Flowers, Flowers, Everywhere

Wednesday night Taylor was over for supper and I sent her, Meredith and Jesse out to the garden to pick lettuce for salads. Apparently while they were out there Meredith went missing.


Where was she? In my mom's garden picking flowers.

And flowers.

And more flowers.

(Yes, there are 10 little "vases" with flowers in them!)


When they came inside, Meredith got all these little glasses out of my china cabinet and separated and arranged all the flowers in the glasses. All by herself. I didn't even have to tell her which ones she could use.

Mom, I figured you wouldn't mind. Considering you won't be in your garden again until September!

Kindergartener no more

Well, Meredith is no longer a kindergartener. But Kent assures me that since she hasn't yet started first grade, that she isn't a first grader either.

At any rate, she's not in school anymore. And summer break is now in full swing.

Yesterday was her last day and although there were no tears, she was definitely sad that she wouldn't see her teacher all summer long.


And wouldn't see her 2 best friends 5 days a week.


Cara and Meredith are in the same Sunday School class at church, so they will see each other at least every week.


And Colby and Meredith both play t-ball (on separate teams) so they may see each other in passing between games.

But as Meredith points out to me, it's still not the same.

I'm just wondering what we will do all summer long.

Look Mommy!

"Mommy, look at my yummy breakfast!"

"Now if I just had 3 hands I'd be good!"

Bunny Burner Breakfast

So let's just clear the air right now. I'm not talking about burning bunnies. Let me repeat - no bunnies were harmed in the making of this breakfast!

Bunny burner breakfasts are a tradition in our family. My Dad's family made these breakfasts and now our family does. It's a breakfast that you make outside on a tin can. It consists of bacon, an egg, and bread. Oh yeah, and smoke. And burned bits of who knows what. And more smoke. And maybe a little dirt. And then more smoke.

So for Memorial Day, we had a send-off party for my parents (who will be leaving for Alaska for 3 months in just a few days) and we made bunny burners.

Step #1
Preparing the tin cans. Sorry, no pictures! You need large cans that already have the top off the can (that open part now becomes the bottom of the can.) Then you cut an opening on the side at the bottom for the fire. You also cut small air holes around the top of the side of the can.

Step#2
Put a corn cob (minus the corn on it) or two under the can. Then dip another cob in some kerosene. Or gasoline. Not quite sure which was used. Light the fire very carefully with a match. Making sure to keep away when you throw the match in the can. (I believe we all have all our arm hair and eyebrows still, but there were a few close calls on Monday!)

Step #3
Add bacon. 2 or three pieces.


Step #4
Check fire. Add more cobs if needed.

Step #5
Move bacon around with a fork. Or a poker. Or a stick.


Step #6
Check fire again. Add more cobs if needed.

Step #7
If your bacon is done, use it to form a ring in which to crack an egg.


Step #8
Check fire again. By now the fire is probably out, in spite of your best efforts. First you have to determine if your fire is getting too much or not enough breeze. Then you move the can around accordingly. Then you need to add yet another cob that you dipped in kerosene. And then you get to light the fire again.


Step #9
Carefully flip the egg and bacon over. Take extra care to keep it on the tin can so that it doesn't fall on the ground.


Step #10
Line up who will be using the can next. I am always bummed that Kent likes to make these, because I would gladly make enough for my whole family. The fun is in the making of the breakfast. Well. I guess it's in the eating too!


Step #11
When the egg is cooked through, you will need to have 2 pieces of bread. One goes on the bottom of the egg and bacon, and the other on the top. When the bottom piece is toasted, flip the sandwich and toast the other side.


Step#12
Enjoy all the greasy, outdoorsy goodness of your bacon and egg sandwich made outside. On a tin can. (You'll see that I was halfway done eating before I remembered to take a picture!)


We also had a campfire on Monday. (Is it still called a campfire if you're not camping?) It was a good way to be together as a family before my parents leave for Alaska. We had a great time, but I was definitely ready to go home and take a shower to wash all the smokey smell out of my hair.

Congrats Grad!

On May 17th, my niece, Taylor, graduated from high school. (You may recall that I recently blogged about her graduation party here.)


Taylor graduated with 32 other seniors from Iowa Mennonite School. Yes, that's right for everyone reading this who is not from around here - 32 other people! My graduating class was 44 people. Kent's was at least 500, right Kent? As I sat there on the bleachers listening to the speakers during Baccalaureate and Commencement, I thought a lot about the community that I live in. And the fact that I was able to live in a small-town, sheltered community during my formative years. I won't get into that now, but despite the fact that yes, it is sheltered, and no, I didn't have as many opportunities at my high school, I am still so thankful and blessed to have grown up here.


Anyway, back to Taylor's graduation. As we were urged to do during the Baccalareate message, Taylor, we are so proud of you! You have a bright future ahead and we look forward to seeing where you go and what you do.


In my mom's blog posting about Taylor graduating (go here to read it), she reminded us that Taylor walked across the very same stage to get her diploma that both her parents, at least 2 of her grandparents (Beth, did Chuck & Lorena go to IMS?) and 7 of her aunts and uncles walked across to get their own diplomas. A lot of things may have changed through the years, but the school, the stage, and the ceremony are still the same.


As Taylor was walking across the stage, I tried my best to get Jesse to yell out "Go Bubble!" But he wouldn't...yes, when I actually wanted him to be loud he wouldn't! (Jesse calls Taylor "Bubble" because she taught him to say the word and because she is usually chewing gum so he asks her to blow a bubble for him.)

So congrats, Taylor! When should I plan my road trip to Harrisonburg next year?