Packing for Art Show

Wondering what life will be like next year when Isla is moving around......I'm thankful she let me tag all my pieces. Thanks Aunt Abby for your help! This weekend we are off to the Artful Gathering by Friends On Purpose!

Baked Kale CHIps

How to make Kale Chips:

HArvest a big bunch of Kale from the garden.
Wash it and dry it.
Line a cake pan with parchment paper.
Heat of to 350.
Drizzle Kale with Olive Oil, sprinkle spices and kosher salt.
Bake 15 minutes or so....

Bet you can't eat just one!!!

Super Swimming Baby

Is swimming a natural instinct for humans...will a baby learn how to swim from experience? So far in her three months of life Isla has swam in Lake Huron, Van Ettan Lake, the Black River, the Pigeon River, and the AuSable River...I figure we live on the island...she needs to be comfortable around water... right?

Black River Baby

When should a baby learn to swim?  When can a baby swim?  Are there bacteria and bugs in lakes and rivers that are harmful to babies...All questions I ask as I introduce Isla water and nature all around us.

Seed Garden is Growing!

We are happy with the results of our seeds vegetable garden.  We planted Kale, Peas, Beets, Beans, Spinach, Lettuce, Nasturtium, Cilantro, Basil, Broccoli, Carrots, Cucumbers, Dill, and Bunch of Squashes.   The seeds we planted straight in the ground are doing better than the seeds we started earlier under the grow lights...hmm.

How to stake tomatoes?

I am looking for a good way to stake tomatoes.  Every year I create a chaotic web of saved string and sticks to hold up the tomatoes.  I have never had to great of a crop but things are looking better this year...Hopefully my system works for our produce.... 

Butterflies FlutterBy

Homemade Cleaners

After a long hot weekend of friends and family it is time to clean house.  Check out this site to make some homemade cleaners...the number one ingredient in this list is not mentioned...ELBOW GREASE!
http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/homemadehouseholdcleaners.htm

What I didn't know about breastfeeding...

Well all I really knew is that was how I was going to feed my baby.  What I didn't know is how many directions milk would shoot out with the velocity of a super soaker all over my baby's face...and yet it is still the most relaxing and rewarding activity I have ever engaged in...

Love my Moby!

I love my MOBY wrap.  It has so many ways I can hold Isla and she is so comfortable.  She always goes right to sleep...

6 day old gardener

What a worker...for 6 days old, Isla is hanging...literally in the moby wrap, hanging out in the pea patch tilling up weeds.

Moose on the Loose!

hmmmmmmm!  I wonder what kind of stories Isla is going imagine living on an island with a taxidermy studio...The inside of the mounts are pretty creepy looking like furless, white skinned, body less animals, hanging on the wall...then there's collection of small skulls in corner, mostly beaver and squirrels, I think...."Without bodies these creatures can't swim off the island," thinks Isla, "Maybe that's why they drink so much beer?"

Harvested Peas!

Fresh Peas for father's day dinner...yum! Paul caught nine trout to grill and we had a nice simple evening...

Happy Father's Day!

AWWWHHH...Dads love their little girls.

Om Baby Rider

We love how Isla prepares for her boat to car ride and then ride into town...Om baby Om...

Do bees like breastmilk?

Why do I think bees like breastmilk?  Finally getting out to weed the peas...after looking at them and needing to get to them for a week or so...I was happy.  Weeding crab grass out of peas is not fun...it's actually a fairly delicate task...but it leads to training peas up the trellises...which would be fun for my kids at school...we should grow peas next year.  Finally the sun was hot and the sky was blue, Isla was sleeping and I was able to concentrate of weeding.  The birds were chirping like crazy and the bees were buzzing all over the purple Salvia and Sage blossoms...when all the sudden a bunch of geese honked, flying overhead and all the sudden I felt my milk filling up, and all the sudden the wind blue, and all the sudden I looked down and all the sudden I had to wet circles the size of softballs on my shirt...and all the sudden a bee buzzed to me and hovered around me until my chores were done.

I Dream of Pregnancy

It's funny how the last month of pregnancy seems so forgotten.  All the dreaded last few days of deleria seem like a dream...and it was only 6 weeks away...It's nice to get through things and look back...my how your thoughts change.

Mulching Peppers and Tomatoes

The day after planting, we noticed pepper plants were being cut at the base of the plant...about a centimeter from the soil.  We weren't sure what the reason was but after this cutting phenomenom continued every night....

Isla is 3 weeks old

If she were a parsnip, she'd be germinating within the next few days...and today Isla's been alive for 21 days and I've been a mom for 3 weeks...wow.

Somewhere over the Rainbow....

Lightning Crashes

Taking our daily trek around the island..Isla and I came across this tree that had been struck by lightening.  Strips of tree was all over the path, as if it were trying to spell something.

