Day 9

The final push... less than a week and a half and we did it... the kids got to enjoy a day at the zoo today with their nana and papa and aunti Meg and cousin Elena. I got up about 5:30 and finished all the packing and then went to a soccer tournament where I played 3 games (they're short games) and then came back and finished loading the van and bringing in garden tools and spreading straw over the garden beds to keep weeds down. (the big garden- we put a large tarp over it.) I am doing a final load of laundry now and took all the garbage cans down to the street earlier. We enjoyed a nice dinner with Grammie and Grandpa and Elizabeth and Tauney at the Oyster House. The kids are spent, I am spent. The house is clear with the exception of a final load of odds and ends my parents will come get when we are gone and a pile of things a friend wanted. It is beautiful outside, the leaves are turning colors and the change in season is apparent with the chill in the morning and at night. It is fitting that we have this change in the season of life... it will be a beautiful drive. I'm not sure that I will have internet access for a few days. So the next time I post I hope to have photo's of our new place! Good bye field, good bye smelly chicken house, good bye 4 acres and 2400 sq ft of house that need to be maintained.... =) Hello LONG TERM VACATION~ =)

Day 8

Really getting down to decision time for the packing... so many factors... Do I really want to store this that long? Will this toy be age appropriate by the time we are back? Will these clothes fit them? What should I leave for when we come and visit? What should I take? Agh! The few remaining boxes I packed today took more thought and time than any. Both kids rooms are clear-bare floors (other than Christian's pack and play in his). Truck load to the dump done, contracts signed and done, trip to grocery store for goodies for the road, trip to bank to pay for gas, carrier is fixed to the top of the van and loaded with towels, bedding and Christian potty seat ( I had JUST bought it for him). Linda (Michael's aunt) came with Lacey (her granddaughter) to get Oliver today. I will have to post pictures later, I packed the cord that enables me to upload them... but real cute- all the kids got in the back with him. It was sad. Elle cried a little after they left, but she's tough. Susan (Michael's moom) brought us the most incredible dinner, I got to hang out with my mom most of the afternoon running the above erronds, while Melody (friend) watched the kids. (thank you! Elle had a BALL!) The van is packed, with the exception of the few boxes I have left to "top off" and Elle is "camping out" in my room tonight as her bed is disassembled. She is laying here snoring beside me... I love that little munchkin!

Day 7

ALL TRIM IS PAINTED AND ALL WALLS TOUCHED UP!!! Hooo-RAY! Thank you to Jerusha and Lindsay, who came and played with the kids while I finished. Got my AAA card, set up the tenants contracts for the other house, fed the horses down the road the remaining carrots from the garden, sold the rooster and 5 other hens, packed the remaining kitchen drawers, packed a duffel bag of the kids clothes for the trip,  and picked out carpet color and pad at Home Depot.

Tomorrow will be the moment of truth to see if everything I am planning to bring will actually fit in the van! =)

Day 6

Pruned 5 apple trees and 1 pear tree, started pruning the grapes, FINISHED painting all the trim and windows! (hoo-ray! That was a dreaded one- that has taken HOURS and HOURS over the last couple days... still have to touch up paint all the walls) My mom came over today and CLEANED... I mean CLEANED my van out.. it is sparkelen! It has NEVER been so food or dog hair free...I am scared to even go anywhere... maybe I will just stay home until it is time to leave for Miami... While my mom was here, she had the kids and I made the most of it by taking care of referring all of my real estate business and signing over my license to the referal department of my office so I can still help people find AWESOME agents if they are looking for a home, or planning to sell theirs. I also took the last standing order of T-shirts to Bayview, tagged them, invoiced them and delivered them. Elle and I had a good time planting the strawberries I pulled out of the garden (before mowing it) in another garden area that won't be covered with plastic...probably about 40 plants and lastly I may have figured out the rental situation for the basement of the other house... I should know tomorrow for sure. I CAN NOT WAIT to say I am completely done with the painting! That is a TOUGH job with little ones... one that wants to help, and the other that wants to tip the tray and play in it... so glad we don't have carpet installed yet...

