welcome to my garden, part four

 

(facing north)

In the middle of my garden are containers, barrels, and pots of various sizes. I've been learning companion planting so most containers have two or more types of plants together. Currently there are lettuce, kale, swiss chard, tomatoes, onions, garlic, squash, cucumber, broccoli, asparagus, melon, Moringa, blueberries, Marigolds (to keep the bugs away) and grapes.

 (facing east)

 

(facing south)

(the salad bar)

think before you leap

 The best laid plans of Gramma School was to have one day of preschool with Tessa, one day with both girls on Tuesday, and a third day focused on first grade language skills with Natale. And it worked quite well- the first week. Because of schedule changes, illnesses, vacations etc. Tessa's first day, back in January, was the only day I've had with just her- until this week. 

This week we had two days of  concentrated preschool. We worked played hard and accomplished much. After reviewing the 18 letters that have been introduced so far we played a sidewalk game to practice the letters that were still proving to be tricky. I had Tessa help me make the game board which tripled as a review of letter sounds and a handwriting lesson. Then the work began as I would call out letter sounds and Tessa located the letter before jumping to that letter. You can see from the look of concentration that preschool is more than just fun and games, there is serious thinking going on here.

pre-school

I woke early this morning, just a few minutes past five, quietly rolled out of bed and into a warm cup of choffee. As I padded silently through the kitchen in hopes of a quiet hour by myself before the barrage of four year old "Why's" begin a line from The Three Little Pigs, the version my father read to me when I was little, came to my mind. It reads something like this...So the next morning the little pig got up at 5 AM... each day being an hour earlier than the previous day in an effort to be up before the big bad wolf. The last several times Tessa has spent the night she has awaken earlier than her usual 7 AM...apparently laying quietly in bed waiting to see lights come on downstairs indicating that I am up. 


When I met Tessa's mom at the half way point yesterday she told me that each prayer that Tessa prayed this past week contained the words, "And that I could go to my grandma's house". 

Oh, how that little one has snuggled her way into my heart.

blessing

Several months ago I figured out how to add new links to my list of blogs I follow  (I know, slow learner- seeing how I've been blogging for several years). As I follow links from one blog to another and I discover a post that speaks to an area of interest I've added it to my list. I have blogs on eating raw, being a minimalist (that's even funnier than the above comment if you know anything about Jay), homeschooling, art/decorating, and walking closely with YaHWeH.

When the calendar turned from 12 to 13 I read several articles on setting goals. Twenty-thirteen marked the transition to two students and three days to my homeschool routine. A simplified approach seemed a smart way to plot my course for the new season. I read posts about choosing one word...then applying that singular thought in all areas of life. I brain stormed a  list of words that I might choose but pretty-much knew from the start that I was going to choose  the word blessing.

BLESSING, I've become much more conscience of using words of blessing since my transition to a Hebrew Roots approach to my faith. 

All that to say....this morning as I was scanning recent posts I noticed the following blessing written by Emily at chatting at the sky . I want to echo her words of blessing to you at the start of this new week.


May your weekend be filled with people – the kind you love and the kind who love you. May you be brave in conversation, humble as you listen, lighthearted as you refuse to take yourself too seriously.

And if you spend a little time with someone who is hurting, may you be willing to offer your company without saying any words at all. And may you remember that really, everyone is hurting. Be slow to take offense.

happy welcome

My "Mexican Daisies" are blooming. They make a happy welcome at our front door. Their bright little faces create a mini-celebration each time I step out the door.

progress

I noticed this week that Tessa's potato people have sprouted hair and eye lashes. She is such a good natured, sweet girl and so fun to teach. She makes me smile from eye to eye.

garden tour, part three

The north wall of the garden is my favorite; not only is it the most pleasing to the eye but also to the nose. In the back row is mostly fruit trees, citrus, pomegranate, nectarine, plum and a newly added kumquat tree (a gift from my sweet Filipino friend). The front row is mostly herbs: basil, thyme, oregano, chives, sage, parsley, cilantro, and lavender.

