So who takes care of Mom when she is sick? In my house, the answer is usually Dad. But what happens when Dad is still sick, has pink eye, and has to work? Yep, we were pretty much a wreck for a few days. The kiddos tried to help, but they can only do so much so lots of stuff just didn't get done. I have a house to clean, laundry to fold, errands to run. You get the picture. So that's what I have to focus on today.
On the garden front, my high yield Dual peas have provided me with two good sized bags of peas for my freezer. And they aren't finished yet!! My tomato plants are almost five feet tall (??!!??!!) and really aren't showing any sign of slowing down but are still carrying green tomatoes. It's time to harvest my lettuce and try out Moey's salad. And the broccoli and cauliflower are doing very well despite my dire predictions of heat damage. Have I ever mentioned that I am really loving the seeds that I got from Vessey's. Canada must know something that Burpee doesn't. :-)
Well, I am off to a busy day. Hope that you have a great one!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Another one bites the dust
I'm sick. Despite my most valiant efforts, I fell ill with the same nasty cold/flu whatever thing that my hubby brought home from work. So, I haven't really been doing much of anything. I did have a fun adventure over the weekend during a brief period of time where I foolishly assumed that I was getting over this thing. But I'm going to have to tell that story later. Right now I am going to bed.
And Moey, I am going to try that salad, I promise!! I just didn't feel much like cooking. Hopefully I will whip it up tomorrow before my lettuce bolts. :)
Have a wonderful day!!
And Moey, I am going to try that salad, I promise!! I just didn't feel much like cooking. Hopefully I will whip it up tomorrow before my lettuce bolts. :)
Have a wonderful day!!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Peas may I have some more!
Here's something that you may not know about me: we have a beautiful Siberian Husky. She's going to be 3 years old this August. She's VERY submissive, so much so that it makes me wonder if she was mistreated before we got her. (We did not buy her from a pet store or a breeder. We got her from a Siberian Husky rescue center just after she turned 1.) We have had our fair share of adventures with her! When we first got her, she would dig out under the fence and go for a LONG run. We thought that we had really lost her the first time that she did that. Imagine our surprise when my hubby looked out in the back yard the next morning and found her laying there in "her spot", muddy and REALLY SMELLY. One other time that she got out our neighbor found her sleeping in our driveway at 5:00 am, muddy and REALLY smelly again. But aside from that slightly annoying digging habit, she is a really great dog. She's great with the kids, she's huggable and lovable, and people who don't know anything about Husky's think that she is really wolfy scary looking. (She's really a big lovable goof, but she has this wolfy mask on her face that could look a bit intimidating.)
Anyway, this dog still surprises me after two years of having her. Last night Hubby and I picked some of our pea crop. I took our bounty inside and began prepping them for dinner and freezing. It has been obvious since the very first month that we have had this crazy dog that she LOVES vegetables and fruit. (I found this out the hard way. I couldn't figure out what was happening to all of my tomatoes the first year that we got her. I saw her playing with a green ball one day, but I didn't remember buying her a green ball. It suddenly dawned on me that she was stealing my tomatoes. But that is another story....) Doggie was standing around me as I was trying to prep my peas, so hubby tossed her an empty pea pod. We figured that she would just spit it out but she ate it. And she wanted another! And another and another. So I finally have a use for all of those empty pea pods that I have been throwing away. Who would have thought......
The pea pods that this doggie loved so much carried a very nice variety of peas called Dual that I ordered from Vessey's, a Canadian seed company. I have been so happy with these peas! They are not super sweet, but they have a pleasantly sweet pea taste with a super high yield, consistent double podding habit, and lots of peas per pod (10-14 to be exact). Great for small spaces like mine! I am going to try to plant these again in the fall, but it is only an experiment because these do have a longer growing time at approximately 65 days. My fall growing season is unpredictable at best, so I am taking a big risk. But I'm crazy like that! :)
Well, I'm off to finish cleaning. It's a nice rainy day today, so I should be able to get lots done without being tempted to go outside and putter in the garden. My spring crops are just about ready for harvest, and I seem to think that going out and staring at them will make them be ready sooner. Something like a watched pot and boiling......