Thought on today... it really is incredible how much you can accomplish in a day if you just keep doing stuff. Really... a day is a LONG time...

Seeing the world more clear

UNBELIEVEABLE the differnce clean windows in a house makes!!! We have not cleaned our windows in and out since we moved in (a year ago) and WOW what a difference! It really does let in so much more light, makes the view all the more incredible and just makes the house look cleaner (which in the disarray that my home is in right now, says A LOT). I also finally got glasses today. My vision is just bad enough to not quite notice and allow a decade to go by without taking care of it. The real "kicker" for me was Elle's 3 year check up where they tested her eyes. I stood at the line, helping make sure she stood at it, as she covered one eye and read the shapes off the chart... I stood there, leaned in as far as I could, squinting BOTH eyes, questioning, "did she get it!?" =) Between that and never being able to read road signs until they are being passed... I knew it was time. They came in today...I was happy to see that I did sort of like them... when I went in for the appt. the dc put the drops in my eyes to diolate them and then said to go out and pick what frames I wanted right then before my eyes got blurry. I was finding NOTHING that I liked...until about 8-10 minutes in...the same time my eyes started getting blurry...so I wasn't sure if it was the fact that I couldn't see myself in the mirror, or if the frames were really the right size and shape for my long chubby face... I don't hate them, so that's good... and it'll be nice to be able to read road signs....you know...for 3400 miles...

Let me tell ya... I had NO idea how beautiful it is outside! I can see leaves on trees, needles on pine trees and fur trees, even the marina that I drive by EVERY day to get to and from home is incredible... each mast on the sailboats SEPARATE from the other.. amazing... I only have the glasses for driving...but wow, I am so glad I got them before driving accross country... now I will be able to see all the beauty...

Day 5

First coat of paint done on all trim and windows (all but two windows). Trip to Home Depot to buy something I never thought I'd buy (or have)... DVD players for the kids in the van. Returns made at Target, two trips to Home Depot, items back to the library, phone call to get AAA account set up, picked up the last print order of T-shirts to deliver tomorrow to Bayview Thriftway in Olympia, John and Ali (friends of ours) came and helped paint and watch the kids- so fun to see them...mowed the grass for the last time- super short, hauled more boxes downstairs,  and deposit  made at the bank I  just recieved an email that one of our basement tenants at the other house is moving out...so now I need to figure all that out here before I leave...yey... so close...

Day 4

ALL windows washed in and out (thanks mom!), another truck load packed and moved to my parents (who will be storeing everything), the bridge railing over the creek built (thanks dad!), remainder of trim chaulked, 4 more loads of laundry done, 2 more pick ups for free items, pantry cleared out, another truck load of outside stuff stored, ran 2 miles, met with future tenants and signed paperwork and got deposit, signed over title for truck sale, hung hanging basket hook that fell off front post, chaulked sinks so they wouldn't move anymore, grandpa came and picked up the rocking chair he bought (thanks grandpa!), and sealed the wood shed with linseed oil (thanks mom and Elle!). It was a BEAUTIFUL day out, we managed to fit in a couple games of tag, playing in the puddles the tarp over the garden saved, and Elle mastered some artwork this evening. I am hopeing to get the trim painted mostly tomorrow and then the major daunting tasks will be done and just little ones left. I talked to Michael this morning, he has arrived in Miami and says that the condo is nice and that's it's real hot there... the kids miss him, it'll be nice to all be together soon.

Day 3...

Okay, so I never really got around to doing a "part 2" for Day 2... but here is where things are at today...About 80 percent of the house is packed and moved out (!), more windows have been washed, the van is full of stuff to take to the Goodwill, many people came to get free items- bed headboard/footboard, tv, dresser, bookshelf, bed table, end table, and baby items. 6 more chickens sold and all beef is now gone. 4 loads of laundry done, contract finished for new tenants (one is a cop, the other is a super cleaner...perfect tenants!) and Michael has nearly arrived in Florida. I still have 3 chickens and 2 roosters left.

