{this moment}

...Joining Amanda at SouleMama for {this moment}...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

green

 {Strawberries}

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 It's been stormy with heavy downpours here this week. The three of us went out to the coop to visit the chickens today and then Jeff went to work in the shop. There was a break in the rain and Bracken and I took a walk around the garden. How wonderful the fresh air felt! There's much excitement over the green things (strawberries, blueberries, apples, plums, lavender...) that will soon be turning red, blue, and purple. Gardening sure does teach patience and for a two-year-old berry and fruit lover that's not always easy. He picks the occasional green blueberry and we gently remind him that they're not quite ready and that if we pick them now, there won't be any to eat when they turn blue and are ready to enjoy. He understands pretty well and for the most part doesn't pick them, but likes to point at them with excitement to show us.

 {Blueberries}

 {Apples}

{Plums}

{Lavender}

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Bracken picked some lavender and told me he wanted to give it to dada. It's not ready yet either, but it already smells delicious.

We've had lots of indoor time this week, getting ready for market. We'll have many new things for our booth this weekend. The weather forecast looks clear and we've got our fingers crossed there won't be any rain (getting all our stuff soaked is not exactly fun.) We're looking forward to the farmer's market as usual. This time of year I really appreciate all the food at the farmer's market that's ripe and ready long before our garden abundance is (thanks to greenhouses.)

Homemade soup is calling. Wishing you all a cozy, peaceful evening.

yarnalong: one of two booties

...Joining Ginny's YarnAlong, sharing what I'm knitting and reading...

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...Knitting...

I saw some adorable knitted baby booties here on Ginny's blog awhile back and added them to my Ravelry queue. My stepsister and her husband had a baby boy that just turned two months old and I've been wanting to knit something for him. (I don't think they ever read my blog, so don't think I'll be ruining the surprise by writing this.) These booties popped into my head and I knew they'd be the perfect thing to knit. I just finished the first one and started on the second. I'm knitting with some handspun alpaca yarn from Melissa's shop on Etsy: Wild Faerie Caps. I love this yarn (it's so soft) and took awhile to knit with it because I used it to put next to our buttons when I photographed them for Etsy. Ha! I'm so glad I'm finally knitting with it, rather than using it for my photography prop. These booties are not using up all the yarn I have, so I'm planning on using the rest towards some fun multi-colored socks for Bracken.

I think this pattern will become a favorite go-to knit for baby gifts. I was surprised when I first started knitting them since they are knit flat, rather than in the round, and then stitched up the back. It was fun to see them transform into something with shape! The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn and this handspun yarn is a little chunkier so the booties are a little bigger, which is fine by me.When I cast off, it was tighter than I would like. Next time I make them it would be good to learn a cast off method that gives more stretch.

(Posted on Ravelry here.)

...Reading...

I'm still reading Steve Solomon's gardening book. I'm learning a lot and think it's a must read for anyone gardening in this area. I'm learning how important it is to put nutrients into your soil so that the food you grow in it has nutrients! So simple, really, but such a good message. We read that certain vegetable contain certain nutrients. But what if the soil is depleted? Then the food we grow in it is depleted. This is an important topic! After reading about compost, I've been getting some ideas. I'd like to keep our compost out back for garden refuse. And then the compost from our kitchen (the bits that don't get fed to the chickens), I'd like to put in a small compost barrel out the back door with worms. Worm composting- a whole other area to learn about. 

I like learning about the soil and composting and it's an important foundation to learn about gardening, but I'm getting anxious to start learning about the specific vegetables.

How about you? 

Reading any good books? Any knitting projects on your needles?

here and there

I passed by these beautiful scenes of broccoli and garlic in the garden yesterday after photographing some new buttons for the shop, so I happened to have the camera with me. There was sunshine so Jeff and I took turns photographing new things for the shop before the rain returned. And return it did. Today it's pouring. Bracken and I were happy to return to our Waldorf Class and had a really nice time. It was so rainy we didn't even play on the playground afterwards like we usually do.

