A Day in the Strawberry Patch with Emma

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeaHZvfeQSD93hEFsDtKRChyphenhyphenvdCOdFqgjz4DgpWXkYmrc7-JK2SoWOSkSyAC3yY21Az-6xbT1ijc-v1AdJmN14-DcPEA6ZlxVLwTSa-9ihaqQxbTQJCzO5FvFQFSRB9Qpgze_jZGTFqI/s1600/strawberry-patch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeaHZvfeQSD93hEFsDtKRChyphenhyphenvdCOdFqgjz4DgpWXkYmrc7-JK2SoWOSkSyAC3yY21Az-6xbT1ijc-v1AdJmN14-DcPEA6ZlxVLwTSa-9ihaqQxbTQJCzO5FvFQFSRB9Qpgze_jZGTFqI/s640/strawberry-patch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Summer's really not complete without a trip to the strawberry patch.  For the last two years, I competed in the Verrill Farm Strawberry Recipe Contest (which I never won...), but now that we're back home I wasn't sure where we'd go for picking.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLSeezrzRvovDF8m-3t9jWcMVGsUowwxKL2Z5rB_NVYud4foKrkzOxKYotAUXZEK7NWLTP6oytMkfd6s6Kn8Q7Blto92diflVMPXR_6Y1bB6hr9c0y1VP4cUr73Nu71lBAbVCS6fVpgM/s1600/IMG_1186.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLSeezrzRvovDF8m-3t9jWcMVGsUowwxKL2Z5rB_NVYud4foKrkzOxKYotAUXZEK7NWLTP6oytMkfd6s6Kn8Q7Blto92diflVMPXR_6Y1bB6hr9c0y1VP4cUr73Nu71lBAbVCS6fVpgM/s640/IMG_1186.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br />Emma is just ripe for the picking age! Children are welcome at strawberry patches - they are just the right height.   It was so fun to see her get to explore and run and pick and eat without having to constantly tell her "no." <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvF3DOEKRhJ7tk9PQxms9Rs5WMnd8Z1eOJR8X9GT6YuwxirAX66By-CsBtV68C5uhnmYPAtaWuWifG7n7UV5b7cch7-Yb_TcPJjICNwqV12kYjlRuj3AedoHGXd55_3xwPBi_oza4djVM/s1600/SCAN0019_6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="CSS_LIGHTBOX_SCALED_IMAGE_IMG" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvF3DOEKRhJ7tk9PQxms9Rs5WMnd8Z1eOJR8X9GT6YuwxirAX66By-CsBtV68C5uhnmYPAtaWuWifG7n7UV5b7cch7-Yb_TcPJjICNwqV12kYjlRuj3AedoHGXd55_3xwPBi_oza4djVM/s400/SCAN0019_6.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />When I was young I was crazy for strawberries.  I've shared this photo before, but it really is worth sharing again.  Here I am on my 2nd Birthday - complete with a "Strawberry Shortcake" cake and a punkin' pie haircut... looking so much like my Emma.<br /><br />Enjoy our photos from our day in the Strawberry Patch!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvM0fVazOexjsdrqi4bYyMq-8uY1kJkFKFFyHDCucqCwcwcbHi4-PsKLfB1vLCm2JRo8SHZo8z6PMvyYdVu4x1Ths84h0xXmL4fzMCyrkZr3H3i0HaWFUBlF8U8JYGebVT1kMX2Wyz4o/s1600/IMG_1151.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvM0fVazOexjsdrqi4bYyMq-8uY1kJkFKFFyHDCucqCwcwcbHi4-PsKLfB1vLCm2JRo8SHZo8z6PMvyYdVu4x1Ths84h0xXmL4fzMCyrkZr3H3i0HaWFUBlF8U8JYGebVT1kMX2Wyz4o/s640/IMG_1151.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At least once a week I try to find an activity that is all about Emma.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinw1sXFtKLQZAB4clHCMqlY6EenDmVSxmxuyaLsJLriIeZdWVLp6I2EsmAMFHl_NviN2SuJnsGwDc1zTGs-K5b6eLHD0evaRWwXZh2Ef6eQJR9rCRzN8di98PctN_fKlqf2CtHDtipBvY/s1600/IMG_1168.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinw1sXFtKLQZAB4clHCMqlY6EenDmVSxmxuyaLsJLriIeZdWVLp6I2EsmAMFHl_NviN2SuJnsGwDc1zTGs-K5b6eLHD0evaRWwXZh2Ef6eQJR9rCRzN8di98PctN_fKlqf2CtHDtipBvY/s640/IMG_1168.jpg" width="426" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes I feel like our typical days are filled with things she can't do - open certain cabinets, climb on the furniture, run down the driveway...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBHfmbuPwOaTOVhWJC4a2MhAQGJPiDlEndGm2v3IohIAquxx_2rebcs3HxOlwlTDeDkvk7QUrbs0wGndauU51NKJC7ZipFFl2Yhm1X91V6Ngy-8w_v3WY7JQfPzleEu6Oddq1dsY510E/s1600/IMG_1140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBHfmbuPwOaTOVhWJC4a2MhAQGJPiDlEndGm2v3IohIAquxx_2rebcs3HxOlwlTDeDkvk7QUrbs0wGndauU51NKJC7ZipFFl2Yhm1X91V6Ngy-8w_v3WY7JQfPzleEu6Oddq1dsY510E/s640/IMG_1140.