Gardens are Made for Kids

This day could be categorized as Garden and Post Garden!  My poor house will be neglected until I get everything planted...and maybe beyond. ::snort:: 

Allie left the house early, but shortly after she left for work, I was in the garden with my Chai. Krista made me this mug to celebrate the conclusion of my homeschooling career. (As an aside I need to go find those photos and blog that).  It says, "Some saw weeds, but you saw potential," and the dates are on the handle. It's 16 oz...the perfect size for chai and it is a great jump off point to remembering. 

I opened the hoop house and the green house, settled the chickens, collected eggs, and picked spinach. I'm ready to plant beans where the spinach is and it's on the edge of going to seed....spinach/bacon omelets, spinach salads, green smoothies... planting early in the greenhouse worked well. It is nice to be able to eat from the garden before the end of July. 

I got Dad settled and then told him I was going to get out in the garden for a couple of hours before his lunch. I reminded him he can yell out the window if he needs me. My goal was to get the broccoli and cauliflower planted today.  I weeded the bed and around it, I added some soil and went about selecting the best starts. I ended up planting 9 broccoli plants and 12 cauliflower plants.  As you can see there are spots where weeds have come through the cardboard and wood chips...but it is so much better than past springs. 

Before

15 plants in this bed and another 6 in the new bed. Eight and half of Eleven beds planted. 

After

The chickens love the pots of weeds I toss their way. Today they also got the starts I didn't use. 

The only starts left in the greenhouse are Tomatoes (I already planted THREE BEDS of tomatoes) and Brussel Sprouts (I've planted 3 and will plant more as I have space). My next project is to figure out where to plant these seeds. 

I learn a little bit more about gardening each year. This year three things are making life in the garden easier. I found a pair of gloves small enough for me to actually garden while wearing them... this has eliminated slivers, many cuts and stings from stinging nettles and I am avoiding the "garden manicure" look.

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The Extra Tuffs (boots) Carrie bought me are making for many less turned ankles and no noxious weeds are grabbing my feet...though I do sorta like flip flops in the garden. Finally, I borrowed Michael's knee pads as he's traveling anyway. GAME CHANGER. They are much more comfortable than the foam rectangles made for kneeling in the garden....and I don't have to mess with moving the foam when I move. 

It's the small things that make life happy! LOL 

Stacia had gone to her first day of work. She came home and I realized I had lost track of time. She made GG a late lunch, I put things away outside and thought I'd better hit the shower. 

Cory called and their family came over. The battery for the riding mower has been charging and it started up. The push mower is still out of commission. He mowed all that he could on the riding mower. 

Arielle has given the boys haircuts. Benny wanted his hair buzzed for the summer. Charles wanted a "hair cut like GGs" (bald) and Danny sat still long enough for the bottom to be cut, leaving the top long. They are all darling.  Charles, as is often the case, was ran up the ramp yelling his greetings.

 "I got my hair cut like YOURS, Bachan." ::snort::  

Mine isn't quite that short, buddy. 

I heard him say, "GG my hair is like yours!" Now that's closer to the truth. 

The boys were all determined to fill the watering cans and help water the garden. LOL 

Then it was time to play! 

Danny and Charles like to "help" GG with his puzzles. We got a laugh out of Charles' technique. GG went to put a piece in, and it wouldn't fit. Charles said it was o.k., and he took a couple pieces out to make room for the offending piece. 

I got dinner going which led to Little Miss exploring Bachan's cupboards. She discovered all sorts of wonders.  None of the kids have ever gotten into these cupboards. 

Allie came home, CoRielle and the kids went home, we had dinner and settled into watching "Mig Big Fat Greek Wedding."  Luke came home via New York. It will be nice to have everyone back home by the end of the week. 

I love being able to be outside so much of the day now. It feels like winter is far, far away. LOL 

A Great Flannel Monday

Another beautiful morning in the garden with my chai. There is MUCH to do in the garden, but I'm trying to simply take joy in what IS accomplished and not stress over what isn't.  There is something about a quiet neighborhood, bird song and tea. It's a great place to center in on what is important in the day. 

This is the mug Allie gave me for my birthday. Armed with the baby monitor and chai I settled in to pray over the day's priorities. It's a juggle when Michael and I are not both around. LOL 

I checked on the cucumbers and tomatoes - they seem to be doing a bit better. The flowers and plants I planted on Saturday look great today. I set out the rest of the plants to harden, got the chickens fresh water and collected eggs before the monitor alerted me to the fact that "GG has left his room." I left the garden with vague plans to come back during GG's naptime. 

Allie and I touched base as I got Dad's breakfast. She was off for a hike at Government Peak with Joseph and his kids. She went into work this afternoon for 4 hours. 

