My Three Sons-Pleasant Lake, MN

It seems like only yesterday we received a phone call from Lee and Danielle, requesting a casual, relaxed family photo session by the lake.

Meanwhile, I noticed a few days ago there was a teeny bit of ice on our pond.  This is November and the lakes will be frozen before we know it…

Consequently, beautiful summer days in Minnesota are fleeting. Most likely why we embrace activities by the lake with such gusto.

It was a pleasure to spend some time with Danielle, Lee, and their busy boys.

Mom and Dad wanted to be sure we captured some special pics of their youngest, Charlie.  He was so proud to show us how far he could toss the really big rocks into the water.  I think my kids spent endless time doing the same thing when they were his age.  In fact, they still love our July trips to the North Shore of Lake Superior, where they skip rocks for hours.

Furminators.

I love watching my little fur balls play together.  Posh and Olive are two sisters that think the world of one another.

Their big, and I mean BIG brother Trouble thinks they are both drama queens.  Here he is giving them the last meow.

Life is good at the “zoo.”

 

Foto Friday

Every Friday I will be posting random photos from daily DigitalArtHouse life, and I’m contemplating some sort of Friday Foto challenge from you blog followers out there too. There may even be prizes…

Stay tuned.

AnimAl Fresco

Kidding Around

Yesterday we headed to Clare’s Well, a spiritual farm and popular place of respite founded and cared for by the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls.

Spending some time with Sister Carol and Sister Jan it is easy for one to notice and be in awe of their strength, generosity, and kindness.  They couldn’t let us leave without giving us gifts of fresh eggs and herbs from their garden.

Meanwhile, yesterday it was all about sharing some love with their new kids-two sets of twins, one set less than 24 hours old.

Adam took some great photos of the feathered friends at Clare’s Well too.  Here is a pea hen that insisted on flying over Adam’s head.

I love this chicken’s markings.  It was so fun to see chickens in every corner doing what chickens do best, scratching, fluffing their wings, and looking for tasty bugs in the barn and in the tall grass.  Happy birds give healthy eggs to us, that is something I am positive of.

Twas a grand day at the farm just “kidding” around.  :) As you can see, Violet thinks Mom’s humor is lacking…

Taking Time to Smell the Flowers

My kids teach me a lot.  I have to admit they might give me more valuable lessons than I give them.

Their pace is slower than mine-which I often find maddening! But, they notice the small joys in life we busy adults don’t.  Yesterday, I wasn’t feeling well and found little motivation. So I made a conscientious decision to follow their lead.

Together, we stuck our noses in cherry blossoms, apple blossoms, tulips, and my very favorite-lilacs.

The fragrance of a lilac is special, like most fleeting things.   Meanwhile, for some reason everybody else’s lilacs always smell better than the ones growing in your own yard.

I have to admit, I couldn’t help snatching a few on my walk…leaving enough so no one notice.

Later, on a visit to Grandma Patti’s house, I discovered Violet 0oh-ing and ah-ing over Grandma’s tulips.  She begged to bring some home.  Alas, these tulips aren’t your “run of the mill tulips.”  Okay, they are, but my mom and I planted them together the day Adam and I went on our first date, almost eleven years ago.  I asked Violet if she knew what a “date” was?  She rolled her eyes.

Here’s to spring in MN, which thankfully happens once every year, and to taking the time to notice and enjoy the sweet and simple pleasures of this world.

Parenting 101: Knit, Purl, Frog?

When I knit for children I compare the process of creating a knit garment with the trials and joys of  parenting.

It’s an easy comparison.  Handknit items are riddled with mistakes, love, and warmth.  You do your best, you try to follow a guide, and in the end it is a unique creation that will never again be repeated. And if you totally screw up beyond belief, you can just frog it and start all over.  Well, maybe you can’t start over with new kids, but if a specific technique is not working you can look to a new “pattern.”

Here is a little hooded sweater for my dear friend Nancy who is expecting her first child any minute.  The yarn was spun from local llama fiber of Evergreen Ponds Llamas in Monticello, MN.  The pattern for this sweater can be found online for free at Knitting Pure & Simple.

Of course, like all free advice I altered this to fit my own wants and needs.

Free advice?  Parenting?  Oh yeah those two definitely go together.

Baker’s Dozen Part II

Thanks to my chicken whispering assistant, Miss Violet, I was able to take a TON of pictures of the remaining chicks.

