Virginia Beach

Olive and I got go with Gina (my sister in-law who lives across the street, thank heaven) to VA beach a week or so ago. We just stayed the night and played at the beach one day but it was a great intro to Spring and Summer. Virginia beach is a strange town, it's stuck in the 70's with some new hotels and lots of funny motels and diners. Olive and I were glued to the beach and dug around for hours. Making sand cakes in our yellow bucket and eventually taking a much needed nap right on our towel.

She is looking at the kids running into the water. Yelling, it's not warm, because I kept telling her was too cold to go in. Cold oceans are for dads not pregnant moms.

While I was there I got to indulge in a new favorite book. The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett. My brother Sean recommended it and I always trust his judgement. Just don't look for a plot and enjoy the simplicity. I am not one for reading books over but this might just become an annual summer read.

Saturdays

Chas has been hard at work for the last month. Almost every Saturday is dedicated greenhouse day. This little project is his brain child and he practically deserves another masters degree for all the research and time he has put into this. Months ago we found some free sliding doors on craigslist (of course I thought it was silly) and the journey began.A little framing and 20 sliding doors later we now have the skeleton of what I have come to know as a passive greenhouse. It will hopefully feed a lot of people year round, if we ever get to planting. Here are some progress pics. I think it is pretty amazing.

Last Saturday was painting.

Notice Chas on the roof, Gary (Chas' Dad) bottom right and good old Fred, the awesome handyman that puts up with all the farm projects that these 9-5ers have no time for.

While Chas slaves away in the sun and heat Olive and I try to entertain ourselves around the farm. Last Saturday Chas took a break and joined us down the road to pick some strawberries at Miller Farms. If you live in Northers VA this is super fun for kids.

Chas' brothers fam (Zac, Gina and kids) is top left. To say Olive loves her cousins would be an understatement. We like them too.

first hair cut

It's not really the "first"; I have taken my chances with the scissors and trimmed a little here and there. But, this is the first time I have paid someone who knows what she is doing. A girl in our ward with little girls of her own cuts hair in her house and she did a great job. Olive was so good, she stood still the whole time and even let her blow it dry. Before the haircut I had been constantly trying to figure out what do do with Olives sparse un-even head of hair. It got long enough to barely get in pig tails (with lots of clips and hairspray) and they were so cute. Now it looks so much better and much fuller.

green spagetti

It's not always easy to find something Olive will chow down on besides cereal. Pesto pasta is one exception. I made it for dinner the other night and away she went. It is strange but I can't describe the feeling when you watch your child devouring and enjoying something delicious you made.

Here is the recipe if you want to try it on your little one:

2 cups fresh basil leaves
a little less than one cup olive oil
1 cup grated parm
1 tsp salt
1/4 c. (heaping) pine nuts
2 cloves of fresh garlic

Blend it in a food processor or good blender and pour over any pasta while the pasta is still hot. My favorite is angel hair. You can also grill chicken with it and serve with parm on the top.