Now June

Well, I had a whole list of goals for myself until the end of May.   I accomplished quite a lot on the list but none of the sewing and there *may* have been a visit to the drive-thru for a Frosty or two (or six!).  I did do some exercising and kettlebells (and then walked around like an old woman for a week or so because I was so sore).  If only gardening counts as exercise, I would have met that goal twice over.  I did eat really well (carb and sugar wise) until it was Mother's Day and my birthday.  I was well on my way to at least succeeding at blogging for every day of the month of May when our telephone went dead for nearly a week and thus, the internet was kaputski and so was my blogging.  Oh well.  I failed.  But in a way- I didn't at all.  I did a whole lot better than if I hadn't of set the goals at all.  Right?!?  Right.

I've been working tirelessly trying to get the gardens all planted.  It has taken forever this year because, after the scolding of neighbors and loved ones as well as the internal sort, I told myself I would NOT get sunburned anymore.  (Springtime sunburns and Rebecca are synonymous).  So I have limited my gardening to morning time until 11:00 or evening time (but that rarely happens because: dinner.  exhaustion.).  I was doing so well and didn't get even a hint of sunburn until some neighbors popped over last weekend and we chatted for a while in the heat of the day in the middle of the driveway. I FRIED.  But with a homemade concoction of shea butter, coconut oil and vitamin E slathered on the first few days it has turned tannish (for a Dutch girl) and hasn't peeled so far.  Wonder of wonders!  I have a few more things to get in the garden (it seems to never end) and then I have to source some rotten hay for mulch and put that on and I will finally be done putting the garden in.  It's close, so close I can taste it.

When not working in the garden, we've been working in the house.  The boys' room is also so close to being done I can taste it.  Oh man.  Matt has been working hard on it and has been locked away inside on beautiful days because of it but he got the ceiling done, the floor done.  We just need to finish one wall and the baseboard then put the bunkbeds back in.  That is when my job of moving everything to its' rightful places comes in.  That will be a huge job but I am REALLY looking forward to it.

The girls were given an old set of bunkbeds that were in desperate need of a paint job so we worked on that Memorial Day.  I have been needing to replace all the mattresses on the twin beds for various reasons but four mattresses from the store are EXPENSIVE.  And used mattresses make me a little bit leery.  Last weekend I found two mattresses in brand new condition at a yard sale and when I asked how much they were the lady said $5.00 each.  I was beyond thrilled.  I doubt I will get such a deal on the other two!  ;-)  

I cleared out a spot and Matt set the bunkbed up at 9:30pm for the girls.  I still have to rearrange and clean their room but that isn't happening until the boys are moved into their new room.

 On top of all of that, I've been doing the summer/winter clothing switch out x7.  Basically, the house has been a tornado zone for the last week or so.  We eat, sleep and play among the rubble.  Everywhere I turn, there is no place untouched by these projects.  And, though I am very thankful for the porch and a place to put tools and lumber within reach but out of the weather (and living room), I am secretly worried our neighbors think we built a porch just to fill it up with junk.

When these things all get done, the house can FINALLY be put right.  And then, oh- I can't imagine how nice it will be.

So much to do, so close to being done and by now, SO SICK of doing it all!



It sounds like I am whining...but actually, I am pretty proud of how things are working out.  No wonder I didn't have time to sew!  I don't feel so bad about not meeting that particular goal when so many other things were being accomplished in the meantime.



I noticed when putting these pictures up that I have been taking pictures of food a lot again.  It goes in spurts but I think I finally realized that I reach for my camera more often for food because there is actually good light at mealtimes!  I've been harvesting lots of asparagus (man, that stuff grows fast!) and even some fresh herbs.  I made a garlic onion cheese salad the other day using basil, chives and parsley from my herbs and felt positively upscale.  Ineke is loving the richness of food and loves eating with us.  Like all my babies- she is a good solid eater, never picky and hardly gaggy.  She sits at the head of the picnic table (where we take all our meals now) and she looks just so sweet and tiny and grown up sitting there.

Lots of bouquets being brought in for me these days by the 'middles' (Adele' and Judah).  If Judah keeps this up he will make some woman a very happy wife someday.



Other big news- did you notice?!?!  Did you?!?!  Surely you must have...

Matt's winter beard that somehow this year turned into a fall,winterANDspring beard has finally been shaved off for the summer.  Look at that chin!  Oh man.  I love that chin.