Garden Notes (and, ummm, two more bunnies.)

I got the idea about posting garden notes from the blog Small Things.  I don't exactly know how to link, though.  The kids and I had a great morning planting super-size pumpkins.  I think I may have rhapsodized a bit already about Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots by Sharon Lovejoy.  It's the best gardening with kids book ever--in it, there are different ideas for theme gardens--like a moonlit garden, a sunflower house, and a garden of giants.  Although I can't totally make any of them, the kids both thought growing the enormous pumpkins would be pretty fun, so that's what we did.  The seed packet said that the pumpkins could reach 300 pounds...not sure how we will manage that, but we will cross that bridge later.  I don't think they will be edible, but it will be fun.  Elsa wants to have one be a "milk-fed pumpkin."  (Remember from Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder?)  I am going to have to figure that one out...but I will work on it, maybe with Elsa.  Anyway, I dug the hills.  Last fall, I dumped a whole mess of half rotted compost and also just raked the leaves on David's section of the garden and so there were a huge amount of earthworms, which of course, both children were completely enamored by.  Elsa and I also have the same instinct in terms of soil amendment--we spend a lot of time mixing up the clay with compost and loosening it up.  Elsa planted one seed--clucking to it about how she was putting it into its nice, comfy bed so it could grow strong.  I really, really, really hope it works.

So, the garden is almost all planted.  I have 26 tomato plants I think...which, I am owning, is totally excessive.  I also bought a few watermelon starts--even though I seem to be completely unable to identify a ripe watermelon, and we have yet to enjoy a watermelon from our garden.  I planted some more lettuce in between them, so when our other little patch gets bitter, we will have new baby greens.  The peas are producing, despite the fact that I never did manage to adequately stake them.  It's fun for the kids to pick them.  It won't be a great harvest-I didn't get them in early enough, and I think the soil where they are is terribly acidic, owing to many, many acorns that fell there.    I also have Brussels sprouts growing-I have never grown those before, but should be fun, sweet potatoes, kale (of course), arugula (just for me to munch on in the garden-no one else cares for it, but it gives me a nice boost), summer squash and zucchini, butternut squashes, basil and other herbs, and more flowers than usual.  I still have to plant the beans--I am just going to do bush beans, and maybe plant some runner beans on David's teepee.  Elsa's garden is finally blooming, which makes her much more interested in it.  Perennial flowers are the way to go for small children's flower gardens. 

Oh, and we finally drove out to Burnsville to get one more angora bunny, and yes, you guessed it, returned back with two little white girl bunny sisters.  They aren't able to go in with Jerry yet (Jerry has to be fixed because I do not want bunny babies--I may have bitten off more than I can chew already, but I do have some limits), and I hated the thought of them being separated.  They are incredibly sweet and affectionate, much more used to being handled than Jerry.  They are English Angoras,so they have fuzzy little ears.  I am actually going to save a post about our whole adventure later.  With pictures even.  That's all.

Rabbit Pen and Small Craft Project

Jerry definitely seems to want to go out and play...first, we were using the extra compost enclosure, but you really have to watch him in it, and I worry about hawks. So, my lovely mom got us this run and hutch for him, which seems to be a good set up.  Luckily, the children can get in there with him, and play with him too...definitely want to make sure that he is still socialized.  And I think we may get one more tomorrow...feeling a little nervous about it, but I think it will be nicer if they can get along.  Also, more fiber.   We are going to drive up to a farm tomorrow, and pick up another bunny.  I am hoping to pick the woman's brain a little to find out how she handles the harvest. 

We had a picnic out on the grass after the kids came home from school, looked at Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots (I love it), and then moved on to a craft project.  I am not sure why the salt is out there--I think maybe Elsa wanted some on her cucumbers.  We made these patchwork vases for Elsa and David's teachers.  (David thought his teachers would really enjoy dinosaur fabric...lots of it.)  Tomorrow is the last day of school, which is great except that I am suddenly realizing that it is actually Elsa's LAST day at the sweet Montessori school that she has loved so well.  Her last day with Ms. Melanie, the teacher she has had since she was three...She has finished kindergarten, and needs to move on...I am still not totally sure as to where.  I think probably the primary school here in town.  I would like to home school her, but I am not sure I can get it together, or convince her it's a really good idea.  More for later, I suppose.   Anyway, it's not my own last experience with the school or even the wonderful Ms. Melanie, as David will be with her for another two years.  And I imagine this little one inside will be there too, with Ms. Melanie if I can do anything about it.  But still, it is a milestone, a big event really, and although I am just as glad that it wasn't celebrated with cap and gown (that seems to be pushing it, a bit for kindergarten), I do want to mark it for her and myself, and remember to be thankful to her wonderful teachers.

Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots and a New Bunny

The first part is the most amazing gardening book for gardening with children.  It has all these plans for making these amazing gardens--a sunflower house, a moon garden (which involves a moonflower tent and all white flowers, a giant garden...etc.).  The problem is that we need more garden space....I am wondering how Jesse will feel if I dig up more of his lawn to make one of these.  Also...I wish I had ordered it earlier, so we had more time.  But I think if I can get it done soon, there will be time.

And, we are planning to get at least one more bunny.  Tomorrow we are going to drive out to Burnsville to see the farm where a breeder raises all sorts of fiber animals, and get I think a little girl bunny, as we have Jerry's neutering scheduled.  I just have to get someone to set up the hutch...

Elsa's Outfits

This is just a smattering, really.  The girl has fashion concepts.  She loves to look pretty and then roll around in the dirt.  Lots and lots of fun.

Summer Plans

School is out at the end of the week.  I am so excited...I love the slow, leisurely pace of summer.  The kids and I made a list of summer plans.  Here are the ones we have so far:

1.  Garden (that idea was mostly mine, but you know.)
2.  Go to story time at the library.  (Elsa has missed it so much.  We will not, however, do the summer reading program.  First of all, I can't get it together.  Second of all, my kids do not need to be rewarded for reading--especially since I read to them.)
3.  Picnics--either outside our house, or other places.
4.  The pool--last year I balked, but this year I want to spend several days a week at the pool--we will go right when it opens or a couple of hours before it closes--hopefully it will be less crowded then.  I think I am going to just get a pool pass.
5.  Berry picking and jam making.
6.  Go to creeks and rivers, maybe with nets.
7.  Some crafts--I want to dye a few more play silks with them--maybe using natural materials, or maybe the dyes from the Easter Egg kits I got half price after Easter.
8.  Keep a list of the animals and plants we see--I keep meaning to either purchase or make Nature Journals for them.
9.  Make other stuff.
10.  Have a midday rest period--yesterday, I made the kids lie down in their beds and listen to some books on tape--David fell asleep, Elsa rested and, I rested, which will be critical as the baby grows and Mama grows more tired.

Oh--and a few more--make popsicles...I always want to make all of those delicious recipes I see on-line, but probably I will just buy some good juice and pour it in the popsicle molds, make lemonade, and have at least one lemonade stand.

Garden Notes

We went to tailgate this morning, of course, which of course, was great fun.  Jesse and I were a little less casual about David this time around, after a very frightening incident this week where he reached into the road after a toy, causing a car to slam on his brakes, and me to snatch him up and just cry.  We were pretty clear about who was watching, and our distance was much smaller.  Nevertheless, we had a good time.  I got some greens, eggs,  the most enormous bag of sugar snap peas, and a very exciting second wineberry bush.

I had requested that today be a family garden day, which didn't exactly happen.  David was exhausted and took a nap,  Jesse had some work to do and Elsa wasn't really into helping that much (although she did hang out with me as I worked.)  Elsa used to like to help me garden, but she just isn't into it this year.  I put a big load of half rotting compost into the batch composter, dug another bed, amended the soil, and hilled and seeded a bunch of butternut squash (which may have been a bad plan, as I saw a robin hopping off with a seed).  Oh, and I planted a few sweet potato slips that a friend shared with me.  Elsa and I had to run to the garden store for more compost-although, as I told Jesse, with the chickens and our sweet bunny, I think this will be the last year we need to purchase compost.  I hope anyway.

I am definitely tired and sore right now.  Part of me is feeling really pleased with my pregnant self...I have gotten a lot done in the garden this year, all by myself.  I have planted four blueberry bushes, one wineberry (the other still needs to go into the ground), and planted a fairly large garden all on my own.  (I still have three beds to go--a few more tomatoes, pumpkins, beans, but I am close.)  I also raised the chicks pretty much on my own (Elsa did help me some, of course).   On the other hand, I am wondering at what cost?  The house and van are a mess (I hear Jesse sigh when he sees it), the outside part even worse, and it is turning out to be pretty much my thing, not the fun family endeavour I envision.  Is it just taking me away from the children, and preventing me from taking them places?  I like the idea of just being home, and hanging out as a family, but that doesn't exactly seem to be what is happening.  Elsa just seemed kind of bored...not that that is the worst thing in the world for her, but I also want to make sure to have fun family times together. 

I feel like I should have some conclusion about it, but I don't really....

Just Chillin'

When we first moved here, our elderly neighbor (who, I am sorry to say has since died) expressed great concern about snakes living in the ornamental grass (which I dislike, but not intensely enough to do anything about when there are vegetables to plant and children to tend).  I have no idea if she was right or not (she was losing it a little) but I decided to just let him relax in the grass. 

Collecting eggs from our neighbors' chicken yard.  There were a total of six dogs going absolutely banans, which is why David is covering his ears.  I like how they have a chicken yard--we have the arc, which I think will work best in our property, but it is hard to play with the chickens in the same way.