What are the kittens up to this morning?

The kittens are ready to play as soon as the sun comes up every morning.

Chupa has learned the fine art of climbing.

I think she was contemplating climbing up a sunflower this morning...

...but thought better of it. :-)

This little elm is her favorite tree to climb.

It is just her size.

She scampers up really fast,

but the getting down part still takes a little thought.

I found little Leche on the porch playing with a plastic container.

And sweet Dulce was playing peek-a-boo behind a tree with Daisy.

And Chiclet was just hiding in the woods. :-)

Linked to Homestead Barn Hop #115

End of the potatoes...start of the tomatoes! :-)

We enjoyed the last of our potatoes over the weekend.

And, then I pulled up the plants to get a bed ready to plant pumpkins and gourds.

We are getting the first tomatoes from our cherry plant, enjoyed our first crook neck squash 

last night and have harvested several zucchinis.  

Ah!  Summertime and fresh vegetables - love it! :-)

Menu Plan

Supper Menus
June 9th-15th

Sunday
leftovers after getting home from taking the kids to camp
Monday
green beans and new potatoes, corn on the cob, squash, purple hull peas, tomatoes, milk and honey bread, peach cobbler
Tuesday
a bite of leftovers and snacks at the movies!
Wednesday
mandarin chicken salad with a sweet and sour vinaigrette
Thursday
BLT salad
Friday
picnic at the ranch
Saturday
whatever the kids want me to make for their first supper home after camp :-)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

I use to participate in the Daybook link up several years ago, but then I think the lady that did it stopped hosting it.  I stumbled up it again today and decided to link up with her "June Kind of Daybook."  You can find other entries and/or link up yourself at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the sun is shining brightly.

I am thinking...about my yummy lunch I'm eating right now.  Potatoes and cherry tomatoes from the garden and leftover green beans from last night's supper.  I was planning to have a leftover roll, too, but the boys got them first. 

I am thankful...to be feeling better after running a high fever for almost the entire first week of summer.

In the kitchen...there are still a few leftover doughnuts from yesterday's National Doughnut Day celebration.

I am wearing...my Glow Run 5K t-shirt, hot pink running shorts, and hot pink running shoes (but I haven't been on a run in months ;-)

I am creating...a knitted cap.

I am going...to take Mr. H. back to the rental car place for the second time today to pick up the other rental vehicle that will be taking kids to camp tomorrow.

I am wondering...if we've packed everything the kids need for camp.

I am reading...about how to make homemade soap.

I am hoping...to go to the library and the farm patch next week.

I am looking forward to...a date night or two with Mr. H. while the kids are at camp.

I am learning...to be a better gardener.

Around the house...there is plenty to do and I can't wait to get at it!

I am pondering...getting a good summer schedule put in place.

A favorite quote for today..."It was June, and the world smelled of roses.  The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside." ~ Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib 1941

One of my favorite things...is definitely summertime!

A few plans for the rest of the week...are to keep myself very busy while my  babies are at camp and I'm missing them. 

A peek into my day...

~summertime~

If I had to pick my favorite thing about summertime,

it would probably be the little walks I take first thing in the morning when I go outside.

And, I really do mean first thing.  

I go outside even before I get dressed,

still in my nightgown and robe!

This isn't a work time, 

I do that later after breakfast.

This is just walking around in the cool, quiet.

Long before anyone else in my house wakes up.

This is how I found the kittens this morning.

All sound asleep on the porch.

Evidently a pile of tools and work gloves make a cozy bed. ;-)

Oh, look at those sweet, sleepy eyes. 

They were seven week old yesterday.

We just love these little guys so much!

Over in my cutting garden the zinnias are starting to bloom.

The colors are so pretty and it's been a surprise every morning

this week to see which ones are opening up.

You can come along with me as I check them out this morning...

Have a beautiful day! :-)

National Doughnut Day!

The first Friday in June each year is National Doughnut Day!

What a fun day to celebrate. :-)

This year instead of heading into town to our favorite doughnut shop,

I decided to try my hand at some good old fashioned homemade doughnuts.

I used a recipe that I found at Pretty Lil' Posies.

It was a good recipe and the dough rose really well.

I did change one thing, though, and used shortening instead of the butter called for.

I think the real trick to good at home doughnut making is all in the frying.

I used my electric skillet like the recipe suggested,

 but if you have a deep fat fryer that would definitely be the way to go.

It's so hard to keep a good constant temperature on your oil any other way.

These turned out really yummy, though, even without fyring them the best way.

As Mr. H. said after he tried one, "there ain't nothin' wrong with that doughnut!" ;-)

Fun doughnut holes!

And some sprinkles of course.

Happy National Doughnut Day! :-)

Garden Treats

We harvested our first zucchini yesterday.  

This picture was taken on Friday, May 31st

and four days later on Tuesday, June 4th, it was about twice this big!

Visions of squash casseroles and zucchini bread are dancing in my head. ;-)

We tried out a new recipe, though, on this first zucchini.

Parmesan Zucchini Crips!  Yum!

We finished up the leftovers this evening with our spaghetti.

~~~

slice your zucchini

beat an egg

combine equal parts bread crumbs and parmesan cheese

dip zucchini slices in egg and then crumb mixture

lay slices on a parchment lined cookie sheet

sprinkle on some salt and pepper

bake at 400 for about 20 minutes 

enjoy

~six weeks old~

School's Out!

Mr. H. cut some flowers from the yard and put them in a jar 

with a sweet note for me to find when I got home from school today.  :-)

I am always so excited for the last day of school.

Sometimes I feel like I'm more excited than the kids.

Actually, back when we were homeschooling, 

I WAS more excited than the kids. ;-)

But this year I definitely have cause to celebrate along with

them, because it is my last day, too!
I have completed my first year working full time since being a mom.

It was NOT easy.  

So many things were harder than I expected.

Mr. H. pitched in with the housework more than I thought he would have to.

I was much more tired than I had imagined I would be.

(Being responsible for sweet little lives will do that I guess.)

And I missed being at home very much.

I did learn a lot over the past months and hopefully I can tweak things 

to make home run more smoothly next year. :-)

But, for now I am going to relish the next 11 weeks -

to recoup, relax, get to lots of projects and plans

and enjoy my family and my home.

Happy summer to each of you!  

The Kittens are Growing Up!

They were five weeks old on Friday.

They've moved off of the back porch.

And, they are so active now.

They are so funny how they play with and pick on each other!

Like all brothers and sisters I guess. ;-)

They are just so cute.

We never tire of watching them.

They're growing up too fast! :-)

Linked to Farm Girl Friday Blog Hop #111

Memorial Day 2013

Freedom is not free.

Remembering those that gave all.

Memorial Day 2012

Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day 2010

Memorial Day 2009

Memorial Day 2008

~simple granola~

Recipe adapted from 

Keep Home Simple's "Four Ingredient Granola"

You need -

4 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons cinnamon

1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 300°.

Combine first four ingredients in a large bowl.

Pour onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 45 minutes; stirring every 15 minutes.

Let cool, stir in raisins, and store in an airtight container.

Makes 15 1/2 cup servings.

Add some almond milk and enjoy! :-)

Linked to Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #111