...How Does Your Garden Grow, Now?

With all good intentions we planned our garden growing to start indoors and then proceed outdoors.

Sometimes, as parents, our intentions and perfect dreams don't come about.

So we learn to improvise or make due.

Due to the condition of our new home,

digging and planting our indoor garden, outdoors didn't happen.

Instead our pea plants grew and grew and blossomed indoors and then started to die.

We got a couple of pods with some peas. But no more.

So we enjoyed the "practice" bounty albeit meager.

Lil' Monster is reaping what he sowed.

It was small - like him = Perfect!

He was NOT pleased.

He put it in his mouth,

bit it,

and promptly said,

 "I don't Like it."

Maybe next year we will try again with better results.

Pabbi and Mamma 

enjoyed the three other peas.

Bald Baby



July 2009

Haircutting Day is usually spontaneous (when Mamma is feeling creative) and we try out lots of new styles. We haven't done "Bald" in a while. The last time was back in 2009. It was a first time. The boy had the cutest afro and then we had some fun carving it out. But the bald look was the final result. This Lil' Munchkin was impressed for all of but a day. He would rub his head all the way around and say, "Where's my hair?" Then once he reached his eyebrows he would say, "There it is!!"

BUT  WE HAVE SOME NEWS!!!!!!

BALD is BACK,

BABY!

He loved using the shaving cream.

Not only all over his head,

but squishing it on his fingers and

wiping it this way and that

(shaving cream is good like that).

July 2011

Look at this beautiful bald boy!

He thinks he looks just like Uncle M. our military soldier,

and a friend of ours, Brother W: (an incredible man from our church)
who happens to be bald.

We got some beautiful shots of this beautiful baby.

Dancing in the Sun with Joy!

How DO You Mow YOUR Lawn?

How do you mow your lawn...

With a HUGE obstacle

that refuses to move,

and gives you the evil eye the whole time?

Use the Moose to mow your lawn.

Mission Accomplished!!!

Less sweat spilled

-as long as you keep your distance!!!

This moose about scared Mr. Elskan to death!

 He was comin' round the corner and saw

the moose standing bold as you please,

in the late afternoon, in the middle of our back yard.

Then it settled down and began eating.

Home(r) of the Brave...



Lil' Monster enjoying his Independence Dinner

Being newcomers to the area, holiday traditions are having to be reinvented and remade based on our surroundings. When Mamma was looking to plan something special she found lots of options to be explored. The cities and towns here all had something planned, it we just figuring out what to do, and what the weather would allow us to do.

So, the decision was made, Pabbi would take Lil' Monster to an early parade in the neighboring city of Kenai - while mamma prepared at home. That afternoon the American Legion Post # 18 in Ninilchik was hosting activities and an Independence lunch/dinner. After that we would drive to the farthest town south on the Kenai Peninsula, Homer, for their late afternoon parade.

When the Fourth arrived, we were astounded by the beautiful weather and couldn't wait to get out in it. The "Guys" went to the parade and collected some sweets. Then we all headed south. Instead of going straight to our destination in Homer, we stopped several times along the way marveling at the beauty of the Kenai Peninsula.

Homer Parade

Don't eat it, darling!

Trying to figure how these work.

Yeah! He did it!

Look, Mamma! Candy!!

Vehicles and candy were the favorites.

Who's coming?

 What parade is any good unless without a special guest appearance?

Santa was a highlight of the Parade.

What a wonderful day it was.

We took so many photos.

It makes living here feel just a little more like home.

...How Does Your Garden Grow, Too?

We are back at it:

Garden Growing.

We decided to make some more pots 

and planted some more  tomatoes 

UPDATE on :

...How Does Your Garden Grow?

Only 10 days later and we already see the blossoming of our Pea plants.

In it's little greenhouse-of-a-jug it stays pretty moist and warm.

But add water once in awhile to keep it that way.

Don't forget the occasional hug!!

...How Does Your Garden Grow?

How do you grow a garden in the bitter cold of the far north?

By this time of year, most of the country has already planted the beginnings of one.

Yet, here in Alaska we are still wearing coats and boots.

So how do you plant a garden?

You begin your garden indoors.

Actually we are late in planting;

most Alaskans have already begun theirs.

This year, we are going to practice.

Next year we hope to begin a real garden.

So we thought to begin the lessons by letting the wee little ones plant this year.

Steps to an indoor garden.

1. Take a jug (milk, water, etc.) and cut the top off.

2. Decide what crop you want (we chose peas and tomatoes).

3. Have a bag of dirt. 

3. Pour dirt into your cut jug.

4. Plant the seed in the dirt.

5. Water it. 

6. Seal the top on.

7. Label it with the initials of what you planted.

8. Give it a big hug

(we know love makes little things grow strong)

9. Hang it in a sunny place.

10. Wait to see what happens....

(* No child was hurt in the making of this post; knives were given only under extreme supervision and merely for the aesthetics of a photo. No child had actual use of knife. DO NOT allow your child use of knife without supervision - and preferably when they are of a mature age. *)

My Mini-sized Hero

Doesn't this little strong man make you quake in your boots?

He fights for the Right!

Pray to never meet him on a dark street after having done something wrong.

He will bring justice...

and set the world right again!

He certainly is MY Hero!!