water::proof

Here is a quick video of the progress made in the swimming department this summer. At the beginning of swimming lessons they didn't want to jump in...they didn't want to get water in their ears...they insisted on holding their noses...they were too rigid to float. Now look at them! Two weeks of swimming lessons plus one long day at the pool with friends each week after lessons were over (friends that can swim and are fearless) and I've got two kids that can swim. It's just the beginning, my friends. The beginning of swimming. There is so much more to learn and enjoy. Summer days are winding down as we prepare for a new year of school. But, what a wonderful summer it has been. Happy Tuesday! xo ANG

and then it was time for school

We have been enjoying every ounce of summer.

Every hot, humid day. Every play date. Every rain shower. Every read-aloud book. Every bike ride. Every morning walk. Every squirt gun fight. Every dip in the pool. Everything...even house and yard work.

There hasn't been a dull moment. No time to sew. No time to crochet. No time to blog. We have been absorbing summer, every wonderful day of it.

I know the time is coming. Time for school. I'm excited. I'm prepared. All books have been purchased. Planning has been done. School supplies have been collected. Things have been organized. A regular morning routine is being established so as not to shock the system when it's time to start. The girls are excited and ready. Ready for a new school year, a routine. But, wonderfully, there is still a little bit of summer left to enjoy . A few more trips to the pool, a few more play dates, a few more spontaneous days. We will absorb it all...every last drop.

fun versus fear

waiting in line - observing others - working up the nerve

enjoying the ride - making a big splash - conquering fear

fun wins!

happy weekend xoANG

swim sisters

The girls have enjoyed their first week of swimming lessons this summer. It's been fun for them to be in the same class. Every summer it's almost like starting from scratch because we only go to the pool on vacation. So that's not very much reinforcement of their new water skills. I have found though, that they are encouraging each other to do more and to be more brave. I caught this sweet moment the other day when they were practicing back floats. They have a difficult time letting their little bodies relax enough to see that they can actually float unassisted...but holding your sister's hand sure does help.
happy hot weekend! xo ANG

last week...

before the deer came, the girls were playing with the tomatoes that were ripe. So, I guess playing with your food is okay sometimes.

I must say that this small bounty made quite the delightful gluten free bruschetta chicken dinner. I used this recipe but baked it in the oven instead of grilling. Also, during the non-tomato-growing months I use canned, diced tomatoes and it works just fine. What are you making from your garden this summer? Happy Tuesday! xo ANG

survivor::my quest...

...to outwit any and all four legged creatures and possibly a neighbor with tomato envy.
That's right, you heard me. Let me explain though so you won't think I've gone completely insane. As you know already, the deer had their fill in my garden. I've also found evidence in the form of muddy footprints that a raccoon or two helped themselves as well. However, the neighbor, half-joking, said he didn't realize I had so many tomatoes growing and he would just come and get some of mine since the deer were eating his. Hmmm. Okay, okay, so it probably wasn't my odd neighbor, I'm just saying it's a possibility. Anyway, upon closer inspection of my already-producing tomato plants (celebrity, better boy, roma, and jet star) there is not a single tomato to be seen. Not one! *sigh* Several branches of the cherry tomato and lemon pear have survived and are still producing and the smaller plants that just began flowering are in survival mode. So how do I plan to outwit the four-legged creatures? Well, here, see for yourself.

This lovely green garden fencing is my outwit plan. So far it's working against the deer. The raccoons, well, they could pull that fencing right off if they wanted more tomatoes. I hope they don't. Ah, yes, those orange 5 gallon buckets are my planters. They're only $2, and compared to the $15-$25 planters that were smaller, well, $2 wins. Plus, orange is my favorite color so I don't mind the brightness lining my driveway. My mature,already producing tomatoes are planted in the yard along the back porch. They stand unprotected. At this point I'm just trying to keep my younger plants in the survivor category.
Now, I've got a question for you. Do you know what this plant is? My girls had a packet of wildflower seeds that they planted beside the house. This quickly growing plant is the only survivor. Right now it's about 4 feet tall, but I have no idea what it is. It could be a crazy weed for all I know.

It just started getting some tiny buds so it should be flowering soon. I just thought I'd ask because I hate not knowing.

Happy Monday folks. We're off to swimming lessons. It's been blazing hot for a couple of weeks now and today...now that the girls have to get in the pool, it's only 70 degrees and it's cloudy. I sure hope it heats up soon so the water won't be so cold. xoANG

who are you calling chicken?