Making Laundry Soap

Today we made some laundry soap.  I tried the powder kind last time and wasn't too happy with the results in terms of fighting stains... but I also didn't measure perfectly...  The good thing is that Isla had no breakouts from the detergent so I believe the ingredients are baby safe...at least to Isla... This time I am trying the gel kind, recipe #1, and using measuring cups and following directions.  Check out the link and see what works for you...Special tip: grate soap whenever you have extra time and keep it in an old coffee canister...makes making soap not such a time consuming process.

Got Milk?

So happy Isla takes a bottle from her dad...that'll make going back to work a little easier....

Getting Rid of Cutworms Organically

After losing 6 peppers and 2 tomatoes in two weeks, we finally figured out that cutworms were destroying our plants.  We tried mulching the plants with chopped leaves and 6 month old... we tried spraying a homemade insecticide we made of dishsoap and water on our plants, then rinsing it off, I purchased a chemical insecticide to see what inredients were in it...then returned it without using... still kept losing somemore....eventually, we figured out we had cutworms.  Cutworms are gray worms that come out at night and cut the plant just above ground level. They attack new plants in May and June.  To get rid of them you can go out and hand pick them off the plant at night.  Or you can do what we did and cut some old tubing that has been laying around the island, use a tin can or make a paper plate funnel to put around the bottom of the plants and into the ground a bit.  We'll see how that works.

Happy Meal!

Trying to beat those baby blues with a happy meal that will keep this momma's body movin!  Power flour sun dried tomato bread, boiled egg, sharp cheese, spinach and red pepper...Smile!

Isla's First Week

Isla had a busy week, after staying one night in the hospital she came home to her island and began to teach her mom and dad a thing or two about how to live her life.  She met all her pets in her family, a dog named Kelsey, a cat named Dahlia and a Tortoise named Majunii.  She took many walks around the island to try to scare off the deer that left foot prints in our garden but got sidetracked by picking wildflowers and listening to birds singing.  
For only being one week old, Isla sure is loved by a lot of family and friends.  Mimi Jo and Papa Ken, Aunt Dana and Uncle Brad, cousins Ty, Jaron and Josie, Uncle Joe and Jamie, Aunt Abby, Uncle Harry, Tim and Erin, Joe, Sausha, Kari, Grandpa Gomer, Aunt Kari, Uncle Brian, Great Aunt Sis, Jane and Ann and Amy all visited in the hospital.  We had a barbaque where she met Adam, Brandon, Melissa, and sweet little baby Maryna and Gabe.  Don and Marlana, Emily and Larry also stopped out to visit.  On Saturday when Isla was only five days old, we traveled to Grandpa Gomer's house to visit more family.  We met Great Uncle Mike and Mary, Great Uncle Tom and Kevin, Uncle Kevin and Melanie and Natalie, Drew, Matt and Steph, Aunt Lindsay, Great Grandma Virgie, Uncle Brian, Mrs. Speese, Nic, Nate and Curran,  Mr. and Mrs. Miodouch, Cousins Todd and Amy, Linsey and Aaron...and I think that was it...then we came home and planted peppers and tomatoes from our first organic greenhouse visit...all that for week number one plus Isla gained weight 7 lbs. and 7 oz.

What will we do this week?

Planting Dahlias and Kale

Today was one of those misleading gardening days...65 and blue skies...sunny and beautiful. Usually I get so excited and go plant all of my tomatoes and peppers and squash. I work hard all day and feel content at the night...until I wake up in the morning and scrape the frost off the windows and realize...my plants will now be suffering for the rest of the season.
But today I had patience... I must be growing up, or perhaps waiting for this baby is giving me self control in gardening that I never had before...Patience...I did work all day in the garden hoeing, watering and weeding. I only planted Dahlias and Kale...I hope they grow...It's good medicine to work in the garden, just when I was feeling like I have no hope, nor patience left...I found some in my garden.

We love Artisan Bread!

We have finally tried making healthy artisan bread in 5 minutes a day.  We have seen articles and recipes for a few years now and wanted to try this out for a while.  We love it.  I make a big batch of dough whenever, then pull out a chunk of dough whenever we want some bread.  We've used it for sandwiches, garlic bread, bread and oil...Most guests like it for the taste or the look...some think the healthy taste take some getting used to.  Here are links to learn more about it:  http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Artisan-Free-Form-Loaf.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSOoH686_b8 

Delerious Days

Waiting for a baby is making me delerious I think...sometimes when my phone rings lately, I go to grab it quickly thinking someone's calling me to tell me I'm having the baby.

Due Date

Well, today was the day the baby was to arrive...but it is still comfortable inside my belly. Trying to be positive and patient and have faith that the baby will come when ready. Trying to be thankful for the precious time I have keeping this sweet little baby safe and nourished inside of me. The key word is trying...

Morel Jackpot!

Hooray! Paul found morels! We get to eat our favorite dinner tonight: Fresh Trout and Morels.  Maybe it will be the last supper on the island as husband and wife only.... and tonight's the night to have a baby!!!

Baby OM...

