Showing the Dutchess around...
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Monday, June 12, 2006
Monday, Monday….da da da da da DA!
We have a new member of the FAMILY! Little pupper dog cutie pie. Nate and Julie brought our wee little ‘dawg’ to us and how sweet she is!!! In my excitement, I forgot that puppies actually have ENERGY, need to be potty-trained, and require lots of things to chew. I am now dealing with THREE poop machines, getting my toes bit off, and the occasional screech from Corynn as the puppy attacks her. But I am loving it (except the poo part...naturally!) We have never had a DOG before because DOGS require stability (which we really never had before either…) This dog shows us and the world that we are ‘settled’. The typical American family. A mom, dad, boy, girl and a dog. Just wait until we add a few more kids to the mix…then we will become more freakish than the two-mom families out there. (Wow-boy did I bunny trail!!!)
Anyway-back to the puppy. She is a little lab that is black mostly but has a crown of shaded brown from ear to ear. She really is a cutie pie and even more importantly-she is a good listener. She knows the word ‘no’ (she hears it enough!) and she already knows how to fetch and bring a ball back. Of course, we can’t take credit for such tricks. Nate and Julie were working with her for a WEEK before we got her-and of course she got training at her ‘birth home’ too! She sticks around people like glue and follows me around EVERYWHERE! We decided to call her Dutch or ‘Dutchie’. Why? Not quite sure…
It was great fun visiting with Nate and Julie and playing catch-up. And they brought more presents! Some more tomato plants (Purple Cherokee-yes, they are actually purple!), some twin leaf (a shade-loving flowering plant), an English walnut (I think), and some bee balm. My herb garden is getting planted tomorrow and it is about time and will love the bee balm! They left on Sunday morning before church so the visit was short-but sweet!
Now, to prepare for this coming weekend! G & L are coming to visit for the entire weekend! Oh the kids will love it! And we will too, of course! They are bringing some lumber (from their sawmill) for the children’s swing set and for Dutchie’s coop. All of Matt’s wood projects are made from his dad’s lumber-much of which, Matt helped saw. Of course, he won’t be helping to saw as much now that we are long distance, so it won’t be as ‘easy’ to use it all. :-( No doubt, Gary will help Matt with one of those projects and Linda has already promised to help me dig up some lilies of the valley along the road to bring back to my place. I am not quite brave enough to do it myself. :-) Also, there is an Agri-development Farm show going on this weekend that we are probably going to go to. Fun for the whole family!
I started unpacking some of my craft boxes this week and found things I had forgotten I had! I SO look forward to having my craft room done so I can FOCUS on these fun projects! Some of the half-done projects I uncovered were
A pillowcase doll:
I have a beautiful pillowcase doll that I started embroidering when I was probably about 15 years old that was put away and not brought back out. I must say, I did a GREAT job for my first embroidery attempt and as a kid-it looks great now! And I will keep the pattern to use on OTHER pillowcases I embroider too.
A shell counted cross stitch: It was originally a kit to make framed art with four individual boxes of different stitched shells. Unfortunately, I was only half done when I lost the pattern but I didn’t want to toss ALL the work of the two completed squares. I never knew what to do with it so I just SAVED it. As I unpacked it though, it occurred to me! I will cut the two completed squares and stitch them onto handtowels! Perfect!
Some schnerenschnitte: intricately cut paper that needs to be framed.
A cross-stitch and embroidery pattern for an old barn: It is REALLY neat because the picture is printed in it’s entirety but you only stitch certain areas to create depth and highlighting.
Some pressed flowers: I will decorate wall hangings and candles with the flowers I pressed last year.
Two knit scarves: that might have to wait for fall and winter! :-)
Of course-this on top of scrapbooking ALL of Peanut’s baby pictures (and those are NOT a few!), making a few dresses for Corynn for the summer, making each of the children blankets, and making coordinated outfits for Christmas from a fabric I got at clearance last year! LOTS of goodies to do. Of course, I am not putting time limits on them-with garden tasks and canning, visitors, and everything else. Who knows WHAT I will get done or HOW MUCH, by this fall, and I am not going to stress myself out about it either. After all, hobbies are SUPPOSED to be FUN and NOT stressful! What doesn’t get done by fall will be loads of fun to work on this winter.
