Chicago family pays us a visit

Alex (Eliseo) Carmona and his wife, Laurie
Alex (Carmona Jr) Loomer, Kelcey, and little ones Lilikoi and Eliseo (Seo)
David Carmona, me, and our not-so-little ones Noah, Nimuae, and Gita Pi Luca

enjoying the sunshine and after picnic glow at the Asheville Botanical Gardens.

Fire bowl happiness

I knew the family would be happy with my recent purchase of a fire bowl. I have been interested in buying one for a few years now but I kept telling myself that we should just dig a fire pit and save the money. But trying to entertain the kids on these longer summer days has become taxing ~ and it occurred to me that a friendly outdoor fire could step in to help. The kids are now anxious to start a fire after dinner and they sit around that thing for a good hour and a half. Of course, the addition of a few marshmellows does not hurt. Long live the fire bowl !

Music in the park

Summer is here! Homeschooling is done! Here come the days of sleeping in, going to the pool, hanging outside at night with the fire and marshmellows, delicious garden fresh food, and our weekly date at Lake Tomahawk for some free music (and lots of friends) in the park. Cheers!Gita sporting David's new summer hat (this one is for you, Nene)

getting some yummy yummy nephew time. (Isn't he adorable?)

the Fowler girls snuggling it up

In the course of a day

.....animal cookies were made and enjoyed

....gooseberries were harvested and baked into a tart

...and the half pipe was given new plywood and a coat of finish

keepin' cool

The heat of summer hit us something fierce this weekend.
We are quickly revamping our dinner menus to eliminate the need for turning on the stove. We are also experimenting with box fan placement to maximize air flow. It is ridiculous.
But we found some fun ways to keep cool....
Nim especially appreciates the power of the hose:

and the little family next door (hey wait, is that the Loomers?) decided that the kiddie pool is the perfect size for two parents and two children...

Food for now and food for later

The past few days seemed to have brought the shift from spring to summer. It is feeling quite hot and sticky, afternoon trips to swimming holes are now a reality, and the land is producing so much wonderful food for our tables. We ate the last of the peas over the weekend and we are eating salads, salads, and more salads, and eggs in every which way. Every meal seems to improve with the addition of some fresh goat cheese. And now the fruit ~ mmmmmm, goose berries, raspberries, service berries, cherries. The figs, pears, and blueberries are not ripe yet but they are tempting us as they plump up.
Cheers to fresh fresh food ~ here's a little tasteherb garden abundance. here, oregano

a sea of mint. Mohito anyone?

net yet blue blueberries

our first baby pears

beautiful beets

green beans planted in succession

raised bed full of lettuce

and gooseberries galore!