Beachs and a Bevy of Projects

a ride in a jalopy

exploring!

a new project for the kitchen

red scarlet runner beans and soon to be tomatoes and potatoes

the glass bathroom door ...... a little more privacy please!

We had a great weekend at the beach in Parksville! It ended up being an extended vacatin as we left on Thursday night. I came home refreshed and ready to take on all the new projects here at home!

Progress!

SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE

Homemade Herbed Butter!

We've had a pretty good week so far, not too many tantrums, well none really! Today we had a litle visit with friends, then a nice long visit with my dad and his wife! It was a great day. Near the end of the day we got caught in a rainstorm, but we weren't far from home! Our biggest accomplishments were picking our first salad from the garden, and making butter!! Jack really got into the butter making, shaking and shaking! I decided to make it a herbed butter, but kick myself for not tasting it before adding the herbs.

As a result of making butter, I now have real buttermilk, so will make some buttermilk biscuts tomorrow to have with the fresh butter! Okay It's time to hang out with the hubby! Both kids are in bed and quiet before 9pm today!!!!!

Pause Button

Our life was on hold from the time that Jackson first developed his fever on Friday morning. No one was getting any sleep, as Jack woke often due to his illness, and Dylan woke multiple times in the night to feed. Today we were feeling ambitious and planned a family outing to our favorite breakfast spot, then headed to Fisherman's Wharf. There are lots of houseboats moored, and I spent most of the time dreaming of life on a house boat. What a unique life that would be! Some of the house boats were larger than our house! I do not think, however, that we are ready for such a life. I am too attached to my homesteading life/dream. I have been doing some major dream/planning about chickens lately! You could have chickens on the roof of a house boat i bet!

On our way home from the wharf, Jack fell asleep in the car, so we drove a bit out of the way to Mt. Douglas Park. The road up the mountain was closed off, but when Jack woke up, we all went for a little impromptu nature walk. All in all it's been rather nice. Dylan is sleeping, while Cory and Jackson are heading outside. I don't think any of us have been out in the yard since Thursday! That's a record for us!

Homesteading Blog

I have officially started my new blog! It is mostly about my adventures to make our urban lawn into a thriving garden and homestead! I started talking about these topics here, but realize that a whole blog was needed just for this subject! So if you want to follow my homesteading trials, follow me!

www.thefashionistafarmer.blogspot.com

Homesteading Bliss

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I have a new idea for a blog! I am working on getting things just right before I unveil it. It will be a homestead/farming blog for my new obsession. Than means this blog will go back to being more of a mama blog again.

Last night I went to knitting and had one of the best times out I've had for some time! We talked about our teenage fashion mistakes, and other equally entertaining topics. I discussed my plans of starting a homestead and my new love of laying hens! So the plan is between two and five years from now, there will be chickens in the backyard!!! I can have up to five, but will most likely start with three. The fancy bantams are what I am gaga over, though I have to do some research about good laying bantams. Also I've got to find some chicken people around these parts to converse with!

Cory and I have decided to get rid of half the front lawn soon. In it's place will be an apple tree, and some blueberry bushes, and other seasonal edibles! We have to keep a pathway open as we cut across the grass to get to the car. The project will have to wait at least a week, as this weekend is far too busy for material gathering and building raised beds. Tomorrow Cory goes off camping overnight, and I hopefully go to an afternoon toga croquet party with the boys. The next day we have two little girl's parties to attend. I am almost finished the presents for the little girl's .... it's a quick project that I am excited about. I will post it after the weekend though, don't want to give it away until the birthday girls get theirs!

I really have to take some before photos of the yard, to record the transformation that will take place in the next few years! You know, just having the new mindset that my yard is now a homestead, fills me with joy! I am now looking at things differently and taking pride in the small things i am already doing that is considered "homesteading". My favorite so far has to be hanging the wash out to dry! I seem to have a new appreciation for the task and the wonderful smell my clothes become infused with! Okay, off to work on the NEW blog!

The Fives and The Laundry

I have a lot to say. That is I have a lot to say if I categorize things into lists, it seems. Starting very soon, I will be writing articles once a week containing five items. They will be called "The Fives" by Mama Edgar. They will be posted on Mondays, to start the week off right! For now the posts will contain information and ideas about preschoolers and other related subjects. I will do a few baby ones, though I'm not doing too much for little D these days, he's pretty self sufficient! Dylan is making some big changes though.