Introducing the rest of our “yummy” flock:

Crème brûlée is Silver Cuckoo Maran like her sister, Quiche.  Most likely she will be called Quiche or Brûlée depending on the day, as we aren’t so good at telling these girls apart if they are the same breed…

Chocolate Soufflé is a Barred Plymouth Rock hen, sure to be a calm pet and a good layer.  I love how dark her face and beak are.

Isn’t Eclair cute?! She will grow up to be a stunning chicken, as she is a Black Australorp.  They are really rather striking with their greenish-black feathers and bright red combs.  Unfortunately, we lost both of our Australorps pretty early on in our Fairytale Flock…

Pudding is just the fuzziest little thing.  I love her chocolate downy fluff.  Pudding is a Partridge Plymouth Rock.  She will eventually have really rich red feathers.

Flan, who may also be called Trifle from time to time, is another Speckled Sussex.  I can’t wait to see how these girls turn out!

A Baker’s Dozen

This morning my elated family awoke to a phone call from the post office.  A special and long awaited package arrived for us today.

Its contents?

23 baby hens!!

Darling Violet could hardly wait to tell her kindergarten friends about her new pets.  We won’t be keeping all of these girls.  Ten will be loved by another poultryphile, my aunt Sheila.

So, we end up with a perfect 13…sometimes referred to as a baker’s dozen.

Consequently, we are naming the girls for baked yummy goodies (which of course all recipes call for eggs).

These are the new gals so far.  I will attempt for more poultry portraits in the next couple of days, before these kids enter the “jurassic” stage…

I had a few run-away chickens during their photoshoot and I admit I’m a bit afraid one will disappear under my piano.

It’s going to be hard getting my work done today, with all that adorable peeping going on (their box is five feet from my desk.)

Life is good.

Trifle is a Speckled Sussex she and her sister are so far the quietest and calmest of the chicks.  It will be interesting to see how they mature and if they stay calm and friendly.

Quiche is Silver Cuckoo Maran.  These birds originally from France lay a very deep dark brown egg and are sometimes referred to as “chocolate layers.”

Little Cream Puff is an adorable and  feisty little thing.  Her breed is Columbian Wyandotte.  These are really cool looking chickens.  In our previous flock we enjoyed the beauty and curious nature of our Wyandottes.

The cupcakes are Silver Laced Wyandottes.  In our “Fairytale Flock” we referred to these hens as our “Cinderellas.”  They are a bit timid as pets, but absolutely stunning to look at.

I have to admit, I’m really exited about these Cookies and they might be my favorites of the flock.  These baby hens are Buff Orpingtons, a beautiful hearty blonde breed that is a great egg layer and a wonderful pet.

Although, since they originated in Britain, I may have to call them biscuits…

Violet’s favorite hen, Marie Antoinette, indeed the “queen of the coop” was a Buff Orpington.  R.I.P. dear Marie.  She was part of our original five ladies and the first victim of the mink.

Meringue is a busy busy chick.  She was the first one who decided it would be fun to run off my paper during the photo shoot and head for the “hills” aka under the piano.  She is a White Plymouth Rock hen.  She will grow up to look like “SnowWhite” from our Fairtytale Flock.  Adam and I aren’t crazy about white chickens, but our little chicken whisperer Violet insisted.

Nostalgic

Today it hit me hard how quickly time passes and how independent and grown up my children have become.

So many folks warned me that these moments would be fleeting.

Of course, I rolled my eyes and didn’t believe them.

This picture was taken “yesterday,” was it not?

どうもありがとう!

Yesterday the post worker left a HUGE cardboard package outside my door.

It was a special delivery from my brother and sister in-law currently living in Japan.

All of these goodies above were stealthily packed inside!  There is so much here I felt like I just won a Pachinko jackpot.

There truly was something for everyone here at Digital Art House-plushies, puzzles, snacks, tea, sake, toy robots, rubber stamps, bento boxes, books, a fancy red backpack, a Swimmer wallet, oh my!  What an amazingly thoughtful gift.

I especially liked the Sake “juice boxes.”

The “takoyaki” snack balls were actually pretty tasty and reminded me of the real thing…

And, I’ve already devoured my all time favorite Japanese junk food-chocolate covered macadamia nuts. (Sharon you know me so well.)

Violet said it best, “Arigato Sharon-san!”