Taking a Walk

For those that have visited our home and gone for a walk in our canyon, you well know just how steep the road is going down/up. Hence, it has been a very long time since I have made the jaunt. My Baby is about 28 pounds now, too heavy to carry, and I haven't been confident in his hiking ability and endurance level. But on Saturday, I decided it was time to test his ability. So, we headed down to where his Daddy was busy splitting firewood (with the help of his Dad's gas powered splitter!).

True to his outdoor-loving nature, he had a ball. And the best part? He walked out of the canyon completely on his own power! This house-bound Mama is looking forward to many more hikes in the canyon before summer's end!



Putting on "Daddy eyes"


Wild Huckleberries

Has Anyone Seen My Brain???

Okay, so maybe I shouldn't tell on myself, but I did something so ridiculous yesterday that I was nearly in tears laughing at myself.

First my disclaimer: it has already been properly noted that I become increasingly more absent minded and forgetful as my pregnancies progress. Okay, on with the story.

Jack was down for his nap, and I was craving a baked potato. So, I microwaved some red potatoes, cut them up, topped them with lots of melty cheddar cheese then some creamy ranch dressing- YUM! I then sat down at my computer desk to do some browsing while I munched my lunch. Realizing that my print job was stalled because I was out of paper, I stood up, set my plate full of potato down and re-filled the printer.

It was almost instantly after I sat down that I realized my placenta brain-induced blunder, as I felt moist warmth seep through the seat of my pants. Yeah. I SAT ON MY POTATOES.

My reflex was to immediatly jump back up and put my hand to my rear- it came back covered with ranch and melty cheese. OY. I was laughing so hard, it was all I could do to stay on my feet.

Fortunately, my potatoes didn't suffer too much, they just got a little flattened. My jeans were deposited in the wash machine and were clean and dry shortly after Jack woke up from his nap.

And there you have it. I have officially lost my brain. Or at least misplaced it for the next 6 months. Don't ask me to do anything important or you just might regret it.

Two Weeks of Growth

Two weeks later, our garden has grown so much that I couldn't properly photograph it from the ground. Seriously, if you are even slightly inclined to share some excess produce with us, let us know!

What's For Breakfast

This is a super easy and very yummy granola recipe that I adapted to suite my taste (I omitted sunflower seeds and raisins, and decreased the amount of syrup) from a recipe posted in the Costco Connection:

Earthbound Farm's Famous Maple Almond Granola

4 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
1 1/2 cups slivered or coarsely chopped raw almonds
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup canola oil
1 cup dried cranberries

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325.

Combine first 3 ingredients. Add maple syrup and oil, and stir together until all the dry ingredients are moistened.

Spread the granola on a 12 x 17 rimmed baking sheet. Bake the granola until it begins to brown, about 25 minutes, then stir it with a spatula. Let the granola continue to bake until it is light golden brown, dry and fragrant, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Stir the granola at least once more as it bakes, and watch it carefully during the final minutes becaue it can burn quickly.

Place the baking sheet on a cooling rack, add the cranberries, and stir to combine. Let the granola cool completely. Transfer the granola to an airtight container. Makes about 8 cups.

Mystery... Solved!

Recently, I was working in the kitchen when I heard a suspicious thump.....thump.....thump. A sound somewhat consistent with a Kid climbing the stairs- something that is NOT allowed without a Daddy or Mommy present. So I hurried over to the stairway prepared to scold the little truant. But he wasn't there. I ran up the stairs, thinking he had already made it to the top. Still no Boy. As I re-entered the kitchen, puzzled by the lack of said toddler, and wondering where in the world in our somewhat small house he could be, I saw him slowly round the corner from the front room into the dining room... wearing one enormous Daddy sized shoe.