Neighborhood Garden and Grill

Photos by Sara J and I.  Her's rock.  Mine - eh ...  ...  ...
We had so much fun!  Pete and Matt manned the grills, everyone brought side dishes and drinks, the kiddos showed us their major art skills, Sara brought all her hoops and we made fools of ourselves, Doug and Kaitlin let us borrow bags, Becca and Josh let us borrow Holey boards, we held babies, and harvested from the garden, and just got to know each other.  We'll definitely be doing it again. :)

In the Morning :: Day 56

Guess what's on my agenda for the day?

In the Morning :: Day 54

Janssens are in town for a bit.  Sara and I had to do our traditional Rockford morning!  So good to catch up on eachother's lives.

In the Morning :: Day 53

Seems like my "little one" needs to go to the library every other day to pick up new reads.   LOVE it!

In the Morning :: Day 52

Nomkoo is in town!  Bozeman was chosen as one of only 6 North American cities to host her.  Made of recycled truck tires, she is an ambassador of sorts.  An ambassador of creative opportunities, inviting partnerships between schools, universities, businesses, nonprofits, cultural and creative communities and individuals to join together, stimulate their imagination, collaborate, and harness creativity and facilitate positive and inclusive conversation.  On top of that, she is cute!

In the Morning :: Day 51

I've been keeping a live basil plant in a little jar on my windowsill.  It's not only survived for 4 (almost 5) months, it has gone bonsai! 

In the Morning :: Day 50

I spent the morning at my friend Becca's yesterday.  I would have posted then about the 'special request' to come and photograph the bouquets and mementos of Blake Lucas, but I needed some time.  I was honored to be embraced by Joan (Grama) and cry with her.  Honored to be asked to do something to celebrate and commemorate this little man.  Honored to be a friend and be needed.  Honored to be invited in and share in the grieving and the healing.  It is life altering when you experience the fragility of humanity, and see the virtuous tenacity of it as well.  I don't want to forget any of it, so here is a memorium to the faith and strength and love of this little family.  I am in awe of how they cling to Christ and want to glorify Him in the midst of the pain and sorrow.
I love you Randy, Becca, and Cam.

In the Morning :: Day 49

Old photo, but am missing my little fella today and had to say so.  We are so proud of him, all he's accomplished and continues to run after, but I miss my morning hugs and quiet talks over cups of cocoa. Love him so much.
This was the last time he was home.  Cassia snapped it the morning he was leaving because we had missed our annual birthday photo.

In the Morning :: Day 48

J's new toy.  Thanks to a hail storm & comprehensive insurance :)

In the Morning :: Day 47

Exploring new options.  

Oh! The horizons do look promising!

In the Morning :: Day 46

One of the best parts of my day. 

In the Morning :: Day 45

Homemade tortillas in the morning served as the base for the fire grilled Mediterranean Tiropitas for supper!  My first attempt at making tortillas.  It worked, but I can't wait to try again.

In the Morning :: Day 44

How does your garden grow?  Ours is beginning to produce lovely, tasty delights.  Sugar snaps, Bascillus, Romaine, Red Sails... and the tomato boughs are hiding tiny green globes beneath them.  All the squash have blooms of bright orange.  I am daily pinching the herbs seed heads off, trying to encourage them to not give up the production of them scented leaves quite yet.  It won't be long before there is such an abundance of it all that  we will be hauling it around the neighborhood giving it away!

In the Morning :: Day 43

We have had quite the interesting assortment of weather this summer. Yesterday was high winds and more hail. The corn in the garden was laid over almost flat (but has since been refreshed and tamped back into place). One could almost get discouraged, except when sweet friends call on their way home to say, "There is a huge rainbow across the sky, have you seen it?"

In the Morning :: Day 41

We've had the privilege of lots of face time this week with friends.  Sweet Pea is a weekend of madness, but I love how it provides opportunities to just be together.  We were dancin' in the streets with the K-bug.  Hard not to!!  He was even rocking his air guitar.  :)  This morning we help friends move into a new SPACIOUS apartment, and tonight we'll be at a Catan tournament - where my title of Queen will be reinstated (seeings how Addie and Rob WON'T be there, I actually have a chance of that coming true!).

In the Morning :: Day 40

I love that my kids try things and participate in things that take them out of their comfort zones. 

Cassia isn't a runner.  In fact she has a form of asthma that keeps her from doing anything where she has to have stamina (though she hikes like a trooper).  Yet, when Sage Spa, where she is a guest care provider, decided to do the 5k as a group, she joined right in.  She didn't run the whole way.  But she was there.  There to be a part of a team.  There to support her co-workers. There to do something she wasn't comfortable with. There to be of service to some kids who needed her. 
Out there.  Doin' hard things.  Being stretched. Living life to the fullest.
Love it!

In the Morning :: Day 39

Trying some new recipes this week with grilled tomatoms.

In the Morning :: Day 38

It's Sweet Pea Festival time in Bozeman.

In the Morning :: Day 37

One of my favorite things about summer in Bozeman!

In the Morning :: Day 36

Green Smoothie Love! :)

J's Bday Celebration

I'll still do my "Morning" post, but I wanted to commemorate J's 43rd birthday feast!  

God really blessed this man.  Living in a land locked state makes it next to impossible to get fresh, affordable seafood, let alone your favorite seafood on your special day of the year!

Costco had just received a shipment of Alaskan King Crab legs that morning that had been caught the day before.  I was waiting for the shoe to drop. There was no way, even at Costco, that they were going to be affordable.  Then the nice employee said the words $4.59#!!  He kindly showed me what 10# looked like and packaged them up for me to take home and BLOW MY HUSBAND'S SOCKS OFF!  It was his gift from all of us, along with a set of crackers and pickers to get the delectableness out of that crusty 'ole shell!  

We also had Salmon Fly Microbrew from Madison River, garlic butter, a grilled garlic artesianal loaf, and a spectacular green salad with his favorite blue cheese crumbles on the side - but J. only ate crab! :)

For dessert we headed to The Chocolate Moose for Wilcoxin's famous Montana Moose Moss cones.

We love him immensely.

In the Morning :: Day 35

Our first harvest from the garden!  August ~ And we are just harvesting SOMETHING?  Yes.  This is life in the Gallatin Valley.  It makes the harvest that much more wonderful and appreciated though.  This is a hot pepper.  I've never grown this kind before and can't remember just now what it is called, but I can smell the HEAT!  It is about 8 inches long!  I think I'll make something to take to our crew with it since we all worked together to see this precious harvest.

In the Morning :: Day 34

My heart is very encouraged this morning.  A new dawn of Hope and Joy is rising and I am relishing it.  "The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water;"
Ahhhhhhhh ... ... ...