Omm baby...we can't wait for you to come out. I've been doing yoga and focusing on breathing every day...The Dr. is thinking we might need to induce next week if nothing progresses. Definately not what we intended and not what I want to hear but if my body won't get moving it can harm the baby... yoga is meant to help you through the difficult times not just when you're feeling limber. Now's the time to keep on practicing and have faith that my body can do this without drugs...I have a few more days until my opinion changes...

Paul's Composting Machine

One of our goals out here has been to grow a better garden than last year...which means we need better soil.  Paul has been bringing buckets and buckets of topsoil over on the boat...but even ten buckets full is pretty unsubstantial. We are counting on our compost to be better this year than last.  So Paul designed this composting machine to chop up all of our leaves so that they compost faster....It took him all day push the leaf pile for through the tube, where it hits the chopper and shoots out to another new pile. 

Practicing Patience

I thought I was a patient person...but waiting for a baby to be ready to come out in the world is way more humbling than waiting for a plant to grow or teaching kids to behave at school.  After the Dr. told me I was ready to go and she would be seeing me 2 weekends ago...I have been a little delirious. I have probably thought Ok this is the night it's going to happen almost every night since.  It takes a tole on your confidence after 9 months of thinking OK I can do this...A woman's body is made for this....what am I trying to do again?

Just trying to practice positive patience and gratitude for things in my life.

Green Drinks

One Apple, A Bunch of Spinach, Frozen Black Berries, Banana, Broccoli, Parsley, Sorrel, an orange and water...put it all together in the Vitamix and enjoy my breakfast!

Planting Potatoes

Today we planted potatoes. Paul dug two long trenches and we planted red and gold potatoes. We're not sure if we pretreated them right, but we followed directions from Gurneys. We covered them in plastic for a few weeks to get them sprouting, then cut them in chunks before planting. We've heard of lots of ways to plant and grow potatoes...so we'll keep you posted on how this method works...

Tilling Time

My favorite days of the year are when we can finally start working in the garden for the year.  This year is a little different with a 20 lb. bowling ball baby in my belly.  Using the hoe, hauling peat and manure, or just shoveling involves a lot of noises and grunts.  Thankfully Paul doesn't mind helping...depending on your husband to do your dirty work is a new situation for me...He's realizing just how much I like to garden...I  had to confess early in the season..."honey there were a lot of bags of peat and manure you didn't know about last year."  Some couples keep secrets of infedelities or affairs...probably a good thing I exposed my gardening habit early on in the marriage before it buries us in debt!

Planting Asparagus

To plant asparagus you need to dig trenches 6 inches deep, lay the crowns(asparagus roots) and cover with three inches of soil. It works good with tow people...It was a great way to strengthen pregnancy squats. I would lay down the crown and Paul would cover them with soil. He was could shovel much quicker than I scoot down the trenches but it worked out. When planting asparagus you can't pick it for three years. So plant it in a spot that you won't want to till up and be patient!

Peas Please Grow!

Planting round two of peas...hopefully in about two months we will be eating fresh peas, freezing for baby food and stir fry mixes....we'll see?

Couples Composting

Couples Composting is a term coined by my brother Joe. Paul turns the leaves, I water the pile...Hopefully next year we will have some quality compost to add to the garden. It's cool to see it steaming and working... This year we will be buying bags of peat and manure again or filling up drywall buckets of topsoil, putting them on the boat, and dumping them in the garden. Lots of work but worth it to have our own fresh food.

Belly Cast

Dr. said this little baby is going to hatch soon so I better get this big belly cast before it's gone.  I am thankful that Paul can maneuver the plaster all around these lovely lady lumps!

Vermicomposting at School

This is one of my favorite lessons every year.  Vermicomposting. The kids love to learn it and I love to teach it...Check it out.

Tilling Time!

It has always been my favorite day of the year when it is finally time to get out in the garden.  Paul is tilling up our gardens...we should have done it in the fall but maybe this year we'll be on track.  I'm running around somewhere, pulling this and that...dreaming about this garden season.....

Romantic Comedy

I have to admit I find it pretty sexy that my husband paddles across the lake to pick me up in the sunset.  However, the romance turns into a comedy as soon as this 7 month pregnant wife sits in the front of the canoe and bottoms it out.  He grunts to push us off as we struggle not to laugh to hard and rock the boat.  My job is to remain balanced so that we can arrive home safely.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today, Paul helped me clean out my pottery studio basement.  His gift was just what I needed.  After a much needed nap, I helped him make his favorite dessert...Cannolis.  We had to make the dough, wrap it around wooden dowels he made in his shop, fry the dough and make and stuff the filling.

Good day for a Groovy Kind of Love.

Self Portraits

Every year my students create self portraits. They draw them, paint them or collage them. I love to see how these turn out. Five, Six, Seven and Eight year olds see change a lot from year to year. In kindergarten, it's all about the material... I want to smell all the markers, blend all the chalk, paint all over the page. First graders are SO confident. They love their artwork, however it looks, green hair, rainbow face, it is a masterpiece. Second graders get more and more critical as the year goes on. I notice they want to use a sharp colored pencil or realistic colors for skin. I wonder how it changes as they age?