We are having a grand time chicken-sitting for our friends and even though the hens are used to us and look forward to the treats we bring them each day, some still keep their distance when we start trying to catch them. Like this one pullet here: she loves her treats...peach peels and apple cores, but she also likes to keep her distance and stand safely inside the coop door to make a fast retreat. Here are some of the more brave hens enjoy an afternoon treat of pizza crust.
Here's Rosie keeping her eye on me as I refill the water and feed inside the coop. She like to get the first peck at fresh feed but she certainly won't turn her back on me.

The payoff! Fresh eggs in the nesting boxes.

And yes, more pizza crust treats. These Barred Plymouth Rock hens are full grown and quite bossy, but hold a piece of crust up high and they'll jump for it! Hold on to it too long and they'll peck your fingers! (learned the hard way, more than once, by the youngest chicken-sitter)

Thanks for indulging me as I blather on about chickens. I had to share more pictures though because my Grandma needs to see them. She is the chicken master, after all.

still here, just not here

Summer seems to have taken over. Our days here at the Clothesline have been filled with so much fun, work, joy, playing, planning, caring, splashing, watering, smelling, and feeding. Well, here, see for yourself.

stopping:: often to smell the lavender, and yes, occasionally picking some

enjoying::the warm, summer, afternoon rain showers

perfecting::the twirl and listening to suffering through a rendition of Singin' in the Rain

waiting::with great anticipation for the first ripe tomatoes

blowing::lots and lots of bubbles

splashing::and sliding and squealing and having a marvelous time

selling::lemonade on one of the hottest days yet at our very first yard sale.

swinging::higher than ever before...and holding on tight

keeping::that hula hoop up and going a little longer with each try

caring::yes, caring for, feeding, watering, watching, listening to, and loving every moment of chicken-sitting for our friends. These three beauties and 12 other hens have kept us entertained and filled with fresh eggs for many days now. I do love me some chickens!

I hope your summer days are filled with whatever brings you joy. Ours have been busy, but we do also enjoy quiet times with a good book and a comfy hammock...and there's always time for that. Happy Tuesday! xo ANG

summer stuff

While fiddling around on my blog today I came across this post that was never actually posted. Weird. Anyway, I thought it was still worth sharing for the sake of summer...because it is fleeting. So our big project was the yard. We spent the better half of summer clearing out and sprucing up the back yard so that we could make room for this playground. It is great fun. Swinging. Sliding. Climbing. Make-believing. The stuff of summer.

Then there are these gifts that I made and never shared with you. There are a lot of birthdays in July in my family so as things progressed in my year of handmade gifts I made a trio of Japanese Knot Bags and crocheted cotton washcloths. The bags, of course, are reversible. One side shows the prints...all from my stash, and the reverse is a lovely cream muslin. I do love these little bags. One day I'll make one for myself. Maybe.

One more very summery and wonderful thing. The world's best bubble! Are you kidding me? Amazing, no? While at my sister's house, the coolest aunt ever, she let my girls blow bubbles in the house! Yes, there was a glass topped coffee table, carpeting, leather furniture. No, she was totally cool with it. It made me cringe and want to hurl but she said it was okay so I just looked away. Then, when the big wands came out, they moved to the deck. It is the bubble against which all other bubble will always be compared. Seriously.

So, how was that for summery goodness? Delightful, right? Now, just so you know, the Clothesline gang will be heading to the shore for a few days. Pray for sun and shells and sweet memories. I'll try to keep you posted while we're gone. I've got my vacation list and I'm checking it twice. Yarn-check. New magazine to read-check. Embroidery hoop and floss-check. What? I get to have fun too, right? I've got clothes, swim suits, beach towels, sunscreen, gluten free snacks, coloring books and crayons, running shoes, flip flops...it's all covered. No worries. Just ready to relax and soak up the last rays of summer because fall is elbowing her way in a little early. xo ANG

she ratted me out...

