Independence Day

Happy 4thof July.

What is new...

The girls got their hair cut off for the summer. Michael pleaded with them to not cut it too short. They did not listen to him of course. Both of the girls were sad that it was not long enough to donate.

Joshua got a buzz, so he now matches his Grandpa Baker.

Aimee turned 7 on June 26th. Michael and Taylor were going to be at Scout camp on her birthday so we celebrated on the Saturday before. She had a great birthday. She is very much like her dad. Detail oriented. Michael got he an I Spy type of game and she had it all beat before he got home from Scout camp. Her daddy was very proud.

The fence is all done except The last fence Michael needs to build. I finished the siding on the south wall of my parents home. It was not to hard to do. Taylor was a huge help as always. It would have been a weekend warrior project, 1) If we all hadn't involuntarily taken up smoking this past week (aka wildfires) 2) I would have had all the supplies that we needed when we started. (love the Internet)

Scout camp was great. I got lots of stuff done, just nothing that I had planned. I managed to spend most of my time in the kitchen. I can 14 quarts of apricots, 18 pints of yellow squash, 7 pints of pickled bread and butter zucchini. (That is what happens when you have more zucchini then you know what to do with...You look for creative recipes) Dehydrated zucchini for winter soups. I also made lots of zucchini bread. My kids asked if I could make a year supply of zucchini bread. I probably could given our prolific plants, but I have not got the recipe just right yet. I found a recipe that the kids really like, I keep tweaking it to make it healthier. I made a ton of apple butter this year (again finding another creative thing to do with my overabundance of fruit...ironically Michael was away and national camp school that week.) So I use the apple butter in place of some of the sugar and some of the oil, use half wheat flour, and I put ground flax seeds in in place of the nuts. So far no one has complained, I am just going to keep tweaking it until some notices that it is different. Or until the kitchen aid dies. It is on it last legs, I am not sure it will make it through the next round of bread making, but no need to worry it is too hot to make anything right now anyways.

Now I am tying to figure out my next adventure. I know my gardens need tending after being so busy. My house is gradually coming back together after several week of neglect. My kids would really appreciate some summer PJ's. As long as it does not involve driving I am all for it.

PS this post sat in the draft area for a month... Did not have time to clean it up