIbva5wF7Aib5HaEDOtd5j_460HSM6YKXZ9c92n8IvMK5TZdSj4xY6BJLUp8NXqVx1WdUA2mR61UPfVYmilZiK/s320/IMG_1105.JPG" width="320" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2R_Rpo7SxU9dq_QKaLGrP0fYcjd7FrB9w6sYTL3zA8cZww4qdB12jj8LluJC7dpTiH5v9UaBfbipyxjQOtwCjJ4TIOatYapPO13uaI8DnQy855HmQSMsW5LsUC-5BlWT18z3czs_ch2qx/s1600/IMG_1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2R_Rpo7SxU9dq_QKaLGrP0fYcjd7FrB9w6sYTL3zA8cZww4qdB12jj8LluJC7dpTiH5v9UaBfbipyxjQOtwCjJ4TIOatYapPO13uaI8DnQy855HmQSMsW5LsUC-5BlWT18z3czs_ch2qx/s320/IMG_1111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7YWFqCZSqgbecz8Vmb6uvMKPHSMMKdm3i22P9iNmaRl5rruu5zT6vZdM7h6fJnqYjBpaJ9mHfAm9y5ACNGgzF5gDaavAZEwIn3UNkr09WDpruDKAi56Z6aQKO81cbhi0wjcDx-aDqwH1/s1600/IMG_1069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7YWFqCZSqgbecz8Vmb6uvMKPHSMMKdm3i22P9iNmaRl5rruu5zT6vZdM7h6fJnqYjBpaJ9mHfAm9y5ACNGgzF5gDaavAZEwIn3UNkr09WDpruDKAi56Z6aQKO81cbhi0wjcDx-aDqwH1/s320/IMG_1069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTjpp3Es7M7qZVxo_i4-XKIpGvgPGGERlHzEItJIJO1RXerzBRuVKu83QmEZ0oNBisH0qKgYgC5RftIKIzgoAUV6YPa9HZgXG3OPafeuUGSCpmO91E1Nanbvur9gZqn1UCktupFRrTZ5z/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTjpp3Es7M7qZVxo_i4-XKIpGvgPGGERlHzEItJIJO1RXerzBRuVKu83QmEZ0oNBisH0qKgYgC5RftIKIzgoAUV6YPa9HZgXG3OPafeuUGSCpmO91E1Nanbvur9gZqn1UCktupFRrTZ5z/s320/IMG_1095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnFhovQJ_iyEad3m6XUXMNwWdxsmuiwXEq-kcFwr4KKvAde0U9MlYNzXsyqBmBW50LG1gzTmR2YxbOo1rsLpB2KEPk2_yBMMHH31vZQ66NRK6rElNRvPjnxq80UI9lHN6KaIluBnL-fT9/s1600/IMG_1045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnFhovQJ_iyEad3m6XUXMNwWdxsmuiwXEq-kcFwr4KKvAde0U9MlYNzXsyqBmBW50LG1gzTmR2YxbOo1rsLpB2KEPk2_yBMMHH31vZQ66NRK6rElNRvPjnxq80UI9lHN6KaIluBnL-fT9/s320/IMG_1045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vfyvZHkGL8FmOf7DJWiwX3HvnewPn4FjfCiy6HGJdJ3DiffRpFLs4JUvbuJnE7FiNhMuRmxgFp_D8irxY14AKGXK1bM0Gglkr2kNmjIDsMpqQxstGbZPTO_bn4z5J2tnq8W22_0_P6R-/s1600/IMG_0968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vfyvZHkGL8FmOf7DJWiwX3HvnewPn4FjfCiy6HGJdJ3DiffRpFLs4JUvbuJnE7FiNhMuRmxgFp_D8irxY14AKGXK1bM0Gglkr2kNmjIDsMpqQxstGbZPTO_bn4z5J2tnq8W22_0_P6R-/s320/IMG_0968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mj49cF1kBj1fh_hf9oWk0FDrnPT7YXU4cwM38NUEhCwSj6WsEuiNnTeXP98eWRVaEtypveX-jxTxrZ9JirhEZ2HOXRy24oeyzHshJEqjytWOZuDTNVsgnh21_YIMr5W2PGu3OlJB0Jso/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mj49cF1kBj1fh_hf9oWk0FDrnPT7YXU4cwM38NUEhCwSj6WsEuiNnTeXP98eWRVaEtypveX-jxTxrZ9JirhEZ2HOXRy24oeyzHshJEqjytWOZuDTNVsgnh21_YIMr5W2PGu3OlJB0Jso/s320/IMG_0986.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJyZsMNw1HuEwHtsq2Tro5RFkhC7SaDbc3n0a1_mycjsDgBXD1b0xxKqDMYIERihX8hZPOZIs4NdYMZ0yBRN0rqBT0ex2iksvR1oNqT0Q4gEOMeW6YDHi5m7Gzc9760NmTs2a8nLV_gua/s1600/IMG_0989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJyZsMNw1HuEwHtsq2Tro5RFkhC7SaDbc3n0a1_mycjsDgBXD1b0xxKqDMYIERihX8hZPOZIs4NdYMZ0yBRN0rqBT0ex2iksvR1oNqT0Q4gEOMeW6YDHi5m7Gzc9760NmTs2a8nLV_gua/s320/IMG_0989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie07b1TuheM630sqdKGHLqcOyRXwZfaLgeDi_Rd6Mz7kFuaU8Rzi7ITYJboNHG2-lp2qzdRtdNOfuxodl0XnFioj_2RBilnpsYNQ5LROB4y8N5tQ-SS3uePsDJWynCveY5975NDR28MLoC/s1600/IMG_0875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie07b1TuheM630sqdKGHLqcOyRXwZfaLgeDi_Rd6Mz7kFuaU8Rzi7ITYJboNHG2-lp2qzdRtdNOfuxodl0XnFioj_2RBilnpsYNQ5LROB4y8N5tQ-SS3uePsDJWynCveY5975NDR28MLoC/s320/IMG_0875.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglevFdAG-07gXDVqBLSHkf02BEbnht1u3eXniFXiqO5sb6Qnl-Xd_E82c_ntNOOw4R4Wh-AKQ-u02UZWnKZZ6nlPe38J0FQxF0s2cVhuVBGGr_D9OcBiZYVcdiwc5YQmYqxh8UXO66WZGj/s1600/IMG_0841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglevFdAG-07gXDVqBLSHkf02BEbnht1u3eXniFXiqO5sb6Qnl-Xd_E82c_ntNOOw4R4Wh-AKQ-u02UZWnKZZ6nlPe38J0FQxF0s2cVhuVBGGr_D9OcBiZYVcdiwc5YQmYqxh8UXO66WZGj/s320/IMG_0841.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWKP3n1nHkBjHNj2CblGIpcHZ1O9Ap9T0kFCh5kU0Mxvkz3cn7xO4aKOBHLmmJ5mO5YLSRsnnhqnvqVTF4zmseEzaB_V1DdMDVvoOpRIsdFSoXODTKcidvwKj8WORW9AjEYq3VUDPV7Zc/s1600/IMG_0845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWKP3n1nHkBjHNj2CblGIpcHZ1O9Ap9T0kFCh5kU0Mxvkz3cn7xO4aKOBHLmmJ5mO5YLSRsnnhqnvqVTF4zmseEzaB_V1DdMDVvoOpRIsdFSoXODTKcidvwKj8WORW9AjEYq3VUDPV7Zc/s320/IMG_0845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2W41D7w0mFcQBVObMHuDQhyphenhyphenTVAQrke-mFHZYsBI_Mc2WTzLjL-rj7Mrz_VqCBKqipuvzZ_NmnWXkfPMBY5dC6R-onbn6cgoWW2ke3sJdfjhtEPA9z-kOeJkiGxRjdxRUNzSGjo3av2wXV/s1600/IMG_0858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2W41D7w0mFcQBVObMHuDQhyphenhyphenTVAQrke-mFHZYsBI_Mc2WTzLjL-rj7Mrz_VqCBKqipuvzZ_NmnWXkfPMBY5dC6R-onbn6cgoWW2ke3sJdfjhtEPA9z-kOeJkiGxRjdxRUNzSGjo3av2wXV/s320/IMG_0858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrPB5176scWRuT2DB-EUCbvFz5iXFC9CtZaJRd6SE-JlK2d4OFdqS7eQ77CCfu2T0Ao_kymuXfIMwlJzuRiHlKyOdktoS9cRv_va_myLTJLoyCcqUaG_iyQkOsAugAXEnrwcZSrLWXmhG/s1600/IMG_0784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrPB5176scWRuT2DB-EUCbvFz5iXFC9CtZaJRd6SE-JlK2d4OFdqS7eQ77CCfu2T0Ao_kymuXfIMwlJzuRiHlKyOdktoS9cRv_va_myLTJLoyCcqUaG_iyQkOsAugAXEnrwcZSrLWXmhG/s320/IMG_0784.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWVs85liXRQt30N-jbZr3V1d_BpItBCTJZyzs6LXqCY0JYtAlt6fvFpeUDwbzMRetR4DB1l44XXG_exFedERhzLxR_ejXUPjJA3qJTv0VLX3glVLE7JDAY6fbnPRa0B2OwZYwfDDoLAvK/s1600/IMG_0790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWVs85liXRQt30N-jbZr3V1d_BpItBCTJZyzs6LXqCY0JYtAlt6fvFpeUDwbzMRetR4DB1l44XXG_exFedERhzLxR_ejXUPjJA3qJTv0VLX3glVLE7JDAY6fbnPRa0B2OwZYwfDDoLAvK/s320/IMG_0790.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexopLY6w2jgVIhLlhlchDzvJxxFBKW6Gdt2sWxO_lc55dnxQwmnF7-SS_oCpKIpEOJd076YKUhjuWDAdVonhdtmaPpAHpTBFf2j32qPC1k_-WXXQmJtZH-YSVpZCMBlEy8erZvZPlBvBh/s1600/IMG_0801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexopLY6w2jgVIhLlhlchDzvJxxFBKW6Gdt2sWxO_lc55dnxQwmnF7-SS_oCpKIpEOJd076YKUhjuWDAdVonhdtmaPpAHpTBFf2j32qPC1k_-WXXQmJtZH-YSVpZCMBlEy8erZvZPlBvBh/s320/IMG_0801.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEMfxqG9x0KkB8IqB4EdIbSOBNJM1nQmu65IJ_9EF1oN4PGNIalR63KqMSt0kNoUr_ppsXHNoFNA4E4zr-d39dNDzewOqJJTRoaHRY9bZ7rD5PPk2Bt1bosPk9ZxCyM2hm9Q4abvL5uhI/s1600/IMG_0767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEMfxqG9x0KkB8IqB4EdIbSOBNJM1nQmu65IJ_9EF1oN4PGNIalR63KqMSt0kNoUr_ppsXHNoFNA4E4zr-d39dNDzewOqJJTRoaHRY9bZ7rD5PPk2Bt1bosPk9ZxCyM2hm9Q4abvL5uhI/s320/IMG_0767.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdp7Ykr2XFQ5WEl9nuyhmywBGPq99lqg9gCLqJm8p0nJAutYN630Ri_GFM1b1Mj4an9Jx1kRtvq_tDHcQz08I8w5N_fWYN5cfk53PqnN26HmC1aVBbwR-IPpr_nOD9x-Mu-4cXc_suml1I/s1600/IMG_0644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdp7Ykr2XFQ5WEl9nuyhmywBGPq99lqg9gCLqJm8p0nJAutYN630Ri_GFM1b1Mj4an9Jx1kRtvq_tDHcQz08I8w5N_fWYN5cfk53PqnN26HmC1aVBbwR-IPpr_nOD9x-Mu-4cXc_suml1I/s320/IMG_0644.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7juoJ4Mwbala0Ofnq_VxkGO3lPlV9yT38u_6K6GH_nlqxRcebexamqVe3pdtyzHfOOjCy8U6PbJHMP-dZzf9nzygjd2gDWIxyRx58akQ2xFiDN1CQ8Edy_Wqc_HML0OMlHq7S8ZJ_DxIe/s1600/IMG_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7juoJ4Mwbala0Ofnq_VxkGO3lPlV9yT38u_6K6GH_nlqxRcebexamqVe3pdtyzHfOOjCy8U6PbJHMP-dZzf9nzygjd2gDWIxyRx58akQ2xFiDN1CQ8Edy_Wqc_HML0OMlHq7S8ZJ_DxIe/s320/IMG_0648.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwCn_-YF962f67eo8h8kPbAyR-5opL2TX47bJ_vqvl0z3m1lx5kFMtVYMZhv4g2Fk2QAQCok3Fd9TDbNPQ3OsdHU3ojDF72iPOTDqwz99dRMA4JwZXR1idMF15-VONCDY8n-89Tz-il0R/s1600/IMG_0662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwCn_-YF962f67eo8h8kPbAyR-5opL2TX47bJ_vqvl0z3m1lx5kFMtVYMZhv4g2Fk2QAQCok3Fd9TDbNPQ3OsdHU3ojDF72iPOTDqwz99dRMA4JwZXR1idMF15-VONCDY8n-89Tz-il0R/s320/IMG_0662.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dKpRJi8Gmin9SHjfRVFAXfJEwsR0SVKH-JnL8clqFxVuHRxYR18cK0f9i9-67Olc8_flZgrw_nC8aRm9l_Kj_qviyELeHU6_5qTQrJeO-ov4C-qYCznZ1Q4F3XlKaeWwzDAf_-GgB-ql/s1600/IMG_0668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dKpRJi8Gmin9SHjfRVFAXfJEwsR0SVKH-JnL8clqFxVuHRxYR18cK0f9i9-67Olc8_flZgrw_nC8aRm9l_Kj_qviyELeHU6_5qTQrJeO-ov4C-qYCznZ1Q4F3XlKaeWwzDAf_-GgB-ql/s320/IMG_0668.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWjTheaB5qtqEaoi5qWOiotKLfDzqMiIJZaUV9YYXlqRn3EfU3oqqEsMdddPf61bDgXk5JBP6w9eerLcYl7td4SF2-H4noi1Y3_4ekmXYhESx8p_sM6UdKeXOCwHLw71lDoaBX_CzKjzu/s1600/IMG_0671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWjTheaB5qtqEaoi5qWOiotKLfDzqMiIJZaUV9YYXlqRn3EfU3oqqEsMdddPf61bDgXk5JBP6w9eerLcYl7td4SF2-H4noi1Y3_4ekmXYhESx8p_sM6UdKeXOCwHLw71lDoaBX_CzKjzu/s320/IMG_0671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmj4vUfIjx-EieuiqPf0tC8ZFSb7TLva0FTFWZmQ2lL9oORNCzao80wmZM7TYUET488Hc_g8ikxiD1iGkIO1zanT3J2Qs3HUgfSJf_m-UQOjVjWrY1cB9n8_7UTetnO1SjbX5dtZEmB-_/s1600/IMG_0677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmj4vUfIjx-EieuiqPf0tC8ZFSb7TLva0FTFWZmQ2lL9oORNCzao80wmZM7TYUET488Hc_g8ikxiD1iGkIO1zanT3J2Qs3HUgfSJf_m-UQOjVjWrY1cB9n8_7UTetnO1SjbX5dtZEmB-_/s320/IMG_0677.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkHr_G_jQNNOl-hXgs5ImWIEvZ-PbpeVCgICz8610rqHMBONiujBREYxE5w9ETZtMfFEm2N3ak85bRTSWyVmnemwiZM5o6rtYCgmnoECl9_We4-YM9YONyMaUyGFMY-uoLnAK_KSXZ5LO/s1600/IMG_0688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkHr_G_jQNNOl-hXgs5ImWIEvZ-PbpeVCgICz8610rqHMBONiujBREYxE5w9ETZtMfFEm2N3ak85bRTSWyVmnemwiZM5o6rtYCgmnoECl9_We4-YM9YONyMaUyGFMY-uoLnAK_KSXZ5LO/s320/IMG_0688.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99gsCai8y1JhNzQ0y81q-PCLBwKk5u_CosgtHcvq05dNzfvIhSZF5dhlflbJyXvnSpCKzbjC4h6Xl9xZ6w5eaJAzss6Zq0IoMCdZC_Pw4fN6IhJj1mNUc00fG26NPH9orCGbtqcLedqY7/s1600/IMG_0689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99gsCai8y1JhNzQ0y81q-PCLBwKk5u_CosgtHcvq05dNzfvIhSZF5dhlflbJyXvnSpCKzbjC4h6Xl9xZ6w5eaJAzss6Zq0IoMCdZC_Pw4fN6IhJj1mNUc00fG26NPH9orCGbtqcLedqY7/s320/IMG_0689.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTlOVbFraX_sc6X-QBTxLlFnPzhEA0a4eyftF27pUFevZ_t-qYknlbB1oB9rudmyDz5VUyTEjUmqBARKR2zBPOg-VEaHEdSBCgk19ew7wCdH72yiuLZ8WC0Cc4g4b_xeHOc8mlgSeUbab/s1600/IMG_0694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTlOVbFraX_sc6X-QBTxLlFnPzhEA0a4eyftF27pUFevZ_t-qYknlbB1oB9rudmyDz5VUyTEjUmqBARKR2zBPOg-VEaHEdSBCgk19ew7wCdH72yiuLZ8WC0Cc4g4b_xeHOc8mlgSeUbab/s320/IMG_0694.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzyCY5B7u82EM6B9gGHVEPqmrhkzOXcAq8eKtGupwQsCXyI771T-M-Qify0mhyoksNxUmHaxfphHBQJ8xSaLhKYwWTSmvkkmCZ3D6ikuCdTlPIRXWxzegubQc0ws4CFUj56JUSpMqnNy2/s1600/IMG_0626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzyCY5B7u82EM6B9gGHVEPqmrhkzOXcAq8eKtGupwQsCXyI771T-M-Qify0mhyoksNxUmHaxfphHBQJ8xSaLhKYwWTSmvkkmCZ3D6ikuCdTlPIRXWxzegubQc0ws4CFUj56JUSpMqnNy2/s320/IMG_0626.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElL3qrLMunvVTgMxo_tnR5NbMOXk4zqvrd8wSA66MURWpwPyWwRui2UIIAy7GHFEDwYmjXDNE29cXUMZykJwW1v8nrUcScQM9YA3iGEHzM_a7V_6YCBD2-uJvDVK9Slz8lzHAC5qxv-MN/s1600/IMG_0638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElL3qrLMunvVTgMxo_tnR5NbMOXk4zqvrd8wSA66MURWpwPyWwRui2UIIAy7GHFEDwYmjXDNE29cXUMZykJwW1v8nrUcScQM9YA3iGEHzM_a7V_6YCBD2-uJvDVK9Slz8lzHAC5qxv-MN/s320/IMG_0638.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-49800758607365824812012-01-07T23:55:00.001-05:002012-01-07T23:58:28.822-05:00Business at Its Best<div style="text-align: center;">Photography has been a passion of mine for almost 20 years. Unbelievable. I feel so amazingly lucky to be able to take photographs that people love and that I love! It brings me such joy to create a really stunning photograph. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">In early December I had the greatest honor of photographing the wedding of an old and dear friend in Santa Cruz, California. I photographed the wedding as a gift and she provided my transport and housing...business at its best.<br />
