Broken computers=Blogging vacation

I have not been a slacker.  I have not been ignoring my creative side.  I have not quit taking pictures or cooking or gardening or parenting.  I have just been at the mercy of computer repair.  All is well again and I will be blogging away in no time.  Lots to share!!  I will tease you with a few pictures...

Those were just a few of the pictures we took on the way home from our trip to New Mexico.  We went to a family reunion.  We also got to visit our Roswell family.  We have made bread and butter pickles.  And, we have started saving seeds.  I am working like a mad woman on those blogs so that I can share!  Soon.  Very soon.  



Let Freedom Ring!

Today is the 4th of July.  Our small town always has big things to do.  There is a pancake breakfast, a small town fair, a parade and several other things throughout the day.  We always look forward to it.  Our daddy had to work today so it was mom and the kids.  Here are some photos.

Here we go!

 

After getting mom some coffee, we started out at the dunk tank.  Asher got the first dunk of the morning!

Then we went face painting!  The boys chose to do arm painting this year.

The kids begged to try the dippin' dots.  They all had a different reaction. 

We did some sitting and waiting.

And we tried running away a few times.

There were airplanes that cruised overhead.

Jolie's sweet face watching the parade roll by.

This is a technique we learned when Asher was a baby.  We wrap a blankie around the shoulders and it helps cover up their ears.  Then the sirens don't sound so loud.

We would have loved to have our daddy with us.  But it was a fun morning for the kids.  We are thankful to live in one nation under GOD!!!  And to live in a town that celebrates with such family fun. 

Shower me with...flour?

Locally milled, whole-wheat flour to be exact.  When a friend said, "My husband is driving to Dawn to get our 50-pound bag of flour."  I said, "Oooooh, I want some!"  So he was sweet enought to lug one home for me.  It cost me a whole 10 dollars!

True Texas Panhandle flour!

See.

It s beautifully milled. 

We don't have enough freezer space to store the entire bag.  I found some 2-gallon freezer bags that work perfectly.  Four of them were completely full and one was about 3/4 full.

We kinda had to stuff them in the freezer.  We have to have room for our beef that will be processed in a month and for our green chili and other veggies to preserve for the winter.

Tons of flour and squash means that we must search out recipes for zucchini breads of all kinds!

Thank you Abba for the blessing of having enough.  May we be good stewards of that blessing.

This blog linked to Homestead Revival's Barn Hop!

My baby is 2?

How can it be?  My tiny little baby is 2?  This guy?

Oh my heart!  I've said it a million times.  I know babies are supposed to grow up and we feel blessed that we get to watch them do that.  But why must it be so painful?!  We party on..

Present time!  Thanks to the Emmitts!

The Emmitts are our forever birthday friends.  If family can't be there and others friends cancel, we are usually there for each other's celebrations.  It's a nice tradition.  This is Jacob with Levi.

My sister's boyfriend Elliot came to the party and brought a sweet shirt, a book and a toy truck. Awesome dude present.
 (He also ate a few hot dogs and maybe took home some leftovers.)

Boys gotta have wheels!  And apparently help from big sis.

If you haven't understood before now how awesome my husband is, then the fact that he decorated this cake should make you understand.  He surprises me everyday.

Elmo is big with Levi right now.  He LOVED his cake!  But I wasn't sure how he would like the singing.

Well, he LOVED that too!

See.

Happy birthday to me!!!

Now that we have adored you, you can get back to the business of being 2.  Mama loves you.  You little turkey.

The good stuff

I love the time of year when stuff in the garden become useful in the kitchen.  They are no longer little plant babies in need of TLC.  Now it's time for us to eat them! 

The tomatoes are not from the garden.  Neither is the avocado.  But the peppers, onions and cilantro are and they were so flavorful!  You wanna see the end result?

It looks like a mess but it might just be my favorite thing ever.  It's a version of avocado salsa.  I have seen different recipes.   My friend and old neighbor Kate had one that called for a bit of white balsamic vinegar and purple onion.  It's a good one too.  This recipe is simple.  Just cut up the ingredients and throw them together with a little salt.  You can eat it with tortilla chips.  I am trying to stay away from chips right now so I just ate this with a spoon. 

In other news, Father's day was precious this year.  Matt had to work nights so we had a few minutes with him between the time he woke up and the time he had to head back to work.  His kids were so excited to see him open his presents and read his cards.

Jolie's card was sweet and funny.  This might be my favorite picture of them together.

Asher spent a good half-hour picking out a new tape measure for his daddy.  He got the one that was just right.  It was precious and thoughtful.  Just like him.

Zaddok helped to pick out the new drill bits.  He just knew that the case had to be yellow.

Levi was napping during present time so he gave Daddy his present after.  Kisses are the best present ever.

So are baby circus tricks.

We love our Daddy!  He is the best playmate, wrestling buddy, fix-it-all, tender Daddy.  His life is his family.  He would rather hang out with his kids than anyone.  He can make us all smile.  He can pester us to death.  He really cares about people.  He loves the Lord and prays for his family.  We are so blessed to have him in our lives!  Thank you God for the blessing of our Daddy.


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