Ahhh, summer.

Through my kitchen window, I heard this happening while making the kids' lunches last night. I actually think the kitchen window rendition was better. You know how it is to have to perform on cue!  

Singing In the Rain, by Graham Frederick Cox, age "almost three"

On a less than positive note, Francesca has strep throat, but as of tonight, she's no longer contagious. I sure hope I don't get it. I've had it 2x as an adult and it hurts like the dickens. I didn't think she really had it because she was able to eat and drink without really complaining. There's a reason I started calling her "Fireball" this summer. She's gonna be one mean crit rider someday! 

life in the hood

what can i say? i'm just not a regular blogger. i have too much to do and only so much time and energy.  i am now 39.5 yrs old, closer to 40 than 39. sigh. it's good though. i have a stable 3/4 time job, a kick ass husband, two wonderful daughters, a groovy dog and a wonderful garden that allows me to be a locavore, at least lots of the time.  As for the garden, I finally got the mulch in between the raised beds and now I'm waiting for Kenny to build the gate to keep the pooch out.  So, what's in the garden? a dozen varieties of tomatoes (many heirloom grown from seed by my coworker's husband), several varieties of peppers, beets, carrots, fennel, two kinds of eggplant, lemon balm, basil, oregano, sage, marjoram, lemon thyme, garlic, dill, several kinds of lavendar, rosemary, scallions, chives, onions, lots of different kinds of lettuce, including ROCKETLETTUCE (arugula), and plenty of weeds.  and my beloved composter!  This is my current dream job. Let me know if you're interested in my services...

Having fun on the bike again this summer with the wonderful gals of ColoBikeLaw.com.  What a great team we have this year - on and off the bike. Rivaled only by the Betty Joes of Hammer Racing Team!! woo hoo.  We're off to track nationals in September in San Jose, CA.  Kenny and I will get to go together again this year while my SuperMom comes from Indiana to stay with our kiddos.  She will graciously take a break from her current project Hands of Mercy in Sudan to play full time, live in grandma while we're riding the concrete in San Jose. 

We spent 10 days in northern Michigan again this summer just recently. This was my 39th summer up there in the same cottage owned by my SuperSuperGrandma Fay Squibb who is 93 and still living on her own and playing golf when she can. It really does feel like home especially in the years since my parents moved from my homeland of Texas.  Ken and I got to ride together a lot, and the kids had a ton of freedom to roam around and swim. 

That's it for now. Glad I made the time to post (but does anyone really read this?!!)