generations

I should have been a historian, or a genealogist, or a anthropologist of some kind. If I could go back and tell my younger self to go in this direction.......I think it would have been cool.
Not that it is too late.
I have been doing some serious digging into my family history. Last year, I spent about a month working on my dad's side with quite a bit of luck. I was able to go back about 8 generations in Sweden. What a thrill.
Last week, I got the bug again. If I am good at one thing, it is research. I am persistent for sure.
I started looking into my mom's side. Wow.
There are family lines that are documented going all the way back to 1600's. We are talking early colonists, and Quakers, and other truly fascinating stuff. Other family members seem to have appeared out of thin air. How can someone have no paper trail ?
I have just about exhausted most of the lines. It is amazing to me to look back several hundred years. I am going to keep better records for my children and grandchildren. I would like to have this all worked out for them, so it can just be added to as the generations unfold.
I am thinking a large hardbound journal, kept with all my research. I would like each family group to have their own page. Eventually, I would draw out the entire family tree.
This is a lot of work, but so worth it.

Have a blessed Tuesday, Tami

busy and happy

{homemade Saimin}

Well, the new school year is off to a great start.
The weather has been gorgeous.
I am doing better this school year.
I feel a little less unsettled and more able to be at home. That is a big change over past years, when I avoided being home at all for the first month, at least.
I don't feel as lonely.
I am more at peace.
It only took 3 years to get here.

I spent this morning trying to soothe my lower back. I have no idea what I did to it. Perhaps, cleaning the master bedroom Monday.......I rested a bit in hopes of it feeling better, and it didn't hurt any to catch a little nap. My mornings start very early. I get up at 5:30am and wake Kane shortly after. He leaves for school at 6:25am. A sophomore in high school. How did this happen? Eric gets up at 6am and leaves shortly after that. I wake the 3 youngest kiddos at 7am, and they are out the door by 8am. Whew.

Last week, Eric and I made Saimin. It is the real-food equivalent to Top Ramen. It is totally famous in Hawaii. When we are in Kauai, we eat at Hamura Saimin in Lihue. Go, if you're ever there. It is amazing. Our version was made with Spam, hardboiled eggs, bok choy, and green onion. Spam.......very popular in Hawaii. We will have to make this again. It was a hit.

The garden is still producing lots of tomatoes. Such a blessing.
I took a little break from knitting. I was too into reading. My world would be perfect if I could do both. I am finally ready to finish the second sleeve on my cardigan.

I am reading "The Fiery Cross", the 5th book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Huge books. Huge time commitment. Loving every moment of it.

This week is a busy one.
Church council, bible study, curriculum night, Cub Scouts, sports practices, guitar..........
Soccer and football tonight. Somehow manage homework. Whew again.

Friday should be better. No practices, no homework, just playing outside and dinner together.
Yes.

Have a blessed Thursday, Tami

a quiet room

I spent the entire day on Monday cleaning out master bedroom. Over the summer it had become a dumping ground for donation bags, Christmas gifts in the works, unused baskets, library books, stray Lego creations, and a whole lot of other stuff that I don't want there.
I wiped down walls and mouldings, dusted and polished the wood, touched up the paint, washed all the bedding and made the bed, neatly folded and put away clothes, vacuumed, and took a whole lot of junk out of there. What a relief.
Our bedroom is the only room in the house that needs to be minimalist. I need a space with little or no clutter or distractions. A sanctuary. A cozy haven. It is painted a soft oat color. The carpet is light. The comfy bed is piled with down pillows and quilts with mono-chromatic tones. We have a few utilitarian pieces of furniture, and a very select bit of art. There is no TV. At the moment, there is a upholstered rocking chair by the window, inviting me to sit. Honestly though, I think it needs to go. More often that not it serves as a clothes hanger.

 

The light in this room is beautiful. It also stays nice and warm. This is a plus during the winter months, when a warm bed is a delight at the end of the day. I have dotted a few votive candles around for a soft glow at night. This place needs to be a quiet and cozy respite for he and I. In our small home, claiming this space for us has become a happy necessity.
Our room is back to it's simple, quiet self. It is my favorite room in the house, for it's promise of rest and comfort. These are two things we need a lot of right now during these busy first weeks of the new school year.
Now. I just need to keep it this way.

Have a blessed day, Tami

summer's last

 

It's just about done.
The last of the blossoms make way for the glorious colors of the leaves as they begin to turn. Soon the trees will be on fire with color.
I can't decide which I love more.
Truly. Autumn is my favorite season.

Have a blessed day, Tami

harvest

We've been picking and harvesting bit by bit each day. Most of this yumminess gets eaten right up. The tomatoes are being stockpiled for my roasted tomato sauce. I think today is the day for that.

I have frozen a lot of the berries to enjoy in the winter months. We had beautiful raspberries this season. I have an everbearing variety and am picking the second harvest, and plan on freezing those as well. We let the chickens root around in the vegetable garden sometimes, and it is hilarious to watch them jump at the raspberries.

My big, heirloom Old German tomatoes are starting to ripen. I pray it happens quickly, the rains are sure to come soon.

My volunteer tomato plants ended up being Roma's. What a wonderful surprise these vigorous plants have been. They took over and entire garden bed. I decided not to stake them, but put straw under the fruit so it wouldn't rot. I love seeing their true habit, sprawling all over the ground.

We have a small espalier apple tree that didn't bear much fruit this year. Most of our apple picking came from foraged trees in our neighborhood. And the plums, same deal. Gotta love it!

I plan on spending most of the day in the kitchen, getting a jump on baking and cooking ahead. I love days like this, it makes me feel quite productive.

Have a blessed day, Tami

catch-up

I have had a busy couple of weeks.
It is time to breathe now.

I have quite a bit of putting up to do. Such a lovely problem to have tomatoes coming out of my ears. My big heirloom Old Germans are starting to ripen. They are going to be delicious.

I have been reading for sanity A LOT lately. I just finished book 3 (Voyager) in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I really just can't put it down. These are big 1000 page books. Such a wild ride.

A few weeks ago I promised some pics of our chicken garden redo.
Here we are.

{Before- one big space}



{After}

{After}

We split the space in two, diagonally, to allow access onto the back patio, but still give the chickens maximum room. So sad.....no more chickers at my back door :~) -I really do enjoy not having chicken poo on my patio.

{Happy Girls}

{Happy Boy}

We used mostly reclaimed materials to build the fencing. I love that part.
Since these pictures were taken, I have planted some shrubs and perennials near the back fence. As they mature, it will be a great little shady place for the chickens to sit.

I have a lot of garden and harvest photos to show, so many beautiful and bountiful plants this year.

Oh, and PTL, it is finally raining this morning. We needed it. These northern parts are not used to a month without any rain.

Have a blessed day! Tami

{this moment}

 

Joining Amanda.

and they are off

{Kane 10th grade - First day of high school}

{Anya 3rd, Gage 5th, Rafe 3rd}

{Waiting for the bus}

They are all off to school.
I think I am going to spend the day reading and relaxing.
Maybe a little thrifting with my mom.
It is a beautiful sunny day, meant to be enjoyed.

Have a blessed day, Tami