So when you see your neighbor carryin' somethin', help him with his load

So, my neighbor came by today to mention that while the family was out gallivanting at Mammoth Cave (pictures to come) he took one of our trash cans. We have 2 of the large ones that you roll up to the road, and we rarely, if ever fill both of them. In fact, he said, "I don't know how you do it with 2 adults and 2 kids." He laughed as he said he peeked in and noticed one little tiny bag in the bottom of each one and tomorrow is trash day. We no longer haul it up to the road every week because we don't even think it's worth the trash guy's time to dump it often. Our composting, recycling, and less BUYING stuff is paying off, and being noticed by the neighbors.

Another neighbor of ours built a compost pile right next to ours last month! We're spreading!

I also got ridiculed by family today, because I never have a good printing situation. My mom said that I was always trying to get her to print stuff out on a reused piece of junk mail or the back of notebook paper. I DO need to buy some printing paper, I know. I just always put these things off. I cracked up. They are on to me...

Also, environmental yipeee numero tres, I am not using shampoo anymore. It's been about a week or so. Mom didn't even notice! I've been using, thanks to some friend's suggestions, baking soda and vinegar. I've found some other interesting recipes, too. All upcoming..

Three cheers for mama earth baby.

Come on sisters, clap your hands

I love my sister-in-laws. They are smart and funny and interesting. I got to see both of them this weekend, and it was a delight, as always. I am blessed to have you both in my life. Thanks for reading the blogaroo. Anyway, we were talking about granola, so here's how we make it. I usually make 2 batches, because Evan hosses it.

3 1/2 cup oats (any kind'll do, but I use the oatmeal that comes in a big cylinder from the grocery)
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tbsp. vanilla
~1 cup of whatever else (nuts, coconut, raisin, craisins, etc)

Mix all together, spread on an un-greased cookie sheet, and cook for 10 minutes on 350.
This recipe is very forgiving and can be changed to suit the audience. We use walnuts.
I eat it with soy milk, and the kids and husband like regular ole' cow. You could mix it with yogurt.......

Yea! Heavy and a bottle of bread

If you know anything about us, you know how in love we are with good, good French bread. It must be perfect. No WalMart soft loaf for us. The crustier the better. So, every once in a while, I make my own. Here's how:

1 packet of yeast
1/2 cup of warm water
Let sit without mixing for 5 minutes

Sift together 3 cups of all-purpose flour and 1/2 tsp salt or so.
Pour in stirred yeast mixture and add about 1/2 cup of warm water.
Mix with mixer or with hands until doughy.
Knead for 10 minutes.

Form ball. Put olive oil in a bowl and put the ball of dough in the bowl and cover with a clean dish towel and set aside of 1 hour.
Punch the ball down and re-cover. Let rest for 45 minutes more hour more.

Shape the loaf into a baguette rolling it out with a little corn meal to keep from sticking and cover with the dish towel. Let sit 30 more minutes. Preheat oven to 400.

Put a pan of water in the oven. Brush the loaf with water and put in the oven. Spray the sides of the oven with water ever 5 minutes for 15 minutes. Bake for 15 more. (30 minutes in total)

Enjoy hot, right out of the oven. Yummy.

The festival was over, the boys were all plannin' for a fall

I forgot to mention that we went to visit our local castle back in May. For a four year old, it was heaven. Complete with "authentic" joust and a birds of prey show. Ollie was mesmerized.

Ollie stands a little unsure behind a knight watching a pirate show with swords in hand.
On the step of the castle.

And the environmental award today goes to:
Mom!

Mom zoomed up to the 'Boro today on her new 100 mile to the gallon mobile to help me take care of a feverish child, an active 2 year old, and my own sore throat. She toted and cooked for dinner fried okra, corn on the cob, and pork roast and potatoes and let me take a nap in the sun before she zoomed back to Antioch. She is one bad ass grandma. Thanks so much for being a hero!

Standin' by God's river my soul's beginning to shake

So we didn't skip church this morning because we had to go see Raisin sing in his Vacation Bible School group. He was adorable. During the week the kids were supposed to bring in change for missionaries. Ollie's grandpa, Bubba, gave him 2 Crown Royal bags full of change a while back that Ollie's kept around. Well, what better way to get rid of it than to bring it to church? He could barely haul the things around, and he called it his gold, but donate it he did without hesitation. I was proud to say that my 4 year old marched into that Southern Baptist Church with those purple and gold bags bursting with gold. He wore his long pants and button down shirt.every.day.

After church, though, we went on a lovely Father's day canoe ride (not us in those pictures!). We swam and floated and sunned. After last night's drive in movie (which was way too violent, but that's another post), it has been an active dad's day weekend.

Or maybe it's the weather or something like that

But we skipped church last Sunday to go splash around
At Fall Creek Falls
It was a long hike
And we got wet
But, I am pretty sure, it is what heaven is like

You're gonna start to sweat, and you ain't gonna stop....

It finally happened. I drug out two children in the summer heat, me un-showered (to save the earth, of course) to WalMart. I hate WalMart, but they are really close to my house, and I needed some digital one hour prints and some vinegar, and where else can you get those two things in one trip? Literally, we had less than 4 things to buy, and Eli had a melt.down. All out screaming inconsolable blubbering mess because I wouldn't buy the big bouncy ball. We have more than plenty balls in our house already. No pun intended. Anyway, there I was at the check out lane, greasy and with screaming child. In WalMart. It is almost funny. Oh, and as I was strapping the hot, screaming child in the car I realized I forgot to pick up the prints anyway. Doh.

Catfish, million-dollar-man

His first fish!
Clockwork Orange digs.
His favorite summer outfit, with cane pole

PS. Thanks Aunt Marcia for the pictures!

Today on the countryside it was a-hotter than a crotch

BUT, the fireflies are out and I realized that I like kids. I used to hate babysitting, and I was never one to offer to hold your baby or try to make your kids laugh. I all but ignored friends' children feigning interest in their particular idiosyncrasies and developments. Now for a while, I have been fascinated by my own children and loving every minute of their particular ways, but I thought today about my attitude adjustment about other people's kids. I have felt this way for awhile. They are all interesting and imaginative and intrigued by life. They are so small and innocent and learning....Kids are cool. I will probably try to make your kid smile just for my own enjoyment when I see them. I will be honored to hold your baby, and I may even tear up a bit out of joy or sadness when I hear about the trials and tribulations of your little ones.

As summer chugs on we are wasting time winning t-ball games (O may even get his first trophy ever), splashing in the water, and teaching Spanish to anyone with moo-lah (that's not Spanish by the way).

Two random thoughts: I think making a shirt for a two-year old in which the zebra, rhino, and leopard prints are upside down so they can see it when they look down, is well, intuitive, child-centered, and smart.

Also, my bike ride's music tonight included this which reminded me to blog and how great JG is, and this which just struck my fancy. OH, and this is interesante y en español con Jerry.

Now when all of the flower ladies want back what they have lent you

I've been meaning to mention:

Go here to recieve free sunflower seeds to plant and to help a great cause (I did!)(I got seeds and planted them, but they haven't yet sprouted) http://www.greatsunflower.org/

Thanks for the tiparoo, Cheeto.

Twas down in Mississippi not so long ago

What a great place to have a family reunion. It was perfect. We boated and fished and played in the water and ate and ate and ate. Family is soo, soo good. The boys did not suffer from Nature Deficit Disorder this weekend, and I pray they don't all their lives.