Definition: family

"any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family," or more commonly,
"a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head : household2 a: a group of persons of common ancestry :

Family: such a simple word but I feel in our generation we have changed the terms. On one hand I am so saddened to notice such large shift in Americans..especially Caucasians. There is no us, extended family. It is rare for grandparents, uncle/aunts to be neighbors much less living in the same state. As I contemplated how mothers stay relaxed, cool and calm, and happy with large families..it came to my attention we were families back then..yes the old saying, "It takes a village to raise a family." We all say it but does anyone want it??? God I dream of that place. The place where the elder, young and everyone in between has a place..a sticky glue spot in the family. ..How mothers and fathers not so many year before me were successful at having so many healthy children and seemed to look relaxed about it. That is where family has changed. family meant the full house hold lived, worked, helped, maintained that harmony, and connection all the hours of the day. I am blessed to have a family. To have extended family in other states I and my kids adore. But there is this place I still want to go in my everyday lie..where we start to see it as togetherness rather then Mine and yours. I had a glimpse of my family last weekend at Rocygrass. my kids, husband and the branching off from there of old and new friends. And how good it felt. To have family looking out for each other...watching the kiddos simply because they loved them, not because they were getting paid or because it was right but because they simply enjoyed our kids. Yes as I type this I sounds hokey..but I don't care. So to my extended family...the family that calls when things are good and bad, the family that dives right in, or knows when to step back. but overall is there....So cheers to a different generation that can maybe one day piece back the idea of the village.

From the Garden to our mouths in minutes

Ahhh. I am falling in love with our garden. Seeds have now been in the ground for 2 months and we have delighted in radishes, romaine, red leaf lettuce and snow peas...but nothing has been as good as our beets. I am sad to say that Jody and I have never roasted beets until yesterday. Where have we been. Oh my gosh and the greens sauteed a true surprise of wonderful food. They are amazing........So we wait patiently as the carrots grow bigger, the squash turn bright yellows and greens, our beans go from flowers to poles, and we will greet the fall with pumpkins. But for now I will revel in the days spent weeding while the boys pick peas and giggle when I show them new sprouts...and truthy eats mud, crawls in mud, and picks at our greens!!!

love my family....

Dear Eamonn clan,

this one is to you all!! As cedar just figured out 2 days ago " we all have the same name Eamonn" he seemed to relieved and excited about that one!! We just returned from 2 weeks road trippin to the Midwest...It was our first official road trip..the kind where you actually stop..just to stop and sight see, eat yummy food..and shop (okay at Wall Drug)..and it was GREAT..the sun on our arms, feeling the heat of the tar we wandered the great Midwest states...sipping crappy coffee along the way!!! Really we could have gone anywhere and it would have been perfect..we wandered through the Black Hills of SD, saw Mt. Rushmore, cruised the Badlands, ate treats at Wall Drug next to a dinosaur, and made to the land of 10,000 lakes..Minnesota. Watching the kids in awww at Rushmore, sweat in the Badlands, and laugh, cruise to close to tornadoes, scream and sleep in the truck it felt so good..to be free from the everyday rhythms.... of cleaning, working, stressing about this and that...we spent time in MN with family and friends..roamed the worlds biggest Lake..Lake Superior, road trains, feasted more, played on the beach, threw rocks, ran through water, boated, fished.....I love family time...and now we are back..and I can say it was long enough because we all returned ready for our home, animals, rest and a true rhythm.....I love being home, love spending time in my front yard while the boys ride bikes, love watching the goats nibble on weeds, love watching truth walk...find animals and kiss them all over!!!!!! It is summer...a time for sun, play and relaxation...time to sink into family time, sink into kids simple world of needs...sink in the now......thanks to my family for being the best..and thanks to my parents for getting us to the great Midwest :)