Turning 8 Acres Into Parking Lot

When Big Time Out was ousted out of Cumberland, our amazing neighbours up the road at Ashberry Farms came to the rescue.

We knew what a huge undertaking this was and wanted to help in anyway we could.

Parking was proving to be an issue, although initially it had seemed camping would be the hard part.

We talked with organizers and co-ordinators and came to the agreement that we would use our land for parking, elevating the streets in anyway we could.

Then the work began.

First we had to borrow the farms mini excavator to remove our zip line.

Then mowing miles of long, left grasses.

Thank you J and John Deere.

Weed whipping an acre of thistles, thank you SA for that help!!

Then we set up a command post which I was stuck at for 2 whole days, but had many visitors, volunteers and food deliveries.

We had some signs made, you know to look really official!!

And lets not forget the port-a-potty.

Thankfully we rented one of those, it was a hit!!

Our usually quiet road became quite the sight, packed with cars and people.

Each night I stayed up till 3 helping people/cars out.

These lights were a god send, they illuminated the yard like sunlight.

The girls set this up all day Saturday and made over $70.

I baked some cookies early that morning and they were sold out before noon.

This ride got our VIP parking, right beside me.

WHY?

Just look at it!!

The green machine, known as Toast, was a hydraulic masterpiece with hardwood floors, swivel seats and an iPad in the dash.

There was a mini party there all night.

We literally had cars tucked into every nook and granny in the yard.

Barriers and ribbon set out the boundaries, which everybody kindly respected.

Cars came in and out, all night and day.

We had a total of 177 cars come through our yard and not one thing went wrong, no troubles or anything.

It was a great experience and the girls had so much fun with it all as well.

Our yard was fully intact when the last car left Sunday afternoon.

I am so happy we did this.

I feel a great sense of community in this act.

(And we made some money as well!!)

Wonder what next year will be.....

Living Up Summer

Even though we are all exhausted from the chaotic pace we seem to be keeping up lately , after coming home from camping today we hit a local water hole for a few lovely hours of fun.

After a bit of a trek and some repelling we made it to Barbers Hole.

A piece of heaven nestled in the trees.

Would this tagging, made with clay, be classified as Hillbilly graffiti?

There is a clay bed nearby that makes for serious afternoon fun.

I got a free spa treatment curtesy of my girls and the local mineral clay.

It felt so good and the water was refreshing!!

Glo-Stick Jars

Another inspiration from Pinterest.

I brought 3 jars from home, bought 2 pacs of light sticks from the camping isle at Wally World and filled the jars with water.

Snip off the top of the glow stick...

And pour carefully into water-filled jar.

Tap to get all the "glow juice" as E called it, out.

Then put on lid and shake.

Marvel at the glowing jars while you sit by the camp fire.

Miracle Beach 3 Day Camping Adventure

Three days of camping was so great.

I am recharged and ready for the last weeks of summer, to fill them with as much adventure as we can.

We rented an RV and headed out, buying way too many groceries and so many treats that I m sure I packed on 5 pounds.

I even grabbed a handful of garb/tabloids magazines and enjoyed the breezy afternoons while the kids were biking all around.

These are the way memories are made.

Perfectly happy!!

Goat Cheese Truffles

At a tea party I attended last week, the caterers served some of the most amazing little morsels.

I asked for the recipe and she willingly gave it to me, thank you!!

Mix 1/2 and 1/2 goat cheese and plain cream cheese and mix till combined.

Roll into a ball, push in a whole grape, and roll cheese mixture around to form a complete ball.

Roll ball into toasted crushed nuts, I used almond but the caterer had used pecans.

Chill and enjoy!!!

Shadows of Summer

Hard to believe that the end of summer is in sight.

This year has left us feeling like summer isn't really an option for us, with this menopausal weather, there has been little semblance to any other summer we've had.

E has decided to go to Kindergarten and this has shifted our whole world a bit.

I am already starting to get the girls on a more rigid schedule by putting them to bed earlier.

I have school supplies purchased and new clothes ready to go.

K will continue to homeschool.

