she's back and she should have entered the state fair...

I'm guessing y'all are wondering what the heck this title means???  Well I've been gone, a break from reality if you will - poorly timed or perfectly timed depending on how you look at it.  I went to North Carolina to visit my twin - in so many ways.  We met 15 years ago and have been pen pals ever since.  We've only seen each other - oh I guess at this point you could use finger AND toes, but our relationship is one of a low maintenance nature, where months can pass, but when we do talk, no time has passed.  I love Traci dearly and I am so grateful for having spent the past four days with her, her husband and her darling new addition Beckett.  This visit was great for a lot of reasons, the first being obvious - slipping away from the fact that Ryan doesn't have a job, the next that I get to spend time with Traci.  I learned a few more things, though, like that although I love babies, I no longer feel that tug to have them myself.  I could enjoy Beckett thoroughly and not be thinking in the back of my mind "oh, I would like another one." I did enjoy him thoroughly, the new baby cries, coos, smiles, startle reflex (my fav!) and the softness and smell.  I loved holding him, cuddling him, changing him and I didn't even mind when he burped like a truck driver and urped down my pajamas, right between my boobs. Another thing I learned is that I'm okay with weaning Penny from nursing, I've been battling with this a bit, since she is my last, we would only nurse about every two days in the morning, but I've been gone four and she's doing quite fine, as am I.  So guess my baby is a big girl now and I don't have to feel so melancholy about us not nursing.  Back to Beckett, it was just so exciting to share these early weeks - it was wonderful to catch up with Traci, she is quite possibly one of THE most intelligent women I know.  I am grateful she keeps my dumb butt around - she manages this new family, a home, working on her dissertation at NC State, teaching seminars AND runs her own consulting company, Trace Collaborative - that assists companies, architects, builders and more on LEED certification and environmental sustainability.  With all this she is one of the most humble, down to earth ladies you could ever know.  I am so blessed to call her my friend!

Beckett has the COOLEST faux-hawk ever!

Annie and baby B!

Today I flew back in from North Carolina (yes girls, I have magnets!) on a way delayed flight - I finally made it home to my brood around 4!  I missed them terrible, nothing rejuvenates a mom more than being away and missing her chickens.  I think that Penny missed me the most because the shrieks and excitement bubbling out of her was hysterical - if she could have jumped out of her skin I think she would have - it is good to be home with my big kids - I missed them and Ryan terrible!  I need to give big kudos to my dear Ryan, he's juggled being laid off, updating his resume, job searching, cleaning out his office, taking care of the kids, working on his brother's bathroom renovation, cleaned the house and done the laundry in my absence - there are not words to describe what an amazing partner and husband I have.  I offered, in my defense, to not go to NC, because of the circumstances at hand - but he wouldn't have it and encouraged me to go.  It all worked out, but again I am so very blessed.

I come home today after torrential rain came down upon central Indiana - I figured I had better go look at my garden and see how it faired - HOLY CRAP is all I have to say!  Take a look at these gems, you better watch out - you might get a loaf of zucchini bread from me- there is just no telling...

Yes those are some big zucchini! (next year State Fair, baby!)

This is just heaven for a Italian-Greek girl like myself - look at those fresh veggies!

MMM dinner - sauted veggies from my garden + thick spagetti= heaven!

In my humble opinion there is nothing better in this world than going outside to your garden to pick dinner.  I had a small garden at our last house, and a finally a bigger one here.  Next year I have big plans.  I love to garden, I told Ryan if things don't work out on his end, lets move to Maine or Vermont and start our own organic garden.  You think I'm kidding - I am happy to say that my veggies and herbs are 100% organic, mostly grown from seeds, I use no pesticides or herbicides or fertilizers.  My soil was a crazy mix, I made up on my own using the basics - manure, plain soil and mushroom compost.  That's it - nothing magic, but man does it work.  I am thinking next year about adding a few more raised beds - much to the chagrin of my neighbors I am sure, unless that organic farm becomes a reality...

On my final note, I am shipping out my custom piece for "Oak" tomorrow and finishing up my custom painting for my friend Jennie and her family - I hope to have that done by the end of the week.  My dad comes tomorrow, I am looking forward to that too - nothing like having your daddy around when things get a bit hairy...

Thanks!