Day 2...Part 1

Upper exterior windows washed,  garden pulled, strawberries dug up and garden mowed (yes, I said "mowed" that must be against some "rule"!). We put black plastic over the garden (only had enough plastic for half- the garden is much larger than I realized...
 okay... I HAVE to share the story that JUST happened... I am sitting here on the CLOSED LID toilet near the bath while the kids take a bath together and I type this entry. I see with my incredible mothering periferal (sp?) vision that Christian is standing- well, rather squatting in the bath tub. "Oh no!" I quickly set the laptop down and grab him, but it is just barely too late as I see "it" fall from his bottom. I hang him over the toilet (lid now up) as Elle (who is still in the bath) realized what just happened and is desparately trying to get out of the bath, she literally slithers out of the bath landing as a heap on the floor. She is gagging and I am telling her to "quick, just get out" so she won't throw up. Christian appears to be done on the toilet so as I am cleaning his behind, Elle keeps coming in and gagging (It's like a train wreck, she just can't help but want to watch). I barely have him clean and I am trying to dry his legs off so he won't slip on the floor, I can hear Elle gagging right outside the door and I am trying to get a towel for her, just as I get to her she starts PROJECTILE vomitting! I am throwing the towel down and giving it to her to hold to throw up in. Little do I know, as I am holding her hair back and rubbing her back- naked little Christian is pooping on the floor in 3 places behind me, walking in it and then going in to the bathroom and then to the toys (about 8 ft of distance traveled). Elle is finally undercontrol and I am asking her to go and get me wipes as I am out of toilet paper! (I couldn't make this up if I tried!) She is gagging again and there are little brown foot steps all over the bathroom and the carpet outside of it. I clean Christians bottom (and feet) off first and then proceed to clean the floor and "talk down" Elle from throwing up again. Finally the floor is, well, I'll be honest... good enough... we are getting the carpet replaced in a week (yet another thing I have to take care of) anyway (they measured for it today... we had never installed carpet yet just had remnants on the subfloor).. and the bathroom floor is clean. I put the nasty towels in the wash and am now wiping up the throw up on the carpet and Christian keeps throwing this beach ball at my face... this wet beach ball.... after three "smaks" I realize, it is COVERED in throw up! At this point, I am laughing hystarically- with puke on my face and in my hair and two naked kids terrorizing the DISASTER of a playroom (with boxes and bags and random stuff all over the place)...both in DESPARATE need of a bath, that is occupied by a "floater".... Oh my... it doesn't get any better than this! I don't even know how to continue this post with the progress of our day... I think I will have to later...

Day 1

Packed 5 more boxes and 6 garbage bags, planted 2 cherry trees, dismantled and stored the trampoline, the hammock, and the lounge chair, moved 2 cast iron bath tubs, a pile of 2 man rocks and some lumber, found a home for Oliver for the next 18 months (thank you uncle Lee and aunt Linda!), sold 3 chickens, about 100 lbs of beef and all our cloth diapers (still pending payment). Got materials at home depot for finishing bridge over creek and snak food for Michael's drive. Helped Michael pack and get his truck fixed ($800 later...) and saw him off this evening. We got a couple hours of "family time" in before he had to leave which was nice. Not too bad... but this weekend is when we really get serious... I'm calling in the "big guns".... my family.... my parents raised incredible workers (if I do say so myself) and both brothers are coming to help and my parents and a friend as well...

For Sale

Ikea bookshelf- $15

Really solid wine cabinet $50

Solid wood rocking chair- $50

Large Flat screen TV $50

That is not a crack, just my child's hand print! It'll wipe off..

Also selling our frozen beef from our pasture raised cow.

