Summer 2010

It's been a memorable summer for Aaron and me. We're having a lot fun, while learning hard lessons at the same time. Here's a look at what our summer was like...


I harvested more than 3 tomatoes from my garden and encountered some great photo opps...

In June, Jonas Alexander Vidal (my sister's 2nd child) was born! I was able to stay with her for 2 whole weeks. I was able to be in Florida before, during and after the birth. I had a great time with everyone (my parents were there, too).

Goings On

Lots of gardening (seed-starting, sowing, transplanting, building my dream compost-compiling center, etc) has kept me busy these past few months.

Thanks to all this rain, potatoes and onions are reaching for the sky, zucchini has sprouted and put on its true leaves, & marigold & nasturtium are on their way. Lettuce is doing so-so (transplanting error), & the tomatoes leave a bit to be desired, but there's time yet. Maybe I'll be able to harvest more than 3 vegetables TOTAL this year (all 3 puny tomatoes)! We shall see....

In addition to this, I painted the outside of the trailer in Mar/April. This will someday be the guest house (you lucky guests), so I didn't mind putting a bit of sweat into it.

Before...

After...

And last night, hubby brought home 3 (eight-week old) kittens: two brothers and one sister...

left to right: Priest, Pixie, Parson

(Priest has a small white patch on his throat; whereas, Parson has a white ring all the way around his. Pixie's face is shaped like a little nymph, and I can already tell she's mischievous as a sprite).

If they decide to stick around, I'll be very glad for the company, entertainment and, hopefully, less mice on the place (at their previous home, they were already catching mice and garter snakes).

When Aaron brought them home, I watched them for hours, climbing posts on the barn, catching moths, pouncing on each other and jumping around the yard like they had pogo-sticks for legs.

Those of you who've watched a kitten play know what I mean...

Sew Easy

For Christmas 2009, I flexed my (very) basic sewing/knitting skills to make the women in my family some homespun gifts. It was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to do it again next year.

Some knitted items for neice Ashey's stuffed animals: scarf, pillows & mini afghans...

Fall-type pillows and table-runners for sister-in-law Stephanie & mother-in-law Janey...

Christmas table cloth for sister Rheagan...

Rooster pillow & table-runner (not pictured) for chicken-crazy mom...

Christmas 2009 Flashback (part 2)

Now for Moriah's family...

#1: Charades at our house (game-time w/the Stanleys is always an experience! #2: Farmer Boy #3: the 2 lumberjacks (Juan & Aaron) that took down the oak next to the trailer

#1: Cousin Robyn w/Elijah & her daughter Alyson-Claire (I brought some instruments that received hours of use. #2: Sis Rheagan & Grandmother Gentry. #3: the good-lookin' Vidal clan (bun in the oven is little baby boy!)

#1: Us classy ladies sure know how to take a professional-looking family photo. #2: Ninja Snuggie. #3: the sweet nephew

Elijah & Auntie Moriah getting ready to go "ow-side" & bark at the dogs, run on Papa's trailer (& fall & get a bruise on the head...not me, Elijah) & look at the "waber" in the winterized pool.

I love FAMILY!!

Christmas 2009 Flashback

It may be February 2010, but my mind's been thinking about the fun-filled Christmas Aaron and I had with our families last Christmas! Like many others, it's our favorite holiday for so many reasons.

Here's a taste of the fun we had with Aaron's folks...

#1: I'm introducing "Uncle Ervin" from Crow Mountain, AR. #2: James reading Aaron & I blessings that he wrote. #3: sister Adrienne, Aaron & niece Ashley

#1: mom Janey & Ashley kidding around--would ya believe this happens A LOT?! #2: Adrienne adorned in flour from the Hilburn gals annual Baking Day!

#1: Sister Stephanie w/hubby (& perpetual dry-wit) Matt. #2: pretty gals in for a close one. #3: Aaron's big (6'1") little bro, Trevor.

We're counting down the days until Xmas 2010!!