Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Thursday, August 23, 2012
To Prune or not to Prune?
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Gardening in Raised Beds
This year we're gardening using raised beds and it's been a learning experience. Due to the extreme dry and hot weather it didn't produce much through the main part of the summer but the past two weeks we've really begun to see the fruits of our labors. So far we've harvested peas, lima beans, tomatoes, spaghetti squash (all our acorn squash died as did all of our cucumbers), green beans, onions, okra (that we've been harvesting every day) and green peppers.
I garden for several reasons: 1. I don't know any different - that was part of summers all my growing up years. 2. There's something about paying $1.00 for a package of frozen vegetables that will last one meal knowing that the same $1.00 would buy a package of seeds that could feed my family for a whole year. 3. It's an excuse to be outside instead of having to clean house. 4. Even if my children are being raised in the city I want them to know where food comes from (Not the grocery store) and develop the work ethic needed to be self sufficient and know the satisfaction of watching God's handiwork. There's something deeply rewarding to me to sweat and work and plan, then harvest and preserve and listen for those lids sealing (even my boys' eyes shine when they hear them).
It's probably deeply seated in my psychological makeup since some of my happiest memories are gardening days on the farm when my mom and Grandma Slagenweit would slave for hours over the stove canning and blanching in a hot kitchen that had no air conditioning. We'd sit on the front porch shelling peas (if there were a bushel we'd take them to the Mennonites who had a pea sheller but if it was under a bushel....it was up to us), or kidney beans, cutting green or yellow beans, or be out in the yard with the old ash tubs scrubbing red beets. Grandma and Grandpa would tell us stories or occasionally we'd listen to music. Sometimes we'd be in the kitchen taking the skins off tomatoes or peaches. I remember Grandma sitting with her feet propped up and as fast as she could slice peaches I'd eat them until my stomach ached. The smells, the work, the rewarding feeling of seeing all those jars lined up on tea towels just created a sense of deep satisfaction that I've never gotten away from. It's one of those things that has made living in the city seem more "normal" to me.
This is while we were laying out the six raised beds we purchased for this year.
It took some time until we got it all laid out. But once it was done it gave plenty of space between the beds for a wheelbarrow and ample growing room also.
That was back in April.....through the summer it looked more like this:
It's been fun to watch the progress and also see the boys' enjoyment. Stephen helped me pick green beans the other day and Allan and Daniel help Philip with the okra.These pictures were taken a little over a week ago - the okra is much taller now.So this is what has kept me busy the last month (and getting ready for school).
I garden for several reasons: 1. I don't know any different - that was part of summers all my growing up years. 2. There's something about paying $1.00 for a package of frozen vegetables that will last one meal knowing that the same $1.00 would buy a package of seeds that could feed my family for a whole year. 3. It's an excuse to be outside instead of having to clean house. 4. Even if my children are being raised in the city I want them to know where food comes from (Not the grocery store) and develop the work ethic needed to be self sufficient and know the satisfaction of watching God's handiwork. There's something deeply rewarding to me to sweat and work and plan, then harvest and preserve and listen for those lids sealing (even my boys' eyes shine when they hear them).
It's probably deeply seated in my psychological makeup since some of my happiest memories are gardening days on the farm when my mom and Grandma Slagenweit would slave for hours over the stove canning and blanching in a hot kitchen that had no air conditioning. We'd sit on the front porch shelling peas (if there were a bushel we'd take them to the Mennonites who had a pea sheller but if it was under a bushel....it was up to us), or kidney beans, cutting green or yellow beans, or be out in the yard with the old ash tubs scrubbing red beets. Grandma and Grandpa would tell us stories or occasionally we'd listen to music. Sometimes we'd be in the kitchen taking the skins off tomatoes or peaches. I remember Grandma sitting with her feet propped up and as fast as she could slice peaches I'd eat them until my stomach ached. The smells, the work, the rewarding feeling of seeing all those jars lined up on tea towels just created a sense of deep satisfaction that I've never gotten away from. It's one of those things that has made living in the city seem more "normal" to me.
