thank you, God, for rain

It has been raining all day.
Its as though my soul is being tended to.
I.love.the.rain.

There was a brief two hours of drizzle light enough to play outside this morning.

If the garden has a soul, its being fed too....

Ryan is growing hopps for beer brewing.  They are giving shade to the chickens too.

Phoebe...

Ryan says we can put this in tea and smoothies soon.  

We planted this apple tree the month he was born to mark his birth.  

He takes tending to it's first two apples quite seriously.

This will be popcorn from a farm in Michigan - from our beach vacation last summer.

sage...

Their favorite thing to do outside lately is what they call, "trimming things with scissors".  

Today, Riv said he was making "chicken salad"...as in salad for the chickens!

Now that we're back inside, they have several times said, "Thank you God for rain." when passing by the window.  With a quiet reverence.  It made me realize they are echoing a phrase I've murmured aloud all day.

Yes, indeed.  Thank you, God, for rain.

PT 101

So apparently we are potty-training.

Grandma has been saying for months she's ready, and apparently this little girlie agrees and is taking matters into her own hands.

It started when, shortly after breakfast, Sage McCage went up to her bedroom, and came down wearing big-girl panties that she found in her closet.  And said, "Mama, go to the basement and get the potty train."  Meaning the potty chair.

Sigh....okayyyyyyyyy okayyyyyyyyyy, if you insist.

I was hoping to wait until she's 7, and she's not even 2 1/2 yet.

You know that thing that first-time moms do....how they plan out the big PT event....with drinks and treats and panties and sticker charts and timers and cameras and binders full of research?  I did that with child #1.  It was real and it was fun and I am done.

Here's the mission statement of Bartel PT 101:  Once You Go To Panties You Never Go Back.  So this little girlie just signed us up for a good 4 days of staying within 200 feet of a potty.  Hmmm....maybe I should clean the bathroom.

But my hopes are high that it won't be too bad (famous last words) because she is doing this Sage Style and throwing occasional squeals of delight and enthusiasm in with a general attitude of no biggie. 

Here we go......

the girls

The girls are chicken prodigies.  Here's why.....they:

come when they are called - especially Poke.  She walks right up to me and nuzzles in when I crouch down to her, even if she knows its to put her back into her coop.

cluck when they hear our voices....asking us to come play.  How can you NOT come play when a chicken calls?!

are always agreeable....especially when I'm talking with them about politics. Ok, two are named Sasha and Malea, which may make them a tad biased.

put themselves to bed....the sun goes down and they tuck themselves right in and wait for us to close the door.

teach my children to do chores.....they have taught the kids their "laying cluck," so they know to come running for a new egg.  The girls conveniently leave poo on the eggs sometimes, just to teach the kids to not be such Tender Easily Grossed Out Town Kids.

solve spats within about 30 seconds.....one bows down, spreads her feathers, and submits to the other.  Argument adjourned.

love basil.

give me a present every day...its soft and delicious on the inside and comes with pretty brown, green, pink, or white packaging.  Lake Michigan is even sucking up to me with double-yolkers.

The city recently passed a law about these ladies because many people in town are getting them.  The law is a good thing - it keeps living conditions good and holds owners accountable.  We now can only have 8, so 6 went to live with our friends in the country.  Those 6 actually got the good end of the deal because their coop is brand new and has three levels of nesting boxes, like one of those mansions where you pick a new bed every night.  And they get to roam free there, which matters to me a lot.

The new city law calls them  "fowl".  But let's go with Genius Chickens Who Keep Us All Sane And Happy instead.

Gooooooo Wingnuts!!

There are 21 days until school starts, but who's counting?

We are checking off the last few things from the summer To Do list.  This one we had to do, if for no other reason, because they are the Wingnuts.  Wingnuts?!?!  A team with a name like that is a must see, right!?

I thought we would maybe make it through 3 innings, but we lasted until the very end.  I used to go to these games with Dad and loved listening to him explain and analyze the game.  My miniscule memory capacity is a true gift in so many ways - including that every time he explained the game it was like the first time hearing it.

