We try to explain that horses are for riding and dogs are for cuddling. Helena happily found a compromise acceptable to all.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Helena and Starbuck
We try to explain that horses are for riding and dogs are for cuddling. Helena happily found a compromise acceptable to all.
Helena's Idea of Camping
For mommy's birthday we all went on a hike. We were excited to find a lean to and to explain to Helena that you can go night night in a lean to. "No-ooo" she said with all the attitude she could muster. "Yes" we explained, "When you go camping you sleep in a lean to or a tent". Her immediate and adamant reply.... "Helena sleep in hotel!" LOL
We will be going camping at the end of July. Should be interesting... Personally, I think she will fall in love with it.
We will be going camping at the end of July. Should be interesting... Personally, I think she will fall in love with it.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Our CSA
A while back we told about how Helena "sent papers to farmer" and "farmer pant vegetus" Well, now we are several weeks into picking up our vegetables and we are really enjoying the experience!
Week 1 - The CSA is cancelled due to the farmer having an emergency appendectomy. Forget about being sad about not getting veggies. We feel awful for him and are praying.
Week 2 - We enjoy our drive out into the country to pick up our veggies. Ruby the dog greets us as soon as we pull into the driveway. Helena is delighted by her and can't get enough of petting her and speaks to her in the cutest voice just like she would to a baby. Now if only she would always speak to our dog that nicely! She has taken to being rather bossy with him.
We have brought some apple peels for the chickens. They curiously run over to them and a few hens even take a bite, but the apple is definitely *not* a hit. So I'm guilty of leaving a smattering of apple peels all over someone else's property now. Picky chickies!
We walk down to the "river" which I can't figure out why it is called that. It's only a creek really. But that's even more fun to us! Helena dips her toes in and we head back to get our veggies and go home.
We end up with lettuce, greens (mmm... I can never get enough of any kind of cooking greens!), radishes and a bunch of other things including celeriac. Our challenge is to eat all of these veggies before next week's pickup. Most of it is not a problem. I eagerly pulled out a cookbook and read all about celeriac and what to do with it. Almost every day we eat a big huge salad and meals centered around whatever veggies we get. We try a souffle with the greens and it's a huge hit! I lost track of how many helpings Helena had of it. The radishes we discover add a wonderful flavor to our salad. The week ends and I open my fridge to find pretty much no more veggies - with the exception of the ugly celeriac staring back at me....
Father's Day - The lovely "farmer lady" as Helena calls her has told us to come up and enjoy the farm anytime we want to. Considering we don't have a house or yard and live in a big old apt building also without a yard, we are so grateful for this offer!! Thank you "farmer lady"!! So anyway, for Father's Day we have a lovely picnic by the river and then wade across it and walk barefoot down the path through the field picking wild flowers, and finding butterflies and catepillars. We discover "the back 40" where more of our veggies are being grown and show Helena some of the stuff growing up close. I'm so glad my child is learning about where her food comes from! Back at the river again, we have a lovely time relaxing, wading and gathering a few smooth pretty river rocks for Helena to play with at home.
Week 3 - This week we wise up and offer the chickens a few of our grapes. They are definitely a favorite! One bold hen doesn't even wait for Helena to throw it and grabs it right out from between her fingers! We have a great time laughing at the chickens running as fast as they can to wherever we throw the grape. Helena especially thinks this is funny. And our reward for such a lovely treat? The hens come close enough that we can hold one and pet it. Not only that, but the "farmer lady's helper" gets a fresh egg out of the hen house for Helena. She is so excited to eat it for breakfast the next morning. Mommy is wishing she had signed up in time to get the egg share too! Judging by the bright yellow almost orange yolk, that is one yummy egg!
