Slim Pickins

Here's a good lesson to learn: stick with the fruit that is in the prime for its season, do not try to conquer the entirety of fruit orchards. Rick's been way busy, which is a good thing. But trying to schedule a half day with him for our annual cherry picking was becoming a bit challenging. While looking at the orchard schedule I had a (what I thought at the time) bright idea. Why don't we try to get the end of cherry season and the beginning of apricot and peach season? A pang of regret hit me when we passed a few U-Pick cherry orchards with closed signs. I got excited when the one we go to each year was open. As we started to walk through the orchard, we began to realize there would be no easy pickin' here, there was literally no low lying fruit to be found. Up for the challenge, Rick picked 15 pounds of cherries from ladder to ladder, while the rest of us entertained Ava, who wanted to put every cherry pit on the ground into her mouth. End of cherry season, lots of pits on the ground. Piles of pits. It wasn't all a bust though, those were still some tasty bings.

Leaving the cherry orchard, we headed out to another orchard that had apricots, nectarines and peaches. They were still pretty green--would have been perfect in another week or maybe even two-- but this was a much better environment for one eager Sophia itching to pick the fruit from the tree, and one eager Ava chomping at the bit to eat the fruit from the tree. Way easier to give Ava a whole peach and let her go to town. Sometimes she'd be double-fisted with fruit, but at least she wasn't eating discarded pits. As we were leaving the orchard, we noticed the temperature gauge on the car read 104 degrees. It was a hot day, but the shade of the orchard, the delta breeze and sun kissed fresh fruit were a perfect ending to our challenging beginning.

Summer lovin'

A Pinteresting Father's Day

I found a cute project on, you guessed it, Pinterest! I am addicted and overwhelmed about what to pin because there are so many great contributions to this site. Along the same lines, I've been debating on getting a sewing machine for awhile now. There are a few DIY projects I'd like to try that require sewing, and although I love the iron on hems and other iron on stuff, if I want these projects to last, I need to actually sew it.

Anyway, back to the Father's Day project. I didn't realize how challenging it is to get a good set of footprints! It was fun though, for a warm sunny day, to get their feet painted and then just as much fun cleaning up in the grass outside.

We had a BBQ at our house with family and friends. Rick's mom made most of the food, and that was a treat in itself. That woman can sure make some mean ribs and baked beans. I also tried two dessert ideas, s'mores and Bisquick chocolate chip cookies. The s'mores were more fun to look at than eat in my opinion. The cookies were yummy! I was pretty surprised at how good they were. I put the recipe in my cookbook, and will be making variations aplenty.

It's been busier than usual around here. I signed Sophia up for swim lesson the last 2 weeks and she just wrapped up her last lesson. I think we spent more time getting ready for the lesson and then unpacking and bathing after the lesson, that a 30 minute lesson is more like a 2 hour ordeal. I'll be back to catch up on that whole debacle later, and also post some cherry picking turned full orchard picking day as well.

May: Things I want to remember

And the first week into summer vacation, I get hit with a pretty big head cold. Still recovering with the congestion part, hopefully my brain cells are coming back too.

Without further adieu...

Things I want to remember:
Mother's day at Fenton's, carefree no hassle no hosting bliss of a day. Ice cream for lunch, yum.

I made up a Chicken recipe with paprika and garlic, white wine, dijon and brown sugar, soy sauce. I could drink the sauce on this chicken. I've successfully recreated it after the first round and I'm giving it one more try before posting the recipe.

Solar eclipse was cool! Our neighbors were walking by with unexposed x-ray films (brilliant!) and give us one for Sophia to watch with. Made up for the underwhelming super moon.

I've underestimated the importance to make time for myself, whether reading a book or small accomplishments with a craft. Felt like there was a bit of me outside of the children, and that is a good feeling sometimes.

Moroccan restaurant, Sophia belly dancing like a mini Shakira. That girl can move her hips! The next day she wanted to wear a skirt. We were going to our friend's for a BBQ. When it was time to get in the pool I was helping her out of her skirt into her bathing suit. Sophia had a dollar bill tucked into her skirt (belly dancer style)!

Ava blowing kisses and saying "Hi!" while frantically waving her hand anytime I am gone for more than 5 minutes.

Rick bringing home a piece of cheesecake for me. We won't discuss why there was a peace offering, just that he knew the way to thaw my cold heart.

Getting away with just Sophia for a quick swim at a friend's house. It was so nice to enjoy some relaxing time with my big girl. No eyes in the back of the head needed. Just fun swim time.

Who needs a water park with a slip 'n slide? Sophia and Ava had hours of entertainment with our improvised water park. Slip 'n Slide joined to a blow-up water fun island. Nuff said.