A burst of bravery

Our usually timid daughter shocked both of us when she rode the Ferris wheel, fun slide, crazy bus, and roller coaster at the county fair. We had been talking about the fair for quite awhile and she said she wanted to ride the Ferris wheel, but neither one of us really believed it. Not only did she, she had a blast! She threw up her hands, hooted and hollered!! It was a joy to see our usually cautious girl go in head first and have so much fun. Paco was a little green a couple of times, but Lillian cried for more and was curtailed only by our pocketbook.

We are so dazzled by this new show of daring that we are taking her up to Indiana Beach this weekend with some friends.

We also spent a lot of time in the animal barns. This was my doing since I am the one pushing my family toward some livestock next summer.

so much more

...has happened in the past month or so. Lillian grabbed her sidewalk chalk one evening and started making drawings--actual representational ones. She now makes stick people, spiders, dogs, house, and trees!! She will sometimes do this with paper, but seems to prefer the medium of sidewalk chalk on the driveway. ---Mom and dad can only preserve these with the camera. I will post the original drawing here.

She started using the potty in April, but mastered #2 this week after much encouragement. She even wakes up dry most mornings, but I think going cold turkey would be premature. (speaking as the laundress around here)

We have all been busy. Paco is dismantling one of the 4 pasture fences to begin to expand the look of the back yard and is beginning to talk about starting demolition of the old barn. We are planning on keeping at least 2 of the pastures with the lean-to's and might get chickens and/or goats. We are also planning for a big veggie garden next year.

The gardening and animal plans are fueled by my obsession with becoming a "locavore" family after reading the life-changing book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I have also been teaching myself how to make cheese as well as putting up farmer's market food for the winter. We are all eating and feeling better than we have in awhile. I am making a lot of local contacts with farmer's and finding out how to get the best food for my family.

Bad Blogger

Well, I am on the fence about continuing this. At a time when there don't seem to be enough hours in the day, I'd rather spend them doing something than regurgitating it for the blog. But.....it is a nice record and a way to communicate to friends and family.

It's been a great summer so far. My health is good and we have been busy. We just hosted Nanny and Grampy for a week of fun and birthday partying. We have been swimming a lot. Lillian just completed her first summer day camp experience--three 9-12 days at the local zoo. This was BIG, BIG, BIG. It was the first school-like experience for her and the first time she went and did anything like that herself. The picture is of her and Lucy the horse on the first day of camp.

The house is getting some fixing up too. The guest room is getting a makeover to become a craft/art room for me and Lil. It was painted "willow herb" green today and I am giving the old potting table/changing table a spray paint makeover to become our main craft organizer.