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />...play with anything <i>but</i> her toys, spray the windex, or run around Target like a madwoman.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbpkXQoTzP9VxIJ9YmOknKU8jpimGXS25DkxY0rrVYX_hAfkMQQDf4P7GhIT3SB_DiQbq8b3w91frHfDjxNeJ0iOmEzi-Zcd84DihipWnUbbYUZYldADWnEeHP6fgthC4EThdDi7E7vI/s1600/IMG_1165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbpkXQoTzP9VxIJ9YmOknKU8jpimGXS25DkxY0rrVYX_hAfkMQQDf4P7GhIT3SB_DiQbq8b3w91frHfDjxNeJ0iOmEzi-Zcd84DihipWnUbbYUZYldADWnEeHP6fgthC4EThdDi7E7vI/s640/IMG_1165.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Both of us have so much fun when we do things and go places where she can have free rein and do whatever she wants to do without me holding her back.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzHo7b3F8549k2US3H65JOobMJZTSABmG0ufkjtb_Hm3ohG_3kz3pLE1z_VwEcI6maHk0dXwWrl56q01kghyphenhyphenlvQymjkOcMFziqMUqAr_bnppP4cNcBeRNcFNh0rVbBZUbnV1N2P5EKqM/s1600/IMG_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzHo7b3F8549k2US3H65JOobMJZTSABmG0ufkjtb_Hm3ohG_3kz3pLE1z_VwEcI6maHk0dXwWrl56q01kghyphenhyphenlvQymjkOcMFziqMUqAr_bnppP4cNcBeRNcFNh0rVbBZUbnV1N2P5EKqM/s640/IMG_1167.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On our special Emma days, I try not to have the camera in her face, too much...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vSSShlVso8Chk3gebylRhp6G8LgM7W-TmA8I48Bs5UMv2zUZNq-t_05B4ePNl6wC_PAJm7JM19HhjJPca-lSF16ox6juBIgsl1FCDbz7B4ocrPBD1H2aRU8fhjRimQDbpBpvvhOLGvk/s1600/IMG_1174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vSSShlVso8Chk3gebylRhp6G8LgM7W-TmA8I48Bs5UMv2zUZNq-t_05B4ePNl6wC_PAJm7JM19HhjJPca-lSF16ox6juBIgsl1FCDbz7B4ocrPBD1H2aRU8fhjRimQDbpBpvvhOLGvk/s640/IMG_1174.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...or make her pose, or try to get the perfect shot of her smiling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUFGKqjMGAFuMrFob5lsj-5t5D4b0Qxodl2_wqXLV1g9VD0I-l0R1RectCcIi6oyJn-wvybEzGJAWPGqahY3X7z81ULkIB0UhnFgGHxNjEmkvTu8207jQ0nOEwk4Mpy4VwnXC7BrP6nc/s1600/IMG_1191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUFGKqjMGAFuMrFob5lsj-5t5D4b0Qxodl2_wqXLV1g9VD0I-l0R1RectCcIi6oyJn-wvybEzGJAWPGqahY3X7z81ULkIB0UhnFgGHxNjEmkvTu8207jQ0nOEwk4Mpy4VwnXC7BrP6nc/s640/IMG_1191.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">  I just let her be and do whatever she wants to.  </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xVrLUQiIKRWDiF9hsQW-2qxkcTgnEkhVnxNHj3kfA6pK-0fGJZplxK27_2hsPFOvq5pWtKtc_flMe_Eme_HLzxgiWUWuNcn90s_swEpXtmQ_tXwT-HlJkb6t-JtzqTPkReuwttwI6xo/s1600/IMG_1201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xVrLUQiIKRWDiF9hsQW-2qxkcTgnEkhVnxNHj3kfA6pK-0fGJZplxK27_2hsPFOvq5pWtKtc_flMe_Eme_HLzxgiWUWuNcn90s_swEpXtmQ_tXwT-HlJkb6t-JtzqTPkReuwttwI6xo/s640/IMG_1201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Even if that means running through fields...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WKdIF8p1_UyzpUuAhLqoPWVAEYnc6M4xTl6M7tXzphXR_ah3LJUprLoqyf3vVssJGfOQyCcagXV4s9NYPnoRqkZF5DH89sllPZhtT3eGCK1SZ_zam1IXT-0PMH1ZgYUz5twPEGshM-w/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WKdIF8p1_UyzpUuAhLqoPWVAEYnc6M4xTl6M7tXzphXR_ah3LJUprLoqyf3vVssJGfOQyCcagXV4s9NYPnoRqkZF5DH89sllPZhtT3eGCK1SZ_zam1IXT-0PMH1ZgYUz5twPEGshM-w/s640/IMG_1202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosIb7UQiS0N2Ftn9RYovCaR4aOUSHJipGtiZS8B5JKvSuu0QAHqE8VbMIKSq6rDNGiIDKfH0xmiRBT3XbOYiofZDKMenGZUWJkDuwpXrtn5sLeyseIA7pVF7V7qgyM75YrnFTV1AmkTg/s1600/IMG_1203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosIb7UQiS0N2Ftn9RYovCaR4aOUSHJipGtiZS8B5JKvSuu0QAHqE8VbMIKSq6rDNGiIDKfH0xmiRBT3XbOYiofZDKMenGZUWJkDuwpXrtn5sLeyseIA7pVF7V7qgyM75YrnFTV1AmkTg/s640/IMG_1203.