An uncomfortable first for me...

Well, there've been many things I wanted to blog about but haven't because the camera cord is missing, and I can't load photos onto either of my laptops. We have to use the chip reader on Ian's work laptop, and I can't really use it. Anyway, I've wanted to show you my goslings, the growing chicks, the garden, the kids playing in the yard, and Asher's stitches. This morning however, I only have words- words no parent probably wants to hear. Well, at least no parent of a 3 year old boy.
Asher at 7:00 this morning (I mean really, was he dreaming about this last night?): Mom, How do babies come out? (mom tries to change the subject) But MOOOOoommmm, How do babies come out? (Mom- they come out of momma's bellies) But MOoooooommmmmm! How do babies come out? (start a sentence with God and finish with anything) Oh, ok, I knew God did it. And then he gets up and walks away. I'm safe for a little while longer at least :)

Growing in the Garden

This year the garden has grown! I can't wait to see if it produces; I've already noticed we made a few mistakes- like buying Walmart topsoil- UGH, it's awful, and if I wouldn't kill the plants I'd dig it all up and throw it out!

Here's what's planted now-
Broccoli (9), Collards (9), Cabbage (9), Kale (9), Bok Choy (9), Onion (about 50), Spinach (9), Red Sails Lettuce (9), Sugar Snap Peas, (about 50), Leeks (a lot), Chives (perennial from last year), Yard long bean (hasn't sprouted yet- sown 10), Red Cabbage (4), Turnips (9), Strawberries (perennials from last year that have massively expanded!), Pink Girl Tomatoes (4), Golden Bell Pepper (4), Better Boy Tomato (4), Ruby Red Pepper (4), La Roma II Tomato (8), Eggplant (4), Cilantro (2), Cherry Tomatoes (4), Sweet Banana Pepper (4), Cherokee Tomatoes (4), Jalepeno Pepper (4), Habenero Pepper (4), Red Pontiac Potatoes, Red potatoes from Grandad, and Blue potatoes for fun (about 40-50 potatoes all together), Asparagus (50), Sweet Basil (6), Boxwood Basil (3), Cinnamon Basil (3), Mint (4), Chocolate Mint (1), Orange Mint (1), Ginger Mint (1), Yellow Crookneck Squash (4), Zucchini (4), and Mammoth Sunflower seeds (about 40).

My perennial herbs have all come back- oregano, thyme, bee balm, peppermint, lemon balm, rosemary, sage, and I can't remember what else. This is their third year and they look great!

This weekend I hope to finish planting watermelon, sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, seminole pumpkin, corn, tomatillos, pole beans- kentucky wonder and purple pod, cantaloupe, scarlet runner bean (just for pretties), and peanuts. Everything left plants by seed- except the sweet potatoes which I still need to buy. I have in my possession (or in the mail on the way to me) all the seeds we need for the rest of the garden.

This week we finished filling the third raised bed and planted in it. Each of the raised beds and the row of asparagus and basil has it's own soaker hose that will not be moved for the season. I plan to plant in the raised beds in the fall as well. I hope to have my act together and plant beets, turnips, parsnips, carrots, more peas and greens and anything else for harvest this fall.

My next big project for the garden will be a grape trellis for next year. Ian doesn't know it yet though, so let's keep it to ourselves till he's not so busy :) Oh yeah, and a lounging arbor/trellis for hardy kiwis. And blueberries and gooseberries. And we haven't planted walnuts or chestnuts yet. :)

A new day...

We stayed up late with friends last night, and the children slept in for the longest they've ever slept as a group! Loubie was up first at 7:30. Nathaniel followed at 8:20, then Asher, then Gabe, and then sleepy head Micaela.

I did not sleep in. I beat Ian's alarm (I know, I'm sleeping less and less and I have no idea why), was up at 5:00, checked the budget, my email, and the weather, made Ian's breakfast and lunch, swept the floor, picked up toys left over from 10 rowdy kids, watered the garden, found strawberries in bloom!!!!, changed Loubie's very nasty diaper, moved the chickens out to the ark for the day, and now I'm making my late sleepers clean up their rooms and the playroom before I'll make breakfast.

It's almost nine. Maybe we'll make bread for lunch and have smoothies for breakfast. But the kids like oatmeal, so we'll probably make oatmeal.