Matt took the digi to work with him, so I will post pictures of the Dutchess tonight or tomorrow! Have a greeeeeat day!
Friday, June 09, 2006
Nothing at all and Everything at once
We are busily preparing for some more company this weekend. Nate and Julie are coming to visit and we are anxious for their arrival. Not only are they some of the coolest people BUT they come bearing gifts! Namely, our PUPPY!! They have been caring for the little gal since they picked it up on Sunday. I hope she doesn't miss them when they leave. We still haven't decided on a name-and every time we ask Corynn she says she doesn't WANT it to have a name. She says, "No Mama! It's a dog!" As if having a name would replace it being a dog...silly child. Anyway-thank you Jean for giving us this puppy! It is a MOST precious gift!
Speaking of Corynn...she about broke my heart yesterday. After finishing on the potty, I was praising her for doing such a good job keeping her 'big girl' panties dry. And do you know what she said to me? She said, "Mama. I don't love you anymore." I could have cried right then and there! I know that she didn't MEAN it-goodness, she says she LOVES the mailman. And it wasn't due to any punishment or anything! I think she was just looking for a reaction. And she got one. We then had a converstaion about saying things in kindness and NEVER saying things in order to hurt people. And NEVER speaking to your parents that way because it is disrespectful. I think the saddest part of it all is that my sweet little girl is old enough to realize that some things are NOT nice to say, but she is willing to say them anyway for a reaction-at the expense of someone's feelings. She is human and I have to remember she is not an exception to the depravity of man. I am not ready for these 'grown up' issues. I can deal so much better with the 'don't touch this' and 'don't do that' superficial issues of a toddler.
Yesterday, Corynn and I finished the vegetable garden as we planted the beans. We had soaked them ovenight to speed up germination. As we planted I told Corynn the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. It is a true gift, to tell stories in the oral tradition, and sadly, one that I don't possess. It made me think back to my childhood when my Opa (grandfather) would always be sharing stories with us. He is such a wonderful story teller... weaving the webs of words with such ease, captivating us with stories he had made up himself or the adventures of his younger years. Whether sitting in a chair or walking down the lane, he always had a captivated audience. And he was not bound by the words on a page.
Well, there is much to be done before our company arrives tomorrow. In the house, in the kitchen, and outside. Tonight I am getting my herb dirt (Matt promised!) and we are heading to Wegmans to get LOTS of strawberries. They are all on sale (two 16 oz. packages for $3.00) and so strawberry jam-making is on my to-do for this weekend! This is a good thing because last year's supply is down to a measly half-used pint! I would LOVE to go strawberry PICKING but as of yet, no such place has come under my radar.
Oh-two more little tidbits. We have bird families everywhere! The empty hummingbird nest is no longer empty. I saw a bird in it this morning-and quickly grabbed Corynn so we could watch the happenings. The sweet thing buried herself down so far into the belly of the nest that all you could see was the tail. I am not sure if it was a hummingbird though-but if it wasn't it was VERY small! And yesterday, an abandoned nest above the doorway to our garage had some new occupants as well! The bird startled me when it flew away. Of course, since there haven't been birds in it, I hadn't approached it quietly or with ease. I wasn't able to tell the type of bird, it flew so fast. Most likely a tufted titmouse, since they are EVERYWHERE! Corynn and I set out a birdfeeder close to the nest for some available snacking. We have been waiting for Matt to put up a pully system by our dining room window so we didn't bother putting one up before this. But with feathered inhabitants all around us, we might as well get one out-even if it isn't in the 'perfect' spot!
Have a lovely weekend everyone!