It was a wonderful, sincere, beautiful and moving experience.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpXLDyiH-6r1L_LU_TdZGRZek2LleRhbuBw-Nu3fjgujSBKAyISWNs7zxQvexg8jrRwxZOp6tTQLgLw5wIIXjhIVZ92gLdot_XRJk0VzKWlISOj-v78fDXC_e9Q8cva4TGs_MKrYFtoO1/s1600/Binh+and+Jamie+in+vernicular+BW+magpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpXLDyiH-6r1L_LU_TdZGRZek2LleRhbuBw-Nu3fjgujSBKAyISWNs7zxQvexg8jrRwxZOp6tTQLgLw5wIIXjhIVZ92gLdot_XRJk0VzKWlISOj-v78fDXC_e9Q8cva4TGs_MKrYFtoO1/s320/Binh+and+Jamie+in+vernicular+BW+magpie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolAE5LWsXEqdCP7nTRKrg0B9e25XX6HA5sjc61ND5NVGmJYY2UFP_wU32VAc2eHaIGWi8cZ6B4wYRo-71VU5LnfVrPxPlzR64WeVs2588-gS9phpM9xTOQ4Vy_9EJt4Ylk56IkZR6TVfV/s1600/Binh+and+Jamie+kiss+sunlight+BW+magpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolAE5LWsXEqdCP7nTRKrg0B9e25XX6HA5sjc61ND5NVGmJYY2UFP_wU32VAc2eHaIGWi8cZ6B4wYRo-71VU5LnfVrPxPlzR64WeVs2588-gS9phpM9xTOQ4Vy_9EJt4Ylk56IkZR6TVfV/s320/Binh+and+Jamie+kiss+sunlight+BW+magpie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJckLvRqhzKf4Q2wiUp1QYLY56SzTLDom6CJLoMH2g22CMHpefQzkCbKhuhsZOwAMsZygS4MctVywtXBs4ruEMc2QtY2Wst09KK8mrv9o-73kuTKqqqndhIe8mY0D-k5xzTIH5NNC-8zYn/s1600/binh+and+Jamie+kiss+with+reflection+BW+magpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJckLvRqhzKf4Q2wiUp1QYLY56SzTLDom6CJLoMH2g22CMHpefQzkCbKhuhsZOwAMsZygS4MctVywtXBs4ruEMc2QtY2Wst09KK8mrv9o-73kuTKqqqndhIe8mY0D-k5xzTIH5NNC-8zYn/s320/binh+and+Jamie+kiss+with+reflection+BW+magpie.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSBkcW6CPoWnLdmipVNvZKEYXAtV5xEAIE_3oqnADSJMaRidR220I3W_Dp8xN-UUC7YLLvoIvZaHgN_U6garrcxaMZPu0NbzENr6tuGNhJRAoWzG2ayUaN38yt8JXOB5ocSHLZScrbhy0/s1600/boots+and+dress+BW+F+magpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSBkcW6CPoWnLdmipVNvZKEYXAtV5xEAIE_3oqnADSJMaRidR220I3W_Dp8xN-UUC7YLLvoIvZaHgN_U6garrcxaMZPu0NbzENr6tuGNhJRAoWzG2ayUaN38yt8JXOB5ocSHLZScrbhy0/s320/boots+and+dress+BW+F+magpie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OqiQ8HIfBh4NuXFdVHYdGlXfSQXD-KRBjya-wJJ6OkY20MD_GCxEPvyeZVDVXTSTZSUAj9H7aALI25FATHGKW4X08eA4WNont1t0FYwAZFbF1Mi_OXXhochgLFxXO9hr9C2YYibLQUJr/s1600/flowers+and+rings+extra+DESAT+magpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OqiQ8HIfBh4NuXFdVHYdGlXfSQXD-KRBjya-wJJ6OkY20MD_GCxEPvyeZVDVXTSTZSUAj9H7aALI25FATHGKW4X08eA4WNont1t0FYwAZFbF1Mi_OXXhochgLFxXO9hr9C2YYibLQUJr/s320/flowers+and+rings+extra+DESAT+magpie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeQWmnNRNcGNxmFDZ3IboPgoo3gI4nGTRyGSLqz1rJ_IZzQeKp_WEQ-8d18sAh2BK8bdBpN-hPRoE7K0Wf0zz0qzvm019Hub4hvstNnhFSMbtK3bltpTKqyzSowYrs8X4qsqdfKKbmty8/s1600/Jamie+Binh+kiss+window+BW+magpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeQWmnNRNcGNxmFDZ3IboPgoo3gI4nGTRyGSLqz1rJ_IZzQeKp_WEQ-8d18sAh2BK8bdBpN-hPRoE7K0Wf0zz0qzvm019Hub4hvstNnhFSMbtK3bltpTKqyzSowYrs8X4qsqdfKKbmty8/s320/Jamie+Binh+kiss+window+BW+magpie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1AxWwKCW5gZ7OjfMH6CX_MJ_Pmbg3y73fyO4xw-DDZ2E21yETa_z2YO9d9ZM8pDQCp5Kg_4Kc_mGWFEZhQ7jFtrRo7f99rbgMdTXpI7JLKeNeYVPk8ei7N0DboKX87To3-2O45UVRWwm/s1600/jamie+profile+blur+BW+magpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1AxWwKCW5gZ7OjfMH6CX_MJ_Pmbg3y73fyO4xw-DDZ2E21yETa_z2YO9d9ZM8pDQCp5Kg_4Kc_mGWFEZhQ7jFtrRo7f99rbgMdTXpI7JLKeNeYVPk8ei7N0DboKX87To3-2O45UVRWwm/s320/jamie+profile+blur+BW+magpie.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKsbc6y9n7v1n4-vTnFEJRGeZLH-sfI9QewR-xGsdS1tbaTvceaHWM0DrTzulRL9LJc4SI2fgAHp1iVpQ1FBwdDPVRine4mRYk5GFlXgoumVpLzjx5t81Je_EcFJZxs1bp3CC2sZnhVm6/s1600/pearls+BW+magpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKsbc6y9n7v1n4-vTnFEJRGeZLH-sfI9QewR-xGsdS1tbaTvceaHWM0DrTzulRL9LJc4SI2fgAHp1iVpQ1FBwdDPVRine4mRYk5GFlXgoumVpLzjx5t81Je_EcFJZxs1bp3CC2sZnhVm6/s320/pearls+BW+magpie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTV1TRP9wmCasq9R-wjN7Ilk7wtwBHM6qktGQgGJu5VOEP3jpD97BUimcycVV468rxjr193MxYrZrNvprBD2zV1zRPc8cpJzWpdMw4yny2KsxewdJO-_w7vVeG_qOVh7lhSTCq4sds6Jh/s1600/Peeka+and+Jamie+hug+BW+magpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTV1TRP9wmCasq9R-wjN7Ilk7wtwBHM6qktGQgGJu5VOEP3jpD97BUimcycVV468rxjr193MxYrZrNvprBD2zV1zRPc8cpJzWpdMw4yny2KsxewdJO-_w7vVeG_qOVh7lhSTCq4sds6Jh/s320/Peeka+and+Jamie+hug+BW+magpie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-29914487688989017482012-01-07T23:26:00.000-05:002012-01-07T23:26:05.254-05:00Hopes for the New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xrWoO9OzJoKAZh7YzAHVWbpj33vHewyloPh3qWM7V5bXsuyDFeKFKKJt1ma9I9TLbaiUZVSJk-f1qpHj269nHj_2uAlwFjmvCXhehquD8ycIRr-2fBn57hDAF6RIhLwRm8JNrok48DeF/s1600/Instagram+Landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xrWoO9OzJoKAZh7YzAHVWbpj33vHewyloPh3qWM7V5bXsuyDFeKFKKJt1ma9I9TLbaiUZVSJk-f1qpHj269nHj_2uAlwFjmvCXhehquD8ycIRr-2fBn57hDAF6RIhLwRm8JNrok48DeF/s320/Instagram+Landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have never been one to make new year's resolutions simply because they seem so definite. If the goal is not achieved, there is failure. Failure is scary to me!</div><div style="text-align: center;">This year I have found myself thinking about some hopes for the upcoming year, as I reflect on last year. A hope seems so much more positive than a resolution. Less definite with more room for evolution.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9OAMAKTeRS32w2GxL4hPA6pmD8dkmBWojvfOCmeIX5_4NPyF6Qq3ZEPf4EO8amYeFKuhRq9Vdsx70YyXHeFa-b228Hr7HEwwshil9u1WRsFRQR13c39PUfzvPgxR5cE47RutQmiUTxbt/s1600/Instagram+Tree+Fog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9OAMAKTeRS32w2GxL4hPA6pmD8dkmBWojvfOCmeIX5_4NPyF6Qq3ZEPf4EO8amYeFKuhRq9Vdsx70YyXHeFa-b228Hr7HEwwshil9u1WRsFRQR13c39PUfzvPgxR5cE47RutQmiUTxbt/s320/Instagram+Tree+Fog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My hopes for 2012</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> :: I hope that we can be a bit more organized with our farm plans. The progress is there. It is the process that needs work ::</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">:: I hope to find more balance between being involved with the children and involving the children. Our boys learn so much when we involve them in what we do and we enjoy the time with them ::</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL11Ok-Ux5URXaLdloSqYCM4iep2T4O1avVpwsTZzWXcT1dzwXDe1vmjCfbK2iJMGNOYU8aRt9Wrxx5yX4YK_JLqPfQ_QQWvV6LBG4-vKNn6DM0rEP2Gsx1QoJNn_aB8QiyEz8jSw4WZ-s/s1600/matt+and+sam+playing.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL11Ok-Ux5URXaLdloSqYCM4iep2T4O1avVpwsTZzWXcT1dzwXDe1vmjCfbK2iJMGNOYU8aRt9Wrxx5yX4YK_JLqPfQ_QQWvV6LBG4-vKNn6DM0rEP2Gsx1QoJNn_aB8QiyEz8jSw4WZ-s/s320/matt+and+sam+playing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">:: I hope to make more time to make art ::</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">:: I hope to enjoy gardening more this year than last year ::</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
:: I hope to continue to strengthen and nourish my body, mind and spirit. This year was a great year for healing ::</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBqtKpYPZa2HhiQcPiyvf4EtUQhS_MdW9osk6TwXKPKKW7zEaAU1Q8si-DM8mVfYMqnxdMAHHESW254f1T7XyzK7iOWn1iPe-hGZuCTj_bu0rRxJrdbyCNDs508Ck8MxQie5oTsp7ESSd/s1600/Instagram+Wood+stove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBqtKpYPZa2HhiQcPiyvf4EtUQhS_MdW9osk6TwXKPKKW7zEaAU1Q8si-DM8mVfYMqnxdMAHHESW254f1T7XyzK7iOWn1iPe-hGZuCTj_bu0rRxJrdbyCNDs508Ck8MxQie5oTsp7ESSd/s320/Instagram+Wood+stove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-10356168557539995342011-11-03T14:06:00.001-04:002011-11-03T14:07:26.383-04:00Ancestors Altar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">This year has brought many changes for our family (as every year does). With the ebb and flow of friends in and out of our community, the practice of Druidry has slowly come trickling into our lives in a time when finding a name for years of feelings, beliefs and emotions is widely welcomed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Both Matt and I have been practicing much of this nature based religion without realizing it. Our lives are very much connected to the seasons and the nature surrounding us and we have really noticed it since we bought our little farm in 2008. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have always been a bit leery of religion, but felt a need for some spirituality.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since my mother's death in 2007 I have had the desire to make an alter for her. Something small with a few items that she loved, a candle or two and some flowers. Occasionally when trying to fall asleep at night I would think about this altar in my head. What it would look like and where I would put it. I've never made one and don't know why.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">October 31 and November 1st marks the Druid holiday of Samhain <i>(Sow-in)</i>. It is a time to recognize and honor ancestors in your family. Some make altars, some attend rituals, some just acknowledge this within. I chose to do all three.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJgFBvfdPYRXwNjvpsBT5FjvsLyO9Fmg4RKQEPj0WGomNKzPM8LJ8pG7SQtRND2AAZufnuUbOa-2n1-vcyFV3S1xOvr4BTRR_C1nuyCnUj00irxFwLQgX3GzvwteHa0fRmFGGZdTtccIl/s1600/IMG_2253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJgFBvfdPYRXwNjvpsBT5FjvsLyO9Fmg4RKQEPj0WGomNKzPM8LJ8pG7SQtRND2AAZufnuUbOa-2n1-vcyFV3S1xOvr4BTRR_C1nuyCnUj00irxFwLQgX3GzvwteHa0fRmFGGZdTtccIl/s320/IMG_2253.