Mini Orchard Update – Start of Summer

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fruit, fruit trees, homestead, orchard, summer

My Summer Heaven ♥ Young Wifey’s Blog

The first Sunday of my summer break…

Lazy marshmallow clouds are masking the azure sky and bright June sun. The rustling leaves and cheerful birds creating a calming chorus. The nearby horses are talkative today. Under an oak leaf canopy, I’m sitting in my blue Adirondack chair listening and watching the world around me. Ants tickling my toes, and butterflies fluttering across the clover blossoms. Belle is resting beside me while Rory and Opal watch from inside the house. I cannot recall when was my last relaxing day…

The air is cooler than usual for this time of year. Our mini orchard is producing fruits, and I’m thrilled at the promise of fresh pick home-grown taste.

Young Wifey’s Mini Orchard Update 2015 ♥ Young Wifey’s Blog

There are branches that need trimming, weeds that need pulling, and grass that needs mowing. But, not today. Today, I sit and listen to the world around me…

XOXO,
Young Wifey

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Summer Salad Round Up

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food, foodie, potluck, recipe, salad, side dish, summer

With daily temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s (Farenheit) it’s time for Young Wifey’s Summer Salad Round Up!

1.  Pepper Salad
2.  Tabbouleh
3.  Chickpea Salad
4.  Fresh Corn & Zucchini Salad
5.  Watermelon, Black Bean & Feta Salad
6.  Italian Cucumber Salad

7.   Radicchio & Edamame Salad
8.   Bruschetta Salad
9.   Classic Potato Salad
10. Berry & Feta Salad
11. Radish Salad
12. Pickled Cucumber Salad

13. Classic Italian Pasta Salad &Toppings Bar
14. Red Cabbage Salad
15. Creamy Dill Salad
16. Colorful Caprese
17. Chopped Greek Salad
18. Coleslaw

What is your favorite summer salad?

XOXO,
YoungWifey

Pet Monster Rocks

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children, children's book, craft, monster, pet, pet rock, rainy day, rock, summer, summer activities, vacation

This week’s Nephew Camp draws to an end, as my nephew gets picked up today. He’s already planned activities for the next time he comes stay with me. This one-on-one time together was a nice break from his usual (visiting) routine of following around his idol (Pumpkin).

Nephew wanted me to elaborate on some of the projects he mentioned in his letters to Mom & Dad (if he forgots, because he wants to teach his younger brother and sister someday)…

On Day 2 of Nephew Camp, the pet monster rocks were a big hit. We actually collected a few small rocks when playing in the creek on Monday (that wasn’t part of Nephew Camp, but was 8 of us having quality family time).

Materials for Pet Monster Rocks

Step 1: Paint two coats of acrylic paint on rocks (front & back), allow to dry between coats.

Making Monster Rocks

Step 2: Embellish rocks by painting on different mouths, noses, and eyebrows (nephew decided to go with just mouths). Allow to dry.

Step 3: Coat front and back with two coats of clear acrylic sealer, allow to dry between coats.

Step 4: Glue on different sizes and combinations of googly eyes and allow to dry.

Pet Monster Rocks

We think the yellow one looks like a minion. Nephew likes the dark blue and the red the best. I, too, like the red.
Which one is your favorite?

XOXO,
Young Wifey

Nephew Camp: Day 3

Tags

children, children's craft, craft, family, summer

Dear Mom & Dad,

Last night, I slept through another loud thunderstorm! I’m really glad that they come at night and not during the day!

I played Mario Kart for a few minutes while Aunt R- made my oatmeal and chocolate milk. It was raining, so we stayed indoors. Then she set up our science experiment! We tried to make bouncy balls, but none of the recipes worked perfectly. It was still very cool! After we played with our bouncy ball stuff, it was time to paint again. This was so cool! I can’t wait to show you!

Bouncy Ball Fail

After lunch, we started our pizza dough! I continued painting and I made something special for L- and S- too! I can’t wait to show them! They’re dot silhouette shirts!

Our Painting Projects

At dinner time, we finished our pizza dough. I made the cat shaped pizza that I’ve wanted to make for months! It was delicious!

Cat Face Pizza – Before Baking & Before Ears

Cat Face Pizza

After dinner, we played some board games. Aunt R- won at Blokus, but I won at Candy Land. During Candy Land, I was near the finish line, and I had to move backward so I started to scream cry. Then, Aunt R- drew the next card, and she had to go further back than me! She threw a temper tantrum too, it was really funny.

I wish the fireflies were outside so we could catch them. Now it’s time to get into the shower, read, and then go to bed. I’m looking forward to seeing you guys and going to Knoebel’s tomorrow! I told Aunt R- that I’d probably come stay with her again soon.