We visit the river again and then get another wonderful load of veggies. More delicious strawberries which go very quickly. And we try the "farmer lady's" recipe for a fritatta full of greens, garlic scapes and scallions. Very yummy!! Only tricky one in this bunch is the turnips. My parents must not like them as we grew many veggies growing up but I don't think I have ever tasted a turnip. Once home I get out my handy Organic Bible Cookbook and read all about them. Tuesday night comes. The next day is pickup day again and we have eaten most all of our veggies. I decide I had better brave the turnips lest they end up like the infamous celeriac which is *still* staring at me each time I open my fridge door. (How long will that thing last anyway, I wonder.) Well, we ended up roasting the turnips. Helena took one bite and spit it back out. Joe and I ate ours, but decided they would be much better in a medley of other roasted veggies. Our dog Starbuck happily gobbled the leftovers. We are ready for the next day's pickup.
Week 4 - We are so enjoying this CSA. I wish we could eat such wonderful fresh veggies all year long. It's fun trying new recipes and or veggies (ok, so the celeriac is still in the fridge) and we love having a daily huge salad. Today we got lettuce, baby greens, beets, radishes, peas, broccoli and spinach. Yummy!! We stuck with the previous weeks' success and offered a few grapes to the chickens again. But Helena's favorite part this week was sailing some bark boats we had made, in the river. So fun and easy to make. Gather some bark (preferably thicker pieces). Use an awl to make a hole part way thru. Insert a stick and use some fabric scrap for a sail. (Alternately a big feather makes a great sail too.) Then drill a tiny hole at the front of your boat and thread some string thru it. We used embroidery floss. I guess anything would work fine. Then sail away!!
Once home, I get out some of the peas and open up the pods for Helena. I tell her they are like little balls and when you bite them they squirt juice in your mouth. She thinks that is very fun and they are a big hit!!
I would encourage anyone to join a local organic CSA if they can. Besides getting so many fresh veggies it's wonderful for the local farmer too!!
Week 1 - The CSA is cancelled due to the farmer having an emergency appendectomy. Forget about being sad about not getting veggies. We feel awful for him and are praying.
Week 2 - We enjoy our drive out into the country to pick up our veggies. Ruby the dog greets us as soon as we pull into the driveway. Helena is delighted by her and can't get enough of petting her and speaks to her in the cutest voice just like she would to a baby. Now if only she would always speak to our dog that nicely! She has taken to being rather bossy with him.
We have brought some apple peels for the chickens. They curiously run over to them and a few hens even take a bite, but the apple is definitely *not* a hit. So I'm guilty of leaving a smattering of apple peels all over someone else's property now. Picky chickies!
We walk down to the "river" which I can't figure out why it is called that. It's only a creek really. But that's even more fun to us! Helena dips her toes in and we head back to get our veggies and go home.
We end up with lettuce, greens (mmm... I can never get enough of any kind of cooking greens!), radishes and a bunch of other things including celeriac. Our challenge is to eat all of these veggies before next week's pickup. Most of it is not a problem. I eagerly pulled out a cookbook and read all about celeriac and what to do with it. Almost every day we eat a big huge salad and meals centered around whatever veggies we get. We try a souffle with the greens and it's a huge hit! I lost track of how many helpings Helena had of it. The radishes we discover add a wonderful flavor to our salad. The week ends and I open my fridge to find pretty much no more veggies - with the exception of the ugly celeriac staring back at me....
Father's Day - The lovely "farmer lady" as Helena calls her has told us to come up and enjoy the farm anytime we want to. Considering we don't have a house or yard and live in a big old apt building also without a yard, we are so grateful for this offer!! Thank you "farmer lady"!! So anyway, for Father's Day we have a lovely picnic by the river and then wade across it and walk barefoot down the path through the field picking wild flowers, and finding butterflies and catepillars. We discover "the back 40" where more of our veggies are being grown and show Helena some of the stuff growing up close. I'm so glad my child is learning about where her food comes from! Back at the river again, we have a lovely time relaxing, wading and gathering a few smooth pretty river rocks for Helena to play with at home.