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last weekend I attended a Samhain ritual put on by our local ADF Druid group, Cedarsong Grove. Though not my first ritual with this wonderful group of people, it was by far, the most powerful for me. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday, the boys and I made an ancestors altar. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last night we lit candles inviting our ancestors spirits to come home, as this time of year when the dark takes over the light and the human world is the closest to the spirit world.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know this sounds like a bunch of hokey crap and there are probably a number of you rolling your eyes at the thought of a spirit world and such. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDzN5ch38UZjEL0S8URidoRZKVAwzF1_W7AaFIWBMGONfD91ROeIevBcL2n8HARxlXoLHzHb3q8EqQ7Uosgi4q4SctPqUYBVMN1glsoViiioJZiW7jzPKB2fs_r37l3cqC9BltazW_LnW/s1600/IMG_2258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDzN5ch38UZjEL0S8URidoRZKVAwzF1_W7AaFIWBMGONfD91ROeIevBcL2n8HARxlXoLHzHb3q8EqQ7Uosgi4q4SctPqUYBVMN1glsoViiioJZiW7jzPKB2fs_r37l3cqC9BltazW_LnW/s320/IMG_2258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">However, I invite you to make an altar for your ancestors in a visible place in your home. Put photographs of them surrounded by items that they loved or owned and offer them the foods and drink they loved. Walk by this altar every day, look at them and think about them. Light candles for them at night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmqm7UCg4UV84LwMyulq65kYzFOoCnPk3Xc1BmwYygSo3YRSCzq8uqr2vFRZVv8HiCPu2Ocw4PwCkVO6G6zqUo8ABs35UET457lCNN9o6BCEjHMjuVSCW1QmToRTWhg6klle6r8XC_pt_/s1600/IMG_2260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmqm7UCg4UV84LwMyulq65kYzFOoCnPk3Xc1BmwYygSo3YRSCzq8uqr2vFRZVv8HiCPu2Ocw4PwCkVO6G6zqUo8ABs35UET457lCNN9o6BCEjHMjuVSCW1QmToRTWhg6klle6r8XC_pt_/s320/IMG_2260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do this for even a couple of days and then be honest with yourself and disregard what others think and ask yourself if you feel closer to your dead loved ones than you did a few days before. I see no harm in this ritual.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9jL5WISF-XBb2TYt2PD8zbtvhyB8H6wHWibtP5d9Sj0XMhXyCAva0fzvpn7FJyyhqOWRUoH3rCThMen37nJAER1zhVhyW1TTUgzYI6L7TxaYsEhasHTC-2lUpWWtbB9A6XWaNOvZTWTf/s1600/IMG_2250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9jL5WISF-XBb2TYt2PD8zbtvhyB8H6wHWibtP5d9Sj0XMhXyCAva0fzvpn7FJyyhqOWRUoH3rCThMen37nJAER1zhVhyW1TTUgzYI6L7TxaYsEhasHTC-2lUpWWtbB9A6XWaNOvZTWTf/s320/IMG_2250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I needed this. I needed to feel close to my dead, loved ones and I needed my children to feel that too. And we are.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Sharing our family stories and memories, whether they are from when Matt and I were young children or from last week, has been really good for our minds, bodies and souls. Arlo seems to be most interested in all the process and discussion. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I am excited for my sister to see it and I am happy to be able to share with my family all over the country through image. I'd like to keep the altar for most of the month of November and remove it just as Thanksgiving arrives.<br />
<br />
In the mean time, if you are in the neighborhood, please come and have a look, add something or not.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2J6KPWufJn0dNR9ew3gqDBW4poSv8KZ4PBvEE_AaEld_c__2NBhxDUBLBkK2gTHKEk00b6MsjW64jf3wyEKNpD_jMqXEsisHGChD2cRMQKUJGAYAL6DmLiy2H-olBu18iJCs8BuuGkhn/s1600/IMG_2251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2J6KPWufJn0dNR9ew3gqDBW4poSv8KZ4PBvEE_AaEld_c__2NBhxDUBLBkK2gTHKEk00b6MsjW64jf3wyEKNpD_jMqXEsisHGChD2cRMQKUJGAYAL6DmLiy2H-olBu18iJCs8BuuGkhn/s320/IMG_2251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-12079655565427990352011-10-09T22:07:00.002-04:002011-10-09T22:11:15.038-04:00Picture Perfect Memory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiNryw6XWONs0GQtEQZvB6oOGr5_zLFqxVJtjr3DIknjyS5Al4iay8YhyphenhyphenNhcjQu1n2q6VJmbcIq7BW9hpndq8ex3CJ9GH3y5QXxxRJ-rRr32f7GzDlA-pXeqHSRVxjrjLqnGsiZZ39Ftu/s1600/Me+and+the+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiNryw6XWONs0GQtEQZvB6oOGr5_zLFqxVJtjr3DIknjyS5Al4iay8YhyphenhyphenNhcjQu1n2q6VJmbcIq7BW9hpndq8ex3CJ9GH3y5QXxxRJ-rRr32f7GzDlA-pXeqHSRVxjrjLqnGsiZZ39Ftu/s400/Me+and+the+boys.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I recently read that the average human only remembers a very small percentage of their lives and that many of those memories are actually images or pieces of photographs from their childhood. I have a few specific memories of my childhood that I am sure are based on photographs and embellished with my vivid imagination and pure romantic view of life (one particular moment where I was playing in a child's pool with my nana, who died just six months after the photo was taken. I was not quite two at that time and too young to actually remember that event.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As I photograph my boys and their childhoods, I do think about documenting events, every day and extraordinary, in a way that will help them remember, not just people, places and things, but the emotions associated with those times. Because I am usually the one photographing, I am rarely in the photos, and I hope that my boys will one day want to see images of me with them...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>...that is why this photograph, taken by my friend Molly, is so dear to me, and will one day be dear to them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I <i>love</i> this photograph because:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">:: it honestly depicts a summer afternoon without make up, fancy clothes or posed bodies::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::Arlo has his shoes on the wrong feet and that is an everyday occurrence::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::Otis is curling his tongue like does when he is saying his "s" sound::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::Sam is looking very calm and grown up and relaxed and freckled and happy::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::we are relaxing in the hammock which is common in the late summer afternoons while we wait for Matt to come home from work::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::there is nature surrounding us which is how we live our lives here on our little farm::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::the chicken tractor is in the background (though I don't think most people would recognize that, we do, and we love it) which is also how we live our lives here on our little farm::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::Arlo's shins are bruised, also very common, no matter the season::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::Otis is sitting on my lap and as the baby of the family he is frequently found sitting on my "wap"::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::you can see just the corner of the book, "To Kill A Mockingbird", which Molly was reading to us as we sat in the hammock:: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::I am in a kid sandwich and so happy there::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">::the sun is shining and you can almost feel the summer heat as we snuggle in the shade of our grove of cedar trees::</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To me this is the epitome of a picture perfect memory. Sam is very likely to remember this day, Arlo might remember, and Otis likely will not, but they will have this image to help and so will I as the years pass and my boys grow too big to sit on my lap and sandwich me in a hammock on a hot summer day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-45279590683044612322011-09-12T21:11:00.003-04:002011-09-12T21:14:52.351-04:00Arlo's Big Day and My Baby Isn't a Baby Anymore!<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi0_6t0sE0GXZjLlT1dSCHKFZStvDGxeDohI66ZWLknHlkcC8eeMTshFNTbrNJd0Skm1LYt24kNcDW6iip-_l2kNftG-2zBcHs-ltp-shb2IykIj8vf4dAeKLtndLU15WV5bXCetlK1Hx/s320/Arlo+whole+enchilada.jpg" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today was Arlo's first day of Montessori PPK (Pre-Primary/ Kindergarten). I am not quite sure how we made it to this day, because the last few weeks have been filled with so much anxiety manifested in multiple potty accidents everyday, tantrums and general foul behavior...stemming from a nasty bullying experience he had last fall at the part-time pre-school he was attending...but, I am so thankful we did! We talked about the new school, we met the new teacher, we read books, we met kids on the playground, we talked some more, we watched "new school" videos...and I knew it was going to take <i>just going </i>to make everything okay. We picked out a special outfit for today, he slept with his "S" scarf, appropriately named Sam and, this afternoon with his sweaty hand tightly clenched around mine, we went head-first into the winds of life together.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSa1Guv73oZtowoamSjw8toBFj9gzqSQGxG09kN4WXHrDF8bB-jaB3Yk88Bnnxwu1xtj85pSsgoAaRzxul-Z3x9U2zxF9uI6Wn397Hti4SpxOghH2exrkh0nPDgJirV4G6bWZCdarWemS/s1600/the+tie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSa1Guv73oZtowoamSjw8toBFj9gzqSQGxG09kN4WXHrDF8bB-jaB3Yk88Bnnxwu1xtj85pSsgoAaRzxul-Z3x9U2zxF9uI6Wn397Hti4SpxOghH2exrkh0nPDgJirV4G6bWZCdarWemS/s320/the+tie.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj054KnJMNE1bZLSovlOO-5ltqoIAsFu5lCk4wrbbaGlm8P-UCZuf1BPHtik-KndTbJO2K14t81hh3BHLZww4a2C4Fbtvd4Nl4IUdcWSlx_6_Iu2uS_LmUxZVrmS6sluQN1mPjEdQymZ2PS/s1600/close+up+tie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj054KnJMNE1bZLSovlOO-5ltqoIAsFu5lCk4wrbbaGlm8P-UCZuf1BPHtik-KndTbJO2K14t81hh3BHLZww4a2C4Fbtvd4Nl4IUdcWSlx_6_Iu2uS_LmUxZVrmS6sluQN1mPjEdQymZ2PS/s320/close+up+tie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWPtnAxYJqVw31veFmKaqkmnX6CpaPThR7pcpAyasIQbafGtNh4-IHUcMFx0KL60ZgnAsB8rY5Ob9mln0pZK0dI7ANpMCnotTF_9vIrtkg7tBw8JRpO8kvEIlMNNtM0gmynkRyYrsKjXy/s1600/hankie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWPtnAxYJqVw31veFmKaqkmnX6CpaPThR7pcpAyasIQbafGtNh4-IHUcMFx0KL60ZgnAsB8rY5Ob9mln0pZK0dI7ANpMCnotTF_9vIrtkg7tBw8JRpO8kvEIlMNNtM0gmynkRyYrsKjXy/s320/hankie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arlo was beaming when I picked him up after school. He told me all about everything and from that moment on I had my sweet little Arlo back. No accidents, no tantrums, no anxiety. Just a happy 4 and 3/4 year old boy. Mama will sleep soundly tonight.