around here....

around here...

the beans help Gramps harvest vegetables from his garden.

around here....

 I look for color among the fading areas of the garden.

around here.... 

I visit other gardens to study what is blooming.

 Lobelia "Monet Moment"

 Blue Paradise Garden Phlox

 Miss Ruby Butterfly Bush

Honeysong Purple Stokes Aster

 Blue Fortune Agastache

around here...

sisters are making music together.

around here...

I'm working to create as many unprocessed snacks as I can for my beans.

Oatmeal Bites

Oatmeal Cookie Bites...

1 and 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup butter

2 eggs

4 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 and 1/4 cups flour

1 1/2 cups oats

1 cup raisins 

1 cup chopped walnuts

Beat wet ingredients in a mixer.  Slowly add the dry ingredients and walnuts (good with or without nuts!) Mix the raisins in by hand.  I like to make them small for the beans but large are awesome too!  Cook at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

around here...

I feel so lucky to have met all of you talented folks!!!  You inspire!!

Joining Sarah for...

quick combo

Sometimes I stumble upon a plant combination that feels just right..... 

Joe Pye Weed----Switchgrass----Coneflower  

I'm thinking the coneflower is Pow Wow Wild Berry Echinacea? 

I like this combination so much that I'm going to use it as a starting point for our new side yard.

 Have a lovely weekend everyone!

calendar cupboard

Our first bean is heading off to preschool this year so it's time to get organized!

A year ago we took out the walls on our first floor so that we could use every square inch of this place.  There was no room for a desk, but we did put in an end cupboard for storage.  I knew the day would come when we would need a calendar cupboard.  It's only about 5 inches deep and has been a complete mess up until this week.

 I have researched systems and figured out that I'm kind of loosey goosey!  I'm not a chart person.  I can't have things mapped out to a T because I just don't roll that way, so I opted for areas where I can scribble, erase, hang and house a calendar to keep track of important upcoming dates.

Here is the cupboard before...

And here is our new calendar cupboard...

I painted the back wall with chalkboard paint and hung mini cork boards from Target.  Each kid has there own nook in the cabinet for their papers.

The clipboards are for my many lists.  I found a fantastic shop on Etsy with very cool stationary....Skel

And of course my bean has her spot too!

linking up with...

Cozy Little House
House of Hepworths
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Jennifer Rizzo
An inviting Home

Funks Grove

We packed up the car and took a trip down to visit Auntie E!  She took us to Sugar Grove Nature Center in Funks Grove Illinois.  I wish our town had a children's area in the middle of the forest like this!  Mud pits for digging, zip lines, cabins, tire swings, sand boxes, and pots laid out by the stream for cooking. Basically, every kid's dream!

For the big kids there are miles of beautiful prairies, a magnificent bird sanctuary, and native gardens.

The barn is set up with old rockers to take in views of the prairie.

My new bird watchers!

And the youngest explorer of the group!

And since I am on the subject of my sis, I am going to take this moment to brag about her!   She is a passionate gardener who has shared her love of gardening with her students through their school garden program.  Keep up the mission E!!!  You Rock!

garden inspiration

Craig Bergmann

I couldn't resist sharing his work one more time!

Happy Gardening!

I'm getting heavy....

Ok folks, I'm getting heavy in this post.  As I continue to educate myself on GMO's in our food supply, I can not sit back any longer and remain silent.  As a mother I want the best for my kids, as does EVERY other mom that I know.  And that means knowing what is in our food.  

GMO's Defined

Most of my readers are Earth conscious people that I admire for their beliefs and their love for the environment.  Unfortunately, here in the US we are in the midst of something very frightening that stands to not only threaten our environment, but the health of our family and friends.  Major corporations are using harmful pesticides that are altering our crops and killing our bees....

what's killing our bees

As a mother to a little boy who has many food allergies, I am blown away that there are not more people connecting the dots between these practices and the growing number of children inflicted with food sensitivities.

via-antigmofoods.com

If there is another march I will walk. I will walk for ethical practices when it comes to our food supply.

Join the movement....Food Democracy Now

Non GMO brands....HERE

At Realfarmacy.com they gave a list of brands to be aware of....

Education is power.  And with it I believe that we can change the course we're on!  Peace!