The Little Carpenter

Lucy went to work with Matt on the cabin in Goldstream Valley for a few hours on Saturday. They had a great time together. Check out her skills with the big heavy hammer! She's been wanting to watch all of these videos over and over. It was a very special day for her. 

The Little Farmer

Every single day Lucy goes to the garden with me to pick carrots while I tend to vegetables and harvest others. She usually picks about 4 or 5. Sometimes she'll keep going and I have to distract her so she doesn't pick them all. Sometimes she also picks beets. It's such an adorable activity to watch as she picks them and knocks the dirt off on the side of the garden bed, and then goes to sit on our stairs to take the greens off for the chickens. I never direct her. She does this all on her own and enjoys it after watching me do it one day and lending her tiny hand. It's so wonderful having a little helper around here, especially a super cute one.

Sunshine and Lots of Love

       

A few weeks ago Lucy and I received a complimentary baby-wearing photo shoot from a friend who is starting up a photography business in Fairbanks. She shot many great photos. These are a few of my favorites. We lucked out and had a sunny day for the shoot!

We've actually had a sunny week which has brightened our days and reminded us that summer is still here. Lucy and I have been spending a lot of solo time together without Matt as he is working nights on a spec cabin. We missed him for dinner five nights this past week. We have visited with friends and enjoyed our usual quality time together. Here are some photos from the week.

Lucy got into box of bandaids while we drove to our friends' house the other day. She put a total of 8 bandaids on her legs and feet and with quite the precision!

This looks like a bridge but Lucy and Kaelin are hopping around on a trailer holding mushrooms that they found. It is pretty hard to get good photos of both these girls as they are always moving around excited when together.

Lucy and Kaelin eating broccoli out of Kaelin's grandma's garden. They ate quite a lot of side shoots !

Lucy picked her own bouquet of flowers the other day and arranged them while I worked on mine. The only thing I did to help was give her a vase. She filled it with water, broke off the extra stems, and arranged the flowers. She was right in the sun and squinting when I tried to get her photo but I love this one anyway.

Right before our mama and Lucy dinner. Happy about our centerpieces. 

Lucy showing me how delicious the first large ripe tomato from our greenhouse tastes. I found her on the steps eating it while I ran down to the garden to get some rosemary.

Sometimes Lucy's expressions just cannot be beat. By the way, Lucy has eaten about 80% of the ripe cherry tomatoes in the greenhouse so far. I think the tradition may continue with the big ones! I don't mind at all, however, I will have to try to protect my precious brandywine tomatoes we can all enjoy their flavor together.

We made fresh pizza dough and then toppings together. Lucy is using the ulu with confidence to chop some garlic for our fresh pesto. I had her put her opposite hand on her wrist so she wouldn't get hurt. The colander of basil next to her was all harvested by Lucy as well. She pulled all the leaves off the stems for me. My little helper!

I was going to simply take her photo with the fresh pesto but she snuck a bite right in front of me.  After her taste she said "Little bit hot". I explained that was the fresh raw garlic. She answered with "Tastes good mama!".

The Good Eater

Kasvinsky-raised chicken, cauliflower and broccoli from our garden, quinoa, and sweet potatoes.

Lucy loves to eat the food we give her. I've never made her "kid" food. This makes a mama who loves to cook and eat well feel quite satisfied. On the second day we went to the fair, Lucy asked for broccoli to eat. We couldn't find any so I made up for it for dinner last night. We also ate delicious purple cauliflower! She asked for seconds of sweet potato and broccoli after eating this entire plate.

Tanana Valley Fair Fun

Lucy waits to go on her first ride ever all by herself! We thought she'd be nervous but she was  all for it. Meanwhile Matt and I stood watching her and waving happily during the ride and she didn't even look at us she was so excited to be moving. Our little girl is becoming more independent!

Smiling from ear to ear in the front seat!

Next ride was a construction truck.

It was equipped with a steering wheel that Lucy turned back and forth the entire ride. More smiles.

Lucy went on the big slide with both of us. "More again!" It could have gone on all night.

Today Lucy said her most favorite thing at the fair was the goats.

That's my girl! She pet many of them and touched noses with a couple too.

After seeing face painting at the fair last night...Lucy decided to give it a shot this morning on her own face while I was cleaning up after breakfast. 

Lucy Runs

This video just completely captures Lucy's energy and chit-chattiness. I love it. Lucy woke up really early last weekend and I was just exhausted so Matt whisked her out of our bedroom while I slept, put some clothes on her and took her for a walk down the road...barefoot and all. Apparently, she was actually taking her dada on a walk. At the end of the video she says she is smelling the grass like Canute.  

Having Fun on a Rainy Day

It rained for most of July. Now, only the third day into August, I am suspecting the same could happen this month. We woke up to the thermometer reading 44 degrees at 7am. It poured on and off all day. We conquered it: Lucy and I played inside all day together, gathered veggies from the garden in the pouring rain (Lucy pulled her first carrots ever), made summer stew and homemade donuts!

This is Lucy's arrangement. She made a bed with the tongue depressors and such, put mama mouse inside it, covered her with a paper towel blanket and made playdoh "babies" to put on top of the blanket.

She was very proud so I took a photo of her to send to Matt at work. She gave him a crinkly-nose smile.

We made sprouted grain donuts. Lucy helped knead the dough. She was so excited.

Lucy cut out most of the shapes with my guidance. She was so excited I had a hard time guiding her hand before she  pressed down on the dough but we managed.

A smile for the camera.

Frying in coconut oil is a lovely thing.

Our product. Unfortunately Lucy's special custom shapes were already devoured by the time I took a photo. She made cute little long shapes and said "fry these too mama!".
I have to give credit to the recipe and I highly recommend it: http://nourishedkitchen.com/sprouted-grain-doughnuts/

Rainy days don't get better than this. I am a lucky mama.

A snooze after a snuggle.

Best Friends

Lucy and Kaelin spent the afternoon hanging out together while their moms picked blueberries.