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCO_rP0L10RSmXXKMMx9bPvrk8hz0HeheOwCf7bDBu8pD9ugF2R9ibOZ34GIBaCEfIN_ifxt5cckgcix55hEsqqaQ1Lb0cCUkwj8v4gKO7wz8DvRdj18Xr6JBaB2r-OBB6G84rq7hzHo/s1600/IMG_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCO_rP0L10RSmXXKMMx9bPvrk8hz0HeheOwCf7bDBu8pD9ugF2R9ibOZ34GIBaCEfIN_ifxt5cckgcix55hEsqqaQ1Lb0cCUkwj8v4gKO7wz8DvRdj18Xr6JBaB2r-OBB6G84rq7hzHo/s640/IMG_1204.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdmxJh3AlSEH1rjn0uq3gxnwsG8wNPjZi7lqpVvmV6KlRFA0xK32HtISkijYHY_ZMjvlb19_uqJrBTPK_bZ7TfMeZOHcksHYr9MTeBoxKy04BjbzPj2HBHBrb4R4WfTAsZK2HJ9oemnA/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdmxJh3AlSEH1rjn0uq3gxnwsG8wNPjZi7lqpVvmV6KlRFA0xK32HtISkijYHY_ZMjvlb19_uqJrBTPK_bZ7TfMeZOHcksHYr9MTeBoxKy04BjbzPj2HBHBrb4R4WfTAsZK2HJ9oemnA/s640/IMG_1205.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcv4z-YwuA_522IE1WTEz51sJoL0Q-DF9Q2TmJdUrcuzEf-1I03Y835ouDd6hFqlmUiC7ozuHjHDRxNuYeA_Vx-D7loBcwV2dtT191f1kp3Sv1QFfUZzBK-lgYdICUnp3bd9JwST534U/s1600/IMG_1206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcv4z-YwuA_522IE1WTEz51sJoL0Q-DF9Q2TmJdUrcuzEf-1I03Y835ouDd6hFqlmUiC7ozuHjHDRxNuYeA_Vx-D7loBcwV2dtT191f1kp3Sv1QFfUZzBK-lgYdICUnp3bd9JwST534U/s640/IMG_1206.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She has a great time and I'm usually rewarded with a big smile... and very long nap-time in the afternoon!</div><br />

A Day in the Strawberry Patch with Emma

Summer's really not complete without a trip to the strawberry patch.  For the last two years, I competed in the Verrill Farm Strawberry...

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Summer Vegetable, Sweet Corn & Chicken Chowder

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdXKen12rMiO7q6FVCdw4vjaYTKH0c6FVxI5EUPZdTsKtYW_dXBmOrPGwOFxkvwbFDVbQF7aqFSsJwpaVMd8pRfLTe9v8UEpG1rJTgHKhzwvlCQdTq8zRCi8ZzyaF3VTD1Y8k7JntfwY/s1600/IMG_1134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdXKen12rMiO7q6FVCdw4vjaYTKH0c6FVxI5EUPZdTsKtYW_dXBmOrPGwOFxkvwbFDVbQF7aqFSsJwpaVMd8pRfLTe9v8UEpG1rJTgHKhzwvlCQdTq8zRCi8ZzyaF3VTD1Y8k7JntfwY/s640/IMG_1134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGzyDE4X5FPlytIYaZbohIbUui4DvjcisoGDHHCgqZYU4WnJqu1azOcbOrdMMcZxKa4XZafajD0OuBDGB0HN3l72vHI8HcdCf_OjTLmUVQZeuUUlGAhHMzcLh093oQ4AqdR4BGnssgxM/s1600/IMG_1137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGzyDE4X5FPlytIYaZbohIbUui4DvjcisoGDHHCgqZYU4WnJqu1azOcbOrdMMcZxKa4XZafajD0OuBDGB0HN3l72vHI8HcdCf_OjTLmUVQZeuUUlGAhHMzcLh093oQ4AqdR4BGnssgxM/s640/IMG_1137.jpg" width="425" /></a>Last week during Emma's summer break we were treated with storms here - almost everyday.  Typically a big bowl of soup doesn't sound fabulous during the first week of summer, but when the rain was coming down in buckets, this fresh sweet corn chowder packed with vegetables was a comforting dinner.  <br /><br />The soup was inspired by a lunch date Emma and I had at Classic Cup (as in... she fell asleep in the stroller while we were shopping, so I actually got to sit an enjoy lunch!).  They called theirs a Green Chile Chicken Chowder and served it with tortilla chips.  I combined that soup with one of my favorite Barefoot recipes for Lobster Corn Chowder, that uses corn cobs to sweeten and thicken the soup... and added lots of vegetables.  So really, it is nothing like either soup... but the result was very good, and rather healthy.<br /><br />I'm so glad to finally have peonies gracing my table!  I found these at the Brookside Farmer's Market on Saturday - not my favorite varieties or colors, but any peony will do!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZKM24dN7JOhyphenhyphen0msAWSYkK9Bhha_MuBjKdVOH3x7Wz_cPMhSac2J99-KcGyLnXBgVBJToZKsO7fNTCF6LP-oO8DOEslPdxzkqZ2p0WB9PHXDDIKlKyTjbef0oUen8-Kb5uWzmf3p0E08/s1600/corn-chowder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZKM24dN7JOhyphenhyphen0msAWSYkK9Bhha_MuBjKdVOH3x7Wz_cPMhSac2J99-KcGyLnXBgVBJToZKsO7fNTCF6LP-oO8DOEslPdxzkqZ2p0WB9PHXDDIKlKyTjbef0oUen8-Kb5uWzmf3p0E08/s640/corn-chowder.