barn stomping through the weekend

Man, there are just some of those magical moments in life where you feel like this is what it's all about!  

My brother lives and farms with his friend in central Illinois.  Being a musician, he thought the old barn on his friend's property would be the perfect setting for a concert.  With a lot of hard work, John and Dylan turned the upstairs hayloft into the most amazing venue.  

{me, my brother and sister}

Over 50 people were there including a crew that came down to film the event.  

The lights were strung perfectly and hay was used for benches.  

Old spools that the guys got from a company down the street were hoisted up through the barn window and used as tables for guests.

The chickens {and rooster!} ran wild as the guests all arrived.  And the sky was clear blue.

The back of the stage was framed with reclaimed wood. 

And the show begins!  John talked between songs.  There was laughter and there was emotion.  At one point he shared a story about driving through the country with Dylan watching some barns being torn down and how sad that made them both.  "Dylan's dream was to bring life back into this old barn" and bring life they did!  

  

It isn't easy being a farmer.  Dylan's farm is an organic farm.  He sells his produce at the farmers market as well as to restaurants.  They know the struggle they're up against with major corporations like Monsanto trying to regulate the way people farm.  But they keep at it with the pure intention to put good food out there.

A little of the stomping!

The weekend was finished up here on Father's Day.  This is my parents' garden.  It's a very large garden and one that we are very grateful for.  I planted the pumpkin patch for fall and weeded for my Pop.

And then it was back home to this guy

to celebrate what an awesome dad he is!

 and to the garden to check blooms

{coreopsis-Mercury Rising, Dwarf Catmint, and Spiderwort}

 Pinks are blooming

Campanula

  Alliums  "Graceful"

Being in my late 30's I get it more.  You are in charge of creating the life that you want.  With there being no guarantees,  you can bet I'm going out stomping!  

Wishing you all the best this week!  

our summer list

Life has been busy.  Summer functions and gatherings are all underway.   And as I watch the dates fill up on the calendar, I'm making a conscious effort to   S L O W   it all down before the season is gone.

Here is the start of our making memories list that will be posted in the kitchen...

1.  have an art show in the backyard 

2.  make nature books

3.  go to Blackberry Farm

4.  star gazing with glow sticks

5.  a family trip to the mountains

6.  4th of July decorating for the neighborhood parade

7.  make joy sticks for our garden

8.  go fishing

9.  campfire and s'mores

10. bike rides

11.  outdoor mud pie kitchen

12.  Tie Dye T-Shirts with Kool-Aid

13.  make cookies for family and deliver them

14.  take the train into Chicago and visit the museum 

15.  cook something using veggies from the garden

16.  go on the paddle boats in town

17.  make ice cream in a bag

18.  make a tent in the family room for a movie night

19.  attend our local library's "picnic and read alouds" for lunch one day

20.  pizza night at the pool

21.  pick strawberries and make jam

22.  get the beans involved Here

23.  take a drive to visit their auntie

Like most humans, I have tired days while the beans have grumpy days.  But if we can look for those moments in-between, I think we will be A-OK!

Are you making any lists???
I'm thinking my next one will be for the garden!

Enjoy your slow and as always....happy making, baking, and growing folks!      

Floral Fridays....foliage...the backbone of the garden

 I look closely at foliage in the garden.  It supports the blooms and remains when they fade, so for that alone, I think that foliage deserves praise and attention.

~my redbud forest pansy transplanted to a sheltered area and thriving~

~sedum after the rain~

~knotweed with its striking variated leaves~

~the fuzzy texture of coreopsis against the dwarf viburnum and weigela~  

~lungwort~

~jackfrost~

~Creeping Jenny~

~swaths of green on a garden walk~

~coleus supporting the back of this flower bed~

~mass plantings to create a serene feeling at a local park~

Happy Gardening!

Floral Fridays is a monthly photography project with different themes each month. This series is about fun and taking time out to smell the flowers. To play along, please email Trishie (trishie@underlockandkeyblog.com) for next month's theme.

a collection...around these parts

 School is winding down and summer break is upon us.  Kinda nice to have a loose schedule to look forward to.  Here is what has been making me smile as of late...

~My youngest getting the hang of the creek~

~The front garden is a work in progress but it is coming along a little further this year~

~An awesome scene at the arboretum~

~Found this bench to be perfectly magical tucked into a woodland garden on a stroll with the beans~

~My bean boy independent and free searching for tadpoles~

~My oldest touching the tadpoles~

~The children's garden where we spend many good days~

~Our go to dish that looks pretty with basil from the garden~

Sun Dried Tomato Pasta

A recipe adapted from the Barefoot Contessa...

Simply prepare the dressing and pour over warm pasta.  I add chunks of fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes from the garden, basil, and you can even cube chicken and add it if you like.

The dressing (which I always double)

~5 sun dried tomatoes in oil drained

~2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

~6 tablespoons good olive oil

~1 garlic clove, diced

~2 teaspoons kosher salt

~3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

blend it in a food processor and pour over warm pasta

sprinkle with parmesan cheese before you dig in if you want to tone down the flavor

~Peonies are opening~

~A new tablecloth for spring~

~Along the dry creek bed is my new favorite woodland plant...Bowman's Root (part shade) paired with Lamium, Autumn Joy sedum, and geranium~

~A new throw for summer~

~Chocolates in town with the hubs on our date night~

Here is to the little things that make us smile!  

Happy making, baking, and growing!