spring is springing

Mr. Incredible is again in his element and creating beauty all around our home....

He was NOT happy when he discovered a deer had invaded his precious tulip display he was so looking forward to. He had planted them with Anna Clara last fall and he was very excited about them as he had proudly told me, "we're going to have a looooot of tulips out front this year!"

But, unfortunately one morning he walked into the kitchen extremely dejected and angry and said the deer had eaten all the tulips. I couldn't believe it...but, alas, it was true.... They ate them all up before we could even get a glimpse of their glorious spring beauty. The distinct hoof prints gave them away. Dang deer.

The other smaller circle with daffodils fared a bit better....

I never took a picture with all the daffodils in full bloom, but you get the idea.

A few tulips did escape the deer's destruction.

The deer never made it over to the mailbox, so those tulips were untouched and our mailwoman must love all of their welcoming bright petals.

Every year, my farm boy simply must add to the garden...whether it's more space to grow more food, another type of food (a couple years ago he planted 900 mushrooms...long story....but it was QUITE the ordeal to plant them, lemme tell you) or, like this year, a new home for the wildlife. He bought himself a big ole Purple Martin treehouse. I had never heard of such a thing, but my farm boy got it in his head to have one, so, well, now we do. And I absolutely love seeing it right outside my kitchen window. Now we just have to hope some Martins choose it for their home.

 The house has to be a minimum of 10-15 feet high and 40 feet from the house and trees.

Have a happy spring everyone!

my messy life

When people say, "my life's a mess" they usually don't mean that they are constantly picking up messes in their home. Well, that's what I mean when I say that my life is one big mess...after another....and another...and another....and another...and another.....






This was a lil mess left by a peanut loving, football watching daddy....

When not making messes, they are.....



How much do I love this pup (who's not so much a pup at 12 years old....),
let me count the ways.....


Since harvest has been in full swing, I have also been busy harvesting, cooking, freezing and canning....

This was a HUGE gourd -- and I'm not sure this picture emphasizes how big the gourd is, or how big these two have grown this summer....


It was very difficult for Soren to pick. It took him a while to get it off.



Our first lil punkin.


I canned 14 jars of yellow and red tomatoes.


Our very first fruit from our orchard!! And oooohhhh were they yummy.


My girl's first professional haircut...her school pics are this week....

Which reminds me of another first haircut from Nana this past summer...not so professional...but still darn cute!

There goes the baby mullet....



Bye bye white trash mullet boy, hello handsome!!!!


This picture captures a bit of a glimpse into my world: the CONSTANT love and playfulness a big sis has with her lil bros and one of the four joyful faces I have the privilege of seeing every day -- completely blurring out the messes in the background.

Ok, enough "me time"...I'm off to clean up another mess........

a spring moment

It has been so rainy and yucky outside for what seems like months (but really only a week), and I've been so overwhelmingly busy with who knows what (lots of doctor and vet appointments for one...), I had to take a moment to share some of the beauty that grows in my yard...to remind myself that it truly is spring....







(I usually don't like to 'doctor' my photos in any way, but this tulip -- the purple one in the center -- seemed to call out, "Look at me!" and that shout-out wasn't as 'loud' in the photo, so I helped out a bit.)


(Can't you just smell these??)


These beauties are glorifying my yard because of this man...

...who works very hard to take care of it...


...and who is now planting for our summer and fall harvest....


We've already enjoyed some of the yummy asparagus.


Oh how I hope we will see the sun again soon so we can do more of this....

...and less of this....

(typical moment for my boys...Niels letting it all out and Anders just hangin' out)

...and please oh please MUCH more of this....

Sun...where did you go? We sure miss you. Not much sun outside makes for not as many sunny faces inside.

However, I do want to thank you rain for feeding those beautiful flowers and making a nice bath for my birds....