This is while we were laying out the six raised beds we purchased for this year.
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| Green Beans |
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| carrots, peppers, tomatoes, squash and lima beans |
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| The lima beans have done so well! |
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| Only squash survived....no cucumbers. |
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| Okra |
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Our month in pictures
Spring is such a busy time of year for us that it's next to impossible to blog about what's going on. The day after my last post (Mother's Day) Daniel fell out of a tree and lacerated his back. Over my years of being a mother I've developed nerves of steel in many areas, but not when the cut shows a white membrane-like structure. That has the tendency to turn my knees to jelly. Thanks to the wonderful care of Mrs. Janet Sankey and Ms. Sonja Vernon who cleaned, steri-stripped, and bandaged the spot, he's healing well though he will have a nice scar to show for his escapades.
Our strawberry bed did what I think was phenomenally well. We harvested about 8-10 gallons of strawberries off this little pyramid bed that we planted last year. They produced for about 2 1/2 weeks before I cut them back. I canned most of them into jam and then froze several containers for smoothies and ice cream later on in the year. Unfortunately, while rearranging my freezer the other day I forgot to put the strawberries back in the freezer and lost them all......I hate when I do things like that!
As an "end of the school year" field trip, I took the oldest two boys to their first Civil War reenactment. I didn't realize that Heritage Village here in Cincinnati does this every year. We had a grand time and felt like we just scratched the surface of this culture. Allan was very impressed with the hoop skirts and was glad to finally be able to see what one looked like in real life (after reading about Mabel and Sarah Jane's experience in Grandma's Attic).
The flowers this year make me smile. I sure don't have the knack my mother did for putting things together but I enjoy the blooms none the less.
Over Memorial Day weekend we made a trip to Marion, OH for Philip to preach both services at Heritage Bible Church. I cannot tell you how much this trip refreshed our weary city spirits. We stayed in the Cressman home which is back a lane in the middle of a field. The boys swam and fished (caught nothing) in the pond and wondered around their six acres. It was quiet......blessedly quiet, and slow. There are times when you just have to get away from the noise, filth, and crampedness of the city. I told Philip it was like having a gentle breeze blow over my spirit and I didn't even know I needed it. What a blessing that time was - to rest and be with friends of like faith. The boys talk constantly about going back and I think we just might have to do that!
Unfortunately, my camera was dropped on Memorial day and so I have no pictures of this past week. My dad came three days after we got back to Cincinnati so that he could be here for Daniel's graduation last Friday evening. I'm hoping to post pictures as soon as I'm able to get them from the person who took some for me.
Oh, and the garden.....that deserves a post of it's own since that's what keeping me busy right now!
Our strawberry bed did what I think was phenomenally well. We harvested about 8-10 gallons of strawberries off this little pyramid bed that we planted last year. They produced for about 2 1/2 weeks before I cut them back. I canned most of them into jam and then froze several containers for smoothies and ice cream later on in the year. Unfortunately, while rearranging my freezer the other day I forgot to put the strawberries back in the freezer and lost them all......I hate when I do things like that!
As an "end of the school year" field trip, I took the oldest two boys to their first Civil War reenactment. I didn't realize that Heritage Village here in Cincinnati does this every year. We had a grand time and felt like we just scratched the surface of this culture. Allan was very impressed with the hoop skirts and was glad to finally be able to see what one looked like in real life (after reading about Mabel and Sarah Jane's experience in Grandma's Attic).
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| These things are LOUD! I think my heart skipped a beat every time they went off. |
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| Relaxing before the reenactment. |
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| This couple were around all day and agreed to post for a picture. |
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| One of the Union camps. |
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| I kid you not - this is a journalist! He did nothing but take notes all day as he peered through his binoculars. |
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| The boys enjoyed seeing the guns. |
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| Allan in the jacket of a soldier who was responsible for firing the cannons (the significance of the red piping). |
The flowers this year make me smile. I sure don't have the knack my mother did for putting things together but I enjoy the blooms none the less.
