Summer Things

Outdoor concerts

 The Brothers Comatose

Indoor concerts

 Mandolin Orange

 Wild flowers

And a new necklace created by Buttefly Bones made from a bug eaten leaf and pressed butter cup.

And Summer Begins

The Mossy Cottage

Neighborhood Walk

Lovely Greens

June has been feeling more like late March around here. We've had days of cool weather with a lot of rain. The garden greens (and weeds) don't seem to mind, but I worry about the bees. They don't forage well in wet, cool weather. Hopefully, the temperatures will return to normal. 

I hope your summer is off to a good start. Regardless of the weather, there is always something to enjoy!

Pageants of Splendor

The Luna Moth vs. the Cecropia. I prefer the simplicity and tranquility of the Luna moth's color and design. However, I find it fascinating the the Cecropia we came across was laying her eggs which were tinted her same colors!

Such beautiful insects~

Summer Dinner

 Bok choy and mustard greens from the garden with a few foraged greens as well.

Heat olive oil in a pan, add minced garlic, shredded carrots and sweet peppers - saute.

Add chopped greens - saute

Stir in cooked rice (I also added some corn and peas which were in the fridge and needed used up).

Serve with a fried egg and saracha.

This is one of my favorite meals to make right now.  It's hearty, filling, and can be used with any variety of vegetables on hand.  It's versatile and can be amended with whatever is growing.

This is best served on the deck at dusk with a glass of cucumber-mint water.

Berry Picking

 We just planted two blueberry bushes in our yard, which isn't nearly enough to sustain our love for this fruit throughout the year.
Luckily, we have a blueberry farm not too far from us.  We need about 10 gallons of blueberries (which we freeze) to last us the year.  

 They have five varieties.  We go a few times in order to collect some of each since they ripen at different times.  

These will be added to smoothies, pancakes, muffins, pies, or just eaten with coconut milk or yogurt.   

Long Summer Days

The mother-month of Summer holds her place

Not only by the grace

Attending on her many winsome ways...

I hope you are enjoying these long summer days...they will be gone before you know it.

Lego Challenge: Make a marble maze

My son and husband helped each other build this amazing marble maze that worked.  Three hours of working together, trial and error, design discussion, and compromise led to the construction of this:

The Jar of Ideas

Apparently I like using jars and paper to keep us entertained.  A few years ago, I created "The Jar of Ideas".  This was created out of desperation to keep my kid engaged, learning (Shhh - don't tell him!), and unplugged during lazy summer days.

Every summer the jar is brought out - along with a journal - which is needed for some of the activities.  It is something that my son  looks forward to.  It's like an advent calendar for each day of summer. 

The sneaky thing about The Jar of Ideas is that it motivates other creative play.  Before you know it, a 10 minute activity has led to a day of fun.

My son is eleven.  Some of our ideas are:

1. Sit outside with your nature journal.  Write down how many birds you see and can identify.
2. Using water colors, paint a tree from our back yard.
3. Clean the glass on the sliding glass doors. (yes, sometimes it is a chore - bonus for the parents!)
4. Choose 5 plants, crush the leaves or flowers and smell them.  Describe their smell - and taste if edible-in your journal.
5. Wash 5 articles of clothing by hand. Hang them out to dry.
6. Write and mail a letter to a friend.
7. Learn how to make french toast.
8. Challenge a parent to a push-up contest.
9. Go on a flower hunt.  Draw the flowers in your nature journal. What is the name, color, number of petals, scent...?
10. Create a profile silhouette.
11. Submit a new flavor of ice cream to Ben & Jerry's.
12. Take the camera, photograph 3 different types of spiders, draw them in your journal.
13. Look through cookbooks. Find a recipe, make a grocery list, purchase items, and make it.
14. Draw our house using charcoals
15. Do 30 minutes of yard work
16. Play a board game
17. Lego challenge: Build a ship
18. Build an obstacle course outside
19. Make lunch today
20. Write a short story about a squirrel named Fred.

A Week Away

Our family, along with two other families rented a house in Salvo, NC for the last week in September.
6 adults, 2 kids, and 1 dog.  The house was huge, with plenty of room to spare.
We each took turns making meals, gathering around the huge table for great food and conversation.

We had so much fun: Kite flying, bike riding, windy walking, shell gathering, ferry riding, dolphin spotting, ocean kayaking, bird watching, sand squishing, and ocean romping.  It was a week full of memories, made for future reflection.

I would have loved a month away, but a week was also nice.

Transitions

Transitioning from summer to autumn.  Goodbye peaches, hello apples!

Goodbye July

And just like that...it was gone.  July was summer fun with swimming and sleepovers, fresh veggies, our first tomato grown in our shady yard- which we had to chase down from a squirrel thief. (If only I had video of that!).  It was friends and family, cookouts and camp outs.

Good bye July - it's been swell!  We will see you next year.