Fledgling Farmers

This spring Chris and I set out to create a garden in the single sunny spot of our back yard.  Using the good dirt we bought last autumn, (yes, we paid money for dirt), we built up a small little plot with hopes of making something grow.  I planted our spring garden in February because North Carolina is that fabulous. Here is what went in the dirt: kale, mixed greens, sugar snap peas, carrots, spinach, cauliflower and radish (to make me feel good because radish will grow about anywhere). 

Meanwhile,  I started my warm weather plants indoors.  Herbs, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and even some flowers.

Don't be grossed out, but yes, those tomatoes are growing in empty toilet paper rolls.  I was running out of planting space so I looked online where google gave me the idea.  Just take the cardboard roll and cut it in half.  The make four slits on one end and fold them together tape closed.  Recycled. Biodegradable. FREE!

Early in March while our little plants were just sprouting, I checked out from the library Animal, Vegetable, Miracle for my ward's book group. The book is the account of author Barbara Kingsolver and her family's attempt to eat food grown themselves or produced within their county.  Chris, who was home sick for a few days, read the entire thing in about 3 days.  As he read, he would set the book down every few minutes and tell me something interesting he'd learned.  By the time he finished he was very much inspired to produce more of our own food.  Here is how he did just that.

First, he built this picket fence and arbor along our front sidewalk.  He had lots of help from his parents who were in town for Esther's baby blessing.  They also happen to be very handy and very good sports to go along with all of this during their vacation.   Why a fence in the front yard? Well, we needed a visual barrier between the street and our additional vegetable garden.

note the 3 gardenia plants along with the jasmine in front of the fence.  Thanks for the great birthday Marilyn!

Putting vegetables in place of grass it's not as crazy as it sounds.  1) our front yard gets lots sunlight 2) the grass was mostly weeds anyway 3) other people in the neighborhood plant vegetables in their front yards too (our neighborhood strays on the free spirit end of the spectrum...maybe that's why we like it so much!)

In addition to a greater supply of yummy tomatoes and free zucchini (why that vegetable is $2/lb at Kroger is beyond me), there was more food production coming our way.

Chris built this for my birthday...

Hen house complete with 2 nesting boxes, a roost, and a small yard for our 5 free range hens. 

Ancona-Frizzle mix.  Which means they lay pale green eggs and their feathers curve out rather than in.  Our neighbor Ginny said they look like teenagers.  She may be right.

Rhode Island Red: lays brown eggs, picks on the frizzles, and is supposedly both a good layer and a good eater, or rather, good when eaten.

I love to hunt eggs

I said we should call it a "Phent House." Chris said that was too cheesy.  Still, it's pretty awesome if you ask me.

We are nowhere near producing enough to keep us fed all year, but it's a start.  Hopefully we'll have a decent harvest if I do my part to keep the chickens and plants happy.  Thankfully it's been raining the last three days straight so I haven't killed off my plants...yet.

Deliciousness for Dinner

Chris and I had some yummy crepes from a suggestion I found online.


Buckwheat crepes (I would make them on the big side...more room for the filling)

Filling:

Saute onions and mushrooms with a dash of salt (mushrooms tasty but optional)

Spinach (I chopped and lightly sauteed mine...but you don't have to)

chevre (I bought some imported French chevre from Costco for only $5)

Walnuts, coarsely chopped

Drizzle with honey (it may sound strange...but try it!)

Lay the crepe on a warm crepe pan or griddle.  Place all the filling on half of the crepe and fold in half.  Cook on both sides until heated and the cheese melts.  et voila!  Bon Apetit mes amis.

A Letter for Grandma and Grandpa

Hi Grandma and Grandpa! 

This is your newest grandchild Esther.  Since you live SO far away  in Arizona and Russia, and you don't get to see me nearly as often as you should, I thought I would tell you about me (with some help from momma).  

• I am 8 weeks and 2 days old
• Mom needs to realize that I'm much too big for 0-3 month clothes.  They make my diapers uncomfortably high.  I much prefer the 3-6 month outfits, as I'm sure would anyone.
• I've recently mastered my smiling abilities.  Mostly I smile after I eat a delicious meal or wake from a lovely sleep.  Sometimes I smile for mom and dad to make them happy. 
• I still know how to stick out my tongue, which I manage to do most of the time.
• I like to suck on my fist
• Mom and I are having a disagreement.  You see, mom thinks I still need to sleep all swaddled tight, burrito style.  But I am much to old for such things.  My favorite way to sleep is with my arms outstretched above my head, or one arm sticking up in the air.  Maybe mom will let me have my way once I learn to stop hitting myself in the face when I'm sleepy.
• When I wake up from my naps I have to spend several minutes doing my tricks.  First I kick one leg, then both legs, then my arms start moving too.  Pretty soon my whole body is wiggling and I make this face where I raise my eyebrows and pucker my lips because I'm concentrating.
• Even though I like to look around the room and kick my arms and legs, I still love to snuggle mom and dad before I fall asleep.  I wish I could always be held during my naps, but mommy doesn't allow it.
• I know how to grunt and snort while I sleep.  Mom and dad make me sleep down the hall in my own room, but I like to make sure they can still hear me.  Sometimes in my sleep... I snore. 

I sure miss you and hope to see you soon.  Here are some pictures of me so you'll know what I look like next time I see you.  

With love,

Baby Esther Olivia

Blessing Day

When: March 6, 2011

Where: Berini LDS Chapel

Guests:

Grandma and Grandpa Crittenden (from Arizona)

            The Neuner family: Rebekah, Scott,Eve, and Oak (from Virginia)

            The Hardy family: Mindy, Scott, Claire, Isaac, William, and baby (from Virginia)

            Alex Wilson and Alison Northrop (friends from Duke)

            Ginny Jordan (from next door)

Handmade dress and bonnet from Grandma KLynn with a handmade blanket from Grandma Crittenden

 crochet lace edge threaded with ribbon

antique buttons