Learning

 Here are the meat birds we raised.  One died, so there are 29.  I loaded them into the freezer and have been thinking about all things chicken.  I guess we'll be having roast chicken this weekend.  The hard part for me is using all the bits after and making a half decent soup or pie or something.  I am so lousy with seasonings, hopefully the chicken bouillon I just bought will save us.

Our current wwoofer is from Japan.  I took this opportunity to learn how to make sushi.  This was easy and delicious.  I will make it again soon, Clive loved it, David wasn't sure about it and Matthew loved taking it apart.  I especially enjoyed watching how this lady prepared the food so carefully and deliberately.

 Here is Matthew destroying our work of art.  Maybe next time I'll let him make his own.

I took David to our family doctor this week.  This is what his toes look like after two and a half weeks of  "healing".  We'll give it another week and then perhaps see a plastic surgeon.  Dr. Bass thinks his little toe might need grafting.  I feel so bad for him because he loves to be running, but for the last two weeks he has come to me fearing that his toes are bleeding, and they mostly have been.  I kept him home all week and have doctored his toes as much as I know how, I hope they heal!

Matthew's birthday party

We had a birthday party for Matthew on the 18th so that Grandma and Grandpa could join us.  Everybody came even though the day looked like it might have been pretty wet.  It ended up being nice enough to be outside and even the wasps were out. (eat fast!)  There were lots of games and running about, super presents, and great friends.

Matthew loved being the birthday boy.  He really milked it all day.

"This is mine daddy, get your own."

We also celebrated Zuke's first birthday.  He will be one year old on October 1.

He's still a baby.  No bone can compete with one of the kids toys.  He played nicely and didn't share with Jerry's dogs.  He and Matthew have the birthday boy thing down.

Back to school

Here is Matthew having lunch with his "pets".  Two big beetles.  He was asking if we would eat them.  Ever since we got chickens there has been some confusion around pets.  Are they pets?  I don't think so but Marc loves them.  He does know that we will eat them one day.... unless we become vegetarians.

 David started kindergarten this week.  Unfortunately he vacuumed his foot last weekend and has no skin under his toes.  Mummy has felt terribly guilty and still worries about his toes.  Trying to keep David off his feet is no easy task.  He hasn't said much about school so we are still wondering how he feels about it.  He takes the bus to and from school without complaint and rode the bus home alone one day.  He is exhausted when he gets home and his little foot is swollen.  Early to bed.

Of course, soccer started this Saturday.  David wanted to play so much he really pushed that sore foot maybe too much.  He wishes it didn't hurt, so do we.  

Summer arrived with some very hot days at the end of August.  Blackberries ripened and the wasps arrived.  We have a freezer full of applesauce, apple juice, and apples.  Then, suddenly the nights and mornings got very cool.  Things have happened so quickly, or perhaps it's just been so busy.  Time certainly flies!