Week 3 - This week we wise up and offer the chickens a few of our grapes. They are definitely a favorite! One bold hen doesn't even wait for Helena to throw it and grabs it right out from between her fingers! We have a great time laughing at the chickens running as fast as they can to wherever we throw the grape. Helena especially thinks this is funny. And our reward for such a lovely treat? The hens come close enough that we can hold one and pet it. Not only that, but the "farmer lady's helper" gets a fresh egg out of the hen house for Helena. She is so excited to eat it for breakfast the next morning. Mommy is wishing she had signed up in time to get the egg share too! Judging by the bright yellow almost orange yolk, that is one yummy egg!
We visit the river again and then get another wonderful load of veggies. More delicious strawberries which go very quickly. And we try the "farmer lady's" recipe for a fritatta full of greens, garlic scapes and scallions. Very yummy!! Only tricky one in this bunch is the turnips. My parents must not like them as we grew many veggies growing up but I don't think I have ever tasted a turnip. Once home I get out my handy Organic Bible Cookbook and read all about them. Tuesday night comes. The next day is pickup day again and we have eaten most all of our veggies. I decide I had better brave the turnips lest they end up like the infamous celeriac which is *still* staring at me each time I open my fridge door. (How long will that thing last anyway, I wonder.) Well, we ended up roasting the turnips. Helena took one bite and spit it back out. Joe and I ate ours, but decided they would be much better in a medley of other roasted veggies. Our dog Starbuck happily gobbled the leftovers. We are ready for the next day's pickup.
Week 4 - We are so enjoying this CSA. I wish we could eat such wonderful fresh veggies all year long. It's fun trying new recipes and or veggies (ok, so the celeriac is still in the fridge) and we love having a daily huge salad. Today we got lettuce, baby greens, beets, radishes, peas, broccoli and spinach. Yummy!! We stuck with the previous weeks' success and offered a few grapes to the chickens again. But Helena's favorite part this week was sailing some bark boats we had made, in the river. So fun and easy to make. Gather some bark (preferably thicker pieces). Use an awl to make a hole part way thru. Insert a stick and use some fabric scrap for a sail. (Alternately a big feather makes a great sail too.) Then drill a tiny hole at the front of your boat and thread some string thru it. We used embroidery floss. I guess anything would work fine. Then sail away!!
Once home, I get out some of the peas and open up the pods for Helena. I tell her they are like little balls and when you bite them they squirt juice in your mouth. She thinks that is very fun and they are a big hit!!
I would encourage anyone to join a local organic CSA if they can. Besides getting so many fresh veggies it's wonderful for the local farmer too!!
The Pink Pig
Ever since Helena saw some of Charlotte's Web, she is absolutely in love with a little pink pig that she got for her 1st birthday from our friend Cindy. After several days of carrying the pig everywhere with her, a friend of ours asked her what the pig's name was. "Wilbur" she immediately replied, much to my surprise. Wilbur is the first critter to be named by her.
That was over a month ago, and Wilbur has not lost his favorite status. Breakfast may bring sounds of "Eggy time my Wibur!" Later on Wilbur may be found wrapped up in a playsilk nuzzling noses with Helena or even carried around the local farmer's market peeking out of a playsilk sling. Last Friday evening, he went on a carasoul ride with Helena, playsilk tying him onto the horse like a seatbelt. Wilbur goes just about everywhere with us! Needless to say he has had to have a few baths. On one of those occasions, he had a pre-bath soak in the tub with Helena prior to his run through the washing machine. Needless to say, that was great fun!
That was over a month ago, and Wilbur has not lost his favorite status. Breakfast may bring sounds of "Eggy time my Wibur!" Later on Wilbur may be found wrapped up in a playsilk nuzzling noses with Helena or even carried around the local farmer's market peeking out of a playsilk sling. Last Friday evening, he went on a carasoul ride with Helena, playsilk tying him onto the horse like a seatbelt. Wilbur goes just about everywhere with us! Needless to say he has had to have a few baths. On one of those occasions, he had a pre-bath soak in the tub with Helena prior to his run through the washing machine. Needless to say, that was great fun!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Pictuers of Our Summer Nature Table
Inspired by an adorable book called The Sun Egg, by Elsa Beskow
Here is the tree that contains a bird's nest, Crooked Root the gnome, and the little elf along with the bird
A close-up of the bird's nest with playdough eggs that Helena made - looking through the wool foliage
Other side of the forest with "flying" butterflies, and a pond. The "sun egg" which the characters later learn to call an "orange" is also here.