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Summer Vegetable</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Sweet Corn Chowder</span><br /><a data-pin-config="beside" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjennysteffens.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F06%2Fsummer-vegetable-sweet-corn-chowder.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8d3FFD7C4ZA%2FUa9SFjctheI%2FAAAAAAAASqk%2FxoGTRJlcndo%2Fs640%2Fcorn-chowder.jpg&description=Summer%20Vegetable%2C%20Sweet%20Corn%20%26%20Chicken%20Chowder%20-%20healthy%20and%20soooo%20good%21%20%20Great%20summer%20soup."><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a><br /><br />2 Chicken Breasts (skin-on/bone-in)<br />olive oil<br />salt & pepper<br />....<br />2 tablespoons of olive oil <br />3 carrots, peeled, small dice<br />2 celery ribs, peeled, small dice<br />1 small white onion, small dice <br />1 sm can chopped green onion<br />1 sm can of diced tomatoes <br />4 cups of chicken broth<br />4 cups of water<br />4 ears of sweet corn <br />Sea Salt<br />.....<br />1 small zucchini<br />1 small yellow squash <br />cilantro<br /><br />On a baking sheet, drizzle the chicken with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes at 350 until cooked through.  Remove from oven and let cool.  When cool, remove meat and shred into bite-size pieces.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9H9U811PycgtbGUOwhByGxxjHCOgTVAN3aqisQWDZhU7vjwW0_uiZ8Xy4Xnyy6T4Plb5JKnUYsZy0dg7MIWhxeGfMOHd8542CIjpw1awl_KOpgA_nsYovQSurzBAmH7kTPMqtQYXGJg/s1600/IMG_1119.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9H9U811PycgtbGUOwhByGxxjHCOgTVAN3aqisQWDZhU7vjwW0_uiZ8Xy4Xnyy6T4Plb5JKnUYsZy0dg7MIWhxeGfMOHd8542CIjpw1awl_KOpgA_nsYovQSurzBAmH7kTPMqtQYXGJg/s640/IMG_1119.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br />In a large stock pot, saute onions, carrots and celery in olive oil until soft.  Add green chiles, tomatoes, chicken broth and water.  Season with 1 tablespoon of sea salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper.  Bring to a simmer.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_nw-Injw2DRFTR4q2FgYcC5GmDRlwT7vRMIl3_JAv10rtIDNGZKwM-BIKUiy6aNzZ97U15U9EvgHbPzbQcn-Tc_xq1_vJRfsWpsuuIItsc0sXmBFF2wT9RCWx_7H6RR9EbuED_ssbQ4/s1600/IMG_1120.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_nw-Injw2DRFTR4q2FgYcC5GmDRlwT7vRMIl3_JAv10rtIDNGZKwM-BIKUiy6aNzZ97U15U9EvgHbPzbQcn-Tc_xq1_vJRfsWpsuuIItsc0sXmBFF2wT9RCWx_7H6RR9EbuED_ssbQ4/s640/IMG_1120.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Cut corn kernels off of cobs and add cobs and half of corn kernels.  Reserve the other half of the kernels to add just before serving.  Continue simmering the soup uncovered for 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.  (I later added a 4th cob per the recipe, after I took this photo!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkZcEWCEhC8cPCSA3HN9KVuK417Ns5kocBPADwZ8wDowmc7HfyEdPVlLBlqKWt0XoxGhV_-CUXKpt4DqeJJGy5OEF-5BHMERG_r2Bz5Lch4IuvZd7q8A3ZPOl5MofMFKGCi7XwC08zAY/s1600/IMG_1122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkZcEWCEhC8cPCSA3HN9KVuK417Ns5kocBPADwZ8wDowmc7HfyEdPVlLBlqKWt0XoxGhV_-CUXKpt4DqeJJGy5OEF-5BHMERG_r2Bz5Lch4IuvZd7q8A3ZPOl5MofMFKGCi7XwC08zAY/s640/IMG_1122.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Before serving, add shredded chicken, zucchini, squash and reserved corn.  Simmer until vegetables are tender.  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrFFAyLspNZ-t1nMazQkxfJBh7LUE5zVNwg7JYstZH1IDfo-P5bn6_Hf4R3gyPzJ61hc-cOiu0vtkeKuJC2teRXvfoUPciQt1FsJFPPaoeOTpKoNBgngI7DJf5LE07l4K9jIOe44vY9M/s1600/IMG_1133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrFFAyLspNZ-t1nMazQkxfJBh7LUE5zVNwg7JYstZH1IDfo-P5bn6_Hf4R3gyPzJ61hc-cOiu0vtkeKuJC2teRXvfoUPciQt1FsJFPPaoeOTpKoNBgngI7DJf5LE07l4K9jIOe44vY9M/s640/IMG_1133.