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqQ_RzzSpfH__wgmsKe9V-SXyieBdQwueAS9Qpc-OdXYaxrsoiQz8g37N3EQWS_KRZ6JpUZY7yQvkPCn4NGKwo6Sg2ulOA72P34hRFLo0ojqjJUbDmkPAnOXruOWqSrnc3jqZZbccOgHR/s1600/Otis+posing+with+new+cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqQ_RzzSpfH__wgmsKe9V-SXyieBdQwueAS9Qpc-OdXYaxrsoiQz8g37N3EQWS_KRZ6JpUZY7yQvkPCn4NGKwo6Sg2ulOA72P34hRFLo0ojqjJUbDmkPAnOXruOWqSrnc3jqZZbccOgHR/s320/Otis+posing+with+new+cut.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">All three boys had hair cuts on Saturday...and it was Otis' first! He is 2 1/2 and was begging me in the salon to get his hair cut. I was a bit reluctant...he still had his birth hair after all...but he also had three dread locks that I couldn't get to go away and yesterday's breakfast dried in his hair. He gave me some of these looks and I agreed that perhaps it was time to have a hair cut. I still don't recognize him when I catch a glimpse of him running from one place to the next...but damn, is he cute!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oRouYbbqwdJlMSMR1R4CtRqy2R7fHbx5HJ-VLeivT6ve3oQrsClpPI-LIcs1cafNwDJcOtyEZTwCXFT4MlD92Y5A7ZMwOJ-h1nvkYfaIfVEBo_C_pPlFgcUFLha_bvwj-Uc7KSnACc87/s1600/Otis%2527+new+cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oRouYbbqwdJlMSMR1R4CtRqy2R7fHbx5HJ-VLeivT6ve3oQrsClpPI-LIcs1cafNwDJcOtyEZTwCXFT4MlD92Y5A7ZMwOJ-h1nvkYfaIfVEBo_C_pPlFgcUFLha_bvwj-Uc7KSnACc87/s320/Otis%2527+new+cut.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this child so much.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-17767124540365110672011-09-06T10:17:00.000-04:002011-09-06T10:17:30.473-04:00End of Summer...Beginning of Second Grade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GwpuOTCK3WEv7Y58pu0_ZfvGXnxggJeRSSKZFYUjdc9MzNW6E837Fy2pUZfVNr-v790fQV0Z8quRi9rtXMH1xn4bW3-XLCMh7gtSYd45Z-C0pryVE2evEbZDEpNzVgkfeAQGps9f0QRd/s1600/Sam+first+day+2nd+grade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GwpuOTCK3WEv7Y58pu0_ZfvGXnxggJeRSSKZFYUjdc9MzNW6E837Fy2pUZfVNr-v790fQV0Z8quRi9rtXMH1xn4bW3-XLCMh7gtSYd45Z-C0pryVE2evEbZDEpNzVgkfeAQGps9f0QRd/s320/Sam+first+day+2nd+grade.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Once again, my son is better dressed than either his father or I ever was on our first days of second grade. He loves the formalities involved with wearing a suit and tie and, this year, we found the matching hankie. All hand-me-downs or thrift store buys...and this boy is stylin'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJPC-3jyKQKWezzobVMB92Hvyp7XXNxgG-N6AP879gfiQgM1WxbKveYAXOYVarj3afVoBiP8nOARqapn2ub8Q7PZEYBr1fNM7Ynm-Y_QVAczlAJBAsJofHBWi2obs-BQNc0AMk7cqwc2k/s1600/sam+first+day+up+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJPC-3jyKQKWezzobVMB92Hvyp7XXNxgG-N6AP879gfiQgM1WxbKveYAXOYVarj3afVoBiP8nOARqapn2ub8Q7PZEYBr1fNM7Ynm-Y_QVAczlAJBAsJofHBWi2obs-BQNc0AMk7cqwc2k/s320/sam+first+day+up+close.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
He was nervous when I dropped him off...quickly running into his classroom. It was obvious that he noticed he was the only kid dressed like this, but he was proud. And so was I.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKi23VtRqQf3vmo4KhHvyVDG0Fej-9IjmS5T1Gm0GiiL7R-iaBOlbs9BVnAM3KQqL6DBROrKs0exFxdQX4GmaAgqBUtlyA-0wazXrlch61K62t2W9tE6S1zbD-nMoGW8m59kLZxTDUkdm/s1600/Sam+peeing+first+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKi23VtRqQf3vmo4KhHvyVDG0Fej-9IjmS5T1Gm0GiiL7R-iaBOlbs9BVnAM3KQqL6DBROrKs0exFxdQX4GmaAgqBUtlyA-0wazXrlch61K62t2W9tE6S1zbD-nMoGW8m59kLZxTDUkdm/s320/Sam+peeing+first+day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can take the boy out of the farm, but you just can't take the farm out of the boy. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Man, do I love this kid.</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-91928610733767019752011-07-13T20:09:00.000-04:002011-07-13T20:09:43.669-04:00Been cannin' a little...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been waiting for our black raspberries to get ripe for about two weeks now. <a href="http://amanda-athome.blogspot.com/2010/07/first-pick-of-season.html">Last year</a> they were ready a bit earlier, but with more rain and cooler temps for longer this spring, I wasn't too surprised we had to wait until after the 4th of July.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The boys and I wandered to the "back 40" yesterday afternoon while Otis napped. We started slowly, enjoying the cool breeze and sun (and lack of mosquitoes) and ended up picking nearly three quarts...which translated into 10 half-pint jars of black raspberry jam!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH72vB26w88rSy1bf78rKgarcUzacQlN_HMTjL0KcX0UTyokrTkLSSzyHnW-mv0J_ZqcNht82X7XAjjjqfsYouj2yJyK2DhjwkoRh_XWHvs87INbAnXRHE3xxjKVD-BKDnfrVnVgNSQqRY/s320/jam+jars.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My friends Melissa and Heather and I and all our kids (nine total) picked strawberries a few weeks ago at a local farm. I froze my 23 pounds of berries hoping to make jam later....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">...and this morning I found myself with only one child (Sam and Arlo were at a friend's house after a sleep-over) and with mid-morning temps around 60 degrees, I knew it was the perfect morning to continue my canning binge. I added 10 more half-pints of strawberry jam to my pantry shelf. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_9bPIwHyDJ5wgZgxNGSm8aNJs518hAC46KWXp6UoI0BF_yfsFt70G3Qi5ylupiPJvHBGBswXsmGxSTx25iZXReSgonBcuMcGDfKguJ4Xv060VeWDEIiJNYnxejHhkK3JVZf0Hs_uHiHT/s1600/jam+up+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_9bPIwHyDJ5wgZgxNGSm8aNJs518hAC46KWXp6UoI0BF_yfsFt70G3Qi5ylupiPJvHBGBswXsmGxSTx25iZXReSgonBcuMcGDfKguJ4Xv060VeWDEIiJNYnxejHhkK3JVZf0Hs_uHiHT/s320/jam+up+close.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">After gifting 2 half-pints to family and friends and losing one jar in the hot water bath, I canned a total of 18 half-pints of jam for our family...and it feels so good.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPgk2iot_w0ieNPT1cznkbyjcZCyZpGI4Pl7BFACfkGfbsUCgzmcELehuismb9dAi53rs41RkK22f-4HZC5kvJpyC92xYAFGse-yQTmptvbzk8eoS0IRi5kABfeBPKNFKXhoyX4vi0mGf/s1600/large+batch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPgk2iot_w0ieNPT1cznkbyjcZCyZpGI4Pl7BFACfkGfbsUCgzmcELehuismb9dAi53rs41RkK22f-4HZC5kvJpyC92xYAFGse-yQTmptvbzk8eoS0IRi5kABfeBPKNFKXhoyX4vi0mGf/s320/large+batch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-78796103832426321592011-07-13T19:39:00.000-04:002011-07-13T19:39:11.613-04:00July 4th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once again we celebrated the 4th of July with many of our friends and family here at the homestead. With over 60 people mingling, the food, stories, laughter, sparklers and sweet goodbyes were amazing (our friends leaving the state stopped by for a solid hug and fair well). There was a bluegrass band this year and late night music around the campfire. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Although I had an amazing time at the party, the morning after was simply beautiful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A small group of overnight friends gathered for a delightful potluck breakfast on the patio and after we dined....we relaxed in the shade of our generous sycamore tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I cuddled on a blanket with one of my most favorite little girls, Ada. She fell asleep in my lap and it was the highlight of my weekend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EHyoR8JWuAmtgC-L-Y1usLkVTDbrKSdRYPZaLxGhOT8oI8nZ3W3EynMeOwGztaGO3DDGH6hhf01cGFu2bw6JhU9LR_I32IQooKysJ3ZefQeEkIuit5_fOB9CXGdG5UBnleurRcoF8wzl/s1600/Ada%2527s+sleeping+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EHyoR8JWuAmtgC-L-Y1usLkVTDbrKSdRYPZaLxGhOT8oI8nZ3W3EynMeOwGztaGO3DDGH6hhf01cGFu2bw6JhU9LR_I32IQooKysJ3ZefQeEkIuit5_fOB9CXGdG5UBnleurRcoF8wzl/s400/Ada%2527s+sleeping+face.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBw4aWeS65NUThYoJWdNoQ_DDB55SQ-f0ACS7Fk-AgZ1MaHQ7OF9as7ZZqpdLqnzvQWKINmQbvSlKEfAsEmfpjg-M4tVn_h7N5KHK8T1p_-0qwEZhcr615dqW9MdIXMzewXF8xjsoiQyD/s1600/Adas+feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBw4aWeS65NUThYoJWdNoQ_DDB55SQ-f0ACS7Fk-AgZ1MaHQ7OF9as7ZZqpdLqnzvQWKINmQbvSlKEfAsEmfpjg-M4tVn_h7N5KHK8T1p_-0qwEZhcr615dqW9MdIXMzewXF8xjsoiQyD/s400/Adas+feet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-60806172025137528462011-07-06T21:54:00.005-04:002011-07-06T22:03:55.355-04:00Ruby Red<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidV0W2-Jj2WtUTYiOZnpaCqhLwk6d7fTJAB_epsBC-zpsS9PQmaddkpIhmw0QlpFXWjB2YGmPMGllJY2bISD86cTvZOcoU4O_BDOgM5jfSD5AOzQlOV90EjZf1jZv0ZQ29GzDrVzA3Z6oj/s1600/Baby+on+lap+drawing+resize.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidV0W2-Jj2WtUTYiOZnpaCqhLwk6d7fTJAB_epsBC-zpsS9PQmaddkpIhmw0QlpFXWjB2YGmPMGllJY2bISD86cTvZOcoU4O_BDOgM5jfSD5AOzQlOV90EjZf1jZv0ZQ29GzDrVzA3Z6oj/s400/Baby+on+lap+drawing+resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626425269275724130" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is my latest drawing completed this afternoon. It was commissioned for a fundraiser in Washington State...inspired by a photo taken of my dear friend Pam and her new baby, Ruby.<br />Pam, Luke, Mateo and Ruby left today for Arizona...for good.<br />It was so hard to say goodbye to them...<br /><br />This is a little settling in treat for them...once they arrive and have access to the online world.<br />Welcome to your new home Plonsky family!<br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-27086917403918500022011-06-29T23:11:00.005-04:002011-06-29T23:47:00.164-04:00Sam became 7<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKG5emGqcOFreB1zU5DVQKxpYcvOc3jqDyDvgVNFPpFAVZ0eH73QmSaOIT7s2fAVTnhyphenhyphensQTPivm2578IVPQPU9J4k0owmwdKC3yU_jyIPo71Glx4RlPfTYz4FQIxFNefKwxJySzjqeQik/s1600/crazy+sam.