New Produce Market

Patterson has a new shop, a natural and organic food store with fresh local produce.

On opening day we bought a few ears of corn and some carrots!

The girls helped husk the corn and couldn't resist biting right into those sweet juicy kernels!

Visit to the Honey Farm

 You may remember my earlier post about the local beehives and the nice man from Johnson Apiaries that keeps some of his bees here in the Diablo Grande Canyon.

It was time for us to make a trip out to visit Mr. Johnson and purchase some of that yummy Mixed Sage honey that the local bees worked so hard to make. 

We brought a few extra jars for some friends, and it was a nice warm day so the honey flowed easily. Such a cool thing!! 

We also stopped at the library and picked up a picture book on how bees make honey. 

Bella vs. Rattler

 Saturday night we slept out in the tent in the backyard. Sunday was another beautiful warm day and we were playing outside. Bella was checking out the shady bushes (where she has chased baby bunnies) and startled backward, dropping a tiny dead froggy in the grass, and then tentatively exploring the bush again, this time leaping backward and nursing a front paw.

(damn, damn, damn - I'm thinking, as I press the branches aside to look into the shadows...

double damn! I spot a small brown snake with a brown diamond pattern.)

A very fearful and hurt puppy continued to nurse her paw.

Jeff and I grab a couple long handle tools and go hunting.

Sure enough, its a baby rattle snake.

We opted not to go the full medical emergency animal hospital route...
Bella's foreleg did not swell; she was sore and sleepy, but seemed to have bounced back enough by the end of the day to be everywhere under my feet and chasing the kids around.  

And now, several days later, you'd never know. Running, playing, basically: 100% puppy.

Easter Egg Hunt

We participated in a lovely & fun egg hunt / potluck picnic with the MOMS (and some dads, too!)

This post doesn't have much of a story to tell, just a bunch of snapshots of my pretty little girls playing in the sun!

silly upside-down Livvie with her basked on her head and ears in her hands!

Out for a Walk

American Heart Association - National Walking Day

Least I can do is take my kids and puppy out for a walk. 

(Livvy rode her bike,  Mimi rode in the stroller.)

We found the sheep (they had been moved in the last day or two).

The walk home...

girlies snuggled together.

I think I can... 

I think I can... 

I think I can...

Monterey Beach Trip

We had an impromptu girls trip to Monterey.
Jeff had arranged a hotel room and a personal day, but was unable to get away. boo-hoo.

I wrestled with the decision, but finally packed up our gear and we girls headed out on an adventure.

The girls were very excited about going to the beach and staying in a hotel (for the first time - in memory)!

Here the girls are face to face with the big, big water!  

- loud, cold, windy, immense, awe-inspiring.

Unsurprisingly, as all small children are, Liv and Camila are fascinated by the hotel room. 

Especially the switches, the phone, the bouncy beds. :)

Hot Chocolate at the restaurant.

On the COOL phone ;-) telling Daddy about the adventure.

picnic breakfast in bed. strawberries and pumpkin bread from home.

Excuse Me

A-HEM.

yes?

um, you're on my foot.