shellebellecreates

color

color
Originally uploaded by shellebellecreates

I first read about making sidewalk chalk in Homeschooling on a shoestring when J was a baby. I knew then that I wanted to try, and ten years later we did. The supplies are cheap and easy to find and the process if simple and messy. So I think it was perfect fun. I used alot of the tempera paint color in our chalk which makes them harder to write with but the deeper colors make it worth the effort.

12 essential reasons to yawn

I just finished reading How God Changes your Brain by Andrew Newberg and Mark Waldman. I picked it up randomly at the library in the new release section and I am glad I did. It was fascinating and easy to read.  One thing  I loved were the reasons to yawn: 

1.  Stimulates alertness and concentration
2.  Optimizes brain activity and metabolism
3.  Improves cognitive function
4.  Increases memory recall
5.  Enhances consciousness and introspection
6.  Lowers stress
7.  Relaxes every part of your body
8.  Improves voluntary muscle control
9.  Enhances athletic activity
10.  Fine-tunes your sense of time
11.  Increases empathy and social awareness
12.  Enhances pleasure and sensuality

I just love this list. I can remember getting in trouble in grade school for yawning, now I think I will share the list with the kids teachers!

yukon gold

yukon gold
Originally uploaded by shellebellecreates

I grew these! I have never grown potato before and am super proud of these.

All you need is love

Originally uploaded by shellebellecreates

Love
Love

Love is all you need :-)

Sometimes when I don't understand why things are the way they are, I need to come back to center and radiate Love to all.

little fishies

Originally uploaded by shellebellecreates

This summer we have filled our morning with swim lessons at the local pool. Mo has learned to swim and has declared swimming to be her sport. J has amazed me by his quick learning of new strokes, diving off the board and his eagerness to learn. Now I have to improve my stroke or I'll never hear the end of it!

on the knitting front

latest dishrag
Originally uploaded by shellebellecreates

-I am making a partner for this rag, I love the pattern!
-I am knitting sock two of a very simple orangey sock.
-I am knitting three shawls
--forest canopy in silk, looking for a mistake, lifeline far down
--ishbel, just got to the lace, have ripped and placed life line
--woolpeddler, frogging back
-need to start a new manthing hat for our up coming anniversary

before and after the storm

The garden was looking beautiful, lush and productive. I had lots of green beans, squash, peppers and corn that made me proud. I was looking forward to having a decent amount to store for winter.

The popcorn was supposed to be for Christmas giving as well as the luffah that did not survive, now I need to come up with a new plan.

The weather reports warned that we had a thirty percent chance of thunderstorms, I didn't think anything of it. Then it just came out of nowhere, strong winds, rain and hail. I have never experienced anything like it before. I thought we were going to have broken windows, luckily we only lost a light, a bit of damage to the fence and air conditioning unit and dents on a screen door, along with the destruction of my crops.

 

the potatoes took a hard hit

the strawberry and blackberry patch

Alot of the plants looked like these, as if someone had taken a weed wacker to them. The sunflowers did not survive either.

the spaghetti squash, i was really looking forward to eating these 

the whole yard was full of leaves, just like a fall day.

I am so grateful that my home is relatively undamaged.

I am grateful that my veggies are just a hobby.

I am grateful that my tomatoes mostly survived.

I have never seen destruction like this, from a storm that lasted less than thirty minutes. Mother Nature is a powerful force.

I really can't imagine being a farmer. 

Today's harvest

Big bunch of kale
Green and yellow beans
Carrots
Purple basil
Cucumbers
Snap peas

June Harvest Totals

first harvest
Originally uploaded by shellebellecreates

I am pleased to announce that I have harvested 10 pounds 1.5 oz of early produce. A big part of that was the rhubarb and the rest was kale, radish, cucumber, peas and beans. The sun has been shining and the afternoon showers are making the summer garden flourish. I am eagerly anticipating tomatoes and peppers. Yum!

a blogger in the making

a blogger in the making
Originally uploaded by shellebellecreates

I love this photo. Mo was very proud of her dinosaur kid's meal she made for her post swimming snack. She said it is from a restaurant called Dinosaur and this meal is very special and only served on holidays especially Easter.