Our Garden

Spring has been slow to start so we have been slow to start in the garden.  I was hoping for some nice raised beds this year, but alas it will have to wait!  We did a little planting last week and cory did some landscaping. We've got kale, spinach, and strawberries in the ground right now.

Also we have some raspberry roots coming and some herbs starting from seed in the kitchen.  I am not sure if we are going to do the bean teepee this year as we have a very large teepee already in the yard.  I hope to get some tomatoes in before Jack's birthday and perhaps some potatoes if i have the time.  I am taking it easy with the gardening this year. I just don't want to wear myself out.  Plus i have A LOT of craft projects planned!  More to come on that subject soon!

Why I Get Stuff Done ... Or Not.

This is what my kids love to do.

J gets right down to the action of hauling stuff (though looks like he's sleeping!) and D tries to find a place to dig

Still looking ......

Ah ha! A pre-exisiting hole! Perfect!

Finding a good spot to unload.

Lastly, the inspection of dirt and bugs.

********************************************************

This is why I get stuff done outside. Okay really I don't get a lot done, but I have had a bit of luck growing stuff this year!

I met a mother today and we were talking about dinner. I told her that I already had dinner made; a huge pot of baked potato soup! All ready and waiting for us! Later we were talking about other stuff and I mentioned that the boys had been digging large holes from where our ptoatoes once were.

I think she thought I was crazy ........ that I already had dinner made and that i grew my own potatoes for said dinner. I love food, and gardening, so I put a lot of effort into both those things.

In order to do lots of gardening and cooking, I let other things slide. For example, a few weeks (okay months) ago I knocked our clock off the wall. It sat, propped up on the credenza until today I finally got around to re-hanging it. I have tons of art i haven't put up yet. I have tons of clothes that just live in laundry baskets. I have dishes piled up in my sink ALL THE TIME!

I make time for the things I like, and ignore the other things .... until i absolutely have to do them. Luckily my hubby does a lot around the house. I do however think he appreciates my fine cooking and all the time we spend together in the garden as a family!

I love how the boys take part in the garden. J is always telling people what jobs the bugs in the garden do for us ..... it's too cute!

Summer Over!

The weather is still pretty good, but the craziness of summer is finally over! It ended on the long weekend with my sister's wedding! This weekend we are taking it easy. Maybe replanting the blueberry bushes, maybe not. One thing I would like to do is start my letter to council to petition for my flock of hens!

We've been spending a lot of time in the garden and it seems a bit dull, and empty without some little feathers friends wandering about. We'll see!

Oh and on a side note ...... we are getting sleep! Finally!!! For weeks now D has been whining his was through the night, waking constantly . Teething is over for now ..... four teeth at once, poor guy! Of course D still sleeps in our bed for most of the night and sometimes J crawls in there in the early morning ...... maybe a king size would have been a good idea!

It really was a perfect day, rainbow and all! Photo by Jesse Hlady.

A photo taken by the driver of the car.

Jackson set up the tripod and took a bunch of photos. He was imitating the photographer from Chels's wedding!

The insanity that is LEGO!!!

I found this under the boys play fort .... thanks C!

This Weekend So Far

our under stairs area in the new family room! Note the DIY play kitchen!

this kids loves the swap meet!

swap meet finds (well not the camera ....)

My new garden ..... well one small part of it!

this kid LOVES to draw!

tea anyone? this is the doll house furniture i have been working on! Cory is starting on the house soon! It's a present for Jack's birthday ... shhh!

I GOT A HAIR CUT!!!

Not just any hair cut though! this is the most versitile, easy maintenance style EVER!!! Just look:

A nice bob or .....

a more edgy short look!

Beachs and a Bevy of Projects

a ride in a jalopy

exploring!

a new project for the kitchen

red scarlet runner beans and soon to be tomatoes and potatoes

the glass bathroom door ...... a little more privacy please!

We had a great weekend at the beach in Parksville! It ended up being an extended vacatin as we left on Thursday night. I came home refreshed and ready to take on all the new projects here at home!

Slowing Down

Seeds and seed potatoes waiting to be planted

Lazy afternoon nap with Betty

I have switched gears, especially since our trip to Vancouver. You know i can't remeber the last time I picked up a hook and yarn?! I have been going strong for four years and now poof, I've stopped. I NEVER thought I'd stop! Surely there will be a time, perhaps some new inpiration, and I will once again crochet. I am quite enjoying not having a project on the go! Well a crochet project that is!

My energy has been going towards the yard and garden lately. Yesterday Jackson, Dylan and I chose some seeds and got to work filling an old sandbox frame with fresh new soil! Twelve inches deep, six feet by six feet ........ great size! It took a lot of wheelbarrow loads, but it's now full! I also decided to dig up and area near the new raised bed, maybe four feet by four feet. This one is right in the ground, so there was a good deal of labour to rid the grass and clay. I filled in the hole with some more great soil and some compost. What fun!

