Farmhouse Table

Many of you know that ever since we started building our house, the one piece of furniture I have coveted is a big, beautiful, simple, farmhouse table ... one big enough for at least 8 people. Alas, economics have prevented us from purchasing such a table, and we have until now, settled for our tiny pine table - barely big enough for four. That is until this came into our lives:

Here's the story: I came home from work one day to find an old, ugly, yet interesting table on my porch. Roger's friend, George, had been cleaning out a shed for the school district and called Roger to see if he wanted these tables. If he didn't, they were going to be crushed and thrown in the dumpster. Gage and Roger went to take a look and hauled it back to our place. It didn't look like much at the time, but after a little sanding, we discovered the beautiful oak underneath the paint.

Gage proceeded to spend the next three days restoring this gorgeous table. It couldn't be more perfect for our house if we had built it to fit! We hosted our first dinner on it last weekend. It comfortably sat our five guest, plus us ... AND we were able to put the food on the table! Imagine! I don't know how we got so fortunate, but I'm thanking our lucky stars for our table.

My resourceful husband ... and yes, this time that is sweat. As Kalo would say, he's "a hard workin' man!".

Now the hunt is on for more chairs ...

Walnut Valley Farmers Market

Gage, Emily and I decided to sell our goods at the farmers market this past weekend. Despite the sweltering heat, we had good sales and a great time! Gage and Emily, set up and ready to sell at 7 am! (And let me tell you, it is no small feat to get a family organized and into town by 7 am on a Saturday! Good thing ONE of us is a morning person ...) Ready for customers! We sold red and white potatoes, red onions, cucumbers, zucchini and yellow squash, and a small amount of cherry tomatoes. Thankfully, most of the locavores were also out early, and by 10:00 am, here is what our table looked like. We left with only a few potatoes, squash and cucs. We were pleased to discover that we made more money than we expected! In a few weeks, we will have earned enough from our "farm products" to buy a shade for our booth. And we are already planning what to plant more of next year - FUN! Mr. dramatic there seemed to think it was hot. And no, that isn't sweat ... Gage and Emily took a few jaunts over to Island Park to play in the new playground mister. Nice to have the playground right nearby. The few days leading up to the market were spent picking, cleaning and sorting produce. Cucumbers, cucumbers, cucumbers! Getting set up was a lot of fun , but a lot of work! Next week should be easier (and hopefully COOLER!)

Vacation!!!

It's amazing what a little time away can do for the body and soul. I just returned from being off work for 10 full days, and I couldn't feel better!! The last weekend in June, I traveled to Lindsborg for Holly Higbee's wedding, and then headed west to join Gage and the rest of the family for wheat harvest! Harvest was nearly done by the time I got to Dighton, but I enjoyed some wonderful, restful time with everyone on the farm. When harvest was completed, Gage and I took some time and headed over to Scott Lake and Camp Lakeside. We were so sad that neither Keith nor Andie were there, but we still enjoyed checking out the facility updates and hiking around. One thing I did NOT enjoy was seeing the horse corrals gone ... so sad. I tortured Gage with memories of hours and hours spent in those corrals. Gage yelled at me for climbing up here - said I would drop Peanut on his head. I told him I was simply developing a sense of adventure in our child. However, a word of caution to other preggos: a hike that was easy 10+ years ago, may not seem so easy now. Correction: the hike may not seem bad, but your body will protest later! I'm certainly starting to feel pregnant. The camp looked so beautiful! Lakeside always has and always will be my favorite sanctuary. After our hike, we met Libby at the hospital, where she did our first ultrasound. Now, I have to admit that for the most part when people talk about pregnancy as being "magical", I usually look at them like they are crazy (think swollen feet after hiking ... pure magic ...). But, seeing my baby for the first time was .... amazing. There is no other word for it. I of course cried like an idiot. (oh yeah ... another "magical" thing - pregnancy hormones). I will try to remember to scan the sonogram pics later. Libby thought it looked like a boy, but told us to get it confirmed by someone else. :) A little boy .... amazing. That night, we went to Andy and Libby's for dinner and pool time for the kids. :) Mags in her ducky towel after a bath - so cute!!! Kalo's Uncle Gage taught him how to shoot off fireworks .... much fun! The many faces of Kalo :)

I also have some really sad news to share. Right before vacation, we lost Ellie. She was run over in our driveway on a hot, hot day ... probably trying to keep cool under the vehicle. It has been really hard of all of us - especially Emily. She wants to make a cross to put on her grave this weekend. We will miss you Ellie ...