I'm showing these garden pictures, but I haven't gotten much done in the garden lately. Jeff has been planting seeds, weeding, and getting the starts in the ground here and there, often when Bracken is napping and I'm working on business stuff. He got some celery in the ground on Sunday and that evening we started digging up an area to put a new raised bed. Our garden dreams are happening slower than we'd like this year, but they are happening. And as soon as that sun comes back I can't wait to start digging in the dirt again!

four more little fluffballs

 On Saturday we picked up four Wellsummer chicks to join the rest of our ladies. (Yes, we were expecting five, but didn't mind since we have plenty of chickens now.) They are adorable and have such beautiful coloring (and will lay dark brown eggs- woo hoo!) I took these pictures of one in front of the chicken coop window to have some natural light. 

First we separated them from the rest of the flock. Then we let them be with the rest. Then we separated them again. The older chicks were being just fine with the little ones for the most part (the barred rock was so motherly towards them and it was so sweet), but they would all lay with them and nearly smush the little things. So we separated them again. It feels like just the right thing for now. The little Wellsummers have their own food and water and a mellow space to be in, away from all the activity of the others. 

I took these next pictures in the evening before we headed inside.

 Jeff had this old birdcage that worked perfectly for giving the smaller chicks their own corner. You can see the bigger ones wondering what that new thing is.

Then we put a piece across the top so the bigger ones won't fly in. Once the Wellsummers get a little bigger, they'll re-join the others. In the meantime, this set up is working really well.

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Welcome to the family little Wellsummers, I'm sure it won't be long before you all have names.

G r a t i t u d e * S u n d a y

G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y

{Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.} 

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If you would like to join us, see below. 

Our gratefulness feeds one another. 

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Throughout the week I've felt grateful for: 

-Watching blueberry buds turning to little green blueberries (since a few weeks ago when I took these pictures.)
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-Jeff making three delicious, gourmet meals on Mother's Day.
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-Bracken pounding the sauerkraut. Perfect activity for two year olds who love to help and have a lot of energy!
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-Strawberries planted. Cabbage planted. Cauliflower. Beets. More lettuce, cilantro, and broccoli. Yay!
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-A good, grounded home day with a blend of relaxation, productivity, and a little outside time too.
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-Bracken napping on me. When he grows and no longer does that, I'll surely miss it.
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-Being further inspired (by illness) to learn more about how the body works so I can help support our family's health.
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-Homemade chicken soup and Bracken getting his appetite back that night.
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-My mom calling and making me laugh and lighten up when I was too serious and worrisome.
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-Finding little things to be grateful for on rough days when I need the reminder.
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-Watching the finale of The Office on Hulu. It was bittersweet, since I'm sad the show is over (it's my favorite show of all time), but it was a wonderful ending.
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-Bracken having a picnic on the living room floor. He packed his basket with food and a drink and rode it over on his trike. I set up a little blanket for him and he was all set.
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-Seeing the fish swimming around the pond Jeff built years ago. (With no care from us they continue to thrive.) The water creates such a magical spot in the front yard.
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-Waking up to spring noises. Singing birds and frogs.
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-Garlic. My body has been asking for it!
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-My mom singing this song to Bracken when he wasn't feeling well. The same song she likes to sing to me. (I love it so much and it makes me tear up.)
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-Sleep. I was so tired last night I lasted about a minute after I got Bracken to sleep and even fell asleep with clean laundry at the end of our bed, waiting to be put away!

You can read more about the inspiration for Gratitude Sunday here. 

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Like to Join Us in Gratitude Sunday?

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If you are a blogger, there is a link list below to add your link.

When adding your link...

Link the URL to your blog post and not to your main blog URL.
In your blog post, include a link back here, to this current post, so others who would like to join can find us.

Or..

Share your list (whether one or many) in the comments below.

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What have you felt grateful for throughout your week?

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Giveaway: Stainless Steel Cheese Press!

Have you been wanting a good quality cheese press for your kitchen?
If so, then today might be your lucky day!
Years ago, my mom gave this stainless steel cheese press to Jeff and I for a gift (I think it was Christmas? Or maybe my birthday?) We were so excited! It had been on our wish list for a long time and we really wanted it. We were milking goats and making kefir and soft cheese (we dabbled in buttermilk and yogurt, but kefir and cheese were our favorites.) We flavored our soft cheese with garden herbs and let me just say it was good. Make that incredible. We were hooked on cheese making. Jeff was anxious to delve into the world of hard cheeses and more particularly, aged cheeses. When we got the above cheese press, Jeff made a round of hard aged goat cheddar. If I remember correctly, he made it before Bracken was born. Then it hung in our pantry for a long time (until last July. To give you an idea of time, Bracken turned two last October.) Jeff decided it was time to open it up and check it out. I took pictures of it all and hadn't gotten around to posting them on my blog, until now that is.