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKG5emGqcOFreB1zU5DVQKxpYcvOc3jqDyDvgVNFPpFAVZ0eH73QmSaOIT7s2fAVTnhyphenhyphensQTPivm2578IVPQPU9J4k0owmwdKC3yU_jyIPo71Glx4RlPfTYz4FQIxFNefKwxJySzjqeQik/s400/crazy+sam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623848496011861906" border="0" /></a>On May 18th, my sweet first born became seven years old! I still can't believe how grown up he really is...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XXWlJjBA-vJGHGMFuqbhXTMK7SG6-IAKMQtfQIjqofNAIXtKusOkd5g2PXdSUYt_iFkuD34N3rZFapAtX5NdqYKF3xEpUm18zFTxhnKvHnxAnOKxE82CGCZMlIxjrLyQ338POgsHw_AM/s1600/Sams+cake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XXWlJjBA-vJGHGMFuqbhXTMK7SG6-IAKMQtfQIjqofNAIXtKusOkd5g2PXdSUYt_iFkuD34N3rZFapAtX5NdqYKF3xEpUm18zFTxhnKvHnxAnOKxE82CGCZMlIxjrLyQ338POgsHw_AM/s400/Sams+cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623849340621447106" border="0" /></a><br />Sam requested a 4 tier cake, "like the wedding cakes" and so I dutifully did my best with cake and frosting and added a lot of fruit...his favorite. He was quite happy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzXphRR2FI-UwMQRH8TEKgRe_XGavQSbMdwcKgK9A2JbcBmxmjm3oF0bVZ1A7dTPREllbOVbrYM9s4pwWu5LwpJQt21SKmMeHcFpqYdWQBtvMcPEScc9BfnQMdFKsNcByLiSo5enIl1fx/s1600/sam+pigeon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzXphRR2FI-UwMQRH8TEKgRe_XGavQSbMdwcKgK9A2JbcBmxmjm3oF0bVZ1A7dTPREllbOVbrYM9s4pwWu5LwpJQt21SKmMeHcFpqYdWQBtvMcPEScc9BfnQMdFKsNcByLiSo5enIl1fx/s400/sam+pigeon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623849352412974530" border="0" /></a><br />"Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" by Mo Willems has been Sam's favorite book all spring. He was amazingly surprised when one of his friends gave him the pigeon as a birthday gift.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sam is SO creative, always wanting to "make something". Sometime his ideas are beyond what we can handle here (like welding a catapult), but sometimes we can indulge his creative quests.<br />For spirit day at his Montessori school he was asked to dress up like his favorite book character. He chose pigeon and we made a pigeon costume.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLEH-bTjYcCuaNUHXgvVTf9JhQmT-pwvAtDu2dNcliXWCOmLk4XzIAPdT-os3qwtvp_Yhcu5WVYVd8krPyTPQinK2ig-Jtl81I3CWVgI-_aOfaKmVvkl1iCFMRipnS-gIY6REv3ZygO6E/s1600/sam+pigeon+face.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLEH-bTjYcCuaNUHXgvVTf9JhQmT-pwvAtDu2dNcliXWCOmLk4XzIAPdT-os3qwtvp_Yhcu5WVYVd8krPyTPQinK2ig-Jtl81I3CWVgI-_aOfaKmVvkl1iCFMRipnS-gIY6REv3ZygO6E/s400/sam+pigeon+face.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623848525454050834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CIsh3XGU3bJ8M2tDLTt4YeoYFffccw_RUdeDgHbRghvTBU7hUB6FuwqWA2eDEXgthlT7-TN9dnwFBdkvp8hJA7lVkOxkoBYID6ZBKP6QWpay4N3EpyoqrC1cYKfyqmZS1rnqiXpZLc7-/s1600/pigeon+wings.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CIsh3XGU3bJ8M2tDLTt4YeoYFffccw_RUdeDgHbRghvTBU7hUB6FuwqWA2eDEXgthlT7-TN9dnwFBdkvp8hJA7lVkOxkoBYID6ZBKP6QWpay4N3EpyoqrC1cYKfyqmZS1rnqiXpZLc7-/s400/pigeon+wings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623848507479451682" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There are days when I don't know what I would do without Sam's help. He is an amazing oldest brother; always helping his little brothers with chores, reading, making Lego constructions...you name it and he helps with it. He's been doing regular chores including putting away his laundry, loading the washer and moving wet laundry to the dryer, taking the recycling and trash to the curb on trash day, feeding the pets, loading the dishwasher and clearing the tables after meals, undressing his brothers, starting a bath, sweeping the kitchen floor, vacuuming!!!! I know there must be more as well...he is amazing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMqNHNu8v1vjryIyzMz3ux2CNzl5PsO4tj6eO2t071CqQ__2DNtEawLAGn3nBijir1UdB1Wtd0Mt1mzg7imLghoFitU9v0WYwsc3A0jSzVcWccsM77D_mIBoeauYQ4TbiEeiw-OvU-CCE/s1600/boys+with+donuts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMqNHNu8v1vjryIyzMz3ux2CNzl5PsO4tj6eO2t071CqQ__2DNtEawLAGn3nBijir1UdB1Wtd0Mt1mzg7imLghoFitU9v0WYwsc3A0jSzVcWccsM77D_mIBoeauYQ4TbiEeiw-OvU-CCE/s400/boys+with+donuts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623848493985604674" border="0" /></a><br />Sam's reading is really taking off and everyday I hear him reading words he couldn't just days before. Now nearly six months into piano lessons, Sam is learning to read music and he continues to attend Sanchin-Ryu karate classes through the parks and recreation department. He is close to being able to ride his bike all over and to my great happiness, he still LOVES and needs to cuddle everyday. Sam just aims to please and is so rarely in any sort of trouble, though lately he has been testing out his "talking back" skills.<br /><br />It is a real joy to have him home for the summer.<br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-25762123240207213192011-06-29T22:38:00.003-04:002011-06-29T22:49:21.960-04:00Otis and his Worms<div style="text-align: center;">Getting the garden in has always been a chore with little ones, but this year Otis entertained himself with digging earth worms...and to my surprise, hiding them...<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9INUCbMkcRcojiLAML6SvnhxPq69jtgkuCRKaZe2rYg8fSDpYN6fXfz1jsW8LqhvYMKhyphenhyphenilS6t5bn1XlRBFkYUSFWHtPwv24l0VLqbqTpEmG9vpaAZtOd99rp-g2f34mEXwWihJIKYgWC/s1600/_MG_8623.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9INUCbMkcRcojiLAML6SvnhxPq69jtgkuCRKaZe2rYg8fSDpYN6fXfz1jsW8LqhvYMKhyphenhyphenilS6t5bn1XlRBFkYUSFWHtPwv24l0VLqbqTpEmG9vpaAZtOd99rp-g2f34mEXwWihJIKYgWC/s400/_MG_8623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623837899856280738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJVRaFn32GlsPk82FzESC-pOmZRL9fftFS0xsWFtUJs5fjECikFv-SSLj6KgTmUTlSFvuN6wyhisBlbRYNl_V5WMpD327XaA5-8ONoOlxcHVWUB6MrI5UFonGRCng8xEdJSZWpeRnYn1i/s1600/_MG_8626.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJVRaFn32GlsPk82FzESC-pOmZRL9fftFS0xsWFtUJs5fjECikFv-SSLj6KgTmUTlSFvuN6wyhisBlbRYNl_V5WMpD327XaA5-8ONoOlxcHVWUB6MrI5UFonGRCng8xEdJSZWpeRnYn1i/s400/_MG_8626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623837893237854786" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">He carried them around all day...and I planted 50 strawberry plants.<br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-12576873602381422292011-05-30T21:42:00.004-04:002011-06-01T09:12:52.444-04:00Surprise. A business.<div style="text-align: center;"> About 18 months ago I was asked to create a logo for a friend's business. I agreed and we bartered logo design for home cooked meals and she threw in a few gift cards. It turned out nice and I felt good about being creative beyond this blog.<br /><br />A few months passed and another friend asked for help, then a business asked for an advertisement, then another friend asked for a logo, then a <a href="http://amanda-athome.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-babies.html">photo gig</a>, then another logo, and most recently a wedding, cooperatively shot with a friend who has an established photography business.<br /><br />A week ago I was asked to apply for an independent graphic design and photography contract job working with the MSU Jewish Studies program on a grant funded project about genealogy! Initially I thought the project was too big for me, but after speaking with one of the project coordinators, I decided to apply!<br /><br />Low and behold, I decided (after much encouragement from Matt) to start a legitimate photography and graphic design business. It is a little scary, but mostly exciting.<br /><br />The next step is registering my business with the county, a website, business cards.....<br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-16595152599522203162011-05-09T05:39:00.004-04:002011-05-09T05:59:49.365-04:00Meet Milo!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5TsdUx5lsZBLg7zeqJaEgj9jzQGAEMn5zmii7xjvJ0C-uNmXYh09AWSPOT4elZpPM1UrTt-Xbjg5ckLzPBqvjmABG7UQjHC4Ku92T6A5HjOTOl4l5t8DXt7bILIWSFD7Gu99GfjtkYlp/s1600/_MG_8665.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5TsdUx5lsZBLg7zeqJaEgj9jzQGAEMn5zmii7xjvJ0C-uNmXYh09AWSPOT4elZpPM1UrTt-Xbjg5ckLzPBqvjmABG7UQjHC4Ku92T6A5HjOTOl4l5t8DXt7bILIWSFD7Gu99GfjtkYlp/s400/_MG_8665.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604649382659225042" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">After about 6 weeks of looking for a new canine companion, we met Milo!<br />He's an Australian Cattle Dog/Beagle/Coon Hound mix and we just love him.<br />Found as a stray in Mississippi, he was rescued and brought to the <a href="http://www.cahs-lansing.org/">Capital Area Humane Society</a>.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zzr_54ZvVrG4F-V76BOI6sy1kMiVmPKeyLMg07KaF9pjB6dT_2O-TdNfblA-o0uvepJGDFZKK0_-rptOG-qfct5-yleuUW5cgq26M6uKeHT0C2aAANX7P_JjimXz8eu_oNSAIPfkZiKx/s1600/_MG_8681.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zzr_54ZvVrG4F-V76BOI6sy1kMiVmPKeyLMg07KaF9pjB6dT_2O-TdNfblA-o0uvepJGDFZKK0_-rptOG-qfct5-yleuUW5cgq26M6uKeHT0C2aAANX7P_JjimXz8eu_oNSAIPfkZiKx/s400/_MG_8681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604649394822720098" border="0" /></a><br />He's about a year old, give or take a month, and about 65 pounds or so. He is house trained, knows how to sit, lay down and speak. His leash skills are lacking and he does not know his name, but he's a fast learner! One walk with a gentle leader training harness and he was responding incredibly.<br />Milo is definitely still a puppy, but is very calm and does not jump up or have any of that excessive puppy energy, though he loves water and chasing balls and toys.<br /><br />The boys love him and boy, does Milo love them!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PaQSthBRZhK3fjxFbCGhhM4bErkqNwp-zl0a52AmzXmgQV4dsjbgki19OjeXhn_uAu17QuBJWC9qzIXaX3q-weYJpG_NCJk6V6ZZ3gxnd9CxYW0SBYO9NLd8NQdXC0T0_DfkGNHtk7PL/s1600/_MG_8676.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PaQSthBRZhK3fjxFbCGhhM4bErkqNwp-zl0a52AmzXmgQV4dsjbgki19OjeXhn_uAu17QuBJWC9qzIXaX3q-weYJpG_NCJk6V6ZZ3gxnd9CxYW0SBYO9NLd8NQdXC0T0_DfkGNHtk7PL/s400/_MG_8676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604649386347981234" border="0" /></a><br />Our lives will be a bit more house bound for a while, as we get used to Milo and he gets used to us, but it is that time of year when farm work is in full swing.