Garden in May

Thus begins the Garden 2020 - it takes a bit of faith to try to do something as normal as gardening in 2020.  I love watching the little shoots push their way through the dirt....

May 10th

May 11th - the old timers say to plant when the birch leaves are as big as squirrels ears. Others say to wait until Memorial Day weekend as one can never count on frost free evenings until that point.  The leaves are THERE...and it's getting hard to resist planting in the beds that are ready....

Krista and I went to a plant sale at the high school. I bought two beautiful fuchsia's for the front. I've NEVER grown these - but I love the colors and this is a partial shade spot.

Moving  these in and out is getting old...and I need space for more starts. Next year I will build some sort of growing set up with more space and lights...but this is working and the priority this year are new garden beds and fixing the greenhouse.  

Michael has a plan for covering a couple of the new beds so that the tomatoes can go outside. 

May 14th - Michael finished a couple of beds and Alex is working on the last two. 

While they worked on building beds, I weeded the two we have. I covered them with plastic and figured that would help to heat the soil....it's getting harder and harder to wait until Memorial Day Weekend - May 31st/June 1st to plant.

Another couple beds ready. The garage door panels were a free find. They are working great for beds. 

May 15th and I've moved a couple of card tables outside. The starts which have been in the greenhouse shelf are hardy enough to spend their days on the tables outside. This frees up the greenhouse shelves for new starts.  I carry everything inside at night. I am loving the color GREEN. 

Zucchini can always be counted on to grow. 

Dreaming and planting for pickles. 

"Baachan loves me a LOT!"

This is the day Benny went home from our house and told his Daddy, "Baachan played ...." and listed all the games we'd played and things we'd done..."I think she really loves me A LOT."  He melted my heart. He's right, I do love him a lot...and I discovered on this spring day one of his love languages has got to be "quality time." 

Arielle makes no secret she struggles with anxiety. I'm proud of how well she battles. We didn't realize the struggles she had when she was young and in our home. Now that we do, we do what we can to support her as she learns what works well for her. She called this day and said she needed out - but she needed a safe spot for the boys to be.  She thought of dropping them and decided to stay instead and soak up some of the vibes from our lazy sanctuary. LOL 

While Arielle soaked up some rays and cuddled with Danny.....Benny and I picked flowers, they ALWAYS go into this special vase from Korea which is reserved for flowers from our grandblessings (or anyone else that cares to pick me a dandelion).

Benny helped weed a garden bed and water the seedlings in our little greenhouse/covered beds.  We also played badminton, volleyball, catch, frisbee, croquet of sorts, and  all manner of games  on the swing set.

Danny is nearly six months old. 

I brought GG down to sit with us...we had snacks....Stacia joined us. 

GG is pretty committed to reading the Anchorage Democratic Nonsense.  Anchorage Daily News. I actually am waiting for the next round of hit articles on his grandson to hit the paper. There haven't been any in the two years he's lived up here. LOL 

It was a lovely day and we all went back to our routines refreshed in spirit and enjoying the benefits of an extra dose of Vitamin D. 

Mother's Day - Take 2

 Yes, we DO have one day to celebrate all the holidays each month...but adult Gherkins know they are welcome to drop by whenever they'd like...and we are blessed when they do just that. Scheduling one day makes it easier for those who now have other extended family to coordinate with on holidays. Years of being a military family taught us the date isn't nearly as important as being together to celebrate. During one deployment we saved all birthdays and Christmas until Michael returned - because that is what the kids wanted to do. 

On this Mother's Day (which we celebrated last night) several of the kids dropped by for a relaxed afternoon. It was "practically perfect in every way." 

Any day when a grand stops by to play becomes a perfectly good day! 

Arielle and the boys usually come over on Sunday afternoons. It helps to shorten the time they have alone waiting for Cory to get off work. Sundays seem long. Cy, Carrie and Livie often drop by after their church, as well. 

I'm not sure when this ball game began, but it's been played since Jamin was Benny's age. No broken bones on a trampoline to date. Which honestly surprises me when I hear their childhood stories. 

The snow is off the yard. It's still not green. The trees are putting out tiny buds...soon it will all be green and full.  The "playhouse" has faithfully waited all winter for the kids to come back. 

The family joke is that Uncle Jared is a favorite with the kids because he hasn't learned he can tell them no. It does seem he spent a lot of time last night and today on the trampoline or playing ball with kids. 

The view from my hammock....tiny buds...promises.

The local wisdom says I can plant the garden when the birch leaves are the size of squirrel's ears...not quite yet. 

Back on the trampoline. I believe Benny's love language is time. He went home one day and told his daddy, "Baachan played lots and LOTS of games with me. She loves me - a lot." 

Settling down inside the house....

May's Everything Celebration

 As our family grows it gets harder to find a time for "everyone" to get together on holidays or birthdays etc. Our way around this is to pick one day and THAT'S the family celebration day....On May 8th we celebrated Mothers Day, Gideon, Izaak and Arielle's birthday and JaRissa's 5th anniversary.  

THIS is what I envision family gatherings to be...Stacia, Livie, Carrie, Allie and I all working together in the kitchen...catching up, enjoying each other and getting it done!  Stacia made another trial run on the upcoming wedding cake, which also served as Gideon's birthday cake.  I think it's looking darling and is just what Krista wants...fun, whimsical and simple. 

The rest of us got all these pot pies in the oven....a dairy free, several chicken, and one veggie. 

Cory and Danny!

Baby loves - one of the best things in life. 

Livvie, Danny, Carrie

Benny attempts to explain how the game should be played to the uncles and his mama. 

Jared was in town which added a layer of festivity to our gathering.  He looks a bit crazy here - but it's the shot I got. 

Danny is content to move from the arms of one relative to the next. 

 

The ball is IN the air and OVER the net....I think they're working out the details of the game now. 

 Go, Olivia! 

 Benny's got style! 

Gideon was HAPPY to wear the pig hat! Benny not so happy about the situation. 

Bella, Annie, Benny, Gideon

The traditional sing along - this always goes much better when Bre joins us. LOL 

Yay!

These are always fun days for all who can make it. This one is made even more festive as BreZaak joined us.  They've been very careful with Covid due to health issues. Jared being up from Juneau made the day extra special.  We should have chosen a "date" for June's events....