Jam season has offically started

I made some dandelion jelly. Yes from the little yellow flowers that are the bane of most people's lawns. It has a citruslike flavor and a bit of an astringent finish. Honestly it cleanses the palate really well. Most people are afraid of it at first, but once they try it most of them are hooked on it. I used to sell it at a market here, but I don't like the way they are running it now, so I won't sell there. I have had some old customers track me down and ask for some, that makes one feel good.

Mostly I hoard it - then give it as gifts. I love giving gifts that I make, be it crocheted, baked, or processed. I feel giving my TIME is better than money - and I don't have tons of that lying around either. Not to mention that way you can USE the gift I've given you. I could be a dork but oh well :)

Spring!

Dare I say it...I think spring is here! FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!! We've tilled the garden, I raked out and remulched the flower beds, pruned the raspberries - which were kind enough to chew the living daylights out of my arms, raked the lawn! We'll start planting on May 1st and I'm so stoked!

Tomorrow is Lilly's 9th birthday - I can hardly believe she's 9! She's becomming an amazing young lady. That's so odd to call her that, but she's really not a little kid anymore - well she is, but at the same time - not. She's got so much going for her, she's intelligent, kind hearted, strong willed, atheletic, and just amazing in general.

She's almost as tall as I am now and is wearing my shoes as well - and they FIT HER!!!!!!! The only pair I've deemed off limits though are my chucks...those are MINE and only MY feet will go in them...and believe me she soooooo wants them - they are red - her favorite color.

She loves to write poetry and songs - and I have to say some of the things she writes just blow me away - her brain twirls differently than mine for sure and I love to watch it spin. She is very artistic as well - give her some art supplies and paper and she's one happy camper. Dramatic too - and like her father has this booming voice - she has always been able to project to the "cheap seats".

She wants to start babysitting - so this summer I've signed her up for a babysitters clinic. She also wants to learn to knit - another class because I cannot knit, I can crochet but not knit.

She saved me from myself, when I found out I was pregnant with her I was 29 years old and not really getting anywhere in life. But I saw the little plus on the test and my first thought was, I need to get it together - it's not about me anymore. She was a rough pregnancy, I had a fibroid cycst the size of a large grapefruit develop when I was a few months pregnant. When it "died" I had an option of surgery to have it removed, but I asked if there was any risk to the baby and when I was told ther was I said no - I'll wait. It put me at high risk - and I had tons of US with her. I had said to my Dr. "this may be my one chance so I'll hang upside down in gravity boots if needed". I had the surgery when she was 6 months old, my Dr. told me I had made the right choice not having the surgery. The cyst was so large that I'd have lost her if I'd had the surgery while pregnant.

I could go on and on, but I think I'll save it for her tomorrow. I'm amazed and honored to be her momma.

Snow day

The kids had a snow day yesterday. Although there really wasn't any snow - but we were in a blizzard warning. We were lucky enough to not get hit with the blizzard.
Kids were at each others throats for a while, but then I reminded them if they didn't have anything better to do than fight...I had chores for them. Amazingly enough they were getting along much better after that.

I also made a discovery, when THIS jumps out at you from around the corner with a little samurai sword and says "BEWARE EVIL DOERS!" it is impossible not to giggle.