This Moment.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

-Amanda Soule (SouleMama)

Happy Friday and fun wishes for your weekend!

Like This And Like That.

So it's been looking like this out here.

I should have been trying to make heads or tails outta this...

...and weeding and prepping all this.

There are veggie beds under there somewhere.

I think.

But instead, I played around with this gal all day.

Together, we fooled around with these guys.

It was their second time outside.

They loved it.

(In a few days they will have a new address

and be ready for correspondence.)

Happy chickens and lil' girls itching to be running and exploring are making it easy to neglect our future garden. I am sure I will be digging and crouching in freezing rain trying to ready the beds for Winter and our first try at growing next Spring. Hard to think of much other than the sun and the blue sky when we have it out here.

And with all of this and that, it was a good day.

Hope yours was too.

A Purple Purposeful Pack.

Minna and I made something!

We decided that Fwa needed a carrier, stat!

Fwa is the mystery baby that Minna has below. We don't know where Fwa came from. I don't remember buying her and I can't for the life of me remember Minna receiving her as a gift. Please forgive me if she did, and thank you, if you gave her to us. Minna adores her. I pulled her out of a moving box last year and said, "Who is this? Where did this baby come from?" I was really confused. Minna just casually replied, "Dat Fwa, Mama!"

So... that's Fwa.

And she needed a carrier.

We used a bandanna. I just love making things out of bandannas. Remember these? We make bags with them too. Love 'em. Bandannas everywhere. I want to perfect the construction of this bandanna creation and finish it really well. Then, maybe I could put together a tutorial for other dollies out there.

It's has been a HUGE hit with Minna, Fwa and...

Sara!

Sara was mine when I was a girl. My Mom made her.

I love that Sara is always just hanging around with us these days.

Minna dances around with the carrier.

She climbs stuff with her babes on her back

and wore it out running errands with her dad yesterday.

It can be worn in the front or in back

and the babies can face any which way.

Do I really need to mention how cute it looks on?

Nah.

I made the armholes a little roomy on purpose because before you know it, Minna and her babies will be in their winter coats! You see all that Fall going on in the background? It's here. The smell and the crunch of it is lovely.

It's a short, short season for us.

We are crunchin' it up.

Happy Wednesday!

sunday

saturday

This Moment.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

-Amanda Soule (SouleMama)

We have some days off of work to use up,

friends to see,

sun to chase,

Fall to welcome

and some fish to catch...

Happy weekend to you!

Hanging With The Teens.

So the T-Birds are totally teenagers now. I am taking care of 16 teenagers in the throes of puberty.

Their feet are a little disproportionate. There is fuzz growing out of funny places and in all different directions.

Everyone is a little clumsy, endearingly awkward and curious about the world. Thinking they are all grown up already, I am sure.

They are curious about their bodies and each other. And each others bodies.

Most importantly, they are making bonds that will affect the rest of their lives. Getting to know the people that will shape them and be there for them into adulthood.

Remember those days? I am having fun being reminded by watching these guys grow.

Teenagers are cool.

One Of Those Days.

Today, the sun poked through.

For a minute.

And instead of raking leaves,

I bought a ton of floss for a new project that's in the works.

And I took pictures of it.

Of course.

I mean, doesn't everybody do that?

Then some of those pictures made their way into collages.

Now I feel like I was just at the toy store,

and the candy shop,

and had a double scoop of ice cream.

Doesn't floss make everyone feel like that?

I thought so.

These kinds of days are good.

A Stormy Sentimental Note On Brothers.

Today we had a windy, wet ride to school. In the rear-view I see my boys heads, covered with rain hoods. Minna in the middle, under a blanket, between her "bo-bos". All are cozy and quiet. Three years ago, pre-Minna, the boys sat next to each other and on dark mornings like this, looked like one little being.

"1-2-3!" They yelled in unison after cramped hugs and kisses goodbye inside the truck. Then the doors flung open and off to the front door of the school they go. One boy slightly taller. The other, slightly skipping. They moved quickly together. One body and two little hoods.

Brothers. My boys. In the rain.

These two are less than 3 years apart and the age gap has become much less apparent. Colyer is almost as tall as Sully. He can run as fast and ride as fast. He may even have an edge on Sully in the daredevil department. That creates so much competition and determination inside of their little hearts that it frightens me sometimes. (er, all the time.) It causes hurt feelings and at worst, injuries.