Close-up of a tree
The pond with rocky terrain in the background and a little tiny bark boat with feather sail on it
Closeup of Crooked Root who we made out of a stick. Helena helped to sew his cap - and the little elf who is an unfinished wood peg person with a cotton ball for a dress and wool hair.
Here is the tree that contains a bird's nest, Crooked Root the gnome, and the little elf along with the bird
A close-up of the bird's nest with playdough eggs that Helena made - looking through the wool foliage
Other side of the forest with "flying" butterflies, and a pond. The "sun egg" which the characters later learn to call an "orange" is also here.
Close-up of a tree
The pond with rocky terrain in the background and a little tiny bark boat with feather sail on it
Closeup of Crooked Root who we made out of a stick. Helena helped to sew his cap - and the little elf who is an unfinished wood peg person with a cotton ball for a dress and wool hair.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Nature Table
Helena and I have made a little nature table with which to celebrate the changing seasons and holdidays. Our current one has a flag with the following verse from Song of Solomon 2:10-13
Behold the winter is past The rain is over and gone The flowers appear on the earth The time of singing (of birds) has come... The vines are in blossom and give forth their fragrance.
Helena and I found the bird's nest on a walk in the park and she made the playdough eggs for it. I made the little gnome with the cotton beard and the Lady Spring made of green wool sitting in the ivy. Helena found the feathers, pinecones and maple seed. You can just see the corner of some trailing vines which hold the flag with the above verse.
Soon we will be changing the table a bit for summer and celebrating a summer festival. Not sure what it all will entail yet, but will keep you posted.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Great Grandma and Pop-Pop's House
We recently returned from a trip to Gate-Gamma and Pop-Pop's house a few states away. I am not sure who had the better time, Helena or her great-grandparents.
Gate-gramma, as Helena fondly calls her, met Helena in the airport with a little bear to greet her. Helena can be very shy with new people approaching her (tho no shyness if she chooses to approach them), so this was a wonderful strategy on Grandma's part. The two of them walked hand in hand out of the airport.
Once at home around dinner time, Helena discovered that she had her very own little purple children's chair and a special bunny placemat (and another chick one for when the first was soiled) all set up on a little end table on the porch where we had our meals. She was beyond thrilled! Upon waking the next morning Helena requested to go right to her little table!
Right away, Helena discovered birthday presents from Grandma and had a lovely time pulling out all sorts of cute outfits from the gift bag - along with a necklace and bracelet too! Grandma sure knows how to spoil and win the hearts of little ones.
But beyond the gifts, wonderful as they were, Helena just had a great time getting to know her great-grandparents: watering flowers with Gate-gamma's hose all by herself, helping to hang up laundry, going out to pick parsley for Gate-Gamma's famous potato salad, feeding her leftover scraps of toast to the birds and squirrels, reading books with Pop-Pop and Grate-Gamma, and playing with Pop-Pop's cane. Grandma and Helena even discovered a cat bird's nest with 4 beautiful blue eggs in it!
No trip to the Great-Grandparents seems to be complete without a trip to the nearbye beach. Tho Helena was frightened by the waves, she had a wonderful time digging in the sand for 2 whole hours!
In the evenings, daddy and mommy and Helena would give Grandma and Pop-Pop a few minutes of peace and quiet while we walked to the nearbye park and fed bread to about 50 turtles in the pond. Then Helena would swing on the swings and maybe go down the slide a few times. After walking all the way there and 1/2 way back, (not to mention whatever other adventures that day held, she was ready for a good night's sleep!
After eating downtown at a favorite restaurant, Grandma insisted we had to stop in a ice-creamery that was all done up in cows. Sure enough, Helena was thrilled, especially with the play area complete with farm and barn and animal murals, a barn playhouse and farm toys.
