Visit with the G-team

Well, Michael is in Portland for 2 weeks, taking a few appraisal classes. We are fortunate enough to have my parents here for those 2 weeks to help out and visit with Maddie and myself! They (all 3) have been having loads of fun while I'm at work! Swimming, checking out the candy store, longs walks, lots of practice crawling, an introduction to bouncing balls, etc. We have been i-chatting with Papa each night - Maddie is excited to see Michael and was reaching for his beard on the screen last night.

Last weekend my parents, Madelyn, and myself went up to the Shuptrine's garden and picked MASSES of tomatoes. Also cucumbers (see Maddie's teething toy!), carrots, spinach, swiss chard, and beets. Yum! We have been processing tomatoes all week: dehydrated, blended and frozen, tomato pudding (my dad's recipe, surprisingly GOOD!), and of course fresh with basil.

Fall colors are in full swing in Jackson! Lots of dramatic stormy clouds, bright yellows and a few oranges... the drive to work is never more beautiful!

Hike to Phelps Lake

G'ma and G'pa Gore and the fam checked out the new Rockefeller visitors center. It was amazing and we highly recommend it to folks in the area. We then set off on a short hike to phelps lake which looks up Death Canyon. It was a great visit with G'ma and G'pa Gore and now we look forward to Lisa's folks coming into town for a couple of weeks while MK is away! See pics of the hike.

A few fun videos

Madelyn has been doing all sorts of great things these days. Eating more and more solids, adding avocado and banana to her growing repertoire this week. She is easily sitting up on her own now, and just today started rolling in continuous circles! She has also just found the comforts of sleeping on her belly, and now that she's a roller, we're just letting her go for it! So far, it's brought nothing but MORE SLEEP, which we're all for!!

Bob and Ruth are here for a visit, which is loads of fun. MK and crew went to the new visitor's center yesterday, to the museum today (Madelyn LOVED the Aboriginal art- it's all tiny polka-dots!), and Bob and Ruth graciously sent us out on an anniversary dinner tonight! Yahoo!

the week in pictures

Life continues to be busy. Last weekend we got out and about above the Science School and took a great walk. We've been amazed as we watched Madelyn start sitting up on her own over the last few days. Madelyn tried and loved cantaloupe and banana. Last night we toured around the Town Square for the "Taste of the Tetons" - a gallery walk with tasty bites at each stop. Always nice to get out and find the few places in this town NOT selling the cliche wildlife art! This weekend is JH's big community fundraiser event - Old Bill's Fun Run. We'll probably get out and walk/stroll the course with friends.

Caught on camera!

We finally caught M. laughing on camera! Check it out!

Sorting through clothing today - L never thought she would get this big! Mom, check out the hat -fits and oh so cute!

almost sitting and standing

Madelyn has been getting so much stronger these last few weeks! Must be all of the "johnny-jump-up" time paying off!
She is on the verge of sitting by herself, but still needs a bit of support. She is excited to balance, pull up with a little help, and stand up until her legs give out! Also, carrots introduced tonight... loved 'em!

From the garden to the kitchen!

I have always known how important access to plants/gardens are to me, but sometimes I forget. Yesterday I was reminded in a huge way!

I woke up early and biked to the Saturday Market and worked the Mountain Meadow Farm booth (Dick's garden that I've been working at this summer) with Josh, Jess, and Kalen. Loads of fun to see people come buy and take home all of the beautiful veg! And after market, I ended up back at the garden with Jess, Josh, and Kalen. Jess entertained Madelyn while Josh, Kalen and I got sucked into the raspberry patch (Josh introduced me to the beauty of the sun-dried raspberry!). We also harvested a bunch of potatoes, carrots, beets, cucumbers, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, and sunflowers. We finished off the day with burgers and a salad from the garden. I was GLOWING, it was so good to spend a full day focused on harvesting, fresh food, and friends!

And, as a result of overzealous picking of cucumbers and raspberries, today I spent the afternoon making pickles and freezer jam! Yes, we are now the proud owners of 12 large jars of garlic dill pickles (we're experimenting with spice levels), and 8 tubs of huckleberry and raspberry jam! Also carrot and zucchini baby food, cilantro chutney, pesto, and bags of beet greens, spinach, and swiss chard stacked up in the freezer. Anyone read/reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver? I'm a believer! Hard to do in the Rocky Mountains, but excited to make our food choices as local as possible - we'll be eating this veg all winter!