We made Popsicles

So far today

Woke up,went to soccer, went to blueberry farm, came home and made pickled greenbeans. Also started ginger beer starter. Later I will probably make a batch of regular dill pickles (we picked too much dill from the garden and I want to use it.

I guess skipping days on the blog is my new thing.

DSC_0266.jpg, a photo by Hamstocks on Flickr.

I just got a book all about different sorts of fermentation. I am going to start making pickled green beans (we have so many green beans), and ginger beer, and a drink from fermented quinoa sprouts. These are all easy things using food items that we have around.

We are planning to pick blueberries this weekend and I want to find a blueberry popsicle, or sorbet recipe. I still haven't started a new batch of homebrew even though I have had it on my to do list for a few days.

We have a vacation trip planned for June, going to West Virginia for a wedding one weekend and Virginia's high school reunion in Delaware the next weekend, with the week spend visiting friends in Baltimore and maybe DC. We are trying to get that all figured out. Trips like this are hard with two little ones. I don't want to overbook, because I hate to cancel plans. It is the balance that we need to find. I would love to visit Richmond and see friends there, but we flaked out on plans to go there last year, and I don't like to do that to people.

I have spent some time looking at new bicycles in the off chance that I might be getting one for my birthday. I can't decide whether to get a new racing bike, or a touring bike. Racing frames are lighter and faster, but touring frames are more comfortable and stronger... tough choices. I probably won't be doing any long rides any time soon, so I might be leaner toward a racing frame.

The photo has nothing to do with the post, but I like to remember the first days when Henry was born.

Toby

When I came home he wanted to wear my tie. He really likes to mix it up. We are having our first official autism training session and it is going well.

Easter eggs for breakfast

Easter eggs for breakfast, a photo by Hamstocks on Flickr.

With Virginia's help, I got the blog set up to post photos from flickr. This means even more great photos.

This is a funny video

Come back tomorrow indeed! a video by Hamstocks on Flickr.

Just hanging out and being funny,

Yard work

Working in the yard has got me feeling worn out. Virginia is cooking dinner and the kids are watching Wallace and grommet. The back yard is starting to come together.

Sent from my iPhone

Happy Easter

Woke up and had a morning egg hunt, then ate some of the eggs for breakfast. We are not religious, so we kept it pretty mellow.

The egg dyeing

This morning

Took Toby to the park while Henry played soccer.

Saturday in the kitchen

Made: Ginger/carrot kraut, strawberry sorbet, and my kombucha is ready to bottle.
Later it's yard work and egg dyeing for tomorrow morning's hunt.

Henry

Henry with his periodic table and new shirt.

I am always thinking about this when I am in the playroom

FULL SCREENThe Sounds of VTech / Nu Mark for VTech   

Love this song

Last night's dinner

Virginia is on a pretty strict diet for the month. I have decided to join her in this for a couple of nights a week. This means eating on the small plates. I ended up eating some chips and hummus afterwards, but it is a start.

A Friday post

I can't believe two days have passed without a post. What has been going on?

I have been working on art for an animated PSA for the County's Facebook page. This is the first motion graphic type project I have done and it is pretty fun. I made some shirts for Henry from animations in the book Shadow. Henry has been loving that book.

I am feeling so on the verge of getting things done. Maybe I feel that way too often. Virginia and I have decided to start spending Tuesday evenings studying Autism and training ourselves to better work with Henry.

Tomorrow is picture day for soccer. I am doing work in the yard and hope to get a bunch more of that done.

Looking forward to the weekend for sure. Virginia called me to say that Starbucks is giving away coffee to people with travel mugs. I am going to get on that after this. 

Kids at dinner

A new day

A new day and back at work playing the catch up game. Feeling good about the projects I am working on, both at work and home.

Monday

Taking the day off to get some projects done around the house. There is a pretty big list.

Dinner outside

We had a nice dinner on the porch with the Zaldivars. The loquat sorbet went well with eugene's chocolate tort.

Harvested loquats

I am going to make loquat sorbet. Hope it turns out.

Playing in the yard

The kids made a fun fort. It is super nice out today. We have dinner plans to eat on the porch.

Pancake breakfast

Other things we did today

First soccer game, and some kite flying.

We picked strawberries today

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Virginia Hamner <virginiahamner@gmail.com>
Date: April 16, 2011 9:57:09 PM EDT
To: Bret Bostock <bretbostock@gmail.com>
Subject: Strawberries!!

Staying up late watching skateboarding videos

Even though I haven't skated in several years, I still love watching skateboard videos. Virginia thinks that is strange.  The new real video "Since Day One" just came out and I stayed up late watching it (It's about an hour long, and I didn't expect it to be that long). I am a little tired today, but it was worth it.
Yesterday was the first day of this blog that I did not post at all. What does this mean?
Here is what's new: our loquat tree is ready for harvest, and I found a recipe for loquat, lemon, and mint sorbet that I can't wait to try.  I think we are going to pick strawberries this weekend. I have scheduled Monday off to take care of projects around the house. I just need to make a list of them. I think we will give Henry his new bike this weekend and go bike riding in the park. We got the bike at the Morning Meadow auction fundraiser the other day. I hear that it was very successful.
I am listening to Herman Dune and working on design projects. Virginia ordered these B-12 shots to help lose weight. It turns out she is allergic to them. I might start using them this weekend. It might be nice to lose a few pounds without trying, and it is good for the heart (thins blood)... a win win. I keep meaning to wake up early and go for a run around the neighborhood, but things come up. Maybe tomorrow.

Love this video

This is long, but full of great info.

Good morning Toby

I meant to post this earlier. Toby is super sweet first thing in the morning.

After work

Going to benefit dinner/auction for henry's school. Good times

The playroom

Finally got a few minutes to get this room together... sort of.

Soccer practice

Last night

Date night photos