Tide Pool Time!

Do you see the sea anemone?

Love the camouflage!

Someone had pried this starfish out of a tidepool. We examined him and put him back where he belonged.

I'm so glad we got to the shore at low tide to enjoy this beauty!

MIL, SIL's and My Honey

My lovely Mother-in-love and her children. Thanks, Mom, for putting the reunion together and making it so we could join in!!

Green Beauty

Here's some of the gorgeous landscape around my mother-in-love's home. I love coastal Oregon's forests! You can click the picture to enlarge it.

My Folks

On Monday, we began our drive back south. We stopped to visit with my parents and brother and have a BBQ. It's been ten years since I have seen them.



We had a very nice visit. My Honey BBQ'd superbly, as always. My dad walked with us to a nearby antiques mall. I found Vol. 4 and the parents guide to The Book House set I am collecting. Now to find Vols. 1,2 and 3.

I loved seeing everyone, including little nieces I had never met. We plan to make the drive more often. It was do much fun!

COUSINS!

These are all the younger cousins; the children of the adult cousins. They did so good at posing for the pictures!

Cape Kiwanda

This is Cape Kiwanda, on the Oregon coast. This is where we spent much of Saturday. The children climbed this huge hill over and over! I went up it only once, since I was flying the stunt kite or at the tide pools most of the time I was at the beach.

I took this pic at the top of the sand hill. Beautiful!

Fast Friends

My Girlies met their cousin M. at the family reunion. They quickly became friends and spent nearly the entire weekend together!

What a Cutie!

Not a great picture of a picture, but it's my very favorite snapshot of EmBlem! Who couldn't love that sweet little smile?

My Little Working Man

Troubles helped his momma clean the carpets today. I love his hard-working side!

Zombie Abe

My sweet little Missy surprised me with this beautiful rendition of Honest Abe during the Zombie Apocalypse. I think she's got him pegged, don't you?

Pickles!

I made up a batch of Kosher Dills today. This is one of my very favorite recipes ever! Three days on the counter and it's dill pickle heaven...

Kosher Dill Pickles

• 1 gallon cucumber
• 1/3 cup instant minced onion
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tablespoon mustard seeds
• 6 heads fresh dill (or 6 tbsp dill seeds)
• 2 quarts water
• 1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup canning salt

1. Slice cucumbers lengthwise into quarters, or slice into rounds, and add to jars along with the dill.
2. Boil liquids and seasonings to dissolve the salt then cool. Pour over pickles and let sit on counter for three days turning them occasionally, then refrigerate for up to a year.
   
3. Please do not try to use the regular grocery store cucumbers, they have wax on them and they will not turn out. You can use grocery store pickling cucumbers as they are not waxed.

Sonlight Books

We had our annual used curriculum sale today. I need very little for next year, but I did go, looking specifically for Mystery of History Vol. II, III, and IV, any Sequential Spelling 2-7, and Sonlight books. I also picked up MUS Algebra I from a local homeschooler who passes the TM and DVD along to me when she is done with them. I did end up with SS 2 and lots of Sonlight books. My stacks of SL are getting bigger and bigger!

One of this summer's projects is to get all of the books in the library cataloged (realistically, it's not likely to happen). A smaller sub-project is to get Sonlight books separated out and shelved together. Having the SL list change once again this year doesn't help matter, but this part may get done this summer regardless.

Love the Colors!

The colors and variety of farm fresh eggs are so beautiful! I love the flavor, too, of course. It's one of the things I miss most in the winter, since eggs are scarce then. For now, I will enjoy them in their abundance!

Yep...

...we start 'em early round these parts, but only on the good stuff.

A Girl and Her Gun

We toured the B-17 "Sentimental Journey" today. We also got to see the B-25 "Maid in the Shade" close up and even see it take off. It was so loud! One of these days I hope to have the $400 it takes to take a ride in her. This is our third year supporting the Arizona Wing of the CAF. If they come to an airport near you, don't miss them!

Plum Picking

My friend invited us to her friend's place to go plum picking! She took this pic of Troubles and me working on a tree. We ended up with 164 pounds of sweet, organic "Early Galaxy" plums!

I'll be busy the next couple of days getting these processed. if you need me, I'll be in the kitchen!

Zucchini Carrot Muffins

We are going plum picking tomorrow morning, so we need a fast breakfast. These yummy muffins fit the bill just right. You can get the recipe at my other blog, feedingthecrew.

Curly Girl!

Missy had such a good hair day today! She greatly prefers to wear a ponytail, but once in a while, I insist that she wear it down. Isn't she gorgeous?

The Royal Diaries

I've been reading through this series lately. I have really been enjoying them! If you have girls, this is a series that you should watch for used. I love history and I have been learning things I didn't know. The historical details are worked into the stories in ways that are natural. It annoys me when a story is bent to include facts, figures, etc. and it don't flow because of it. So far, these have avoided that.

The Whole Bean

We've been enjoying Mr. Bean: The Whole Bean on Netflix Instant. It's just too funny! He's a great intro to British humor. Take a peek at this clip. I love it!

It's Finished!

Books For Wilson has been completed. I made the donation to Wilson's account this morning, to the tune of $500.00! Thanks to all of you for helping bring this sweet boy home. Mike and Jamie are waiting for some paperwork problems to be resolved. Paperwork snafu's cost a lot of time and can push homecomings back for weeks or even months. They can also be emotionally draining. Pray for them. Pray against discouragement and for strength to trust in God's perfect timing.

For now, while she waits, Jamie is hosting a giveaway for Stanislav. Hop on over to her blog to see the prizes and donate to bring this little cutie home, too!

More Park Fun

Here's a shot of my Honey playing with the Lambies at the park the other day. I love that he loves to play!

For Me

I don't often buy new clothes or shoes for myself. My Honey took me to the store yesterday, though and MADE me get a pair of shoes. I like them; do you? I showed them to some of the Lambies today and got the same comment twice. "Those are SMALL!" They are size NINE! Almost all of the Lambies are at size nine or bigger now. I guess a nine looks small on me. :)