Why I Need to Take my Camera Everywhere

This morning I learned a very important lesson...

MY PHOTO

BEAUTIFUL MAMA DEER

AND HER NEWBORN BABY

Do not go anywhere without my camera. The soon to be 5 year old and I took the back roads home after dropping the kids off at school. Half way home, I had to pull over to the side of the road to watch a mama deer licking what looked to be a very new baby deer. It was the smallest deer I have ever seen...it took a few steps on wobbly legs closer to his mama to have a drink. SO CUTE! And me without my camera... it was a great moment for me and my baby boy who isn't so much of a baby anymore.

Yesterday afternoon our family enjoyed visiting a few local farms for open farm day...

we visited a local asparagus farm where we enjoyed a tasting of grilled asparagus and cream of asparagus soup (the kids all loved it and I think it will be on tonight's dinner menu).

The kids also enjoyed learning how to pick asparagus and eating their pickings raw.

My favourite moment may have been when the farmer pointed out the field of barley and I was able to listen to my 7 and 9 year olds "discuss" how much they loved barley and trying to figure out how many bowls of beef barley soup mom could make with this field. I loved watching their eyes light up at the thought. And I felt a little surge of pride (and a hint of sadness) as the farmer remarked how impressed she was that they would make those kinds of connections as most kids can't anymore...wouldn't it be great if all kids could do that!

At the pasture-raised chicken farm we were able to go for a ride on a horse drawn cart...

and watch chickens scratching around outside just like they did in the "good old days".

We saw how chickens can live and thrive outside with moveable houses and electric fence.

After a long afternoon visiting farms we headed home to play outside and cook up some leftovers...

I purposefully bought and boiled a few extra lobsters because the best kind of leftovers always involves lobster...

I put a pot of water on to boil...tossed in a box of linguine...deshelled and chopped up the extra lobsters and a handful of flat leaf parsley...

I melted some butter in a saucepan and tossed in the lobster and parsley ( I would have added a squeeze of fresh lemon but I was all out of fresh lemons)...

After a couple of minutes when the pasta was done I tossed it with the lobster mix...

pulled the leftover tossed salad out of the fridge and created the fastest, easiest, loved by all, Sunday supper...

have I mentioned yet how much I love week-ends?

Lobster Season!

I had to smile when I saw the sign at my local small grocer...LOBSTERS...one day only...preorder by May 22nd!

Normally, I like to eat local, but, I also like to eat with the seasons and I have been missing Nova Scotia this month as May is the opening of Lobster season. And so, without too much (well, honestly not any) thought I walked straight to the meat department and was the first one on the list...

I ordered a few and then after thinking about it for a couple of days, I ordered a few more...and then a few more.

I brought my two youngest to pick them up. They were so excited. It has been almost two years since our last lobster feast and even though my youngest boys are only 7 and (almost) 5, they still remember lobster season and couldn't wait to bring some home!

My daughter was upset that she missed the homecoming...so she asked if she could cook them...so she did. No squeamishness... just tossed them in the pot. In the craziness my camera was placed on the side and not picked up again until dinner...

The kids loved having a whole lobster to themselves.

I loved watching their curiosity and enjoyment.

They really enjoyed eating the lobster. But what I thought was really funny was that even more than eating it they loved asking for the shells...

to play with in the grass.

So while the adults finished up and cleared the tables for dessert, the boys played with their temporary pets and had a great time (who needs toys anyway!).

Even though we are no longer in Nova Scotia and lobster is far from local - we indulged and had a great time doing it.

Country Living

While I do not necessarily live in the country...my house only borders country... I still enjoy some of the benefits (or liabilities depending on your view) of country living. This morning while eating breakfast we looked out our back window and saw somebody looking back at us...

I am not sure who was more excited...my husband or my kids.

Actually, that is not true. I know exactly who was the most excited...the 6'2" kid sitting beside me.

The kids are having some indoor playtime for a bit this morning...then I think we will head out on a hike before we have a very YUMMY dinner to celebrate my hubby's birthday. I love Saturdays.

Have a great week-end!

signs of spring...

Two of my favourite signs of spring have been popping up all over for the past couple of weeks...

Just in case I haven't mentioned it before... I love asparagus season! And the little corner of the world where I live is known for producing great asparagus. This season I may be consuming a little more than my fair share...but it is SO good! I love...really love roasted asparagus. Although I think I may be the only one in my family who is happy that there are at least two more weeks left in the season! The same could be said for rhubarb... my kids do not share my obsession with the tart, pink, deliciousness...but I am really enjoying the flavours of spring this year and they are learning to like them...they don't seem to match my level of excitement until strawberry season hits.

The other sign of spring that I can not get enough of is lilacs!

After fruit blossoms, my favourite spring flower is definitely lilacs.

I love how lilacs perfume the air...

I love the variations in colour...

I love how simple the individual flowers are...

and I love bringing in an armful and grouping them together...

Waking up to the scents and sights of spring are one of life's small pleasures. 

and I am learning that it is the small things that make the biggest difference.