For moms it also can be really difficult, but I try. We are now over 1/2 way through our growing season and the fall weather is making us feel extra sleepy. The light is different, the mornings and evenings are supper cool and you just want to stay in bed all day. For the children and I we have brought back the afternoon naps–so nice. So at 1:00 (or as close to it asn we can get) we have story time (read by me) followed by a story on CD for the older children while I, Mavis and Effie take a much needed nap. Sometimes the older children fall asleep before their story is done but just having that quiet is so nice. This is my secret for running an organic farm and CSA, raising 4 children, keeping a home in order, writing on the side and staying sane. You can also bring a book to bed and read while the children nap. Allowing myself this quiet time every day is so great. Proeun has even gotten into and looks forward to the weekends when he can join us.

This weekend we had a wonderful trip planned. I had been looking forward to it since I first got the invitation back in June. See my cousin Dana had recently married in Michigan and there was going to be a Minnesota reception for him and his new wife. This special event was combined with a landmark event–the 60th wedding anniversary of my grandma’s sister Betty and her husband (my grandparents will have been married for 63 years this year!). Or as Avril would put it, “grandma’s sister’s graduation for 20,000 years.”

The mornings are cooler now and the evenings really cool off fast. It’s kind of like in spring when you just know that while it might still be cold summer is just around the corner, well fall is just around the corner and I am so excited.

Anyway it is pleasant to be home in the fall, I can’t wait for apples, winter squash, bonfires and hayrides–fun. Looks like we might miss the fair this year, unless we want to battle crowds on the weekend, we’ll see.

While this blog is officially about our journey to a more self-sufficient life it is also about our life. This weekend we took a little pit stop on that journey for a little much needed fun and recreation.

First we went to Floodwood (about 1/2 hour west of Cloquet) where our family has some property. This became our base. While we travel there frequently throughout the summer most of those trips were working vacations as there is much work to be done there. This was a vacation vacation and Two requested going to the “big lake you can’t see across.”

Two insisted that the water was “refreshing” but I would describe it as painful so I wasn’t brave enough to get in up past my calves.

Effie didn’t mind though, she kept trying to scoot down into the water. For awhile we let her play at the edge but her little legs were turning red from the cold. She still kept trying to get farther in though so I guess I have a water baby.

There was other shore fun as well.

From there it is only a short trip to Gooseberry falls where there were lots of opportunities to climb. This just happens to be Avril’s favorite thing to do.

And more water play. Yes that is Two in the water fall.

I experimented a bit slowing the shutter speed down on my camera to capture this picture of water flowing.

Two caught a leech. Yes this was a time the leech was trying to get away from the boy. Even though it kept trying to latch on to him he was so pleased to catch it and had to show me his prize. This boy had definitely forced me to get out of my comfort zone as it wouldn’t do for mama to scream and run away after he worked so hard to bring it to me.

When I was in college I went to visit my grandparents in Florida (they are snow birds) for my school’s J-term. While there I saw their resident pair of Sandhill Cranes. The birds are relatively rare so imagine my surprise when last year a pair showed up at the farm.

They are back this year–with a baby. They are often around in the early mornings, especially on the weekends when there is not a whole lot of activity going on. This Sunday I saw them in the caretakers garden.

The baby and other parent were in among the corn. Unfortunately it looks like there is something wrong with one of the baby’s wings, as it doesn’t seem to fold right across it’s back. I am hoping it will resolve itself and haven’t pointed it out to the children who enjoy looking for the cranes whenever them come.

Two likes to sneak up for a closer look. But being a momma myself I know this year that baby could change things a bit with our birds. One day Avril and Two got probably within 15 feet of them before they noticed. I was keeping an eye on them. Good thing I was because while the mom and baby ran one direction the father lowered his head and circled around in the flanking motion. I warned them and they were able to escape without harm. Now we look from a safer distance.

It’s definitely Just Another Day in Paradise type day. But you know as the song suggests it really is paradise even with clothes on the line and a broken dryer (again). But days like today I feel so thankful for a resourceful husband who knows how to fix stuff and save us money! Especially when we are saving money to buy a farm.

My uncle grew up on a northern Minnesota dairy farm. He is my fix it guru (other then E-How and Youtube). One day I asked him how he got so good at fixing stuff and he said, “when you grow up on a farm and you don’t have much money you just have to.” Well we are “having to” a lot lately but really racking up the skills.

It is so easy to let the business of life get overwhelming and crowd out the things that are really worthwhile. The things we are working for all along.

In years past we have taken a fair number of camping trips. Once we started farming this got a little more complicated, but we still enjoyed our refuge in the woods. This last weekend we planned to go camping, but with the heat of the previous week we were behind at the farm. So we stayed and made our own refuge. It was so worth it. We set up the “pool” in the backyard and went “swimming” three nights in a row. We grilled out and had favorite meals.
 

Proeun grilling up the goodness. I love sarongs!

On the grill–slices of zucchini and eggplant with a marinade of soy sauce, lime juice, honey, onion and garlic powder, green onions, and traditional Hmong sausage.
 

Already off the grill–turkey burgers with dill, parsley, onion and garlic powder and lamb steaks from  Blue Genetian farm.

We like to eat our meat wrapped in lettuce with herbs like mint, cilantro and sorrel. Then we dip the wrap in a spicy dip of roasted ground chilis, garlic, lemon and sugar with a pinch of salt.

It made for a very special weekend and reminded me that sometimes kids prefer eating at home to restaurants and backyard pools to water parks (and I do to), especially when it is all together as a family.

So every morning this week when we have gone to the farm our resident Sandhill Cranes were there but I never had a camera. So today I brought a camera intending to take pictures but they were no where to be seen. There was more then usual activity at the farm so that may be why. I’ll keep trying to get pictures and share them as soon as I can.

My sentiments exactly Avril. But heh what we in Minnesota won’t do for wonderful fruit. Our fruit shipment from Washington came in last night during one of the hottest, most humid days of the summer. A friend said yesterday the only place in the western hemisphere more humid then Minnesota was the Amazon according to MPR (Minnesota Public Radio).

But we got all 249 boxes unloaded from the semi and into our living room and today there is much joyous snaking as friends and family come to pick up nature’s bounty. On a slightly philosophical note today I am reminded of just how blessed we are in this country. Just look at the stacks of fresh produce available to us! And thanks to next door neighbors for helping us unload and bringing amazing fresh bread over to us. Now we have bread and fruit.

The warm weather is suddenly gearing up for the peak of the growing season. With the solstice behind us and August fast approaching it seems like this summer has been really short. But our crops are growing nicely and we are getting plenty of good veggies. Here’s what’s happening around the farm.

Beets.

Asian long beans.

Swiss chard

Kohlrabi. Growing vegetables have really expanded my tastebuds. My aunt told me about this wonderful veggie last year and how to grow it. So this year I get just a taste. Next year I’ll have to grow more.