Self Portrait Challenge: Environment

Here I am on the Big Rock in the neighborhood I grew up in surrounded by my children and nieces and nephew.

Brooke is here with her littles and we're having so much fun!



Everywhere we go people give us looks--I guess New Englanders aren't used to lots of little kids. Phrases like, "Are all those yours?" and "Well, you've got your hands full." are quite common here, but when I doubled my numbers, we get it twice as much. Six kids can get pretty loud! But it can be pretty fun, too.

We've been beach bums:











We've been eating lots of ice cream:



We've been saving turtles:





We've been doing grave rubbings and learning all about the history of New England:







(Yes, he picked out his own outfit. very snazzy. but a true working pump was quite amazing to the children and they all wanted a turn.)

We've been smelling lots of roses (over 300 rosebushes):






We've been doing lots o' fun stuff. We've gone through over 8 gallons of milk in 6 days. We've eaten over 3 loaves of bread. (and like 30 corn dogs--gross, I know--a weak moment in the Sam's club aisle) We've been picking strawberries (pictures to come). We've calmed 467 tantrums and resolved 398 tattle tailing incidents. We've washed 1,899 dishes. We've had lots of discussion about what the plot of Eclipse will hold, and hours and hours of non stop talking in general. And now I must go and soothe one really bad sunburn with aloe and then fall exhausted into bed. We're going to have lots more fun tomorrow!


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Self Portrait Challenge: Environment

Okay, sometimes self portraits are just NOT flattering. {But I'm posting it anyway:)} As it ends up, we're making a little tradition of having Family Night at the beach when summer comes calling. One of my favorite things about where I live is that the beach is so wonderfully close. Growing up we were at the beach as often as we could get there, and my mom would pack the cooler and we'd spend the entire day on the shore. I'm not a planner aheader kind of girl, so luckily we live close enough that I can just yell, "okay, get your swimming suits on! Time to go to the beach!" and we grab our handy beach bag with water, sun screen, a blanket and towels and go until we're too hungry to go any longer. When I'm in a thinking ahead type place I'll grab cherries {the perfect beach treat} or some nice little snack so we can hold out a little longer. There is no fighting at the beach. No "don't touch me's" or "she hit me's" to speak of. This summer I'm noticing that the beach is relaxing again...no babies! What a difference a year or two makes. I actually read my book the other day at the beach--the first time in about 8 years. [insert hallelujah chorus here]

Here are some other pics without my giant noggin:







click here for other creative bloggers' takes on the self portrait challenge.

Summer Refresher

Here is an idea that my sister gave me--I'm always in need of cute ideas, so I thought I'd pass it on...



I was stuck for a teacher gift for my daughter's teacher--she was the best! One of those teachers that deserves a million bucks. So nothing was good enough (since I don't have a million bucks) and I couldn't get past it. It was the last day of school and I had 2 hours to find a giftand the littles and I were still all salty & sandy from the beach, so I stopped worrying about a million bucks and perfection and Krista helped me come up with this: a summer refresher--time to go home and relax! A couple books I've enjoyed (I wish I could have filled it with at least ten!) {don't all teachers love to read?} and some sodas. I was going to put it in a galvanized tin bucket thingy, but I couldn't find one in time (stupid stupid procrastination!) Add some ribbons (I was going to put Hershey Kisses in, but I just realized I forgot to open them and pour them in. sigh.), a little fun, a big hug and a few tears while saying "thank you, thank you, thank you, you made such difference" and I think she knew that we love her.

And the Summer Can Officially Begin

Last day of school:




happy for summer to begin



sad to leave her favorite teacher's class




and we're off to the beach. I love my life.

I have been so busy! It is summer, and we’re on the go. I’ve had house guests consistently, which is both wonderful and exhausting, and the next batch are due on Wednesday—I can hardly wait. This will be the first time they will have been out to visit me since we moved back east. I’ve been working on orders (thank you!), and taking care of rambunctious little people, attending field day, catching up on laundry/dishes/general maintenance of the house, going to the beach, and spending time in the yard.

