Sweet Pete

Sometimes kids can be so frustrating.  And sometimes, they can surprise you by being so loving and thoughtful.  (I'm already of the verge of tears in anticipation of what I'm about to tell you.)

Peter told Paul yesterday that he wanted a summer job to earn some money.  He liked the income his winter snow removal business brought him.  Paul mentioned this to a friend of ours who has a large garden, thinking maybe he'd like to hire Peter to do some weeding or veggie picking.  Our friend, one of the many Steve's, said Peter could come pick all the blueberries he wants and sell them.

So this morning I was awakened by two peppy boys ready to go pick some blueberries.  It was 6:30am.  So we all got up.  Paul took the boys picking.  I took advantage of the cool, quiet morning and did some baking.

I made apple walnut muffins, zucchini bread, and blueberry scones - using up the excess apples, zucchinis, and blueberries I needed to do something with.  They'll go in the freezer and be healthy quick snacks.  I looked at the clock when I was done and it was only 8:30am.  I couldn't believe it.

The boys came home and got to work sorting and packaging the berries.

This is just a sampling of all they picked.

Reuben got to work shucking corn.

He loves corn.

Muscles

Putting the husks into the fire pit.

Then, this evening some ladies from church said they wanted to buy Peter's berries.  So he went over there with all his berries and came home with a pocketful of money.

THEN HE GAVE ME ALL THE MONEY.  He said it was for our adoption.  He didn't keep any of it.  He told me it costs a lot of money to do an adoption and he wants to earn more and more money to help us pay for it.  What a surprising, sweet kid.  Where did this generous gesture come from?

See?  Makes you a little teary.

It's Coming

I'm waiting for my video editor (Paul) to deliver the next Chicago video to my desktop.  In the meantime, we've been living the summer life and haven't been able to post.  Like now, we're headed to The City to the Art Museum's new 100 acre park/art installment.

This last week the boys and I have gone swimming in friends' pools, hiking at state parks, a couple cook-outs, a picnic, a movie at the theater, reading, biking, veggie picking in our garden...

And I can't edit or continue because we are out the door.  Pardon my mismatching verbage up there.

Lame

Lame is how I'm feeling.

1.  Some ladies and I drove an hour west this afternoon to a camp that kids from our church go to.  We went to volunteer in the kitchen during dinner.  Got there and the lady who scheduled us apologized and said they didn't need us tonight.  No campers.  Oh.  Drove an hour back home.  Lame.

2.  Paul and I then drove an hour east into The City for an alumni reception our California college was hosting at the North American Christian Convention.  Got a babysitter, drove to the city, found the Hyatt, found the Discovery Room... empty.  It was last night.  Lame.

3.  Yesterday.  The secretary of our church asked Paul if he loved me.  Because, "People around town are talking about how you two don't show affection."  Lame.  Really lame.  I want to move far far away and hide in a big city lame.

4.  Oh, there was one more, but I can't remember it now.  Number three is still ricocheting through my body, boinging off every bone and making me sad and mad.

Lame.

The Beach!

The Dunes State Park (on southern Lake Michigan) has been calling to me for many moons.  Paul brilliantly suggested we stop in on our way to Chicago.  It was a fun mix of typical beachiness, but also had hiking trails on wooded dunes.  It was great.  I'll show you...

I await a return visit with boys in tow.  I think they'll love it too.  It's the closest thing to a California beach out here in the midwest, that I know of.  Is a six-hour round trip worth it to roll in the sand and be chased by waves?  It may be.

Tomorrow I'll post actual happenings in Chicago.

Chicago, We Love You

Last week on Tuesday, Paul and I took a little trippy trip to Chicago.  Just the two of us.  The memories are so soothing.

We really enjoy being in and exploring cities.  We've had some neat opportunities to wander through some Asian, Central American, and European cities in times past...

 Seoul

Winter of  '07

 Belize City

Summer of '08

 Istanbul

Spring of '09

On our latest little domestic trip to Chicagotown, we toted along a cute video camera and have some clipage to show you.

Here's the drive up with a stop at Fair Oaks Farm, a gigantor dairy farm where we observed cheese-making and then ate some for lunch.  We drove a bit more to The Dunes, but that footage will be available tomorrow.  This clip continues on into Chicago with the Paying of the Tolls (Illinois toll roads), driving through the city (felt good to be in traffic), and the view from the condo we stayed at.  Let's see if it works...

Kitchen Science

What do you do when a gallon of organic milk is on sale for half price and expires in a few days?

Buy it and make yogurt and pudding!

I've been wanting to attempt yogurt-making in the crock pot and this was my opportune moment.

It was super easy and gave me a sincere thrill when I lifted the crock pot lid in the morning and it was thick yogurt!  It worked.  I just grew bacteria, and it was exciting.  And tasty.  And an extra bonus:  it didn't make me sick.

It's delicious with honey, blueberries, and toasted walnuts.

Or stir in some all-fruit jelly.

Or blend it with frozen fruit.

Or drain it with a coffee filter in a colander to make it Greek-style.

This morning I squeezed in half a lime, hoping to copy Yoplait's Key Lime Pie flavor.

I'm guessing I only put a fraction of sweetener in compared to Yoplait.

So it wasn't fantastic.

But if you're a Superfoods fan,

this is a quadruple dose of goodness.

Berries, yogurt, citrus, nuts.

No wonder I feel so good.

(Honey is one too, but I don't know what to call a group of five things.  I went to do a search to find the correct term, but I can't think of how to word it.  Maybe you know?) 

So there you go,

your boost to go ahead and try it now.

Someone you know (me) has checked it out and proved it legit.

Town Parade

Thousands of American small towns are parading about this Independence Day.  It's another reason to get the community together and have a good time.

We got together.  We had a good time.

Waiting since 8 am for the 11 o'clock parade.

Well, not so much for the parade,

but the candy that will be tossed to him from the paraders.

But then the parade started and it freaked him out.

The firetrucks led the way,

blaring their horns

and Reuben clung to my legs in fright.

Here's Peter parading with the local 4-H club.

He's right above the 4-H poster.

(Ok, let's take a tangent and chat about 4-H... 

It's been a long time since I have felt so clueless about something.  4-H is big out here in the country and everybody just knows how it works because they've always just done it.  

Enter Me, who knows naught about the four H's or what they stand for.

The 4-H Fair?  The fair is all about 4-H projects, not carnival games, elephant ears, and rickety rides?

Mini 4-H, ten-year 4-H, Cloverbuds?  What?

I'm trying my hardest to fit in here.  Become one with the small town culture.

So I press on, and try to word my questions to the 4-H leader so as not to cause her confusion.  

If all goes at all well, Peter will have two exhibits at the 4-H fair in the Mini 4-H level, I do believe.  One of a model made from Legos, and another project having something to do with reading.  I still am unclear.  But I'll probably post some pics of them on display.  Which reminds me that I think Reuben is a Cloverbud 4-Her and is supposed to have some kind of project to display at the fair.  In a week and a half.)

Once the fire engines turned the corner it became much quieter and Reuben was able to regain his focus...

Gathering candy off the street and sidewalk before the ants attacked it.

Thank you soldiers of yesteryear, for fighting for our independence from England.

I just wish tea and crumpets had saturated into our culture.

And that fun British accent.