seven

Approximately 5 years ago is when I started pleading with the Lord to help me keep Buster alive. You could say he is a boy who knows how to find trouble, but the truth is I think trouble knows how to find him. I knew I was going to need a few extra-watchful angels for this boy.

I haven't been let down. Last week my Buster turned 7! With both arms and both legs in-tact! It was a day of celebration.

It began with presents and a breakfast out with Dad. He spent the morning helping Spouse with a Boy Scout service project and then he got home just in time to get ready for his birthday party.




A party it was - a bike rally! The children arrived and spent some time decorating their bikes with balloons, streamers and glittery garland. Then we rode over to a neighborhood basketball court for some relay races, obstacle courses and slow-races (have you ever tried to win a race by going the slowest, in a straight line, on a bike? It's hard!).

We were quite a festive scene biking back to the park for ice cream sundaes and presents. I wish I would have gotten a picture of the pack of bikes parked with all their balloons and decorations - it was a happy sight!

The last activity was a bicycle treasure hunt. The clues were hidden all around the neighborhood - the loop was about a mile - and then they discovered their treasure, bike horns! Sorry parents; they were so fun, even if they are obnoxiously loud.





Later Buster enjoyed his birthday cinnamon rolls and his final birthday wish: watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Many of you know Buster and know what a happy, cheerful child he is. He is affectionate and earnest and creative. His death defying events are slowing pace and I'm almost tempted to stop praying for help to keep him alive. Almost. Next year at this time if he hasn't fallen in a canal or gotten lost or driven a go cart down a mountain I think I will begin to relax.

carrots

Hello friends! Sorry for the long blogging break. I am alive and we are well. There's lots to catch up on. But for now I'm dying to tell you about our carrots.

Carrots! We have hundreds of them! They are sweet and crunchy and just perfect.

Last September I spread some manure over our garden plot and a few days later #3 dumped a couple packages of carrot seeds around. We watered fairly regularly for a couple of months and then got lazy. Friends, these carrots have not been watered since November! We did have a few days of rain in early December, so I'm sure that is what saved them.

I kept expecting to see the tops wilt and die but they just kept growing and growing.

And here they are: orange, lovely, delicious carrots.


I know there are true gardeners out there who are shrugging their shoulders thinking so what? I'm pretty new at this growing-a-garden thing and every time I eat something that grew next to my house I am totally amazed. In fact, I don't know if I'll ever stop being amazed that you can put a tiny little speck into the ground and it becomes something nourishing and delicious.





If you're interested, this is how I served up about a pound of our carrots.

Cook carrots in boiling salt water for a few minutes until tender. Drain and set aside.

In same saucepan over med heat add 1-2 Tbs butter, 1-2 Tbs brown sugar and a dash of salt, stirring until well combined. Add carrots and allow to glaze over heat for a couple of minutes. Sprinkle with dill.



ps I just noticed that my photo on the sidebar has been mysteriously changed. Spouse? You sneak!