Visions of Summer

Today Jason went to church for Men's Breakfast and I asked him if he'd stop by the Farmers Union and pick up some seeds on his way home. Some of the things we are planting this year are new to us (since we've only been gardening for a year) and so I thought we'd just get a few seeds if they'd let us. Like a dozen. Well, the smallest increment they sell seeds is an ounce. We are going to have a bigger garden than anticipated! Most of the seeds will last more than one season, but a few we have to plant this year. Due to our ever enlarging garden we are going to have a separate plot just for the squashes and pumpkins.

red onions, carrots, beets, parsnips, sugar snap peas, mammoth sunflower, garlic, red and russet potato

Unfortunately the very ancient rototiller will not cooperate. It is broken down. The good thing is that we did not purchase the rototiller (it was a hand-me-down gift from Jason's Great-Grandfather) so any money we put into it is not a big deal, it's cheaper to fix what you own than to buy something new. Our big plan to plant this week-end looks like it's not going to happen. However, we do have access to another tiller if ours will not get up and running. Jason took some vacation time next week so I think at the very latest we will plant the Monday before memorial day.

I think I'm going to need to start the peas inside on Monday since everyone keeps telling me they need to get in the ground like a week a go. Hopefully I am not too late.

Jason tinkering on the tillers carborator

I am so excited, more excited than I would have been even two years ago about having a garden. Two years ago I would have rolled my eyes at the prospect of happily growing my own veggies. Two years ago I would have simply gone to the store for the convenience of having the store do all the work. Like with cloth diapering; experience and knowledge have changed my point of view.

I cloth diaper because it is better for my son, for the environment, and for my wallet. I garden because it is better for my family, the environment, my wallet, and my peace of mind. I grow my own so I know that the people harvesting were paid a good wage, that the veggies were cleaned properly, and that the veggies were not over burdened with harmful chemicals.

I have this glorious yummy vision of this summer going down to the garden and picking out spinach, peas, cucumbers, peppers, green beans, carrots, and tomatoes to make the most delicious salad. Not hopping in my car and driving to the nearest grocery store, or even walking there, not paying anyone for my food, not wondering if the food is safe, just picking and eating.

Then in the fall picking/uprooting beets and carrots to can, potatoes of various colors to store, beets and cucumbers to pickle, squashes to freeze and/or store in our root cellar, and lots of yummy goodness all winter long. All without leaving my home!

Oops

 Yesterday I was able to get my hands a little dirty in my flower garden. I am reclaiming some lawn for some prettiness. Last year I transplanted hosta and oriental iris some from other places in my yard, some from my mom. I didn't think it would come up, I was certain that I killed them all. Not to worry, they are up! I spent about an hour digging up clumps of lawn and throwing them into the bushes. In my zeal to claim some lawn for myself I broke my trowel I got for Mothers Day! It is a good thing that my MIL gave me two because many people have offered clumps of their fuller plants and so I look forward to transplanting and digging soon.

{This Moment}

{This Moment} A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.

~via SouleMama

This Week

Weeded out some Rhubarb and Flowers

Attempted Murder Transplanted Some Flowers

Studied Lovely Yarn

Cleaned the House

Received Early Mothers Day Presents

Started Knitting and Bought Yarn

Practiced Crawling and Getting Into Stuff

Wanted

This afternoon while Owen slumbered peacefully in his bed I went outside to murderously uproot a family of green growing things transfer some plants from one spot in front of my house to another spot. Part of the issue is some of them are growing where I can't see them and they are really pretty and the other issue was some of them were growing under the house.

I added some bricks around the garden to differentiate what is lawn/driveway and what is garden.  It's lopsided and uneven, but I like it!

While I was out killing the plants transferring what I think are tulips and lilys I realized I need a few things.

Something to hide the dirt and kill off some grass

Some of that dark stuff to grow pretty stuff in

A leaf transportation vehicle and a leaf gathering apparatus 

A manicure on a daily basis or something to protect my digits

{This Moment}

This Moment} A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.

~via SouleMama

Seven Months

• Two more teeth nearly in, I expect to see them fully soon
• He can sit for a few moments by himself without falling backwards and when he does tip over he doesn't cry, just continues playing
• Love to pull toys out of buckets
• Transfers an object from one hand to the other
• Attempts to put small objects into his mouth and sometimes succeeds
• Eats crackers
• Uses hands to pull himself forward
• Can jump/bounce when he is holding someones hands (instead of someone holding him at his arm pits)

More Pictures click here

Before and After

I was very excited when I put a load of laundry in the washer and looked in my bathroom....
No LAUNDRY!



Then I recalled the pile of sheets that Vinnie (the dog) has been sleeping on upstairs in our bedroom. So, to make sure I do my chores I put three sets of sheets, pillow cases, a blanket, and some towels on my kitchen floor so that I wouldn't forget.