Speaking of Corynn...she about broke my heart yesterday. After finishing on the potty, I was praising her for doing such a good job keeping her 'big girl' panties dry. And do you know what she said to me? She said, "Mama. I don't love you anymore." I could have cried right then and there! I know that she didn't MEAN it-goodness, she says she LOVES the mailman. And it wasn't due to any punishment or anything! I think she was just looking for a reaction. And she got one. We then had a converstaion about saying things in kindness and NEVER saying things in order to hurt people. And NEVER speaking to your parents that way because it is disrespectful. I think the saddest part of it all is that my sweet little girl is old enough to realize that some things are NOT nice to say, but she is willing to say them anyway for a reaction-at the expense of someone's feelings. She is human and I have to remember she is not an exception to the depravity of man. I am not ready for these 'grown up' issues. I can deal so much better with the 'don't touch this' and 'don't do that' superficial issues of a toddler.
Yesterday, Corynn and I finished the vegetable garden as we planted the beans. We had soaked them ovenight to speed up germination. As we planted I told Corynn the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. It is a true gift, to tell stories in the oral tradition, and sadly, one that I don't possess. It made me think back to my childhood when my Opa (grandfather) would always be sharing stories with us. He is such a wonderful story teller... weaving the webs of words with such ease, captivating us with stories he had made up himself or the adventures of his younger years. Whether sitting in a chair or walking down the lane, he always had a captivated audience. And he was not bound by the words on a page.
Well, there is much to be done before our company arrives tomorrow. In the house, in the kitchen, and outside. Tonight I am getting my herb dirt (Matt promised!) and we are heading to Wegmans to get LOTS of strawberries. They are all on sale (two 16 oz. packages for $3.00) and so strawberry jam-making is on my to-do for this weekend! This is a good thing because last year's supply is down to a measly half-used pint! I would LOVE to go strawberry PICKING but as of yet, no such place has come under my radar.
Oh-two more little tidbits. We have bird families everywhere! The empty hummingbird nest is no longer empty. I saw a bird in it this morning-and quickly grabbed Corynn so we could watch the happenings. The sweet thing buried herself down so far into the belly of the nest that all you could see was the tail. I am not sure if it was a hummingbird though-but if it wasn't it was VERY small! And yesterday, an abandoned nest above the doorway to our garage had some new occupants as well! The bird startled me when it flew away. Of course, since there haven't been birds in it, I hadn't approached it quietly or with ease. I wasn't able to tell the type of bird, it flew so fast. Most likely a tufted titmouse, since they are EVERYWHERE! Corynn and I set out a birdfeeder close to the nest for some available snacking. We have been waiting for Matt to put up a pully system by our dining room window so we didn't bother putting one up before this. But with feathered inhabitants all around us, we might as well get one out-even if it isn't in the 'perfect' spot!
Have a lovely weekend everyone!
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Canned tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, tomato salsa, tomato spagetti sauce, tomato ketchup, tomato ...
Yesterday was a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG day.
The children and I went to town, after dropping Matt off at work, to do a bit of shopping. I can't WAIT until we finally get a second vehicle. There is so much I want to do and see and places I would like to visit that I just can't do right now. ANYWAY-we went to the dollar store (and I am pleased to report this dollar store has scrapbooking supplies and preschool workbooks and other schooling notions just like the one I left in NY!!!!) I also got a BUNCH of cool tropical things for Corynn's birthday party (which is not until September but it was all there now so I got it!) Neato garlands, umbrellas for drinks and funky prickers for food, a leigh (is that how you spell it?) for the birthday girl, and some square hawaiian plates. Now I have LOTS of time to think about fun cakes and foods that match the whole theme. It is nice when your kids are so little you can make up your own theme and get things inexpensively!!
While uptown we stopped at Walmart and went to the garden department just to look around and grab a few more tomato cages (since we can only fit five in our car at a time!). But I couldn't help myself when I saw all sorts of goodies on SALE because their plant selling season is coming to a close-the remaining plants are definately not the cream of the crop, if you know what I mean. Soooooooooooooooooo.........Guess what I got?!?! Just GUESS! Okay-it's not as much fun on the computer as it would be in person.