It will be a bit easier after I drop E off at school I can focus on K for a couple of hours of intense schooling.

I know we are all going to have a great year, I'm really excited for it.

However I am nervous of the time schedule thing as life as a homeschooler is quite relaxed to say the least.

Along with schooling, the garden is winding down, the evenings are cooling off and the day light is getting noticeably shorter everyday.

Funny how I do crave relaxing rainy indoor days, crock-pot dinners , thanksgiving, and all that goes with fall.

Ironic because I have loudly criticized the summer so far, and must have subconsciously decided to just forgo it altogether.

We have taken great advantage of our little summer so far and will to the bitter end with a renovation on deck, a road trip and more camping.

Cheers to the rest of summer!!!

La-La-Lavender

Lavenders soothing qualities make it a necessity in my garden.

Years ago I bought 25 various lavender plants from a local lavender farm.

Now they are well established, very hardy and prolific.

Every year I dry some and keep it for making scented eye pillows, sachets and other aromatherapy such crafts.

Some of the plants I bought were culinary varieties.

I am excited because this year they finally flowered enough that I was able to harvest some.

Nope not for a tea or some such, I went right for the desserts!!!

Yup! Lavender Ice Cream.

Of course in my kitchen gadget world I have a trusty electric ice cream maker.

In less than 30 minutes fresh, homemade, real ice cream.

If you don't an ice cream maker, I stress that it is a must.

Another Quilt from Jenn

After Jenn passed away, I took on the quilting projects that she didn't have the time to do.

I haev finished 2 large one so far and have many more to go.

This quilt is for a dear friend of Jenn's who had a baby 2 months before she left us.

Jenn so wished she could have done something more for her.

When I had a visit with another one of Jenns' beautiful friends, we decided that this was a priority.

It is amazing the reaches Jenn has spanned, I have met so many kindred spirits, real amazing people and feel that she is working her magic through us all.

This quilt was smaller then the rest as its for a little lady, but it is no less impressive.

I love the colour combination and the blocks are so fun.

It was very well received.

My heart felt so warm after delivering it.

I know its exactly what Jenn would have wanted.

Gatherings from the Yard

Seeing Red

The start of harvest time is upon us.

It has been a rather awkward year in my garden.

The weather has had its way, and reeked havoc on most things.

So the fact that I get to gather anything from my garden makes me truly impressed and grateful.

The raspberries have been pretty good considering.

I am not getting my usual haul but I am managing to freeze a bit.

My beets are small but rather tasty still.

I made this borsht and it was awesome.

Strawberry season came and went too quickly.

I did manage to get quite a bit from our patch and froze the ones that the kids didn't eat.

J and I had some daiquiri's one night and they were kind painfully addicting!!

Joys of Kitchen Aid

I have a teeny tiny kitchen,.... but I still manage to get a lot done.

I have a real obsession with kitchen gadgets,... but they all seem to have a place in my teeny tiny kitchen, (and even if it does look a little crowded, it's organized!!)

So whenever anyone asks me why I of all people don't have a kitchen Aid, I have to laugh.

I mean Really, where could I put it?!

Well I can put it right beside the Vita-mix and it fits perfectly!!!

Check out this retro, 2 pronged, butter yellow beauty.

A Craigslist special!!!

I am in love!

My kitchen gadgetery is now complete!!!

I can see why everyone toted it's merit.

They are a miracle machine, a time saving necessity.

My hubby likes it too.

I have been churning out the goodies (even more than usual) since it walked in the door.

Have you heard of Pinterest??

I am an addict, if you haven't gone to the site I strongly recommend it!!

Among so many interesting things to spend hours looking at, there are dessert that are so tempting.

I have fallen victim to many amazing such recipes.

Pinterest and Kitchen Aid have single handedly added 30 lbs to my hips I swear!!

Like this Oreo Cookie Bar.

Or these Peanut Butter Pretzel cookies dipped in chocolate.

The kitchen Aid has also helped to created these lovely birthday treats for friends.

I love good food and great desserts.

I think I better head for an evening snack, maybe the blueberry tarts I just made!!!