We took our Tabitha on an excursion.

We stayed next door to NannyJane and Grandpa with Uncle Brian and Aunt Ashley and their kiddos just down the lane in the Forest Service campground we stayed in. I’m sure you’ll be seeing many more pics of NannyJane’s new glamper, but I’m sneaking you a peek for now.

The grandparents brought the good stuff. Plenty of tomatoes from the garden, and every granddaughter needs a s’more!

We’ve had such a warm summer, but it’s coming to an end. To celebrate our first day of cooler weather, we bundled up and headed to the tub, farmgirl style.

It even started to rain, which we’ve been dreaming of for weeks!

We love our lentils and their farmers so much here on the Palouse that we hold an annual two-day celebration to honor them. And why not? Our region grows 25% of the nation’s lentil supply, and we are world-renowned for producing the highest quality lentils in the U.S.

Since 1989, revelers have visited Pullman, Washington (our little sister city right across the border), from all across the country to celebrate this tiny legume during the Lentil Festival. The chosen weekend in August always coincides with the beginning of a new school year for both of our universities (The University of Idaho here in Moscow and Washington State University in Pullman) as well as our local schools, so you’re bound to run into someone you know while you sample some lentil chili from a 600-gallon pot.

lentil chili pot via lentilfest.com

That’s right, they stir it with a boat paddle!

If you’re the athletic sort, you can run in the 5K race, play a game of 3-on-3 basketball, glide through a skateboard competition, or join in the mini golf tournament.

lentil festival runners via lentilfest.com

And don’t forget the parade! The little cuties below are this year’s ‘Lil Lentil King and Queen.

lentil festival parade via lentilfest.com

Local artisans display their wares, a stage hosts great live music, and a beer and wine garden features local microbrews and wines.

Of course, it’s not all about parties and parades. This year, local sponsors partnered with Feeding Children Everywhere, and thanks to their support and the work of many volunteers, 25,000 healthy meals featuring lentils were hand-packed for local distribution. And our local humane shelter raised $30,000 for the animals.

If you’re out this way next year, you should definitely drop in. There’s a little something for everyone.

Somehow, summer has come to an end and I now have a second grader and a first grader. Back to school we went!

And since we don’t get to move into our new house for another few weeks, we got to head off to school from the farm. Pretty exciting for these two farmgirls.

Here’s to wishing you all a wonderful year!

While I was washing up the dinner dishes a couple of nights ago, I heard the screen door slam and two little sets of footsteps running down the path to find NannyJane.

Apparently, they were in search of greener pastures and wanted to take Ester Lily for an evening stroll.

Once again, Mia is in her pajamas and cowgirl boots. I suppose it’s her own unique farmgirl-style statement.

Miss Mia sings everywhere she goes, and if she isn’t singing, she’s acting like everything is a drum set. So while the girls help NannyJane with feeding the cows, she sings and the cows are baffled…