I spent the morning blogging and doing laundry. 

Stacia headed out for a hike with Andrew and Lorelei. Millie was happy to get OUT. 

After lunch Dad DID take a nap. I spent another 1 1/2 hours in the garden. I had thought I might get the cauliflower and broccoli shown above planted. I didn't. I took care of the weeds around the bed of my choice, and planted all the cabbage starts. I direct seeded more spinach, lettuce and kale. I also transplanted celery starts. Just like that two beds are planted. I'm committed now. Praying for no frosts!

Dad woke up and it began to drizzle so I called it a day. I'll work on transplanting the other starts tomorrow. I WANT to weed the potato patch and go find a zucchini start - I just realized I didn't start any seedlings at all. LOL  Dad was a ready for a mid-afternoon snack. 

Sugar free cookies and coffee for Dad,
Hibiscus tea for me

We didn't feel like making a heavy dinner tonight...we are in a big hurry to get back to our books. Stacia made quesadillas and I made a giant salad. It was yummy. 

I'm reading a Grisham book. Stacia is reading "Wind and Truth," by Brian Sanderson.  Dad is reading a Ralph Moody biography. Allie is reading a Robin Williams biography. We were set for a late afternoon evening of reading...with rain and tea. 

Krista reports she and Luke picked up Michael and they are a hotel near the Denver airport. Luke flies home tomorrow, and Krista and Michael begin their road trip back to Alaska. 

All in all, it's been a great day...flannel, memories, blogging, gardening, reading and tea. 

Gideon's Friend Party

Gideon, our NICU wonder, has turned 8 years old. Today he had his friend party. We raced home from church to the valley to attend! This is always a fun time to celebrate with family and do a quick connect with dear ones from our prior church. 

The theme today was Pokemon. I would love to know where Bre gets her party planning theme making abilities. She is good at this. 

There were tattoos, face painting, games and food - all the fun elements of a good birthday party. LOL 

Joelle and Rebekah are getting good at face painting!

Stacia and Allie 

Myself and Arielle - I like this photo!

God has blessed us good with our son in laws! Luke included! 

Izaak (Trudy and Gideon in background) & Cory

Benny 

A cute shot of Jojo and Gideon playing with Ellie. But check out the little feet in the upper left corner. My guess is Trudy finally managed to climb the counter to the goodies. LOL 

Annie and Trudy! Check out that face art! 

We arrived before CoRielle. They had to lead a church service and celebrate a friend's graduation before coming to the party. As they walked in Charles sized up the room. He ran over to me very excited and screamed, "Baachan!!!! YOU BROUGHT GG!" His love of Dad is sweet. I asked if he wanted to go say hi to GG and he didn't, but he was very happy to see he was at the party. LOL  

Charles and Danny seem to be enthralled with coffee huts or drive throughs. They found all the pieces to play the game at BreZaak's as well as our yard. LOL 

CoRielle's 4 year olds

These days always fill my love tank with joy. I don't take for granted the blessing of living near adult Gherkins and the way they allow us to be a part of their families. By fall two of the girls will have moved out of state. A son is contemplating a similar move within the year...God shined on us when He directed us to Alaska instead of to Japan in 2015. We couldn't see the plan then, but we are blessed beyond measure on this end. Yes, "That'll preach!" 

Note: all photos are from BreAnne. I tried to keep children other than family off the blog....since I didn't expressly check in for permission to publish their images. There WERE lots of friends at the party. 

Mornings in the Garden are Back

 I set my alarm early this Sunday morning to be sure, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of getting everyone to Eagle River without Michael, I had time to sit in the garden. There's not much but weeds and dirt out here just now. 

Ah - but I have set my chair out and it was waiting. I bring a nice hot cuppa chai with me, and I sit and listen to the birds, and the occasional moose moving out in the woods. I sit with the weeds and the potential represented by the beds, and I dream and hope.  I sit with my thoughts, and they seamlessly become prayers and with no effort at all I sense His still and quiet voice of comfort and hope.  If nothing but weeds grow, these mornings make gardening worth the effort in this season. If the moose break through my bungee corded deterrent and eat all my little starts, these early morning garden moments are still worth the effort. 

I have come to realize there is a whole lot more than dirt and weeds out here. There is the awareness of Jesus and there is hope, comfort, peace and possibilities out here. 

What IS this? 

I had 30 minutes before I had to begin the morning routine. The girls knew what time we needed to leave. The problem this morning was me and GG. The shirt I gave him didn't fit any longer. He was a bit slower moving than I expected, and we were JUST making it out of the door on time. I started the van and discovered...

