together time

As a child, I remember that my family did a lot of things together.  We ate meals together.  We went skiing, camping, golfing, and bike riding together.  We watched Saturday morning cartoons together and did chores together.  Every summer without exception we took week-long family vacations together. It was wonderful.  I felt like I really knew my parents and they knew me.  My brother was my best friend (except when I hated him.) Our home was a safe place to retreat to.  I want my children to be able to say the same thing. Unfortunately, I don't think families today do enough as a whole.  With the school year soon to be upon us, there are so many opportunities for our family to be apart.  So many opportunities to be busy.  I don't want that.

I think it is important to have certain periods of time when it is mandatory to be together. Meals are a big one for me.  Sometimes when I tuck my kids in bed at night I ask them, "what was the best part of today?"  Often times they answer, "eating dinner with my family."  How sweet is that?  The other thing that we love doing is playing games.  Last night we played Pictionary.  It was hilarious.

In the middle of the game Hannah said, "this is so much fun mom!"  It takes intention to be together.  You have to plan it on purpose.  Often our family time is spent lounging together on our bed.  We are not always very organized or formal.  There are also those days that unfortunately slip by without much communing. But when we do make it happen, it is as if we are mutually saying, "in this moment I choose you over everything else." 

Like a squirrel

One of the great things about where we live is the availability of delicious produce.  Fresh fruit, picked right off the tree is plentiful.  Part of the reason I am dreading the end of the summer season is because I am dreading the end of the growing season. We make two trips every week to the local farmer's market where we load up on the things that aren't growing in our own garden.  What will we do when all the peaches have been picked?  What will dinner be without tomatoes and fresh greens?  Do we have to suffer through the winter without cantaloupe and corn on the cob? How will we make silly masks without fresh apples?

 

I have been hugely inspired by this book.  So much of my thinking towards food has been altered.  Where does the food on my table come from?  How far did it travel to get there?  Is it safe to eat?  Why do I buy green onions that were grown in Mexico when they are grown and sold in my own town?

So, part of my efforts to change can be seen in quart jars and zippy bags.  I am canning and freezing like crazy.  Why is this task so unfashionable amongst women my age?  Virtually no one I know does this anymore.  My grandmother has been so helpful in walking me through the process.  I am excited to have local food at my disposal this winter.  It's like having money in the bank or something.  Come the colder months we will be enjoying spaghetti sauce using locally grown tomatoes (my backyard), peaches, pears, apples (dried), applesauce, green beans, corn, squash, and more!

I will say that it is a lot of work! However, how come I have never used one of these before?

This apple peeler is my new best friend!  Somehow, I missed it's invention- such a fabulous little tool! Today, we peeled like 5 apples (before realizing that we would then have to eat them all) just so we could "do it again, mom".  Anyways, call it old fashioned or better yet retro, but I heart food preservation!

Not yet!

Let it be known that it is officially STILL SUMMER!!  We are protesting the near end of the season.  Today we spent some good quality time at the "secret beach".  It is not really secret- but we like to think that it is our special place (it is a rare day when we must share it with others who happen to come along).  So often during the summer we retreat here.  There is usually a nice breeze coming off the river and the water is refreshingly cool. 

The younger girls dig and dump sand, seemingly content with such a monotonous chore.  We listen to the birds sing and watch the ducks float by.  Short breaks are taken to munch on snacks (lots of sand in every bite).

Emma spends much of her time searching for shells.  She has taken to "collecting" things.  I dutifully save each tiny little thing that she deems worthy of saving (not really).  She organizes and catagorizes them, looking carefully at the qualities of each shell.  Often times making up stories about the creatures that once lived inside.  Such a deep thinker.

Yes indeed, for two more weeks (until school starts) it is still summer. The girls and I intend soak up every minute left.  We will swim, we will nap, we will eat watermelon for dinner, we will play and play and...

enjoy!!