I got a hydrangea plant. One of my FAVORITES!!!! I got a PEONY plant. (I LOVE THOSE and they smell so lovely-before I had even planted it in the ground two butterflies had found it!) I planted them in holes left from when Matt removed some stumps. (There are actually three MORE stump holes-one will be used for Corynn's water garden and the other two I am not sure about.) I also got a blueberry bush. Now-the blueberry bush: you are supposed to have more than one for cross pollination and such but there was only one left-which was why I spent only a few bucks on it. So-we will atleast get to enjoy fresh berries this year. And next year, we will buy some more so that we will get berries in the future too. I transfered it to a larger container because I didn't want to PLANT it in the ground until we clear out the place where I would like our blueberry bushes to go. There are lots of green berries on it so I am so looking forward to snacking on them!
As SOON as we got home from town I laid the children down for a nap (albeit, a late one...) and headed to the garden. I got some gardening gloves for my birthday and looked tirelessly for the right one. Unfortunately, I gave up and went one sided. Little Miss had hid one of them on me-only to be found after the garden was complete! Grrrrrr.
The sun was beating down on me and I was working hard. Finally, I looked to see how many more tomatoes I had to plant-and I counted 20. WHAT?!?!? Twenty?!?!?! That is how many I planned to plant this year! But I had just spent an hour planting tomatoes!!! I counted and we have a total of 45 tomato plants! I don't know what happened. I must have been looking at all the different varieties and contemplating which ones I should try-and then got distracted and just got them all! I have husky cherry tomatoes, lemon boy, first lady, supersweet 100, and 20 Romas. Not sure how I will be able to manage such a yield...tomatoes, anyone?!?!
I posted some pictures of Matt spreading the dirt. He was only able to get the outer edges so most of the leveling was done by hand by yours truly. We ended up not boxing it in this year so it doesn't look as neat and tidy as I would like. Perhaps next year we can box it in as we expand. I used some chalk powder to create the layout. I got a huge container of it at the dollar store about a year ago. It worked perfectly! As expected, plans need modification so there was some improvision to the layout of my garden (thanks to Michelle). I did the tomatoes in rows, then spinach and lettuce, then pepper plants, then a row of brussel sprouts and beets. The rest of the garden I split in to four squares. One for corn, one for cucumbers, one for zucchinni squash, and one for garden beans. We will see how it works out. I have NEVER had any luck with corn, who knows?!?!? There is a first time for everything, after all! My yield on cucumbers has never been fantastic either. Hopefully, I will get enough to make some pickles this year...
So goes my vegetable garden. And my home is slowly but surely being surrounded by beautiful flowers and shrubs. Little by little this place will become all I want it to be!
Monday, June 05, 2006
Shall I compare thee
To a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely
And more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling
Buds of May.
And summer’s lease
Hath all too short a date. –William Shakespeare
As it fell upon a day
In the merry month of May.
Sitting in a pleasant shade
Which a grove of Myrtles made,
Beasts did leap and birds did sing,
Trees did grow and plants did spring. – Richard Barnefield
Plants and earth are constantly on my mind and I am convinced that now, regardless of the extreme heat and the berry-red skin, summer will be my favorite season. We have put up a shabby fence (ridiculously done so we could save money instead of buying the ‘good stuff’.) In the end, I do think the bunnies and deer will, with bulging cheeks and ever-full bellies, delight in our frugality. Perhaps next year, recollecting our misfortunes, we will fork out more money to buy the fencing that will do the job. I doubt it though.
Another happy note: I noticed a hummingbird nest outside of our window the other day! They are shaped more like a ball than a bowl. I wish I would have discovered it when there were babies in it-although I wouldn't have been able to peek in anyway...
Flowers are poking their wee little heads and smiling at us on our walks and in our yard. And bursting with smiles too, is our little Andy Panda who delights me to no end with his first smiles. Yesterday he had a long ‘conversation’ with me (that I just happened to get on video!) and has since been quite generous with his charming grin. I love him so.
