Growing In The Grey

Its been so grey the last couple weeks, but spring is still starting to peak through!  I saw that Thursday and Friday are going to be near 70 degrees!! Hopefully that sun will get stuff moving a little faster.  I've started planting some herbs and I found that my Oregano survived the winter, so I replanted it in the greenhouse and added some chives and cilantro... I need to get more, but just haven't made it to the store.  The boys LOVE to work in the dirt with me, and I LOVE their little fingers helping me.  Watching it all grow is so exciting to them, and they almost cant stand it that they have to wait... I just assure them that it will all be well worth it :)

I bet he grows up and works somewhere in agriculture... He LOVES everything to do with being outside.

Fruit trees are budding!

Blueberry bushes are blossoming!

 So, anyone that has free range chickens knows what I am doing here, but my little girls are so excited with all the new greenery too!  So much so, that they cant keep their little beaks off them!  I have used anything and everything to keep my perennials safe!!

With all the rain, my coop is disgusting!!  Rain, mud, poop, and dirty chicken feet!

Happy Planting!!

I am excited beyond excited about my new greenhouse.  Meo and Kjell have had this greenhouse for a while and a few years back, a tree fell on it and broke the doors and part of the front pieces.  They were sweet enough to gift it to me, and because I have a handy husband... its as good as new and I LOVE IT!!!

I have already started most of my veggies and flowers for the year and the kids LOVE to help me plant!  We even added some new fun veggies this year for the kids...Purple Carrots, Mini Vine Watermelons, some crazy looking broccoli, and purple sweet potatoes!  They picked them out and if they are excited to grow them and eat them, I don't really care what they pick!  Carrots and onions are already in the ground, but everything else is working its magic in the greenhouse! 

I LOVE MY PURPLE DOORS!!

She likes how warm it is in here :)

Now, I have made it quite clear that the greenhouse is Mama's playhouse, and not for little boys to just come and go as they please... this is my special place (girls only), and two little tornadoes need to keep their distance unless invited in since they can destroy something in 2 seconds! I am still working on putting my little personal touches in it, and I started with some purple doors...I mean, who wouldn't want purple doors on their greenhouse?? 

 



Thank you Kjell, Meo, TJ, and Heather!!!  You have made my year!!!

Sun Makes Me HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!

we are so so so busy lately, and I love it!!!  Busy in a good way, not busy doing things that I don't want to do or things that make life harder, lots of fun stuff is going on!!  So, we got 5 new chickens and they were quarantined for 3 weeks and then introduced to my other girls.  after about 2 days of gang fights between bloods vs. the Crypts, we found harmony.  They are all friends and are starting to pump out the eggs!  we are getting between 9-12 a day with 14 chickens in the winter... for those of you who don't know chicken stuff, that's amazing!  They are such spoiled little girls! Oh, and Kyle and I set up this rainwater retentions system on the chicken coop!  LOVE IT!!  We put a gutter system in that flows to a repurposed barrel that my hubby outfitted with a spicket and an overflow.  It makes taking care of the animals so much easier and I cant wait to use it in the garden this summer!

 

I have been cleaning out cabinates and garages... boxes and closets... giving things away and selling it.  Trying to simplifly and redistribute our organization and I realized that I am organizing things that I haven't used in years...why? GET RID OF IT!  I have really been cleaning house!

I am excited beyond excited... I have a new greenhouse... well new to me!  TJ's parents have had this greenhouse for years and a while back, a tree fell on it and broke a few panels.  They were so nice to give it to me, and Kyle is fixing it, and this year, I am going to have a greenhouse to grow so much more in!!  I love being in my garden... its my favorite place in the entire world. Bare feet, digging  in the dirt is my happy place :)

Oh, I do love this weather we are having!  I find myself walking around the house and opening all the windows and doors!  Then I realize that the house is like 60 degrees and everyone is freezing haha!  Being out in the sun, even when its cold just makes us all so much happier!  The other day I was just standing on the porch smiling... the smell of fresh cut grass and BBQ's is just what my soul needed... Can you tell that the grey was starting to get to me??  I know the rain is coming, so soaking up the sun while we can!

