My Daily Life

I love my backyard. We have had all kinds of wildlife in our backyard including birds, raccoons, coyotes, and muskrats among other things. This week while Doug was practicing the piano he looked out the window to see our latest visitor. We watched this opossum cross the backyard a few times and then after the kids left for school Matt, Emily and I continued to watch.





Last week Uncle Steve had a turtle show up in his swimming pool. He brought it over to our backyard and Douglas released it into the creek.


We also released our butterflies, something we've done every spring for the last decade. We never tire of watching these miracles.

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My Daily Life

I always make strawberry freezer jam in April. The berries taste so sweet and they are so large that it seems to only take about 10-15 berries to make a batch. I drive the back roads to the high school to pick up Scott and often there are migrant workers standing at the intersections, selling the produce they have picked that morning. After reading The Circuit by Francisco Jimenez I can't help but want to buy something from them. Here are the berries we selected this week.

You can see how large they are in Emily's hand and mouth.


Here is my first batch, I'll do this 3or 4 more times and my freezer door will be filled with yummy jam.

Seasons

Some of you may recognize the normal seasons of the year in your homes. We, however, have different seasons. They are as follows: Baseball Season, Barbecue Season, Return to School Season and Family Gathering Season. During baseball season, which runs for 4 months, we are more likely to be found at a field than at home. I have learned from experience not to host any event or volunteer for any extra committees during this season. I would much rather leave the dishes stacked in the sink and watch my boys play ball, than have a clean home during this season. Just before Baseball Season ends the grill is rolled out on the patio where it remains for at least 4 months. We love to grill any kind meat or vegetable. This is a time for relaxing in the evenings, enjoying each other, and inviting friends to join us. Grilling helps keep the kitchen and house cool and it always tastes so good. Next we move into Return to School season. Everyone is usually excited to return to a routine, friends, and learning. Plus there is always a little clothes shopping to go along with it. This season overlaps Barbecue Season and lasts about one month. Finally we enter Family Gathering season. Shortly before Halloween the kids start asking when we are getting together with cousins. They love to gather to go trick or treating, to feast on Thanksgiving turkey, to have game nights, soccer games, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve Parties. Then just as this season ends we luckily start up with baseball practice again.