i have to say...

just checking in...

...to say that our visit was lovely.

Our family members arrived early so we had a houseful for a couple of days, but it worked out just fine.  Everyone was a wonderfully easy guest (I am serious about that!) so it made the time pass by too quickly, and it seemed premature when everyone left. I suppose that is better than counting the minutes until a difficult guest leaves, right?

Our garden is beginning to produce some edibles.  Is it me, or are garden-fresh tomatoes heavenly? 

My basil is going strong and I am looking forward to making some basil pesto soon.  Usually we make spinach pesto and I am looking forward to trying it a different way.

The only other item we are growing is peppers---3 kinds---but they aren't even close to being ready.  The one little jalapeno that I can see is only the size of a small bead, but I do hope for enough to makes loads of salsa!

It makes me laugh to think of those early spring days when we were so excited to go to the nursery and pick out our plants.  Snow was falling softly on the day we chose, but that didn't stop us, because the change of season held too much promise.  Warmer, longer days filled with sunshine and laughter and lemonade.  It occurs to me that we are living the days that we longed for back then. 

It puts a smile on my face to think of that.

a day at the farm

Once a week my hubby and I have been dragging our kids to the farm to pick weeds.   Now, before you go awarding us the "super-fun parents" award or something like that, let me say that this has a purpose:  free food!  We were lucky enough to get a "worker-bee share" at our CSA that allows us to put in 3 hours of labor per week while receiving one free share of food.  This I like!

My kids do fine for about 1-1/2 of those 3 hours and then the complaining/when can we go/ it's hot and I am melting in this sun, starts.  But that is A-OK because we  believe that it is good to teach the value of hard work all while helping out the community.  (That was another opportunity for the "super-fun parents" award!).

The boys think it is great that we get to drive this very cool vehicle:

Aubry, of course, has developed some "working on the farm" fashion:

There is something relaxing about digging through the dirt and pulling weeds, except when I accidentally picked up a squishy toad.  Really gross.

It is ridiculous that I take my camera, but at least I don't wear make-up.  You could find me in the fields if you looked for the gal wearing the giant-brimmed straw hat and the long-sleeved shirt.  In other words, look for the gal who is old enough to be concerned about preserving her appearance!

The colors of the plants are perfect:

Aubry suggested that I show you her choice of shoe for the farm:

One cool thing about having lots of kids is that when you go to the farm they notice that you accomplish more work than most of the other people who help out and they offer you a free share.  Awesome! 

These days I take all the free food I can get!

Have a great Monday!

oh deer!

Well, they got me! 

I have four rose bushes outside my kitchen window and they are were bursting with ready to open buds.  I took the time to spray them with deer repellent, but forgot to re-apply after it rained at night.  Our neighborhood gang of deer must have come under cover of night and snacked until their hearts and tummies were content, because all I have left are a bunch of empty, sad looking branches looking like they are reaching up to find their bud.  They can stop reaching since all is lost.

Each year is a battle between the deer and myself, but even though they have won this first round, I WILL rein supreme in the end.  I WILL!

Before I make this sound worse than it really is, I leave you with a picture of the lone bud they left on one of the bushes.  At least they were thinking of me just a tiny bit!:

no one has ever accused me of having a green-thumb...

...and that is mostly because I kill a lot of plants!  It is not that I don't desire success, it is because my life doesn't afford me the time needed to be a great gardener.  Not yet, anyway.

So far I have managed to kill all of our seed starts.  How did I do that?  I have no clue.  They were rather puny because I didn't buy a grow light (I persisted in my belief that I could do without one) and then the ones that made it wilted very soon after being planted. 

Now the herb plants that I started from seed have all called it quits. 

Could it be that plants just don't like me?

I finally broke down and bought the above herbs plants that have already made it past the first, delicate days of life.  Now that they are hardy and strong, we will get  along just fine. 

I hope.

I do have a couple of successes in the garden so far.  The radish are alive and growing and the spinach is looking downright edible:

I didn't know that when we got Maddie we were getting a garden-guard in the bargain!  She can hardly stand that we make her stay outside the gate, but she loves the soft dirt inside and it seems to appeal to her digging instinct:

How is your garden growing?

and now we wait...

Seed starting is new to me.

This year gardening has been calling my name early, so I thought we would take the plunge.  Serious joy was had while digging through the dirt, even thought it came from a plastic sack.  Lettuces, spinach and some herbs are all tucked into their little pots, just waiting.

Everyday we have checked and rechecked for small sprouts, even though our planting was only a few days ago.  I think we may do the happy-dance when our friends make their first green appearance.

Did you know that you can make your own seed-starting pots using empty toilet paper rolls.  I found this tutorial too late, but I will do it this way on our next round of seeds.

...and now we wait...

 

i dropped a few hints...

...and I ended up with this:

Craig and Micah spent most of Saturday making a potting bench for me.  I have wanted one for a couple of years now--every serious gardener (and wanna-be, like me!) needs one--so when we found this how-to and some scrap wood, it was a "go".

I love watching my hubby work with the boys.  He is very skilled in doing home-improvement type projects and I am glad that he is passing that wisdom along to the boys.  In case you are wondering, yes, he passes the wisdom along to the girls, too.  I have a nineteen year-old girl who could tile your bathroom or put hardwood in your living room as long as you provided something to eat and good music. 

The bench is supposed to go outside, but for now I am keeping in our "green room".  (Any guesses on why we call it the "green room"?)   Seed starts and some herbs will be making an appearance any day now, and when the time comes, I am not sure that the bench will make it's way outside.   Since it is my bench, I can keep it wherever I like, right?

The thought of getting my hands dirty and watering plants is like a dream!  I am sure that I have said this too many times this month, but I am so ready for spring to be here.  A pair of capris coupled with flip-flops sounds like the perfect combination these days.  Is anyone else tired of winter clothes?

Have a lovely day!

i was sitting by the window...

...watching the snowfall.  All the while dreaming of spring. 

Seed starts.  A compost pile.  Enough tomatoes to last the year.  An herb garden.  Two apple trees?  Organic pest control.  Weed pulling with the kids on Wednesday mornings?  Maybe some flowers.  Container gardening sounds good.

Today we play in the snow.

Have a happy day!

***Thanks, Becky, for the wonderful magazine!  So far it has been inspiring!  ;)