Email me if interested. willowfarmapparel@yahoo.com

Country Mouse moves to the City

WOW! So shocking news came today... we are moving to Florida for a year and a half... Miami, Florida!! It doesn't get more different from our little farm and more further accross teh country than that! My husbands work got a HUGE job over there and so off we go! What an adventure! I can't say I have ever wanted to live in Florida, I actually hate city living, but it is SUNNY there! And after the "summer" we have had, sunshine will be wonderful. We only found this out today and my husband leaves tomorrow... so I am left to COMPLETELY move everything out of our house (that we JUST moved in to a year ago), arrange the rental of the house, button up things at our other rental, take care of my real estate deals, figure out what to do with my new T-shirt company and all that inventory, sell the chickens, sell a truck, prepare the garden to not be touched for 2 years, pack what we'll take, move our banking, utility company stuff, etc... all in just a couple weeks time and with 2 kids in tow! HA! This is actually the type of stuff I live for! I love a challenge. There is so much that goes in to moving, let alone accross country, and all the renting arrangements on top of it. At this point, I plan to be leaving on the 19th of October, driving with the kids accross country... 50+hours of driving! So I have less than 2 weeks to get it all done... we'll see...
Anyone need/want any warm clothes 18-24 month or 3-4T, let me know! I am also going to go through a lot of toys and food. Frozen beef anyone!? I also have a large TV, a wine cabinet, wooden rocking chair and book shelf I plan on selling for CHEAP. Let me know if you are interested! I am also going to try and sell all my Bum Genius 3.0 Cloth diapers as it will not be feasible for me to do those down there in the condo. I will try and upload photo's of those items soon.

Cinnamon Honey Butter

I got this off a friends BLOG who got it from THIS SITE - it is SO DELICIOUS!

 Ingrediants: 1 Cup (2 sticks) of Butter softened to room tempature-(important!), 1 Cup of Powdered Sugar, 1 Cup of Honey, and 2 Tablespoons of Cinnamon (I used 3).

Whip them together in the blender

Could make a great gift for Christmas! Or just really good to bring to this seasons parties with it's sort of "holiday taste".  Enjoy!

Plantain

THIS is Plantain! I have blogged about it in other posts. This grows EVERYWHERE! Look in your lawn, I bet you have some. This is what I use when a kid gets a bee sting. I just pop it in my mouth, chew it up and spit it onto the sting. I have also used this on a weird ingrown nail thing on Michaels finger... it was HUGE and nasty and after putting some of this on it for about 10 minutes, it went WAY down and after a couple days was gone... he had had the bump for over a week before that. If I ever got a snake bite (no posinous ones here) this is what I would put on it... spider bite, etc... it is an astringent- so it pulls the poison out.

See how the leaves have the defined vains... 

Hope this helps you to identify! Great herb to teach your children about. Elle now points it out to me now, it is EVERYWHERE. You can also make a tincture with it using glycerin.

Recipe for Happy Children

WATER AND DIRT!!! Mix together until you have mud, and WOO-LA- Happy kids! =)

Gotta love the band-aid!

Elle said she was making
"raw jersey milk" and "teacher" ( I think she was trying to say tincture...) =)

This seriously entertained both of them for 20 minutes. (which if you know my kids... that is FOREVER!) Then Christian lost interest, but Elle "worked" on this for hours throughout the day!

May you all be blessed by this top secret family recipe! ;)

apple crumble heaven

So while the apples were cooking for the applesauce, I still had more apples and the pot was full so I thought about making a pie, and then thought I'd try some sort of crumble thing that would be faster than making dough... now, any of you who have made a graham cracker crust before... I never have, and didn't take the time to get a recipe for it, and still haven't, so who know's if I did it "right"- but it tastes INCREDIBLE!

First I had the kids mash up a bunch of graham crackers in a ziplock bag. Which Elle particularly enjoyed doing...

I poured about 2/3 into a pie plate and set the other 1/3 aside. I took a cube (1/2 Cup) of butter and melted it and poured it into the crumbs mixing it in and pressing it to form a crust.

