Friday, May 27, 2016

Monday, March 12, 2012

on the road

I love Spring... and Spring Break!  We're in Tennessee and just relaxing with the beautiful views.  The trees burst into bloom overnight, and at first Sam thought it had snowed! 

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

gardening in February

It's the middle of February in Iowa (zone 5a). Although it's probably above normal temperature outdoors, the wind is blowing with gusts up to 25 mph. There could be a lot of winter left out there, but I'm in the house.... gardening.
I've been making seed tapes!
I've never been a fan of planting carrot seeds, but I do love me some carrots!  The older I get, the harder it's been to plant them, so I just haven't done it.  But this year, I am trying something different.  I unrolled 4 feet of toilet tissue, folded and creased it in half, and then half again.  I unfolded it and cut down the middle of the four foot length to make 2 sections.  Then I separated the two-ply four foot long sections to have 4 sections that are all creased down the middle.
I made a paste of equal parts flour and water.  I laid a section of tissue out across the table next to a measuring tape, took a plastic toothpick and dabbed it in the flour paste, and put little blobs of the paste onto the tissue every 3 inches.  Then I dabbed the toothpick in my little pile of carrot seeds and put a seed into each blob of paste down the strip.  Then I folded the strip over along the crease to "seal" in the seeds and hung them over a chair to dry. 
Now when it's spring and time to plant carrots, I'll be in the game again!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The Trip

It's almost time.
I've waited almost a year for this.
My boss was super fabulous and granted my wish for a long (almost 4 weeks) vacation.
But, I've been so busy, I've not had time to plan.  So I have no idea where I'll be headed next week, but stay tuned... it could be fun!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Kids

If you are a young person... take a note of this...

If your mom takes you to school every morning.. for whatever reason, such as busing issues, or early practice or classes, and one particular morning your mom's cell phone was left charging in the kitchen, and she told you that, and she asked you if she would need her phone and you said no, and then after she drops you off at school and comes home and goes directly to the garden to pick strawberries ... then do not call her five times and not leave a message. 
Instead, if you just want to tell her that you found out that since it's the last day of school and you have all your tests taken and your homework turned in that you actually don't have school on this day and you have left the building to go over to your old elementary building to say goodbye to your most favorite teacher ever who is retiring this year... send her a text!
Because if she tries to call you back and you don't answer, and she sends you a text and you don't answer, she might think after 5 missed calls that you are having some sort of emergency at school.  She might call the office and have you paged.  Of course if you are no longer in the building, you won't get that page and then the people in the office will be concerned as well, not to mention think that your mom is pretty irresponsible for not knowing where you are if you are not at school where they think your mom thinks you are.
Just sayin'

Love you, Bo!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Working Girls

I'm on "Tuesday" of my work week.  I've been working weekends for over 7 years now. In the beginning it was fun and easy.  I still spent time with friends on Friday evenings and occasionally Saturday nights.  But working two 12 hours shifts Saturday and Sunday quickly put a damper on those activities!
Now I work 8 hour shifts on Saturday and Sunday, and additional hours during the week... always p.m. shifts.
I get to spend time on weekend mornings with my boys now, which is a real benefit!  I'm pretty tired most of those mornings, but I can enjoy the boys from the couch if I have to!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Good Morning!

I'm not a fan of rabbits. They are cute I guess, but I know that's just a cover for evil. This time of year there are green things all over the neighborhood.. fresh, tender green things.  Why then, do the rabbits choose my garden?  They have to negotiate a chain link fence, and then hop up into the raised beds where the fare for my lunch is waiting to be destroyed by Peter Cottontail and friends.
I think they may have been the culprits who bit off and spit out section after section of my new aronia bushes as well.
Next year's garden budget will include chicken wire.  And maybe a live trap.
:-)