Have a great day!! :-)
Anyway, this dog still surprises me after two years of having her. Last night Hubby and I picked some of our pea crop. I took our bounty inside and began prepping them for dinner and freezing. It has been obvious since the very first month that we have had this crazy dog that she LOVES vegetables and fruit. (I found this out the hard way. I couldn't figure out what was happening to all of my tomatoes the first year that we got her. I saw her playing with a green ball one day, but I didn't remember buying her a green ball. It suddenly dawned on me that she was stealing my tomatoes. But that is another story....) Doggie was standing around me as I was trying to prep my peas, so hubby tossed her an empty pea pod. We figured that she would just spit it out but she ate it. And she wanted another! And another and another. So I finally have a use for all of those empty pea pods that I have been throwing away. Who would have thought......
The pea pods that this doggie loved so much carried a very nice variety of peas called Dual that I ordered from Vessey's, a Canadian seed company. I have been so happy with these peas! They are not super sweet, but they have a pleasantly sweet pea taste with a super high yield, consistent double podding habit, and lots of peas per pod (10-14 to be exact). Great for small spaces like mine! I am going to try to plant these again in the fall, but it is only an experiment because these do have a longer growing time at approximately 65 days. My fall growing season is unpredictable at best, so I am taking a big risk. But I'm crazy like that! :)
Well, I'm off to finish cleaning. It's a nice rainy day today, so I should be able to get lots done without being tempted to go outside and putter in the garden. My spring crops are just about ready for harvest, and I seem to think that going out and staring at them will make them be ready sooner. Something like a watched pot and boiling......
Have a great day!! :-)
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Sicko
My beloved DH has been down for two days with a nasty case of, um, something. We're not quite sure what it is (because he won't go to the doctor ;-) LOL!), but it has made him miserable and he is usually pretty tough. It started with a sore throat and stuffy nose, then it upgraded to include a cough, body aches, and fever. Is it the flu, strep, ??? Who knows, but I am going to super clean today (as he is actually returning to the land of the living and has gone to work) and take my trusty can of Lysol around to every room in the house.
On the bright side, it is cool enough here today that I have shut off the a/c. It looks like my broccoli survived the string of 90 degree temps, and my peas sustained only minor heat damage. I rely on my garden to not only provide fresh healthy, organic food but also to help me save money. Last year I was able to freeze enough peas, carrots, and broccoli at the end of the fall season to last me until late December. It really did help my grocery budget to not have to buy a ton of veggies. I intend to try to put up a post about how I was able to do this organically (which saves not only your health but also your pocketbook!!) and in a small space, but I'm not able to get to it quite yet. :-(
Anyway, I am off to de-sickie my house and get it clean for this weekend. Wish me luck, I am way behind on my cleaning and I have to get this done by Saturday!
Have a great day!!
On the bright side, it is cool enough here today that I have shut off the a/c. It looks like my broccoli survived the string of 90 degree temps, and my peas sustained only minor heat damage. I rely on my garden to not only provide fresh healthy, organic food but also to help me save money. Last year I was able to freeze enough peas, carrots, and broccoli at the end of the fall season to last me until late December. It really did help my grocery budget to not have to buy a ton of veggies. I intend to try to put up a post about how I was able to do this organically (which saves not only your health but also your pocketbook!!) and in a small space, but I'm not able to get to it quite yet. :-(
Anyway, I am off to de-sickie my house and get it clean for this weekend. Wish me luck, I am way behind on my cleaning and I have to get this done by Saturday!
Have a great day!!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Awwww rats!
The only thing that you can predict about the weather in the Midwest is it's unpredictability. I took a big gamble in the garden this year. I planted cauliflower as a spring crop when it does better as a fall crop in this part of the country. I planted my peas on time but we have had an incredibly hot spring, so they are not finished yet. It is 94 degrees here today, and I SWEAR that my spring crops are giving me dirty looks as they are sitting there in my garden wilting from the heat. My cauliflower will be lucky now if it produces heads, and pea growth and yield goes way down in temps over 70 degrees. My broccoli heads that are almost (but not quite) ready are getting sun scorched, and I swear that I can hear my lettuce screaming. Gotta love gardening. :-(
But my summer tomato plants look so beautiful. They just love this heat.
But my summer tomato plants look so beautiful. They just love this heat.
Happy Father's Day!
Happy Father's Day to all of those great dads out there! My DH is such a wonderful dad that he makes my heart sing. And I'm in my 30's and still a Daddy's girl. :-)
On a slightly different note, this article about how Military Dads often watch their kids grow up in pictures really got to me. I know lots of military folks both personally and in the blogosphere. My heart goes out to those Dads who are away from their families today because they are serving our country.
