Ice Cream!

Today we had a combined summer birthday party at my parents' house. It was awesome!

I love presents...I know that sounds shallow but it is true...and I got some great ones!

My brother and sister each got me a pint of Snookelfritz Ice Cream! They even managed to keep it frozen all the way back from the Green City Market yesterday. You may wonder what this has to do with farming but you see that label (beat up from its long trip home!) Nancy bought the rhubarb from us! She is one of my favorite Chicago Chefs! What could be more fun than ice cream?

~ice cream lover

One week into 365 Days of Farmlife

Today I let Mathew choose which picture made the blog. I didn't have too many because it is hard to focus on selling and get great images at the same time but it can be done. This was the first week of the season that we had peaches on our market. Whilst other fruit comes and goes those along with blueberries and raspberries will hopefully be a July and August staple at our booth.

~Christina...who itches just looking at peaches

Who know what it is?

Can I get a comment anyone?

~mystery photographer

Yesterday's Picture

We got home early this morning, therefore I did not upload the picture. But to make up for it I am posting two today!

This is a shot of a pile of ladders on the trailer, hooked up to a tractor and ready to head to the orchard.

~Christina

Fixing up a tractor

Mathew and I began working on one of his tractor projects today.

I got greasy but at least I like the smell of Fast Orange.

This is a picture of the tractor's "good" side. I will of course leave what the front looks like to your imaginations for now.

~tractor girl?

My favorite for the day

It occurs to me that with today's shot I risk loosing my entire readership.

You see, my life is really not all that fabulous and some days awe inspiring fruit/farm pictures are hard to come by. So I took a picture of what is important to me at this moment.

The window air conditioner.

Seriously.

It is hot today and when you live in an upstairs apartment the air conditioner is essential to life. My poor friend has had a rough time keeping up today and I while ago it started spitting water at me. I am not kidding...seems it had started raining outside...who knew.

Kind of wish I was at mom and dad's...they have central air...

~trying to stay calm, COOL, and collected

Christina

A surprise with pie!

It was kind of interesting...for my first birthday as part of the family many of my in laws forgot or pretended to forget my birthday. It was strange and I was feeling quite bad about it. They were just SO wrapped up in farm work!

But then tonight I had a surprise party(planned by my very sweet husband). I am not good at surprises but after a dear cousin finally straightened out some of my confusion I felt better and enjoyed the fun time with some of Mathew's extended family.

Mom made pie. The pictures tell all.

~a happy and sleepy Christina

Happy 4th of July

Fireworks (sorta) farm style...not much crowd out the backdoor.

~Christina...who kinda misses her small town fireworks

Happy Birthday to Me...and to all of you!

Today is my birthday.

I love my birthday...and I actually do rather enjoy working a market on my birthday which is what happened today.

This year I have decided to give myself a gift. That gift is a goal that all of you (?) will also be able to enjoy. The goal is to take and post a picture of farmlife everyday for a whole year. So the idea is that I am starting on my birthday and will then wrap it up on my next birthday.

This endeavor was inspired and encouraged by Kate Gross (more on all that later) when we were discussing the challenge of my working on the farm and remembering to take photos to document the work and the lifestyle.

I may not make it everyday. I may slip up and not remember my image. I may not have internet some days but I am still going to try. I think that as a person this will help me focus. As an artist it will increase my creativity and as a farmer's wife it will increase my knowledge!

I sincerely hope that many of our customers and friends will enjoy this journey with me and that you will comment!

Thanks.

Today's image:

My new friend Maddie who helped at our market today. She is displaying the effects of sorting black raspberries.

~Christina...who seriously needs to change her watermark...new year and new name