And much to Gate-gamma's delight, she was able to spoil Helena with a few sugary treats - homemade snicker-doodle cookies and a bit of ice cream. As most of you know, we avoid sugar at home due to it's detrimental affects on the immune system. But of course that little bit didn't hurt and both Grandma and Helena were thrilled. Even mommy couldn't help but to grin broadly at their obvious delight.
On Grandma and Pop-Pop's part, I think they enjoyed all Helena's antics, her stories, songs, singing the alphabet and just the silly cute things she says and does all day with that vivid imagination of hers. Not too mention showing her off at church all dressed up in her Easter dress with bonnet and matchingn pocket-book!
Before we left Helena would tell me "Heyna no tease 'em. No run away. Heyna give Gamma and Pop-pop *Biiiiiiig* hugs. Dat make 'em soooooooooo happy!" And that's just what she did!
Gate-gramma, as Helena fondly calls her, met Helena in the airport with a little bear to greet her. Helena can be very shy with new people approaching her (tho no shyness if she chooses to approach them), so this was a wonderful strategy on Grandma's part. The two of them walked hand in hand out of the airport.
Once at home around dinner time, Helena discovered that she had her very own little purple children's chair and a special bunny placemat (and another chick one for when the first was soiled) all set up on a little end table on the porch where we had our meals. She was beyond thrilled! Upon waking the next morning Helena requested to go right to her little table!
Right away, Helena discovered birthday presents from Grandma and had a lovely time pulling out all sorts of cute outfits from the gift bag - along with a necklace and bracelet too! Grandma sure knows how to spoil and win the hearts of little ones.
But beyond the gifts, wonderful as they were, Helena just had a great time getting to know her great-grandparents: watering flowers with Gate-gamma's hose all by herself, helping to hang up laundry, going out to pick parsley for Gate-Gamma's famous potato salad, feeding her leftover scraps of toast to the birds and squirrels, reading books with Pop-Pop and Grate-Gamma, and playing with Pop-Pop's cane. Grandma and Helena even discovered a cat bird's nest with 4 beautiful blue eggs in it!
No trip to the Great-Grandparents seems to be complete without a trip to the nearbye beach. Tho Helena was frightened by the waves, she had a wonderful time digging in the sand for 2 whole hours!
In the evenings, daddy and mommy and Helena would give Grandma and Pop-Pop a few minutes of peace and quiet while we walked to the nearbye park and fed bread to about 50 turtles in the pond. Then Helena would swing on the swings and maybe go down the slide a few times. After walking all the way there and 1/2 way back, (not to mention whatever other adventures that day held, she was ready for a good night's sleep!
After eating downtown at a favorite restaurant, Grandma insisted we had to stop in a ice-creamery that was all done up in cows. Sure enough, Helena was thrilled, especially with the play area complete with farm and barn and animal murals, a barn playhouse and farm toys.
And much to Gate-gamma's delight, she was able to spoil Helena with a few sugary treats - homemade snicker-doodle cookies and a bit of ice cream. As most of you know, we avoid sugar at home due to it's detrimental affects on the immune system. But of course that little bit didn't hurt and both Grandma and Helena were thrilled. Even mommy couldn't help but to grin broadly at their obvious delight.
On Grandma and Pop-Pop's part, I think they enjoyed all Helena's antics, her stories, songs, singing the alphabet and just the silly cute things she says and does all day with that vivid imagination of hers. Not too mention showing her off at church all dressed up in her Easter dress with bonnet and matchingn pocket-book!
Before we left Helena would tell me "Heyna no tease 'em. No run away. Heyna give Gamma and Pop-pop *Biiiiiiig* hugs. Dat make 'em soooooooooo happy!" And that's just what she did!
Announcement!
Mommy and Daddy are proud to announce that our not quite 2 year old can say her ABCD's (as she calls them) and count to 10. I am not into pushing children into early academics, but after singing it a few times, she had it all down. So how can we not help but to be proud?!
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