The Harvest

Step 1:
Twist the loofah from the vine.  If the loofah does not twist off...have Josh run in the house for a pair of scissors.

Step 2:
Make sure you have the "How to Harvest Loofah" web page up on the iPad

Step 3:
Hit the loofah against the ground to loosen up the seeds.

Step 4:
Pop the bottom off of the loofah and shake the seeds free.  Good seeds for the next planting will be black....light, pliable ones are not as viable.

Step 5:
Peel the loofah.  Max was so excited about this.  He peeled a minuscule piece and decided it was a better job for daddy.  On account of icky-ness.

 

 

Step 6:
Rinse off the loofah with high pressure from a hose.  This will free up the rest of the seeds.

Step 7:
The website says that you can keep the natural color of the loofah (no bleaching) but I saw on another sight that it is good practice to bleach to make sure you kill any mold spores.  I opt to bleach!

Step 8:  After bleaching/rinsing....allow the loofah to dry completely in the sun.  Do not over dry, it will become hard. 

We have 6 more to harvest....get ready for loofah and home-made scrub for xmas!

xo~M

The loofah that went bump in the night

Max's loofah saga continues.  Josh and I are up in our bedroom.  I fell asleep.  Josh was watching the Falcons/Cowboys game.  I was startled awake and Josh had jumped out of bed when we had heard a huge bump.  It sounded like one of the kids had fallen out of bed but Josh was at our window.  He said, "the loofah all fell!"  I was half asleep but then when I woke in the night a few times, i was thinking about Max's loofah.  The plant he had been growing from seeds since April.  Over 6 months this plant had taken over the back of our house, from the dirt up to the gutters.  When I woke in the night, I worried about the loofahs' flight down to the ground.  Was it smashed to a million pieces?  Did they break off the vine? I was worried that Max would be devastated.  All that time he spent watering and marveling at its growth.  I was afraid to look out the window in the morning.  When we went downstairs, we all went outside.  And there, lying in my daisy bushes...still attached to the vines, were Max's loofah.  Safe.  Phew.....One looks ready to harvest, so stay tuned!

xo~M

Josh took this one with his phone just to show how big they have really gotten!

The loofahs new home....Max's picnic table

The last lingering vine off the gutter

The loofah awaits harvest

A Chili Day

Not feeling very creative today with my words....or with my actions.  I almost picked up my scrapbook materials to try to catch myself up.  I did laundry.  Put a movie in, lasted about 13 minutes.  Took light blankets off two beds and put the heavier ones "on" the beds, just folded, not completely on.  Felt very fragmented....ADD about my "tasks" today.  But then Ella mentioned wanting an apple pie.  So she and Max helped me in the kitchen.  Since I was already baking, I started dinner too.  Chili for a chilly day.  Our first real FALL feeling day.  54 degrees!  Spring in Buffalo...time to put the shorts on and open the windows.  But here....we are in sweatshirts and the windows are closed!  So funny.  See even my thoughts are ADD today.  Anyway, Ella and Max helped with the chili too even though Max said he is NOT eating it.  Because why would he want to eat something so cold?? Ella cut the peppers. I cried over the onions.  Max wrinkled his nose at the whole situation.  Happy about the pie, but not the chili. So the whole point to my story today is, the only things I actually completed were consumed.....and they were yummy (even Max liked the chili!)

xo~M

 

Random Moments 1

 A visit to the pumpkin patch this past weekend.

 Max took this one.  He has two cameras but he LOVES to use mine.

 This is my sweet niece, Caroline. 

 My other sweet niece, Evelyn having fun with Josh.  She was laughing hysterically at Josh heading the ball.

Max and Evelyn :)

Love this one of Caroline and my mom.  <3

 

xo~M

Counting my blessings

Leave me alone....
I was sitting there first....
She looked at me....
Pause...as I hear my husband audibly take a deep breath....
Those are mine....
I didn't know....
I forgooooot.....
Stop doing that!
My husband...."early bedtime tonight."
Then,
Let me help you.
Can I sleep with you, Keelin?
Mommy, I emptied the dishwasher.
Can you play with me?
I love you......
Ok, we can do this.  Some days are better than others, right?

xo~M



This was a good day :)

For My Angel

The 8th Atlanta Walk to Remember was held in Alpharetta today.  After copying 400 inserts of baby names to put into the program (we remembered over 150 babies today), setting up chairs/tables, folding said programs, organizing tables, die cutting butterflies (and then hand cutting out hearts because I was afraid we would run out of butterflies), helping MC the event, walking a mile, tying my message to Bennett, watching the balloons float to the clouds....I am sitting wrapped up in my purple fleece with a glass of wine.  I am reflecting on my final walk as co-chair of the event.  8 years.  I helped to start it and I hope to watch it continue.  Not as a planner, co-chair, candle maker, photocopier, registration guru, etc, but as Ben's mommy.  Today was a long day....

xo~M

 Our logo

 My beautiful friend Lindsey singing for us

 My co-chair, Tara and I

 The balloon release

Tara's son, Benjamin, watching the balloons.



12 years of Keelin

 

 

 

 

 Keelin turned 1 in Monroe, Louisiana!  We went to visit Tommy and Mandy.  Two days after Keelin's birthday, war was declared (after 9-11)

 Keelin turns 2 in Buffalo, NY. 

Keelin turns 3!  Playing with balloons in the kitchen :)

Keelin's first birthday in Georgia.  She is 4!

Princess Keelin is 5.  Nonny bought her this costume and she wore it ALL day!

Keelin is 6.!

Keelin celebrates 7 with Troy and Gabriella!

Celebrating 8 with cold hard cash!

9th birthday!

Happy double digits, Keelin!!!!

Keelin turnd 11 :)

On October 5th at 8:45 am, Keelin Gray will turn 12 years old.  One year away from "teenager-dom."  I can not believe my first baby will be turning 12.  I love you, Keelin.  You gave me the name, Mom.  You are my first.  I wish you the happiest birthday.  I love you with all my heart. 

xo~Mommy