so I might as well tell you. It's not a huge deal, just a moment of brilliance that would make my husband cringe. So, we were at the pool last week for swimming lessons and I took apples for snack time. I washed them before we left, had napkins to lay them on, but oh man, I forgot my handy dandy apple slicer thingy. No knife either. It's probably not a good idea to take a knife to the pool whilst I'm surrounded by lots and lots of excited, dripping wet, shivering in towels children. What to do? Use a key?...uh, no. My finger nails?...uh, no. They're too short anyway. Oh wait! How about a credit card or something? Yeah baby! That's the ticket! Okay, the germs from swiping my card in who knows how many machines...disgusting. But I just got a new loyalty card that had never ever been used so I wiped it off and hoped for the best. Let me tell you...it worked like a champ! Apple slicing brilliance! My friend Kim said I should take pictures so I could blog it. I said no because I knew Tim would be grossed out by the germ factor so he didn't need to know about it, let alone see pictures. Well, Kim, you were right, I should have gotten pictures. So how did Tim learn of my brilliant apple slicing device? Simple, miss O ratted me out.

review, renovation, and renegade squirrels

A few weeks ago I was contacted by EcoStore USA to review some of their products and write a review...and host a giveaway. I am in the midst of trying the products so the review will be coming soon. In the mean time I encourage you to visit the EcoStore USA web site and check out their products. It's pretty amazing!

This summer our back yard has undergone a serious renovation. It's been in the works for quite some time and we're almost done. The major project was getting a swing set for the girls. I must say, it was definitely worth the wait because they absolutely love it. Tim put the the whole thing together by himself...okay I handed him a few things here and there, but he did it...and it's wonderful.

Now, because there has been such a grand transformation of the back yard, the crazy squirrels that love to play back there are not very happy. What they have begun doing is sitting way up in the top of the neighbors oak tree and throwing acorns at the girls while they swing. Oh, I'm not crazy. You may think I am, but I'm not. When I was out there alone hanging the laundry on the clothesline I didn't hear a single acorn hit the ground or the play gym but as soon as the girls came out to play the acorns rained down on them. It's comical really, until that is, someone gets whacked on the top of the head with acorn pieces. Okay, even then it's still a little funny, but seriously, there are acorn everywhere! It's July for crying out loud! There shouldn't be that many acorns yet!

Stay tuned for the Eco Store USA product review and giveaway!

summer in full swing

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I know you understand. It is summer after all and it will be short lived. I've been a little bit preoccupied....Soaking up the fun... Slowing down to take it all in... Appreciating every moment... Dreaming dreams...Trying new things...Becoming a better me.
making::
*gluten-free zucchini bread with the first zucchini from our garden
*DIY deodorant...go ahead call me crazy...but it works, it smells great, it's cheaper than and better for you than store bought varieties. (thanks Rachel for the link)
*homemade remedy for powdery mildew in my garden...worked great on some leaves and others shriveled up...gardening certainly has a learning curve.

enjoying::
*nature walks with my family
*play dates with friends
*mornings at the pool (the girls' swimming lessons)

creating::
*gifts made from soft cotton yarn
*with the help of my new bargain of a sewing machine
*an atmosphere of gratitude for the blessings we are graced with each day

How is your summer coming along? I hope to be back soon with more fun projects that I can share and lots of adventure stories. Happy Thursday! xo ANG

three hour tour

I am so exhausted right now...you have no idea. I'm so glad I took typing in high school so I can do this with my eyes closed. I just don't have the energy to type and hold my eyelids open at the same time. So what's the deal? Oh, well, you see we went for a short little hike...me, Tim, and the girls. No problem. We had an hour and a half before dinner and this should take no more than an hour. HA! So we drove to this place to park our car, crossed the main road, and entered this trail that took us to the top of a mountain. No problem, for reals, no problem. Twenty-five minutes, minimal whining, nice breeze, few bugs...great! We enjoyed the view from the top...I'll share a few pictures later when my brain remembers how to find the sd card in my camera. The whole city, the college, the big letters..great stuff. We sat in the gazebo (love gazebos by the way...I'd like to have one some day so when it's raining I can sing Sixteen Going on Seventeen while dancing about...i digress) to catch to rest for a few minutes then down we went. Oh, but we took a different trail. Why? Well, the reason was so we wouldn't back track, but it took us to the other side of the mountain and way, way, waaaaaaaaaay, down the road. Oh, yes, we hiked, they whined, we climbed big hills, and yes, we did it! We made it...three hours total. And now we're home... I found only three mosquito bites, but five ticks. So now every freckle and speck of dirt looks like a tick to me. So with my new found paranoia I would like to say good night. My fingers have decided to shut down for the night much like my eyelids. Thank goodness for spell check. xo ANG

UPDATE:: We're all a little tired this morning but not sore. We got some great exercise and have a great story to share with our friends. And for your viewing pleasure, here's a view from the top and the gazebo.

luaus, thievery, and the beauty of nature

Well folks, today is my birthday. Yep, I'm 36...officially closer to 40 than 30. It feels good, this 36. I have the most wonderful husband in the world, I have two beautiful girls that are healthy and happy, I have friends that are too good to be true, I am healthier than I've been in years, my family is fabulous...truly blessed. That's what I am!