...I had less than a 1/4 tank of gas.  I WANTED to take the back hwy in and avoid construction - it's closer to our home. I did NOT want to go into town for gas. I googled how many miles it was from my door to the church's door - it is 33 miles. I checked the cars nifty readout to find out how many miles it estimated I had left in the tank - 21 miles. There isn't a lot between here and the church on the back hwy. 

We had to run into town, where it too 15 1/2 gallons to fill my 16 gal tank.  We usually show up at ACF 11:15 and save seats for all the Gherkins. I could tell we wouldn't make it by 11:15...however, we were the only Gherkins at church this week, so we weren't letting anyone down. 

I would like to say right here there should be a special place in heaven, or at least at ACF, for someone who can make it from the Valley to the church in 27 minutes. I believe, in Liberia, they called it the sinner's bench at the back of the church. 

Church was so worth the effort to get there. Randolph did an excellent job of presenting the difference between religion and relationship. I'm excited to journey through the book of Romans this summer.  Worship reminded me once again, death doesn't win. It's been conquered.

Dandelion Bouquets

 I am lonely for Josiah. 

I missed him as the days grew longer. 

I missed him on the days leading up to Mother's Day. 

He loved being outdoors in Alaska. In years' past while Carrie worked on Saturdays, he would bring Livie out. She and the girls would bake, play or talk...and Josiah would jump in with whatever yard thing Michael or I were doing.  I missed him when the mowers began to give me fits! ::grin::

Memorial Day weekend would find him at Carrie's family's Lakehouse; he loved it up there. It signals the start of summer - for real.  This year Carrie, the girls and Erik prepared for the lake and my heart knew Josiah wasn't here. Even though this wasn't something *I* did with him, it made me think of him. 

Here we are at another season's start and we're still achingly lonely for Josiah's laugh, his voice, his smile, his hugs.  My doctor told me 6 months ago what I was feeling was depression and not grief. She suggested meds. My counselor assured me it was grief, and I seem to have an o.k. handle on depression.  We talked about when meds would be called for and the fact that the sun was just starting to come back, and that to me I didn't seem STUCK in the grief. He felt it was healthy for me to experience the emotions rather than worry there were too many. We determined I was o.k.  

In any event, this week when I saw my doc she opened with, "I have a friend who lost her son 20 years ago. She told me she is still grieving."  I think she may have been considering her comment to me, we had a fairly good discussion over the fact people say things like, "The trial will give you closure," or "The sentencing will give you closure." I told her I have no clue what "closure" looks like for the loss of an adult son. She considered her sons and agreed. I suspect "closure" is the wrong term for what we'll experience. Peace - YES. Hope - OH YES. Closure - not so much. 

It was a bright day. I had a flag I wanted to put at the cemetery...because flags are a great summer decoration.  I was crying and talking to Jesus on the drive to the cemetery.  I asked Jesus if he could give me just one memory of Josiah to make me smile, rather than cry.  I walked up and placed the puny flag (gotta get the bigger size) and noted the new dandelions at the top of his marker. 

Instantly I saw my little towhead with the big green eyes running toward me with a handful of dandelions at the start of spring. 

"Flowers, Mama," and I smiled. 

I sat by the grave and noted the hill was dotted with dandelions which weren't here last week. Those spring and summer bouquets of dandelions became one of my favorite rituals of motherhood. I have a little vase I save for dandelions the kids would bring me. As each one slowly grew out of dandelion bouquets, there was a younger sibling to bring me more....all through the 80's, 90's and into the 2000's.  I was SO frustrated in 2015 when Grandma Mary informed Stacia dandelions were weeds and she didn't want the bouquet Stacia had picked. Stacia quit bringing ME bouquets too.  It was the end of an age. 

The kids bring me pretty bouquets now....but the days of dandelion bouquets were fantastic. My heart misses the simplicity. Every once in a while, one of the grands will pick me dandelions. I had hoped to start a trend with them, but it hasn't caught on. LOL 

"Flowers, Mama!" 

It WAS a pleasant memory. I am thankful for Jesus and for answered prayers...and I am thankful Jesus understands that even though it was the perfect answer to my prayer... I was crying again. Tears are just my superpower. 

This Week

I don't broadcast when our house will be sitting empty for obvious reasons. You can be sure we have house sitters if I ever mention an upcoming trip. LOL I also decided not to blog while Michael was out of state. Michael's passport arrived just in time for this trip. Thanks to those who prayed about that. 

Early on May 18th, Michael, Krista and Reno left our home. Their goal was to drive down the Alcan with Reno to Colorado by the 21st. Reno is on the "don't fly" dog list. He is spending this next assignment in GA with a sweet couple rather than in Japan. 