Today the childer and I walked to the neighbors’ behind us who have a little girl just days apart in age from Corynn. Corynn had a grand time in the house-but as we left, she spotted the swingset and sandbox in the backyard. Undoubtedly, she will be asking to visit again-just to visit that fenced in treasure-trove.
When visiting with our neighbor, she told me of a few local greenhouses (of which I was not aware…) one Mennonite and one Amish. Not only do they sell plants-but all growing needs-PLUS handmade furniture. I think that Corynn and I will head to those places to visit and perhaps buy some annuals. It would be so nice to check them out and compare for next year. Perhaps I am discriminating here, but to me, plants from the Mennonites or Amish would be healthier. Why would I think that? I don’t know. Really, it is just hogwash I suppose, but ever since Beverly Lewis, I seem to idealize the Amish anyway. :-)
Because it has been so rainy and cold for the last week or so, I think all the cloth coverings we own are dirty-I haven’t wanted to wash them if I couldn’t line dry them so the piles just kept building and building. Today is a glorious day and the line has not been lonely. By the time I was ready to hang the second load-much of the first was already DRY-and that was just 30 minutes later!!!
I promised you all a ‘virtual tour’ of my house-but haven’t yet followed through. That is because I am finding it VERY difficult to find the ‘perfect spot’ for our wall hangings, photos, wreaths and such. I wanted to wait until they were ALL decorated before doing so-but my inspiration is just not shining through! I might be weeding through some things and not even hanging some things up. I don’t know. But right now-the walls are still quite bare and the house doesn’t have that completely ‘homey’ feel yet.
Tomorrow Matt plans to give me my herb soil. Hurrah! Tonight and tomorrow I hope to finally plant my veggies. Up until this point, the soil has been TOO WET . Matt assures me this isn’t so, but it seems like the ‘soil’ is 25% dirt and 75% manure. In anycase-the plants I purchased last week are crying out to be established in the garden so it NEEDS to be done.
Yes I ramble about my garden-if I talk this much about it on my blog-imagine how MATT feels! (Although he is ever so gracious and even now and then adds an ‘uh-huh’ to the mix. What a good man.
To a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely
And more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling
Buds of May.
And summer’s lease
Hath all too short a date. –William Shakespeare
As it fell upon a day
In the merry month of May.
Sitting in a pleasant shade
Which a grove of Myrtles made,
Beasts did leap and birds did sing,
Trees did grow and plants did spring. – Richard Barnefield
Plants and earth are constantly on my mind and I am convinced that now, regardless of the extreme heat and the berry-red skin, summer will be my favorite season. We have put up a shabby fence (ridiculously done so we could save money instead of buying the ‘good stuff’.) In the end, I do think the bunnies and deer will, with bulging cheeks and ever-full bellies, delight in our frugality. Perhaps next year, recollecting our misfortunes, we will fork out more money to buy the fencing that will do the job. I doubt it though.
Another happy note: I noticed a hummingbird nest outside of our window the other day! They are shaped more like a ball than a bowl. I wish I would have discovered it when there were babies in it-although I wouldn't have been able to peek in anyway...
Flowers are poking their wee little heads and smiling at us on our walks and in our yard. And bursting with smiles too, is our little Andy Panda who delights me to no end with his first smiles. Yesterday he had a long ‘conversation’ with me (that I just happened to get on video!) and has since been quite generous with his charming grin. I love him so.
Today the childer and I walked to the neighbors’ behind us who have a little girl just days apart in age from Corynn. Corynn had a grand time in the house-but as we left, she spotted the swingset and sandbox in the backyard. Undoubtedly, she will be asking to visit again-just to visit that fenced in treasure-trove.