On a slightly different note, this article about how Military Dads often watch their kids grow up in pictures really got to me. I know lots of military folks both personally and in the blogosphere. My heart goes out to those Dads who are away from their families today because they are serving our country.
Friday, June 15, 2007
8 Things meme
Chrissy tagged me for this meme. Here are the rules:
Each player lists eight facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags eight people and posts their names, then goes over to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they have been tagged and asking them to go read your blog.
1. I have naturally blonde hair and green(ish) eyes. My hair used to be such a wonderful light blonde color that people thought that I dyed it. It has, of course, lost it's brilliance with age and pregnancy. But it sure was fun while it lasted. :-)
2. I found out that I had skin cancer (melanoma) right before my 30th birthday. Always wear sunscreen and cover up in the sun, ESPECIALLY if you are a natural blonde with light eyes and freckles. (That's it for the public service announcements, I promise!)
3. I also found out that I have Hashimoto's disease a few months before my 30th birthday. If this is what 30 means, I can't wait to see what 40 has in store for me! LOL!!
4. I am recovering from a nasty Pepsi addiction. I gave it up for Lent this year, and it has been a struggle to stay away. But let's hear it for my new addiction: iced tea with no sugar.
5. I am a secret "metal head". (Just in case I lost anyone, I love music that falls into the category of rock, metal, etc. None of the nordic death metal or anything like that. Just the fun rocking stuff.) Shocked?? Me too. I figured that I would grow out of it, but my musical taste has stayed pretty much the same ever since I was able to pick my own music.
6. I met my husband when I was 14 years old. We dated for a bit after I turned 15 and then broke up. For eight years. It's a long story, maybe I'll tell it later.
7. I always thought that I was a city girl, but the older that I get the more that I understand the country life. I want land so that I can grow more veggies.
8. I've never had a professional manicure, but that's going to change soon.
Well, there you go. Hope you all still like me! I know that most people have already done this, so I tag whoever would like to do this and hasn't done it yet.
Have a great weekend and a Happy Father's Day!
Each player lists eight facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags eight people and posts their names, then goes over to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they have been tagged and asking them to go read your blog.
1. I have naturally blonde hair and green(ish) eyes. My hair used to be such a wonderful light blonde color that people thought that I dyed it. It has, of course, lost it's brilliance with age and pregnancy. But it sure was fun while it lasted. :-)
2. I found out that I had skin cancer (melanoma) right before my 30th birthday. Always wear sunscreen and cover up in the sun, ESPECIALLY if you are a natural blonde with light eyes and freckles. (That's it for the public service announcements, I promise!)
3. I also found out that I have Hashimoto's disease a few months before my 30th birthday. If this is what 30 means, I can't wait to see what 40 has in store for me! LOL!!
4. I am recovering from a nasty Pepsi addiction. I gave it up for Lent this year, and it has been a struggle to stay away. But let's hear it for my new addiction: iced tea with no sugar.
5. I am a secret "metal head". (Just in case I lost anyone, I love music that falls into the category of rock, metal, etc. None of the nordic death metal or anything like that. Just the fun rocking stuff.) Shocked?? Me too. I figured that I would grow out of it, but my musical taste has stayed pretty much the same ever since I was able to pick my own music.
6. I met my husband when I was 14 years old. We dated for a bit after I turned 15 and then broke up. For eight years. It's a long story, maybe I'll tell it later.
7. I always thought that I was a city girl, but the older that I get the more that I understand the country life. I want land so that I can grow more veggies.
8. I've never had a professional manicure, but that's going to change soon.
Well, there you go. Hope you all still like me! I know that most people have already done this, so I tag whoever would like to do this and hasn't done it yet.
Have a great weekend and a Happy Father's Day!
20/20
Hindsight, as they always say, is 20/20. In that spirit, I am breaking a personal rule and removing my post about a comment that I left to another blogger that wasn't published. (I try not to remove posts because I try to make sure that I always type something that I am willing to leave up. But, alas, I am not perfect and things happen. Sigh.) I just don't want to be accused of trying to start anything, as it has already been implied............
