The Curated Life

I have enjoyed sharing with you all the highlights of our lives, but recently this has led to a little confusion.  Specifically, the "p" word.  This post is intended to set the record straight---we are not perfect.  

This self portrait was taken after a particularly difficult afternoon.  Let me just say there were tears.  I love being a mother, but it is certainly not without challenge.

I'm also not one to rush for my camera at the first sign of a baby meltdown.  Does anyone?  Photo shoots of Jonah take time and patience and are to be avoided during periods of teething, hunger, and fatigue.  The end result is a collection of photographs of our most calm and joyful times together.

I've been pondering this topic for a few weeks now and Jonah happened to put on a marvelous display in front of an equally chaotic backdrop of lunch (and breakfast) dishes, electronics, and mail cluttering the table.  Jonah was thrilled that I took the time to document this.

a stunning example....

As the curator of this blog, I hope to publish the most compelling photography from our lives together.  And like any responsible curator, this will come in the form of edits and omissions.  

While these collection of photographs don't represent the entirety of our lives, they are some of the beautiful moments I want to remember and share.

Lucky for me, the chaos usually ends with a smile.

What's Growing in the Garden

It won't be long before we get our first frosts here.  I've begun my final harvests of the warm season vegetables.  Because of our micro-climate by the river, it is pretty typical that I can be picking vine ripened tomatoes until the end of October.  

Indigo Rose Tomatoes - a new favorite!

I am trying to do a better job of chronicling what we plant season to season.  

Here's a list of the veggies I planted in early September, intended for winter and spring harvest....some of these are a bit of an experiment because I'm not sure how well they will survive a little snow cover.

Beets

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Chard

Collard Greens

Kale

Garlic

Lettuce

Peas

Parsnip

Rutabaga

Shallot

Spinach

I will admit that it was a bit much to try to run a full garden while simultaneously running (the other direction, of course) after young Jonah.  Nonetheless, we enjoyed great harvests and, with the exception of my spring cauliflower getting ravaged by aphids, there was little that went to waste.

Our first blueberry harvest from the bushes we planted last autumn.

The strawberry patch we have is a mix of both "June-bearing" and "Ever-bearing" plants.  

Jonah and I had a daily routine this summer of walking about the yard and picking a few berries and tomatoes each trip.

And, while we don't tend our neighbor's cherry tree, 

we certainly benefit from the overhanging branches!

These wild blackberries were ridiculously delicious and became filling in the best pie 

(yes, I said it) I have ever eaten.

Here's the complete list of what I had growing in the garden this summer.

Basil (both Thai Basil and Genovese Basil)

Bell Peppers

Blueberries

Celery

Carrots

Cosmos (attracts pollinators)

Dahlias (for cutting bouquets)

Eggplant

Figs

Italian Parsley

Jalapenos

Marigolds (attracts pollinators and deters pests)

Nasturtium (attracts pollinators and deters pests)

Onions

Pickling cucumbers

Pumpkins

Rhubarb

Squash

Strawberries

Sunflowers (to attract birds)

Sweet Alyssum (to attract predatory wasps)

Thai Chilies

Thai Long Beans

Tomatoes

Zucchini

Zinnias (for cutting bouquets)

Bring on the snow!...

Modern Expressionism

I wanted to share some of Jonah's recent drawings.

(above) 10 minutes in October, crayon on paper

(below) Purple Uh-oh, crayon on Mommy's wall

Yes, that's our living room wall and yes, I should be a little more watchful.  

I am also kinda proud that the world is Jonah's canvas....

now I'm off to Google "how to get crayon off walls."

xo

Pumpkin Patch

Last week we made our annual trip to Rasmussen Farms to walk the pumpkin patch and select some eating and carving pumpkins.  I thought last year's trip was absolutely adorable but, I have to say that this year, it was unbelievably precious to see Jonah was running around the patch and picking up little pumpkins just his size.

Pumpkins everywhere!

  

Decisions, decisions...

Look, a green one!

We spotted a frog....a dried sunflower.....and then an old tractor.

Jonah had fun driving the tractor.

After much adventuring in the patch, we headed over to the corn maze.  

The only way we could get Jonah to hold still for a family photo was to feed him an apple.

 As of a few weeks ago, Jonah wants to do everything himself.  

This includes running through the maze on his own.  

Things have definitely shifted and I have a feeling that these photos are the first in a decade-long documentary series titled:  Jonah Running By

Blurry as they are, these photos make me smile.  

It was a nice little outing.

xoxo