Imagine Childhood : Magic & Memories That Last a Lifetime

... back to school, refer-a-friend giveaway!

From backpacks and stainless steel lunch tins...

... to learning about the world of science...

... and studying the one just outside your door, going back to school is an adventure.

This year, you AND a friend could take home some tools of the trade on us! We've got all of the backpacks, notebooks, microscopes, pencils, crayons and paints you'll need to start the fall off right.

To enter to win a $75 gift certificate to Imagine Childhood :

1. leave a comment on this post

Then for more chances AND to win a $75 GC for your friend too:

2. Like us on Facebook (if you are on Facebook, if not, skip to step 3)

3. Tell all of your friends to do steps 1-2 and then leave another comment here with your name in it.  Share the love and do it for them too (this means you could have innumerable chances to win)!

*Want even more chances?  Share this giveaway on your blog or twitter and then come back here and leave another comment!

The giveaway will close Friday 8/26/11 at 11:59am and the winner will be chosen by random number.  If the winning comment has a name in it... BOTH!!! individuals (yes, that means you AND your friend) will each win a $75 gift certificate. 

And the winner (chosen by random number) is Molly who said:

"I never know what to say...what a generous giveaway"

Thanks everyone for participating!!

~ Sarah

 

... garden recipes

With summer gardens in full bloom it seemed like the perfect time for a garden recipe round-up!

From sweet succotash with crispy sage...

... to beautiful corn cakes and luscious greens...

... vibrant ratatouille...

... and fresh ginger-carrot soup with fried dill and pamesan crisps.

Enjoy the flavors of the season!

~ Sarah

*Last time in Recipes: Good Energy

... barn stories: marigolds

Farming these mountain foothills on this high desert plot of land has been a journey. We have used the native plants to form our garden beds as the wild hare eat anything new we try to introduced to it, so until recently we have been rather cautious with new plantings.

But this year we reconsidered and built raised and enclosed garden beds for a vegetable garden. Of course a wild hare or two managed to find their way into the beds, that is until the native marigold formed a ring around the garden to protect it. To my wonder, without any help from me, each garden is fully encircled by them.

Not to be ignored, the chicken wire did help to protect, but the marigolds with their pungent smell did the rest.

This unexpected appearance of native plants has occurred several time since we have lived here. One year I found a native Tomatillo plant. These plants look like a miniature version and produce delightful fairy lanterns. Even more exciting was the following year when I found them in mass in my native garden all on their own.

Another delightful plant is the native sunflowers which were planted in the garden by the finches, they have since planted them in the garden at the front gate.

It's a  wonder when the native plants appear in the garden, but I think they do go hand in hand with the foreign ones, whether it's the native garden, or the new garden boxes here on the farm...

 

To wonder where you find it.....

 

~ Deb

 

*Last time in barn stories: Tiny Toad

... knowing green: watching the clouds go by

 As summer approaches its end, and the start of school looms on the horizon it's simple luxuries like taking a moment...

 ... finding a nice patch of grass with a clear view of the sky...

 ... and watching the clouds go by that can make all the difference in this crazy world of ours.

The simple joys of life... earth, clouds, and sky.

 

~Jordan

*Last time in Nature: Camouflage

... camouflage

Summer is beautiful thing. All of nature is in full bloom, or showing off rather. You can't help but become fully engrossed, swept up and enamored with the sights, sounds and feel of it. So much  so that we might miss some of the more amazing details "hiding" in the plain sight.

 Like this little guy. Unassuming, nondescript and the size of a pin; yet incredibly complicated and detailed all at the same time. 

 Camouflage is a tricky and wonderful aspect of nature and her evolutionary journey. Through years and years of environmental adaptations this little moth has become one with the Aspen tree. Blending seamlessly into the dusty cream and black of the beautiful bark.

 Yet looking at this tiny wonder close up, it looks like a unique and varied individual.

Similar and yet different, the contrasts of camouflage are a wonder indeed...

 

~Jordan

*Last time in Nature: Light and Color