Life Lately

We have been home for a whole month now - and it kind of sucks because it just enough time to make it feel like we never even went to South Africa.  Luckily I have my favorite tea and chocolate to comfort me ;)

We have been settling in beautifully, and been able to finally complete a bunch of half done projects around the house - and man does it feel good to mark undone projects as DONE.

The little garden is coming along beautifully - and I love going out there every single morning to check on things, measure the growth, and well just being outside is so good for the soul.

We also have strawberries for the first time ever...

Our resident tortoise is back - it's name is Milo.  He doesn't like the rest of the family to much because they make sudden movements and it scares him, but for some reason he isn't that afraid of me... it is so weird - when I am out in the garden by myself in the early mornings he come up to me, hangs out with me while I de-weed the garden, and eats his fill of strawberries (the ones that we don't eat) and then he retreats back to his shady spot in the back of the garden.  I love it - Millie is not so fond of it, she is an extremely jealous only pet, it is hilarious.

 
Last weekend the kids spend the night with Nate's parents.  It is always so strange to wake up and no one is home.  I took the beautifully quiet morning whipped up a batch of my ouma's cream scones, using her handwritten recipe cards.  It made me miss her so much, but it was so therapeutic to just be in the stillness of my home.

The were delicious by the way...

Summer is here in super brutal force - we are in the triple digits and it is not even June yet.  We broke up our little pool over the weekend, and to our dismay the kids have actually grown out of in one season, so we had to order a bigger one.  We are using the little one till the bigger one comes because it just that hot.

With that we have been spending most afternoons outside in the pool, sitting in the beautiful shade from the mulberry trees, and sipping on the most delicious homemade lemonade.  It is so blissful.

I also realized that I haven't shared my one thousand gifts project in a while.  I have been keeping at it in a journal - all the little things that adds to bringing my so much joy.  It has kind of been my saving grace in continuing our life her in West Texas.

I thought I would share a few since its been a while....

45. coconut oil bath.

46. nate feeding the kids dinner, and putting them both to bed so I can read my book.

47. the moon shining bright.

52. my three people who love me deeply.

54. a sweet little girl tippy-toeing to reach the kitchen counter.

55. the kindest strangers at the airport - lending a helping hand.

57. whale sharks.

59. Lego land laser tag with friends.

60. arriving in south africa.

61. the sound of steady rainfall.

62. seeing my parents and my kids together <3

63. afternoons with my best friends.

66. flowers blooming outside my window.

68. marsmallow easter eggs.

72. clear blue skies

74. the african sun shining on my face.

77. knitting with my grandma.

78. drinking tea with my grandma - savoring it - every single minute.

83. homemade blankets.

84. rising dough

87. african thunder storms.

90. family

92. bird song being my alarm clock.

97. baby cheetahs.

98. auntie elzabe.

99. rhinos

100. nate making it to cape town.

101. baby lara.

103. pengiuns on the beach.

104. watching ouma Margaret in the garden.

105. a cup of tea with an early morning ocean view.

106. 20 years of the most beautiful memories at the beach house.

107. the most beautiful last day at cannon rocks.

109. our home.

110. the earthy smell when planting.

112. wooden herb planter boxes.

114. a new creative space.

117. celebrating another year of Nate (happy birthday lover.)

118. milo the tortoise.

119. the robin family who made a nest in the mulberry tree.

There is just so much to be thankful for if we take the time to actually think about it.

Happy summer friends - live a little.

Getting Excited For Fall

We have had fall  weather for the last several days, it has been so fabulous.  I mean generally it goes from hot to cold, there is no in between.

I have been soaking up the early mornings, as it seems to stay darker a little later, and just love the cozy feeling - looking back at our time in Germany I miss it even more, even though back then it sometimes got to me.

My favortite way to start the day is still with a hot cup of tea, a podcast, bible study, or some book - depending on my mood.

With the sweet weather change Nate and I have both been inspired for fall this, the kids and I missed out last year since we were in South Africa, and Nate was in school.

So we are making a little fall bucket list (even though this sort of list stresses me out at times,) I am excited.  The kids are getting older, and they get excited about the seasons and little traditions that we have made over the years - like apple picking, or making a pumpkin pie, fall crafts, going to the corn maize, and so forth.  They are so enthusiastic, it is kind of contagious.

On the weekend we prepped a little bit of the garden, as well as the yard - cleaning out the beds, and picked a ton of the produce, in preparation for lots of rain.

  and then it didn't even rain...

Mable came out for a hot second - it was so nice to see her, I am not sure if the tortoises are hibernating or what, but they don't come around that much anymore.

  A little piece of fall in the backyard, made the kids day.

  We did have a thunder storm and then it has been raining on and off today, and I love it.

It puts me in a baking mood.

This year have flown by so rapidly.  I just can't believe it.

Ian has two weeks left of the first grade, and then on to second grade, and Hayleigh will start kindy.  I just want time to freeze for a minute.

Nate and I are planning a little surprise overnight trip in two weeks to celebrate Ian and finishing up the first grade with a bang.  He did amazing.

I am also never one to say no thank you for a little family lunch date, so last week after a dermatology appointment we had the yummiest burgers together.  

 I love food just way to much.

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Take a look at the new site, and the layout and all the info at the top - there is a bunch of fun stuff - safer skincare, recipes, and so on if you are interested in that kind of thing.

Happy Tuesday!

