Helen’s Greenhouse

Ellen and I met our aunt Laurel today for lunch. We went to a great Mexican Restaurant in Midway called Tarahumara. If you are ever on the other side of the Wasatch I highly recommend this place excellent south of the border fair.

After lunch I made an appointment with Chuck and Helen Warren. Two Heber locals who worked very hard as engineers in the career world to retire and enjoy their love of botany. Gary and I had met them over the summer at the Heber and Salt Lake Farmers Markets. They have three beautiful greenhouses. Helen led Laurel, me, and Ellie through each greenhouse pointing out all the fine details. Each one has a different climate according to the plants needs.

The first house was set up to keep most of her succulents and a few fruit trees with warmer temperatures during the day and cooler at night, as well as the most sunlight and humidity. We were thoroughly impressed with her Pineapple plants which have actual Pineapples fruiting from them. She also had some Lemon and Orange trees as well, amongst the greatest collection of Succulents my eyes have seen.

The second house was set up for houseplants it was cooler with a more consistent 24hr temperature and more shade. This house had an impressive Banana Leaf Tree and a misbehaving plant from the mint variety that wouldn’t grow so well in the pot but prospered once it dropped on the ground.

The third house was what Helen called the “Heritage House”. Named for a few heirloom plants she had from her mother. It had a whole wall full of Orchids one of my personal favorite plants as well as some Lilies, Amarilis, and an Aloe plant that was in bloom no less. I have never seen an Aloe in bloom. Needless to say we walked out of there extremely impressed and with a natural high from all the pure oxygen we had taken in.

Ahh Home

We took a quick trip up to Cache Valley this weekend to get a visit in with my parent before we all go on our merrily way for the holidays. My parents are being adventurous this year and going across the pond and then some to Germany to visit my sister and her family. Its a pretty big deal especially for my dad who doesn’t really do vacations. I think he is going to be pleasantly surprised though.

Its alway very therapeutic for me to go to my parents house. Although they have moved out of the neighborhood we grew up in there are so many reminders through out the house of my childhood and my roots. From the toys that were held onto for the grandkids, to Grandma McKenney’s old bed and quilt, and just the little smells and intricacies of being home. Mom and Dad are always the ultimate hosts making up a comfortable room to stay in, treating us to a dinner out, and fixing a big breakfast. I love watching them interact with Ellie you can see and feel the joy in their hearts when ever they are around their grandchildren. So, thank you Mom and Dad for taking care of us this weekend it was just what we needed.

3 is the Magic Number

“A man and a women had a little baby, and there were three in the family, that’s the magic number…”

(favorite song from School House Rocks)

So here we are, Ellen is three months old today! A few of our friends have said that after three months things get much easier. I must say though that we haven’t had it bad, we have been very lucky Ellie has been a dream baby. She is calm and mellow for the most part. In fact last night she was happy just to hang out and snuggle in my lap as I indulged in my favorite ridiculous TV show. Don’t get me wrong we have had our sleepless nights, ringing ears, and freak outs, but I must say Gary and I are amazed by her everyday. Yesterday she discovered the ball on the mirror toy in her crib and was smiling and laughing as she was working so hard to move it. I made her the little hat in the photo above, it’s a party hat to commemorate our three months together. I’m going to make some chocolate chip cookies later as well.

Little facts about three:

• number of times I had to unpick the hat before I got it right
• number of cookies I’m going to eat later
• number of times I have to ask Gary a question before it gets locked into my head (hopefully this is a temporary “new mom” side affect)
• number of times I have to reinsert the binky before Ellie falls asleep
• number of emergency trips to the g-store for diapers
• number of laundry loads I need to do today

For all the Mama’s Out There (and Papa’s too)

This is a somewhat lazy post because I’m actually referring you all to someone else’s blog post from yesterday. I found this wonderful blog one day when I was surfing around in what I like to call the Etsy vortex. I tend to loose myself and and get bedazzled by all the crafty items and inspirations on this site. Anyhow one fine day I came across this very talented mama: Amanda Soule (SouleMama). I’ve been a little too bashful to post any comments to her site but man I really admire her skills. So please check out her blog and read her post titled “Acorns are Fun“:

Sometimes, we do chose to spend a little bit extra to have the toys/tools we like best – those that come from natural materials, those that leave room for imagination, and those that are made in a way that fits our values – but that also means we buy less, evening the cost in the end. Buying less also means we have less – which I believe is always more when it comes to toys and imagination and the growth of our little ones.

She sums up the philosophy on toys that Gary and I would like to take with raising Ellie. Pretty much she nails it, exactly what Gary has been trying to express to everyone about toys for babes. I’m off to buy some acorns now…

Baby Beluga

A few years ago after I graduated from USU I had the opportunity to do some field work with my friend Liz for the USGS. We were collecting data from forest fires in Manitoba, Canada. Anyhow, one weekend we decided to treat ourselves to a weekend trip up to Churchill “The Polar Bear Capitol of the World”, so we bought train tickets and off we went. The train was great for the first few hours (it was slow due to frost heaves from the tundra). There was a little boy that was seated near us and he sang the children’s song “Baby Beluga” for what seemed like the entire trip. Needless to say my brain absorbed that song and it comes around and haunts me every now and then. The problem is I don’t entirely know the words and all I have in my head is what the kid kept singing over and over again, Baby Beluga, Baby Beluga, Baby Beluga you get the picture. So one day when I was holding Ellie those wonderful words got stuck in my head again. So I’m challenging my self to learn this cute little tune. Here are the lyrics so you can get it stuck in you head as well.

Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you swim so free.
Heaven above, and the sea below,
And a little white whale on the go.

Baby beluga, baby Beluga, is the water warm?
Is your mama home with you, so happy.

Way down yonder where the dolphins play,
Where they dive and splash all day,
The waves roll in and the waves roll out,
See the water squirting out of your spout.

Baby beluga, baby Beluga, sing your little song,
Sing for all your friends, we like to hear you.

When it’s dark, you’re home and fed,
Curl up snug in your water bed.
Moon is shining and the stars are out,
Good night, little whale, goodnight.

Baby beluga, baby Beluga, with tomorrow’s sun,
Another day’s begun, you’ll soon be waking.

Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you swim so free.
Heaven above and the sea below,
And a little white whale on the go.
You’re just a little white whale on the go.