I put Stomper down for a nap and looked at the week of mess in our livingroom.

So I cleaned it up.

My work is not done, but I'm getting there. It's one in the afternoon I've been up since 10 this morning (Stomper and I took a nap after his morning bottle at 8) and I haven't showered, but I feel accomplished!

Knitting Slowing

Summer is creeping up on us here in Maine and I feel myself drawn more and more to my garden and less and less toward my knitting needles.

If at times I am silent, know that I am still around, lurking, just probably not knitting.

I need to find some time to knit and now that I have updated the family blog and this one I hope I can focus at the projects at hand. Mostly Teacup Teddy, something for my Sister-In-Law, and those fabled gauntlets I keep talking about.

You can check up on my week-end here at my family blog.

For now I leave you with this, a highlight from my week-end away from my hubby.

"Rapunzel, let down your hair!"

Epiphany

Tomato Forest
2010

Jason took me away this week-end and driving through the country side and sitting on top of Mount Battie gave us a more broader view of our world. We lamented how some of the "old ways" are lost, the slower ways, the quieter ways, the quality of time.

Last year we had a modest garden that got a little lost in the shuffle with the birth of our son (see this post for an explanation) but this year we want to do better. We want to have more variety (not a tomato forest), do better at harvesting, improve our canning/freezing/storing, and spend more time tending to our little plot of land.

There was some discussion on possibly adding a chicken or two, some for eggs some for meat, and a small little desire for a milk goat. The goal is to live more off our own half acre of paradise and less off the store, and to eat and live more healthy.

We are planning on planting: 

• 5 Roma Tomato Plants
• 5 Slicing Tomato Plants
• 2 Cherry Tomato Plants
• 3 Zucchini
• 3 Summer Squash 
• 4 Green Beans
• 6 Green Peppers
• 20 Red Potatoes
• 20 Russet Potatoes
• 6 Sweet Potatoes (maybe)
• 6 Onions
• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Garlic
• 4 Cabbage
• 4 Spinach
• 6 Cucumbers
• Beets
• Broccoli (maybe)
• Edible Pea Pod Peas
• Herbs: basil, bay, mint, rosemary (I have to look into these)
• Pumpkins
• Squash (Acorn & Butternut)

Today Stomper and I went outside to the garden to take a look at things. We found lots of little blue flowers flox/flocks (--spelling?) is what I think they are called. The daffodils are also coming up which makes me very happy. This year when they die back I'm going to move them over to the dying apple tree where some other stuff I planted last year is hopefully getting ready to grow.

I found some Rhubarb sprouting up, and also some weeds. So, while Owen ate dirt and leaves I dug around and uprooted some unwanted greenery. I think that Owen is going to be a big help in the garden this year.

I found a worm and thought about showing it to him, but changed my mind. If you would like to see more pictures of Stomper playing in the dirt check out my facebook link (you don't need an account to look).

Quick Week-end Escape

Rockland the Reception

We have been planning on attending a wedding in Rockland over the week-end. The plan was to drop Stomper off Saturday morning, drive the 2 or so hours to the town that the wedding was in, walk around for a bit, go to the wedding, stay long enough to eat at the reception, then hightail it home, sleep, and pick Stomper up before church Sunday morning. Jason's parents and several of his co-workers were planning on staying in the Rockland Area Friday night and Saturday night, but we couldn't afford it.

Mount Battie, Camden, Maine

I had Stomper all packed up and ready to go Friday morning before our bi-weekly grocery shopping trip. I didn't want to pack sleepy either that night or the next morning for fear that I'd forget something. We decided that since we were already going to be in town, why not stop by my Mom's and have supper to and why not leave Stomper?

Reception

 Saturday morning I wake up and Jason says "I have a surprise for you."
"What is it?" I ask
"I can't tell you it's a surprise."
"Where is it?"
"I can't tell you that either. Get up and go downstairs and shower."
"Is it downstairs?"
"No. Well. Sort of. It's outside."
Sleep-addled I take a shower.
In the shower I wake up.
"Are we staying down there?"
"Yes!" he says beaming, "And I've already packed!"

Mount Battie
(this is not Stomper)

We went to Rockland for a few days. It was a lot of fun. We went to the breakwater and walked the 7/10ths of a mile to the lighthouse, we attended a very beautiful wedding, got to view the gorgeous Maine coastline. And then collasped into a hotel bed for the night. In the morning we went up Mount Battie (by car), walked around Rockland, and headed for home to see our boy (who we missed very much!).

 It was great to get away, but I am happy to be home!

For More photos check out my Facebook Album (no need for a profile/account to view them)