<br /><br />We think he's going to be a fantastic companion for us all...even Cyrus seems a little bit happier.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5TsdUx5lsZBLg7zeqJaEgj9jzQGAEMn5zmii7xjvJ0C-uNmXYh09AWSPOT4elZpPM1UrTt-Xbjg5ckLzPBqvjmABG7UQjHC4Ku92T6A5HjOTOl4l5t8DXt7bILIWSFD7Gu99GfjtkYlp/s1600/_MG_8665.JPG"><br /></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-60283373369841620372011-04-14T22:40:00.005-04:002011-04-14T23:13:58.947-04:00True Story<div style="text-align: center;">Today was a very strange day for me. I felt energy in the air; a sort of enlightenment occurred. I was surrounded by new life.<br /><br />This morning, my dear friend Pam, gave birth to her second child, a daughter, Ruby Sue.<br />While she was laboring, birthing and cuddling her new daughter, I was visiting with her mother and father-in-law in her living room.<br /><br />An hour later I was doing some graphic design work at a coffee shop and exchanged emails with another expecting friend. She had agreed to encapsulate Pam's placenta in exchange for a henna tattoo on her swollen belly, but in the last few days had been experiencing early signs of labor, despite her due date being nearly 2 weeks away. I offered to encapsulate Pam's placenta and stopped by her house to borrow some supplies. It was lovely to see her as I hadn't in a while. She mentioned watching Otis' birth video for inspiration. I was so moved, I didn't know what to say.<br /><br />Within 30 minutes or so, I arrived at the birth center to retrieve Pam's placenta. My timing must have been right, because they were amazingly accepting and invited me in to meet their hours-old, sweet girl. I held her and immediately had an overwhelming desire to be with Otis. There is unexplainable energy surrounding new life.<br /><br />On my drive home I remembered, vividly, Otis' birth and how I felt in the hours after. Today I felt similar things. It was very spiritual in a sense. Rare.<br /><br />After preparing Pam's placenta to dry this evening, I learned that my friend who loaned me the materials to do so, gave birth to her fifth child, a son.<br /><br />Wow. True story.<br /><br /><br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-25142102332332861242011-03-28T21:17:00.013-04:002011-03-28T22:15:04.662-04:00Spring Babies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCd1_73uX1ByZkmi-8OX5WoeOO6Q1GHFAjNYozh2VpYRxSzMsLTXtGXmAf5VKZKRnj3mbMWpyoD46Hw7Ai6JgaIRNygxOS1vhkL7d-20BinXJsXIframn3ddb5DyWZ4xw6_UyGBqxA0LfR/s1600/_MG_7695.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Two Spring seasons have passed since I last held this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIL7R6twgprHSLAaiekW5dbBltX6WvhmychXWRpwav_yHswTLVAOCPj-PYd5buOYzaMd5PVIDXtYnwt3lYDBkqYl2ZItPZ6WqyqdC6VBO2Gc9W6fxTzWwViWc-WgJEM18UlzVNhyd1VQW/s1600/Otis+on+his+birth+day"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIL7R6twgprHSLAaiekW5dbBltX6WvhmychXWRpwav_yHswTLVAOCPj-PYd5buOYzaMd5PVIDXtYnwt3lYDBkqYl2ZItPZ6WqyqdC6VBO2Gc9W6fxTzWwViWc-WgJEM18UlzVNhyd1VQW/s400/Otis+on+his+birth+day" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589306808370421522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpddcQ7SumpdzZ-sTH3h9RyHZnrE2j0K7jVef99GofQazalhOnq5IuyPu9axLl6gdlbTJnVfLfGvetIE-IImZHBee8PjJqOEAmHmV1g95zT9Poo6VDdgKT3PJ1n43mm1syQi701yeEFx0/s1600/_MG_7686.JPG"><br /></a><br />Here's my baby on the moment of his birth in the place of his birth, two years later:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7ALHvAGot16tbn9Ag7jt82IeURlWoFom40frhkmVyfJ24I747TE-QYHaNAQCl1T4LSKtx6WQqic2tf-Y9b73JOtf4RVmvqLykuVILHnFTQFNLQsw1SJzn-33g3hyphenhyphenkS6Y7rQJBhUgKSTc/s1600/_MG_7222.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7ALHvAGot16tbn9Ag7jt82IeURlWoFom40frhkmVyfJ24I747TE-QYHaNAQCl1T4LSKtx6WQqic2tf-Y9b73JOtf4RVmvqLykuVILHnFTQFNLQsw1SJzn-33g3hyphenhyphenkS6Y7rQJBhUgKSTc/s400/_MG_7222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589306815373957794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOsPrXqmUb4fxz_nxCos__vW-6ssZSV7y95D5O5Y_kstH4LVpkk2pHkrqbWD2gpMSEy44xtvHD1v3qicOnBSF5VSGB2oqF41yjQ6Omp4IJof_YYkJgPUhkNbmp1DZI7vs8ji9Gt925zSH/s1600/_MG_7216.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOsPrXqmUb4fxz_nxCos__vW-6ssZSV7y95D5O5Y_kstH4LVpkk2pHkrqbWD2gpMSEy44xtvHD1v3qicOnBSF5VSGB2oqF41yjQ6Omp4IJof_YYkJgPUhkNbmp1DZI7vs8ji9Gt925zSH/s400/_MG_7216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589306820491773074" border="0" /></a>Otis is so cute! However, he is also two years old and he is intense. We've entered the tantrum stage and I just keep repeating my latest mantra, "This to shall pass". He is amazing talker with an extensive vocabulary and he is rarely quiet. When he stopped using the pacifier a few months ago, he began going to sleep at night on his own. Despite the challenging days we frequently have, most of our time together is very darling.<br /><br /><br />Spring is a good time to have a baby and I have about 5 friends with big, round, beautiful bellies right now! It is so much fun to be around women creating life.<br /><br />I was hired by a friend to photograph her and her family in the weeks before the birth of her second baby. She looked amazing and it was such a joy.<br />Here are a few of my favorites:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg744DK5Ypu4CpgUD8PvL9dlkyV_keHKSiAJAU7ahWoV915HU97TkPiDHk4KxKaZANRm5ZG-83IZW0Fct_cPKSGCs45yM389LTeM3eACINzkGhMP7Ytjbo3S1zx5kqykSOnOm6DgoB6ziLN/s1600/_MG_7433.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg744DK5Ypu4CpgUD8PvL9dlkyV_keHKSiAJAU7ahWoV915HU97TkPiDHk4KxKaZANRm5ZG-83IZW0Fct_cPKSGCs45yM389LTeM3eACINzkGhMP7Ytjbo3S1zx5kqykSOnOm6DgoB6ziLN/s400/_MG_7433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589309183633310690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq14NX5ePUX2xW4_AirJUdwHlfU1_dHPrLu1Kio_hx387bU9wrlVS_yDJngdw6LwRngpkjGzizlJiB6NJ8tIhUsQgiCdcamg58qX_p47pYIl9U0BVJKxNeYr9hiQgD81AE_CDbOMSzyPhJ/s1600/_MG_7517.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq14NX5ePUX2xW4_AirJUdwHlfU1_dHPrLu1Kio_hx387bU9wrlVS_yDJngdw6LwRngpkjGzizlJiB6NJ8tIhUsQgiCdcamg58qX_p47pYIl9U0BVJKxNeYr9hiQgD81AE_CDbOMSzyPhJ/s400/_MG_7517.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589309184989883458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGlMlk7cswA0-Da6qz6lSdGnqPF1ukw7nNZhYHDyf149Ef_o-XMiMtRoeLaKKt9XjZ5qfdUHO4e0KovQyQy3Zpuc2A74mp9EvapmeZYVsF3ny5ltXnFBh9UyDyMiAhdoxEPzaVESumlvb/s1600/_MG_7644.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGlMlk7cswA0-Da6qz6lSdGnqPF1ukw7nNZhYHDyf149Ef_o-XMiMtRoeLaKKt9XjZ5qfdUHO4e0KovQyQy3Zpuc2A74mp9EvapmeZYVsF3ny5ltXnFBh9UyDyMiAhdoxEPzaVESumlvb/s400/_MG_7644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589309191849160242" border="0" /></a><br />I was also able to give my dear friend, Pam, a mother blessing.<br />It was a wonderful afternoon. She wrote about it in detail on her <a href="http://allweneedisamor.blogspot.com/2011/03/mother-blessing.html">blog</a>, with photos and all.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoi79nVMgxwimc3QMpj1ME3JvCmumaudsakIud1DYicW9GRlyxnSOoBbmu5vlrom9VHQhjylo_28WWrqGAci9olFA-ho4ymfBCJhiqH_7XdPSoRVhVRdTPA24OUmfAvfrrQ7CV-B9QNA86/s1600/_MG_7695.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoi79nVMgxwimc3QMpj1ME3JvCmumaudsakIud1DYicW9GRlyxnSOoBbmu5vlrom9VHQhjylo_28WWrqGAci9olFA-ho4ymfBCJhiqH_7XdPSoRVhVRdTPA24OUmfAvfrrQ7CV-B9QNA86/s400/_MG_7695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589317326353357970" border="0" /></a>Pam is a true kindred spirit and I just love her.<br /><br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-11381913496685894402011-03-21T22:24:00.005-04:002011-03-21T22:48:43.369-04:00You know Spring has arrived...<div style="text-align: center;">...when you find...<br /><br />treasures hidden from the winter, reappear on the patio;<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBwzXuyMoHqiZqUhs2ssh_qpd-pxWSrbcO-yu8qVq2CRCKc5Yp5ECO_qoGrx2TtinUzQyv7kcGS8zubxOddKq_gFZz0szyDLaMPU8ahIvsyjKX_zGl15dV0gjlfR-r8HYR6T3aWX1X8RT/s1600/_MG_7722.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBwzXuyMoHqiZqUhs2ssh_qpd-pxWSrbcO-yu8qVq2CRCKc5Yp5ECO_qoGrx2TtinUzQyv7kcGS8zubxOddKq_gFZz0szyDLaMPU8ahIvsyjKX_zGl15dV0gjlfR-r8HYR6T3aWX1X8RT/s400/_MG_7722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586727431891345314" border="0" /></a><br />and little boys digging in the dirt;<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6PepS6HPVMWZQ6xELx19_CtZTVVngKAYIAeMmcSMBQY3i5G20Op8ZwaIWCiNj6x_l58ftm1Mp11jRqtC9ZzVXFHmIdYqsYX8uewbu5mGyGhWG0QTNYCnqJOCwDRsac1YcrFs5KGClsK0/s1600/_MG_7724.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6PepS6HPVMWZQ6xELx19_CtZTVVngKAYIAeMmcSMBQY3i5G20Op8ZwaIWCiNj6x_l58ftm1Mp11jRqtC9ZzVXFHmIdYqsYX8uewbu5mGyGhWG0QTNYCnqJOCwDRsac1YcrFs5KGClsK0/s400/_MG_7724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586727439152410914" border="0" /></a><br />peas being planted;<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXEK4kKTNQ7Dm_hlw0db6t3n4yKJK8ZNYH0qGM6qk2QgMjJgoitPg5fzlwWqRfag7Q9i5Fthyphenhyphenp6xMkTf9vpMbCmjp3lVK_olM_-EM6CNQcvcFYLiBTvr49ye5b9KK-2x_GoqtDAzyJ9Se/s1600/_MG_7732.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXEK4kKTNQ7Dm_hlw0db6t3n4yKJK8ZNYH0qGM6qk2QgMjJgoitPg5fzlwWqRfag7Q9i5Fthyphenhyphenp6xMkTf9vpMbCmjp3lVK_olM_-EM6CNQcvcFYLiBTvr49ye5b9KK-2x_GoqtDAzyJ9Se/s400/_MG_7732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586728703465905442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeAGzF-_XrJ6ta5eWy2l3BwLkH_slGU1P6_KBAc5BsKjo0jgl91mGp9dY6aBTmsVMkrO0bw1JL2udPucLjNzOeCvPlUyZzfYFwPMuWteaPy_1ZYsksEst-X93nPWqTseWjlYDEizzYIZA/s1600/_MG_7735.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeAGzF-_XrJ6ta5eWy2l3BwLkH_slGU1P6_KBAc5BsKjo0jgl91mGp9dY6aBTmsVMkrO0bw1JL2udPucLjNzOeCvPlUyZzfYFwPMuWteaPy_1ZYsksEst-X93nPWqTseWjlYDEizzYIZA/s400/_MG_7735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586728713776023714" border="0" /></a><br />and cold frames created...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3nPj-V1zraAuOEpBwrWMyhzba448Pb3rWmtGMyvdxx0D2VLzNrzKaHb9jbBwv7ExgYq2Vxm0XM-YO3rPDFcVhmMpBEjUDPHZZR-bJ_X4a9DE2PZwpunrFvOlYGFT_yd-qYJSBlDU580B/s1600/_MG_7727.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3nPj-V1zraAuOEpBwrWMyhzba448Pb3rWmtGMyvdxx0D2VLzNrzKaHb9jbBwv7ExgYq2Vxm0XM-YO3rPDFcVhmMpBEjUDPHZZR-bJ_X4a9DE2PZwpunrFvOlYGFT_yd-qYJSBlDU580B/s400/_MG_7727.