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Cooper had his first day of Preschool for the year today.

He returned to First Community Church and will attend five days per week this year, plus stay for their Lunch and Play program two days per week. A new adventure for our growing boy. I'm hoping for another year of incredible growth, that he continues to learn to balance his big emotions, and that he makes some close friends.

I stepped away from this space for the last few months. Turns out I needed summer vacation too. I'm still not exactly sure where I want to go with this space, but sometimes it is best to figure things out as you go. At least that is my loose plan for now.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful summer and is ready for all the excitement that fall brings.

Welcome to Our Summer CSA!!!

The Dahl family has joined the CSA revolution as new members of the 2 Silos meat and produce CSA. We picked up our first meat share a few weeks ago (2 cornish hens, 1 chicken, 4 mutton chops, 1lb ground mutton, and 1 rabbit). Last week we picked up our first produce and egg share, which included 4 quarts of strawberries and some lovely lettuce. And this week? Look at this beautiful bounty!!

Snow peas, strawberries, eggs, zucchini and golden zucchini, and green tomatoes. Yum!

The challenge? Keeping up with the bounty in the midst of moving craziness. We are moving on Saturday. Good thing the local, fresh produce lasts and my parents are coming in town to help eat it all.

I'm looking forward to sharing our CSA adventures in eating healthy, local, fresh, delicious food all summer long.

More On My Birthday

I got a wonderful stack of books for my birthday, gifted by my much loved mother and husband. They know me well, and know to check my Amazon wishlist around birthday time.

What I like most about this stack of books is how well it sums up where I am right now, who I am, and who I am becoming every day, as a woman, a wife and a mother.

Here's the list, in case any titles aren't clear in the picture:

Hand Wash Cold: Care Instructions for an Ordinary Life by Karen Maezen Miller

Circle of Stones: A Woman's Journey to Herself by Judith Duerk

Buddhism for Mothers: A Calm Approach to Caring for Yourself and Your Children by Sarah Napthali

Sew Liberated: 20 Stylish Projects for the Modern Sewist by Meg McElwee

Pints and Purls: Portable Projects for the Social Knitter by Karida Collins (my knitting class teacher!) and Libby Bruce (owner of my local knitting store)

A Swedish Kitchen: Recipes and Reminiscences by Judith Pierce Rosenberg

Buddha at Bedtime: Tales of Love and Wisdom for You to Read with Your Child to Enchant, Enlighten and Inspire by Dharmachari Nagaraja

In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects by Amy Butler

Peaceful Piggy Meditation by Kerry Lee Mclean

Moody Cow Meditates by Kerry Lee Mclean

I would love to know if you have any of these books, and what you think about them. I may even provide some reviews in the future.

On Turning 36

I'm a strong believer in how you start something is how you get to live it every day. With that in mind I chose to begin my 36th year achieving a new goal -- running a 10K.

The morning starting with a kids race with one very enthusiastic 4 year old participant.

The kids started with some serious stretching and a quick explanation of the course.

And they're off!!!!

Here they come, nearing the finish line.

Don't you love how he is looking straight at the camera?

After Cooper received his "first place medal" it was time for me to race. Things started a bit roughly as my iPod had some technical difficulties. I ended up having to fiddle with it for the first couple minutes, cursing technology and myself for not preparing everything perfectly.

Here I am fiddling and cursing.

I eventually got the iPod working and found my rhythm. I nearly made my goal time of finishing in under 1 hour, crossing the finish line at 1:00.33, wearing a big smile on my face, proud of my achievement and so grateful to see Erik, Cooper and Ellery waiting for me and cheering me on.

Here's to a strong, active, love filled, goal achieving, creative, hard working 36th year of being ME!