I sliced apples- a little thick because I like a little crunch even when they're cooked- and then put in cinnamin, nutmeg, brown sugar and cane sugar...I couldn't tell you exact measurements because Elle put the stuff in and she used no measuring devise (just like her mama)... I'd guess about 2 Tablespoons of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon Nutmeg, 1/2 Cup cane sugar and 1/2 Cup brown sugar... basically enough just to coat the apples when stirred together.

I dumped the apple mix into the pie plate and Elle added the remaining 1/3 of grahm cracker crumble on top.  I put foil over the top and put it in the oven at 350degrees... for about 30-40 minutes... sorry didn't see the time exactly-(just judge by when the apples are soft and the crust is browned-can't really go wrong)... I was too busy finishing making the apple sauce, chasing the naked child who escaped from his diaper and was thoroughly enjoying his "freedom time" and cleaning up all the mess such things cause... ;0)

And then I put about 2/3 of the crunched crackers in a pie plate and melted a stick of butter and poured it in and mixed it up and pressed it to the pie plate.

It was SO EASY, really fun for Elle to help do (especially getting to stomp on the grahm crackers), and seriously SO GOOD.  I am sure it would be great with berries too...maybe not use the brown sugar? Anyway, successful experiment for sure! =)

Making Applesauce

We made applesauce this morning. Got the last apples from one of the trees and a few from another and quartered them and threw them in the pot. I recently learned about apple seeds... they have a lot of anti-oxidant, but too many can be toxic to the body... so some apples I didn't core and some I did. I leave the skins on mainly because I am too lazy to peel each one, but also they have a lot of nutritional value as well. For this large pot I put water in to about 2-3 inches, put a lid on and let it steal to a boil and the apples were soft and the peels falling off.

Like this.

 and then with

that I borrowed from my mom... I did this:

EEK!

A small interuption... my little man got his diaper off of course while I am pouring steaming hot apple chunks into the grinder! =) Kids just love the dishwasher... funny isn't it?

Anyway..Look at all that warm-insert DELICIOUS smell- yummy applesauce! I put some in containers to freeze, we all had a bowl with some cinnamon on it and the rest I will just keep in the fridge as I plan to use most of it this week. It is a great sugar subsitute in baking breads or cookies, I also use it making pancakes. The smell alone is worth the effort (which really isn't much).

Money really DOES grow on trees!

And here in Washington- that means APPLES! We picked this basket full this morning...Elle got stung by a bee when she was up on the ladder picking them- I chewed up some Plantain and spit it on the sting- the stinger was still in and we couldn't get it out with our fingers, but the Plantain took care of it... Elle can now identify Plantain- she knows it is worth knowing because this is her second bee sting and she has experianced how quickly it takes away the pain, keeps the swelling down and pulls out the poison....anyway...just a little "for your information"! =) Learn about Plantain! Maybe I'll post some photo's of it on here...

Anyway, we washed the apples, set aside the PERFECT ones to just eat whole and quartered the ones we were going to make juice out of.

Put them in the juicer and Elle turned it on and pressed them down.

Wala! About 10 minutes of work for about 3/4 gallon juice...the res is froth that we'll scrape off and add to a beef stew or crockpot meal. SO GOOD! We plan to make applesauce tomorrow. The chickens went crazy over the disgard apple mush...It feels good not to waste anything... We didn't get many apples this year, but I intend to use every one of them one way or another.

Sunflowers

I love sunflowers. Easy to grow, low maintaince, long lasting flowers, simple yet beautiful.

Shirts soon available at Thriftway- VASHON ISLAND

Just mailed out an order to the Vashon Island Thriftway. That store is incredible. THE nicest people! Their produce manager is going to carry the shirts in the produce section (ingenius!) and I am so honored... their produce section looks straight out of a magazine. Bayview Thriftway here in Olympia placed an order this week as well... so hopefully early October they will be available there as well.