where has june gone?

i have made only a handful of posts this month.

shame on me.

but it has been a busy one. and we no longer have internet at the house.

so things may slow down here a bit.

which is good.

which is needed.

blogs, facebook, etc. are a lot of fun. and can be very inspiring.

but they come so overloaded with varying messages and agendas.

and sometimes i feel so saturated with them that i need a good wringing out.

so here's to a summer of letting my mind and soul rest and recover from too much media.

*****

these pictures were taken when two of my loveliest friends in the world (and one of their sweet husbands and  a beloved pup) came to visit.

we ate a lot. adventured a little. 

and talked and talked and talked.

this past weekend:

cookout - bonfire - camp out.

*****

martha's yellow cupcakes. 

homemade flags & banners from scrap paper.

the chicks pick the oddest places to nap.

the ducks have been released into their new home.

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the garden continues to grow more green, more lush.

images from this past weekend:

boys writing music.

breakfast/brunch.

 

fresh veggies from the garden: kale, basil, snow peas, cilantro, red leaf lettuce, dandelion greens. the basket and knife were purchased at yard sales this past weekend.

*****

lentil salad inspired by this recipe. yum, yum, yum.

*****

my first batch of homemade ricotta. thanks to this recipe. i was scared to venture into cheese making but i found this to be so very easy...i highly suggest testing this out in your kitchen. my ricotta was not the greatest thing in the world (and was crying for some salt), but i will most definitely be making it again. there are so many things tasty things you can add to spice things up - i can't wait to experiment!

the ducks are now bigger than the chicks. their downy fur is now turning to feathers.

they have taken residence outside and now take baths in the outside bathtub.

they still don't like us humans very much but they don't complain when i come to feed them.

i am little bit lost when it comes to raising ducks.