Alphabet Soup - AKA - Brain Mush

I have so much happening in my mind right now, that I don't know how or where to start to make a purposeful, meaningful post.  I'd be happy with just a light-hearted, humorous post. 

Instead, what you are getting is some randomness.  Maybe these random thoughts will inspire some later posts, but for now, this will have to do.

~ Driving home last week after a long day of setting up a hafla, dancing, celebrating, saying good-bye, taking down and packing up a hafla and playing with friends, Victoria was starting to fall asleep.  One of her last thoughts before drifting off...  "Mom, if I could be anyone else in the world, I would want to be you!"    Talk about a heart melting moment.

~ After posting a photo on Facebook of the yummy Chicken Fricassee I made a couple weeks back someone commented that I need to get out of the house more.  I was not really sure how to take that.  Did it mean that this person just didn't get it, the way I love to cook and share my kitchen successes? OR did it mean that my photo was really unappealing!?!?  Either way, I had a good laugh at myself that it got to me and moved on.  I must make this again sometime very soon!

Chicken Fricassee adapted from Julia Child's recipe.

~  Since I started belly dancing four years ago, I have learned to accept and love my body just as it is, while at the same time embracing the desire to healthy.   So, it's okay that no matter how many crunches, and twists and shimmies I do, I will never have a tiny waist and perfectly flat stomach.  And, I'm okay with that! (PS...  I hate cardio exercise for the sake of cardio exercise.  It has to be fun.  Running?  NOT fun!   Dancing?  Fun!!)

~  A couple nights ago, I was sleeping on the couch, as My Life was sleeping very heavy and snoring very loudly.  No matter which way he laid, he still snored.  So my pillow and I made our way to the couch, and curled up under my super soft blanket.  Then it happened.  I couldn't sleep.  My mind wandered to this and that, then the over-tiredness took it's toll.  I wondered what I would do if a zombie apocalypse where to happen.  How would I get to all the doors and make sure they are locked, blocked and secure.  How would block off the french doors going out onto the deck?  I made a plan and listed off the materials I needed to be prepared.  Yes, this is how my insomnia plagued mind works.  I finally fell asleep and dreamt of hiking in the mountains with my cat.  My mind is a weird and whacky place!

~  It's spring cleaning time!   I am targeting two areas in my home this week.  My desk and the playroom.  Time to overhaul these problem spots and get a grip on them so I no longer feel the need to apologize for them, or try to hide them.

~ If it ever stops raining, I will be cutting back my raspberries.  Having never done this before, I hope I still have berry producing plants when I am done!  We love raspberries in our house and are anxious to start picking them! 

My raspberries, blueberries and strawberries when they were just babies.

I am going to take my cat and go hiking in the mountains now.  Go bless and be blessed!

Backyard Bliss, part deux

I am sure that the few readers I have are completely tired of my posting pictures of my measly little garden, but hey, it's my blog and I am very excited about my garden.  Be you couldn't tell!

The fruit garden - includes blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and tomatoes.

My sunflowers are getting huge and starting to bloom.  The back row are mammoth sunflowers. And there is a row of mixed smaller ones in front.  I ended up with only one red sunflower.  Check out the tallest one, its about 8ft tall!

A closer look at the red sunflower.

We experimented with planting corn.  We were unsure if they would get enough sunlight here, but they seem to be plugging along, although somewhat behind schedule.  I saw the first cob peeking out its amazing muppet hairdo this morning.

Our brussel sprout plants are finally making some wee little brussel sprouts!  I heart brussel sprouts.

Plans for next year are already in place.  The sunflower garden will make an appearance again, along with some more colorful flowers amongst them.  An herb garden will replace our vegetables in their current locations.  I love herb gardens.  It always amazes me how simple herbs, with their many shapes, sizes and shades of green can make a beautiful garden!  I anticipate chives, lovage, echinacea, cilantro, basil and many more will make an appearance. 

