Jammin'

Warm, humid days turning into cool breezy nights

The first crop of hay has been cut by most of the ambitious farmers

Fresh veggies and fruits fill our bellies

The first day of summer.

My kitchen is filled with the mess of the day

Strawberries to cut

Cake batter to mix

Frosting to make

More berries to pick

Taste testing

Cleaning jars

The rumbling of the water bath canner on the stove

Flour, water and berries on my expanding belly

Cartwheels flipping inside

Hot jam into jars

An afternoon family nap

Another season has begun.

This,

I do believe is what rich looks like.

Seeing Red

Ripe strawberries always meant the beginning of summer for me as a kid.  Mom and i would toss on our old shirts, load up our empty cartons, plaster on the sunscreen and head out to the berry patch for the morning.  We'd come home with a flat or two of fresh berries and begin the process of washing, chopping and canning fresh jam.

Having a patch of my own on the front lawn is like a little piece of summer every time i head down there to see what's ripe.  3/4 of the patch are June-bearing strawberries, and the last 1/4 are ever-bearing.  The June ones are still a bit green, and will probably be popping red in the next week.  The ever-bearing are smaller, but most of the time, sweeter.  They produce for a longer period, while the June-bearing are nice and big for canning and freezing, usually ripening up all at once for a nice harvest.

I'm guessing next weekend will be full of strawberry preserving.  I can't wait.  

Apparently neither can Charlie…..he follows me closely and grabs a few when I'm not looking.  How could he resist?!  

Our garden is growing by leaps and bounds as well.  I'm totally loving this new back-yard smaller garden.  It only took me an hour last weekend to weed the whole thing.  Very ideal for this summer pregnancy!

Half Way

Friday is the big day.  Half way mark.  Hour long ultrasound.  Hopefully a gender reveal.  

I feel like this is such a big event.  It feels so strange to know that in two short days we will be having a son or daughter in the fall.  Huge!  We opted out of prenatal testing at 12 weeks, deciding that the results wouldn't change our pregnancy.  So this ultrasound will also be a check to make sure everything is looking healthy and on target.  I'm actually quite nervous about it.  

But i feel good.  I feel beautiful and i feel the baby roll around inside me at night.  I know those are all good signs, but i just never realized how much there is to think about and worry about while your pregnant. 

I'm up 6 pounds now, which i think is about right.  I've been craving fresh veggies and fruit all day long.  I love pasta with a nice cheesy topping.  

Before i ever got pregnant i thought boys were in my future for sure.  I don't know why, but i always pictured myself as a boy mom :)  But with the higher heart rate at all of our checkups, i keep thinking girl now.  I keep asking Jason what he thinks, and he really has no clue.  He just keeps saying that he will be happy either way and everything will be perfect.  It's so fun to guess and imagine what our family will look like.  We're just so excited to see the little bambino on the screen and hope that they are thriving and healthy so far.  

We were out driving last Sunday, running some errands.  He looked at me and said:  I hope you are happy now huni.  You've got a sweet garden, a fat dog, your dream home and our baby on the way.  Is it everything you have ever wanted?  

Tears filled my eyes (like they easily do now), and i said yes.  I also have the best partner and husband along for the ride.  He said; well i have the best wife, and you're going to be an amazing mama.

More tears.  So much love.

So Friday we find out.  We hope for the best & celebrate hubby's birthday on the same day.

We're so excited to have a child.  

A beautiful, messy, wonderful child.

(photo credits to hubs :))

Our Gardens: June 5th

June 5th:

The forest surrounding our home is lush and full of life with ferns and all things green.  Everything is bursting with life.  I walked through the woods this evening with Charlie, stopping to smell the humid, rich smell of forest growth.  It's such a refreshing smell.  As i stood and admired the land, i felt a nice little roll inside me.  It seems the baby likes the fresh air just as much.  This time next year the little one will be on my back, exploring the land with us.  

A light rain came this afternoon.  My gardens have needed it.  The beans have sprouted, the tomatoes, peppers and basil are still doing well.  The lettuce and mesclun are going to need some thinning this weekend.

It's amazing, really.  You place a seed in the ground.  Give it some heat, water and sun, and it produces food for you.  The little shoots of lettuce following the evening sun, grasping every bit of light to grow before dusk.

However, most of my thoughts lately lead to the strawberry patch.  Green berries now cover the ground where last week laid flowers.  I dare say in another week or two i'll be swimming in sweet berries.  

3 Years

It feels like yesterday.  

Now three years married and just about half way through our first pregnancy.  Life is so good.  

So rich.  So beautiful.

Here's to many, many more my love.