Howdy

Who knew that the wild west included neo classical architecture? Or perhaps Woody was holidaying in Greece. I should have asked.

I love Jack's imagination, you should have seen the tiny lego proton pack he made for a mini figure this morning.

Baked Doughnuts

I have resisted the urge to buy a deep fryer for a very long time, because well, I'd just want to fry everything. So when I came across this recipe for baked doughnuts on Pinterest, my curiosity was piqued. Then when I realized it was a recipe from Helene at Tartelette, it bumped everything off my to-do list this morning.

Helene does the most beautiful food photography and styling, I can't wait to get my hands on her new book "Plate to Pixel".
These raised yeast doughnuts are like a cross between cinnamon bread and doughnut. A bit more substantial with a hint of nutmeg under the cinnamon and, oh so good when warm.

The littles loved the doughnut holes and proclaimed them to be "even better than Timbits".
Give them a whirl, you won't regret it, especially since they're baked. That makes them practically healthy, right?

Fishing

I was reminded this morning, while rummaging through the freezer, of the kids fishing day at the fish hatchery.

The kids could catch two a piece, but that afternoon was warm and those trout were perfectly content to snooze in the depths of the pool.

In the end we finally caught one. Anna has named her Violet.

Violet now resides in the freezer, and startles me now and then when I'm searching for jam.

Bubbles

Simple summer fun.

Anna blew the bubbles.

Jack attacked the bubbles.

And I attempted to take pictures of them.

An afternoon well spent.

Beach Cookout

We had the best Saturday night.

Packed the baskets full of campfire essentials and headed off to enjoy some family time in the warm evening sun.

Leaping off rocks, balancing on logs, beach collections, dashing into the sea, screaming to let the cold out.

And then the campfire, smoky, crackling, sizzling hot dogs. Warming us as the chill starts to linger.

And s'mores, lots and lots of s'mores.

Teaching the littles the art of roasting a marshmallow to golden brown. No patience for it yet. A quick charring and they're done.

Happily stuffing their mouths and on to the next one.

But a s'more done right? Warm, melted chocolate, oozing sticky marshmallow. What's not to love?

As the sun was setting we bundled up the littles and headed for home and a peaceful sleep, no doubt full of mermaids and pirates.

Fairies

I have an affinity for fairies. 

Not the Disney-fied fairies, rife with teenage attitude but the magical, slightly mischievous beings that inhabit the woods around our house.

As a child, my dad would point out a darker green circle in an expanse of grass and claim it to be a fairy ring. The evidence left behind of tiny, enchanted beings who had gathered there. If a toadstool was found in the vicinity, even better.

So it's no wonder that fairies are constant, welcomed visitors to our home.

Last year Seraphina, the sippy cup fairy arrived late one night to spirit away our sippy cups and donate them to children less fortunate. When Jack and Anna woke the next morning they found a note and small gift in place of the cups.

The pillow fairy makes once in a blue moon visits. Those rare days when whining has been at a minimum, co-operation at a high and it's almost as if some pixie dust goodness has been sprinkled on the littles. The pillow fairy leaves a special something under their pillows that night to say thank you.

Anna is still impatiently awaiting the arrival of the tooth fairy. Six years old and not even a hint of a wiggle. I'm not sure how much longer she can listen to her classmates jubilantly bound into the school or playground with the story of their latest lost tooth. Good things come to those who wait, I tell her.

So is it really any surprise that fairy dress up is a favourite activity in our house. Anna received her first pair of wings at nineteen months. A special gift from friends when Jack was born. 

Last Halloween she was a sugar plum fairy. 

And yesterday? Well the kids were supposed to dress up as something food related for this weeks library reading club and in typical imaginative fashion Anna proclaimed herself to be the lemonade fairy. A pink lemon printed dress, wings and tiara. I love this girl. 

With her lithe little frame and glint in her eye I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if she was part fairy herself.