I'm in Heaven

gOf course, the big news at our house this week was the arrival of Tristan and Nickolas.  While we were so glad that they are doing well, Mike and I have had our hands full hanging out with Joey while her mom and dad were at the hospital.  Today, Grandpa and Grandma Hadley took Joey for a little while so that we could go to the NICU and visit the boys.

I actually got to touch them in their bassinets!  Their skin is so soft.  Each boy had to show off just a bit for us.  Tristan had a big meal while we were there.  Nickolas had to demonstrate his lung power with a couple of good shouts.  We also spent some time comparing them...so many differences in addition to the obvious similarities.  And as always with the new members of the family, it's so much fun to see little flashes of likeness to other people that we love.

Welcome to the clan, Tristan and Nickolas!

Joe's Toes

I've spent this week hanging out with my buddy, Joey.  We've played in the pool and worked in the yard and watched Dora the Explorer.  Today, she really tested my grandmothering skills by wanting 'purple toes'.  We found the perfect purple polish while we were shopping.  I've never been great at pedicures, but I've got to admit.  These are some of the cutest toes around.  Don't you agree?

Missionary Monday - August 2

Got another phone call on Thursday from Elder Coffey.  He was headed off to San Francisco for about a month to work while waiting for his visa.  He was very excited to be getting to work at last.  I had to laugh as I had written him a note (that he hadn't received yet) saying that I thought they should send him to San Francisco so that he could spend part of each day pestering the French consulate.  *snort*  Based on his e-mail today, he's got better things to do.  He's serving in a triple with two other elders who are working hard.  They had a baptism on the weekend.  Great example for Elder Coffey!

Dilly Beans

Since I've already posted lots of gardening stuff this week, how about a canning post today instead?!?  For the first time, I canned dilly beans..

I think they look pretty tasty.  They are supposed to remain unmolested for two weeks to allow those lovely beans to 'pickle'.  *taps fingers*  Now I have to wait.

Just for the record, I grew these beans with this canning project in mind.  I'm really pleased with this variety of bean.  They are so straight and smooth, made it easy to get them in the jars.  Now I just need to figure out what to do with the other 75% of the crop.  May have to make a few more jars of dilly beans!

Thanks to my awesome daughter Carin and her gracious in-laws for this recipe.

Garden Help

Since I'm having such a hard time getting all the yard and garden work done, I hired some garden help.  She's very dedicated, every flower is fully watered.  Best of all, she works for snacks.

Thanks, Miss Bean!

In The Garden - July 27

I've been slacking in my garden updates, but not in my garden work.  So many things in the garden are beginning to catch up after that cold, wet spring.

These daylilies have been a wonderful surprise this year.  I moved them from the front yard into the new bed in the back.  I did not expect them to bloom, but here they are!  The original planting out front was planted about 20 years ago.  They bloomed beautifully for several years, but as the trees and shrubs around them grew and began to shade them, they gradually stopped blooming.  For the last couple of years, there have been no blooms at all.  The biggest surprise is that the ones in front have a few blooms on them, too!

Here's my bean patch, just full of beans waiting to be bottled into dilly beans.  This variety is very slender and very straight, should make the bottling process easier.  I hope to get to them by the end of the week.

I planted some red sunflowers about five years ago.  Haven't had to plant them again, but there's always a nice patch of them self-seeded in the garden for the bees and birds to enjoy.  They've cross pollinated with both the native sunflowers and some giant ones that I planted one year.  Although there is still a hint of their red flower parentage, it has nearly been bred away.  Looks like I'll need to plant fresh red ones next year.

Be still, my heart appetite.  Due to the spring cold, the pepper plants have been very reluctant to get going and get to producing.  They are finally setting some fruit.  Now I just need to be patient while they size up and turn red.  *taps fingers*

Have a few of these hiding in the giant plants.  Looks like Granny will have a few pumpkins to share this year.  Thank goodness!  Would love to have a pile of pumpkins to photograph with the grandchildren this year to send to our missionary.  Sam tells me that the photo we sent to him of PJ and Kaid was one of his favorites while he was out in the field.

Missionary Monday - July 26

Thursday of last week, I got the 'best of phone calls, worst of phone calls'.  I was thrilled to hear from Ben at the MTC!  He's doing fine, but had bad news.  His visa has been delayed, so he won't be flying to New Caledonia tomorrow as planned.  He was a little bummed, but seemed determined to stay the course until the paperwork comes through. 

If you can spare a good thought or a little prayer for a missionary who's currently on hold, that would be great.  And if you could say a little prayer for the bureaucrat at the French embassy responsible to finish up this paperwork, that would be great, too.

As for me, I'll be praying for them both and waiting for another phone call to tell me just exactly where my son is going to be.