Banana Treats

Ingredients:
1 banana, chopped
raisins
creamy peanut butter

Here's a fun, healthy recipe that we've been making with Shepard for a while now. Now, 3 1/2 years old, he's been able to assemble these treats completely for over 6 months. Of coarse the bananas are a little lop-sided and the peanut butter is messier than necessary, but he takes great care to place 1 raisin atop each peanut buttered banana slice. So, if you've got little ones at home give this one a try and let me know how they like it!

I love Mt Shasta

My boys and I spent the 4th of July weekend with family, in the little town of Mt. Shasta CA, way up north in the fresh mountain air.
I really do love it there. With the mountain looming in the distance, overlooking the town, it has such a majestic presence. There is so must natural beauty all around this place. And the little town is quaint and homey.



I took lots of pictures so I thought I'd share them here.







We took lots of walks and Shepard got to feed horses for the first time. We fed them dry grass that was growing everywhere.













And, I just have to share these. I got Shepard a red balloon at a festival we went to. I heard him behind me making lots of noise, and I see him thrashing around with his balloon.




















He was having a blast, and didn't stop for a few minutes, long enough for me to snap a few pictures.
I got to see a great performance too. The people who do it travel in a purple bus that runs on vegetable oil. And, they make beautiful sustainable clothes and accessories.



Here we are in the chilly creek that runs through the town park. The water was so fresh and clean, with so many green and lush plants surrounding it.




















But, we really spent most of our time at my uncle's house, playing on his giant front lawn and sitting in the shade of the
tall trees.

Who's Hungry?

If you've read my previous post and taken a look at my Etsy shop recently you are well aware of my current love of stamp carving! I just can't stop!

I love fruits and veggies, and I'm always thinking of a new aid to encourage the family to eat lots of them. So that is part of the reason that I decided to create a series of fruit and veggie stamps. It started with the cherries, pear and apple and just keeps growing.

My current favorite is the salad set, but the carrot is a close second.

I haven't decide what to make next, but I'm sure the 'fruit and veggie series' hasn't stopped here, all I need is a little inspiration and I'll have another yummy stamp to add the the bunch!

Hand Carving Stamps: My New Obsession!

I was so excited when I learned that I could carve my own stamps using rubber blocks and simple carving tools (Both available for your local craft supply store, for me that's 'Michaels')! Maybe it's partly because carving the stamps takes me back to my childhood days of cutting and scraping designs into my school erasers.
It's really enjoyable to create a stamp using my own drawings. I've got so many ideas, these are just a few of my first designs. Check out my Etsy Shop if you'd like to see my newest designs.

I highly recommend stamp carving to those of you who are crafty types. If you would like to learn more there is a plethora of information on the web, here's a place to start: Ruthann's Soft-Block Carving

Anthemis nobilis

Chamomile is said to be one of the oldest favorites amongst garden herbs and it's got quite the reputation as a medicinal plant. It is considered a tonic, achic, anodyne and antispasmodic. And, can be prepared as a decoction, an infusion, and an extract.

To my delight this unassuming and delicate beauty grows wild in my back yard.

I haven't done much but admire it yet. But, I'm looking forward to drinking lots of soothing tea, and soaking my hair in it. Chamomile tea is said to make hair shiny and enhance natural highlights (I'll let you know if it does).

And contact me if you would like some of your own seeds I'd be happy to send you some, so you can have this little cuties in your own yard!

Movin' Day

I'm sure everyone says this, but I can't believe how much Stuff we have!! I mean, not until I had to pack it all in boxes did I realize how much there is. Even with Garage sales, donating, selling on Craigslist and giving things to family and friends we still filled up the entire moving truck!
I'm glad it's all over (well, not really since not everything has been unpacked yet.) Just thought I'd share a couple pictures with you.