resourceful

As a sign of the times, handy husband and I have decided to be resourceful and put his skills on the marketplace.  We are going to be selling these headboards.  I saw one similar to this and asked if he could make one from our pasture fence rails as our headboard.  Isn't it fantastic, rustic, and the perfect thing to fit into this "reclaimed wood" trend we are now seeing?  The wood has a beautiful patina from being in the weather for so many years.  We will market them "as is" or with a custom quote, date, or word that I can paint on the front.

This slatted elephant sign is hanging in William's room now.  Handy husband made it for him for his birthday last year.  As a result of the strong shove from a friend with a design blog, we have been convinced that we need to sell these.  We'll be opening an Etsy store in the next couple of weeks and make these along with other signs with different animals. 

Anyone in the market for home decor?  Spread the word.

my daughters go night night

What do you do when your toddler boy acts like a giddy little sorority girl and won't go to sleep?  You dress him like one.

Truly, mom needs to do laundry but he really isn't going to sleep at night.

Finalizing a deal to make another night miserable for their parents.


Good night, my friends.  Again, I'm sure you'll have a better night than we're about to have.

a fine wine

As I was leaving my parent's house last night, they sent me home with wine-a fine wine.  It was enough for one glass that they had saved for handy husband to enjoy.  I had allowed myself a bit while I was there, as well.  My Mom gave me strict instructions, "put this in the back of your car in case you slide off of the road...they won't think you're drinking and driving".  Thanks, Mom.  Wouldn't any officer give me a "pass go for free" card if they saw the raccoons in the back of my car? 

This is one of the best wines we have had in awhile.  My parents were given this wine by a friend of theirs. Once their attorney, now attorney and friend.  Nice angle, mom & dad.....get your attorney drinking!!  He's one of those guys that doesn't just talk wine, he knows wine.  He always seems to show up with the "finds".  You know, those wineries that are small, lower on the radar scale, and always fantastic.  To accompany the great bottle, he always brings the best (and funniest) stories, shenanigans, and now, his sleeping bag.  Yes, he spends the night a time or two when he's on business.  I decided  I would pour the glass and deliver it to handy husband without telling him the backstory.  As he picked up the glass and swirled it around, he replied, "Hmmm..that smells great".  Then came the first sip.  He looked at me with a frightened expression and said, "now, I'm worried".  Meaning: he thought I might have opened a "good" bottle from his little collection.

Someday, we hope to visit this winery (maybe in 2020) on the Columbia Gorge and join the wine club. 

It's a small winery from Lyle, Washington and only 225 cases were produced of this particular wine.  It is a 2007 Mourvedre from 

Syncline wine cellars.  Good luck finding a bottle. 

Thanks, Mom & Dad!

snow days on the farm

We have been enjoying a few snow days.  Thank you, Mother Nature for squeezing this in before the calender says, "Spring".  We love it.  As a result, I've been a bit behind on my posts and will be catching up. 

It began snowing Wednesday and it has been crisp, clear, and bitter cold.  The horse water has been freezing over throughout the day requiring us to haul warm water from the laundry room sink.  We've been taking walks on the trail, enjoying the beautifiul sunrises, drinking hot cocoa, building snowmen, playing with the animals in the snow, and warming our toes by the fire.

 Getting our fix before bedtime

Who needs ice cream after dinner?

Traction paws

Typical. Fighting to get out the door.

 Hot chocolate by the outdoor fireplace

 There's gotta' be more in here

 Did you really drink ALL of that yourself?

 Snow angels

 Go ahead, play in the snow...I've perfected my sitting up since you left me inside.

...only for about 10 seconds, though.

 Snowball fight with Dad

 He's down, he's down.

 Lovin' Brownie

 Breakfast at 6:30

 The view of the Olympics  from the trail...beautiful at sunrise.

 My morning coffee chair

Koby and I grew

I better get going, I just looked out the window and it's snowing....again!

rainbows and ponies

Rainbows and ponies?  No, it's not like that here, at all.

