"Pee-boo"

She's sitting in her crib right now reading to herself. I know this because every 30 seconds a quiet "pee-boo" comes drifting out as she lifts the flaps in her book to hide the animals faces. Actually, she's hiding the blank space where a picture of her is supposed to go. I've been too lazy to put one in, but she valiantly soldiers on not seeming to mind one bit.
I love her.

The vegetable dream

If cucumbers had been my main vegetable goal, I would be over the moon right now.
In actuality, they were an afterthought; a productive one, but only an afterthought.

I seem to find at least 4 every time I go check, and I don't know that many recipes for using up cucumbers ( we will have no carrot sticks this summer, only cuke-sticks)......any suggestions would be helpful. Especially if mint is included. I have that in copious amounts too ( although I love putting mint in vases around the house.....smells delicious).
Abigail's favorite part of the cucumber overproduction is when we miss one for a couple of days and she gets to find something like this:

Although, it is nice to have lots of something edible. Last year the only thing we succeeded at growing well were rotten watermelons. Rotten because they got lost under the crabgrass that exceeded a foot in most parts of the garden. Crab grass does not count as a vegetable.

So being able to actually harvest edible produce has been fun.

 Things we have eaten/are hoping to eat:

Snap Peas: Abigail was fantastic at finding the pods. Problems arose as she would always take a bite out of the top before we could get hers inside. Then she would spit the top out after chewing on it for a bit. I think she'll have gum figured out no problem. She's good at not swallowing things.

Tomatoes: They're all green, mind you, so this is enjoying in advance and with the hope that we can save some from the birds. (any tips on encouraging good tomato growth?)

Squash: Even if we never get tons, I love seeing the yellow blossoms from the house, and the leaves are scratchy enough that Abigail isn't tempted to pick all the flowers off. Double bonus.

Bush Beans: I would have had fun growing these if the rabbits weren't topping all of them. Beans are a bit of a wash unless I get this  (the best picture by far is the 6th one).

Strawberries:  These were designated, unwillingly, as the rabbit's personal property. It was too hard to protect them. Next year maybe.

Asparagus:  Mmm, mmm I'm excited about these.

They look cool don't they? Maybe even romantic with they're wavy stems ( I now know why Asparagus Fern is so designated). 

I won't see anything edible for another year or so, but the satisfaction alone of growing a perennial  vegetable ( as in, I don't have to plant it each year) has already earned me back my money. The only thing dampening my spirits with perennials is the fact that John and my father (who only has raised beds) went in on a BCS 712 Tiller  (Italian-made btw. I can read him the directions if he needs) new price of $1900, auction price of $278....and I'm nervous about the success of transplanting everything so the "tiller-thirst" can be satisfied.  It's even designed so you have to buy........attachments.......that's what has me really worried.

Corn:  I was excited about this, and then really confused when my ears never filled out fully
(although Abigail thought they were just her size). A nice friend at church clued me in last week that I needed at least 2 rows so they could cross-pollinate. Apparently only east-west winds work for corn. So maybe I'll tear all the peas and corn out and give it another shot. We all like watching how fast they grow.

It's been fun though. As opposed to last summer when it was really just a looming chore. Abigail is big enough to entertain herself and even help some ( she's good at pulling peach seedlings out); I'm actually weeding and, when I get behind, John comes through with round-up and nukes the paths; and we're even seeing some of the 'fruit of our labors' as long as, for the moment anyway, we confine our definition of 'fruit' to 'cucumbers'. :o)

 

As in "cool as a cucumber"

much love, 

Katy

PS- maybe next year we'll be ready for this

Bubbles

She helped me wash dishes today.
Standing in a chair on one side of our sink,
The water was excessively filled with bubbles.
I did the washing and rinsing;
She did the bubble-eating,counter-scrubbing, and floor-soaking.
It was fun.

Helping me put up winter clothes

The wedding.

      We just got back from Sarah's wedding in La Jolla, CA. It was Anthony's wedding too but, let's be honest, the groom doesn't carry as much weight. It's always a special thing when a sibling gets married, and it was extra special to see John's sister marry a guy we are all super excited about, in a place we were excited to visit.

Destination weddings for family? Yes, please. 

Here are a few snapshots of the weekend. Well, really  a few snapshots of Abigail with John thrown in for good measure. Ninety percent of the time I see a good photo op it has disappeared in the seconds it takes my camera to turn on and present itself as ready....and if I leave it on, the battery dies in 4.5 minutes flat.

We had lots of long walks along the beach. Abigail (and us) loved the waves (although we never went swimming. Too cold.....like days in the 60's cold. I know. Coming back to Bama was a shock to my system), chasing the squirrels, the pigeons, and the seals.

The seals were a huge hit.  They stank, they hit each other in the face with their fins, and, occasionally, they'd even go swimming.

and the sand.....never, never forget the entertainment value of dirt and sand. 

She found lots to keep her and us entertained, and consented to sport the most adorable pigtails several days in a row. 