I am reassured when I see something else coming from their little hearts. I see a partnership that I will never fully understand. I know it is there. They show me in little ways everyday.

When one goes, he makes room for the other.

They do the scary stuff together. Always.

When one challenges the other. The other takes it on.

Then challenges right back.

They teach each other. They learn.

When one asks for help. The other helps.

And with four hands, they make things better.

They run in the same circles.

Have the same besties from Kodiak to California.

Honorary bo-bos.

They share everything.

Love of the outdoors, a soft spot for animals, their baby sister,

a passion for Legos, building, inventing and ever so often,

they share sleep.

I wonder if they will have a rocky teenage relationship as their Dad and Uncle did? How will Colyer feel when Sully goes off to college first? Will they always ride side by side, racing but still together?

No one can know.

So what helps this Mama of a pair of smart, driven, daring, confident young men rest just a little easier? The way they look like one little being on the school bus as it drives up to our house. My boys on an almost empty bus, huddled together in one seat.

Brothers. My growing boys. In the rain. On the bus.

saturday n sunday

this moment.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

-Amanda Soule (SouleMama)

We can almost see through our protective wall of lacy leafed trees.

Sweaters are coming out, and actually staying on.

Bed warmers are clicked on at night.

Feeling all Fall-ish.

Happy Fall-ish Weekend to you!

T-Birds- The Chicks While They are still Chicks!

With the rate that these little peeps are growing, plus the fact that I am working part-time now, you will be lucky to see pictures of them before they start laying eggs. I am feeling silly posting these shots that I took last week because they are double the size! No joke!

I will use these shots to talk about the breeds we have though. They will be good for that. No one minds a coupla cute little baby chicken photos anyhow.

So, above is a sweet specimen of a Black Australorp. They have pretty speckled faces and will most likely grow to be completely black. I am not so sure because many of the wing feathers that have grown in over the past few days are bright white!

These guys are sweet and seem to be the most mellow. We have 5 of them and they all have different markings on their faces. They consistently sleep together in a cozy Australorp pile.

Here are the Buff Orpingtons. We love these guys. They are easy to hold and super curious which makes them funny to watch. They are kind of like the cool older siblings of the bunch. They do everything first, get all the neat stuff first and are bigger with the most feathers. But they love all their little siblings and when they are older will probably sneak them into R-rated movies and protect them from bullies. Just kidding. They are just cool.

The two biggest Buffs fly right out of the brooder and like perching on the window sill. Today one flew up at my neck trying to perch on my shoulder. He kinda got tangled in my hair. That is when I discovered they have pretty good claws now too.

Here is one of the Cuckoo Marans. I feel like this little group of six are the spoiled celebrities of our little chicken world out here. They are always squawking and freaking out. They are picky about being held too. Only Colyer seems to have the touch. It involves being bundled in his t-shirt and rocked a little. Then they fall asleep. When they wake up, they flap around and make a big fuss.

The one above, now has a comb developing and full wings that are about 3 inches longer. The growth just amazes me! Well, she wouldn't look at the camera and refused to stand on the same spot that the other guys did just minutes before. So choosy! They lay the dark chocolate brown eggs with speckles and expect special treatment. I guess I don't blame them. I know those eggs are gonna be my favorites.

This one settled on hanging out on the Dish Network receiver that was left in the workshop. I think we want to sell that thing. (Anybody need a receiver? Selling cheap. Call me.)

Well, regardless of breed or temperament, these guys are settled and a wonderfully special addition to the fam. In two more weeks they get to move into the coop and will start their new lives as teenager chickens. They will have access to the outdoors under a covered run and as they acclimate to outside temps, they will be released into their big enclosed run.

Even at this feverish pace, I can't help but be excited about it all.

Have a good night!

A Little Face For The Name.

After the sadness and remembrances of this weekend, I think some talk of a new baby and the excitement of birth is in order, yes?

One of my longest, long-time friends had her first baby this month. What a loved and deeply wanted baby she is.

I got to meet her (still in mama's tummy) when we went to California this summer. I just love seeing my friends as lovely, happy pregnant gals.

Along with a little outfit and a sweet toy, handmade by one of my new friends, I made her a little scrappy garland. Unicorns on the back and her name embroidered on the front.

There she is!

(Thanks for sending along a photo guys! Can't wait to photograph her in person one day.)

And here is her garland.

Welcome Pesenti!

So very excited that you are here.