Take a Hike

My little naturalist.  

I know he needs a haircut, but I love this picture of him in his exploring gear.  

Look at that smile.  Ready for a hike with her big brother.  This girl is fearless.

Them Bones, Them Bones, Them Sleepy Bones

I love this picture of my sleepy little skeletons taken in October last year.  They finally crashed out after a warm bath, a bit of jumping on the bed, and listening to me read a handful of Halloween books.  It is a moment I'll never forget and that I will try to recreate every year as long as I can!  Happy October!

Squam Art Workshops Fall 2010

"Squam Art Workshops Fall 2010"

I've been home from my trip to Squam Art Workshops for two weeks now and I can't believe it has taken me so long to write about my experience there.  I think it has a lot to do with my tendency to hang on to big events by avoiding the final task on the to do list.  This tendency is why I still have the proofs from my wedding photographer in a box under my bed.  It's hard to let go of momentous occasions like these.  Especially the ones you know have changed your life forever.  This experience really has changed me and my life forever, and as much as I would like to pour over every detail, I have decided to let my photos speak for themselves for the most part.  I think there is magic in the intrigue, and magic is what we all need a little more of these days.

To my instructors-
Thank you, Jen, for opening my eyes through writing and your kind, gentle words.  Your stories are spellbinding and your heart is as big as the lake we gazed upon.  I'm more of a Dr. Phil, but this Texas girl will drink your Kool-Aid any day!  You have a gift.

Beatrice, your class was so much fun and so helpful for what I do in writing and photographing recipes for my blog.  You have changed the way I look at food forever.  Your patient and soulful demeanor made the day such a joy. I will never forget your smiling eyes.  Thank you for sharing your amazing talent.

Flora, to put it simply, you are a rock star.  Your captivating presence makes you seem larger than life.  You have a natural gift for teaching.  Before your class I was paralyzed by deciding what to paint.  Your fingers-in-the-paint-no-brushes-needed-get-it-on-your-clothes-create-now-explain-later method is so liberating and fun, it was just what I was missing.  I was a beginner painter who now, thanks to you, considers herself an artist.

To my cabinmates-
Kate, Jen, Monica, Elizabeth, Helen, Aleece, and Cinderella...thanks for the fireside stories, the gut busting laughter, the birthday dip in the frigid lake, the constant atmosphere of acceptance, encouragement, and love.  I can't imagine seven people I'd rather shack up in the woods with!  You all are beautiful and so amazing.  Thank you for giving me a little piece of you so willingly and openly.  You made my Squam!

To Peg-
Your tireless attention to detail and positive attitude are what makes a good thing perfect.  I want you to know how much I appreciate you taking the time to send Cinderella and I the "Things to do in the area" email that helped make our trip so great.  I loved getting to spend the day with you and your daughter in Beatrice's class.  You are so amazingly kind and true.

To Elizabeth-
You have created such a truly unique and magical experience.  The lake, the trees, the fire, the food all seem like a dream looking back now.  But the faces of people I met, the relationships I made, and the feelings that stirred deep in my soul are still very clear to me.  You are a magic maker, and everyone needs a little magic in their life.  Thank you for having the courage to follow your dream.  I bet you never knew what an impact that would make on so many others.

To Cinderella-
We could have gone our whole married lives just going through the motions at family events year after year having no idea what kindred spirits we are.  Think of all the years we wasted.  Imagine all the years ahead.  I am so blessed to have you as a sister-in-law and so glad I got to share this amazing experience with you.  What an unforgettable adventure!

To those who make the magic,

Outside Lisa

Today in the Garden

It's a glorious day in the Texas Hill Country today.  Everything in my Fall garden is thriving in this beautiful weather.  We are in the high 50's at night and high 80's during the day.  

In the vegetable and herb garden

eggplant

bell peppers

jalapenos

leeks

okra

green beans

mustard greens

lettuce of all kinds

basil 

arugula

stevia

oregano

thyme

chives

In the flower garden

Zinnias

Celosia

Mexican Bush Sage

Purple Cone Flower

Red Bachelor Buttons

Purple and Orange Cosmos

Pink Dahlias

In the coop

Buffy has gone broody, AGAIN!  We are getting 2-3 eggs a day.  There should be more.  I have a feeling she is keeping the other hens from feeling comfortable laying in the coop and they may be laying elsewhere.  Guess we need an egg hunt!

