I didn't post last weekend because we were having some serious computer problems. We (Tyler) ended up taking the whole thing down to the computer store and had to wipe out everything. Turns out we somehow had some nasty viruses. Things are better now and it's finally working but I hate it when that happens because you then have to search for everything and reload. Unfortunately H lost some files he had on there for the Homeowner's Assn. and he spent a good deal of last Sunday trying to recreate what he had lost.
Happy Birthday Amber, one day old! Amber celebrated her birthday on Sunday.
All reports were that it was a great day, complete with decorations and lots of goodies.
The guys spent some time doing stuff around the house. H had a nice pile of sticks to burn and Tyler got another container ready for me to plant some more potatoes. The first pot is really doing well. I've had to add soil a few times already. In fact, the back lower deck is turning into quite the garden spot with some leftover tomatoes that I couldn't fit at the garden and of course the potatoes.
Tyler and I headed out to the garden. My plan was just to plant my 5 tomato plants and marigolds. Plans changed however when we got there to discover that the whole plot was loaded with weeds! Guess that horse manure really did the trick. It took us several hours to weed and then finish the planting. I'm just glad Ty was with me because I would have been there a couple more hours if he hadn't been.
I was off on Friday for a teacher development day so I've enjoyed a nice long, 4 day weekend! We got a lot accomplished this weekend as well. We planted flowers here and there after putting down a load of mulch on Saturday. The boys made pretty quick work of things and the yard looks great.
Saturday afternoon I noticed that our front yard bird house had new occupants and they've been busy. They've already hatched some babies and are busy carrying food in to their brood. Late Saturday evening H was sitting at the desk in the office area and noticed that the neighbors cat was trying to get to the babies and he had to chase it off a couple times. Yesterday I noticed the same cat, in his own yard across the street this time, toying with a baby chipmunk. Devil cat.
Speaking of birds, I also saw a hummer in the front yard on Friday. I figured I better get my feeder up in the back yard. Can you see the hummer? No? Well, believe me, he was there a second ago. By the time I got the camera he took off and I haven't been able to get a decent picture of them all weekend.
While sitting down on the lower deck Saturday I saw the mama duck and her little babies. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera when I saw them but yesterday they came back around again and I got some pictures. Some of them are a little blurry but they still show how adorable the little babies are! They can't be very old because they are still pretty little. I just hope they all make it to adulthood between the vicious cats and the coyotes that people report seeing in the neighborhood.
The weekend has been beautifully sunny but still a little chilly, highs in the 60's. I even had to cover some flowers Friday night when a frost warning was predicted. Today when I went out to the garden it looks like my marigolds have been nipped a little. I may have to replant but we'll see if they come back. One of the tomatoes looks a little worse for wear also. Today has been a bit cloudy, at least this afternoon, and showers have been coming off and on. Looks like H will have to hold the umbrella while he's grilling those burgers and dogs.
The coming week will be a short one. Not only do we have Monday off for Memorial Day, but I have two mandatory days I still need to take off so I'm planning on Friday and then again next Monday. Might as well start winding down because school will be out in two short weeks!
We have a busy summer ahead of us. Weddings, vacations, visits, babies!! Better take it easy while I can.
Have a good week!
My family has always made Mother's Day special for me. In the past few years we haven't always been all together but they still find a way to make me feel like a special Mama.
They all still tell the sad tales of woe of having to go to Bordine's with me on Mother's Day to help find and then help plant the plants and flowers we bought.
Most Mother's Days were just time spent together, nothing fancy.
We didn't go out to dinner, just cooked at home.
Just like tonight. H took charge of the steaks, Tyler handled the potatoes and salad, Scott took care of clean-up.
And H even attempted dessert! Can't wait to dig into that later.
Tyler bought me these lovely tulips and I received wonderful cards from everyone.
I am one lucky Mama. Such a great family.
Here are a few things I've seen around the house this past week. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous! Until today. Today it was gray (with a tiny bit of sun), chilly (only in the high 40's, low 50's) and a bit rainy/snowy. Not cold enough to stick (the snow) but I will definitely be covering plants up tonight! Plants like these peonies that have grown like crazy this past week.
H got the flower boxes up last weekend. Yesterday I bought some pansies and I'll plant them in there later in the week.
The geese paid a visit last week and the dogwood is blooming.
Yesterday was sunny and we enjoyed a few minutes out on the deck.
The potatoes and porch lettuce are doing well. I'm keeping my tomatoes under the porch until the weather warms up a bit.
I spent a little bit of time this weekend baking.
I'm getting a little package ready to send to a special little someone!
That's all the news worth reporting. The tender plants are covered for the night and I'm hoping that will be the last time I have to do that!
Have a good week!
What a beautiful week we have had! The sun has been shining most days and we haven't even had any rain, though we could use it.
The week was fairly quiet though Thursday night held some promise for a little while. Three of the teachers in our building were nominated and made the finals for Teacher of the Year. The ceremony was at 5:00 that day but I wasn't able to attend. We were all supposed to meet up afterward to celebrate. Sadly, none of our teachers won but we celebrated anyway. One of the aides in our building did win the Betty Campion Distinguished Support Staff Award so we celebrated her too! A good time was had by all!
