Huckleberries...

Huckleberry Bounty!


Yesterday we also went huckleberry picking! It was great fun, much cooler than blackberry picking and the berries were larger than usual and thicker than usual so it was even better! We had fun! We picked about 8 cups of berries that we can use in muffins, pancakes, and a batch of jam.

Mmmm...mmm

I am very very concerned about Whippersnapper, brace yourself now......

We have a tree hugger in the family! Gasp.

Maggie on guard for bear spotting...

Bear!? What bear?

Blackberries...

Guess what happened to these berries....
Yup, Tobers ate them! Notice the scratches on his upper lip.....he had a bike accident and ran into a tree branch, poor baby, that is actually quite a bit healed up now.

We went berry picking yesterday! It was fun, we started out with blackberries. We got approx 4 gallons of blackberries for jam and cobblers. YUM. It was a bit hot for me though, I am lightweight when it comes to viciuos blackberry thorns and heat.

Spud Man gets to use the ladder to reach the higher up ones.
Holden got a branch of two cut off so he could eat some too without getting entangled in the vines!

Mr Wonderful risking injury to gather food for us.....Awe...

The whole gang.

Sunshine displays the dual purpse of a halloween bucket complete with a replacement handle made of bailing twine.

The days work.

Standard equipment for the day....berry stains all around. Coming up next....huckleberry picking...

Airshow...

We went to the airshow in our town today. It was fun. My Dad called to invite us in to his office with is right on the tarmac edge. He parked his airplane near the office so we could enjoy it and sit in the shade of the wings. We had such a nice time, the weather was perfect! I have never been to an airshow so it was something new for my family. Here are a few bad quality pics from the aerobatic acts.
Is there such a thing as air show neck? My neck was hurting so bad by the time it was over from craning my neck to be able to see all the action....that is when you need a chaise lounge to kick back and see with no strain.

More...

Here is another plan I came up with, I had even more fun with the SmartDraw program trial this time. It was fun! This one is 1,536 sq ft without sunroom, and 1,920 with the sunroom.

This plan is smaller by only a little, the sunroom is a little narrower in some places than the first one and it seems cozier to me. I also like how the kitchen sink is on an exterior wall so I can have a view of outside.

Dreams...

I have dreams, lots of them. Most include a home on acreage with some creative/frugal ways of life. We would really like to build a passive solar home. I would like to consider rainwater collection for watering fruit trees and other landscape things....we'd still be traditional in that we'd have power and a well but we'd just do a few things to cut down on our electric bills. We'd grow some of our own foods. Acreage would mean that we could have a much larger garden than we have now of course. We'd also have some animals like a steer or two, chickens, and rabbits.

I have been researching zero energy design for homes and passive solar designs. I think I can see using several aspects of both ideas. I like the idea of a sunroom for passive solar heat gain during the day...along with either stained concrete floors, or tile for heat absorption during the day and radiation of heat at night (we'd probably have carpet in the bedrooms). We probably can't afford to build as large of a sunroom as we'd need for the zero energy designs so we'd supplement at night with a nice wood fire in a small wood stove. We like wood heat, and Mr Wonderful likes having an excuse to spend time in the mountains so everyone wins.

I love the idea of a sunroom mainly because I suffer from SAD in the winter where low sunlight in winter months tend to cause depression. So I can picture myself basking in the sun in a nice warm sunroom....maybe even in a hammock. I also love starting plants indoors but I don't have anywhere in this house to do it...there is only 1 south facing window and it is in the boys' room which means those plants would never stand a chance! HAHA I wish I were kidding.

So do you want to see what plan I came up with? I tried out this trail version of SmartDraw and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It is so easy to use and fast. Impressive. Anyway I just tried out the 7 day trial and probably won't be able to buy the real version until we are into more serious house planning mode but I think it would be a great tool for designing our dream floor plan. Here is the latest in many many designs I have worked thru as a possibility for our home ....someday. you know how somedays go right?