Forgive me please. I really wasn't trying to incite. :-(
Forgive me please. I really wasn't trying to incite. :-(
Friday, June 08, 2007
Rolling Away, Part Deux
May was a crazy month! The worst part was that my youngest DD's 6th birthday fell on the exact same day that she graduated from kindergarten. (Yep, I cried BIG TEARS on that day. Two big events in one day is just too much for one emotional Mommy!) With everything that was happening in May, I had to move her birthday party to this month. Mommy & Daddy guilt made us tell her that she could have a small party at a location of her choice. Guess what she picked. She had so much fun at her last roller skating event that she picked the Roller Rink. Yay?!? As a Mom of my word, I am busy planning a fun filled roller skating event for little folks who can barely get around without wheels on their feet, let alone with. What was I thinking?
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Fun Contest!!
Anita over at Ask a Lutheran is having a great contest for an Amazon.com gift certificate. All you have to do is make a post on your blog about which book is your favorite and why (be sure to link her blog). Then leave her a comment letting her know that you are participating. Easy and fun!!
Well, I'd have to say that my favorite book of all time has to be (brace yourselves!): "The Stand" by Stephen King. Yeah, not really classic literature, I know. But I do soooo love the Good against Evil theme that was woven throughout the entire long novel. I loved the whole "End of the World as we know it" vibe, too. I guess I'm just a simple girl.
To save my literary soul, I must add that Jane Eyre is my favorite classic novel. I so enjoy the dark love story.
If I were the lucky one to win this contest, I would not buy either one of those books. Instead, I would buy my oldest DD a book called "How to Draw Anything" that she has had her heart set on since she saw it at Barnes & Noble. She's quite the little artist, and I just love to see her smile. :-)
Thanks for the contest, Anita!!
Well, I'd have to say that my favorite book of all time has to be (brace yourselves!): "The Stand" by Stephen King. Yeah, not really classic literature, I know. But I do soooo love the Good against Evil theme that was woven throughout the entire long novel. I loved the whole "End of the World as we know it" vibe, too. I guess I'm just a simple girl.
To save my literary soul, I must add that Jane Eyre is my favorite classic novel. I so enjoy the dark love story.
If I were the lucky one to win this contest, I would not buy either one of those books. Instead, I would buy my oldest DD a book called "How to Draw Anything" that she has had her heart set on since she saw it at Barnes & Noble. She's quite the little artist, and I just love to see her smile. :-)
Thanks for the contest, Anita!!
Personal Policies Meme
Erika from The Happy Catholic Family has tagged me for this fun "Personal Policies" Meme. I just hope that my few precious readers don't think that I am a real head case after they read this. :-)
Well, here goes:
1. I ALWAYS vacuum first, then dust.
2. When I clean the kitchen, I always start with the dirty dishes and then clean the sink when I am finished with the dishes. (Thanks, Flylady!)
3. I always sit on the left side of church and about 3/4 of the way towards the back of the church when we go to Mass. It drives my kids crazy because they want to sit WAY up front, but that makes me feel like everyone is looking at me. Crazy, I know.
4. I always park in the first open space that I find when I pull into the parking lot at a store. But I always park in the same row at each store, just in different spaces in those specific rows. (I tend to always go to the same stores, too. Can you tell??) I hate driving around looking for a parking space. And, let's face it, I could use every little bit of exercise that I can get even if it is simply walking all the way across a parking lot. Plus, this way I don't forget where I parked ~ because I would. Really.
5. I always start shopping in the produce section at the grocery store. Even if I don't need produce. Force of habit.
6. I have a very specific way that I fold clothes. It drives me batty if they are folded any other way. When my hubby helps me out by folding clothes, I can't look at how he does it or else I will go crazy. His way is not any worse than mine, it's just different. So I never say anything when he helps out. But you can bet that my girlies are learning to fold clothes the way that I do. :-)
7. I try to never make a left hand turn at a busy intersection without a traffic light. I get very anxious when I get a line of cars behind me while I am waiting to turn. I will take specific routes to avoid this situation in areas that I am familiar with. And if I do accidently find myself in a situation where I am stuck trying to make that left, I will turn right and then turn around later when I find a place with a trafic light.
That's all that I can think of for now. I'm going to break the rules and say that if you would like to do this meme, please feel free. You can leave a comment with a link letting me know that you did it if you would like to. :-)
Have a great day everyone!!
Well, here goes:
1. I ALWAYS vacuum first, then dust.
2. When I clean the kitchen, I always start with the dirty dishes and then clean the sink when I am finished with the dishes. (Thanks, Flylady!)
