Sunflower Project

The kids and I are working on a spring/summer science project of growing sunflowers and some herbs. Colin and Meli love watching them grow from seeds and for the responsibility of watering the plants. Meli totally dumped the seeds in the bigger pot (well kid pail) we used. I will definitely have to split them apart at some point. The ones we planted in the small mini pots are not as happy. Probably because their dirt keeps coming out when Meli over waters them. They are still doing well though. I actually did not expect them to sprout. 

Below is Colin's sweet basil. It is really starting to come up!

Meli's cilantro is starting to appear. Like one or two...but she did put more dirt on top of the seeds then she was supposed to. We will see though. I hope it works. I love cilantro!

Working hard for the money...haha!

Colin wants to order a new Battle Beast (well technically used because they were sold in the 80's) on EBay. Will has a few from his childhood that he has "loaned" to Colin. I am pretty sure when Colin moves out the Battle Beast will remain behind with their true owner!

To help him out, I told Colin he could pick up a few more chores and help me with yard work to earn some money. Oh my, he was such a stinker. I had to constantly remind him why he was out there. Finally, I told him that he would have to come to me and ask what he could do. I was no longer going to chase him down. In the first hour Colin had earned .25 cents and Meli a dollar. After our talk about work ethic, he improved tremendously. Another hour and Meli was at $2 and Colin $1.50. It probably helped that we were pulling out bushes and planting flowers. Meli loves dirt!!

Veggie Project Update

A while back, I posted a picture of Colin's seedling (sunflower) project from school...look how much it has grown! He has had so much fun watching it grow from the seed. We had to move it to a bigger home today. It was long overdue.

During my morning walk thru (I just love being out there) I noticed some new veggies popping up!

My yellow squash.

Strawberry

Spaghetti squash

Cantaloupe 

Meli loves the pepper. I cannot wait for it to turn orange.

Tomatoes!!!!

An Obsessed Gardener

Valencia Orange Bell Pepper

I know I keep posting about my garden...what can I say?!? I am obsessed with it. It has been such an enjoyable experience so far. It provides a feeling of accomplishment and self-reliance. I have grown food that is feeding my family! Only the lettuce and herbs are ready to use at this time, but soon we will be overwhelmed with an abundance of veggies.

 

Still needs to be organized a bit more

This year is definitely a test year. Next year will be more organized. Plus, I will know what veggies I liked growing and what ones work well next to each other. Some are turning out to be bigger than I thought they would be. We are going to add another bigger bed and a smaller one (for the herbs). I also need to build the gate. I think it will be so cute. Plus, it will keep Meli out. She loves to play in the dirt.

 

I am so excited for the tomatoes and bell peppers! They should be ready soon.

A salad from the garden!

It's coming along

This weekend, I was able to get a lot done in my veggie garden. My mom and I put in a watering system for the raised beds. We are going to have so many veggies! I have 10 tomato plants (three different kinds)...I will be able to feed my friends and family. Some additions were added: more strawberries, green bell peppers, Valencia orange peppers, red bell peppers, lemon cucumber, thyme, rosemary, blueberries, spaghetti squash and onions. I am super excited for the garden and cannot wait until we can eat something grown in our own backyard.

 

 

My veggies

Some of the red lettuce should be ready to eat this week. I am sure I will be a dork and post pictures of the salad.

Cucumbers, squash, zuchinni, red lettuce, spinach and green peppers (temp location)

Veggie Garden Project

My Little Helpers

This weekend, my mom and I started my veggie garden project. We took the smaller side yard to use. Our other side yard is a lot bigger and would be a great space for a kid play area. We were able to get quite a bit done. I was so worn out and sore by the end of the weekend...but the beds are in and I now have onions, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, spinach, red lettuce, strawberries (lots of strawberries), cilantro and cantaloupe started. There are also my four tomato plants. I will still be adding some more soon. I am hoping to do garlic, asparagus, blueberries, several herbs, carrots, celery, sugar snap pears, etc. This year, we are only doing ones that have already been started by our local seed store. Next year I am going to have a small green house in the far corner to start my own seeds. I also want to add two more smaller beds for Colin and Mae. I thought it would be fun for the kids to paint the outside boards and then each choose a food they want to grow. Colin wants watermelon and Mae pumpkins.

We still need to put a fence and gate up to separate it from the back yard. I am afraid Meli will want to play in the dirt all of the time and mess with the plants. She was in heaven yesterday, playing with the dirt. So dirty.  I also want to put some planters going up a few of the fence panels (like the picture below, https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1981958_438466659590442_1314503612_n.jpg).

 

I am hoping to move the strawberries and put herbs in these. It will only be about half the size.



The beginning

First day completion

I forgot to take a picture with the veggies planted. The left side is going to be pot plants.  I have so many projects I want to do. My mom and I are going to make a sandbox for the kids. We also want to do something like this table at http://www.likebumblebees.com/. Pinterest is such a great thing! We are planning on making a bench, a shed...so who knows if we will get it all done this year. Hopefully.

 

 

Will and I will be working together to fix-up the wooden chest below. I think we may stain it to match our bench. It is a little beat up, but I think it will be cute outside. Better than sitting in the garage collecting dust. Poor Will has been roped into decorating the porch with me. I think he is starting to like it though! I still need to rearrange some things and add some plants. I want to put some lemongrass to keep bugs away.

front porch

"We do yard work"

"snack time"

 

The kids were being so sweet the other day and wanted to help me do yard work. Haha! The picture above is how it ended up working out! I did not mind all that much, because even though it can be fun and sweet - usually kids helping out means more work for mom. The weather was weird that day. It would be sunny and then rain. I was determined to get a few plants in their pots...so anytime there was a break from the rain I went out there.

My little movie star

We are starting on our veggie garden. I am so excited. We will be making the raised beds here soon. I got my tomato plants going. We are trying Juliet and regular big tomatoes.

tomatoes

The kids did help me in their garden. Grammie bought Minnie and Mickey for Meli. They are solar lights. She loves them, but did not think they should go outside. She was pretty upset. Thankfully, once she saw them light up at night she got over it.

 

Kids garden...more décor than plants

 

I got some new flowers this weekend and some older ones are blooming. So pretty.

I love the color

My new Dahlias.

The name starts with an 'O', but they are 'Summertime Sweet White'. They are gray/black on the bottom

I must really like Dahlias. This one looks like it is glowing

Meli wet and muddy

Meli and Colin helped me water the new plants. Of course they ended up cover in mud. Bath time! Meli kept saying, "we do yard work". So cute...