Enjoy your day,

Outside Lisa

Lady Bug Release

This is a look back at one of my favorite moments of this Summer.  These pictures really make me smile!  So does the new software I downloaded for making these great collages.  It is called Picnik and you can find it here.  Thank you, Helen, for sharing.

Now, back to my story.  I was having a major problem with aphids in the herb garden and one day I happened upon a very organic method of getting rid of them while shopping for seeds at the feed store.  Lady bugs!  You can't get much more organic than that.  They came in a little tub full of some kind of food they like and wood shavings.  I think there were about 1,000 cute little red ladies (and gentlemen) and they cost just over eight dollars for the tub.  They were to be stored in the refrigerator until their release which was to take place at dusk.  You have to water the plants you release them on very thoroughly because they come out thirsty and if there is no water where you want them to be, they will fly away immediately in search of some.  My aphid problem was concentrated on the arugula, so I watered all the little plants and at dusk my number one assistant, Harrison, helped me set them free.  They immediately covered the plants and went to work eating up those pesky aphids.  Harrison and I had fun and even kept a few for the lady bug house his cousins got him for his birthday.  

While we were busy releasing lady bugs, our pretty alpha hen, Henrietta, was busy killing a snake she found in the garden near our old red barn.  Another great reason for keeping chickens around!

The lady bugs hung around for a few days and then moved on to greener pastures.  I think our lady bug to aphid ratio was not adequate for total elimination.  I ended up harvesting what was salvageable and added the rest to the compost heap.  It was time to replant for the Fall anyway!  Next time I'll buy more lady bugs and start earlier.

Time to bug off!

Outside Lisa

Basking in the Squammy Glow

Down this road lies an amazing place.  A place where new and old friends gather to share common interests and learn more about themselves and each other.  Lifelong friendships are made, self imposed barriers are broken, and creative souls are replenished.  Through art, spirits are lifted and lives are changed.

I have just returned from an amazing place and I can't wait to tell you all about it.  I am sorting through pictures and working on my next post, so stay tuned!

Outside Lisa

Wilson Farm in Concord, New Hampshire

I stepped off the plane in Manchester, New Hampshire and stepped into Autumn in New England.  Autumn is my favorite time of the year,  and this year, because of this glorious trip, I am getting to experience it a bit early.  Pumpkins, sunflowers, butternut squash, apples, mums, crisp, cool air that puts a spring in my step.  There is even a tiny hint of color creeping into the tips of the Maple trees.  I can't imagine a more beautiful place to visit in the Fall and I'm not even at camp yet!

The nice man at the information desk in the airport suggested a restaurant in downtown Manchester called Republic.  They serve locally grown vegetables and fruits.  This concept really rang our bell.  We hopped into our rented Chevy Cavalier and blazed a trail toward the restaurant.  Turns out I missed a turn and we ended up in a little town called Concord.  Left and right, mile after mile there were gardens full of vegetables, sunflowers, and even pick-your-own raspberries.  I wheeled into a farm stand and  Cinderella and I trotted inside.  The old red barn held a colorful bounty of eggplants, radishes, apples, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, corn, sunflowers, eggs, goat's milk and cheese, peppers, broccoli, and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.  For a farm girl like me and an "Auntie Organic" girl like Cinderella, we were in high cotton!  We broke out our cameras and lit up that old barn paparazzi style!  This produce was so beautiful, I just had to share.  So, without further ado, I present "Wilson Farm" in Concord, New Hampshire.

These are the best raspberries I've ever had.

Cinderella taking a picture of me taking a picture of her.

Me taking a picture of Cinderella taking a picture of me.

Look at all the mums in the field full of buds just waiting to bust onto the scene.  

We eventually made it to Republic and enjoyed a beautiful, tasty lunch there.  At some point on our way to Holderness it began to rain.  

We stopped off at Target and Michael's for some art supplies for one of my classes, and this is what we saw when we came out...

A rainbow!  What a wonderful welcome to New Hampshire!