The vegetable garden is still up for debate.  The exact location is not yet determined due to the sunniest part of the yard is also the best lawn space for all of our backyard games, and somehow we need to fit the grape vines and fruit trees in there as well.   Oh, AND there is a battle brewing over raised vs. ground level garden beds.  I will win this battle, however I imagine that will mean building my own garden beds.  *smirk*

Backyard Bliss!!!

They say this weather is going to last awhile longer.  Well... yes please!

I love time spent in my backyard. Gardening.  Playing.  It's all good.

My tomato plants are over 6 feet tall at the highest point.  It seems that I somehow managed to cut off the top of this picture.  hmph.

They are loaded with tomatoes that I can't wait to eat!

My sunflowers are starting to bloom.  I heart sunflowers.

Some of the gardening isn't so glamorous.  I have one garden bed that I have neglected to weed in awhile and the morning glory is threatening to take over.  Guess I'll do that today. 

If I have to.

But it's too hot to weed.  So maybe it should wait.  ;)

I finally got to set up Vicki's pool yesterday. 

Yes, summer is almost over and I am just now getting her pool up.  It's a long story. 

I probably won't tell you.

I put the sprinkler in the pool so she could play in it while it filled.  Two birds, one stone.  I thought it was clever.

Ummm...  where's Vicki?  Well like I said, I thought the sprinkler in the pool so she can play while it filled was a good idea. 

She finally decided to check it out.  She is such a poser!

Well...  time to go pick Samm up from her friend's.  Maybe I'll even get some housework done....

Maybe not...

~poof~

Oh Sweet Summer

Welcome to our house.  I was about to take a picture of the front of our house, to show off the pretty 'welcome garden', when I noticed my little buddies in the window. 

I like to fill this flower bed along our front walk with colorful welcoming flowers.  This year its blue lobelia, pink and purple impatients, red and variegated geraniums.   

Vicki made two planters of her own again this year.  She is pretty proud of them.  This one here has a mix of last years snap dragons and new plants she added this year, including more snap dragons and pansies. 

We made jello jigglers.  I think blue jello is definitely my favorite flavor.

I thought I would try to get a nice pic of us together.  Vicki had other plans.  But after several tries, we finally got a good one. 

 

Here is our fruit garden.  We have a cherry tomato, a beefsteak tomato, 4 rapsberry and 4 blueberry and a couple extra strawberry plants that didn't fit into my strawberry planter.  We also have some vegetable garden planted, but due to the delay of the warm weather, it isn't much to photograph yet.  We have harvested almost all our radishes, and are still waiting on carrots, onions, brussel sprouts, kolrabi, beans and corn. 

Here is my strawberry planter which is very loaded with ripenning berries.  Behind it is Vicki's other planter, full of petunias and snapdragons.

Too cute not to share!  =D

Today is a short list again.  Vicki has a birthday party to go to, so I will take advantage of the time to get some serious house cleaning done.  Cuz, that's my favorite.

I have plans to go see my J-man this evening for coffee before heading to class/rehearsal time with Annyse and Yvonne.  Going to be a great day! 

Enjoy the day!   

~~*poof*~~

Garden Graces

(AKA: things I have observed while working in my garden)





~ strawberries from your own garden taste better than any other you have ever tasted
~ raspberries from your own garden taste better than any other you have ever tasted
~ radishes from your own.... well you get the idea
~ moles eat hydrangea roots
~ our wonderful "this is the perfect blend of soil, peat and sand" top soil, crusts over then doesn't absorb water
~ something keeps eating our blueberries before they are ready
~ nothing will grow in our front garden bed under the trees. We have several plant corpses to prove it
~ vines are evil
~ shade gardens can be beautiful too
~ wasp larva can sting
~ 6 yr olds are pretty good at weeding.... once they understand the difference between the plants and weeds. =)
~ raccoons don't digest grapes (ew)