Adventures of a Staycation

Due to a confluence of factors, Andrew and I decided that a "stay-cation" would suit the family this year. After the year we've had, neither one of us had the energy to investigate kid-safe house rentals somewhere and then drive there. So, we stayed here!

We've been having a great time. We went to Turtle Back Zoo (sorry, no pics, I forgot the memory card) on Tues day after Ben's clean bill of health from theburn doctors. We saw monkeys, llamas and emus, plus a whole variety of farm animals. And, much to Zach's delight, we rode on a small train out to the reservoir!

Wednesday found us a t the Camden aquarium. It was much better than I expected! Plus, it was practically empty when we were there, which was even better.

Looking at the stingrays

In the African river section. The birds were flying overhead (thus Ben's grin) and there were hippos !

Doesn't he look like a little boy? Where did my baby go?

Oh, there he is. In the new chicken coop.

Hot water!

Well, as many of you know, Ben spent a couple of days in the burn unit at St. Barnabas in Livingston this weekend. He pulled a cup of hot water down on himself. He's going to be fine, but the scald is going to take a little while to heal. He shouldn't have any scarring, nor, near as I can tell, any memory of the situation. The same can not be said for me and Andrew!!!

Ben is home and doing well. Plenty of milk, Tylenol, hugs and long naps are going to help him heal.

The boys and the watermelon! We grew it ourselves.

Enjoying his bottle with Grandmere

You can see the very tip top of his bandage under his shirt.

Double-fisting the watermelon. Yum!

Boys in the wild

OK, our grass isn't actually THAT long, Ben is standing down a small slope

Hamming it up for the camera

Reading with Dad!

Our new big wheels!

About the house: Homesteading in August

Beer, bread, and now we roast our own coffee

The cats are no help whatsoever

The chickens are growing!!

And so is Ben!

Wicked awesome boys

Who me? Am I not supposed to be on the table?

Two dudes assembling what we now know as the worst made/horrifically expensive chicken coop known to man

Action shot!

Grandmere has the BEST lap

Free Range

The first of which is Zach BEGGING me to put him up in the tree. And not hold on to him. I am just out of camera view having a coronary. A free range kid

The fall squash is blossoming, I can only hope it grows!!

And we have some new additions!!! 6 pullets! They are still babies, but they are fantastic. We got a coop, and a pen to put them in the yard. These pictures are in the side yard where I've set them to tearing up the weeds and turning over some soil.

Much awesomeness

Hot and Sticky in August

Well, August finds us at a time of recollection and reflection. It has been an exceedingly trying year. But, Andrew and I spend a great deal of time counting our blessing. While I miss dad so very much, one of the most positive things that came out of it was a friendship with Dad's anesthesiologist. It isn't everyday that you go into the operating room, almost die, and come out with someone who is going to be a friend. But, such is the power of my dad. We went to go visit them this weekend, and had an excellent time! They have a trampoline! Zach and Ben had much fun!

Out in the garden, we've been having a blast. The tomatoes are coming in full force now. Every day we have another bowl to pick! I am dehydrating some of the tomatoes to use over the winter in lieu of tomato paste. The majority of the plum tomatoes are going to be frozen. And, we have eggplants this year!! Yeah us!!! Our beets and raab were a big fail. The watermelon plant looks lovely, but, nary a watermelon in sight.

Boys in the outdoors!