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Taste for seasoning and add salt as needed.  Garnish with cilantro for serving. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-JycLbqDPZQbi7PnOX_EscIaMOQwGLQBDEFjKWibEImZaP_DDzn6xdHJTYK3YiM3ydsClpCwfSK-GUMIJKau52b0FeTLdM-OnI250-MqjtS9ZL_MEZSokccpGzDjLGv5d2ujx8o3ikE/s1600/IMG_1131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-JycLbqDPZQbi7PnOX_EscIaMOQwGLQBDEFjKWibEImZaP_DDzn6xdHJTYK3YiM3ydsClpCwfSK-GUMIJKau52b0FeTLdM-OnI250-MqjtS9ZL_MEZSokccpGzDjLGv5d2ujx8o3ikE/s640/IMG_1131.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a data-pin-config="beside" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjennysteffens.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F06%2Fsummer-vegetable-sweet-corn-chowder.html&media=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8d3FFD7C4ZA%2FUa9SFjctheI%2FAAAAAAAASqk%2FxoGTRJlcndo%2Fs640%2Fcorn-chowder.jpg&description=Summer%20Vegetable%2C%20Sweet%20Corn%20%26%20Chicken%20Chowder%20-%20healthy%20and%20soooo%20good%21%20%20Great%20summer%20soup."><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a><br /><script src="//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

Summer Vegetable, Sweet Corn & Chicken Chowder

Last week during Emma's summer break we were treated with storms here - almost everyday.  Typically a big bowl of soup doesn't sound...

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Day Trip to the Arboretum | A Hunt for Peonies

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7WQD_K5NCkjMCjcPdw2HeEVBtXAe1ZaiJ8qpz3_NOZTm3N5Ym7TeuPVS-MowuzbPSHGTaQLp6LPo_0DDO450Tm3QDD3RHkAKi8td2vFvuwD7_60L0LQaFz_1hR5IbnaqYM9WFOMqqYk/s1600/IMG_1048.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7WQD_K5NCkjMCjcPdw2HeEVBtXAe1ZaiJ8qpz3_NOZTm3N5Ym7TeuPVS-MowuzbPSHGTaQLp6LPo_0DDO450Tm3QDD3RHkAKi8td2vFvuwD7_60L0LQaFz_1hR5IbnaqYM9WFOMqqYk/s640/IMG_1048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Emma was on Summer break last week, so we filled the week with local explorations and little day trips.   Peony season is one of my most favorite times of the year - the blooms are just so unbelievably majestic and heavenly scented, I just can't get enough.  So our first trip was to the local (as in 45 minutes south...) <a href="http://www.opkansas.org/things-to-see-and-do/arboretum-and-botanical-gardens/">Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens</a> (Overland Park, KS) on a hunt for peonies - I wanted Emma to be able to experience them in a huge bounty.   <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq27JuBCqWF1gWr8GtJ5V7S0dPdgzoLtX8YigRRRC2vbzYwu_az40oznokieRlrdZLGZkYmlP8_lr9lje2cMhHgDbJnXDurfelwFyVfyttvzwP5IlMHdJOedkT8fAufejFuW2Z-LG-JvI/s1600/IMG_1036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq27JuBCqWF1gWr8GtJ5V7S0dPdgzoLtX8YigRRRC2vbzYwu_az40oznokieRlrdZLGZkYmlP8_lr9lje2cMhHgDbJnXDurfelwFyVfyttvzwP5IlMHdJOedkT8fAufejFuW2Z-LG-JvI/s640/IMG_1036.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />We packed a picnic lunch, put on Emma's most peony appropriate dress, drove alllll they way out there to discover... I had forgotten my wallet.  It was in the swim bag from the day before.  Admission was only $3 (for me, free for Emma) and all I could scrounge up was $1.25 in quarters from my car.  <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUad59zgdcjFJ0HwZKhWo-KLGkoB29oiRbvkTpdnxJTSmxtnBLEnIOO1NHocdtRf_TfGwEeHxNlXCMpPC042Js_2L0qDK1szyHvLCs8gSAguwjj0NKY0nnb-r7wepqQIiRu1xHoJPt-0o/s1600/IMG_1054.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUad59zgdcjFJ0HwZKhWo-KLGkoB29oiRbvkTpdnxJTSmxtnBLEnIOO1NHocdtRf_TfGwEeHxNlXCMpPC042Js_2L0qDK1szyHvLCs8gSAguwjj0NKY0nnb-r7wepqQIiRu1xHoJPt-0o/s640/IMG_1054.