The blue "rain barrels" in the back hold water from the swamp cooler that is mounted on the roof. I use the water to water the plants and keep my compost moist.

do the zoo

On Thursday two mommies, two little girls, and one grand-teacher went to the zoo. We arrived at 9AM just as the gates opened to try to avoid the 90 degree heat that was predicted. The zoo has lots of shade trees and also spray grounds to keep the little ones cool.

 

 

We made zoo books that we worked on during our lunch break. Tessa had an abc zoo animal book and Natale's book was catergorizing the animals into reptile, bird, mammal or primate. We used stickers, left over from 100's day, to start our books in during the drive to the zoo.

Two hams in a clam!

snack time

The girls both bring snack bags to school. When they are hungry mid-morning or afternoon they can help themselves. Snack time is always a happy.

welcome to my garden, part two

The first third of the long raised bed has lettuce and carrots. Natale and I harvested the first carrot Monday. She was a bit taken aback by the dirt attached to the carrot.  We also currently have a few sweet peas available for nibbling.

 The middle of the bed is pretty much new spouts, beets, onions, and garlic.

 On the far end are some beets waiting for harvesting, leaf lettuce, onions and a couple more pea plants.

After watching the Back to Eden Film I've started surrounding the plants with mulch from the pile of trees we chopped up two years back. Not only does it help with moisture retention but has the bonus benifit of eye appeal.

welcome to my garden, part one

My garden is growing in leaves and bounds. I thought it would be fun to take you on a tour...


The door- well, for the most part the entire greenhouse- is cleverly (although not always aesthetically) pieced together from the salvage that my husband has squirreled away. I found a cute wooden sign for the entrance (note door to chickens is to the left in this shot) that draws your eye away from the dinge of the old door.

The entire east wall is the raised bed Jay built with the first bit of the bed holding lettuce we've been enjoying for months. Now our salad staple is quickly bolting as the days are warming so I've been slowing pulling the old plants and using them as chicken treats, the long stems ending up in my compost pile. Note how the lettuce leaves hang over the edge; the chickens love to come in the garden and hop up to help themselves to a bite of fresh greens. I sometimes let them come in and scratch around in the compost pile but have to watch closely or they head for greener pastures.

The inside walls of the greenhouse are either plastic, bird netting or various used sheets of wood.

Recently when I stopped at a church yard sale I was inspired by some interesting wallpaper ... 

and ended up with this...

stay tuned for part two of the tour...

after the rain

It rain all day Friday, a chilly windy rain. But before the day ended there was a ray of sunshine that crossed the horizon. The overcast sky and golden light made a stunning combination out the back door. 

After shooting multiple angles I was headed back to the warm but paused again when I spotted my two favorite people framed in the window with the mountain reflected in the glass.

orange-julie-us

Making lemonade out of lemons-gone orange. Last week Jay brought home two large containers of very ripe oranges. After squeezing OJ for several mornings in a row without making a noticeable dent in the supply we needed a new plan. Jay peeled and juiced the oranges and I froze the juice in small plastic cups. I looked up Orange Julius recipes online and came up with a yummy morning treat. I substituted the milk, vanilla and sugar with vanilla yogurt and honey. The surprise in the recipe was a raw egg yolk that makes the fluffy. Tessa surprised me with the suggestion of adding cinnamon, which ended up being a excellent idea (from a four year old!). I'm surprised Orange Julius hasn't added it to their selection. When I found some leftover pumpkin-chocolate chip muffins in the freezer it was a breakfast fit for my favorite African-Adventure-Muffin-Maker-Niece. 

for farmer fred

Dear Farmer Fred,

I thought of you this weekend as we worked on a project in the wash.
I harvested stones as the dirt was being moved around and built this rock wall (almost) all by myself.

With much love and sore muscles,
Your Rocking Auntie

for blueberry betsy

I found some blueberry plants on the clearance rack last fall and bought a couple to see how they would fare in the greenhouse. Last week I was excited to discover their delicate little blooms. 

march on in

What a fun surprise

on the eve of the month of March 

as I was cleaning up my oregano

I discovered a clover plant had move in as well.

happy birthday to me

My Aunt in Colorado emailed this photo to me yesterday. 

It is one of my favorites pictures from my baby-hood.