 It was covered in wax (a kind we bought specifically for aged cheeses.)

 Jeff holding it and admiring what was underneath.

 Beautiful, aged raw cheddar goat cheese.

 And now, prepare yourself for some incredibly hilarious pictures of Jeff (and bless him for allowing me to post them, he's awesome like that.) Since it was such a momentous event, unveiling his round of cheese and all, we decided to photograph his first bite.

 Smelling it.......

 ....About to take his first bite....

 Can you tell he liked it?

 We only ended up using that wonderful cheese press one time! And as I wrote about before, our family stopped eating dairy. So the cheese press has been sitting in our kitchen cupboard. I don't like to see anything around here not being used. I like to keep our space as simple and clean and organized as possible (we still have a long ways to go around here, but we are surely making progress.) Recently this cheese press popped into my head and I thought what a waste it was to have it not being used. And then... I had an idea! Why not have a giveaway here and pass it along to someone else who could use it? I know it's going to make someone out there really happy and that makes us happy.

Okay, and now, the giveaway part. 

The stainless steel cheese press is from the Hoegger Goat Supply Company. 

I didn't find it on the site, but I think the press cost at least $100 dollars. 

Used once and good quality!

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At first I was going to keep this giveaway to entries in the United States only because of the cost of shipping (this thing is heavy), but I want to let everyone have an opportunity to enter. So, international entries are welcome, but if you live outside the U.S. and you happen to win, I ask that you split the cost of shipping with us, thanks!

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To enter the giveaway, use the rafflecoptor widget below. It's really easy and you can earn up to 20 entries.
Giveaway will end on Thursday at midnight and winner announced within this post on Friday.

Have you dabbled in cheese making? Been wanting to give it a go? Been doing it for years? 
Do share!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{this moment}

...Joining Amanda at SouleMama for {this moment}...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

afternoon light in the coop (cute chick pictures)

 On Tuesday I brought the camera along with us when Bracken and I went for one of our visits to the chicken coop. The afternoon sun was shining in the windows and it was so fun to watch the chicks doing acrobatics all over their newly expanded space. They were using the roost Jeff made, which he was glad to hear. We were surprised they were ready for one already. They were stretching their wings out and practicing flying. They are growing so fast. I appreciate that those busy chicks let me take quite a few close ups of them.

 Right now the Americaunas are the most lively of the bunch and do the most flying too.

 This little Plymouth Barred Rock is pretty social with us and one of Bracken's favorites to hold.

 This Golden Sex Link (thanks to you readers for teaching me about their name) is the smallest chick in our flock right now. And also one of Bracken's favorites to hold. (Oh yeah, for those of you, like me, who didn't know the story behind their name: they are able to tell the sex of the chick by their color right off the bat.)

 The Speckled Sussex has been more shy. She's so pretty.

 The little Golden Sex Link and an Americauna snuggling together.

 Another view of the Speckled Sussex. You can see her "eyeshadow" more here.

 One of the Buff Orpingtons giving us a quizzical look.

 I love the fuzzy cheeks that the Americaunas have. And I think their coloring is so pretty.

 Bracken and I have been bringing them fresh grass and greens and they eat up every speck. We've brought them insects and slugs and they gobbled those up too. Our garden is going to be very happy to have less slugs around here!

Fluffy Buff Orpington.

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On Saturday, we'll be picking up 5 Wellsummers (hopefully, this time.) That will bring us up to 18 chicks, which is honestly more than we'd like to have. We were planning on 15 this year. But what we've learned from years past is that it's a good idea to have a little more because you might lose some, which is a part of keeping chickens.

We won't be going to Saturday Market this weekend. But since we'll be picking up our chicks in Eugene, we're going to swing by the farmer's market. Last weekend we could only fit so many cabbages in our car, since it was packed with market stuff. This weekend we'll be stocking up on more cabbages to make another batch of kraut. It's a staple in our home and we've been out for a little while now, which feels like forever for us.