A few more pictures from our California trip.

Gentry was being such a good sport for my photo shoot. Drew and Sierra, however,  were too busy being teenagers to bother with too many pics.  

But how I do love Drew's hair.  Our family affectionately calls it "the flow".  He's always a good sport about it.  I wonder sometimes if he'll look back one day and laugh about his current do.  Kinda like when I look back at my eighties hair.  

And then Drew decided to do this.

And then Gentry posed for one last picture.

 

And I told her that she was my favorite child that day (and she laughed and said, "I know.")

a winner and a driver

Hello Alicia Rolfe! Congrats, you are the winner of the Third Friday Giveaway! 

And here's a little pic of what Drew and I did yesterday. 

After spending some quality time in line at the DMV, Drew now has his learner's permit.  And when we left the DMV,  he talked me into some driving time. There's a reason we send our kids to driving school.  It's much better for the whole parent/child relationship thing.  And like my friend's grandma used to say everytime they arrived home safely,  "Well, we cheated death again." 

Hope you are having a lovely Saturday and enjoying the last days of summer.

road trip home

Every summer when I was young, my family and I would climb into our old van, and make a cross country trip on I-80 from Wisconsin to Utah.  My dad used to joke that he could have been a truck driver as we drove for hours and hours at a time.  I can still see him in my mind's eye, dark curly hair, tank top, and a wonderful tan.  My mom had beautiful long brown hair that was usually keep in a braid down her back.  It was just my sister and I and my mom and dad.  Long stretches of road between vast plateaus.  Watching and hoping for something new over each horizon, the sun setting quietly.  Often, I would stay up late with my dad, talking to him and checking the limited radio channels.  It was always exciting to come into range of a new station.  And every once in awhile, I would get to hear my favorite song, Captain and Tennille's, "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart." Looking back, those trips are one of my fondest and most enduring memories.

I think, that perhaps, I may have inherited just of little of that "truck driver" from my dad.  To this day, there's something about driving across the country that really appeals to me.  Last Sunday, we ventured out on our own little road trip as we drove home from Cali.  With Gregg away on business, and Sadie working in Phoenix, it was just the kids and me.  Drew rode shot gun, and we talked and talked about lacrosse, and music, and his friend's new online "ride" shop, and hypnosis, and high school, and rules of the highway, and our summer, and just life in general.  And my "drive" playlist delivered with Creed, and Daughtry, some classic eighties and my favorite "road trip" song, Holiday Road by Lindsey Buckingham.   And as I drove, I felt so grateful to have time and conversation with this amazing fifteen year old that I get to call my son. We were sad to leave California. The temperature was so very kind to us.  But, as we descended down the green mountain and onto the dessert, we were all reminded of just how beautiful the dessert can be.

 All courtesy of Sierra and Drew with my iphone.

And as we arrived on the edge of Phoenix, and came to the end of my "drive" playlist, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" by Chicago came on.  And from the back of the vehicle, Sierra said, "Hey, I know this song!".  Funny.  Sierra is thirteen.  I was thirteen when I first heard that song, driving home from Utah so many years ago.
And after one package of double stuff cookies, a couple of large cokes, and several bathroom breaks, we arrived home.

And the sun set quietly, just like it did on those road trips, so many years ago.

third friday giveaway

For today's Third Friday Giveaway I am teaming up with my friend Ashlee from i love splinters to offer a beautiful 11"x 20" picture frame (with 8"x10") opening. The frame will be similar to this one with your choice of flower color.

 I have been a fan of Ashlee's work for many years.  She creates "outside the box".  Don't forget to check out her website.  See contest rules below.

{How to enter}

1. Become a follower of terra's earth (by liking terra's earth on facebook OR via google friends connect OR via email-see sidebar)

2. Leave a comment on this post telling me how you follow.
3. Also leave a contact email (with comment) if it's not linked to your profile (so I can let you know if you win:)

One winner will be selected from the comments using random.org and announced on July 25th.

{the giveaway closes on july 24th, 2013 at midnight}

{contest open to those residing in the intercontinental u.s.) 

blueberry scones

I tried this recipe for the first time yesterday.  Hands down my new favorite breakfast recipe. These mini-scones almost come off like a cookie, but they're made from whole wheat and oatmeal, and a lot less sour cream than traditional recipes.

I found this recipe (and took a photo) a few months ago while thumbing through a waiting room magazine. I think it was Good Housekeeping?  And if not, my apologizes to Better Homes and Gardens and all other possible candidates.

Blueberry Scones:

1 c. whole-wheat flour
1/2 c. old-fashioned oats
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 c. frozen butter
1 egg beaten
1/3 c. light sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. fresh blueberries


Preheat oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment.  In a bowl, mix flour, oats, brown sugar, and baking powder.  Grate in butter using the largest holes on a box grater. Mix by hand.

In a small bowl, whisk eggs, sour cream, and vanilla, stir in blueberries.
Gently stir liquid mixture into flour mixture until just combined. Use hand to bring dough together. Refrigerate for 15 minutes if sticky.

Form dough into two 4-inch rounds using your hands. Cut rounds into six wedges each.  Set on cookie sheet at least one inch apart.  Bake for 24 to 26 minutes.

EVERYONE in my family liked these, even Gentry, and she hates blueberries.
* I'm sure you could also substitute raspberries or blackberries.  I'm also going to try this recipe with chopped apples and 1 t. cinnamon.  Sounds yummy, huh?! And, I will double the recipe next time I make these.  They were gone way to fast.

LAST....Don't forget.....TOMORROW is THIRD FRIDAY GIVEAWAY:)

my own battle with technology and a crab hunt

A few months ago, when Gentry was trying to tell me something, and I was engaged on my iphone, she commented, "I liked it better when you had a blackberry." It was basically her way of saying I was spending too much time with my apps and not enough time with her. Ouch.  

Even as adult, I sometimes have to give myself a timeout from technology.  I've made an especially concerted effort on this vacation (even trying to blog less).  I've also tried to "park" my phone, leaving it for hours at a time with out even a glance. To be honest, at first it was hard.  And then, after a few days, I realized that the world would keep spinning, even if I hadn't checked my email or instagram in the last hour.  It's been quite a beautiful thing really.  As we wind up our vacation, I'm committing to re-enter real life with some ongoing boundaries.

I've developed a mantra with my kids regarding their social media and texting.  "Be present".  When you're with real, live people, give them your energy, you attention, and your eyeballs. As for this mom, I am committing to more "eyeball" time myself.  Sadie will be leaving for the MTC in seventy-one short days and already my heart is starting to hurt. When my kids were younger, I was always ready for school to start again, craving a schedule and order. Now, August will be here much too soon.  

So, tonight we ventured out for a little crab hunt, and I tried to take a deep breath, and live and love every moment. 

 

And I did.

 

july ten on ten

Loving our time with family and friends. Loving our time in cali.

My second ten on ten. Thank you to Rebekah, I think this is a lovely little project.