I am guessing Krista is in the back...

These two have a history of fast trips up and down the Alcan. They have been known to drive straight through for days at a time. We were all impressed with the speed with which they ticked down the miles. 

Michael & Krista at Watson Lake, Yukon

Back in Alaska it was Impact Alaska, the Sunday when the church leaves the building and gets out in the community. Gas buy downs, oil changes, yard work, construction projects, painting... it's a fun event. The even has grown to include several other churches and even a church in Canada this year.  Jared led a team at the Chugiak Senior Center. 

This is a challenging event with GG.  He can't do much of the physical labor and gets bored just sitting and watching. Last year Michael stayed home with him, and I joined a Valley church. With Michael gone, Stacia and I committed to clean up in the local area - on our own without a church group. It works. 

Monday, the traveling trio continued their way across Canada and into Montana. 

Allie worked, GG called through his list, Stacia and I cleaned and decluttered our spaces. She took 7 bags of clothes, a chair and a box of miscellaneous things to Bishops Attic. 

The girls and I are working through Leverage Redemption - Season 2 and 3.  The travelers punched through into the lower 48. Reno enjoyed the green grass.  Here at home, we continued to entertain GG, I got a pedi, Allie worked...Nolan came over for games and a visit...and I totally forgot Life Group. 

Wednesday Stacia watched GG so I could go to the doctor. It appears my A1C DID move down a bit. I was hitting the "diabetic" label but am now at the "pre-diabetic" level. I got clarification on a few health instructions. Luke attended Kaelyn's promotion from 6th grade to Junior High. Luke flew out to Colorado. 

It took some WORK, but I was able to attend Bible study which concluded with a surprise birthday party for Arielle. 

Thursday Michael began enjoying what will be nearly a week with his brother Earl and his wife Mary. Krista and Luke continued on to GA. 

Friday Alex surprised me by coming over to mow. I went out to help with the edging - I operate the push mower and weed eater. The riding mower wouldn't start. Alex was determined and began mowing this big yard with the push mower. At one point I was talking to Alex. He was waving. I thought we were communicating until I turned my head and noticed I was between him and two moose. LOL  I moved aside and let the moose take advantage of the cleared paths to the greenery. 

I had set out trays of starts to harden in prep for transplanting to the garden. The moose thought the trays were a buffet offering. LOL  I was thankful they left me plenty to plant. 

Nolan and Jamin joined us for dinner. We are working through the Marvel universe in order...trying to help me understand what in the world is going on when we go to see the upcoming movie, "Doomsday." It was a fun evening. 

The girls puttered on Saturday and then had Writing Club. WAIT - Stacia also went for a walk with her mentor. 

In the morning, I used the weed eater to clean up some edges, and to beat back some devil's club and such. I was properly clothed. I came in showered, got Dad up and ready for the day and went back to work in the garden. 

I couldn't resist any longer, I put out a few plants regardless of what the almanac says.  The other tricky problem of planting now is that Michael didn't set up the electric fence before he left. I have tried, but some part is missing, and he said he'll take care of it when he gets home. WHICH IS perfect timing if I were following the almanac. I am at the place of needing to either up pot or get these seedlings in the ground. I started some under the lights and will direct seed some in a week or two. 

I put 3 of the Brussel Sprouts out. I have 6 more. I know the moose like these, so I didn't want them all out at once. 

I planted flowers. See that greenery in the bucket? I have no clue what it IS. I could swear the seed packet said "Marigold", but they sure don't look like Marigold to me. I worried they were weeds but the seed did come from a packet. LOL 

I put sunflowers in the baptistry again. 

When everyone was helping prep the garden for me...I didn't get around to tell them which spots had things wintered over in them. The asparagus bed is gone.  I also had Thyme, Stevia and Mint I had tried to winter over. I was clearing straw at the end of one of the beds and found these little green/purple shoots that smell heavenly - MINT. 

I cleaned out the strawberry leaves and dead runners. The right-hand side was formerly our asparagus patch. I am going to let the strawberries take over this bed. For the time being I put some sunflowers in the space. 

While I worked, I considered the moose. There is so MUCH green for them to eat. I have no idea why they are fixated on my garden and seedlings. I decided I would try to create a deterrent for them....just make it a bother so they move on to something easier to eat. To that end, I piled a bunch of plastic pipe and the wagon with garden tools in front of the garden. I strung the wires around the perimeter of the garden - even though they aren't electrified. There wasn't enough wire, so I used a bungee cord to connect it all. I am hopeful it will stop any pests until Michael gets home. 

It began to rain as I came inside to get dinner for everyone. It was a good week.