Just today I put Dylan down on the sheepskin, while I tucked Jackson in for nap. I glanced down to find D rolled on his side, then saw him continue the roll all the way onto his belly!! Yay! My little one is learning how to roll! So no more leaving him on the couch, or change table anymore!

Yesterday's dinner was a success, though I scrapped the potato idea and went for pan fried polenta instead. I also made a sort of raspberry, blueberry crumble/bar thing. It was great, and will be gone by the end of today!

My day consists of laundry, which is a bit more time consuming as I am hanging everything to dry. I finally have the energy and the want to do it. I have found that my clothes peg bag is far too small .... looks like I may need to make a new one! (see i told you i couldn't give up crafting!). It is so rewarding seeing your laundry flying about on the line and the smell of it afterwards is to die for! I could just bury my nose in those crunchy towels all day!

Today on Craftster, someone found this great salad recipe page! I have decided my next homesteading project will be to make bread, using a homemade sourdough culture! Stay tuned for that one .... it may take a couple weeks!

The End of an Era

I am done. Well almost done. There is no more crafting for me after the beach blanket is completed. Well, except for a birthday gift every once and while ...... oh it's so hard to quit crafting! Really I am not quitting crafting, just changing my focus to the garden and general green practices. Yesterday I went to harvest some compost, only to find a dry crumbly heap with the odd egg shell mixed in. I think I am going to have to take over compost duties for a while, or at least monitor the situation. Comost should be beautiful, rich, moist (but not too moist) , much like a crumbled chocolate cake ..... ours needs a lot of work to get there!

For one of my finaly projects, I have completed this gorgeous baby blanket, and plan to write the pattern and post it here on my blog. I had planned to sell the pattern, but really what's the point? I've misted my seeds and unpacked the groceries. Today my sister and a friend are coming over around dinner time, so I figure I'll just make everyone dinner. Picked up a grand 18 dried bean mix at the store, so will whip up some bean soup today. Also a nice hearty salad and perhaps some potatoes, f it doesn't get too hot in the late afternoon. Yesterday I went out and ran a bunch of errends, so today I am concentrating on the tasks at home. Copmost restoration, bathroom cleaning, laundry, cooking ...... my don't I sould like the typical 50's housewife! I need an apron!!

Galiano and The Goal

We got back last night from our little family getaway on Galiano Island. I have to say that I just love it there! We stay with Cory's Aunt. Cory's cousin was also there visiting with her three kids. We had a great time at the beach and just hanging out on the property. On Sunday everyone went to the beach, while I stayed home with Dylan. It was nice to have some quiet time as well as lots of fun, socializing times! I think we have to make it a yearly event!

I am rather tired right now and should really be napping. Jackson was in quite the mood this morning. He moped about and then broke down crying at the end of a t.v. show. At the end of this show, a truck drives away and he just started bawling because he didn't want the truck to go. The weird thing is that he wanted to watch it over and over again! I suggested other shows to watch, or other activities, but it's like he wanted to torture himself! He was so upset and so worked up that I told him, maybe he should stay home from preschool today. A few minutes after that, he was back to his happy self. I explained to him that I had errands to run today and he's have to come along, and be a good boy while I was doing the things I intended to get done today. At this point he decided preschool was the way to go. Funny little man!

Today is the first day I am starting my new goal!!! Oh yes I forgot ..... I did a big post about my goal, but it never got posted! Here is the full explanation:

I have been reading The Urban Homestead and am totally inspired to grow food in our yard. We have a great, big, sunny, flat lot in the heart of the city, so what better place to grow than here!? My goal is to one day have both the front and back yards converted into orchards, and raised beds, with plants EVERYWHERE! Also I plan on having some chickens ..... but that one is a long ways off. I am starting just a bit at a time. Right now I have two oak barrels in the front with dead flowers in them from last year. I am gong to grow some lettuces and herbs in them, maybe some kale as well. For this season that is all I will do. I am doing lots of research and talking to my neighbors, who both have amazing edible landscaping/gardens! So now that Dylan is napping I am going to dig out the old plants, refresh the soil and plant my seeds. Let's hope for the best!

I have decided that I am going to have to cut back, or give up on the crafting for a while, to focus on the garden. But for now i can do a bit of both, at least until my beach blanket is finished!