Mockingbird Nest

Phoebe and I found a mockingbird nest while trimming our trees/over-sized-bushes. That put a stop to all the trimming, but we enjoyed the growing birds. When we found the nest, one bird was just breaking its egg in half. We visited the nest daily for short videos to record their growth. It took 10 days for them to hatch and leave the nest. Amazingly fast!

Rice Cat

Mel in Florida made a rice box for her son instead of a sandbox. Brilliance on her part! Last month, Rita visited and brought 100 lbs of jasmine rice straight from Hoppe farm for us to enjoy. We have already put down about 15 lbs! Such good rice, but I digress...
I was left with about 25 pounds of medium grain that we weren't too fond of eating-too sticky for our/my palates. It was put to great use in our rice box along with some wild grains for fun. Here is that ricebox being put to full use by the girls and Baby Cat.

Laundry procrastination

Nothing like Renee to find the comfiest spot to help me put off my chores.

Renée & Emeril

She got a hold of the remote and changed channels until she stopped on Emeril. She loves all the audience clapping and laughing. I hadn't realized that they clap or laugh for everything! He adds cilantro-applause. He opens the oven-applause. He looks at the camera-giggles. Renée applauded and giggled right along.

Just blogging in

It has been forever and a day since I put something up! Life has given us a few lemons recently, but the lemonade has been fantastic!
school is almost out
summer is upon us
garden is growing
bugs are invading
good stuff is cooking
girls are happy

More later when I actually have something to tell you. Until then, laissez les bon temps rouler!

Thumb injury

Look no further if you don't want to see grossness.


I put a drill with a Phillips head in it into my thumbnail. It is gross. This is from the first day. I am healing. All is well. Just totally gross.

Impailment is just nasty! Don't puncture yourself if you can help it.





Broke the tip of my thumb bone in addition to the nastiness. Rita came for a visit and she gets a daughter-in-law all pain medicined out and cranky. She's a good mom-in-law! In fact, she is my favorite mom-in-law! None better!

Cookin' up a storm

Phoebe made is chili Sunday from scratch. It was delicious! Seriously the best chili! She smelled the spices and then decided which ones needed added. There were no leftovers.
She also made lemonade from lemons and sugar water. Again, that was awesome! Here is Phoebe enjoying the last of lemonade and Renée finishing off her meal. I am so proud that she made us such a healthy and delicious meal!