Barn Party

First Day of Camp

Weekend Highlights

~ Working around the farm, with help from family
~ Ryan building his lumber rack in the basement of the barn
~ Dinner outside
~ Rain (the garden was so happy)
~ But maybe my favorite part was the ending- a pizza party in the barn on Sunday night (just the five of us) with a bike "show" and pizza with homemade sauce and fresh veggies from the garden.

Tomato Sauce

Canning notes:
22 lbs of tomatoes.  I didn't change much from the recipe I made last year but I did simmer the sauce for 4 hours (instead of 45 minutes).  It made less sauce but it was much thicker this time which is what I was going for.

A Love Letter

Dear Mud Kitchen,
How can I ever thank you for all you do?  For all of those times you have stepped up and played the role of the third parent we so desperately need around here.  For continuously entertaining not one, not two, but all three children at the same time.  For magically appearing just at that breaking point, right as I'm about to grab a bag of cookies and lock myself in the bathroom.  Oh mud kitchen, I do love you.  But today, today you really outdid yourself.  I mean showing up like that, right as I am about to start canning tomatoes, it was brilliant.  Because of you I actually got to enjoy myself as I was processing all of those tomatoes, not to mention I got to finish.  From the bottom of my heart mud kitchen, thank you.

38

I was really, really spoiled this year.  Some birthday highlights...



~ Katie took me out for a glass of wine at Domacin Friday night (and we sat on the cute little deck in the twinkle lights)
~ (Oh and that was after 6 hours at the beach that day)
~ Time to garden on Saturday (and blanch some beans)
~ Ryan gave me the weekend off in the kitchen and made a yummy dinner of blackened chicken and mushrooms
~ Followed by a yummy brunch on Sunday
~ Jackson gave me "game time" with him where we got to play some of my favorite games (in a cozy tent outside he set up)



~ Grace gave me an afternoon of knitting with her and going to our favorite coffee shop (where we proceeded to spend 4 hours knitting and playing chess)
~ The knitting shop was clearancing out some of their best yarns (I may have accidentally brought home a huge shopping bag full of yarn).



~ My parents, Katie, Kris, and our whole family went out to dinner to one of my favorite places on Sunday.
~ AND on top of all of that, Ryan and the kids got me a three day retreat that I get to go on in September.

I think it wins for one of my favorite birthdays ever.

Secret Beach

(For six hours.  With Kirsten, Katie, and all the kiddos.)

Cousins