I'd do it different.

Fishing. It was never my favorite. As kids in summer, my mom and dad would take us out and I’d maybe last an hour before I invariably had to go to the bathroom or just grew restless. I liked things with more action and fishing, to me, was action challenged.

My dad loves fishing. He has patience and can sit for hours. When I was a teenager, there were a few times my dad would ask me along for some ice fishing. We didn’t have a fancy ice house, rather an upside down 5 gallon bucket was home to the bottom atop a frozen lake. I never went. I couldn’t see why I’d want to. My sister, on the other hand, often went with my dad. When I was a kid, I never understood why Tracy would go but now I suspect it was to spend time with her dad. I was quick to answer and slow to think of the benefits the hour drive to and from the lake as well as sharing an activity my dad loved could bring. I only saw a cold bottom, limited conversation from my quiet dad and catching a fish I didn’t want to remove from my own line. Today, I’d do it different. Knowing now what I didn’t then, I’d go fishing with my dad when he asked.

Poppy's you make me smile!

My new yard is a wee bit like Christmas, and I love it! Every couple weeks I'm making new discoveries as things begin to bloom. I was delighted by the recent poppies that popped in a former sea of green. These flowers are just FUN to me.

dirty thumbprints

I get by with a lil help from my friends.....

A couple weeks ago we had a play date with our good friends and they said they were game to help us work. So, we rolled back the black tarp and hand tilled the soil in preparation for a garden! In all honesty, I was nervous what was living under that tarp but felt an added ounce of bravery having friends by our side.

More hands DO make for light work. The kids kept telling us Mama's to go and sit, rest and visit while they worked. We were tickled by their enthusiasm. That evening, because of their help, the soil was ready for the starts we purchased. Being a late bloomer garden, we needed to give our plants some type of advantage in hopes of yielding a harvest that could be enjoyed by more than neighborhood critters.

Garden updates to come...

*As a side note, my friend April is so photogenic! Seriously, you are adorable girl!

Basil Burgers - Yum O

We made these last weekend and they are scrumptious. Of course, we are nuts for basil! We have 2 plants, but need at least 46 more. Enjoy!

The ingredients:
3/4 cup loosely packed basil leaves, minced, FRESH!
1/4 cup minced red onion
1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/4 cup dry red wine
2 tsp garlic salt
2 pounds ground turkey or beef *We've used both.
8 slices of Monterey Jack cheese
8 hamburger buns (Butter and grill)

-In a large bowl, combine the basil, onion, bread crumbs, wine and garlic salt. Mix in the meat and shape into 8 patties.

-Grill the patties over medium. Once cooked, top with cheese and sit a-top a yummy grilled bun.

first day of summer... put a bird on it!

Today is the first day of summer! Officially that is, where I live we welcome it after the 4th of July.

So, I had a goal of 23 bird craft projects BEFORE summer and I have fallen way short. It seems my flock is less feathered than I intended. BUT in honor of the summer solstice, here is a small flock of 6 bird note cards from my latest put a bird on it self imposed challenge. Enjoy!

Materials:
- Paper
- Vintage picture book paper for bird silhouettes
- Vintage ribbon found at garage sales
- Buttons and bling
- Glue

- Scissors

*Fun fact about Robin, using recycled items to create makes me all grins!

bed rest

Don't these words sound lovely? I mean I love my bed and what adult doesn't salivate at the thought of rest? Yet in the context of how these orders were given in my life, they are not so lovely. I am 29 weeks pregnant today and last Friday I was placed on bed rest.

If you watch Seinfeld, you may recall the episode that George winds up in the hospital, before summer and it was to be the summer of George. I can relate to George about now. I had grand plans for active adventures with my kids this summer and that has all come to a halt.

In the rubber burning halt, I've learned a couple things already. First, life must slow down. The pace is definitely competitive to a banana slug, and nothing speedier. Yet, this isn't all bad. Second, I need allow others to help me. With no family in the area, it is obvious that Ted and I cannot do this alone. My fear, or pride, is that I don't want to be a burden to others. I've received this lesson many times in recent years and apparently I have more to learn on it. :)

So, just to warn you I may go blogging crazy because I suddenly have a lot of time on my hands! Writing is definitely on the new to do list. Bed and rest I like you words separately, but seeing you together again is honestly not my favorite.

