summer-type fun

I'm not sure why I waited until this year the plant our first cutting garden. We have always been veggie/herb/perennial obsessed (especially grasses) but I thought it might but fun to have some flowers this year to cut and play with. . . . . it was a great idea because we just let the girls have scissors and buckets and they go to town. They water and weed away and then arrange the flowers in vases. They can never cut too many because the flowers are growing like gangbusters, its awesome. They really do weed and water with little watering cans. So cute it hurts. This is all usually performed in the favorite outfit of the week, which right now is winter pajamas with life vests over the top, buckled "tight."

Dead bird. We took photos so it would be easier not to "save" it.

Delia's arrangement.

Blueberry muffins from Ina's book. Yummy. My changes; I used canola oil, not butter, and yogurt, not sour cream.

Comments

[Grace]

oooh, that cutting garden sounds like such fun! I need to add it to my "to-do-when-we-move-out-of-this-blasted-condo" list. ;)

[michelle]

That made me smile, you wouldn't believe the things I have taken pictures of so we wouldn't have to save them!

[wendee]

I love to sub in yogurt for sour cream - yummy in mashed potatoes (both sweet and russets), on quesadillas, in red beans and rice and in many recipes. You name it - yum! That muffin looks delish!

[Gwyn]

What a great idea - especially if your husband is slack in the flower department!

[Julia]

great idea- it's on the list for next year. back in may when i was planting all the veggies and herbs, i kept thinking "who needs flowers? gardens for growing food!" i wasn't really thinking that zucchinis don't look so hot in a vase on the kitchen table!

[Ahna]

This is wonderful. Our little girls are just about at the same stage - except our fashion of choice is rubber boots... just rubber boots.

[Kelly G]

Great Post! Reminds me so much of the fun that goes on at my house and makes me smile to know there are other families a little like ours even though it feels like we are aliens sometimes. We have had tears over dead birds that daddy threw in the compost pile. And their outfits are wonderful. My girls have discovered that arm floaties for swimming work as elbow pads for riding bikes. Hurray for creative children.

[emily]

i love the idea of a cutting garden for the kids to tend and enjoy. and your muffins look yummy.

[Amy]

I love Ina! What beautiful shots...

[Anina]

Isn't it great to be able to go out and pick flowers?

[kelly]

Winter pajamas with life vests buckled tight? BRILLIANT!!! I think you should submit this to The Sartorialist :)

[cari]

What a great idea, to plant a cutting garden. We're getting ready for our big move to Portland at the end of the summer, and I've been eagerly planning our vegetable/herb garden, and thinking about perennials to plant, but a cutting garden hadn't occurred to me at all. I think I definitely need to work that into the plans.

[Wende]

Oh, we do the photo save thing too. I have scads of photos of lego creations and art he's given away. But never dead birds... that would have been so useful on several occasions. Oh well, we had funerals instead.

[alisonmc]

eeek - dead bird! The other day I had a friend visit with her two kids and after disappearing for a while they ran into the kitchen and said, "the baby rabbit is sleeping". What the? They found a feline companion mouse kill. The 2 year old put it on the kitchen bench (ew!) and said, "wake it UP!!!" And that's when he learned about death. At my house. I will forever be known as the dead mouse lady.

[Rita]

The muffin looks scrumptious, but the dishes -- WOW! Please tell, who is the maker and what is the pattern.

[Lauren Dillon]

Since we moved to the desert, I can no longer plant a summer garden as the stupid, poisonous sun puts a huge kabosh on it and therefore all my work is for naught. SO, I am THRILLED you are planting one and I can live vicariously through you. I can almost taste those truly scrumptious muffins but thankfully not touch the poor dead feathered friend. I have too many living ones here who I would hate to lose, in particular a paralyzed rooster who is sharing my bed right now. (Yes, I live in a very strange household.) Kudos to you for adding yet another pursuit to your already bustling existence. You're a wonder.

[laeroport]

The flower arranging & gardening is oh so very montessori. I'm sure the girls are loving it - who wouldn't?

Cheers!

[Tracy]

I always say I'm going to cut more flowers to bring inside, but then I can't bear doing it. I should definitely plant a cutting garden next year.

[sheree]

Lovely cutting garden. My kids also like to go out in the yard wearing the craziest outfits.

Sheree

[Wendy]

Hey there, just wanted to say love your book - it's fantastic and was especially nice to read because I've been reading your blog for years! Congratulations. :-)

[Katherine]

What fun for your girls! No reason not to just fill the house with flowers to enjoy while the girls can be creative. Great idea to have a cutting garden.

[Lynne]

it's really good that those cute kids have the life jackets on. in summer, better safe than sorry, i say!
my daughter likes wearing her pajamas with her leotard on top, also a good look for the season.
i love your blog! thanks for all the inspiration.

[Red Zinnia]

Oh my gosh the description of the girls' outfits has me giggling. So cute!

Lisa

[Kelly]

Canola oil instead of butter?! Great idea - but how much canola oil did you use?

[amy k.]

kelly: same amount of oil as butter-

Rita: I don't know the pattern of this vintage cup and saucer-sorry!

[Stephanie Scoggin]

Aaah. Love the life jackets buckled tight!

And great dishes! Are they Homer Laughlin? I've got a collection of Shenango that has gotten a little out of control.....
I sort of gasp whenever I come across the airbrushed ones.