the pond

Jessie has partly damaged her knee, so she tries to avoid going for walks. She is on pain medication but also needs to loose a few kilos, to avoid further damage. As summer has returned, I have taken her with me to the little pond a few minutes walk from our home. There she can swim, which she loves, and it's nice for the boys too. The added benefit is, that it's good for her knee & cools her down. When we were at the pond last night, we saw some some geese and goslings. Jessie totally ignored them and was content to swim and fetch her ball. In return the geese ignored us too.

summer returned

Summer has returned this week. While the beginning of the week was still so so temperature wise, the last two days temperatures have soared back to the high 30s. In fact it was so hot that I took the pool back out and the boys spend the afternoon playing in the pool to cool down.

Meet 'Flecki'

After a 20 month break I am owning rabbits again, well one rabbit, to be exact but this little beauty will be my breeding doe for next year. I had plans to get a doe in July/August which proved to be quite difficult, as it seemed like no one had s suitable doe available (doe, max 5-6 month, medium size, no giant). Two weeks ago I decided to put an ad at the door of my local animal food /garden shop (which is also the only shop in my village). I figured that people buying their rabbit food there might have one available. On Monday evening I got a call, while speaking to the woman it turns out that we have met and talked a few times at the store when I was there with the twins to drop of parcels. She had a suitable doe available and today I picked her out and up. She is a beauty and I am glad the boys will be able to grow up with some animals around. Next on the list is a suitable buck.

She is called Flecki for the time being, maybe I can come up with a better name sometime

photo shooting

 

 

Last week during one of our walks, I saw the blue skies and yellow fields and thought it would be great idea to have a photo shoot with the boys sitting in the field. So I packed the camera and of we went. Niklas and Jacob were not impressed to sit in the field and be all smiles for the camera, at least one of them kept looking away or looking grumpy. Niklas who always loved the camera decided now is the time to stop loving the camera but at least Jacob is now the one constantly posing for the camera. I did manage to take a somewhat decent picture too.

    

a sweater for Niklas

I have plans to make a sweater for both Niklas and Jacob for the fall/winter this year. The yarn for these projects is in the house for a good 9 month now. It was quite difficult to find a pattern for something I like, in the end I found a sort of pattern and decided to go free-style.  I love the color for Niklas and do have a bit of left over yarn that will work out for a nice hat too. Niklas was not too impressed to test the sweater while it was so warm (and then I had to take pictures too). It's still a bit big but that's ok, it should fit well in the winter. Next on I will work on Jacob's sweater.

Early july in my garden

Early July would be my favorite time of year in the garden.  It’s the kind of moment when everything is falling in place. Pretty much everything is in the ground, the weeds are still manageable (don’t look to where my strawberries are supposed to grow), everything is green and the first harvest is in. I have been busy in the garden, the berries (gooseberries strawberries, raspberries and currants) were full with fruits and I have been busy each morning with harvesting and evenings with prepping the fruits for preserving. I harvested the first peas & blueberries and the means need harvesting too. My blackberry bush is full with fruit that needs to ripen and I had lot’s of kohlrabi & rhubarb. I have a 5 liter bucket full of rhubarb liquor going right now, which will make some nice birthday & Christmas presents once it’s ready.

The little helpers  are not helping much, they need an extra eye to keep them from getting in trouble, so the only time I get work done is if they are asleep. Jacob is practicing walking and is doing really good. When in the house he can walk several meters without help. Every day he is getting more confident (oh and he is so happy to walk, his face just lights up).

We have been at the doctors on Tuesday for vaccinations and Jacob started to scream bloody murder the moment we walked in the door. Then he continued to sob is little heart out, was breaking my heart. All is well not though but that boy has a good memory to even recognize the door. Otherwise we are not doing much, Niki is teething pretty badly and is very cranky due to that. I am just glad they are sleeping ok  (I can deal with 6am wake ups). I can’t see anything but swollen gums but I hope the teeth will push through soon.

 

One

My baby boys turned one today. So now I am a mom of toddlers. I can't believe how fast this year has gone by. It feels as though I just gave birth yesterday and here they are reaching milestone after milestone. 

A part of me is sad to 'loose' my babies to toddler-hood but I am also excited about that. They are so ready to explore the world and I love watching them discovering new things and skills everyday. While they are twins they are two very different personalities and I love that they are so different from each other.


Niklas, my sweet and loving first born. He is the quiet one, content to watch and observe or play on his own. This quietness is interrupted by burst of energy. He loves Liiiiliiiiii (Lily) and all animals in general. He stands, crawls etc but I am still waiting for his first steps. He can talk quite a bit: Mama, Liiiiliiii (Lily), Jisiiiiie (Jessie) and Jaob (Jacob). He is ok with food but loves mama's milk bar. 

Happy Birthday Niklas, mommy loves you so much.

Jacob, my energetic and cute second son. Jacob is a ball of energy always on the go and getting frustrated if things don't go the way he wants them to go. I think he just waits for they day when he can finally run around on his own legs. He crawls and stands but can't yet walk which frustrated him lot's. He only says Mama so far but that is ok. He loves all kind of food and would eat all day if I let him, currently he loves 'Bratwurst' the best, which is great for BBQ season. 

Happy Birthday Jacob, mommy loves you so much.

I spend the evening before their birthday preparing: baking blueberry-apple cupcakes, making a strawberry/raspberry cake, hanging up the birthday banner and setting up the presents on the table. 

We celebrated quietly this first birthday, presents in the morning and lot's of playtime with the new presents. Some cake in the afternoon with family and all in all just enjoying this first birthday. 

birthday boys

present from uncle Jens

breakfast time

afternoon birthday cake

Lily - the other birthday girl 7 years old today