More vegetables

The garden here at home is growing like crazy. The spinach just started to bolt, but thankfully we have lots of peas and chard to take it's place.


Our first tiny cucumbers have started to show, the tomato plants are taking off, and we have our first zucchini blossom. The thought of all of the tasty food we'll have to eat soon is enough to make me swoon.


The shallots are busting out, and we'll likely be pulling garlic shortly. Every time I think of our garlic, my fingers are crossed that it comes out of the ground tasting as good as I'm dreaming it will.

Estes Park Wool Market

Our local fiber festival is up at Estes Park every June, and seeing as how we were still living in Portland this time last year, this was our inaugural visit. Each tent/barn was divided by fiber animal - goats, sheep, llamas, alpacas and sharing a bit of space with the sheep were the angora bunnies.

While we were mingling with with the animals, Stinker was trying desperately to break out and join us. Little did he know we had a surprise in store for him.


This isn't exactly the most graceful of poses, but considering that it was well over 80 degrees, I don't think this ewe minded losing her winter sweater.


Check out the locks on these guys. Curls for the girls, as my old friend Susan used to say.


...and did I mention we added another four barely discernible legs to the family? We're officially outnumbered.

Too busy to blog

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. We've been hiking and camping and gardening and even got to entertain my parents for a few days.

One exciting bit of news is that I'm beekeeping again! My friend Kayla captured a beautiful swarm of bees, and we introduced them to a new home two weeks ago. They were amazingly docile. Pouring them out of a box and into the hive was a bit surreal. The mass of bees stayed together forming sort of a thick river that flowed slowly down and into the brood chamber. We have been feeding them honey water from their Maine bee cousins, and they seem to have taken to their new home just fine.





Kevin and I have been hiking up a storm recently. The crazier the terrain, the better.


Splendid views in Rocky Mountain National Park.


We stumbled upon the remnants of an old home along a trail near Heil Valley Ranch.


We did a bit of camping with Traci and Cris over Memorial Day weekend in a secluded area between Lyons and Estes Park. The odd and slightly inappropriate looking thing on the left is our new favorite camping treat, "Biscuit on a Stick". In case that isn't clear enough, here are some directions. Place biscuit dough on the end of your favorite campfire roasting stick. Be sure to secure the dough around the end of the stick. Cook over the fire - preferably in an area of indirect heat. Remove biscuit from stick, slather with butter, jam, honey, or whatever you like, and eat.


Kevin's roasting stick has two points for double the s'more fun!


Yay for camping!