This house is 1,608 sq ft without the sunroom, with the sunroom it is 1,944 sq ft. 3-4 bedrooms 2 baths. I should be honest here, I love the idea of a sunroom (as I have it envisioned with my super powered rose colored glasses) BUT I can also see it with my "In All Reality Glasses"......it would be a dirt floor because we'd be too poor to lay pavers or tile, then I'd try my hand at growing plants for eating and decor, and we'd even put in a fish pond or fountain for interest, and we'd have neat paths with bark mulch. Then not too long after that the whole place would be torn up from Tonkas and 3 active boys, the fish would be caught, the pond now a hillbilly swimmin' hole, and my poor plants neglected and thirsty. Of course the whole house would be built centered around this great aspect of our home only highlighting my lack of green thumb and childcare supervision deficiencies. So there is that fear that it would be a hindrance and not an asset. I still love the idea though.....rose colored glasses beat reality any day if you ask me.

There are several things going on in this home.....first the double door air lock entry, minimizes energy loss when coming and going from the home. The utility room also acts as a air lock. Also the bedrooms are all on the north side of the house where it is ok if it is a little cooler at night (because we are bundled up under comfy quilts).

I really like the kitchen set up too as it has a large island. I can have company around me while I go about fixing meals and it also gives me a huge work space to spread out dinner prep. I have always wanted an island and I hope our dream house has one. It is a great place to spread out the paper and eat breakfast so the mess stays in the kitchen and not at the dining table.

One of the kids' bedrooms is larger to accommodate all 3 boys...I keep reminding myself it is just to sleep and store some of there stuff. They don't have to live in there 24/7. Also we have a flex room available that we could use as a bedroom while the kids are still at home (which will be a while) or the room can be used at a school room, office, or my favorite a craft room.

The utility room features floor to ceiling pantry cabinets on one side, along the other side a washer, dryer, and folding counter with dirty clothes basket shelves under counter. Maybe that way Mt. Washmore will stay manageable right? I even though about breaking up the pantry cabinets with about 8 cubbies all in a row at kid eye level between upper an lower cabinets for folded clothes so each child can come get their clean clothes. I think that would create a functional space to work in.

I have lots of ideas and some things that I still really want to learn more about but I have a start on something functional anyway.

Ever Had One of These Days?...

Maggie got her head stuck in the gate and was unable to free herself.....we found it quite funny and had to take pics of her before we took mercy on her and freed her from her predicament! Serves her right for trying to escape....again.

High School to Housewife...the Reception.

One on my favorite memories was my dear sweet Grandpa Red who actually came! He didn't do social gatherings like weddings and I was so excited and honored that he actually came and congratulated us at the reception!! He has since passed away. Sniff Sniff....

"Honored Guest"

What would a reception be without food, right? We served croissant sandwiches and some really yummy salads. Several salads were made my close family members and we were able to pull together a nice reception dinner potluck style kinda. It was quite good and we had plenty of food amazingly. We had a pretty good turn out especially considering there was a 15 mile drive from the church to the reception. The reception was at my parents ranch where I grew up.

On our reception tables we had live goldfish in small glass bowls and several people got to take them home to their fishponds. We even had several for ourselves, 2 lived for 10 years in our pond!!! It seemed to be a huge hit for a centerpiece.

Maybe too big of a hit.....

I wonder what he's planning to do once this cake is cut? Be nice Mr Wonderful......of course I am sure he thought about it but he was a gentleman when the time came to feed each other wedding cake....he had me worried with that look though.


We opened gifts and we were so incredibly blessed by our loved ones!

After a long day of family and fun we finally headed to our first home........for our first night of married bliss!

A Morning Stroll...

Take a stroll with me thru the yard this beautiful morning....

My favorite spot this week in the yard, the colors, the stargazer lilies....mmmmm..mmm.

This has to be my favorite flower. This is the first one I have gotten to grow in my many attempts.....I am planting more this fall! I love their fragrance so strong, but so nice!

Well, good morning Mr. Bumblebee...

...and good morning to you too Mr. Grasshopper...

Talk about a busy mornin'....check out the legs on that lowest honey bee......covered in pollen!

There is just something about sunflowers to lift the spirits huh?

My breakfast is being delivered.....omlet anyone?

Isn't she beautiful?

I wish you could hear the cackles and clucks....it is magical. They are spoiled, that is the garden they get to feast on for a few mins.......I must end this stroll because.......

"Feed Me!"

And my morning starts.....I hear kids getting up, my stomach is calling to me to fix breakfast, pets need fed, house needs cleaned, things to do, places to go. It sure was nice to have a few mins of utter bliss before the hubub started.

Join me again soon......Blessings to you this morning!