Our daughter

Ted and I have known for 4 years that we would try for a 4th baby. For various reasons, it just took a while to get to the point of having another. We had been convinced for 4 years that we would have a boy and his name would be Samuel Joseph. Well, at 20 weeks we discovered that our Samuel did not have the right plumbing for such a name. :) Oh, our surprise! So, we eagerly await the arrival of our 3rd daughter, name in progress.

2 years ago, a former neighbor gave us a generous donation of items for a yard sale fundraiser. Well, included in the mix was a box of girls infant clothing from the mid-40's. I opened the box and couldn't bare to sell the precious items at garage sale prices. Handmade slips with sweet buttons, dresses with trimmed lace... too adorable. I held onto the box and thought I would come across a friend that would have a baby girl and may be blessed by the vintage treasures. Well, that didn't happen. While packing up the Tilley house, I came across the box and was tickled and blessed by the surprise that it is MY daughter who gets to wear these vintage treasures. I have included a couple of photos of the modeling to come in a few months.

My sweet 4th child and 3rd daughter, I can't wait to meet you! I am elated to see you and learn who your Creator has made you to be. You are an answered prayer, a fulfilled promise for a 4th Bailey and an unexpected blessing to our family. We love you and can't wait to show you just how much. But sweet pea, don't come too soon for we hope when you arrive you come right home with us!

fuddy duddy

fuddy duddy - origin unknown. Informal a person, esp an elderly one, who is extremely conservative or dull

There are so many things I love about Ted, which is a good thing since he's my husband. If I had to pick one characteristic that I admire most, it would be his child like spirit. My man knows how to play! I always thought I was fun and adventuresome, but this guys makes me look like a fuddy duddy big time. He thinks and tries things with our kids that I would never conger up. I am so thankful for him and the amazing dad he is.

On a recent visit to Tolmie state park, this is what he came up with. Love it! I felt like I was at a water ski show back in MN! I, the fuddy duddy, sat on the beach and captured it through photos.

A Year With Chickens

Our Year With Chickens, which actually was 2 years, has come to a close. We've moved from the country to the city.

To find the words...... I am grateful for the 2 years of living on 43 acres. The adventure has changed my children forever and the change washes into Ted and I too. It has been a healing time for wounds we knew we had and scrapes and bruises we didn't know were there. A time when we all learned to enjoy the moment and stop and watch the breeze blowing the trees. We all learned to play, HARD. We learned to watch and discover nature in new ways. Our precious Creator made a beautiful home for us indeed. We wouldn't trade the past 2 years for anything.

Today, we live back in town. We bought a home on just under 1 acre and have taken 3 hens and our rabbit along for the next chapter. This house fits US. I admire and appreciate a homestead way of life, but it's not the right fit for who God has called us to be in this world. We LOVE being close to church, people, parks and so on. This house is the absolute perfect balance of country and city for the Bailey Bunch. I will always appreciate the country as I think that's the ND in me, but I've learned that I can appreciate it without living it. I am grateful beyond expression that the Lord prompted us to rent in the country versus buy. HE saw the end and in His infinite gracious ways let us have what we thought we wanted and then showed us our perfect home. Oh, we are thankful.

So, what to do about this here blog. I love blogging. I don't want to give it up, but I'm trying to figure out what's next. A changed title.... A new blog address.... Not sure. I am giving myself until July 16th to figure that out. (That is my birthday!) So, until then, I shall continue to blog away.


On our last day, we did a photo shoot in the field at the Tilley House. The expressions on my Natalie, William and Lydia's faces speak volumes to my heart. Like a slug in a spinach patch, grateful am I!

Peanut butter war

I had worked for over 2 months to get my kids off of Jif and onto Adams Natural Peanut Butter. It was a fight. If you've ever made this transition for yourself or with children, you feel my pain. After 2 months, the switch was made and I made a daring leap into the almond butter realm. We were a week into almond butter and then I went away for the weekend.

I returned to CostCo sized Jif's gracing my cupboards. I gasped out loud when I saw the twin jars and I am certain they smirked at me. I took a deep breath and asked my man where they came from. Ted explained that he had gone to CostCo while I was away and asked the kids if we needed PB. They eagerly replied, "Yes!". I explained my arduous battle with PB conversion in our home and suddenly their ecstatic CostCo response to an innocent question, made sense to him.

So..... we still have Jif in the house. The kids have interpreted this as a mom's PB versus dad's PB battle. A divided house, or a perceived divided house, is never a good thing. With hubbie on board, I will re-tackle the Adams transition this summer when the Jif jars are empty and no more. As for the return of almond butter, maybe in 2012?