How Does Your Garden Grow?

I have been enjoying my little vegetable garden. I am glad I decided to start small, it is easy to keep up on weeding and makes me so happy to see things growing. Also, the smell of tomato plants is amazing.

Tonight we will get to enjoy the first bounty from the garden, in the form of butter and romaine lettuce. Each of my 3 tomato plants has at least 10 green tomatoes growing, and I am already looking forward to BLTs.

I have a black thumb of death, with only 1-2 house plants doing ok-ish and the others suffering and slowly dieng over the span of about 5 years. Not outright plant murder, more like extended torture.  So to see plants growing and healthy green is so thrilling. I am already making notes for next years garden plot. I plan to add a small patch each year. Next year I will be incorporating fruit. Blueberry bushes and a starwberry patch. Possibly an apple tree or two, gearing up for a tiny little orchard.  The kiddos each have something they want to grow so I might let them each pick something to plant in front of their playhouse instead of flowers.

I would love to draw up a 5-6 year plan fpr the backyard. Slowly adding sections along the fence, walking paths, garden areas, firepit and sitting area, patio, ect. One side of our fenced backyard is the neighbors bright white vinyl fence, which reflects the sun and kills the lawn allowing only hardy assorted weeds to grow. I have thought of trying to plan a dry river bed with some shrubs and maybe landacaping boulders to break up some of the reflection, help with drainage (our sump pump and a gutter drains near), and just create something pretty to look at.

We bought our house 8 years ago, this month. With the plan of moving to the farm as soon as possible. I have held off doing anything. Both to save money and waiting for "my forever home projects". This year I am not going to wait. I am going to make little changes our family can enjoy, with the end goal of making things easier. (Less lawn to mow, eliminate need of the weed whacker).

Not a Sports Mom in the Making

Can I confess something? I hate TBall and possibly baseball in general. Positively unAmerican, I know.

Bear claims she likes TBall. We are hanging in because it is only twice a week for three weeks. Two more days and we are doneskis. In my mind it would be adorable to watch like when my niece played soccer in Kindergarden. Rockette kicks and a herd of adorable little people grouped together running down the field. Lots of big smiles and clapping. Everyone can kick a ball.

In TBall everyone can hit the ball...no one can catch the ball. It is painful to watch, especially my daughter who cries in front of an audience and clings to the coaches, can seem to figure out how a que works, and brings makes me question is okay to quit or do we tough it out and finish what we start? It might be that 4 is too young and next year she would have done better. She isn't quite independant enough for me to sit on the bleachers and watch, which isn't good for a mother who struggles with micromanagement and is trying to back off.

To be honest on the first day she some how thought baseball would be like ballet. She desperately wants to learn ballet. I wish they still had classes, but it isn't in the budget to drive 80+ miles for a dance class. She wanted to try something, she picked TBall. I now remember why I didnt signup her brothers for things this young. Why didnt I remember the hell that Preschool Music & Dance was when Bug was a tot? They all are their mother's children at this age and seem to panic when the number of people grow too large. How do I help them overcome something I haven't mastered in my 30s?

Baseball I am sure as a sport you can be exciting, probably when played with skill. Unfortunately you move too slowly for me, and I would likely also be the player in the outfield digging in the dirt daydreaming.

On a postive note, when she does stand and move forward in line she gets a huge smile on her face practicing the move/play/thing they are supposed to do. And she swings a bat pretty cute.