Mulberry Season 2014

Early this spring Riley trimmed our little ol' scraggly trees polka dotted around our house that Shannon wanted to cut down. Some of them are positioned in odd places, including this one Mulberry tree. However, this particular tree did turn out to have a nice uniform shape after pruning and then proceeded to load itself with juicy purple berries, most within easy reach! Our family is a family of foragers, so the tree gets visited often for a sneaking of a sweet snack, (even while sitting beneath on the idling lawnmower).

It has been such a prolific tree this year that we've gone out in the mornings and picked a gallon bucket full. For over a month they've continued to ripen but our amount has dwindled to a few cups per picking.

We even tried shaking them onto a tarp a few times to get the higher plumper ones, but they like to stay attached awfully well. Then we had a mess of leaves and debris to pick through before washing the berries.

Of course they leave a lovely stain on hands and fingers, feet and toes.

 

But they also leave us with yummy fruit to put in the freezer or enjoy fresh!

mulberry & strawberry jam

yogurt, mulberry, & granola parfaits (in a bowl)

mulberry cobbler

berry breakfast shortcake

mulberry banana smoothies

breakfast mulberry meusli

Thank you, God, for sunshine, for rain, and for the season that gives us berries, berries, and more berries!

Father's Day Fun 2014

We opted to go to Cowboy Church Sunday morning of Father's Day. They served breakfast before the service, so Daddy was delighted to fill up on sausage gravy, biscuits, grapefruit juice, and coffee. Some of his favorites! How did they know?

There were even horses and ponies along for the children to ride afterwards.

 

 

 

We packed the van with a picnic lunch and gear for spending the afternoon at a small fishing lake.

We picnicked in the shade with friends/cousins and while we chatted shifted our chairs around throughout the day when the sun slowly found its way to us through the trees.

The children waded in the water, cooling off, looking for shells and rocks, and generally exploring (while getting muddy messy, though imaginative)!

Some of them totally immersed themselves and so were stripped down to dry off. Too cute to not snap some pictures of!

Never even thought of taking special snapshots of the special dads!
In fact we were so relaxed, we hardly got up to even grab the camera!

We came home with an empty cooler, piles of shells, no fish on a string, dirty feet & faces, and happy warm memories. 

Blessings to all you Papas!

Food, Food, and more Food

Breakfast:

Pineapple Froth.

2 c. frozen pineapple chunks

1 banana, frozen (opt.)

1 c. buttermilk/plain yogurt

1 c. water

2 T. coconut

1 T cane sugar

Put all in blender until smooth. Add ice cubes to thicken (if necessary).

Lunch:

Cobb Salad. No recipe for this as I substituted deer sausage for the chicken, cauliflower instead of eggs, cabbage for avocado, colbyjack for blue cheese, and carrots for the bacon. It is probably easier to say I kept the lettuce, tomato, and chives the same!

Salad Bar

Snacks:

Frozen Banana Pops 

(new recipe, perfect for hot summer days. Very simple, yet very fun for the young un's)

Supper: 

Fry Daddy Fries (on Father's Day)

Crispy Beef Tostadas

3 c. flour

5 tsp baking powder

1 1/4 c. milk

1 lb ground beef

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 oz green chilis

taco seasonings

1/4 c. water

2 c. refried beans

lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, salsa

Combine flour, baking powder, and milk to form a soft dough. Let rest, Cook beef and garlic. Add chilis, seasoning, water, and beans. Simmer. Divide dough into sixths. Roll each into a 7 inch circle. Fry tostadas in hot oil until golden, turning once; drain on paper towels.Top each with meat mixture and toppings of your choice.

Dessert: 

Peanut Butter Krispy Bars (a.k.a Scotcheroos minus butterscotch chips)

And those are a few yummies we've been munching on lately!

Creative Moments

While Shannon and Riley dream up building, renovating, and growing projects, the gals in the family express themselves with different entertainments.

Caroline only had one dime in her coin purse when we garage-saled one morning. To her delight she found a bead kit for $.10! It has occupied her and the littler girl for many hours so far!

I sewed up a small pillow and case for a baby shower gift.

Caroline embroidered and sewed a mini pillow for her cousin.

Annie spent some time making cards for her 18 pen pals.

Dress up at someone else's house is always a delight! Especially if you sing and dance too! "Who do you think you are? Some kind of superstar?..."

Annie surprised her mama with a cookies and helpful coupons.

Another baby gift to write, draw, and color. This time on a full-size pillowcase so big brother or sister can use it 1st!

Creative expressions in Daddy's shades.

Tea party lunch on the floor because Daddy was invited out as a perk for a morning service call.

Cora painting outside on the new patio.