Our Garden - Take 2

Here are the photos from working the garden the first time. Now the only thing that came up from the planting of vegetables we did on April 27th are 6 tomato plants and possibly a melon of some sort. If you remember from that post I said we planted tomatoes, peppers, peas, green and wax beans, Lima beans, lettuce, carrots, onions, garlic, butternut squash, yellow squash, cucumbers, mint, basil, dill, oregano, rosemary, thyme, savory, and stevia. And the only thing that came
up are 6 tomato plants, a melon plant and maybe some stevia (I don't really know what stevia looks like, so I don't know if the plant growing there is it.) Part of the problem, I know, is that most of the seeds were too old. We were hoping that they would grow anyway. But not so much happened.

We also had some volunteers. At least 10 tomato plants have come up that we didn't plant. They are scattered throughout the garden and along the property fence. I plan to move them to the tomato rows when they get big enough. Now, I am not sure if we planted that melon plant or not, because I can't remember what we planted where on that side of the garden, and I can't find the paper on which I wrote it. I tend to think it came up on it's own.




When we returned from our anniversary weekend, we had a nice green garden - of weeds. I got to work Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday to set the garden to rights. Lest you think I did a whole lot of work, I only was able to garden during nap time, which is why it took so long. I weeded, hoed, reworked the rows (the correct way this time,) bought new vegetable and herb plants and new seeds, bought another soaker hose, planted the plants and seeds, laid out the soaker hose, and took pictures. Ellie again planted cauliflower seeds. She is very excited to grow that vegetable. I hope she is as excited about it when its sitting on her plate.

This time the garden will hopefully give us a bounty of tomatoes, peppers, green beans, peas, Lima beans, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, spinach, butternut squash, cantaloupe, yellow squash, zucchini, stevia, dill, basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, and mint. [The mint actually came up in a flower pot I had stashed away.]























I am more confident in the garden this time around. I also am hopeful that weed control will go better as well.

Our long weekend away

Gary and I left early on Thursday morning to drive to Tennessee for our anniversary. Here are some photos from our trip to Great Smokey Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park.






Sunset from the deck of our cabin.












Ray and Nannette
Gary and me

On the deck of our cabin








Great Smokey Mountains National Park






Gary and me at the Morton Overlook













I believe this is the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River











Noah "Bud" Ogle's cabin














Roaring Fork











Shenandoah National Park






A bear (the black blob in the center of the photo.)












On of the overlooks at the north end of the park. I liked the wisp of a cloud.













Moss dripping water.












Sunset over the South Fork of the Shenandoah River.

Shortened

The kids and I had haircuts today.


Before













After












My friend Nicki did a beautiful job.

I have two ponytails to donate to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. I figure if I want it long again, I can just grow it. Some women can't.

Werth stealing four

During Tuesday's Phillies game, Jayson Werth stole four bases. Stealing home base was the best. I still shake my head in wonderment when I watch the video. You can too.

Ellie likes to type and likes the color pink

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A Beautiful Day

Ellie had beach day today at school. She was so excited. She got to wear her swimsuit (she is still wearing it) and take her beach towel. They had ice cream for snack and had some fun and games outside. The weather cooperated with a beautiful day.

I got to hang out my laundry. Josh and I played outside some. We had lunch outside as well. We sat on a blanket under our maple tree. It is a great shade tree. The stinkers I call my children finally ate their dinner from last night. They were served it for breakfast, but chose to wait until lunch to finish it. They did get to munch on some cheese, animal crackers, and apples once they ate the leftovers.

After lunch we played monster tag. I was the monster that chased them around the yard. Neither of them wanted to be the monster so it was more like a monster tickle game. Then they took turns getting pulled in the wagon. Ellie let Josh go first.

I had a really great afternoon with my children.

Biking it

I broke out the bike pod (the name for the child trailer we have.) I biked with the kids in tow to church for MOPS. They are heavy to pull when the road isn't precisely flat. It is surprising how much I slow down when the road has the littlest hint of a hill. They enjoyed the ride far more then I did. And Ellie had the nerve to comment from her highness's carriage, that I was going too slow. I told her she could walk if she wanted.

In our hopes of some exercise and not using a gas-drinking-carbon-monoxide-emitting hunk of metal, we are going to try to use the bikes more. Ellie and Josh are all for that idea. They love being squished in the pod. But pulling them is challenge for me if hills are involved. If it's a family event, Gary pulls them.

Gary has biked to work. It's 3 miles and not to hard of a ride. Though he does look completely worn out when he gets home. Perhaps that will get better as he does it more often.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

Woo hoo! I had a Mother's Day motorcycle ride. Gary's dad has two motorcycles, and today I requested a ride. It is such a thrill be going so fast and to feel the wind blowing and to not be surrounded by a vehicle.

I do have a note to self - Wear a bandanna to hold back hair.

I had a great day on Saturday spent with my family, my mom and sister, and Gary's mom yesterday at a Phillies game. The Phillies didn't win for us though. And I had a fun day at Gary's dad and step-mom's house today. And I had fun with the two reasons I'm a mom, Ellie and Josh.

Gary made our sandwiches for the game yesterday, and he made the burgers tonight, and his dad grilled them. Gary tried a new recipe for turkey burgers. It was very tasty.