UFO sighting...

...oh yeah, and a coupla cute kids ;-p

specs: this pattern, yarn from Jo-Anne's (aquamarine colorway), a few changes to accomodate for my...relaxed...knitting style.

We mentioned that we had ducks, but did we tell you what they started doing?!

Laying eggs!!
So of course you can guess what we did....

ate them, duh.mmm organic duck eggs. yum.

premature joy

Monkey's only getting one or two presents from us this year. One of them came secondhand from a free place nearby. Because it had been previously loved, this particular gift required a bit of crafting before it was ready for the boychild. Namely, pants. I had the bright idea to craft them from some of Abuela's denim scraps, and was zooming right along on them not many minutes ago. Monkey was awake, but not paying much attention until he happened to climb up onto a chair and saw what was on the table next to all my sewing paraphernalia.


I'm not sure I have the heart to hide him (the baby) away again, even if it is only for a few more weeks! WWYD?

home-school-ish lately

While Tonka is transferring pinecones, Monkey is helping himself to a snack.while Tonka is stringing beads (to make a snake, of course)...Monkey is napping.While Tonka is sorting beads from rocks, Monkey is towing and dumping.

While Tonka is learning the basics of card playing...Monkey is putting them in and taking them out.
And while Tonka is eating...Monkey is eating. As if there was ever an alternative.

That's how we roll, yo.

mud boots on Thanksgiving

This year, my boys learned that mud is a blessing (yes, it is a learned activity for some). What a gift it is to have a house with access to free dirt AND hand-me-down mud boots.

is it the beginning of the end?

so.... the Monkey refused to wear this today:
causing his mother to recall these: Which were a much more acceptable alternative to the boy who thinks he can do it all. Thanks for getting us started, Granny Boo. (I think)

Did I mention we have ducks?

We got them from the nurse-cousin's neighbor, as it turns out... After Tonka and two different dogs mistook the greenish pond for more grassy lawn and took a "swim," D took matters into his own hands called a number listed in Craigslist . When we turned onto the man's road I realized where we were. Good thing too, because we had to drive to her house (and wake her up...oops...) to borrow a box big enough to fit our new pond cleaners dinner options pets. and no, Sheena, we will not be eating them...they're for the edification of our future homestead pond! And they eat bugs! The man had several varieties to choose from and we settled on three Cayuga ducks; two females and a drake with a formerly broken leg. They are so fun to watch and we cannot wait for the first egg to be laid!Oh, and 'fer thinks he can do anything. But that's another post entirely. For those of you curious, Abuela's former living room planter has a new life as the base for the duck's outside pen. During the night they sleep in a duck house that was custom made for my brother's first dog many (ha!) years ago; it now sports a hinged door in the rear for egg retrieval.
Other Emily, I hope your kids like feeding the ducks; that's how they're going to earn their keep at my house. ;-p

sleepyheads

DSC_0421
Originally uploaded by newlywaaz

I sent the Monkey in to greet Tonka when he woke up from his nap one afternoon a couple of weeks ago. After waiting a few minutes and not hearing the typical "get away from me, baby!" grumpy noises, I went in to investigate. Turns out Monkey fell asleep before Tonka had a chance to complain!

all together now, awww...

Preschool!

Tonka was thrilled to be going to his first day of preschool last month. He giggled the whole way down to the church! His teacher, who claims never to have favorites in any of her classes, might have giggled a little herself when he walked in the door.



The second day of preschool did not go as well. He slept here, there, and everywhere until about noon, which is when he finally realized that our express shipment had arrived and was being unpacked before his very eyes.



Monkey would have willingly taken his place at school had he 1)not been dressed appropriately, and 2)not been suckered in by the boxes and packing paper.

uh... really?!

So, snow? In October. Come on.

Fer likes it.

Putz dog is not so sure, but she got in the mood eventually and thoroughly enjoyed eating the snowballs chucked her way.

Jury is still out on the ducks....

I was not ready for this.

photo backlog pt.3: chickens, sheep, and raspberries oh my

photo backlog pt. 2: the cabin

1. DSC_0369, 2. DSC_0352, 3. DSC_0361, 4. DSC_0368

(ps: I'm going to live here someday!!!)

not alfredo sauce

Dinner tonight was spectacular. Since the hubby was not here to ooh and aah, I planned to take a picture so y'all could do it for him. Alas, even a fancy-pants camera has a battery that dies when left plugged into the computer for 30 hours at a time ;-p. I will still give you the recipe though, because you NEED to make this now while you can get just about all of the ingredients locally and for pennies! Trust me on this one, gang. It's worth the small effort.

Penne with Roasted Summer Squash sauce. Adapted from a recipe on Epicurious.

• 1 red bell pepper, chopped fine
  
• 1 onion, minced
  
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (or substitute. I used half olive oil)
  
• 1/2 squash, roasted and pureed
  
• 1 cup veggie broth
• 2 tablespoons evaporated milk (or substitute)
  
• 1/2 pound penne or other tubular pasta
• salt, pepper, and a few other seasonings. The peppers I had on hand were left over from making omelets, so there was some fajita seasoning on them. I think it's similar to chicken seasoning?
  
• freshly grated Parmesan or finely chopped pine nuts and toasted wheat germ.

In a large skillet cook the onion, the bell pepper, and the garlic in the butter over moderate heat, stirring until the vegetables are softened. Stir in the squash, broth, milk, salt, and pepper to taste and simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.

While the sauce is simmering, cook the penne. You can reserve some of the pasta water if you want for the next step.

Add the penne to the sauce, and stir well. Add a bit of reserved pasta water if desired to thin the sauce. Divide the pasta between 2 plates and serve it with the Parmesan or pine nuts/wheat germ.

photo backlog pt. 1

the trip here. As it turns out I didn't have much time for pictures; almost all of these were taken on the last leg of the trip. Which, coincidentally, was one of the shortest legs and the only one during which both children fell asleep. for the record. And about that flight book/bag I spent so much time creating and organizing and imagining would save my sanity? yeah...we used maybe 3 activities from it. ugh. Looks like I've got enough car and church activities to last me until the kids are 5...

we're baaa-aaack.....

online, that is. woo-hoo! back soon with a plethora of pictures.

best buds

Tonka will probably be appalled that these cuties will not fit into his suitcase:







Lord willing we will see them all (and all our other buddies that I don't happen to have pics of!) again, but I don't know if that will be enough to comfort my boy once he realizes the permanence of this separation. gulp.