When visiting with our neighbor, she told me of a few local greenhouses (of which I was not aware…) one Mennonite and one Amish. Not only do they sell plants-but all growing needs-PLUS handmade furniture. I think that Corynn and I will head to those places to visit and perhaps buy some annuals. It would be so nice to check them out and compare for next year. Perhaps I am discriminating here, but to me, plants from the Mennonites or Amish would be healthier. Why would I think that? I don’t know. Really, it is just hogwash I suppose, but ever since Beverly Lewis, I seem to idealize the Amish anyway. :-)
Because it has been so rainy and cold for the last week or so, I think all the cloth coverings we own are dirty-I haven’t wanted to wash them if I couldn’t line dry them so the piles just kept building and building. Today is a glorious day and the line has not been lonely. By the time I was ready to hang the second load-much of the first was already DRY-and that was just 30 minutes later!!!
I promised you all a ‘virtual tour’ of my house-but haven’t yet followed through. That is because I am finding it VERY difficult to find the ‘perfect spot’ for our wall hangings, photos, wreaths and such. I wanted to wait until they were ALL decorated before doing so-but my inspiration is just not shining through! I might be weeding through some things and not even hanging some things up. I don’t know. But right now-the walls are still quite bare and the house doesn’t have that completely ‘homey’ feel yet.
Tomorrow Matt plans to give me my herb soil. Hurrah! Tonight and tomorrow I hope to finally plant my veggies. Up until this point, the soil has been TOO WET . Matt assures me this isn’t so, but it seems like the ‘soil’ is 25% dirt and 75% manure. In anycase-the plants I purchased last week are crying out to be established in the garden so it NEEDS to be done.
Yes I ramble about my garden-if I talk this much about it on my blog-imagine how MATT feels! (Although he is ever so gracious and even now and then adds an ‘uh-huh’ to the mix. What a good man.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Dirt on Me (and some fun gardening activities for kids)
O Happy Day! My dirt has finally arrived-and such a pleasing sight it is! A deep brown, very different from the dry and orange earth veiled beneath the grass. Now, due to our woodchuck family neighbors, we will get a fence up and then I will start planting! I found a local greenhouse (the only one from what I can tell) and was VERY pleased with the prices! In previous years I have spent $2.00 for a single tomato plant but this year I was able to get four plants for $1.29!!! Hurrah! I also purchased two zucchini plants (I will grow more from seed), sweet pepper plants (I will grow more from seed) AND hot, and a bit of lavendar. ALL of those plants were STILL far less than I thought I would pay for tomatoes alone! So I threw in a hanging basket-STILL less than I thought I would spend! So now plants and dirt wait patiently to be united. I can't wait to get my hands dirty! Our driveway is so large I put our hang basket arches along them and will line it with plants. Just the one looks lovely, I know adding another will only add to the charm.
_______________________________________
MORE Garden Plans
* Directly behind our house is a rather steep embankment of soil. Matt said he will terrace it for me!!! I will add shade-loving flowers and ferns to it to dress up the garage side of the house. I hope this is 'THIS YEAR' project!!!
* I just saw an idea in a container gardening book of mine to create a container water garden. I think this would be a WONDERFUL thing for Corynn to work on herself and it would be a good learning tool as well! My brother Jonathan had this WONDERFUL little pond with water plants and HUGE goldfish-and even a waterfall! We will not get that elaborate-that requires a lot. (though the results are quite worth it!) So-after my veg. and herb gardens are in, Corynn and I will be taking a trip to the greenhouse where she will pick out some water-loving vegetation, she will pay for it 'herself' and then we will get that water garden made. I will post pictures for any and all interested.
Other good gardening opportunities for kiddos (that would create MANY teachable moments!) are (to name a few)...
~Create a wildlife garden (research what plants attract birds, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and such.)
OR going further with the animal theme, find plants with animal NAMES and make a 'Plant Zoo" (spider plants, elephant bush, hens and chicks...there are more than you think!)
~ Create a desert garden (using pebbles, sand, cactuses and other such drought resistant plants.)
~ Create a Little House on the Prairie garden (use lemon verbena and other such plants that are spoken about.)
