Weekend Wrap-Up

We've had a fun weekend. "Grab-a-Partner-and-Boogie" races...We've been blessed with fresh produce this past week. Teresa brought down this pot of green beans and potatoes. Yummy! Fresh yellow crookneck and zucchini always makes a tasty stir-fry.

Branch and The Girl are participating in our county's Summer Reading Program. They're gung-ho about reading anyway, so reaching their goals won't be too difficult.

The Girl and Branch spent some time looking at old photos with Pop. They were really interested in "...a lifetime ago...".

ChubChub has been working well in Spanish school. He enjoys coloring, too.

The Girl and our Very Special Cousin worked on a unique platter for Mean Ol' Mama. They started from scratch, so the clay had to be rolled first.

They then decorated the platter and placed it in a large wooden bowl as a form. Now it must dry for a while and then be fired and glazed. Patience, patience...

Very Special Cousin also brought huge strawberries to eat. Oh, they were sooooo juicy and sweet!

We attended the monthly homeschool meeting at one of the mom's "farms". It was a beautiful day, and Mean Ol' Mama enjoyed seeing this pinecone that was still attached. Tenacity is always a virtue to be admired.

We enjoyed a class presented by one of the mothers on the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The kids were very attentive.

She had recently had her hair cut, so she brought the hair, a container, and oil to demonstrate how the hair should attract the oil for disposal, which is one of the attempts currently being made by the oil companies.

The boys enjoyed fishing in a small pond while the mothers visited.

Mean Ol' Mama's friend from Thailand brought her a surprise: a new friend from Cambodia and 2 jars of homemade kimchi. Absolutely spicy-delish!!We enjoyed family time Saturday night watching the kids have fun in physical competitions. First up was the one-legged race...

Then came other silly exercises...

Wheelbarrow races...

Foot races...

Mean Ol' Mama was the cheering section...More wheelbarrow races...

This little wheelbarrow almost got away! Now for a relay race...

...and the home stretch...

Sweet times...

Whew!

Black-eyed peas and mango? What a combination! Poppins, his boss (with son and nephew), and the boys played a rousing game of basketball after they went fishing Saturday morning.

Plenty of fish, and new friends, too!

The Girl put a brown sugar butter glaze on a warm, yummy Apple-Dapple Cake. Handy for using up shriveled apples...

She and Teresa picked some fresh produce from the U-Pick where Stennes was working.

Cutting up carrots for Mean Ol' Mama's Calabaza con Pollo [Squash with Chicken]. Heavy on vegetables, broth, cumin, garlic, onions...mmmm....

WHAT??!!! Are those giant grapes? No, the boys tried a fun recipe of balloons dipped in melted chocolate, cooled until hardened, popped, and...what's left? A cute chocolate "bowl" that they filled with chocolate mousse. The guests were already stuffed with Calabaza con Pollo and grilled hamburgers, but they were thrilled with these clever desserts.

...cabbage and potatoes from Stennes's garden...

ChubChub has now begun daily Spanish school. He seemed to enjoy his books. Quite the little man, eh?

Anders, Josiah, and Stennes finished up their band performances with Monday night's Spring Concert. They played very nicely.

The church had a playground that ChubChub enjoyed while the adults "mingled".

The Girl looked so sweet and received numerous compliments on her "springy" hair-do.

Anders was a good clean-up man. He did a fine job, too!

Do you think they're silly enough?After we left the auditorium, Teresa and Mean Ol' Mama did a duo (barbershop-style) of Milk and Honey, which the kids request time and time again.

And the fellows wrapped it up with I'll Fly Away. Sweet boyhood memories...

Fun Days

We went to River Days down at the Boat Basin this past Saturday. There was a giant yard sale and activities for the kids to do. ChubChub decided to take on a "killer" bull. He rode well for a while... Josiah did his Big Brother duty and took ChubChub for a spin on the swings. One of the two boys really enjoyed this "exciting" ride. Guess which one...

ChubChub and The Girl made a new friend.

They also enjoyed another "terrifying" ride in a twirling basket!

Another new friend, ChubChub?

'Twas a cloudy day when The Girl attempted to scale Mount Never-Rest. Can you see her at the top, thousands and thousands of feet in the air? Oxygen is getting thinner...

Up, up! Don't let go!

And especially don't look down!Aahh, safe on the ground again with these fearful mortals...

And now to ride these wild, bucking broncos...

Whew! It's been a wild, whirling day! Gotta take a rest before we head out again...

The Girl took a photo of the flower pots and flowers that the kids gave Mean Ol' Mama for Mother's Day. Pretty, eh?

Josiah helped Pop paint a sign to advertise chickens, rabbits, eggs, and produce for sale here on The Property.

Anders and the fellows brought home a fine mess of fish. Emphasis on the mess...

A bit behind on the posting here, but we're still thinking of you and loving you...