Saturday, July 19, 2008

Man at Work

Although I wouldn't trade careers with my husband for even a day (I like regular showers, A/C, sleeping in an actual bed, and would rather admire the dirty, sweaty, hot, endless work from afar) I must admit that I'm a little jealous of the "office(s)" in which he works!



It's a bit tough, though, to find anywhere to vacation in the western states that he hasn't already seen! Oh well - I guess that makes him a well qualified guide for someone like me who has so much yet to see.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Around Here

Count down to baby continues. Just a couple weeks left and I'm trying to tie up projects at work and get "ready" for baby's arrival. At home, the baby room is ready, baby's bag is packed, and my bag is empty but sitting on the floor with a pile of things around it, ready to be filled.

Meanwhile, I've been keeping busy battling weeds in the yard, keeping the new trees thriving in the heat, and taking care of a couple of new additions.


They are meant to help with the weed problem, but they are only 3 months old so their appetites aren't quite up to the volume of the job. They are twin nubians, and very sweet little girls. I would like to keep them for milkers, but this is my first goat experience so I'll just wait and see how goats and I get along. Their names are Willa (on the left) and Milly (right) after my two favorite female authors, Willa Cather and Mildred Walker. A goat needs a good name.


The garden is coming along despite the late planting date. I'm looking forward to green beans, peas, tomatoes, etc., etc. Today I used my first garden produce in the kitchen - basil leaves in a pasta salad, and red leaf lettuce in a turkey/avacado sandwich. Yum!

The yard is very obviously in it's beginning stages, but it is coming along very well and we are spending a lot of time outside enjoying it. On July 4th I hosted family and friends for a backyard BBQ, bocce, horseshoes, etc. It was the first "event" for our yard and it was fun to share it with friends. The heat let up and it was a beautiful day full of food and conversation. The kids, dogs, and goats exhausted each other, and it was a great day all around.