Summer Time

Today is the official first day of Summer!  But where I live, it has been summer for some time already!  I realized last night, when looking at the photos I had just uploaded from my iphone, that I really don't have much of anything new to write about.  My camera has not been fixed yet, so for those that may follow me on instagram, a lot of these shots are duplicates.  Sorry about that.  My days are pretty much the same now.  I rise early.  Go out to say good morning to the girls.  Let them out into their run until eggs are collected about noon, and then they get free range of the property.

We took the fence down around the pool.  I repurposed the gate to my chicken run.  Eventually, I will use the rest of the fencing to make a better run too.  But the new gate is working out great here!
I make my rounds at watering the gardens, both front and back.   Pulling a weed here and there.  Planning the meals around what I will harvest that day.

The front garden is filling out and looking lush and pretty.  And the sunflowers have now all begun to open up to show off their happy faces.

This is a typical haul about every other day or so.

Lots and lots of the sugar snap peas.  I love these!!

We are loving the Swiss Chard.  I saute it and use it just like you would Spinach.  The other day I sauteed a big pan of it, and steamed my first head of broccoli and made a delicious quiche for dinner.

It was so good!!

One day, I took all of my greens, stems, and pieces of produce I didn't use, and made a huge pot of vegetable stock.

Looks like a big pot of vegetable soup!  And smelled like it too!  I brought it to a boil, then turned it down to simmer, and left it on the stove for a couple of hours, with the lid on pot.  Then removed all of the pieces to my compost bin.  And poured the broth through a strainer.  I used a mesh coffee filter.

I wound up with all of this beautiful stock.  I froze some in ice cube trays, and tupperware.  Once frozen, I pop this out into a freezer bag.  And put the rest into jars to use for cooking.

Loaded with flavor, and couldn't be easier.  Do you make your own stocks?
Noah is my egg collector, washer, sorter, packager.  He takes his job very seriously too.

He pulls the yellow stool to the sink, and does the whole thing by himself!

While he did that, I washed and packed up all of the produce.

I have all of my friends saving their plastic that produce comes in at the market.  I wash it and reuse it for my garden produce.
We are spending a good deal of time in the pool every day now.  Noah wants me IN the pool with him usually.  I don't mind.  I am a water lover.

Whether he is showing me his muscles, or doing cannon balls, or relaxing on the raft, he is having fun!

Yesterday, Gennifer and the girls came to swim with us.

Look at Hannah's little pointed toe pose.  I love it!!!
And little Claire Bear! She is such a fishy too now!  They are in their new pool every day...all day, from what I hear!

Hannah and Noah were having a rousing water pistol fight, and I look over, and there is Clairey, sitting on the side of the pool, quietly playing with water toys.

They had fun, and I loved watching them have fun!
Not too exciting, but this is how I spend the days in the summer.  I go back outside after Noah goes home about 5, and work in the gardens again.  I sit in my favorite swing, and talk to my chickens.  Greg and I have a little dinner together when he gets home about 7.  And then I go back outside to put the chickens to bed, and maybe pull a few weeds in the garden.  I come in at dark, wet and muddy.  Hit the shower, and fall into bed, tired and usually sore, but ready to do it all again the next day.
Happy Summer!!!!!
XO  Kris