I'm going to be back at my Live Journal page from now on...it's just easier to use!

So, here's the link:
http://haurelia.livejournal.com/

Thanks for reading!

Summertime...

And the living is easy, I suppose.
We've had a busy couple of weeks with visitors and family stuff. It's been off and on really hot, really rainy and occasionally, really beautiful! Over the first weekend of July, Paul's brother Andrew and his family (wife Sarah, kids Trevor, Troy and Addison) stayed with us 'til Tuesday morning. It was a full, noisy house, but really nice to see them all. Paul took the boys biking, and fishing in the nearby Carp River...they got leeches, but had a good time catching a few little brook trout (and throwing them back).


Henry was sick that weekend, though, after having his very first fever on Friday morning around 3am. No other symptoms, but he was off and on feverish all weekend. The poor guy was so clingy and uncomfortable. He didn't want much other than holding, reading stories, nursing and popsicles (made by mama with strawberries, banana, ginger tea, echinacea and honey). On the 4th, he seemed normal. We went with our company out to Sandi's (my stepmom) family's camp on Farmer's Lake to join up with their big crew to grill, swim and relax. The kids got to fish, and spent all afternoon in the lake. They enjoyed hanging out with Sandi's niece Francesca and nephew Calvin, who are realllllyyyy nice kids.



Henry wanted to stay near me, but he did manage to scrape up some enthusiasm for playing with my dad before he got really hot again.

He conked out on the futon on the porch. I had to take his picture; he's looking like such a kid to me most of the time, and not like my little baby anymore.


My aunt Nita was in town this week, from Boulder. Also, my aunt Melissa and uncle Steve were here from Minneapolis; it was "Pioneer Days" in Negaunee (the week following the 4th of July). So, there was a lot going on in town...pancake breakfasts, alumni softball tournament and such, capped off with the parade and fireworks on Saturday. We didn't do much of it, just the parade and the fireworks. Nita, Henry and I went to the beach on Friday...it was heavenly!


We had a family dinner party at my Dad's on Friday evening. Saturday, we watched the parade down the street from our house, mainly because a couple of my cousins were in it, on a float and in the high school marching band. It was HOT and just boring. Then, after Henry napped, we went to a different beach (Little Presque Isle) with Nita, Melissa and Steve, and my cousin Emily (oh, and Blaze too!). Another gorgeous day on a gorgeous Lake Superior Beach. That lake-it just feeds my soul! I forgot my camera on Saturday, rats. We had some supper, and played Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit, because that's how we nerds roll.

Our friends Heather and Eric came over on Saturday night, along with Eric's son Noah. We rode bikes to the fireworks and enjoyed the show, although Henry wasn't too sure. He was fine sitting in his bike trailer, but didn't want to be out and/or held. We ran into my friend Christa's husband, Mike. So, we all traipsed back to our house for some front porch therapy and I put Henry to bed. It had been a very busy day!

Sunday, we went blueberry picking with Nita, and got about a gallon of wild berries along the railroad tracks near where Paul reports to work. Deliciousness! We gave a quart to Grandma Prusi to prompt her to make pie, and I'm debating about whether to pie, jam or freeze the rest...if they last! Paul is eating them like crazy, and Henry too. Between all the beets we've been eating from our CSA share, and blueberries, blackberries and such, almost all of Hen's diapers have a big stain from purple or blue poo. That boy just can't get enough fruit and vegetables, I tell you!

Speaking of vegetables, we got a chance on Sunday to visit the farm where our produce comes from, and where we're getting our beef. This farm is called Seeds and Spores Family Farm, and it's really a nice diversified operation. We got to roam all over, see the hoop houses and the fields, and the chickens, pigs and cows. It's really good to be able to meet the farmers who grow our food and see how it's all being done. The fields are like kitchen gardens on steroids-a big mix of rows of greens, carrots, onions, potatoes, beets, broccoli, cabbages, etc. There's also a big field of sweet corn, and berry patches too. They also grow herbs and flowers. The animals are rotationally grazed, and they are all on pasture (the pigs and chickens get some supplemental grains). I'd like to volunteer there, but they ask for a whole weekday twice a week in exchange for a share...I just can't swing that right now without someone reliable to care for Henry (not to mention that he doesn't go 8 hours without a nurse). Ah well...

I am thinking about moving back to Live Journal for blogging. It's easier to add photos and just seems more streamlined to me. Not sure yet, but I'll post and update my link on Facebook when I decide. Also, I changed the name, because we don't live at Grandmother's house anymore. :)