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /><br />I asked the admissions lady if they would allow me to mail a check for the remaining fee (I even offered to include an extra donation...) if they would allow us to come in.  A woman near by that seemed to be in charge (she was on a golf cart and sporting gardening gear) come over and said not to worry - she would pay the rest of my fee.  I realize that a $2 handout is tiny by most comparison, but it seemed huge at the moment... the difference between putting my 1-year-old back in the car for 45 minutes after talking about all of the pretty flowers we'd be seeing on the way there!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAozVA4hUltlKZXlE4LdC3IMN0BhU_utbntag9s7ATr6-_M-eUZRISmtDgNTkkQpTdDJKGYE4H1acpjY4iU3bEZKzc97-ccho8CmNe7gEZ9ybgDZ5S9HRtwELW7EUineDayl0lVdW-bUM/s1600/IMG_1038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAozVA4hUltlKZXlE4LdC3IMN0BhU_utbntag9s7ATr6-_M-eUZRISmtDgNTkkQpTdDJKGYE4H1acpjY4iU3bEZKzc97-ccho8CmNe7gEZ9ybgDZ5S9HRtwELW7EUineDayl0lVdW-bUM/s640/IMG_1038.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6wz_HDS5LpIxbaeIdMHAfRkleIUrauf-f_tSSajA4nqkkGVlccvr3gaq8bxSWUsqF8GUIML_42lHq_trVIddVK7xjtVW0fgnt8dkx5QtEBns-P__8XW9Qje71MgDZ1QdhhmBSyupNGE/s1600/IMG_1040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6wz_HDS5LpIxbaeIdMHAfRkleIUrauf-f_tSSajA4nqkkGVlccvr3gaq8bxSWUsqF8GUIML_42lHq_trVIddVK7xjtVW0fgnt8dkx5QtEBns-P__8XW9Qje71MgDZ1QdhhmBSyupNGE/s640/IMG_1040.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>I never mentioned "who I am" (not that it would've meant anything!) or that I would be sharing our day in the gardens on my blog, but I promised her that I would pay it forward.<br /><br /><br />We spent a fabulous morning there - I let Emma lead the way, which she loves, of course.  She ran and roamed all over the gardens smelling flowers, looking at fish and testing the boundaries.  <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyBZy73bXnur61Clp7kwfgWaI2-O-oNM-YJJB8rVlRloP-wR0B5JRYluVUCEvdIp85A4kvZ8dOMuzz6DDmdzT2XfXCANx3GQZil-DvzqrNLdAsPySSEMEbvsSaBqTmZpvuVko_HJXPDA/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyBZy73bXnur61Clp7kwfgWaI2-O-oNM-YJJB8rVlRloP-wR0B5JRYluVUCEvdIp85A4kvZ8dOMuzz6DDmdzT2XfXCANx3GQZil-DvzqrNLdAsPySSEMEbvsSaBqTmZpvuVko_HJXPDA/s640/IMG_1043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />These are my favorite peony -  the palest pink with bright yellow centers.  Very chic.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEJoN9kAo1jl-cQziIDNW7fs1TyeomqFbFdrWtNOFvm9GUKoAb7fr0WmOaLBT6ojRJ8nc35HRwA8_T7Yo7PX029RlSjTWRV7t45ONPeG_hd1ykvQLTWu5lZU0-9VTaGO3NYRWGRqxfN8/s1600/IMG_1062.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEJoN9kAo1jl-cQziIDNW7fs1TyeomqFbFdrWtNOFvm9GUKoAb7fr0WmOaLBT6ojRJ8nc35HRwA8_T7Yo7PX029RlSjTWRV7t45ONPeG_hd1ykvQLTWu5lZU0-9VTaGO3NYRWGRqxfN8/s640/IMG_1062.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />My favorite area, was of course the peonies... <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQTDsbu6cet7qbaNflI6Rys3xy8Ck-9qwYGpGniBva6OvvoZe6DN4TMn7AWLA4U3xKwuSPupstoba_0YTtiVi2OiVHq9zGZg_evooERpgFYQKHbJXl3zaERK1lRBYkU3aJdQ5zO_HFos/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQTDsbu6cet7qbaNflI6Rys3xy8Ck-9qwYGpGniBva6OvvoZe6DN4TMn7AWLA4U3xKwuSPupstoba_0YTtiVi2OiVHq9zGZg_evooERpgFYQKHbJXl3zaERK1lRBYkU3aJdQ5zO_HFos/s640/IMG_1031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />But the "fishies" were her favorite part. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqeJlsRsplN9oY7nSGU2NSNvQ0axZwFHt2yZSiee6Mcz2nne-2pd0JAt4HAfOnd2YmTt0bpho64_HPwkXZ5bcJF0oB8QXm_eN8vA3QrDxnB9E9VoFGr8sA5BMynJXXgdI3iqk3shJHWE/s1600/IMG_0964.