Summer Harvest

 

This wonderful summer has yielded us an abundance for fresh fruits and veggies from our very own yard. Our garden this year was much better than it has been in the past. I attribute this to many things:

1. Not having a new born/infant during planting and harvest season

2. Watering regularly

3. Fresh chicken manure

4. Lots of sunshine

5. Many helping hands

There are probably more variables but I can’t think of what they are. During planting season I told Jeff I had a feeling this was going to be the year we developed our “green thumb.” He argued that that wouldn’t happen until after the kids left the house and we had nothing else to do. I think we proved him wrong with this years harvest.

At the beginning of the season we had loads of fresh strawberries. Way more than ever before. We made multiple smoothies with them. Ate them fresh. I canned some strawberry jam and there was still more to freeze for winter. Total score. Strawberries, fresh and juicy are so delicious. Oh, which reminds me, I also made Jeff his favorite Strawberry Ice Cream.

There was also the rhubarb which didn’t disappoint either. And the raspberries, as you can see, were huge. Braxton thought he could enter this one in the picture to the Guinness Book of World Records. The kids were very impressed with the size of some of our raspberries. They were yummy and when they ran out we went to my Gramy’s to pick hers. We made jam with the raspberries as well.

Our beets did great and we made lots of beet salad and smoothies with the greens. We had carrots and tons of green beans. We have peas coming in again, as I planted them early, harvested and then replanted to make the most of the growing season. Lots of zucchini and tomatoes galore. We have been making salsa and marinara and between Gage and Braxton they eat enough tomatoes for the rest of us.

Also this year we grew our first green peppers which turned out great and also we had basil that went crazy, unlike most years when our basil has died right away.

Our rhubarb produced well this year too and after we picked blueberries at a friends (we don’t have blueberries) Adelle decided to create a recipe for Rhubarb and Blueberry crisp which we made together and she got to serve for a nice Sunday dessert one night at the Bay.

The blackberries aren’t from our yard either but they make for a good crisp and a good story. One night when our kids were out and it was just Jeff and I and Gage we went to a spot on the road where we spotted some blackberries. I wanted to pick so we got out and started picking. Only to discover that neither were we dressed appropriately, nor could we reach them all. So, we went home and changed our clothes, grabbed our ladder, and went back to the spot. We loaded up our buckets that night. So delicious those blackberries.

The only sad part of our garden this year is that when we were on our long road trip our chickens got out and ate most all of our spinach and kale! If you look at the picture you will see they took all the good leafy greens. Darn birds! But, the way we look at it… those are some good eggs they be laying with all of those good greens.

Waterslides

Bama treated us all to the waterslides when Lesha came to town with the kids. My kids absolutely loved the waterslides. They were at great ages too where Braxton and Carson could venture out on their own a bit and go crazy. Adelle loved the big rides and the little rides and Emmett was happy on the kiddie rides. Gage was good in the kiddie pool or hanging out with me. We all played, slid, and hung out in the sun. All the kids were so happy and such fun.

The black hole slide was Braxton’s favorite and once he found it and tried it he was hooked.

Thanks Bama. This was one of the things on Braxton’s summer bucket list. Check!

Friday Harbor

 Back in July Jeff and I got to go away to Friday Harbor for the night. This was our 3rd year going to Friday Harbor and our 2nd time going alone without the little sweet peas. It was only 2 days and 1 night but it was so nice and rejuvenating.

I texted our kids these pictures telling them that mommy and daddy were having fun and doing lots of kissing. I can still imagine their sweet faces when they got the text. Braxton probably walked away with a smirk, a little embarrassed. Adelle probably looked at the picture until the screen went dark and smiled. Emmett probably laughed hard, for a while. Cute kids.

Jeff and I had a great time. We napped briefly on the ferry ride over. When we got there Jeff worked for the remainder of the day while I did my homework under a tree because the sun was too hot (can you even imagine).

Then we checked in to the bed and breakfast and Jeff got a nice shower while I kept studying. We strolled the island. Went to a nice fishy dinner. Enjoyed being more than just parents.

 The next day we were on vacation! We slept in and went down to an amazing breakfast. We explored the island some more. Drove around to the other side and tried out paddle boarding. We swam and sun bathed and ate more fresh fishy food.
We drove past Jeff's Great Grandparents old homestead and just enjoyed the day together. It was so beautiful and such a nice breather for both of us.

My mom and dad had a great time with our kids. It's always such a relief knowing that they are in good hands and not sad that we are gone :)

This is one of the pictures my mom texted to me. Some worn out beach bums here.