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586727448787207330" border="0" /></a><br />...and then planted (lettuce and spinach);<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEmXwMFjZZo9XvyaOX3vDKt-4BizwFcRhDLA5haPRH59FAAnQabc6SlzglhvQvV5Cq64Ec1rUYLb6aePHbDC4uM9U8iKnGI7VeWxT7C4cr8gS92ci-n_t-9IsfkptNIPJknvk33NJScKN/s1600/_MG_7737.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEmXwMFjZZo9XvyaOX3vDKt-4BizwFcRhDLA5haPRH59FAAnQabc6SlzglhvQvV5Cq64Ec1rUYLb6aePHbDC4uM9U8iKnGI7VeWxT7C4cr8gS92ci-n_t-9IsfkptNIPJknvk33NJScKN/s400/_MG_7737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586728716941406898" border="0" /></a><br />and little hands as dirty as this...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTV5bSqpxW6pgzz4XGPnuB8Sy0tUUqG_QYcEUwj9LFZTOndJzdoqDPa83pjgKrMbQAncCiGvgDK7M8uFB9v6jqnQI1aEm5s_B6CRX6T_iQHu9oxvBTuo1TrZ6u6b0hfzvTgg2Q3UaTnbYD/s1600/_MG_7746.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTV5bSqpxW6pgzz4XGPnuB8Sy0tUUqG_QYcEUwj9LFZTOndJzdoqDPa83pjgKrMbQAncCiGvgDK7M8uFB9v6jqnQI1aEm5s_B6CRX6T_iQHu9oxvBTuo1TrZ6u6b0hfzvTgg2Q3UaTnbYD/s400/_MG_7746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586728725536311954" border="0" /></a><br />...we are a happy, happy family these days.<br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-73667848021461319832011-03-04T09:17:00.002-05:002011-03-04T12:54:48.299-05:00New Year Tree<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrNWofZXw20tbKw2R9cCuSoUFdUNRLbcyD1BXdxpQNJmdBfgjyAMBNlY_vTgm_kPOenwF04EFfx5BKX4bBL_otck7HtScnddnACpviOA6OZs8qDl3iFz0h2bVnJlnpiubZ2OGiFtWPJSl/s1600/_MG_6918.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We have had one hell of a winter here at the homestead. Cold temperatures, coupled with <a href="http://amanda-athome.blogspot.com/2011/02/sick-muffins.html">illness</a> and buckets of snow have really kept us indoors. The real challenge falls on the mama, who has to plan snow days in such a way that everyone maintains sanity!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohXL9yfzZvEc2F27LtdC-SmnPPHcMKYVQnDeQz2OmXjRNm6kKuANdAwSN8ZGlcCSpDOivMkA-C0AAZuosJ8X3K6GpuNq67-Fqm-vP9QPaX8hkYky2h3jsBNhUZ_2HcAsVIOTmMELFt_L3/s1600/_MG_6927.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohXL9yfzZvEc2F27LtdC-SmnPPHcMKYVQnDeQz2OmXjRNm6kKuANdAwSN8ZGlcCSpDOivMkA-C0AAZuosJ8X3K6GpuNq67-Fqm-vP9QPaX8hkYky2h3jsBNhUZ_2HcAsVIOTmMELFt_L3/s400/_MG_6927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580231698325740978" border="0" /></a><br />We've been making lots of art to help with this and trying to work some sort of education into the mix....thus, our <a href="http://amanda-athome.blogspot.com/2010/11/being-thankful.html">"Tree of Thanks"</a> evolved with the seasons and became our "New Year Tree".<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTVfjRbqphKFofczD6ICJSSvgS06bmkswcgTosjQgRE7-IKHApmmQh_95pVMeN_PYXNz-O_t3dzNfNbeWWllDZrxfN22DqxEMhBoTa7NBO6pLWRIqimH_X-bJ2WfSaF9byJ_dN05h0Dv4/s1600/_MG_6916.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTVfjRbqphKFofczD6ICJSSvgS06bmkswcgTosjQgRE7-IKHApmmQh_95pVMeN_PYXNz-O_t3dzNfNbeWWllDZrxfN22DqxEMhBoTa7NBO6pLWRIqimH_X-bJ2WfSaF9byJ_dN05h0Dv4/s400/_MG_6916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580231695651443938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrNWofZXw20tbKw2R9cCuSoUFdUNRLbcyD1BXdxpQNJmdBfgjyAMBNlY_vTgm_kPOenwF04EFfx5BKX4bBL_otck7HtScnddnACpviOA6OZs8qDl3iFz0h2bVnJlnpiubZ2OGiFtWPJSl/s1600/_MG_6918.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrNWofZXw20tbKw2R9cCuSoUFdUNRLbcyD1BXdxpQNJmdBfgjyAMBNlY_vTgm_kPOenwF04EFfx5BKX4bBL_otck7HtScnddnACpviOA6OZs8qDl3iFz0h2bVnJlnpiubZ2OGiFtWPJSl/s400/_MG_6918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580282685840550402" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq77JP01JQIlWOiYrIxpxUOfleqEKohd-_10TXxZzXibtJKhwlRpm-sOLSjM_HUxd8-zLVLkJyeECCDa0FaNzXQuajrFvJxs1hOrk2J-OgPbaDZ5bMJi1qRydFEqehidZUI9l2tkAgC4r_/s1600/_MG_6915.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq77JP01JQIlWOiYrIxpxUOfleqEKohd-_10TXxZzXibtJKhwlRpm-sOLSjM_HUxd8-zLVLkJyeECCDa0FaNzXQuajrFvJxs1hOrk2J-OgPbaDZ5bMJi1qRydFEqehidZUI9l2tkAgC4r_/s400/_MG_6915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580231685402449138" border="0" /></a><br />Each of the boys made a snowman and we collaboratively collaged and helped our tree shed it's autumn leaves and grow a blanket of snow. All the while we talked about the new year and what we hoped it would bring. Sam spoke of playing with his friends; Arlo wished the new year to bring Legos, and Otis just whined as I kept pulling him away from the hot glue gun.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdC_CReD_D35kNox7HwreYtpLqIZ6SBtyXf55E10EoAlVpgoebj_HRzeWi9iaNRUsjGLXGELK-lsuveJKgdtr7Si7G9nGqvn5UUduMM7Xc7IOSiZSVV605muQ8U3A_ez9WV7ORS3PfukV/s1600/_MG_6914.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdC_CReD_D35kNox7HwreYtpLqIZ6SBtyXf55E10EoAlVpgoebj_HRzeWi9iaNRUsjGLXGELK-lsuveJKgdtr7Si7G9nGqvn5UUduMM7Xc7IOSiZSVV605muQ8U3A_ez9WV7ORS3PfukV/s400/_MG_6914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580231682108876370" border="0" /></a><br />It was a very fun project for all of us. The boys posed for these pictures, dressed for the snow and all (Sam's idea). I think that our tree will continue to change with the seasons and Spring is just around the corner...<br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-67700171104422038882011-02-17T16:05:00.006-05:002011-02-17T17:07:10.621-05:00Sick Muffins<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This afternoon while trying to get Arlo to take a nap with me in our bed, I had this conversation with him:</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0Tgbvv_gYaZqEJcqtoexusYCKTAV_BFa0K-03oH4prWhkd-FdKDOYz4KYmn7WH0ltzrdT7OfdDVIydRvIofaxFRK9GK2jIyYvjiv_z7zFS7QuS2AdKa1T6Ptq4nRTof8aN1LlMlnNM-3/s1600/_MG_6027.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0Tgbvv_gYaZqEJcqtoexusYCKTAV_BFa0K-03oH4prWhkd-FdKDOYz4KYmn7WH0ltzrdT7OfdDVIydRvIofaxFRK9GK2jIyYvjiv_z7zFS7QuS2AdKa1T6Ptq4nRTof8aN1LlMlnNM-3/s400/_MG_6027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574780396732226178" border="0" /></a>ARLO: "Why do we need naps, mama?"<br /><br />ME: "Well, we've both been sick and our bodies need rest to heal."<br /><br />ARLO: "Hmm. Why do you keep getting sick?"<br /><br />ME: " I don't know. We have doctors trying to help us figure that out."<br /><br />Quiet for a moment.<br /><br />ARLO: "I think I know why you got sick. Do you want to hear why I think you got sick?"<br /><br />ME: "Yes, I'd love to hear what you think."<br /><br />ARLO: "You ate a sick muffin because you like muffins and the sick muffin made you sick."<br /><br />ME: "Mmm, I do like muffins."<br /><br />ARLO: "The sick fairy left you the muffin and you ate it."<br /><br />ME: "I don't like the sick fairy very much."<br /><br />ARLO: "I don't like the sick fairy very much either."<br /><br />ME: "Well, if you see another sick muffin sitting around our house waiting to be eaten, please point it out to me so I won't eat it."<br /><br />ARLO: "Actually, I just made all of that up. It is a story...all make-believe."<br /><br />The crud has hit our house once again. Despite the number of times we've all been sick this winter, I know it is not just our family. I hear about illness creeping into everyone's home, especially a most recent influenza that is wreaking havoc on all ages. I had a flu shot last week for the first time in eight years and I feel good about it.<br /><br />Our first ick of 2011 was a round of bronchitis for me, then a puking flu that hit everyone in our house (plus a few unlucky outsiders that were visiting or caring for a sick one).<br /><br />After about 10 days of that Arlo had a terrible allergic reaction that included snot coming out of his eyes (yeah, I didn't know that could happen either) which evolved to a nasty chest cold putting him on breathing treatments 3 times a day.<br /><br />Otis caught it as well, though hasn't been as sick as Arlo was.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeRkclCJPT9IawxxoVGt0UQ-12NUAEqEDLk9mzvTN5AZ8I6vA2WuMQenwCf6lH9Jtc8CQKXrmQBvnQiLfKNpC8Td3LgwclflQ3US3vYKXrjJ2OO6hS8v4rKwMxbEZhV6GCMiU4SdZcHGL/s1600/_MG_6050.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeRkclCJPT9IawxxoVGt0UQ-12NUAEqEDLk9mzvTN5AZ8I6vA2WuMQenwCf6lH9Jtc8CQKXrmQBvnQiLfKNpC8Td3LgwclflQ3US3vYKXrjJ2OO6hS8v4rKwMxbEZhV6GCMiU4SdZcHGL/s400/_MG_6050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574780425484430002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I managed to catch that cold and now have bronchitis again.<br />A few weeks ago I visited with an infectious disease specialist, as suggested by my thoracic surgeon at the Univ. of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. This new doctor seemed to have some intuitive ideas and referred me to a lung specialist. I'll have some more tests done during an all-day visit to the hospital in early March. At this point adrenal malfunction has been ruled out, which is very good, and my immune system seems to be functioning within a normal realm, despite the reoccurring lung infections.<br />We're getting closer and I am keeping my spirits pretty high, most of the time. Occasionally, (when I get sick, especially) I start to feel sorry for myself worry about ending up in bed for months again or dying young. Matt has been a great calming source of comfort and support.<br /><br />I've been meaning to share these photos from my 8 weeks in bed last fall.</div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxDMn2Zpv4bCQcuHJWwKmUG0kG_927arP_fB2sJlYugwPzl284KnE0Il7KCgow5AP-ZIquXr_2Cr2NExUDCT-s3gzI7CG109njtasBfqxpbdhcGkXhpZvtSe_QZ0rBEu2sQW4jaKjxsG2/s1600/_MG_6035.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxDMn2Zpv4bCQcuHJWwKmUG0kG_927arP_fB2sJlYugwPzl284KnE0Il7KCgow5AP-ZIquXr_2Cr2NExUDCT-s3gzI7CG109njtasBfqxpbdhcGkXhpZvtSe_QZ0rBEu2sQW4jaKjxsG2/s400/_MG_6035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574780407987413218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_TDMdtMRL-lkT7VDpTWkC-5k7unZGQKWFl4tNQPH-p5PBpEFSTGJdaunEsm0H55gx4PCS1b_0ZzPRfYiiuBKbZ3lsA9NyJT6DPuX0TB95jF8_W7adyaDag73qJ8GzIlnJQezCY5Jga0-/s1600/_MG_6042.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_TDMdtMRL-lkT7VDpTWkC-5k7unZGQKWFl4tNQPH-p5PBpEFSTGJdaunEsm0H55gx4PCS1b_0ZzPRfYiiuBKbZ3lsA9NyJT6DPuX0TB95jF8_W7adyaDag73qJ8GzIlnJQezCY5Jga0-/s400/_MG_6042.