Our new backyard.

For the past couple of months we have been working on our backyard. We have a very small space so we wanted to be careful about the plans for it and using the space most efficiently. We decided to concrete most of it and line the fence with planter boxes. That way we can have a patio set, Marston can drive trucks and cars on it and we can get a kiddie pool for those hot summer days. Plus I can try my "light green" thumb at gardening. We started with the concrete. We concreted most all of the yard. We left out the space for the planter boxes and that's it. We had a good friend do it and it turned out beautifully. When that was done, Daniel got out there and designed and created a drain system for the boxes and added water bibs at each end of the boxes. On another Saturday, he built 12 inch redwood planter boxes and the week after we filled them with dirt. I planted tomatoes, a green pepper, a red pepper, cucumbers, onions, strawberries, some herbs, marigolds, snapdragons and a shasta daisy. I have also put a couple of blueberry bushes and a mandarine tree in pots on our new patio. We bought a new grill which I have loved cooking meals on.  I think it turned out wonderfully. I love having the extra space for Marston to play and being able to get my hands a little dirty. Thank you Daniel for all your hard work. Let's be honest, he did most of it.

Blueberry Crisp

This blueberry crisp recipe is wonderful. I got a ton of yummy blueberries from costco the other day and wanted to make a dessert with them. I came across this recipe on the food network site. It's from the Neelys. I've never made anything from them before and in fact I have never seen their show but it got good reviews so I tried it. It is delicious! I halved the recipe and didn't have the right size pan so it looks kinda funny but tastes great. I would also double the crumb topping next time. It seems like the fruit to topping ratio was off.  

Ingredients

• 6 cups blueberries, rinsed and lightly dried
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Pinch salt

Topping Mixture:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 stick room temperature unsalted butter, cubed
• Whipped cream, for topping
• Ice cream, for topping

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Toss blueberries, cornstarch, sugar and a pinch of salt together in a bowl.

Combine flour, oats, brown and white sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and pecans in a bowl. Add butter and pinch into chunks. Mix until it looks crumbly.

Add the blueberries into a 2-quart baking dish. Top evenly with the crumb mixture. Bake for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream and whipped cream.

Our trip to Michigan

We got to go out to Ann Arbor for Daniel's brother's dental school graduation. We had such a great time. I grew up out there so I loved seeing familiar places and showing Dan my old stomping ground. We got to spend time with Dan's brother, Ben and his wife Telia and their two adorable kids. We celebrated a lot while we were out there. Ben graduated and is now a doctor, mother's day, our 5th year anniversary and Ben's 30th birthday. It was one big celebration trip. I loved it! 

Marston loved to play with Aeden's car. I'm keeping my eyes open for one at garage sales now. 

Grandma and Grandpa Anderson with all four adorable grandchildren.

We went to Greenfield Village in Detroit. It's a living history museum and a lot of fun. Daniel is pushing a turn table for trains. 

Marston and Aeden were so serious on carousel at Greenfield Village.

Greenfield Village. 

We drove out to my old childhood home in Clinton. It was so cool to see everything exactly the same. I loved it. 

Farmer's market in Ann Arbor.

My first blueberry!

I planted some blueberry bushes a couple of weeks ago in some pots and didn't think I would get fruit for a year or two. BUT I found this little beauty under all the other green ones. I was so excited, I got the camera out and took a picture then ate it. It was really sweet. I can't wait for more.