kidding around

How can I let the letter “G” pass me by without showing shots of my garden?

This season has been a wonderful time of anticipation for me and my entire family. From its’ humble beginnings to its’ fruitfulness- and now, sadly, its’ decline.

My “giddiness” over watching my tiny broccoli and cabbage plants, plus all the flower seeds I sowed shows me that it doesn’t take much to make me happy. It has been totally satisfying to nurture little plants, yank out annoying crab grass, and pick lettuce for my lunch. What was a fun project with my kids, has become a way of living.

Next Spring, my husband and I plan on constructing more raised beds in a huge plot we have in the backyard. This plot has had everything in it- from many tomato plants to a pumpkin patch to a sunflower field to a barley field (its present state). We plan to grow all of the vegetables we consume on a daily basis- lots of lettuce, broccoli, carrots, and asparagus- I can’t wait.

Beginnings of life…

Maturing and ready to…

eat!

A couple years ago I heard a podcast about backyard gardening and the obvious benefits of “city plots”- raising awareness of sustainability and community is part of that equation. Nothing new, but a concept that does seem to be foreign in my generation. Young families tend to pride themselves on how quick they can zap something in the microwave or tear open a fruit snack package. Convenience can be great when needed, but for me, including my kids with how food is grown and picking it is a memory I hope they will carry on to adulthood.

Oh- I thought some may ask why we built raised beds…we found that we dealt with far less weeds, rabbits (we have many in our neighborhood), and they just look so neat and tidy.

I love how today’s letter has corresponded with the day’s activities and my current project.

I decided to make these flower garlands for my daughter’s SURPRISE party my mom and I threw her today.

Ellie’s birthday isn’t for another 2 weeks, but with summer schedules and the fact that her first full day of school IS her birthday, we decided to celebrate early with friends.

I love throwing parties and entertaining. I miss when we used to live in California and all of our college friends and family lived in one place. We were always having people over- nearly every weekend. Of course that was pre-family OR with just Ellie in tow.

ANYWAY, this little gathering was fun and festive AND these garlands were super easy to make. Cute, huh? If anyone is interested, I may post a tutorial.

Did I tell you it was a “No Sew” project? I kind of created it as I went along and it really just turned out perfectly.

Hurray for flowers! Hurray for friends! Hurray for 9 and 10 year old girls!

Okay, I wish I had the guts to have an idea and just run with it. There are so many people I have met or admired that have done this and they are making money doing it…maybe not a ton of money, but employed.

I admire these people.

I admire my kids.

They have wanted to set up a lemonade stand this summer and we finally did it! They helped me make a double batch of chocolate chip cookies, made signs, and were eager to sit in our front yard for the better part of Saturday.

I was a bit reluctant for them to have a stand. What if no one visits?

I’m glad I didn’t follow my pessimism and let them have fun. They made over $27! Not only were we stunned, but assured that people in our community care and love children. Most of the kids’ customers were young guys in their 20s and you can tell these guys were just happy to see the excitement of my kids.

My husband’s coaching in selling was perfect- “smile a lot- these people aren’t stopping because they are dying for lemonade!”. Now the question coming from them, “what can we buy?!”.

By the way, Penny also used the cow bell technique to lure more customers…I think it worked!

I’m sitting around like I have a lot of time on my hands…but damn, when will this handstitching be done?! I have 2 more quilts in the works!

No photo today, because really, how do you document the word “confession”?

Anyway, after 10 years of bearing children and caring for them, which I wanted to do and still do-I am committing myself to become more healthy and fit…so, I have joined our Community Fitness Center. I haven’t totally “let myself go”, but I do feel I have neglected myself. Sure, I walk my dog regularly (even in the dead of winter) and remain active, but I need more…like force myself to become stronger in places I didn’t know existed. I have been blessed with some very healthy, young genes and I just don’t want to regret any missed opportunities when I am in my 70s. I’m not looking to be a size 6, just strong physically and mentally…you know?

I met with my trainer yesterday and he gave me the low down after I did a series of tests for him. Pretty humbling, depressing and motivating. One good thing- I scored high on my nutrition category! Today we met and I expected to be kicked in the bum big time- I get that on Tuesday!

Next letter, D…this is a fun project.

A certain girl in our house is beginning a music adventure. I don’t know who is more excited- me or her!

I love sweets. I love cake. I love frosting. I love to bake. I love to eat. I love angelfood cake. LOVE it.

I am torturing myself by keeping away from sugar, but not last night. Last night I was free from my own self-induced rules and fully enjoyed my mom’s birthday cake. As the evening progressed, my cloud of a cake became deflated due to high humidity, but it still tasted heavenly.

Oh- I cheated. I used a mix, but made the fluffy frosting myself.

Now, today will be a little less sweet. I better go find one of my kids and steal a kiss! Their sweetness can sustain- it’s when they aren’t so sweet I look for the REAL stuff.

What do you do to avoid sugar?

I’m joining in with this fun project and found that this post fits in perfectly with the letter “A”.