Trying on this New Place

I've now been in Richmond for a little over a week with the kids. It feels to me as if we're still "trying on" this place; figuring out how we fit here and how here suits us.

As I look at the week past I am thankful that most of the boxes are unpacked and the foundational pieces are in place (dishes, laundry, beds, etc.) There are systems to smooth but overall I feel good about these.

We are loving the trail system that allows us to bike and take walks to the park frequently. This has also given us the opportunity for more exploration and independence... which has resulted in some consequences and loss of privileges along the way. (A few scary moments for me as a mom when I didn't know where my children were!)

We have visited the same church twice and have many good things to say about the fellowship of believers there. The kids went to Sunday school today and I felt that twinge of discomfort for them as they entered new rooms with all new people. It was similar to what I was feeling for myself- uncomfortable, not knowing quite how or where I fit. And our family of seven isn't inconspicuous, either. (And interesting that everyone tends to guess that we home school. . . )

After this first week we know where the post office is, the library, a PCA church, the grocery story (and Trader Joe's!), the farmer's market, the "Good Food Grocery," an herbalist, the neighborhood parks and pools, Target (bookshelves) and Lowe's (misc. supplies and rugs). All the important things, right?

This week we'll prepare for the school year, finish unpacking the books, register for a few fall activities, find a dry cleaner, set up recycling service, restock the kitchen pantry, and make a huge batch of granola to share with our neighbors. (Lord willing! And we shall see what else comes up.)

I'm sure that as the days go by we will become accustomed to all these new things and our surroundings won't feel so unfamiliar. I'm looking forward to that. Kind of like breaking in a new pair of shoes. This is the life we have and I need to make it work for us- which involves the practical side as well as my attitude of embracing this place and season. Even as I chafe and miss so much of our life in Lynchburg, may the Lord use this time for even more refining and fitting us more closely to His image.

Water Sponge "Bobs" (Bombs)

For some cool summer fun all you need are: sponges, zip ties, a bucket of water, and some cousins. We got the idea of these "Sponge Bombs" from a link on Ann's blog. The kids helped me cut sponges into strips and zip tie them together and clip the extra plastic. When there were cousins to play with we brought out a bucket of water and played toss and catch and see who can stay the driest.  I like these for the green factor (no little pieces of water balloons to pick up all over the yard; reuseable). Plus, they are just FUN!

L (6) with some of the "Sponge Bobs" as she called them.

L dumps the sponges into the bucket. We made about 12 "bombs" from 3 packs of sponges.

Cousin Isla plays.

Cousin Carly plays, too!

More Ways to Use Zucchini

My kids typically frown on zucchini. My mom cooks it and adds butter and salt- no takers. I dice it and put it in things- no takers. I grill it- no takers. I roast round zucchini coins- still receiving poor reviews. I cut it in matchsticks, serve it raw and grate it (to add to eggs, quesadillas, etc.) ... it's hard to find fans around here. (Except me. I happily eat the zucchini off everyone else's plates!)

The only sure way to get zucchini through their digestive systems- Chocolate Zucchini cake (of which I think my sister-in-law makes the best!).

So... it was absolutely delightful tonight when my entire family (T only ate one serving) ate Zucchini Spaghetti- and asked for seconds. (Of course, I didn't call it that!) They truly devoured this. (Also surprising because I didn't have any cheese for it.) I simply peeled four zucchini and then used the vegetable peeler to make long noodle-like strips into a large serving bowl. We used these raw with sauce on top (and meatballs. That probably definitely helped.)

Some other ideas for surplus zucchini (courtesy of www.broadforkfarm.net):

Zucchini Fries- slice zucchini into sticks (about the size of your finger) and then dredge in a beaten egg, followed by bread crumbs (perhaps with Parmesan). Bake at 400 degrees for 10-20 minutes. Serve with marinara.

Brownies- Add up to 1/2 cup shredded zucchini to your favorite brownie recipe to pack in extra moisture and nutrition.

Caramelized Coins- slice zucchini into 1/2 inch rounds and toss with olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh herbs. Roast at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until zucchini turns golden brown.

Updates

Rather than fool you into thinking I'm actually going to write about something significant or even pull all the loose random threads of thoughts together into a cohesive something... I'll just be frank and say that bullet points are all I can pull off at this point.

• Tomorrow is our first garbage pickup. I'm SO excited. In preparation, I went through every. single. box. in the garage and made a neat little pile on the driveway of boxes that will not be hanging around until next year.
• The kitchen boxes are unpacked with a few items still hanging out on the counter, waiting for me to decide where I'm going to keep them if I need them so much. Oh, and there are three- uh, make that FIVE boxes that are staying in the garage because I suspect I'll need them someday soon.
• The trail system around here is really, really great. I've been able to take a few runs, leaving right from our cul-de-sac (though I'm pretty sure that I'm not reading something right- or else my 15 minute 2 and 3/4 miles was pretty impressive- for me.) The kids are loving the chance to use their bikes. I'm eager to have my bike here, as well. We haven't done much family biking because we could never figure out how to get all our bikes to the trail back in L'burg.
• Due to some kind of internal error, we have yet to receive our forwarded mail. I'm counting this as a blessing.
• Special perk of renting= landlords with a (much larger than ours!) garden who enjoy sharing giving produce to us.
• Still adapting to new routines and schedules and adjusting expectations. The Lawyer has been going in early, working late, and exhausting himself for the Attorney General. "Nice to see you" I joke as he sits on the couch with work and I putter around. After all this time, we're together.
• School time is fast approaching and I have some serious planning to do! I'm excited for this new year and the things we are adding, changing, and purposing to do better. (I love the hurrah! feeling of the new school year- can you tell?)
• Methinks I'm just a country girl. Unless the city really starts to grow on me... I'm just sensing an uncomfortableness here. Kind of like a chafing of my heart. Guess I ought to toughen up.
• After the upheaval of the last month it is definitely time to get back to the basics, the things that are simply GOOD for me and for our family. I've slacked in listing the things I'm grateful for, the gifts of God I'm noticing each day. I've sensed it in me, too, how quickly I can choose grumbling instead of praise. So.. back at it! For it is good and fitting to praise the Lord!

