From This Front Porch

Plant Potatoes-Check!

We had lots of help with planting the potatoes. Now they are all in the ground and we're just waiting to see that little cluster a fat green leaves burst up through the dirt.

Here is Randy cutting up some of our potatoes left over from last year as seed. We have done it every year since we first had a garden and it always amazes me that it works...

It's a dirty job, I tell you... but, this guy doesn't mind one bit!

This guy really doesn't mind either...

And this Mom tries not to mind but I had two loads of dirt laden jeans this week instead of just one.

And I'm hoping the washing machine doesn't mind either...

From Dirty Hands

My little boy gave these to me...

"Mommy, are these so pretty?"

"Yes, they are SO pretty, Thankyou!"

Tomato Hot Boxes and Planting

In our Northern Climate it is essential to have a "green house" environment to grow tomatoes. In the past we have used walls of water but haven't had much luck with those. So this year Randy built these "hot boxes" to house our tomato plants in the garden. He made six of them. Here you can see the construction of the frames...

After building the frames and staining them, he completed the other two sides with lengths of white pipe that can be removed for easy fold down and storage of the hot boxes. Then he surrounded and topped them in plastic...

He left the bottom of the plastic long to cover with dirt to give them more stability...

After they were positioned in the garden, he dug holes in them and...

planted four of them with tomato plants...

And watered them...

And covered them up....

So far they have been working GREAT! If you reach your hand inside you can feel the moist warm feeling. The tomatoes are smiling! ;) During the day, he opens it up a little and then closes it up at night. We are excited to maybe have our first decent tomato crop this year.

We will keep you posted!

Happy Birthday Heather!

I didn't get this up yesterday but still wanted to wish you...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I have no idea why we are going down this raging river with our eyes closed but at least we're smiling and still alive to tell about it.

All the best to you in the coming year in your rip roaring adventure of being a Mom. May it be filled with lots of love and laughter!

Love,

Plowing Up More Garden...

...yes he is!

The Sandbox Gang

Last Friday was a beautiful day here in our little corner of the earth. Randy took the day off work and the kids were all home for the afternoon. We spent all our time outside. First the kids enthusiastically helped us in the garden. But after a while their interest in the garden waned and their attention turned to the sandbox.

It's amazing the creative work that happens when they are trying to avoid doing what they should be doing-like helping in the garden.

I know a little bit about that myself...It's called blogging...

Some of their "creative work"-bridges, roads, little hills, valleys, huts, castles, and a dandelions here and there for decoration...

"Mom, come and take a picture of us!!!"

So I went and took a whole bunch of pictures of them and their work. Someday they may not want pictures anymore so I might as well take advantage of it now, right Amy?

And they finished off the day swinging and swinging...

As I post this I realize a whole week has gone by now and I don't know exactly were it went. Randy's home again and we are back in the garden today, planting tomatoes, and breaking up more garden, weeding out the raspberries, etc. More to come...

Hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

As Always,

and the sandbox gang!

9 of 52: Strawberry Patch

Ask me 20 years ago if I would someday have a large garden and I would have said "No Way!"

That's what growing up with a father and grandfather who kept large gardens does to a teenager.

But now I find myself enjoying my garden very much. Not so much the work of it but more than anything the enjoyment of eating out of it,

and the colors and smells, the fruit and the flowers,

and the enjoyment my kids get out of it...until THEY are teenagers,

and just being able to work together as a family...

Randy took these pictures of me* last Friday while I was weeding my strawberry patch. I couldn't help but think I should have been wearing a wide brimmed straw hat for the occasion. :0)

Now bring on the berries!

Hosted by Forever in Blue Jeans

*52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with your family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

Mothy Matters

One of the kids spotted this moth coming out of it's cocoon

last Friday.

We thought it was really beautiful for a moth.

He sat there holding onto the house for a long time moving his wings in the wind.

We never did see him fly away but he's gone now-doing whatever Moths do...

For anyone who's interested- here is some information on the differences between moths and butterflies...

"Although butterflies and moths are very similar, they have many differences. Most butterflies fly during the day, and most moths fly during the night. The best way to identify a butterfly from a moth is to look at its antenna. A butterfly's antenna have knobs at the ends of their feelers, and the ends of the moth's antenna is either feather like or plain. Most butterflies rest with their wings held up above their bodies and most moths rest with their wings spread out flat. Typically butterflies have brightly colored wings and moths have dull colored wings. Most butterflies have slender, hairless bodies, while most moths have a fat abdomen and furry bodies. Butterflies form a chrysalis during the pupa stage of their lives. In moths, the chrysalis is normally contained inside a cocoon. Most moths have tiny hook or bristle hooking the forewings and hind wings together. Butterflies do not have this hook."

-from Thinkquest

This Man

Sometimes it amazes me that this man, who put on a tie this morning and is flying in a jet to San Jose for the day, is also the man in these pictures.

He's the man who feeds the chickens and plays with the kids. He plants the garden and weeds and waters it. He mows his own lawn, repairs his own pipes, and changes the oil in his own vehicles.

He even puts his dirty clothes in the hamper some of the time.

Last Friday, he took the day off of work and we all enjoyed working in the garden together...

He planted one row of potatoes, two rows of onions, and quarter rows of spinach and peas...

After covering the seeds with earth, he watered them with the watering can. He's been watering them faithfully ever since to keep the ground moist in this warmer weather...

Then after I weeded out my strawberry patch, he came along with the tiller...

I think this man would rather play in the dirt with a tiller any day than go on a jet plane to San Jose. But you gotta do what you gotta do and the meals down there are usually pretty good.

I really think he has the best of both worlds. And we are thankful every day for his job and for our life here. We are rich in so many ways. It may not always be this way but... we will enjoy every moment we have.

Sincerely hoping that YOU enjoy YOUR day wherever you are and whatever you're doing today,