I love you,
J-

PS- Mom, you really need to learn to make sardines for me (he still means quesadillas).

Nephew Camp: Day 1
Nephew Camp: Day 2

Nephew Camp: Day 2

Tags

craft, family, summer, vacation

Day two of our quality time continues!

Dear Mom & Dad,

Last night, I had so much fun at the playground. After playing for a while, I got tired and went home (He was running around and then stopped still for a few minutes).

Swinging High

Running Amok

I took a shower and went to bed really early. Aunt R- says I slept through another loud thunderstorm!

Early this morning, we went swimming in the pool! Then we got ready to go to a Chinese restaurant for lunch (He was so well behaved).

We met Aunt R-‘s friends at the restaurant. S- has two kids, and they came over to play. It started raining, so we played inside with giant building blocks. The sun started shining, and we went swimming for a while. When we dried off, we had a dance party (playing several Just Dance games)! We also played frisbee with Belle. Then, we played basketball. It was a really fun day! I was so exhausted, I took a nap after they left (My goodness, is he hard to wake up! I even tickled him to wake him).

Aunt R- let me play Mario Kart while she made dinner. After dinner, I made pet monster rocks! They are awesome!

Making Monster Rocks

Pet Monster Rocks

When it was time to brush my teeth, I had to go through a red laser maze first!

Red Laser Maze

Fun Laser Maze

Now it’s time to read a few books before bed. I can’t wait for tomorrow!

I love & miss you,
J-

Nephew Camp: Day 1
Nephew Camp: Day 3

 

 

Nephew Camp: Day 1

Tags

family, Kids, summer, vacation

This week, my one nephew and I are spending some quality one-on-one time together.

Dear Mom & Dad,

Last night, we wrote our schedule of all the fun thing we were going to do today. Aunt R- said I fell asleep right away and slept through a loud thunder-storm last night.

This morning, I ate oatmeal for breakfast, and then we went berry picking. It was hot outside, and I ate a few strawberries as we were picking (He also danced around the strawberry field and serenaded nearby pickers). We picked 10.5 lbs. (Aunt R- picked 10 lbs…)! 

Strawberry Picking

 

10.5 lbs. of Strawberries!

Today for lunch, I made my own chicken & cheese sardines! (He means quesadillas!) It was yummy! I love sardines! After lunch, we had quiet time. I fell asleep for a few minutes, but Aunt R- woke me up.

This afternoon, we made green, blue, and red gummi candy. Then we went swimming for a little while, but then it started thundering and had to get out of the pool.

Then, we chopped up our strawberries and made ice cream. It was yummy! Aunt R- even let me have a little before dinner.

Mixing The Ice Cream

I helped make turkey meatballs for dinner. We ate spaghetti, meatballs, and broccoli. We ate a bowl of strawberry ice cream and sat down to write you a letter.

Soon, we’re going to walk down to the park and play at the playground. Then it’s time to come home, read a few books and go to bed. I’m having fun!

I love you,
J-

Nephew Camp: Day 2
Nephew Camp: Day 3

Pepper Salad

Tags

BBQ, bell pepper, food, food photography, foodie, jalapeño, lime, lunch, pepper, picnic, postaday2011, pot luck, recipe, salad, shallot, side dishes, summer, vegetarian

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!
I’m usually pretty patient and calm, but my internet service has really gotten to me these past few weeks. We had the company send someone out to look at the connection and hopefully we’re back on track. I’ve missed having my internet…

This weekend was Memorial Day weekend, the kick off to summer. Our weekend was filled with several barbecues and I wanted to share a few recipes that I made. Today is my pepper salad recipe, just as appeasing to the palette as they eyes. Hubster and my MIL were really hesitant about this salad, but I insisted that’s what I was taking. Turns out everyone found a different way to enjoy it. I ate mine as a side dish, one person mixed it in with his pasta salad, another put it on top of a burger, one on top of a hot dog. It enhanced anything to added it to…

Pepper Salad

Ingredients: 
1 green pepper, 1 red bell pepper, 1 yellow bell pepper, 1 orange bell pepper, 2 jalapeño peppers, 1 shallot, 1/4 c. vegetable oil, 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard, 2 limes, fresh ground sea salt, fresh cracked black pepper

Directions:
Cut peppers and mince shallot, set aside in bowl. Whisk together oil, mustard, lime juice, lime zest, salt and pepper. Pour dressing over peppers and toss gently. Place in refrigerator and allow to set for several hours before serving.

*Bonus if you can get ahold of a purple bell pepper or white bell pepper.

What was on your plate this weekend??