Little Wife On the Prairie





When you are everything to everyone, well, you had better act like you have it all together.



Thursday, August 26, 2010

This is why I garden.





This is why I bake. Not for the eating but for the dough squishing. I am not kidding. I am obsessed with the ways of yeast.
Why does looking at this picture remind me of something I have seen before? Like something I see when I am changing my shirt in front of a mirror. Hmmm, weird. I just can't quite put my finger on it.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Zad goes to school!

I have to give equal time to each school-child. My husband, the 3rd child, demands it! So here is Zaddok all dressed up and ready for his first day of Pre-K. He is shocking me with the speed at which his little life is going. I just gave birth to him yesterday, right? Oh man! My heart went to 1st grade, 3rd grade AND Pre-K today. I don't know how much longer I can take it!
For the grandparents...

He had to have cowboy boots today.


Awwww. My baby boy.


Don't leave me you little weirdies.


The steps to his future. (or at least his fairy-tale themed classroom.)


Putting away his things.


This is Zaddok and his buddy Copper peaking around the corner to their class. Do you have any idea what a fashion disaster it is to have another kid wear the same shirt as you to the first day of Pre-K? Who is his stylist?


Okay, I guess he's part of a class now. Just another kid. Excuse me while I get into the fetal position and suck my thumb. Bye Zad. See you in 3 hours. (I know I am ridiculous but it never gets easier to leave them.)

Monday, August 23, 2010

1st day of school, 1st day of school!

We did it! We got them off for the first day of school. I survived, they survived and their lunches made it to school with them. Oh how bittersweet the moment. I know we will get used to it. I know we will have good days and bad. I just can't stand the fact that I am putting my kids in someone else's hands. Is that selfish? I don't really care. I want them back!!! It's okay. I will be fine. Here are the pictures for the grandparents.

Miss Jolie

Mr. Asher

My school children.

My weird children.

I can't remember the name of the school.

Asher's classroom.

And his teacher. She is a doll!

Jolie's locker.

And her wonderful teacher!

This is how we left him

And her.

Our elementary school hopefuls.


Oh my! Pray for my heart cuz it went to 1st and 3rd grade today.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The best invention ever!

So this weekend, I was pretty sure that the air conditioner had to be the best invention ever. Hey, it's true, absence makes the heart grow fonder. And I grew much fonder (what?) of my little frosty friend when he was broken this weekend. However, now that I am sitting in my nice cool house again, I am reflecting on one day last week when my friend Chris called me about some apples. She invited me to join her in picking apples to my heart's content. So we picked and I ended up with a giant basket full of tiny apples.



This sounded like such a good idea before I realized I would have to peel, core and slice all of those little boogers. Luckily, Chris (and our friend Sue)came to the rescue with this lovely little machine.



And to this machine I say...you are my knight in shining and sharp metal! Just look at the way you hold onto the apple.


And the genius way you peel the skin of the apple. You strip only the skin, not the flesh. I could never do such a good job on my own.



Then, as if it were butter, you begin to slice the apple.


See the delicate curl.


A beautiful coil of pie-ready fruit!


This is all that you leave behind. A useless core. (Useless to me, gold to my chickens!)


Apple-skinner-peeler-corer (there has to be a better name) I salute you. You made my life easier. And for that I thank you.

Many apple pie pictures to come!

(And if you think I might be a little obsessive about kitchen tools, you would be right!)

Monday, August 16, 2010

Garden update and new goodies!

We have been busy here! The garden in in full harvest mode. Everything is ripening quickly and tasting so yummy! We have been eating a ton but saving some too. Here are the latest pics!

Purple bell peppers!


Lots of apples means lots of pies!


These carrots were so sweet.


Cucumbers ready to be pickled!


Cucumbers fulfilling their destiny.


Green Zebra Tomatoes are my favorite next to Cherokee Purple.


Ugly little eggplant.


More bell peppers.


Garden view!


Wild grape jelly that my SIL and I made with juice that my MIL juiced! It's a family affair.


Sweet corn from the farmer's market.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's to the beach we go!

This is the kid part of the crew we took to the beach.


This is most of what we saw of that kid-crew.


This is my part of the crew. And no, Zaddok cannot take a normal picture.


This is...why hello there handsome.


This is a tight pair!


This is Emmy or Emma Grace or Gracie and this is not her first rodeo. She celebrated her 1st birthday at the beach last year!


This is the sand castle building crew.


This is my sweet little fat baby trying his darnedest to walk in the sand.


This is his Daddy and Grandmolly helping him.


This is called teamwork.


This is my handsome silly Zad-poo


This is my "I should have been born at the beach" Jolie-girl.



This is trouble.


This is Zad coming face to face with the thing that I was afraid might eat me if I went too far out in the water. (I'm not really beach material)


And this is what must happen at least once on a Mullins family vacation. My poor little sick and throwing up baby; the aftermath.