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqeJlsRsplN9oY7nSGU2NSNvQ0axZwFHt2yZSiee6Mcz2nne-2pd0JAt4HAfOnd2YmTt0bpho64_HPwkXZ5bcJF0oB8QXm_eN8vA3QrDxnB9E9VoFGr8sA5BMynJXXgdI3iqk3shJHWE/s640/IMG_0964.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />The gardens are all maintained by volunteers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0jQRjyPkSotqTpqIwwlW5oIG0jbzVUhxEBFHVBmXguECWlRfZ87GJ_9Fmr4NsV0xnl5aqL9dCvOxgKtfa7mDXikVy8vIxG3EdHKoscL2FOEl7YQdgatKUIEPJCUMiwf8-ef66kXVsH4/s1600/IMG_1065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0jQRjyPkSotqTpqIwwlW5oIG0jbzVUhxEBFHVBmXguECWlRfZ87GJ_9Fmr4NsV0xnl5aqL9dCvOxgKtfa7mDXikVy8vIxG3EdHKoscL2FOEl7YQdgatKUIEPJCUMiwf8-ef66kXVsH4/s640/IMG_1065.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> The "Monet Garden" was unbelievable. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE85sJXFT0kR4_zFppFNM7maJbthES64DA_mfRi7evBj4EUv9cnRYE2vpKQdrdkOphexpOCJgTMyVKDBOrtqMfm0PgMHi0RSR7Xz-sMUPChfJnoB5OGGNcCYRafNv4L2CA-npd3p6djY/s1600/IMG_0992.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE85sJXFT0kR4_zFppFNM7maJbthES64DA_mfRi7evBj4EUv9cnRYE2vpKQdrdkOphexpOCJgTMyVKDBOrtqMfm0PgMHi0RSR7Xz-sMUPChfJnoB5OGGNcCYRafNv4L2CA-npd3p6djY/s640/IMG_0992.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We wondered on the mulched paths in the woods to find our picnic spot.  While I enjoy the manicured flowerbeds, I felt most at peace in the rustic areas like this one by a stream. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cBTiDoKIjvE2COaJ1RlwGmaN1461W1QXvUpTc1KW-kg3cb2TRqA6XG-8By_69GWzFvFvsofenbi4fMazrW8g-JivMlc8DHu76TN6pW5Ssm6VpZYCKQH3wREY7Hw3bj6ydX-5u2PPc5M/s1600/IMG_0995.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cBTiDoKIjvE2COaJ1RlwGmaN1461W1QXvUpTc1KW-kg3cb2TRqA6XG-8By_69GWzFvFvsofenbi4fMazrW8g-JivMlc8DHu76TN6pW5Ssm6VpZYCKQH3wREY7Hw3bj6ydX-5u2PPc5M/s640/IMG_0995.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />Emma wondering around with her brownie.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpqNhw-Ove2awprZu34C7_zT4DKpmkMGEcIO7ErVMC5E0guYEHxrJp85e_fkWP0yj7d2Vbs2zNtTDa4TOF55JVbWAOP32SNFfIBlsUHnxbuq0-eFkbKSFq1YDRkk49kZBapdLJ_CVN94/s1600/IMG_0966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpqNhw-Ove2awprZu34C7_zT4DKpmkMGEcIO7ErVMC5E0guYEHxrJp85e_fkWP0yj7d2Vbs2zNtTDa4TOF55JVbWAOP32SNFfIBlsUHnxbuq0-eFkbKSFq1YDRkk49kZBapdLJ_CVN94/s640/IMG_0966.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Many artists enjoying the blooms. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurlDaYAtqLty9T0l4WAhTxRrGFLqOyJcevFGWR3YwPFF-_feAuJCxdC6YiATlhFu6C0vrVVfeZvEAJzDam_DYRcrf_qiaA75DYGwKxoTXMedJLdHcBwwSqaW2w_-F418ld8Pa0tPSgRA/s1600/IMG_1006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurlDaYAtqLty9T0l4WAhTxRrGFLqOyJcevFGWR3YwPFF-_feAuJCxdC6YiATlhFu6C0vrVVfeZvEAJzDam_DYRcrf_qiaA75DYGwKxoTXMedJLdHcBwwSqaW2w_-F418ld8Pa0tPSgRA/s640/IMG_1006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Starting to wind down... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Te3myuxoJrf-22tCOYv0-2ddFjntseEkyz17Ncfa4RRo1QSZdLzBMdnq73mklDdZPSHJERE9vMPSyl1XijLNljYjtpaGCC-ZeRcpPfdxp4HGbSQ7ElCaCJTUuHlXtkB9FAl2jEzAcWI/s1600/IMG_1022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Te3myuxoJrf-22tCOYv0-2ddFjntseEkyz17Ncfa4RRo1QSZdLzBMdnq73mklDdZPSHJERE9vMPSyl1XijLNljYjtpaGCC-ZeRcpPfdxp4HGbSQ7ElCaCJTUuHlXtkB9FAl2jEzAcWI/s640/IMG_1022.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA21v4I2-oxqSKvoE2eel7LRfDQgU89ko5TsvC4yi_FZSLYjacwm9LFyDaqhKM6CLvgQXkIBAkokUnt2fYCgtKb0ZirzzFE02GW7k-gLbj-AiF84eoZsnLVBen9_C6PGd6KzTzt_KBJc/s1600/IMG_1018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA21v4I2-oxqSKvoE2eel7LRfDQgU89ko5TsvC4yi_FZSLYjacwm9LFyDaqhKM6CLvgQXkIBAkokUnt2fYCgtKb0ZirzzFE02GW7k-gLbj-AiF84eoZsnLVBen9_C6PGd6KzTzt_KBJc/s640/IMG_1018.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here knees look just like mine always do!  