3. I always sit on the left side of church and about 3/4 of the way towards the back of the church when we go to Mass. It drives my kids crazy because they want to sit WAY up front, but that makes me feel like everyone is looking at me. Crazy, I know.
4. I always park in the first open space that I find when I pull into the parking lot at a store. But I always park in the same row at each store, just in different spaces in those specific rows. (I tend to always go to the same stores, too. Can you tell??) I hate driving around looking for a parking space. And, let's face it, I could use every little bit of exercise that I can get even if it is simply walking all the way across a parking lot. Plus, this way I don't forget where I parked ~ because I would. Really.
5. I always start shopping in the produce section at the grocery store. Even if I don't need produce. Force of habit.
6. I have a very specific way that I fold clothes. It drives me batty if they are folded any other way. When my hubby helps me out by folding clothes, I can't look at how he does it or else I will go crazy. His way is not any worse than mine, it's just different. So I never say anything when he helps out. But you can bet that my girlies are learning to fold clothes the way that I do. :-)
7. I try to never make a left hand turn at a busy intersection without a traffic light. I get very anxious when I get a line of cars behind me while I am waiting to turn. I will take specific routes to avoid this situation in areas that I am familiar with. And if I do accidently find myself in a situation where I am stuck trying to make that left, I will turn right and then turn around later when I find a place with a trafic light.
That's all that I can think of for now. I'm going to break the rules and say that if you would like to do this meme, please feel free. You can leave a comment with a link letting me know that you did it if you would like to. :-)
Have a great day everyone!!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Updating my blogroll
I'm updating my blogroll, and I noticed that some of my links don't really go anywhere now. If you have moved your blog and would like me to still link to you, please let me know. I will happily fix my link to you. (PrairieFlower, are you there?? I miss you!) :-)
Our Summer Project
One of my favorite activities during the past school year was helping out with the school's Rosary Club. My 8 yr old DD just LOVED making rosaries, and I was sad that she would possibly have to wait until next fall to continue this lovely hobby. Imagine my excitement when I heard a commercial on Relevant Radio for the Our Lady Rosary Makers website: www.olrm.org. (Look! I made a link!! I am so happy!) Anyway, at this wonderful site you can order specially priced beads for making missionary rosaries. You can also order beautiful parts for making gift rosaries and tools that are helpful in making your rosaries. (Although for the knots I just use broken umbrella parts.) My DD is SO excited that she can spend all summer making more rosaries, and we can add them to our Rosary Club shipment in the fall.
We are still working on the walking Rosary around the grotto in front of our church. It was QUITE a project! But it will be beautiful when it is finished. I will try to post pictures once we are done.
If anyone ever wants to make missionary Rosaries, I can honestly tell you that it is a fun and fulfilling hobby. The knots are quite easy once you learn how, and I would be happy to explain it to anyone who was interested. (As best as I can, of course. It is one of those things that is easier to learn in person but you can learn how with written instructions.)
I'm off to finish my housework and start dinner. Have a wonderful day!! :-)
We are still working on the walking Rosary around the grotto in front of our church. It was QUITE a project! But it will be beautiful when it is finished. I will try to post pictures once we are done.
If anyone ever wants to make missionary Rosaries, I can honestly tell you that it is a fun and fulfilling hobby. The knots are quite easy once you learn how, and I would be happy to explain it to anyone who was interested. (As best as I can, of course. It is one of those things that is easier to learn in person but you can learn how with written instructions.)
I'm off to finish my housework and start dinner. Have a wonderful day!! :-)
School's Out!
I am amazed that I seem to be as excited about summer break as my kids are. I had to fight the urge to drive out of the school parking lot on Friday playing the same song the we used to listen to every last day of school when I was a teenager. Ok, everyone sing with me: "School's out for summer! School's out forever!!" Is my age showing? I'll grow up now. :-)
The month of May was so incredibly busy for us! I have to catch up on all of my housework, and I won't even begin to talk about my poor garden yet. We opened the pool, but it is not fit to swim in yet. So much to do, and finally so much time to do it in!
I plan to do more blogging this week, but I have to spend most of the next few days just catching up with myself. I hope that eveyone has a great week! :-)
The month of May was so incredibly busy for us! I have to catch up on all of my housework, and I won't even begin to talk about my poor garden yet. We opened the pool, but it is not fit to swim in yet. So much to do, and finally so much time to do it in!
I plan to do more blogging this week, but I have to spend most of the next few days just catching up with myself. I hope that eveyone has a great week! :-)
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