Tomatoes and basil

Fresh picked basil and tomatoes for lunch.

Carrots

Yummy carrots for dinner! We grow white, red, orange and yellow carrots.

Garlic

First garlic is braided.

Garlic Harvest

We just harvested 34 bulbs of garlic! This garlic was all planted from bulbs that we saved from last years crop! We planted them back in October of 2011. It was beautiful weather here in western Washington the last two weeks, so they have over 10 days of no water. We are growing elephant garlic and a few hardneck varieties. Ron quickly got them into the garage before a random summer thunderstorm and down pour came over the backyard. We will let them dry for a few days in the garage and then brush off the dirt and braid them into two braids. One to start eating and one to save. It would keep past November, but we always run out before then!



We also harvested a TON of lavender. I will be making new organic fabric lavender sleeping eye masks soon and will have some for sale in my ETSY store. It smells so fragrant when first picked, I can still smell it on my fingers. My house it going to smell so good as it dries the next few weeks.

Never too late to start

                If you’ve never been camping before, guess what, it is never too late to start. After 31 years of ultra-urban living, I finally ventured out for my first true overnight outdoor experience. In order to get acclimated to what camping is all about I would highly recommend starting with a car-camping trip, providing a beginner outdoor-enthusiast with some added comfort and re-assurance.

                The idea of camping came about slowly, prompted by pleasurable day hikes and explorations. The hikes became longer and the trips more frequent. One thing led to another and we somehow came to the conclusion that we were ready to start camping. After hours of research, mostly by me because I love that type of stuff, I finally found the essential gear my family would need to make our experience as enjoyable as possible.

The four of us headed out towards Mt. St. Helens for our first adventure in the middle of summer hoping for plenty of sun. Unfortunately, the weather is quite unpredictable in the Pacific Northwest. For the two day one night trip, it poured and poured and poured. Luckily, we were prepared and ready for the unexpected change. The big advantage of car camping is the ability to pack a whole lot more, versus backpack camping where you only want to bring what is necessary, otherwise you’ll find yourself lugging a whole lot of extra weight.

Fortunately for us, building a blazing fire in the rain was a doable chore. That provided the warmth, while the surroundings provided the entertainment. The kids ran, jumped, and dashed around in the woods, finding something exciting at every step along the way. Considering that our first camping trip was greeted by relentless showers, the four of us had a blast and I knew then that this was the start of something special.

            
That post was from our first family camping trip in July of 2010.

Seaquest State Park is a 475-acre, year-round camping park near Mount St. Helens. The beautifully forested park claims over a mile of Silver Lake shoreline, a shallow wetland lake. Enjoy one mile of wetland trail and six miles of woodland trails for hiking and bicycling; see spectacular views of wildlife, Silver Lake and the surrounding area. There are also children's play areas and playing fields. Great seasonal fishing, boating and swimming are available nearby.

The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center is located across the road from the park entrance. It was incorporated into the state park system in October 2000. The center focuses on information about the volcano and features a first-rate exhibition hall and a 15-minute film presentation of the 1980 eruption. May 1 to Sept. 30: Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Park hours/updates:
The park is open year round for camping and day use. Some campsites are closed in the winter.

Summer: 8 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk.

Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.

Reservations can be made on the Washington State Park site.

History Odyssey Ancient Civilizations

Our first year of homeschooling both girls is almost coming to an end. It is amazing how much they have both grown and discovered this year. We spent June looking over our History Odyssey Ancient Civilizations curriculum and all the History Pockets the girls created. I loved this curriculum and look forward to starting Middle Ages in August.

This year we did Ancient Civilizations Level 1 and really enjoyed all the hands on projects that came along with it.

History Odyssey -

Ancients (level one) Book and Supply List

By Pandia Press

Main Reference Spine:

The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia
     This book is wonderful! My girls will often just browse it in their free time. Love all the kid friendly internet sites that they recommend with the lessons.

Books and Resources: My thoughts are in red!

The Story of the World, Volume 1: Ancient Times

      I read this to the girls as they colored in the coloring books.

History Pockets: Ancient Civilizations

      I can not say enough good things about these History Pockets! We love them!

Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors

      So many craft projects. We made several!

Ancient Israelites and Their Neighbors

      More craft projects!

Life in Ancient Greece Coloring Book

Life in Ancient Rome Coloring Book

Modern Rhymes about Ancient Times: Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome

These books made learning history fun in quick rhyming poems. My girls enjoyed them and could remember quick facts easily from these books.

Blue Tigers T-ball

Melodi is playing T-ball for the first time this year with the City of Lacey Baseball. She just had her first game the other night and loved it. It is so cute watching the little ones play a game that I have been around for so long. We are all enjoying the summer weather and evenings filled with  t-ball!

Lorax Birthday Party

You Could Not
Would Not
Want to Miss
A Birthday Party
As Fun as This!

We recently celebrated Serean's 6th birthday and the theme was Lorax. We are a Dr. Seuss loving family, so I was thrilled when she picked Lorax. We are also a green organic gardening family, this theme was a way to have a party and still be green.

My daughters and I made many characters from the Lorax as decorations from cardboard, felt and paint, all things that we have around the house. We recycled a birthday banner that we have used for several birthdays.

I made a recycled puppet theater out of a cereal box, felt, paper and pipe cleaners. Thanks Katydid and Kid for the great idea. The kids loved playing with it. I made a Lorax, Barbaloot and Humming Fish for the theater.

There were Lorax mustaches, bow made from organic Lorax fabric and felt barbaloot ears for kids to take home.

Kids planted organic seeds in recycled egg cartoons to take home and grow. I was inspired by Gwynn's Lorax party.

I made these UNLESS garden stones to help everyone remember the words of the Lorax.

Thanks Prudent Baby for the easy craft!

We drank Lorax juice (mango lemonade mixed with sparkling water) out of stainless steel cups, used bamboo plates, stainless steel silverware and I made some organic fabric napkins. We created almost no waste during the whole party!

I sewed Serean a cute summer dress out of organic Lorax fabric (Thanks NANA!) and even made her a matching bow. Overall it was an awesome party! Thank you everyone for helping us celebrate my baby turning 6!