Fruit trees are budding!

We got a couple loads of dirt and some more wood chips for my garden last week, took out 3 rhododendrons, a dying cedar tree, got some new doors on the greenhouse, mowed the yard and got out the patio furniture!  I LOVE BEING OUTSIDE!!  I just smile and grin, and laugh.... I am so happy for this weather!  

My solution to my escape artist rabbit!  Miss Daisy is now harnised and leashed!

And.... Grandma and Grandpa Rogers had a new very large toy delivered that I cant seem to keep my boys off of!  I'm not going to lie... I use it too ;)

Cougar Mountain Zoo

I have herd of this little zoo, all tucked away in the hills if Issaquah... Cougar NMountain Zoo... and it was wonderful.   Its not a very large establishment, but it has so much charm, and you can tell that its ran by very passionate people.  Zookeepers were roaming around and they took the time to just stop and have conversations with the kids about animal sounds and various other random thoughts and it was special.  I felt like I was seeing these beautiful animals in someone's backyard. Although, it was a bit pricy, I think that you are paying for the experience more then the attractions, at almost 50.00 for 2 adults and 2 kids EEEKK!!

there is this area where you can feed their animals.  Alpacas, Emus, Wallaby's, Cranes, and Deer... so I love deer, I think that they are beautiful and majestic.  I love to watch them walk and I have always wanted to touch one.  In the wild, sometimes you can get close, but I have never touched a live deer... until today!!  I fed a deer right out of my hand and he rubbed his head on my arm and I was able to pet his face!  Like really pet him... not just a little touch with my finger.  Ahhhh.... its the little things that make me happy!  I want to go back just so I can pet the deer!!


Feeding Deer!!

The Magic Forest

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Pretty Teeth!!

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There are these cool animal sculptures all over the place... I mean they are everywhere...  and the kids really had fun with them. 

 

 

 

If you are looking for a big zoo with tons of animals, this is not your zoo.  This zoo provides a very intimate experience.  The animals are very close to you.  I saw Cougars and Tigers that were only 5 feet away, and there were large Macaws that were out in the open.  We fed animals and learned a lot.  There are really neat "experiences" you can purchase, and I think that I might want to look into that.  It might be a fun date day for the hubby and I :)

 

 

Here's the website...

http://www.cougarmountainzoo.org/

 





What's My Name?

While at the park yesterday...

Emery: My mom has a French name...
Waylon: My moms name is Carly...
Silence
Emery: Blake, what's your moms name?
Blake: Her name is Honey...
Giggles
Waylon: Her names not Honey...
Blake: Well,that's what my dad calls her... Everyone else calls her Jes

Oh my!  I was laughing so hard!  Such a silly, yet literal boy :)

Crazy Foggy Days

The fog has been crazy lately... almost like its October!  Its looked really neat here in the morning when I take Blake to school, and I have snapped a few shots over the past couple weeks when it looks really neat!  I sure wish that I knew what I was doing when it comes to taking pictures, and these might have come out so much better.  Maybe I should look for a class... I just take pictures of everything on auto!  I just snap a lot and hope that some will turn out :)



He's such a ham!!

 

Kona



The sky looked like it was on fire!



Luke likes to photo-bomb!!

Sibling Sweetness

These boys can just melt my heart, sure, they have their moments where I fear that they will be mortal enemies, but most of the time, they show a real care and love for each other. Blake has become so patient with Luke, and really takes the time to show him how to do something and really enjoys playing with him, and Luke looks up to Blake so much... he copies him (good and bad) but he is always excited to show his big brother something that he did, and Blake - bless his heart- always acts so excited about whatever Luke brings to him.  This week, both boys have been really sick, but they each have been so helpful to me, because they want to take care of each other.   There are times when I think... goodness sakes, I swear that they are going to kill each other... but there are more times that are full of sweetness that make me feel like we are doing something right :).