the sky is pink

At least once a week, if not twice, I bake bread. Amandajean had passed along a link to a recipe that makes a very simple, effortless bread. In fact, the main reason I make it this often is because it's easy. Oh, and it tastes good, too. So, this morning after doing some yoga (while most of the house was still sleeping), I decided to break away from my morning routine of jumping in the shower and made bread instead. Slowly the older boys trickled down the stairs for breakfast. While the bread rose, I packed lunches. While the bread baked, I hopped in the shower and put on my make-up. And before Carter, Jackson and Mason left for school, I had already pulled the bread out of the oven. After a quick cooling, I lightly wrapped two loaves and gave them away. One before the bus even came. Now, the recipe makes four large loaves. Even with my size family, it seemed we couldn't finish that much bread before it got too hard and was tossed to the happy chicken girls. I have been cut...

A few weeks ago I noticed a little something odd near our roof line. It looked like an owl. It was a Saturday morning. I watched it for a bit and it didn't move a muscle. I walked under it and it seemed to watch me, but it still did not look real. It looked like a fake owl that someone would stick on their house to deter critters. Yet (just like those creepy paintings with eyes that "follow" you), it followed me. From every angle I looked at it, it was in the same position, but still watching me. I talked to it and asked it if it were real. It didn't answer. So I went about my business of cleaning out the chicken coop. Later that afternoon (Joe and the boys were at the church mulching that morning), I noticed it again. Same place. Same position. I asked Joe if it were real or stuffed. We walked below it and stared up to the roof. Neither one of us was sure. Until it blinked. And we squealed. In fact, we squealed so loudly, that the neighbors came out to see what all...

A few months ago I thrifted this green dress. While I didn't love the brightness of the green, I liked the style of the dress. It seemed very 50's to me. I had some grand plans for this dress. I thought about swapping out the buttons and making a belt for it, as the original belt was missing (which was probably a blessing in disguise because the dress was green, all the buttons were green, and I assume the belt was very green). Several long months later, the project is finished. Two failed belt-attempts later, I think I like it. Perhaps I should be wearing pearls with the dress and delivering a casserole to a sick neighbor in a vintage Pyrex dish? And, look! It has pockets! I chose different scraps of fabric to cover each of the buttons. Some were old vintage scraps or vintage sheets. Others were fabrics I thought would stand out against that green. Oh, that green. Even the sleeves got pretty new buttons. And the belt. The belt was made from some grosgrain ribbon scraps...

Our house is over 130 years old. We have lots of mature trees and plants that have been here forever. We bought our house ten years ago and we are still finding mysteries inside and outside of it. We have a mint patch that is in full bloom. I think it was planted by Joe's great-aunt, who owned the house before we did. She hadn't lived in the house for several years prior to our buying it, and used it as a two-apartment rental. Anyway, last night Spenser and I were watering the herb garden and strawberry plants and she was trying to show me something she and Joe had planted near the mint patch. Of course I noticed the pesky, giant weeds that are impossible to get rid of , so I quickly pulled a few. When I saw these giant leaves, I thought I'd get rid of them, too ... Until I realized (or maybe I just think ) that it's rhubarb. For ten years this plant has survived Lera's torture. I've cut it. Pulled it. And it's been mowed over many times. And, I am now ju...

I need to talk about Taylor. Just one more time. And then I'll try to stop. This past weekend he completed the National Youth Leader Training for Boy Scouts. Before he left on Friday afternoon, Joe noticed a little something off about Taylor. Taylor had trimmed his bangs. By himself. Remember that cute hair you all liked last week? Well, he butchered the front of it. (Honestly, he was so busy packing and rushing out the door, that I hadn't noticed. And, perhaps, that was his master plan. That I wouldn't notice. Especially with his BSA cap on his head.) About a week ago he announced he needed a blown egg for school. He picked one of our Araucana eggs and I helped him with the egg extraction. Later he told us that he had to "babysit" this egg for a week and take care of it for class. It wasn't until this past Monday that I discovered why Taylor cut his hair. My friend's son is Taylor's friend and well, friends talk and I found out through my ...

Taylor, my eldest, had to compete in a karate tournament (U.S. Eastern Regional Karate Championships) a few weeks ago. He is quickly approaching his next exam (for brown belt) and needed one more tournament under his belt. No pun intended . We were completely thrilled when he placed third in "one-step sparring ." Just a few short days later, he attended a town council meeting in his boy scout uniform and presented his proposal for his Eagle scout project. And, because I have an "in" with the town council , his proposal was quickly accepted. That's my boy! And he's growing up too quickly. And, by the way, can you believe that tomorrow will be one year since the town council election? It seems like yesterday .

I was just weeding my herb garden and these little white flowers were everywhere. I thought they were weeds, so I started to pull them. I soon discovered that they were attached to bulbs. Oops! Does anyone have any idea what they are? They are tiny and fragrant. (I didn't plant anything there ...)