We then planted red onion, lettuce, peas, carrots, sunflowers, sweet peas, and beans. In a little while, once it's a bit warmer we will plant the zucchini. I plan to starts some herbs in pots tomorrow and maybe replant my strawberries. It felt so good taking charge and just digging the garden myself. Too often I have put things off waiting for Cory to help. I am more than capable, my passion for great organic food pushes me to take things into my own hands and not wait for the weekend warrior that is my husband!

Now that most of the garden is planted I plan on taking it fairly easy. Jack's birthday is in a couple of months and i am only half finihsed his present, so that will become a priority. Also a friend's little girl will be having a birthday and i have a super special project planned for her! I was planning on starting it tonight, but I just feel too tired! All the digging and walking about town has worn me and the boys right out! The family is in bed before nine!!

A Buzz With Activity

A teaser photo of somewhere we looked at today!

Our happy boy during his "Last Day of Daycare" party!

The work I've done in the front.

Lots going on here! We are seriously considering selling our little house! Yesterday and today we've been making the house a bit more pretty. I did a lot of work in the front garden. I was able to get a lot of plants on sale due to the time of year, so with minimal cost, the front yard is much more presentable. The backyard is a whole other story, but we have a couple of days before we decide what we are doing. Anyways too much work, not enough sleep, so it's off to bed.

Oh, we celebrated Jackson's last day of preshcool/daycare. Due to me needing time to ready the house, Jack's been in daycare for his last two days. The week before he didn't attend at all, and the week before that, I just had him in for half days. Needless to say he was thrilled that today was his last day. We left notes for some of his friends, so if the parents of the kids want, we can meet up for playtimes. Also the owner of the daycare let us know that we can visit whenever the kids are playing outside. I thought that was nice. Everyone had such nice things to say about Jack. How he was such a good listener, and was a very happy boy. Also that he seems to be a puzzle wizkid. He's been doing puzzles that even the oldest (5 or 6 year olds) have trouble with.

I can't say I'm surprised, as he's very into puzzles at home. Both Cory and I were puzzle wizkids when we were young too, so I suppose it just runs in the family! Alright off to bed!

Check In Time

Evening Gardening

My snack packs! They function as a bowl and fold up nice and small! Want the pattern?

I've been zoning out a lot lately. Probably dreaming of my garden, or some other project I want to start! Cory always reminds me to "check in" when Jack is trying to talk to me, or Dylan needs something. It's amazing what you can block out when you are in your own world! Last night was a bit crazy. We decided to have an unplugged evening, meaning, no power. Jackson was not ready for bed, so he came outside with us while we de-weeded out front gardens. We are planning to do a lot of mulching on the weekend, so it was a good time to get rid of all the five foot tall weeds in the front! We are also getting rid of one half of the lawn in the front! I was hoping for the whole thing, however for now, just one half.

I'm a bit of a zombie today. Dylan has not been sleeping too well. He wakes twice to feed and a few times in between as well. Cory lets me sleep in a bit, but the kids have been sleeping until 6 or 6:30am anyways! Much better than 5am!!! I'm not sure what we are going to do today. I might start my sourdough culture again .... the one I've been working on got moldy, ew!

Homesteading Blog

I have officially started my new blog! It is mostly about my adventures to make our urban lawn into a thriving garden and homestead! I started talking about these topics here, but realize that a whole blog was needed just for this subject! So if you want to follow my homesteading trials, follow me!

www.thefashionistafarmer.blogspot.com

Still Pregant and Gardening

Dinner: Healthy Baked Mac n' Cheese with veggies and Glazed Ham for the boys.
Song of the Day: Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles
Current Thought: I think I am finally ready to start winding down my craft projects.
Project of the Day: Custom Hat Order
I Want: My new Belt Buckle .... but paypal won't let me have it .... still!

Today was an amazing day! We all went for coffee this morning, then Jackson and I played outside while Cory worked on the baby cradle. He put the finishing touches on it, so now all it needs is a quick stain and it's done!! While Jack busied himself in the sand box I was able to tackle my overgrown/dead garden. I pruned a tond of things, and pulled out dead annuals. Also I raked up the leaves and got rid of some unsightly edging. I am hoping to start doing a bit of planting in march, though it's too early for most things. I have a better plan for the garden space this year. I am going to invest in larger easy to care for bushes, such as heebie (incorrect spelling i'm sure!) and lots of lavendar. They will fill up space and be nice year round. As for my veggie garden I don't plan on doing very much. Probably just tomatoes and maybe potatoes. I know when the baby comes, we'll have no energy to be digging and weeding! I really wanted to create a nice outdoor space like a front porch or a gazebo in back, but i think that will have to wait for a year or so.

I am 32 1/2 weeks now and definately looking forward to baby's arrival! I am starting to get the room a bit more together and collecting supplies for the homebirth. I am getting frustrated with a number of pregnancy woes, especially with the lack of sleep i am getting. Though I am still trying to cherish my quiet time in bed, even if I'm not alseep, because I know all to well what things will be like when baby arrives! Let's just hope we get a better sleeper this time 'round.

The BIG Project

Our garden seems to be our biggest project ever! It will be going on for some time i think! If we had a truck there would be a lot more done! Tomorrow is Jack's Birthday BBQ and lots of people will be seeing our yard, so we worked very hard today and got a lot done! Here are some photos!