Saturday was filled with chores around the house. I started the laundry and worked out in the yard a bit. I finally got those lillies planted. I harvested a little of that porch lettuce Saturday night and we added that to our dinner.
H was working on a project. He found that our old ones were rotten and falling apart so he decided to build some new ones. He's mostly finished, the paint is drying, and he still needs to attach the pickets but that will probably have to wait until next weekend.
I tried not to be on my feet all day, like I usually am on the weekend, because Saturday afternoon was my first 5K Walk! It was at a local county park and while I was hoping the path would be mostly level, that didn't turn out to be the case. The course was tough with 3-4 steep hills and not the lovely paved path we had started on. The runners took off first and the walkers started right behind them. There were four of us who stuck together for the walk, Loretta, Dorene, Diane and me. A couple other teachers did the run portion and we only saw them at the start because by the time we finished (I believe we were last, though I can't confirm this) everyone had pretty much gone home. With a couple stops to catch our breath on the hills and a few photo opps at the mile markers, we finally finished at around 1 hour. We were all happy just to have finished our very first 5K Walk!
Today was a gorgeous day but I spent much of it inside, shopping, I went to Kohl's to try to find a couple more pairs of pants and shirts to get me through to the end of school, then on to Sam's Club for a big shop. We were out of lots of stuff and the freezer looks so empty!
When I got home I had just enough time to plant my potatoes. I have decided to plant them at home this year, using the pot method. The bugs out at the garden were just too bad last year. By the time I was ready to harvest the tops were pretty much eaten off. The harvest wasn't as good as it had been in past years either. I'm using Scott's laundry tub that Tyler drilled holes in, half filled with potting soil and composted manure.
When the potatoes begin to sprout you keep filling it with dirt, covering the potatoes. It's in a good spot and they should do well unless those darn chipmunks or squirrels get wind of what's growing! Then I'll be in trouble and we will be purchasing our potatoes from the farmer's market in the fall.
Life around the house has benefited from the warm temps. My peonies have grown,
the trees are trying to bud,
the ducks are still hanging around. I have no idea what this guy is doing but something in the pond must be yummy!
the geese are honking and last night I couldn't resist recording this sound so you could hear what I do every night when I go to bed. A spring lullaby.
It's going to be a busy week. I have after school tutoring, I'll have to try to fit in a walk every day, and Thursday night is our school talent show and Bunco. Not sure if I'll make it to Bunco as we are selling candy at the talent show as a fundraiser for our Leader In Me program that we'll be working on all summer and will begin in the fall.
Have a good week!
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Happy Birthday Amber, one day old! Amber celebrated her birthday on Sunday.
All reports were that it was a great day, complete with decorations and lots of goodies.
The guys spent some time doing stuff around the house. H had a nice pile of sticks to burn and Tyler got another container ready for me to plant some more potatoes. The first pot is really doing well. I've had to add soil a few times already. In fact, the back lower deck is turning into quite the garden spot with some leftover tomatoes that I couldn't fit at the garden and of course the potatoes.
Tyler and I headed out to the garden. My plan was just to plant my 5 tomato plants and marigolds. Plans changed however when we got there to discover that the whole plot was loaded with weeds! Guess that horse manure really did the trick. It took us several hours to weed and then finish the planting. I'm just glad Ty was with me because I would have been there a couple more hours if he hadn't been.
I was off on Friday for a teacher development day so I've enjoyed a nice long, 4 day weekend! We got a lot accomplished this weekend as well. We planted flowers here and there after putting down a load of mulch on Saturday. The boys made pretty quick work of things and the yard looks great.
Saturday afternoon I noticed that our front yard bird house had new occupants and they've been busy. They've already hatched some babies and are busy carrying food in to their brood. Late Saturday evening H was sitting at the desk in the office area and noticed that the neighbors cat was trying to get to the babies and he had to chase it off a couple times. Yesterday I noticed the same cat, in his own yard across the street this time, toying with a baby chipmunk. Devil cat.
Speaking of birds, I also saw a hummer in the front yard on Friday. I figured I better get my feeder up in the back yard. Can you see the hummer? No? Well, believe me, he was there a second ago. By the time I got the camera he took off and I haven't been able to get a decent picture of them all weekend.
While sitting down on the lower deck Saturday I saw the mama duck and her little babies. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera when I saw them but yesterday they came back around again and I got some pictures. Some of them are a little blurry but they still show how adorable the little babies are! They can't be very old because they are still pretty little. I just hope they all make it to adulthood between the vicious cats and the coyotes that people report seeing in the neighborhood.
The weekend has been beautifully sunny but still a little chilly, highs in the 60's. I even had to cover some flowers Friday night when a frost warning was predicted. Today when I went out to the garden it looks like my marigolds have been nipped a little. I may have to replant but we'll see if they come back. One of the tomatoes looks a little worse for wear also. Today has been a bit cloudy, at least this afternoon, and showers have been coming off and on. Looks like H will have to hold the umbrella while he's grilling those burgers and dogs.
The coming week will be a short one. Not only do we have Monday off for Memorial Day, but I have two mandatory days I still need to take off so I'm planning on Friday and then again next Monday. Might as well start winding down because school will be out in two short weeks!
We have a busy summer ahead of us. Weddings, vacations, visits, babies!! Better take it easy while I can.
Have a good week!