I've just reviewed a few of the pictures I've posted and it's just not all rainbows and ponies.  It's one of those days.  William regularly sleeps from 7:30pm-9:00am.  Always.  He's been getting up earlier and earlier and last night the two raccoons were up until 10:30 trying to work out the "sharing a room" kinks.  Graham was up at 4 and by the time I was just snuggling down for a little more of a long winter's nap, we hear footsteps upstairs.  Let's just make this short and say nobody went back to sleep but they did cry, tattle on one another, and continually open the blinds and want to go out and play in the snow.  There are markers on the wall this morning, Koby has been jumped on a time or two and hasn't gone out for a walk or had attention, I burnt the banana bread that took me 3 hours to just get mixed, William has been in the shower because of the messiest diaper I've ever seen, and the faucet was left running with the drain plugged so it overflowed onto the bathroom floor. William got stuck in the "play" shopping cart, I haven't eaten breakfast, Graham is my sweet baby that refuses to sleep longer than 20 minutes at a time during the day, and the  kids want to play in the snow but I'm just too darn tired to go to the trouble to get 3 kids ready. We'll get outside, gloves will fall off, hands will freeze, and I just can't keep the troops together and particiapte with a baby in a pack.  There's never a break. I used to think a full time job was taxing.  Bring it on.   I wish I had the "lunch hour" to look forward to, but now look forward to 7:30 when the kids go to sleep so I can clean the house and get ready for the next round.  Speaking of, I better figure out what's for lunch and dinner today, start a load of laundry, carry buckets of warm water to the horses, and brush my teeth.  I got out my calender this morning to see if I could find something to bring a smile to my face, nothing.  Not even a hair appointment to get me away from this zoo.  Nothing to look forward to?  Really? Not even to pee by myself?  Weekends? Forget it. That's not a break.  There are no dates, no eating out, no anywhere except for the park on occasion.  It's just more of the routine of cooking, cleaning up messes, and begging for a trip alone to the grocery store.  I know, I know.  We are all healthy, I'm fortunate to be able to be at home with my kids and live in a lovely home.  I'll get back there...just give me a day or two.  Handy husband has a few projects we need done on Saturday and Sunday so I am on duty.  Vacation? In this economy? Besides that's just another word for hell with kids this age.   I used too think I could do this by myself.  Not so much anymore.  I need a babysitter, a break, a helper.  I need something. I know what you're thinking,   "You need birth control, my dear." Well, that won't help me now.

big changes

First things first, baby boy of mine rolled over today.  He just couldn't figure out how to get that arm out from under him after the roll.  Watch out big sister and big brother, he's on your heals.  I ran for my camera and caught him on the "roll back over". 

Now for the real humdinger......

If you know anything about this family of mine, you know this is a HUGE change.  These 2 in the same room?  Yep, we're just that crazy 'round here.  After all the "talking it up", having them help with the move, the bedtime story, the songs, and the rule setting, these 2 are settling in for their first night of the rest of their lives.  Oh, please help us. They've been there since 8:00pm and handy husband and I have been watching the turmoil on the video camera.  William throwing animals at Grace, William crawling in her bed, William running to his bed when he hears us stomping upstairs, and Gracie cursing us in her mind: "why did they do this to me?". 

This is a sneaky snapshot of them with their  "twilight turtles". They cast stars and a moon on the ceiling and serve as a night light.  Yes, they are standing in their beds and no, Gracie's turtle is not exploding before you're eyes.  I call it "fantastic photography"...agree?

Twilight Turtle

Wishing you a better night than we're about to have.

Night night.

i think i can, i think i can

I'm not sure if I can.  My eyelids are open with toothpicks...the only two I could find.  Sweet 4 month old of mine has a cold.  And so begins the nightime routine: drag out of bed, make saline solution, suck out the snot, feed, and fall into bed....every 3 hours.  Just to add to the mix, William has learned he can crawl out of his crib when he feels like it.  A kid & Legos at 6:30 a.m-no thank you.  Gracie thinks sleep is for the birds. So, she gets up with the birds and usually heads downstairs when her light turns green looking something like this:

We hussled William upstairs and began another routine: stand in the stairway, wait for door to open, march upstairs and swiftly put menacing 2 year old into crib, shut door to muffle screaming, stand in stairway again....repeat 20 times.

I don't think I can.

Thank goodness for a pre-made breakfast (yesterdays breakfast leftovers) and for Barefoot Contessa.  Breakfast Bread Pudding to the rescue.  Now, Ina loves her butter as much I love Ina so there have been a few modifications. I substituted the half-and-half for 1 cup half-and-half and 1 1/2 cups of 1% milk, cut the honey in half, used whole wheat bread, and topped with applesauce as opposed to maple syrup.