My dear friend Theresa's husband has the same birthday as me so we got together on Sunday for a luau birthday party. Oh, we had music and leis, sparkly lights and lanterns, ribs and sushi...and an ice cream cake for dessert. What a wonderful feast! Just a few shots that captured the night:: the spread, the kiddos (minus the tiniest one who was sleeping), the cake, me with my beautiful family (yep that's what 36 looks like--please excuse the frizzy hair, it was raining)...and the cake again that captures the action. Thanks Theresa for a wonderful party!

On the morning of July 4th as we were on our way out the rd door I went to check on my tomatoes. Gone! I live in the city, mind you, so I thought it was probably some kids that took them to be mean then I saw them....hoof prints! A deer had come into our yard and had it's way with my tomato plants while trampling my squash. Seriously, really? There are a few flowers and tiny tomatoes hanging on so I really hope we get some big 'maters this summer. My cherry tomatoes survived because they went unnoticed so I should have some of those this week unless we get another visit. I close the gate at night now so there's no open invitation to my garden. It's just frustrating, ya know? Gardening takes a lot of work...I've got a small garden but with watering, weeding, staking..to see some of it gone...not good, man, not good.

This last set of pictures are some things in nature that we just had to share with you. First up a little snake that crossed the sidewalk in front of us while we were on a walk. (if only I was brave enough to catch it). Second, the proof of our deer thief...hoof prints in my garden. Third, some tiny little mushrooms. Fourth, a bird's next the was made with sticks and mud...amazing things-nests. Lastly, okay not found in nature, but our lovely cat, Shadow, was unwillingly sporting some shades for a picture. The girls insisted that I include this shot... it was so funny to them.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. Happy Tuesday! xo ANG

friends & fireworks

Don't forget about my giveaway to celebrate the 300th post of Clothesline Chronicles. Click here to enter.

Yep, friends and fireworks...the stuff memories are made of. Eeew, did I just end that sentence with a preposition? The teacher in me loathes poor grammar skills but I couldn't help it. 'The stuff of which memories are made' just sounds highfalutin. Last weekend our town had a wonderful day of celebration that ended with a fireworks show. We have never taken our girls to see fireworks...ya know, with an early bedtime they are never up late enough during the summer to even see the sun go down. Well, we thought it was time. Time to enjoy fireworks, to see fireflies in the dark, to stay up late!

Our good friends were taking their kids to the fireworks show as well and suggested that we meet for snow cones first and make an evening of it. Boy, oh boy, was that a good idea. We stopped and enjoyed some sugary treats together. I have never seen such a rainbow of colors on the teeth and tongues of these kiddos! The weather could not have been more perfect. The temperature was in the low 80's, the humidity was non-existent, and there was a wonderful breeze. It felt very Hawaiian trade wind-ish to me. And with the island music playing from the snow cone shack...it was perfect.

After the little ones ran off some of their sugar we headed up the mountain to get a great spot to see the show. The kids all piled in the back of our car then ran around in the grass, then back in the car, then....you get the idea. Let me tell you, every ounce of red#40 and every minute past bedtime was worth it. My girls are still talking about it and can hardly wait until next July! Here are some pictures I took of the fireworks show. The beauty can never be captured but it was so beautiful and we enjoyed every last second! Thanks Theresa and Mark for making these memories with us!

Happy Thursday. xo ANG

what we've been doing

*a little sewing fun for a giveaway...coming soon! Our new furry friend got cozy while I was measuring.

*peeling, breaking, melting, creating...fun!

*continuing to be in awe of God's amazing creation...check out the amount of pollen on that bumble bee's legs!

*mastering the hula hoop...a must for summer fun

*discovering new flowers that are tiny and beautiful (crown vetch)

*fishin'...a.k.a. watching Daddy fish between playground fun and picking flowers

*spending time with friends and loving every second of it!

*realizing why lilies are my favorite flower and why orange is my favorite color.

* oh sure, we've been doing work, too...in the house, in the yard, in the garden but who wants to hear about that?! What have you been doing lately? Something fun, I hope. xo ANG