The rehearsal gave me the opportunity to show off the dress for Abigail that I finished the day before we left; culminating three months of work.....I'm much wiser now ( I hope) about setting timelines. But I liked how it turned out and she liked wearing it. A win-win. 

Plus, it's apparently climbing-approved.

Directing traffic in fine form.

We had so much fun hanging out with family and I'm disappointed I didn't capture many any of those quiet moments on camera.

But, the wedding was beautiful 

She even walked all the way up the aisle holding her flower ball. I couldn't believe it.

Sarah looked gorgeous. Although something about her that day scared Abigail. It was hilarious. She wouldn't go near Sarah.

John's mom looked gorgeous too. Beautiful and like she had a lot of fun. Which she did. :o)

and the party afterwards was much fun 

Uncle Matt knows how to win friends....

( with a 5-course dinner! This is what Abigail thought of the dinner)

Actually, we were so far off schedule all weekend that this is what she thought of many meals. She was a trooper though and loved being in the middle of everything. 

Of Radishes and Roses

Have I mentioned lately that I'm thankful for flowers? One of my favorite parts of our yard is the three rose bushes that were already planted in the back corner. Add two more to the mix ( from my wonderful friend Becca, who gave me many other perennials, most of which I've killed) and we've got a decent rose garden. Enough, in fact, that Abigail and I go out there almost every day to pick some. Her picking consists of pulling all the petals off every rose she can reach, but she's good at it.

She's also good at eating hummus. As long as good is defined as "wiping it everywhere after we tire of eating".

You could also blame her daddy, since she was distracted watching him. I get distracted watching him as well. So I can understand the forgetful, contemplative state. 

 Speaking of lawn mowing, this is our garden.

Right there, I promise, underneath the mounds of hay.

Which I realized gives me a headache any time I spend a lot of time in it.

Live and learn. :o) There are actually beans and peas and corn and tomatoes and a couple of other vegetables growing among the hay (which was scattered to help with weeds and moisture but the debate is still raging in our household as to the actual effect).

This is the first produce picked. It was, well, radishey. 

 

I'm hoping for better things later.

So is Abigail.
Who, by the way, has discovered a passion for flower arranging.
She 'helps' to bring them in with her wagon

Then carefully pulls off all the petals

and chooses just the right spot in the bowl to place them. Three guesses about which bowl was hers. 

Then she helps clean up by wiping everything off onto the floor. It's a huge success. Every time.

Almost as much fun as washable markers. Almost.

Four out of thirty-four

Happy Birthday my Love, 

It's hard for me to believe that I've only known you for five years, 

and only know you well enough to celebrate four of those with you.

For you have filled up my heart and my memories, 

making it seem impossible to have had so far only five years together. 

Sometimes I get distracted by how much we both have yet to learn about marriage;

but when I stop to think about who you are, as opposed to aren't, 

and all that you do 

I am thankful, overwhelmed, and turned on ( though not speechless).

You are a fun playmate, yet a good leader,

An incredibly thoughtful husband,

 

An unselfish father 

(you melt my heart when I watch you with Abigail. Listening to her laugh with delight as you both brush your teeth in the mornings is a sound I'll never forget)

A tender and passionate lover,

I am blessed among women to call you my own....

 and I can hardly wait until you come home tonight. 

Happy 34th Birthday my Love!

PS-  I think this is one of the very first pictures I have of you. It catches one of my favorite views....... (you were right, my hair was really short.

 At least I know you can love me through thick and thin.....or, well, definitely short and long)

A Little House-Help

It's been slow around here lately. Not because of a lack of activities, but because I've been feeling pretty draggy during this first trimester. Mmm, mmm. In truth it's been better than with Abigail, probably because I have her to distract me during the day....and also because we're not living in an extended-stay-hotel with all the complimentary smells they provide.

Either way I'm pleased. 

What has been fun is Abigail. She has taken a leap in her comprehension and it's been a blast to play with her and have her help around the house.
Typically, one of the first things she does after breakfast (besides making sure she knows where her blanket and pacifier are located) is get dressed for the day:

It just so happens her favorite outfits consist of my underwear and slips. Colors and styles vary by day, but they are what she reaches for when it's time to get dressed. She must know high-fashion is demanded of her and wants to perform accordingly. 

(although it can make unexpected visitors a bit awkward)

Once dressed she actually has been a big help around the house, mostly by being content to let me do housework while she puts underwear around her neck.  But she's also fantastic at putting laundry away.....

and generally puts them in the right place ( as long as I don't mind when she pulls them all out ten minutes later. But it's hard to begrudge a girl her favorite games).

Then we'll play office, to top the day off

We cram as many ads, old coupons, and pieces of junk mail into one envelope as possible, then lay everything out and start all over again. When that finishes we put stickers on our faces and throw crayons at pieces of paper. It's fun. I really like her. 

PS- anytime I say the phrase "we play office" it makes me think of this book

one of my all-time favorites ( thanks Mama!)