Sunday, April 28, 2019
Saturday, April 27, 2019
Outdoor Fun
The kids in the neighborhood have been over a lot lately playing on the trampoline, riding bikes up and down the street and having a blast being together.
It is so rewarding to see my kids make friends with the neighborhood kids and have such a fun time together. Since I grew up on a farm, this type of neighborhood activity was not commonplace for my childhood - but I am sure enjoying seeing my children thrive in a small neighborhood community!
It is so rewarding to see my kids make friends with the neighborhood kids and have such a fun time together. Since I grew up on a farm, this type of neighborhood activity was not commonplace for my childhood - but I am sure enjoying seeing my children thrive in a small neighborhood community!
Friday, April 26, 2019
Spring Outdoors Cleanup
We were able to go over to my Mom's last week and help her clean up a little bit around the yard and on her huge deck. Lots of raking and getting rid of items that were old and rotted. Always a good time to hang out with the family.
And the kids especially enjoyed that Uncle Bryce was there to help by giving them rides on the trailer and play with them!
And the kids especially enjoyed that Uncle Bryce was there to help by giving them rides on the trailer and play with them!
Thursday, April 25, 2019
April Snowstorm
While we could still get another snowstorm here in Wisconsin, I am hoping that the last one of the year was back a few weeks ago on April 11th!
It was a soul-crushing snowstorm and I am pretty sure almost everyone protested and just stayed home!
I had wanted to plant my spinach, kale and radishes that weekend, but it did not happen! Took a three or four days for the heavy, wet snow to melt - but thankfully, April snow does melt pretty fast!
It was a soul-crushing snowstorm and I am pretty sure almost everyone protested and just stayed home!
I had wanted to plant my spinach, kale and radishes that weekend, but it did not happen! Took a three or four days for the heavy, wet snow to melt - but thankfully, April snow does melt pretty fast!
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Summation of Life These Days
These two pictures sum up life these days.
Sweetness and Sass... Man I love these two kids! Being their Mom is the absolute best job in the whole entire world! Too bad hugs and kisses do not pay the bills, because I'd be monetarily rich, not just rich in love!
It is going to be so hard to go back to a full time job and have these kids back in childcare! I am having the time of my life hanging out with them more often!
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| Sweetness |
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| Sass |
It is going to be so hard to go back to a full time job and have these kids back in childcare! I am having the time of my life hanging out with them more often!
Friday, April 12, 2019
Little Sister's Birthday
We celebrated the 1st anniversary of my little sister's 35th birthday this past weekend... She decided she is going to stay 35 for a while, so we are going to go with it!!!
The four friends headed to a Paint and Sip party and had a great time! Our paintings all ended up looking so different, but all beautifully unique. I loved the time being creative and the best part is that now my children are fighting over where to hang the painting in our home! Pretty sure it is going to end up in Elizabeth's room though... it is a vase of flowers after all!
Headed to dinner after the paintings were done and Stacy actually teared up a little as this was the first time in quite a while that she had actually celebrated her birthday with a special event. I was so grateful to be a part of it and really thank Jen for finding the event and coordinating it!
Speaking of gratitude, this is my group of women. The ones I do life with on a regular basis. I love them and thank God for them daily! I don't know what I would do without them in my life. They are the very best. I hope everyone out there has a group of friends like this. And if you don't, put yourself out there and find some!
The four friends headed to a Paint and Sip party and had a great time! Our paintings all ended up looking so different, but all beautifully unique. I loved the time being creative and the best part is that now my children are fighting over where to hang the painting in our home! Pretty sure it is going to end up in Elizabeth's room though... it is a vase of flowers after all!
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| (L to R) Jen, Leah, Stacy (the birthday girl!) & Amanda - April 6, 2019 |
Speaking of gratitude, this is my group of women. The ones I do life with on a regular basis. I love them and thank God for them daily! I don't know what I would do without them in my life. They are the very best. I hope everyone out there has a group of friends like this. And if you don't, put yourself out there and find some!
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Seed Starting
I started our seeds on April 1st. By the 3rd, there were already broccoli popping out of the soil!
I planted 8 broccoli plants. I wasn't planning on doing any broccoli this year as it only grows okay here, but I figured I would try them in the outer garden and see if they do better there. I should have room, so a row of broccoli should be no problem to fit in!
I started 16 pepper plants (for both Grandma and I) and so far, nothing has sprouted... I don't seem to have much luck with peppers, but worst case scenario, I can purchase a couple plants from the local farmers at the Farmers Market when it starts. They usually have some extras!
I also started 18 tomato plants. These have almost all sprouted now. I left the pots only half full so that I could add more soil to get a great root base started - hopefully this will work!
Now the trick will be to get these to grow well (and not too tall - I don't have grow lights, only a patio door) and live long enough to make it to outdoor planting time! I guess I could always look into covering a raised bed with an arch to make a tunnel. That may be a good idea as the soil is ready, but the weather is not!
We anticipate a foot or more of snow to fall from tonight through Friday, so winter is going to try to give us one last dose this spring! Have to love living in Northern Wisconsin!
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| April 1, 2019 |
I planted 8 broccoli plants. I wasn't planning on doing any broccoli this year as it only grows okay here, but I figured I would try them in the outer garden and see if they do better there. I should have room, so a row of broccoli should be no problem to fit in!
I started 16 pepper plants (for both Grandma and I) and so far, nothing has sprouted... I don't seem to have much luck with peppers, but worst case scenario, I can purchase a couple plants from the local farmers at the Farmers Market when it starts. They usually have some extras!