Breakfast Bread Pudding

• 5 extra-large whole eggs
• 2 extra-large egg yolks
• 2 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons orange zest (2 oranges)
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• Brioche loaf
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• Maple syrup, to serve

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole eggs, egg yolks, half-and-half, honey, vanilla, orange zest, and salt. Set aside.

Slice the brioche loaf into 6 (1-inch) thick pieces. Lay half brioche slices flat in a 9 by 14 by 2-inch oval baking dish. Spread the raisins on top of the brioche slices, and place the remaining slices on top. Make sure that the raisins are between the layers of brioche or they will burn while baking. Pour the egg mixture over the bread and allow to soak for 15 minutes, pressing down gently.

Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until the pudding puffs up and the custard is set. Remove from the oven and cool slightly before serving.

I think I can, I think I can.

zoo at the zoo

Jack Frost made a visit Saturday night  and sprinkled the pasture with a beautiful dusting of sparkly frost.  The sun was shining, the birds chirping, and Peanut Butter was braying (he always lets us know when we are late for breakfast).  After a breakfast of blueberry pancakes we decided to head to the zoo.  Our zoo went to the zoo.  With an annual pass, it's easy to pay a visit to the giraffes without feeling as if you have to conquer every exhibit.  The tigers were sunning themselves, the elephants were scratching their backs, and the sloth bear was pacing.  When our zoo began to sound louder than the orangutangs, handy husband and I thought it was time to head home.  By the time we were all loaded in the car (after a few smiles from those passing by), kid #1 and #2 were in full blown tears, crackers were flying, and Graham was smiling patiently in his car seat.  (No, I don't have a favorite.)

Definitely NW kids.  They need shades when the sun shines in the windows during breakfast.

 The hawk's loose, the hawk's loose!!

 My baby Graham's first visit to the zoo.

William "squirreling" away his snacks so they don't get stolen. 

Good times

 Handy husband & I quickly headed outside after the raccoons were down for naps.  He pruned the crabapple and I took Brownie on the trail for a walk and cleaned the stalls and paddock.

kale chips

For dinner last night, I made kale chips as an appetizer.  Well, that's a fancy word for "settling" the pack of raccoons while dinner was finishing up.  Grace & William loved them.  Here is the recipe:

Kale Chips

1 bunch of kale

sea salt

olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Wash kale and cut leaves off of the hard stem.  Cut into "chip" size pieces.  Arange in a single layer on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt.  Roast approximately 10 minutes. 

Just out of the oven

momma's on the town

We awoke to a beautiful and cold morning. Today was a special and vintage kind of day. I headed out this morning to the Ruffles and Rust vintage flea market in Monroe. If you like vintage finds and fabulously handcrafted treasures, this was your event. I came home with this:

Ok, please find the humor in it. The moment I saw it, I smiled. Each black section you see is a "cubby". I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it but don't you think the "Funny Farm" fits our home perfectly? It was made for us. I couldn't pass it up. I think it will find it's way into the bedroom of one of the rugrats.

                                                          My self reflection for the day.



My luck continued today when I was handed the keys to THE TRUCK. Yep. I was rolling in the '47 Ford to pick up 9 bales of hay at Dayville Feed Store in Snohomish. I picked up my Mom on the way. Bob, the owner approached me and tried to get me to sell him the truck. He knows that handy husband always turns him down. Well, he just met wise wife.

Isn't he cute? I don't live on a dude ranch with a cowboy but man I got close! If I could only remember the things they taught be about roping when I was in Texas...then I could teach him how to do that. Just like I taught him how to shoot a gun. (Yes, his first successful shot was directly after my advice). Surely pure luck, but I'll take the credit.

buns in the sun

What do you do on an icy-cold yet clear and sunny day in the Northwest? You get outside with hats, gloves, and layers of Patagonia wear. We hit the park in Woodinville for a dose of Seattle sunshine that is all too rare these days.

A true northwest girl at heart. This umbrella seems to be her 5th appendage. When asked why she is taking it on a sunny day she replied, "mommy, you never know". I can't say I disagree.

There was a crack on the tire swing. Bummer.

The perfect way to warm up and snuggle down for bedtime. A story with Dad.

Classic Graham. His hands clasped together in front of him-just like Grandmother Doris always used to do.