We're tough girls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OoRmKdUEOlMSy7GW6GWB0CgIDDiOLQCuxv1OuyX9-qc10j-oFRpRF_w9AdTQweIotLJ_O_dKTyP-tWZRilpVewoZtglPPV3Xe5tOlzOLS-TTyLI-0KZgx_lZYoGO8kOUDX2jwhRY_vw/s1600/IMG_0932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OoRmKdUEOlMSy7GW6GWB0CgIDDiOLQCuxv1OuyX9-qc10j-oFRpRF_w9AdTQweIotLJ_O_dKTyP-tWZRilpVewoZtglPPV3Xe5tOlzOLS-TTyLI-0KZgx_lZYoGO8kOUDX2jwhRY_vw/s640/IMG_0932.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />More gardeners. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMKUtSUMO-QScki2M2ZKdxDswwkV1c8IkTZl7S3aY61ZsFJfG5tBQdz2HzrfSyrCba9wP9PuEwxRbA3vkW5L2qn0d-rQk4b_50zPQjomR4VFRM7b50r7Rhzs0KvHCzDuXBh_OWTun8co/s1600/IMG_0967.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMKUtSUMO-QScki2M2ZKdxDswwkV1c8IkTZl7S3aY61ZsFJfG5tBQdz2HzrfSyrCba9wP9PuEwxRbA3vkW5L2qn0d-rQk4b_50zPQjomR4VFRM7b50r7Rhzs0KvHCzDuXBh_OWTun8co/s640/IMG_0967.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Irises in bloom.   <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthvwzhXjL5FiDlBUK6zjF1KN2iiqbHrFavDuGGepRMbEHgXROjdxv3JFa-Rv4dOIi53hhAQC6urQFKwo85pPVUbIMk6qroKxqgwGFLrMAOsnT0nhrB_EA-V3YZ_InVOImQmrtjyaV94M/s1600/IMG_0938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthvwzhXjL5FiDlBUK6zjF1KN2iiqbHrFavDuGGepRMbEHgXROjdxv3JFa-Rv4dOIi53hhAQC6urQFKwo85pPVUbIMk6qroKxqgwGFLrMAOsnT0nhrB_EA-V3YZ_InVOImQmrtjyaV94M/s640/IMG_0938.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Love how she closes here eyes when she smells the flowers. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOu1wvMYrs3AHd91TRF78ym70udzu3OCBCvJyeMKp7l53VHccc3pSjenIC5H9fDq5Dwi_Nm2ORDL69CZYEBdO2J6POcmu86WOpK8TYaWbN14R9xXShskD4B1vL_TF82dajRCGnoN-p0bU/s1600/IMG_0939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOu1wvMYrs3AHd91TRF78ym70udzu3OCBCvJyeMKp7l53VHccc3pSjenIC5H9fDq5Dwi_Nm2ORDL69CZYEBdO2J6POcmu86WOpK8TYaWbN14R9xXShskD4B1vL_TF82dajRCGnoN-p0bU/s640/IMG_0939.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can't wait to go back and visit mid-summer when everything is in its full glory!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are some Emma Outtakes from the day...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIU7eohOvYU2ocE9PhU5ne_6p4H0jT3gXC-HMT1XbiBWSUbsE-QCvcKUapPPLV-q34Bq-ItxOD2vclE7V7SLRqbCv02F0404H-MW1V8WYwQOflswbOJna3-EpPRH_XVd2EWkTTMriipc/s1600/IMG_0963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIU7eohOvYU2ocE9PhU5ne_6p4H0jT3gXC-HMT1XbiBWSUbsE-QCvcKUapPPLV-q34Bq-ItxOD2vclE7V7SLRqbCv02F0404H-MW1V8WYwQOflswbOJna3-EpPRH_XVd2EWkTTMriipc/s640/IMG_0963.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />Dancing on the deck. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxy9iSZehNnAUw-4EC9TB6wm58K1twplQlwHpB_KWFf0hKPezn-amkmkVL0vQqA91i9cdJo3LUNa1lrAOS9xQvM7jinDxrT4pGd3LWE7PCrgOgw3zt7jU7sZDaJuhyphenhyphenyTf_peuP-agBH4/s1600/IMG_0962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxy9iSZehNnAUw-4EC9TB6wm58K1twplQlwHpB_KWFf0hKPezn-amkmkVL0vQqA91i9cdJo3LUNa1lrAOS9xQvM7jinDxrT4pGd3LWE7PCrgOgw3zt7jU7sZDaJuhyphenhyphenyTf_peuP-agBH4/s640/IMG_0962.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The funniest joke. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUREA754gEq5_2gQZzQVEqrJpaiSuC8uHJJrBmr6CsMacTmfO3bXBGnAozOW4_ZrA5yUgCsr6ELtyrb4l8SKq4nhUq0X2qZ3qc08NDsgVGCQWosNKX6X3kRuO1rq901wG77v7neMHE7g8/s1600/IMG_0934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUREA754gEq5_2gQZzQVEqrJpaiSuC8uHJJrBmr6CsMacTmfO3bXBGnAozOW4_ZrA5yUgCsr6ELtyrb4l8SKq4nhUq0X2qZ3qc08NDsgVGCQWosNKX6X3kRuO1rq901wG77v7neMHE7g8/s640/IMG_0934.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />More groovin'!

Day Trip to the Arboretum | A Hunt for Peonies

Emma was on Summer break last week, so we filled the week with local explorations and little day trips.   Peony season is one of my most fav...

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