690) Mornings in bed with The Lawyer
691) Wondering in the middle of the night, "where am I?" and knowing the confusion will soon pass
692) Finding that a new acquaintance is a friend of a friend
693) So many happy memories of the farm, of cousins
694) Birthday balloon tree
695) Berries and whipped cream birthday dessert
696) T (3) helping me with "his" hammer
697) Realization that I will not die without chocolate
698) Finding good books as we unpack the book boxes. . .
699) L (6) making a treasure hunt for The Lawyer
700) Timely texts from friends

Photos from our IL Farm VIsit

Cousin I (11 mo) and T (3)

M (1), L (6), and C (2)

Rolling fields of wheat

M in the rocks at Grandpa's

Cousins at the River Museum

Blueberry Deception

This interesting video was fodder for discussion with the big boys this afternoon.

Food manufacturers are using blueberry crunchlets and blueberry bits in place of actual blueberries. Yet their products are marketed as containing blueberries- from the large print on the front of the package to the photos of plump blueberries on the box.

This is why I started reading labels! I decided that I was the one responsible for what my family ate (and convicted that their health was largely determined by what I was feeding them!) and I realized that there was competition for my dollar in the food market.

Is it a better use of my money to buy REAL, fresh, locally grown blueberries- even if I only get a few- than a box of blueberry muffins that may seem like a deal but has no actual berries inside and instead has artificial colors, numbers, sugars, hydrogenated fats, and flavors that are detrimental to our health?

This (blueberry deception) scares me a little because I've noticed that 70% of Americans are overweight or obese and our rates of disease are climbing. Blueberrries are just one ingredient, one fruit. The grocery store is well stocked with packaged foods and the buyer should beware.

Our IL Farm Life

We are still in IL, enjoying family and friends and the farm life that I loved (without even knowing how blessed I was) as I grew up.

This place runs deep in me. When I head out for an early morning jog (once or twice!) or take M (1) for a walk with the stroller down the road I catch the scent of the fog over the creek and a million stalks of corn growing and the Queen Ann's Lace by the roadside and the black earth and the green things and the expansive blue sky. . . and my spirit feels a little more RIGHT, like a homecoming of sorts- a taste of heaven in that it is like a memory and a looking-forward-to all at the same time.

Deep in me I know this place and being here puts something in me back in its place. It's difficult to put into words. Maybe you'll see it in my dad as he talks about the farm.

And Now It's July

There are too many things that could be said about our last week in Lynchburg and our move and our trip to IL. Much has happened and there is much still to process. As I'm still tired from it all, I'll just give you some quick points on the past week:

1) Mom arrived safely and The Lawyer brought her back from Richmond to Lynchburg
2) The Lawyer and I went to pick up the U-Haul moving truck on Wednesday afternoon. . . and they didn't have a truck for us. We scrambled to notify our moving help and make other arrangements.
3) We were able to pick up a truck Thursday morning and (praise the Lord!) had help loading it.
4) As we finished loading the truck we found out that there was a problem with the carpet installation at the rental house and we were not going to be able to move in on Friday.  We prayed and called back and (praise the Lord again!) the installation was rescheduled for 6:30 a.m. and supposed to be finished by 9 a.m. when we arrived in Richmond.
5) Friday we loaded our mattresses and very last things into the truck and the back of the van. Mom and I cleaned up and then we all loaded up and left (just 30 minutes later than we had hoped).
6) We arrived at the rental house in Richmond. . . met our moving help there (praise the Lord for this surprise provision of people we didn't even know!). . . and had to unload the truck onto the driveway and into the garage because the carpet was not yet finished. (There were a lot of things not yet finished, including the dishwasher and oven and refrigerator which were being brought into the house when we arrived.)
7) The moving help left. My cousin took the four older children to her house and The Lawyer to pick up a rental car. Mom and I moved furniture. By that evening we had the house cleaned, beds up and made, and the furniture in. Then we had a quick dinner at my cousin's (thank you!) and brought the kids home.
8) The Lawyer and I took L and T to return the U-Haul and then pick up a dresser that someone was giving to us (thank you!).
9) The kids, my mom, and I left Midlothian around 5:15 a.m. Saturday and drove the 19 hours to IL... safely and rather uneventfully (praise the Lord!).

O takes a lunch break on loading day

R on lunch break with the Flower Moving Muscles

The "extra" fridge and the piano were the heaviest to load

L and M play out in the grass.

L left a "gift" for each of the Flower boys on their bikes.

The Lawyer and T take a break in the empty house.

Grandma and R work on a crossword at the end of the day.

The Lawyer with L and T, ready to return the truck.