A Cherry Pickin' Good Time

Last week during lunch time, we headed over to the local U Pick Cherry farm.

I think we started picking Lambert cherries... but after many, we discovered the Rainiers were much sweeter and readier to harvest. Maybe we'll go back next week.

We did have fun eating and picking and eating more when we got home.

Francesca went 4-wheeling in the orchard.

We brought home two sacks  like the one Vincent is carrying for only $5!!! They let you take away a 5 gallon bucket full for $15. A basket at a stand is $3. We probably got at least 8 baskets worth so doing the math... that's $24 worth of cherries that we paid $5. WAY cheaper and fresher than a market.

Mother's Day Photos

Here are some shots from our Mother's Day. I got some really sweet ones of the grandparents!

Fog Willow Farms

Yesterday we had a fun and sweaty time in Wilton, Ca. We visited:

We joined fellow Catholic homeschoolers for a field trip of farm science and play time.

With all their energy, the kids got to "make" a volcano erupt!

Zachary and Vincent made glove terrariums. They planted a seed in a wet cotton ball, placed it into the finger of a glove (times five), blew up the glove and sealed it. Now they are sitting in the window sill waiting for the sun and time to make them sprout. During this lesson they learned that a seed needs 3 things to sprout: water, air, and sunlight. NOT SOIL! (as most kids guessed and Vincent keeps emphasizing)

They got to pet farm animals including a turtle, baby goat, and baby bunnies.

It was a fun time and thank God for those shady trees! Francesca was already a bit cranky from the heat but after some water play time and a jar of baby food, she did much better.
I think Jason's mom or gramma made this quilt... maybe Cathy will check out my blog and tell me the true story.

Visit Fog Willow Farms online at www.fogwillow.com

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Vertical and Square Foot Gardening

Here's the beginnings of our garden this year. We decided to try out square foot and vertical gardening. Check out the source book here:

http://www.amazon.com/Square-Foot-Gardening-Garden-Space/dp/1579548563/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241843919&sr=8-3

The author claims that the pounds of food harvested per square feet are much more than the "typical" gardening. This is the first time I've worked with such an organized garden space. I do say that I like it! We went with two really long 1-square foot rows. 

So far I have planted 3 different beans, cilantro, sweet basil, Thai basil, Italian parsley, bell pepper, Italian pepper, serrano, jalapenos, Thai pepper, cantaloupe, watermelon, 2 different cucumbers, a few different tomatoes, carrot seeds, and probably more I am forgetting.

This is just next to the garden, the site of last year's jumbled garden. I still plan on prepping and planting in this "triangle" soon. Here will go the large and sprawling plants such as zucchini, corn, and pumpkin. Plus I will plant sunflowers and a zinnia flower bed.

Here are those said plants, just waiting for more dirt to dig into.

My Birthday

Today is my birthday. It was a quiet restful day. My little baby girl is sick so she and I got to stay home all day. She took her longest nap ever, at least 2 hours, while my mom had the boys at her house. So, I got to watch part of a movie, The Way We Were with Streisand and Redford, browse the internet, trim the rose bushes, and have lunch with Jason. 

I got some nice gifts this year including...

a Camilia Bush from my mom and Ray

a pretty green shell necklace from my boys

A fresh smelling herb basket from Gwen, Eric, and Annie

some wine accessories from my sister, perfume from my dad and Toni, 

and a Starbucks card from Jason's mom. 

... and from Jason, he is buying me some brand new baby chicks! You'll see them posted here soon after we get them.  For now, I'll enjoy looking at our first batch of chicks we got 2 years ago at this post and this one.

I wrapped up the day enjoying this blue-eyed bathing beauty:

Stockton Church Street is Rented

Here are "after" photos (never got around to taking before's) of our third rental house. We bought this one before Francesca was born. It took quite a while to get it finished and not too long to find tenants. Here it is... on to #4!

Imagination Kids015

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Imagination Kids052

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Our Easter Sunday Time

note: ok, so as I wrote these captions for the pics, they were lined up nicely in the correct spaces when I previewed the post but after posting, it doesn't quite match, oh well!

Easter Sunday was a nice day, the weather was perfect, the music at Mass was equally perfect (thanks Jason), the baby was quiet and snuggly at church (thanks Francesca), the boys were handsome and happy (thanks Zachary and Vincent) the food was grand and dessert divine, (thanks mom and Easter bunny) And of course we owe everything to JESUS! Thank you FATHER SON and HOLY SPIRIT!

Here we begin with Easter Sunday morning. The kids psoing with their Easter baskets. 

Francesca's first Easter basket!

              Vincent and Fresca having fun!
Zachary's cute smile warms my heart!

                                                       Francesca's sitting up pretty well!



Easter egg hunt at St. Michael's with

 Sr. Angela directing kiddy traffic.

              Kiddos in front of the altar.
Such a good big brother!
                       Enjoying the beautiful day in 

               St. Michael's courtyard after Mass.

                       
                                                                                    Got a pic with Monsignor Gus!
                                            

                                         

 

                                            Look at those wii little smiles!

Francesca holding her Easter lamb from

Gramma.


             The Easter dinner table before.
And after.
   We had deviled eggs, pasta, veggies, salad,              bread, shrimp, wine, sparkling wine and cider, 

   banana-pineapple cake with cream cheese

   frosting and CANDY.

  Gramps and Fresca.
                                    
My bro.
             The boys on a hunt for eggs.
                           Gramma and baby Francesca.