I attempted the same thing with our kiddos....."See, right before the pitcher throws, the catcher gives him signs on what kind of pitch to give."  Oh I felt SO smart.  I know exactly three things about baseball, then I have to turn it over to the dad.

Ever the quiet observer...

And when did she turn 14?!...

They got along for 3 days to earn money in a jar for snacks at the game.
Every hour with no fighting = $1.
Every fight = loss of $1.
Magic.
They ended up with $15.
I'm going to bribe them with cold hard cash for the next 16 years.  Yes I am, because yes, money does indeed buy happiness if happiness is peace, love, and understanding in the Bartel house for three days.

Sorry for the selfie, but when I give the camera to the kids, I don't get it back.  The last time we went to a game here together, we had been going out for 3 months and I was in a frozen tshirt contest (which I won, thank you very much!).  My word, I love this man more than ever!

Sage's favorite parts were when they played music as the batters took the plate so she could dance.  And eating peanuts.  Except we didn't buy any peanuts.  But she ate a lot of peanuts.  Oops.  Idle parenting at its best.....

We got to go on the field after the game and run the bases.  Did you know that its not real grass and sand?  That makes baseball fact #4.  Go me.

Super happy that a Wingnuts game was on the list!

fact...

Finally - we are having about the right amount of both.  Finally.
Thank you thank you thank you.

fruit flies be gone

What is it about peaches that makes those pesky fruit flies get so bold?  They multiply by the second and the kitchen air is full of them within a day.  I love having fresh fruits and garden vegetables out on the counter though, and I'm stubborn about keeping them there.

This concoction is magic.  Within a day of putting it on my counter, they are g-o-n-e!

Fill a small bowl with apple cider vinegar.  Add one or two drops of dish soap.  Don't stir it.  Just set it on the counter.  The cider attracts them and the soap weighs down their wings so they are trapped.  

Go get 'em!

Malachi and Zeph

Look who we get to spend the next five days with.

Being an auntie is the best.best.best.

And being a sister isn't far behind.

Love.

roasted roots

Root vegetables are coming out of the gardens this week.

They taste like earth and air and all things good.

Try this.  You're welcome!

Roasted Roots

potatoes
carrots
beets (peeled)
onions
garlic cloves (whole)
fresh garden herbs (basil, thyme, oregano, parsley)
olive oil
half a lemon
kosher salt
balsamic vinegar

1.  Cut all the veggies into 2 inch-ish pieces.
2.  Spread them out on baking pan that has been sprayed with Pam.
3.  Drizzle olive oil over the top.
4.  Squeeze half a lemon over it all.
5.  Sprinkle herbs and salt over it all.
6.  Bake at 425 degrees for 35 minutes, stirring once.
7.  Drizzle with balsamic vinegar just before eating.

oh heaven the basil is growing!

We just made three batches of pesto from our garden basil.  YUM.  The kitchen smells like heaven in a bowl.  And its all Sage McCage would eat for supper.

Try it....

Quick Classic Pesto

whew

We just returned home from Phoenix, Arizona - where Ryan and I coordinated a program for Mennonite Junior Youth at the big bi-annual Menno gathering.  80 kids - age 11-14, and about 20 adult volunteers.

Look at em.....how can you not adore those prepubescent little people!?!......

It was like 4 days of summer camp, but we got to send them home at 9 pm each night!  We ate three meals a day together, and fit in worship, a water park, the Anabaptist Game (where they learned about our anabaptist history and current day victims of persecution), a service project, a scavenger hunt around the city, games, a trip to the science center, salsa dancing, and more.  

WHEW.

That's an understatement.

I'm incredibly inspired by these kiddos, and reminded of what it is to be so raw and full of life.  

Inspired to embrace life with abandon

reach out to people not like me

search more deeply for who God is

laugh easily

make new friends

and just plain grow

WHEW.

June did a number on me - getting ready for this and keeping up with our kids and trying to manage summer.  I'm totally worn out.  But it is a silver lining that I am strung out and exhausted, and in the same breath so thankful and so inspired.  Thank you, kids.  I told you every day that you were rockstars, and I mean it!!