Happy Erschte Auguscht!

 

 

Today is the day, all things come to an abrupt halt a world away in a little country called Switzerland. People festoon their homes with flags and lampions (paper laterns) and in the evening everyone gathers at big bonfires to eat sausages, cheese delicacies and watch children walk in formation with lampions on wooden sticks. People sing nostalgic songs and drink beer and watch lots of fireworks.

August 1 is when Switzerland first came to be by act of a sworn alliance between three cantons (states) who were tired of being oppressed by Austrian Royalty in 1291 (!!!)Years of guerrilla warfare ensued and finally through sheer will, home advantage and peasant-smarts a small souvereign nation was born.

Tonight we're hosting a small party for good friends to celebrate Gus'/my heritage and to say thanks to people who have been so supportive to us in the last year. My Mom outdid herself and has sent me all the fixings to throw a Swiss-party in style.

Happy Erschte Auguscht everyone!

Waterfalls & water play

 

 

 

 

I forget how simply gorgeous and singularly amazing a place we live in - until we go out for a little jaunt in the forest, which in this area almost always includes a waterfall. That's right since we live in the "Land of Waterfalls" (statistically speaking we have the highest concentration of them of any U.S. county) you would have to try hard to find a hike that doesn't either end or pass by a waterfall...in fact, you'll find some shoulder-shrugging among some especially discerning locals wheter a certain fall really qualifies as a fall or not.

Courthouse falls IS definitely a waterfall and an especially photogenic one, located deep in the woods with sunlight filtering through the dense green canopy in brilliant streaks. It's magical, there is simply no other way to put it.

Gus and his friend, Rion spent a shrieks-filled morning chasing each other along the short hiking trail and splashing in the water. Then it was "feeding time"

One goldfish for me. One goldfish for you. Then change roles and repeat.

Big Day

 

 

 

First pose and kiss Daddy for good luck as he heads off for yet another interview with the Asheville Fire Department...he's been doing awesome so far, we are hopeful and just plain grateful for the opportunity afforded.

Then Gus changes outfits and has a little snack to top off his early morning breakfast - goldfish are still is very favorite.

Then the rest of the day Gus-style with almost no pause in sight. Pool, hike, play, books etc.

Fish, friends & the forest

 

 

 

Today was my day off (well until 5 anyways) so we took our friends Carston and Elija to the Brian S. Setzer Fish Hatchery in Pisgah Forest National Park, where we promptly used up every available quarter in my wallet to purchase handfuls of fish food for the reams of starving (not really) fish...it was fun to watch all the beautiful Brook Trout writhe, jockey and jump for every morsel and the boys tried out every possible combination of quantity and throwing technique in search for a - to me unclear - result...fun to watch the trio of little scientist at work...whatever theory they were proving, they worked hard at it...

Afterwards we went for a cool-down hike in the adjacent nature center, learning along the way about trees native to North Carolina and how abundant wild turkeys once where (so much for Thanksgiving!).

All that studying and learning made us hungry and we feasted on cheese, grapes, apples and crackers (of course I brought too much of the WRONG kind and not enough of the RIGHT kind - Ritz has it, in case you didn't know it) but we made due and fed the WRONG kind (sorry saltines) do the birds and squirrels before getting wet in the creek throwing rocks and playing catch.

A great summer outing. We'll try to do it again before the fall.

A few of my favorite things...

 

 

Between work, playing with Gus, keeping Jacob's schedule and books straight and trying to keep the house from descending into complete chaos and disrepair, I've been doing woefully little to nourish my spirit - that's what crafts usually does for me. Aside from running, it's the best way I know to look inside and do a little spring cleaning in my heart, brain and soul.

Gardening is a new one, until this year, I gardened a bit - and a bit listlessly - to save money, "do my part" in the locavore movement and keep the weeds from completely taking over. This year I invested a bit of upfront money and treated myself to a nice selection of California-grown (and overnight-delivered) heirloom tomatoes (so much for my carbon footprint) and for the past two months they have made me anxious like a first-time Momma...either looking too rowdy or not hearty enough, alternaternating between showing signs of overwatering and looking thirsty, or appearing suicidal in the face of an endless onslaught of snails and other toothy critters...I applied Neem, pruned, prodded, doused and fussed.

Now they are finally looking like they are all going to make it (14 plants total, I'm proud to say) and even more so, look like prolific producers....

Sunday I picked my first cross-section of fruit of my labors and pains: An Amish Paste, a Green Zebra, a Old World Big Beef and a particularly tasty looking Appalachian variety...I'm saving seeds for next year to do it all over again. It keeps my hands busy while my mind recharges...

And second, but not second best, I went ahead and treated myself to a pattern and two skeins of expensive wool (usually I skimp on material, but our local wool shop is just so tempting) and I'm happy to report that my mustard-colored leg warmers in an outrageously complicated, but equally satisfying zig-zag pattern are coming along nicely...I knit in tiny increments, but every time I do it for a row or two, it makes me feel just a bit better and hopeful...and hopefully stylish.

What's your favorite thing?

A simple Sunday pleasure

 

Today for no reason at all - or maybe just because I'm tired of "guiding" him all the time - I let Gus pick his own Sunday supper. Not surprisingly, he opted for ice cream, which I promptly provided and he, equally promptly, devoured straight from the carton, while sitting on the kitchen counter.

He is one picky eater these days and I'm one worried Momma, but then again, seeing him like this; he is as sweet as ice cream to me!

Pool Time II

Here's one for the grandmothers. Know that Gus is in good, capable hands when he is at the pool with his Dad. This are much duller for him, when his Mom is in charge.