Trikes and Scooters
The boys love the summer, the heat, the long days and most of all that they can play non-stop outside. They have been on a mission run, play and dig enough to last them throughout the rainy season. I don't quite think it will work, but I don't tell them that!
What do you miss most about the summer after it is over?
I miss fresh tomatoes the most, and wearing sandals everyday.
For more pictures like this, check out my flickr album titled: My Boys
Palolu & Hammock
There are some things that are made to make you happy. Hammocks and Palolu (Licorice root in English) are two of those things. To just be able to hang there and suck on a sweet stick with the boys, is the perfect summer siesta time for me. Cuddled up and cozy, the hammock supporting every bit of our weight, and with the added joy of sweetness to satisfy my sweet tooth.
My mom sent the Palolu from Spain, I haven't been able to find it here. It tastes like very good and fresh black licorice, and no not the grocery store candy kind, way better. The boys share my delight in this tradition. I learned of Palolu and became enamored while growing up in Spain. It is also known there as Palodu or Palodulce, and grows by the river. We used to buy it along with other sugary delights at the local candy store. It was so fun to walk around with classmates in school all chewing on these yummy sticks.
What do you like to do on hot summer days? What about summer memories from your youth that you wish you could have back now?
For more pictures like this check out my Flickr album: Summertime Bliss
The Cutest Ring Bearers EVER
I will get to the actual wedding and all those details in the post to come, but for now here are the cutest ring bearers ever. They had a mission to accomplish and they did an excellent job. Their little peddle pushers, bloomers or short pants were just fab, the socks the shoes the black bow ties and the little reporter boy hats, so amazingly cute that everyone ahhhhhhed and oooooooed them down the isle.
Both Oliver and Jackson stepped up the standard of ring bearers, with one minor "I have to go potty" glitch nearing the end of the ceremony. Still, as far as what you can expect from a 3 and 5 year old, they out performed them all. I was one proud mamma, and they were especially delighted with the gift their aunt (the bride) bought for them, a set of remote control crash test dummy cars, perfect. It was all perfect.
Good Food, Great Friends.
Oh, goodness, the food was just amazing, I mean if you haven't had meat cooked by the Jonah man, you haven't really even ever eaten good meat! So tender, so filled with flavour...Beer can chicken, and corn on the cob, along with tons of other yummy delicacies from the Lang kitchen. The guys chatted it up outside, we gals followed the kids around until they didn't need following, and we enjoyed the good food and great peeps we got to eat with.
Over Wedding Prep and Converse All Stars
Over food, flies and some cool summer days we bonded with Andrew and Ellyn (my husband's little sister) while prepping the barn for their wedding. It was labor intensive, and the kids were strung out and allowed way too much tv, but it was such a special time to be with them that it was hard to give up a second of it.
One of the days we (unplannedly) even all showed up decked out in converse all stars of all colours and sizes to string up lights, and ride the forklift in style. It was memories in the making.
Heart Z Ranch, Crawfordsville Oregon.
Last weekend we went to Crawfordsville, there is so much to see on the way! I was happy to not be driving so I could hang my camera out the window for some shots off of Peoria Road. It is so pretty.
Lazy M Ranch is Brad's Grandparents ranch. His uncle John does most of the ranch stuff now though. It is really fun to go out there with the boys.
Why does food always taste better in the country? Well I think it is because you work for it!
After a good lunch we went to 'help' Uncle John load some cattle at Heart Z Ranch. He bought some little Holsteins for a friend. They are about 6 months old here.
I learned some things when we went to the ranch. Holsteins are not the kind of cows a rancher wants to buy, they are cheap and dairy cows...but are only good for hamburger meat. I didn't know that, maybe you did. Brad's uncle bought them for the lady who is on the fence in the pictures. She wants them to train stock dogs, which are dogs who herd cattle.
Info bit number two is that not all bulls have horns, and some cows have horns!Yea, Mr. Heart Z Rancher thought I was joking when I was astounded that that "black cow" in with the babes was a bull."Well, hey! I grew up in Spain, man where no bull would be caught dead without horns!" I told him, he laughed and said that many Mexican cattle have horns too, but that most American ranchers opt to breed it out, or dehorn babies- since horns can be pretty dangerous to people and to the other cattle. Every time I go I learn more, I love the whole thing.
Thanks Uncle John, it is always fun to 'hang out' and learn from you! Oh, and he gave us some Tenderloin S
teaks- yes, we are vegetarians but, only fair weather veggies as we are always willing to make exceptions. Especially for tenderloin from Knee Deep Cattle Company it is Free Range Beef, Born and raised on Oregon's lush green pastures. No added Antibiotics or Hormones. (a company based out of Eugene, Oregon!) He also gave us jerky from Knee Deep Cattle Company- the owner of the company is in the pictures above in the blue hat on the fence. She warned us, " make sure you refrigerate the jerky after opening it, as we don't use any preservatives!" I just had to laugh. " You know this will be gone before we get home, right?" I asked. "Well good!" she answered smiling.
We all worked hard, and the boys were certainly ready for some good rest at the end of the busy day.
I would love to live in the country. And I love jerky. I love Oregon.
feel the love
ps. thank you grandma and grandpa jackson for the new supa-cool shirts! The boys love them, and so do I!
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I (adoringly) HEART—>
