Urban Farmer

Our church started a vegetable garden a few years ago, and it's raised hundreds of dollars for our Warming Center and other community efforts. It's also allowed many of us to get our hands dirty and learn a thing or two about growing food, city-slickers that we are.

I signed my city-mouse up to be on the garden team. I figure no one's too young to contribute once they're able and it would get us out in the sunshine!

So far, he's been a good farmer who loves to water the plants, eat the veggies, and play in the dirt. Sawyer's a huge fan of tomatoes, so he seems to find these mini ones particularly wonderful. Beans are a close second.

An interesting development in this year's garden has been the flourishing of seeds that we never planted, but that have risen out of soil that was from the church's compost bin. Peppers and gourds spring up all over the place that weren't planted. I mean, what the heck is this thing, a mellon? A cantaloupe? Whatever it is, it's massive and it's growing in our temperate garden unbeknownst to us.

I long for the day we have our own garden where we can sow and reap to our hearts content, but until then, this city plot will have to do!

Into the Woods

We have an annual group-camping tradition with some friends from college in which we joyfully participate each summer. We went last summer when Sawyer was 4 months old, and needless to say, this year was a little easier!

Like his mom and dad, he's a sucker for the woods and wide open spaces. He also loved running around in the tent like a maniac!

A dose of weekend camping in Wisconsin does the body good! Our campsite population grows every year with more kiddos (mostly of the female persuasion), and we all enjoy our fellowship in the woods relaxing and being together.

While a serene, adult-only camping trip definitely has its merits, it is a wonder to behold children outdoors, exploring new things and breaking free from the confines of every-day routine.

Bugs, games, frogs, s'mores, and campfires make life grand. Add in a remote controlled fart machine and they really enjoy themselves!

Poolside

All I wanted to do on Memorial Day was to plop my lawn chair next to a good old-fashioned kiddie pool and sit outside all the live-long day...and I got what my little heart wanted!

Sawyer's a water-boy at heart and pretty much jumped into the ice-cold water and chilled for two hours straight.

He also ate a decent amount of soggy cracker crumbs...yuuum!

Oh, a boy in summer is a wonderful sight to behold! I think the next three months are going to be a glorious thing...

Bald is Beautiful

This is Elin. Isn't she a pretty girl?

Bald is beautiful! Her mama, Lauren, and I are friends from college and spent the better part of last Friday afternoon corralling these two rug rats. Sawyer's looking through my wallet for some money no doubt...kids these days!

Before we got together, Sawy Boy and I hung out and played in the ample green space outside their condo on the lake. We occasionally shared our blanket and space with an assortment of dogs who were nearby at the adjacent dog park.

He's learning to appreciate dogs. They tend to bother him a little.

Type.Face.Lift

I'm a huge fan of Scrabble. My mother-in-law and I discovered "Bananagrams" together and now have an standing tournament that will go on into infamy. Like I've said in the past, I'm a puzzle girl.

I'm also a font girl. I can't say it's to a level of snobbery or ridiculousness, but I've got my preferences and appreciations. When my friend Aune sent this info my way, two worlds collided! Puzzles and typography combined into one glorious amusement.

Check out the A1 Scrabble set, designed by Andrew Clifford Carpener. LOVE! I hope it will actually be available post-haste. It's when things like this come out that you just kick yourself for not having come up with the idea first.