on the "farm"

smash potatoes - a pintrest find

neatloaf presented with a ring of smash potatoes

it didn't take long to coax Brodie into making a pie

this first one was cherry

making tortillas on the skillet

they were the cornerstone for our tacos

baby Iris loves the washer - can you say mesmerized?

lounging on the kitchen floor

Max takes up residence on the changing table

Meowzers is always close at hand when we come outside.

Brodie's mom, Karen, came for Easter. Max on her back!

Max on my back!

Max on Brodie's back.

Brodie and his crust

two pies for EASTER - cherry & strawberry rhubarb

outside for the easter egg hunt

Zep and his easter shirt & bow tie

and the pie gets cut while the baby is held

Brodie holding laser eyers

Bianca's RAW lemon raspberry cheesecake

I thought it was clever to see the NEW OZ movie while in KS

3D glasses aren't as goofy these days.

Bianca did her Mac & Cheese & Peas one night

homemade rolls for SLOPPIE JOES!

Brodie redid the electronics one night... he was up LATE.

do you see Meowzers mom in the background? this used to be as close as she'd come

but then one day during walking meditation

mama cat came close and meowed

I'm petting her and then she's rolling around on the ground

Mama leads back down the driveway

It felt really good to gain MAMA's trust. She won't always let me get near, but if she's around when I do my walking meditation, she'll follow me and let me pet her out by the road.

first days on the farm

OK. It's not really a working farm... There is a barn, a tractor, a corral, a workshop, a potential chicken coop, and a pasture. My longtime pals Brodie & Bianca moved to this property outside Great Bend, KS, in mid FEB and I thought I could be of some use unpacking and helping out with projects. Plus I love being around them and their son, Zephyr, and their cats. This time around they also have a baby girl named IRIS and I wasn't sure how I was going to take to a newborn. BUT within the first week I started looking at myself as a nanny. Granted that is stretching it a lot.... I never changed a diaper, but I would hold the baby and entertain her in the highchair when BIANCA needed a break or her hands free. Julie brought it to my attention that I could also be considered a "dry nurse", certainly not a "wet nurse".

Zep & Meowzers - the adorable feral cat they inherited

Iris' first farkle match

Max & I had the whole downstairs at night.

I love Bianca's cooking.... she even bakes her own bread

Henry Rollins once described this hummus as SEX IN A BOWL

Zep made pancakes one morning

lots of gorgeous green smoothies

fresh baked cookies for desert

waffles for breakfast

i was only there a few days before the unthinkable happened - SNOW

it's been a long time since I'd seen an icicle

a few days later - more snow

another ritual I'd avoided for many years

but it wasn't too long before we had the sunroof open

both dogs love to lick the baby; Iris doesn't mind

Zephyr was losing teeth right & left

Alf is upstairs only so we didn't hang all that much.

Max & I spent a lot of time together

Meowzers has some challenges to overcome, but sure is adorable

dodge city

from Miami, AZ to Moscow, KS. world traveling

and then there was SATANta, KS.

the legendary Hospital Ditch appears to not have been skated in decades

could not find a curb to do a blunt on....it could use a sweep too.

Aidan and the special bowl of grilled veggies

noah and the wii

noah, alison, & aidan - prepping the easter egg decorating

it had been a while since I colored an egg....

there is a 9 hole course across the street from Aunt Mary's!

Mary made me a special batch of fried okra for lunch. step 1

just a sprinkle of flour and fried in veggie oil. step 2

served with homemade salsa = delicious. step 3

had to do a Boot Hill drive by

always think of this SCENE in VACATION

passed by several wind farms on the way to Great Bend

the best part of the lesser roads....roadside picnic tables!

albq

it had been over 10years since I last skated Indian School ditch

it literally flows for miles at a mellow downhill grade

found some curbs right before the rain drops found me

had some time to kill so I found the UFO house

I met the architect too. He was outside doing yardwork

a mighty lumberjack on historic ROUTE 66

I met Lucy in OLD TOWN

she showed me around & we ended up at the Rattlesnake Museum

Miles could play ball all day long

we got out on the bikes and it was a blast!

next time we get the green chili pizza! good to see you LUCY!