Oklahoma Sky

There's nothing like it.

Love, T.

Elderberry Syrup

Well, I think I've set a record with this extended absence of mine.
And today, for some reason, I have decided to dip my toes back into this space.

Eventually I hope to catch you up on what we've been doing these last months, but for now I am following the sound advice of my wonderful in-laws by starting with what has been happening in these parts lately.

This weekend, in addition to reattaching the camera to my hip, I made elderberry syrup.

I've been sick for the past week and a half or so with a lingering cough that just doesn't want to end. The doctor told me it was a virus and that I would have to wait it out, but this kind of cough gets old quick and I am determined to get better.

Elderberry is an anti-viral and is frequently used in the prevention and treatment of colds and flu. You can buy elderberry syrup at health food stores, but it's usually quite expensive...and it's actually super easy to make on your own. So I did. This is the video that taught me how:

I have never tasted medicine so delicious. I've been taking a tablespoon every hour (willingly) and my cough is already lessening. This syrup is definitely a keeper, especially during cold and flu season.

Finally, I want to say thank you to everyone who has expressed encouragement in getting through my blogging slump! I appreciated every kind word and intend on visiting this space a bit more often, so I hope you do too!

Love, T.

Pesto (Yum Yum)

I have literally a million things to post about. Literally a million.

Much of that million involves our awesome trip to Oklahoma. (Remember that? And how it seems like yesterday? And now all of a sudden it's almost mid-August? How does this always happen?)

Before I tell you about part II of our Kansas trip, let me interject with a post about food. One of our many delicious dinners in Oklahoma originated from this lovely lady.

Jill made a delicious pesto, adapted from the Pioneer Woman. She substituted almonds for pine nuts and added a little more of this and that to it as she saw fit. She used wheat pasta and added some chicken. It was delicious.

And would you look at that basil?

And would you look at that face?

Kansas, Part II is next...

Love, T.

Kansas, Part 1

On Monday, we visited with Tommy and Loretta at their ranch in Kansas. We also met Jack and Savannah (the dogs) and some geese, who ran after Papa Goose with their little wings out for balance.

It was the best thing.

And their fluffiness made me want to squeeze them.

We started the day exploring the ranch on a few four-wheelers.

First stop? A mystery wall in the middle of the woods.

There are tons of large rocks piled up along a ridge, with built-in peep holes along the way.

Tony told me that when buffalo roamed Kansas, they kept a lot of the vegetation from growing as big as it is today. And without those trees, this site provides a great view of the entire valley below.

It's perfect as a military vantage point. And that's what we think it is.

Even without knowing for sure, though, it was still gorgeous.

I love that lichen.

And then we continued on.

We saw some gorgeous Kansas scenery...

...and stopped for awhile to dip our feet in an icy artesian well.

We saw some cows.

Then went hunting for arrowheads...and I found a scraper! 

Just to clarify, when I say I found a scraper, I mean that Loretta found it.

And then showed me where it was.

Jill taught me this arrowhead-finding technique.
It works really well!

We ended the first part of our day with a delicious lunch, complete with homemade pickles and cookies.
And then we started Part II.

Love, T.

Hello from Oklahoma

Goodness. We've been here visiting family and friends just since Saturday and there's already so much to write about. We're having an amazing time.

This is our longest trip home in awhile and it's so good to visit the people and places that we always hear so much about.

I'll be back soon with more adventures from Oklahoma (and Kansas), so stay tuned!

Love, T.

Reasons Why I Am Grateful For Boys

Last weekend, my brother helped me rediscover climbing trees.

And then my husband helped me get back down.

Love, T.

Get In My Belly!

Remember our first garden? It seems like that garden was from a long time ago in a land far, far away.
We got a good amount of veggies out of that little plot of land, but compared to our garden this year, it was small potatoes (hah).

I mean, look at this beast.

I am in awe. And we love being out there, weeding and discovering little baby vegetables that will eventually have a place on our dinner table.

Last weekend we got our first small harvest. It made me unbearably happy.

And from the looks of things, we will have quite a few larger harvests as the season progresses!

Can. Not. Wait.

Love, T.