WE MOVED!!!!!

Crossing the Mississippi River!

Mountains of Tennessee

Our loft apartment above my dad's gallery and workshop

The kitchen area

Never too old for a tire swing

Can't go anywhere that doesn't have a gorgeous view

Setrock Creek Falls

Creek below our window

Living area on the landing

Kittehs on the old portion of the barn

FIRE!!!

We saw a small fire when we stopped to get ice for our raw milk run. It was across the road from where my father-in-law lives. It had grown by the time we got back(a 27 mile trip, one-way) so we headed over to check on him once we got through with our milk drop off. This is what was going on...











































We are VERY thankful that the winds did not blow as hard as they were supposed to and that they went east instead of south. And we are eternally grateful for the FD and VFDs that took care of this and the many MANY other fires in east Texas this week.

Friday Five(or so)...

We are SO super freakin' busy these days that I barely have time to cook or bathe, let alone take pictures! Yesterday, however, the girls and I went on a homeschool field trip and got to relax a bit. Here's what happened...



Arriving at the nature trail.


Learning about prescribed burning and how it is actually good for a forest.


Soil and water testing.



Observing grapevines.


Learning about bee hives from the Bee Princess and Bee Queen of East Texas.


Thinking about a field trip here next!

Friday Just a Moment*....

I've been away from my camera time for most of the week, busy with house stuff and kid stuff. So, today we went to the lake, cold and windy as it was....


(Sarah on a sandbar)

*inspired by my friend Nin.

Riverboarding!

What is Riverboarding?

Taste the Rainbow...

We are all skittleheads now thanks to Manic Panic's Classic Cream Formula.



(Amy's redo in Shocking Blue)


(Molly's teal-mix of Lizard Green and Shocking Blue)


(Ryan, just blond for now, will be Lizard Green on the spots)


(Sarah's Hot Hot Pink, over her natural coppery red)

CRRROOOOOAK!!!

Blackberry Pickin'

Last week the teens in our homeschool group went north to pick strawberries at McPeak Orchards. There were four families represented with seven kids. We had a great time and came home with about 15 quarts of delicious, fresh red strawberries. I put up 7ish quarts and we ate the rest within a day or so. I wish I had taken pictures of the outing but all I've got is one of our two baskets to show you...







We didn't quite get our fill of picking berries so one of our MOT(mom of teen) offered to let us pick from her dad's dewberry patch not far from us. Again, I did not take pictures but that's a GOOD thing! It was 92 degrees, sunny, and windy. None of the kids picked for more than 5 minutes so it was just us hot, sweaty, windblown moms doing the dirty work. And it was DIRTY! I came away with just under five pounds but we are going back next week for more. I froze three quarts and made a "scone cake" with the rest(what was left after the girls had munched them anyway)...



(before butter)


(now that's better)

Blackberry Chocolate Chip Scone Cake

(it is important to note that the measurements are extremely approximate!)

2-2.5ish cups of flour(I use half white, half whole wheat)
1.25tsp baking powder
1/4tsp salt
1 loose cup(about 2/3 cup packed) light brown sugar
1 heaping cup of blackberries or dewberries
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
enough milk to make a think batter
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 egg
(I did NOT add any vanilla or cinnamon but both would have worked-I just plain forgot)
Preheat oven to 425F.

Combine dry ingredients and toss to mix and break up sugar. Add berries, chips, milk and egg and mix well. Pour into a buttered 9x9 or 9x13 pan(mine was a 9-inch straight sided round stoneware tart pan). Bake for about 20 minutes, testing at about 15-16 minutes with a cake tester. It might take longer than 20 minutes, I was facebooking and didn't pay attention. The edges were slightly pulled away and browned when they were done if that helps. Let them cool a bit and cut into serving sized pieces. Eat buttered with plenty of coffee!! Enjoy!