~Create color gardens-focusing on flowers all one color
~A scent garden
~An edible garden
All of these garden's can be downsized for CONTAINERS which would make it a more practical size for children.
If you want to go LARGE-create an alphabet garden planting something for each letter of the alphabet!
Another fun project I have seen done is to make flower houses and tunnels! To make a house, you just plant sunflowers in a square (leaving space for a door) and then train the stalks to bend to one another (by tying) to create a roof. A tunnel requires you to put metal arches in the ground and to train climbing vines around them. These are things we will probably do in the future, but it would be on the 'are you CRAZY?!?!?!' list for this year.
____________________________________________
Yesterday it was mid-90's and it was the day I decided I NEEDED to get to baking pies for my neighbors. So-despite the heat, my day was spent slicing fruit, cutting in butter, rolling out dough, and bending into a burning oven. Then Corynn, Andy Panda and I went hiking to the houses. Unfortunately, no one was home so I am guessing we will be hiking again today!
Besides that, I have SO much to do inside-I have constantly been busy but for some reason-there is STILL a lot to do. Not sure how THAT happens but-I guess I should be happy. At least I am not BORED! hehehe
_______________________________________
MORE Garden Plans
* Directly behind our house is a rather steep embankment of soil. Matt said he will terrace it for me!!! I will add shade-loving flowers and ferns to it to dress up the garage side of the house. I hope this is 'THIS YEAR' project!!!
* I just saw an idea in a container gardening book of mine to create a container water garden. I think this would be a WONDERFUL thing for Corynn to work on herself and it would be a good learning tool as well! My brother Jonathan had this WONDERFUL little pond with water plants and HUGE goldfish-and even a waterfall! We will not get that elaborate-that requires a lot. (though the results are quite worth it!) So-after my veg. and herb gardens are in, Corynn and I will be taking a trip to the greenhouse where she will pick out some water-loving vegetation, she will pay for it 'herself' and then we will get that water garden made. I will post pictures for any and all interested.
Other good gardening opportunities for kiddos (that would create MANY teachable moments!) are (to name a few)...
~Create a wildlife garden (research what plants attract birds, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and such.)
OR going further with the animal theme, find plants with animal NAMES and make a 'Plant Zoo" (spider plants, elephant bush, hens and chicks...there are more than you think!)
~ Create a desert garden (using pebbles, sand, cactuses and other such drought resistant plants.)
~ Create a Little House on the Prairie garden (use lemon verbena and other such plants that are spoken about.)
~Create color gardens-focusing on flowers all one color
~A scent garden
~An edible garden
All of these garden's can be downsized for CONTAINERS which would make it a more practical size for children.
If you want to go LARGE-create an alphabet garden planting something for each letter of the alphabet!
Another fun project I have seen done is to make flower houses and tunnels! To make a house, you just plant sunflowers in a square (leaving space for a door) and then train the stalks to bend to one another (by tying) to create a roof. A tunnel requires you to put metal arches in the ground and to train climbing vines around them. These are things we will probably do in the future, but it would be on the 'are you CRAZY?!?!?!' list for this year.
____________________________________________
Yesterday it was mid-90's and it was the day I decided I NEEDED to get to baking pies for my neighbors. So-despite the heat, my day was spent slicing fruit, cutting in butter, rolling out dough, and bending into a burning oven. Then Corynn, Andy Panda and I went hiking to the houses. Unfortunately, no one was home so I am guessing we will be hiking again today!
Besides that, I have SO much to do inside-I have constantly been busy but for some reason-there is STILL a lot to do. Not sure how THAT happens but-I guess I should be happy. At least I am not BORED! hehehe
Here is a bonafide pool. Last year, Corynn's 'pool' was a bucket. This year we were graciously given a giftcard to ToysRUs and this is what we got. Unfortunately, there is an orange tunnel/sprinkler/basketball hoop that also attaches-but when we took it out of the box it already had a HOLE in it! I am hoping to get a replacement piece.
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