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574780419949059138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtLpU2Dp2ZoUOKFzJ4NNyzGJFP-0uciiexXQaxjwu0LtUYfhHufTXhB2T3-lDldg2n2_ApW_5-1ECk84koQlmeYjoxtG6CErRDtbOhWIxiE0__60qc9f29SDOdUncGE943krCgThKbIA3/s1600/_MG_6037.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtLpU2Dp2ZoUOKFzJ4NNyzGJFP-0uciiexXQaxjwu0LtUYfhHufTXhB2T3-lDldg2n2_ApW_5-1ECk84koQlmeYjoxtG6CErRDtbOhWIxiE0__60qc9f29SDOdUncGE943krCgThKbIA3/s400/_MG_6037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574780411102129586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-85258343298222488682011-02-02T22:28:00.007-05:002011-02-08T22:27:31.878-05:00Arlo turned 4!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75rcxFAhjkS_Dd4Uv57bC6GMZamA16adqBlmivyHzEIP2NEMe_E-9ohe4fNSAzHUCPIJmmfcTrgOf4DWB2_7YV-gkMY4Q5sRFEPnkSzcHu0gFmVExymcYJvRDd__IjPIL7P6HqzrxrfKa/s1600/_MG_6377-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75rcxFAhjkS_Dd4Uv57bC6GMZamA16adqBlmivyHzEIP2NEMe_E-9ohe4fNSAzHUCPIJmmfcTrgOf4DWB2_7YV-gkMY4Q5sRFEPnkSzcHu0gFmVExymcYJvRDd__IjPIL7P6HqzrxrfKa/s400/_MG_6377-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569309770553102962" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Arlo had big ideas about turning four....<br />He wanted all his friends to have capes to wear at the party and he wanted a "snowball" cake, "because it is winter time, Mama".<br /><br />So, I indulged his requests and made 7 or 8 capes from scrap fabric (they were a big hit) and I made this delicious snowball cake, fashioned after the <a href="http://2sistersblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/tumblr_l59ngnZN8h1qblg7bo1_500_large.png">Hostess Snowball Snack Cake</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHxyPgoBipdX2ulmjLND4tlhzAuJ0PM51b5pUWIfUZ44R62_SHN9wzd8Qxv9aHD3OiSnJa4j3y3EXuCtwPYkTK3ahMUDZVQy5i06tWaelpKjsWZccT2ZHrUjNY13K_ruswrurFaMjPoyp/s1600/_MG_6378-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHxyPgoBipdX2ulmjLND4tlhzAuJ0PM51b5pUWIfUZ44R62_SHN9wzd8Qxv9aHD3OiSnJa4j3y3EXuCtwPYkTK3ahMUDZVQy5i06tWaelpKjsWZccT2ZHrUjNY13K_ruswrurFaMjPoyp/s400/_MG_6378-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569309779428175442" border="0" /></a><br />It was actually very easy to make, thanks to "Cook's Country" magazine and it was so yummy! Though I wasn't sure we'd have enough with all of Arlo's buddies at the party, so we bought some cupcakes, as well and I made little "4" pennants to make them a bit more festive.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEkuy7xYbgmdjC8javYdBJYuslwJb27acktY9yzi_T11WLqzaiaB6HBN8xlB2DIc8SUsD_8JHfqoxAzekmfK8uZrIK4KlSNqI26q7Q8UCuC54UjYLmDV4QFUiDWQT24aaptJK_jrbdCyU/s1600/_MG_6494.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEkuy7xYbgmdjC8javYdBJYuslwJb27acktY9yzi_T11WLqzaiaB6HBN8xlB2DIc8SUsD_8JHfqoxAzekmfK8uZrIK4KlSNqI26q7Q8UCuC54UjYLmDV4QFUiDWQT24aaptJK_jrbdCyU/s400/_MG_6494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569310873807826642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzRTqXhquIeGF4A0TG6IGOk4kpddpF9C4WdbBcGH5sXUZUznph0eZA1X1eGsqzXq-O0SvX3qVgshxn6rbrAy1iAngmE8GtBOrSNc-ZuK2FRb8S39M6TNjfnf5bEnnPcWOD1yLlM0zr1gG/s1600/IMG_6433.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzRTqXhquIeGF4A0TG6IGOk4kpddpF9C4WdbBcGH5sXUZUznph0eZA1X1eGsqzXq-O0SvX3qVgshxn6rbrAy1iAngmE8GtBOrSNc-ZuK2FRb8S39M6TNjfnf5bEnnPcWOD1yLlM0zr1gG/s400/IMG_6433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569310882616607794" border="0" /></a><br />The cake was a big hit....for everyone.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCsBKhQ19HZNMx9hftAZljPdFkwiYE7gXRbv7TMvooyql9vaWmywFY6bN-M74DOiRZYujHMSBOx78AKpQIgJwlXuIrOcEkauFH46CdLxGxBR5EQGevDv5d_Vty3dZqcWux86KhBkr4LJV/s1600/_MG_6497.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCsBKhQ19HZNMx9hftAZljPdFkwiYE7gXRbv7TMvooyql9vaWmywFY6bN-M74DOiRZYujHMSBOx78AKpQIgJwlXuIrOcEkauFH46CdLxGxBR5EQGevDv5d_Vty3dZqcWux86KhBkr4LJV/s400/_MG_6497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569310884766529666" border="0" /></a><br />We blew up balloons with helium and they were also a big hit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiI-Ymtiq3Ou0LXz5rEEdrR7QL1YS_5aL4O6iEss-eMmlKP-45_ON2xkLHg8WZyvuNZqDsmLnBeodwgAR_UGrz-Kl0SAV5x37-J2LSKjGCVUPPJK8Qb7fTYhB8cA1URLThwEhKJMq8IfP/s1600/_MG_6396-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiI-Ymtiq3Ou0LXz5rEEdrR7QL1YS_5aL4O6iEss-eMmlKP-45_ON2xkLHg8WZyvuNZqDsmLnBeodwgAR_UGrz-Kl0SAV5x37-J2LSKjGCVUPPJK8Qb7fTYhB8cA1URLThwEhKJMq8IfP/s400/_MG_6396-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569309782686381826" border="0" /></a><br />Arlo was given some amazing gifts including this "Arlo" doll hand made by Matt's mom. He was thrilled, as you can see, and "Arlo doll" is present every night in amongst Arlo's menagerie of bedtime "buddies", as Arlo calls them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeW7eZfm2CM-PXzNaODXYjtrnTm_xSgiDEQrHf0dO6CQs9XpS_4JeQ1YZVKNryIRq1nyfX05M0GIesGYgpJPllwjomzLoxf8Q_ipvEyEWbUtT_a2yGbMpN1h4Y24gjvkI2dLw1gOm0H1Zc/s1600/_MG_6492.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeW7eZfm2CM-PXzNaODXYjtrnTm_xSgiDEQrHf0dO6CQs9XpS_4JeQ1YZVKNryIRq1nyfX05M0GIesGYgpJPllwjomzLoxf8Q_ipvEyEWbUtT_a2yGbMpN1h4Y24gjvkI2dLw1gOm0H1Zc/s400/_MG_6492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569310895783870722" border="0" /></a><br />The kids received these silly glasses as a party favor...but as you can tell, the adults (and dogs) had just as much fun with them!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Gl691QlNmWrRLg80KUIkNUMOk5lCXlpsX9bQ-ez-SeYuO39W3BBbZ1IGUCwDmzxab0DQaYNeOYETLuG4py3AeOy32vsdRhAthcVZp-fh7YzRr0xF1N8ayu-8_QPCKoEMMjqaxObADG2B/s1600/_MG_6486.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Gl691QlNmWrRLg80KUIkNUMOk5lCXlpsX9bQ-ez-SeYuO39W3BBbZ1IGUCwDmzxab0DQaYNeOYETLuG4py3AeOy32vsdRhAthcVZp-fh7YzRr0xF1N8ayu-8_QPCKoEMMjqaxObADG2B/s400/_MG_6486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569310905491360370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzlXdi3m9epx-FKIGPR6j45Gip8hHJh-kpmy-Y_NFHsQ0Lx8wKKLO6C5apj01iFamffnyutzh-bNk7pqi_Gy2AqkvZbgKdyLXs1s_4UjR8A9Xp7YIvMx14YgWose5PuDiUgQelrp6yCyW/s1600/_MG_6479.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzlXdi3m9epx-FKIGPR6j45Gip8hHJh-kpmy-Y_NFHsQ0Lx8wKKLO6C5apj01iFamffnyutzh-bNk7pqi_Gy2AqkvZbgKdyLXs1s_4UjR8A9Xp7YIvMx14YgWose5PuDiUgQelrp6yCyW/s400/_MG_6479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569309797963624834" border="0" /></a><br />Lots of dress up and running around and even a special movie with popcorn...all in all a great 4th birthday!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouPSjKWJH12G2tCB-hPsKanJLOJFpxvudPgKhcLklmAB6HAxJFMlw0k5MNxcI1UwXTrbkgsVvE427HKfEXpxCQwrKMTj2-IdPn5dpfm-UdlikN8EkKlBuudp7zmgx8YQ_BHztLyPmKXHa/s1600/_MG_6415.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouPSjKWJH12G2tCB-hPsKanJLOJFpxvudPgKhcLklmAB6HAxJFMlw0k5MNxcI1UwXTrbkgsVvE427HKfEXpxCQwrKMTj2-IdPn5dpfm-UdlikN8EkKlBuudp7zmgx8YQ_BHztLyPmKXHa/s400/_MG_6415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569309792484066850" border="0" /></a><br />At age 4, Arlo:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">:: still requests cuddle time every night and I oblige. It is a special time where he and I talk about whatever he wants to talk about. Last night he "spelled" words and I told him what the "words" were. it was sweet.<br /><br />:: weighs about 45 pounds and is about a head taller than Otis and a head smaller than Sam. Specific, I know, but we never measure the kids...we did just start a wall with their head heights labeled.<br /><br />:: asks some pretty deep questions, such as, "Where did people come from?" and "If we are on this planet, could there be other people on other planets?" Intense.<br /><br />:: is becoming quite helpful with Otis and in general around the house...and I mean helpful in a real way<br /><br />:: still sleeps with his menagerie of "buddies" including, but not limited to, baby, ducky, blankie (a scarf Matt bought me on our honeymoon in Mexico), "Arlo doll", Twilight (his turtle that makes stars on the ceiling), Gooey doll (a home made "ugly" doll), purple dinosaur....<br /><br />:: loves to play with Sam and looks forward to play time every day.<br /><br />:: LOVES singing and knows all the words to all the songs on the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Concert-Pete-Seeger/dp/B00000274O">Pete Seeger live children's album</a> we play in the van everyday. It is a great album.<br /><br />:: still uses the "w" sound in place of the "L" sound and the "R" sound. It is vewy, vewy, adowable.<br /><br />:: will show up in our bed 4-6 nights a week and loves to cuddle with me on my side of the bed...never in the middle.<br /><br />:: is becoming very compassionate and is learning to express his emotions verbally, very well.<br /><br />:: does not like the cold and has expressed to me a number of times that winter is his least favorite season.<br /><br />:: LOVES being at home all the time wearing his pajamas playing with his brothers...he'll choose this above all other activities.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75rcxFAhjkS_Dd4Uv57bC6GMZamA16adqBlmivyHzEIP2NEMe_E-9ohe4fNSAzHUCPIJmmfcTrgOf4DWB2_7YV-gkMY4Q5sRFEPnkSzcHu0gFmVExymcYJvRDd__IjPIL7P6HqzrxrfKa/s1600/_MG_6377-1.JPG"><br /></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6109349288801074891.post-28548718621366920142011-01-07T22:33:00.003-05:002011-01-07T22:36:43.332-05:00Remembering August 19th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiumIogY5T3kvh-dsxAQg89fIm3IogpzD9dDEtnU0GRARzwdgNCsBrf0gK012eeybg-QuXk002Mhv1BupUCHK1RfNm1ANSraInPM4HGbWnvoFnuW5HMF-fkiiHF_orb13AzAFcJ3h2Y1jy/s1600/_MG_5689.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiumIogY5T3kvh-dsxAQg89fIm3IogpzD9dDEtnU0GRARzwdgNCsBrf0gK012eeybg-QuXk002Mhv1BupUCHK1RfNm1ANSraInPM4HGbWnvoFnuW5HMF-fkiiHF_orb13AzAFcJ3h2Y1jy/s400/_MG_5689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559653322650552690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Matt and I shared three days alone on the <a href="http://www.oldmission.com/">Old Mission Peninsula</a> near Traverse City, MI in August in celebration of our tenth wedding anniversary. It was very romantic. More later...<br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15038420981226976947noreply@blogger.com1