Wednesday, June 27, 2012

It's a Jungle Out There

Next year, I will have to do some rearranging with my lay-out.
My plants have never done this well,
I'm attributing this souley to my lasagna gardening. 

The stalks on my tomato plants are almost an inch thick.
Unfortunately, my onions aren't faring so well because lack of light.

The radishes are all out and I will be replacing those with onion sets.
Hopefully, in the full light, they will do better.
I'm in search of the big onion bulb.

Although, my onions aren't fairing as well,
 my peppers are doing great!
 I will be picking two this week.

It's still early, but all of my tomatoes are looking great
and producing large amounts of fruit.

My beans have overtaken the whole garden box
and I am looking forward to trying to find them all.
No blossom as of yet.

Here are my cucumbers. 
I am planning on looking for some metal headboards
for  trellaces for the cucumbers to climb up.
Gardening is an on going learning experience for me.
Until next time...

Friday, June 22, 2012

A Celebration of Life

On Wednesday this week,
the kids and I headed up to spend time with my Aunt Mary.
Since we didn't get a chance to make it to the funeral,
I was especially looking forward to being able to see my aunt
and to celebrate the wonderful life my uncle had.

My other Aunt Patti traveled up also to be able to see us as well,
which was so wonderful to be able to all be together.

My Aunt Patti is the technology wiz and has all the latest gadgets,
which the kids just soaked it up.
We had such a wonderful visit with my Aunt Patti
and are so grateful she made the long trek up to see us!

My oldest was tuned into the Wii games a lot of the time.
He had a blast!

In honor of my uncle,
we celebrated with fruit kabobs,
which is something we ate with him the last time we visited their house.

We all laughed at remembering making fruit kabobs with Uncle Bill
 the last time we visited their house.

The girls were watching intently for butterflies
and enjoyed looking out at the fountain right out the window.

Of course, some things don't change...
we got spoiled with treats and sweets.

We had a wonderful time snuggling, hugging,
laughing, crying, and most of all,
remembering a great man.


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Father's Day

Well, this weekend started out with a day of priming the chicken coop.

 I was hoping to get it painted this weekend as well,
but due to inclimate weather, that was put on hold.

 We did some errands in town and some couldn't make it 'til we got home
before our naps.

The whole family went on a berry picking walk.

 Because the weather was so warm so soon this spring,
everything is being harvested early.
We got to enjoy berries for dessert.

 Zach and my eldest had a chess game face off,
which ended in a draw. 
All in all, we had a great weekend.
Happy Father's day to my husband...
I know few father's as wonderful as you.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

A Coop for the girls

Well, the chicks are no longer chicks...
the brief time I was unable to post,
the girls grew up!

 Naturally, they need a bigger place to live.
So Zach and my father-in-law set out building a new home.
My girls were a little dismayed that they wouldn't have this little spot
devoted especially for dancing:)

 The walls went up in a hurry,
especially when you factor in the 90 degree weather we had this weekend.

 The cows in the background aren't ours,
but they make a good backdrop.

My wonderful husband framing the roof.


The only thing that was left to do:
-paint
-roof
-put in windows and doors
-get the boxes inside built
-do the outside fence


Well, it's roofed, windows in, and a temporary door put in so we can move in the girls.


The girls didn't really know what to think at first.
Once we got them all in, they ran around pecking everything.


The girls are getting adjusted to their mansion.
 I'll keep you posted with updates.


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Strawberries ,strawberries, strawberries

This year instead of buying my 30-40 quarts of strawberries from the Amish,
we went strawberry picking instead. 
It was a family event for those of us who could go...
my sister-in-law, two nephews, and my mother-in-law.

 We had a blast, especially this one right here.
She looks so sweet and innocent,
 although she probably weighed 5 pounds heavier on the way out. 

 We picked four flats for our family.

Maybe down a quart or too from our strawberry thief. 

 Here is my strawberry jam making set up. 
 I have my little helper with me(sneaking strawberries, of course)

I did multiple the batch by six, which it probably too much.
Reminder for next year, only multiply by five. 
The final result:
22 pints
10 half-pints
This is the start of the canning season. 

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Lasagna Gardening

This year Zach and I decided to make our lives a little easier
by making garden boxes. 
It was Zach who recommended higher boxes for less bending.
Don't tell him, but boy, was he RIGHT! 
Gardening, weeding, planting, it is all so much easier!
While researching what to put into the boxes,
I found a site explaining just what I needed...
Lasagna Gardening.
Basically, it's layering certain materials
so that they break down into nutrient rich soil,
 otherwise referred to as sheet composting.

Here's my tutorial on how to lasagna garden:

 First we started with our garden boxes
 that we lined with black plastic to help retain the moisture.


 We put in wire bracing to help support
the weight of the materials going into the boxes.
We put in a layer of soil with clay on the bottoms of the boxes
 before we got to the lasagna part of the gardening.

 Start your garden with three sheets thick of newspaper, moistened.

 Once moistened, cover with peat moss, compost, or manure, then start layering.

Alternate layers of "brown"(carbon-rich) materials with
 "green"(nitrogen-rich) materials. 
 The ratio should be around 2 to1, brown to green materials. 

Here are some ideas for the Brown Materials:
-Shredded paper or newspaper
-Pine needles
-Straw
-Peat moss
-Fall leaves

Here are some examples for the green materials:
-Fruit and Vegetable scraps
-Grass clippings
-Coffee grounds and tea bags
-Seaweed
-Trimmings from the garden and weeds that haven't gone to seed


If you are planting right away, be sure to add several layers of compost or peat moss.
I added compost to the top layer before planting.
Note: Once layered the garden will settle a few inches over the first couple of weeks

My potato box, I layered a little less to allow room for straw. 
This year I'm trying a new technique(new for me anyway)
 for planting potatoes that involves just covering with straw.
As you see, I put my last layer of compost down,
 then I put my potatoes on top,
then covered with 6 inches of straw on top of that.

Once the potato plant comes through about 3-4 inches,
 cover with an additional straw until plants are almost covered.
Continue this process until there is about a foot of straw on top.
Once the plant dies,
peel the layer of straw off and grab all of your potatoes...with no digging!
My plants are thriving better than any other year so I'm very optimistic for my new methods.
I'll keep you posted on the progress.
Happy Gardening:) 



Friday, June 8, 2012

Less like Simple, More like crazy

Less like simple life in the woods and a little more like crazy life in the woods...
That pretty much sums our lives for the last month.

Our last computer got s virus so I haven't been able to post until now.
(although I have been taking pictures)

We have been busy around here with the end of the school year,
planting a new gardens,
and most recently, we have had to handle loss in our family.
I have recently had to part with my grandmother and my uncle.
They both passed away within a day of each other. 
It has taken a toll on everyone.
Imagining life without someone who has always been a part of yours,
it's not an easy thing to do.
Although, I don't think it's suppose to be.
When someone is loved as much as they were,
it's impossible to think that, that void wouldn't effect you.
I'm thankful for the times I had with them
and the memories I hold in my heart. 
Grief seems to come in waves,
I will be able to laugh at funny memories
and be crying an hour later when I grab the phone to call them.
It puts things into perspective and makes you appreciate what you
have and take for granted everyday...
that there will be time to tell those around you that you love them.
For me, prayer and memories get me through the waves
of feelings that usually surround me now a days.

I usually don't have an all word post,
but I wanted to explain my absence. 

Make it a great day
and remember to tell those that are around you that you love them.