Here is a photo journal:


Memorial Day, while the Calls were visiting.


The day #1 was baptised--with Grammie and Grandpa Reeve.

The cousins--this is my favorite picture after the baptism. It makes me smile every time. We had lots of fun with Josh and Jamie and boys. Thanks for coming to visit!! I'm so glad we don't have to wait so long to see you again.

my boy's last day of school

While my parents were here, my dad treated my mom and I to a pedicure, and the little lady scolded me for wearing flip flops and bare feet constantly. I told her I don’t like wearing shoes and socks and she told me that I will need to come in more often. She took (no joke) a Dremel Tool with a file attachment to my feet, put on a mask and robe and started dodging my flying skin. It was the best pedi ever. I promptly came home and wore flip flops into the garden. Sorry, Pamela, I can’t help it—socks and shoes are so constraining!!

Another gift my mom gave me was to hire Olofson Landworks to finish all the stuff that has been taking me forever to finish. So the other day, Troy showed up with a slew of guys and they worked all day. We were all excitedly awaiting their arrival—my boy remembers Troy well—he’s a man’s man with lots of tools and tractors.

They buried all the granite stepping stones that have been sitting in the lawn for a year and a half--for some reason I can't stand that job. I would see them sitting there, but always find something else to do, and Jake hasn't been able to mow over them! We're both relieved that this job is done. They moved that little redbud tree fromt the other side of the house and edged and made my beds a little bigger, and mulched until I ran out of mulch. They planted all my new plants. Can you see that Harry Lauder Walking Stick Tree in the corner? I love those. Here's a close up.

Here are some pics of the shade garden in the back yard by the barn(still needs mulch):

Here's the side yard outside my bedroom window:

Okay, that's all I can handle sitting in front of the computer for now! Happy Thursday! Oh, man, is it really already THURSDAY!? I really have to go!

SPC: Environment

This month the challenge is to show yourself in your surroundings, using your environment as a marker of who you are. -Self Portrait Challenge

Sunday Scribblings {Town and Country}

When I was in high school I would have described myself as a city girl. My cousins even called us “city slickers” at one point which always made me chuckle. But now there’s no denying my country bumpkin ways. I’ve quite embraced the country life. I can’t get enough of the trees and grass and gardening. How pleasant that my three-year-old took a little nap on the hammock the other day with nothing around but a couple cats, a nice breeze and the sound of the birds. I prefer fresh squeezed lemonade rather than running to the local lemonade-selling-type-store (see? I don’t even know where city folk buy their lemonade!). Water, ice, lemons and sugar. When the blueberries are in season, then I add a little homemade blueberry syrup. How yummy is that?




You have to admit that it is rather nice to have a cake made from scratch with little flowers from the yard to add the finishing touch…or is it just the bumpkin in me?



more Sunday scribblings here

edited to add the recipe:
*decoder at the bottom

Chocolate Cake
1 3/4 c. flour
2 c. sugar
3/4 c. cocoa powder
2 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
2 eggs
1 c. hot chocolate
1 c. sour milk**
1/2 c. oil
1 t. vanilla

mix dry together. stir in liquids. beat til mixed thoroughly--will be thin. pour into greased and floured pans. bake at 350 for about 45 minutes. (when touched it should bounce back when it's done)

Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting

6 T. butter
2 2/3 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. cocoa powder
1/3 c. milk
1 t. vanilla

beat butter, blend in sugar and cocoa alternately with milk until smooth. add vanilla

*t=teaspoon
T=tablespoon
c=cup

**when a recipe calls for sour milk or buttermilk, I usually add around a tablespoon of vinegar to the milk, give it a little stir, and let it sit for a few minutes, then it's ready to add in.

I always double this recipe--I'm big on three layer cakes. Make sure to leave at least 1/2" empty in your cake pans or they'll drip and use the leftover batter to make some cup cakes.