I also started 18 tomato plants. These have almost all sprouted now. I left the pots only half full so that I could add more soil to get a great root base started - hopefully this will work!
Now the trick will be to get these to grow well (and not too tall - I don't have grow lights, only a patio door) and live long enough to make it to outdoor planting time! I guess I could always look into covering a raised bed with an arch to make a tunnel. That may be a good idea as the soil is ready, but the weather is not!
We anticipate a foot or more of snow to fall from tonight through Friday, so winter is going to try to give us one last dose this spring! Have to love living in Northern Wisconsin!
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Friday, March 22, 2019
2019 Garden Plans
My favorite part of spring is starting to plan the gardens. So full of hope and possibility, even when the garden boxes are still covered in snow!
My Mom came over the other day and we started to plan what seeds I need to start so that we can have items ready to transplant come the end of May. Some things grow really well at her house (like beets, cabbage and squash) so she is going to grow those for me in exchange for me starting some seeds for her.
Such a great trade, if you ask me!
My plan for this year is as follows:
Onions - small amount - never been able to grow these before so going to give them another try
Snow Peas - small amount - only for fresh eating
Spinach - fresh eating only
Cabbage - Mom to grow two cabbage for me (process to kraut)
Radishes - a very small amount - for fresh eating on salads only
Beets - Mom to grow as many as she can for me. Then help me can them as my stash is running low.
Potatoes - try to grow a few hills - never tried before!
Leaf Lettuce - fresh eating only
Carrots - grow much less than last year!
Chard - double the amount from last year
Green Beans - grow as much as I possibly can!
Sweet Corn - 1 row in the outer garden
Popcorn - 1 row in the outer garden
Cucumbers - try a direct sew this year - growing enough to make a few quarts of dill and refrigerator pickles is the goal!
Zucchini - 1 plant - fresh eating and shred for quick bread
Summer Squash - 1 plant
Peppers - 1 jalapeno, 2 poblano, 2 orange bell, 2 cali wonder (start seed for Mom too)
Tomatoes - 2 Barry's Crazy Cherry, 1 Mini-Bel (for Great Grandma) 2 Roma/Amish Paste for both Mom and I, 2 German Johnson for both Mom and I
Pumpkins - 1 hill of Mini's, 1 hill of Jack-o-lanterns, 1 hill of Pie
Additional Goals:
Fill in the two open beds with soil
Install Landscape Fabric, Pea Gravel and three long, narrow beds.
Plant raspberries, blueberry bushes and strawberries into the three long narrow beds!
One additional apple tree - Choose from Honeycrisp, Cortland or Wolf River.
My Mom came over the other day and we started to plan what seeds I need to start so that we can have items ready to transplant come the end of May. Some things grow really well at her house (like beets, cabbage and squash) so she is going to grow those for me in exchange for me starting some seeds for her.
Such a great trade, if you ask me!
My plan for this year is as follows:
Onions - small amount - never been able to grow these before so going to give them another try
Snow Peas - small amount - only for fresh eating
Spinach - fresh eating only
Cabbage - Mom to grow two cabbage for me (process to kraut)
Radishes - a very small amount - for fresh eating on salads only
Beets - Mom to grow as many as she can for me. Then help me can them as my stash is running low.
Potatoes - try to grow a few hills - never tried before!
Leaf Lettuce - fresh eating only
Carrots - grow much less than last year!
Chard - double the amount from last year
Green Beans - grow as much as I possibly can!
Sweet Corn - 1 row in the outer garden
Popcorn - 1 row in the outer garden
Cucumbers - try a direct sew this year - growing enough to make a few quarts of dill and refrigerator pickles is the goal!
Zucchini - 1 plant - fresh eating and shred for quick bread
Summer Squash - 1 plant
Peppers - 1 jalapeno, 2 poblano, 2 orange bell, 2 cali wonder (start seed for Mom too)
Tomatoes - 2 Barry's Crazy Cherry, 1 Mini-Bel (for Great Grandma) 2 Roma/Amish Paste for both Mom and I, 2 German Johnson for both Mom and I
Pumpkins - 1 hill of Mini's, 1 hill of Jack-o-lanterns, 1 hill of Pie
Additional Goals:
Fill in the two open beds with soil
Install Landscape Fabric, Pea Gravel and three long, narrow beds.
Plant raspberries, blueberry bushes and strawberries into the three long narrow beds!
One additional apple tree - Choose from Honeycrisp, Cortland or Wolf River.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Set Apart - Women's Conference
I was blessed to be able to attend the Set Apart Women's Conference again this year at the University of Northwestern - St. Paul. I have gone for many years and it is always such a refreshing time with God and Girlfriends!
This year's theme was Deeply Rooted - from Colossians 2:7.
Such a wonderful truth!
My takeaway this year from the conference was "rest". Not only physically to rest, but to rest in the goodness of God and all he has done for me. Over and over again - in every breakout session - this theme would be raised again. And it felt like it was just for me.
Now if I could only find a few more of these conferences to attend with my girlfriends this year! We had such a good time and not even an impending ice and snow storm stopped us from enjoying all that the conference had to offer!
This year's theme was Deeply Rooted - from Colossians 2:7.
Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Such a wonderful truth!
My takeaway this year from the conference was "rest". Not only physically to rest, but to rest in the goodness of God and all he has done for me. Over and over again - in every breakout session - this theme would be raised again. And it felt like it was just for me.
Now if I could only find a few more of these conferences to attend with my girlfriends this year! We had such a good time and not even an impending ice and snow storm stopped us from enjoying all that the conference had to offer!
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