Our embryonic garden

Here is a picture of our early spring garden. The first row (right) has 4 lettuce plants and 3 spinach plants, followed by our sugar snap peas. I took this pic of our lettuces after I had harvested enough for 2 night's worth of huge salads for Anthony and me. I have never grown lettuces before, and WOW are they tasty! Eating fresh greens picked hours before, with just a little olive oil and salt -- mmmmmmm. There are a few leeks in the middle of the lettuces, and one old cabbage on the end.

The 2nd row has Edamame plants! I can't wait to pop those into my mouth. There are some older onions in the middle. The last row is tomatoes - 9 of 'em - all different varieties, some heirloom, some reliable merced.

Between the garden, the chickens, and the solar panels, our neighbors think we're freaks that are planning for the apocalypse.

Take a picture of me, Mommy!

Bate, bate, chocolatte!

Bowling for flowers

Here are Anthony's columbines. He's waited a year for them to bloom, and they don't disappoint. This is the only native Texas variety. Can you tell we're enjoying spring?

All My Chicks

We ate dinner tonight on the porch, it was such a beautiful, cool, breezy evening. After we ate, I let the chicks out of their cage to stretch their legs. So cute!


Sorry this pic is out of focus. This is a pic of our cute little Americauna chick. She's about a week old. When I got her last week, she still had her little egg tooth. All day long she says, "Cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep." Just like one of those little electronic chicks you hold in your hand.


We also have an Americauna pullet, seen above, who is about 5 weeks old. She looks like a mini chicken, but she still says "Cheep cheep cheep cheep..." Anna is very excited because I am taking the chick and the pullet, and some of our hens eggs, to show off at her school. (We also have 1 rhode island red hen, and 2 black sex links). The hens live in a little fenced off area behind our shed, and sleep at night in the little green coop Anthony built them. The Americaunas are going to be fancy hens, and lay "Easter eggs" - green and blue eggs. In 6 months, they will lay an egg a day. That means we'll get 10 eggs every 2 days, if we're lucky!

Post Party Happy Buzz

The Princess Party was a complete success. The weather was beautiful -- warm sun with a cool breeze. All the princess guests showed up, nearly all of the little girls in costume, and seemed to have a great time. We started out with a great craft, making Princess Crowns. All the party ideas I got from the internet. I took free Burger King Crowns, had Anthony spray paint them gold, and the kids glued on plastic jewels. We played "Pin the Kiss on the Frog Prince," but my other games I decided to forgo since the kids were having such a good time, just playing in the sunshine on the playscape. We did slay the dragon pinata, eat pizza, and cakes.

People are always surprised that I don't make (or buy) the cakes. But, with talent like my husband and his mother, there is no need. It's great because then I can concentrate on the other party details. It was, in fact, the Princess cake that inspired the whole princess theme this year. Behold, princess cake made by Marion:

All the cakes

One princess cake is not big enough for everyone, so Marion (my MIL) also made the castle cake in the top left corner. Anthony made the 2 balloon cakes (as well as the earlier Uniqua cake).

Party in action

Here are the princesses (and prince Patrick) waiting to slay the dragon. Notice all the princesses in their finery, some wearing the crowns (click the picture to enlarge). That's me in the top left explaining the rules.

Getting ready

Here's the birthday girl, Princess Anna herself, putting on her princess sandals in preparation for her party.

Prince Colin of the Basketball

Couldn't resist this one of the little brother!

Its Princess Party Central

Sorry I haven't posted much recently, but we've been preparing for the Princess Party we're having for Anna tomorrow. Every child we invited is coming. It's lots of fun, and the Princess was almost too excited to go to sleep tonight.

I would like to write about our wonderful trip to Lexington last Monday, where we picked 6 lbs of strawberries and had a very good time. We also have an adorable new chick that needs her picture posted. But I will leave you with this anecdote.

I was lying on the floor, reading a book to Anna. She jumped up and said, "Oh! I need to go tinkle." "Okay, go ahead," I said. She put her hand on my chest and said, "Pause yourself, Mommy. Just pause yourself."