Life Lately & Garden Update

The last few weeks have been busier then usual in our house, and for the record, I hate being "busy" and I hate the hustle and bustle that everyone seems to strive for - in all honesty is kind of stresses me out and it makes me feel drained and frazzled.

It feels nice to just take a breathe and settle down a little bit after summer, three birthdays in two weeks, and the sad passing away of Nate's grandmother after her courageous battle with breast cancer.

I have been spending a lot of time in the garden, enjoying the last of the season, and the last of the produce.  It has been so fun, and I have learned so much, in fact I have a whole notebook for next year.

We picked another watermelon the other day, it was 31 pounds (14kg) and oh so delicious.

  We had a little one that fell somehow got lose from the vine (probably from some of the kids at the birthday parties) so Hayleigh took that one in as her own.  Her favorite thing to eat is watermelon, and she loved on this baby watermelon for days.

  Isn't she the cutest?

We have a ton of little spicy peppers (sante fe peppers, jalepenos, and chinese peppers) they have been fun to grow and watch.

  Some of the tomatoes have also started to slowly turn red - and this excites me.

  Also I have been hard as many green beans as we have had this summer - these to plants have pretty much been producing copious amounts, daily.  We love eating them with our lunch with some hummus to dip them in.

  Our mornings have been cool and fall like, so we love opening all the windows wide for some fresh air, and to just naturally cool the house.  The cat has enjoyed this practice so much.  I just can't get over how awesome she is, and what a perfect fit she is for our family.

  She will pretty much just sit like this for hours, watching the birds, and she is probably dreaming about catching one.

So we have lived in West Texas for three years already, I really can't believe it because honestly it seems like an eternity, and it also seems like it is never going to end - just being real here.

In our three years here, we have yet to see rattlesnake, hear me out - the kids and I just want to stumble upon one while driving and observe it from the safety of the truck, apparently that doesn't happen.  We have gone on so many aimless driving mission in hopes of seeing one, and nothing.

Lone and behold one of the guys we know in town happens to stumble upon them ALL the time, I am not even kidding.  So he bagged one for us, and boom we were able to go observe it from the safety of the back of the truck - and it was freaken awesome.

  Talking about snakes.  Nate brought home a snake in box this morning (a texas long-nose snake - non venomous) that he caught on a call last  night.  When we finally had time to open the box after church to show the kids and then release it we were met with an empty box.  As I am typing this I can't confirm neither deny that there might me a rogue snake in my house.  If any of you see Nate make sure he knows that he owes me fresh blooms for the trauma I sustained.

EDIT: I wrote this post but didn't publish it yet.  So at the time of writing it we still had a rogue snake.  Well the little fella was found - funny story - it goes something like this...

The Cooks walk out their front door, headed to a dermatology appointment.  We make eye contact with the neighbor.

Nate: "Good-morning!"
Neighbor: "Good morning (she looks at us hesitantly) just so you guys now we found a snake last night, since your kids are always outside."
Nate: (so much excitement in his voice) "what?!? What kind of snake?"
Neighbor: "Please tell me we didn't kill ya'lls pet snake!"
Me: laughing historically.
Neighbor: opens a bucket with a dead snake inside
Nate: "yep, that's the one."
Neighbor: "oh my gosh I am so so sorry, I just hate snakes"

Nate goes ahead and told her the story of how he acquired this snake - I just stood there in complete disbelieve - mean what are the chances - this snake escaped out of a box in the bed of the truck, drove all the way in the back from Odessa, probably went to church and lunch with us in the bed of the truck, and then finally fell really hard from really high, only to make it to the wrong house.

Neighbor: "well that is a crazy story,  I am so sorry."
Nate: "It's ok, if you ever find any out of the ordinary creatures around, it's probably mine, just come knock on our door."
Neighbor: Looks at us like we are completely crazy. "Ok, will do."

We are those people on our block.

Nate also found this sweet little guy.

I have been working on updating my little space here, and also on updating the recipe section at the top.  Make sure to check back often, as I am sharing some of our favorite recipes.  I get asked a ton on Instagram to share some recipes, so I will be working on that.

  Fresh ingredients makes me happy - especially fresh berries, anything citrus, rainbow carrots, and anything from my garden.

The other day we were having a rough day - it comes and go in phases because of our location, and well just constantly feeling stuck.

I always see this...

  and though is has a weird "beauty to it" it also sometimes makes me feel down, because it feels like everything here just dies...

but then a couple of feet away, I find this...

  and then all is well with the world.

We have three weeks left and then Ian will graduate first grade, and Hayleigh will be in kindergarten.  For real - where has the time gone?

This phase even though tiring, daunting and somewhat frustrating at times, it necessary for growth and other things not yet known - but I seriously can't wait for the day that I get to say peace out West Texas.  However far away that might be...

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Everyone who knows me, knows I have an obsession with food - real nutritious whole foods.  I want to know what is in my food and where my food came from. I love learning about new foods, trying new foods, and providing nutrient dense food options all around.

The last couple of months I have been spending time educating myself on safer skincare and beauty products, and the effects it might have on our bodies.  I do have a personal story in this post about safer deodorant options.  A few months ago a stumbled upon a beauty and skincare company that I was willing to give a try (I am so happy I did) and I decided to join the mission for safer skincare for everyone.

If you are interested in learning more click here or feel free to reach out to me.  I am so excited for this opportunity to learn more about the cosmetic industry.

Happy Monday, friends!
Enjoy the last of summer.