Over Memorial Day weekend we made a trip to Marion, OH for Philip to preach both services at Heritage Bible Church. I cannot tell you how much this trip refreshed our weary city spirits. We stayed in the Cressman home which is back a lane in the middle of a field. The boys swam and fished (caught nothing) in the pond and wondered around their six acres. It was quiet......blessedly quiet, and slow. There are times when you just have to get away from the noise, filth, and crampedness of the city. I told Philip it was like having a gentle breeze blow over my spirit and I didn't even know I needed it. What a blessing that time was - to rest and be with friends of like faith. The boys talk constantly about going back and I think we just might have to do that!
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| Their home is beautiful! |
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| The day after this they actually jumped off into the water. |
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| Mrs. Cressman helping Daniel onto the rope |
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| And away he goes! |
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| So much fun! |
Unfortunately, my camera was dropped on Memorial day and so I have no pictures of this past week. My dad came three days after we got back to Cincinnati so that he could be here for Daniel's graduation last Friday evening. I'm hoping to post pictures as soon as I'm able to get them from the person who took some for me.
Oh, and the garden.....that deserves a post of it's own since that's what keeping me busy right now!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Snakes and Cute Boys
Allan lost another tooth yesterday -this time it was on the top so it really shows. He looks so adorable! I don't tell him that though....I also think it's cute that my boys are getting freckles - particularly Daniel - but I don't tell them that either. Their daddy had freckles as a boy so they get them honestly.
The other day the boys were eating "cuties" (clementines) and I told Daniel that he was a cutie. He said, "yes I'm a cootie." His daddy said, "The girls probably think so!" to which he replied, "please don't tell them!" There are sometimes the things they say just about make you split the gut (some of which can't be posted here!) and I have the opportunity to appreciate again, the innocence of childhood.
It's the end of April - we've mowed our yard 5 times and the snakes are on the move. Did you know that you can actually see snakes enough that instead of creeping you out, they make you mad?! This is ridiculous! The boys killed 5 last week alone and that brings the total to 9 this year. At $1 per snake - I'm going to be broke before summer arrives.
The one pictured here bit Allan before they finished him off. I used to try to use the rationale "Snakes eat mice....so they are good for something." Until I learned that a small garden snake only needs to eat one mouse every 1-2 MONTHS to survive. Thanks, but I'd rather have a cat!
We've been enjoying spring (though not the sore throats and stuffy noses that come with it) and soon I'll post pictures of my garden. The rain last night beat my grapevines about to death and I lost a large branch (I knew I should have tied them up by now but I had the flu the beginning of the week and didn't get around to it.) We're done harvesting asparagus for this year, the strawberry bed is loaded, the onions and peas are popping up and it will be soon time to move my transplants outdoors. We also have apples on both of our trees this year and the blackberries have a lot of blooms coming out- it's exciting!
Maybe sometime soon I'll post about blowing my chances of winning the "Mother of the Year" award. Have you ever done something as a mother and think, "I can't believe that just happened?!" I'm serious.....if my boys make it to adulthood - it will be a miracle.
The other day the boys were eating "cuties" (clementines) and I told Daniel that he was a cutie. He said, "yes I'm a cootie." His daddy said, "The girls probably think so!" to which he replied, "please don't tell them!" There are sometimes the things they say just about make you split the gut (some of which can't be posted here!) and I have the opportunity to appreciate again, the innocence of childhood.
It's the end of April - we've mowed our yard 5 times and the snakes are on the move. Did you know that you can actually see snakes enough that instead of creeping you out, they make you mad?! This is ridiculous! The boys killed 5 last week alone and that brings the total to 9 this year. At $1 per snake - I'm going to be broke before summer arrives.
We've been enjoying spring (though not the sore throats and stuffy noses that come with it) and soon I'll post pictures of my garden. The rain last night beat my grapevines about to death and I lost a large branch (I knew I should have tied them up by now but I had the flu the beginning of the week and didn't get around to it.) We're done harvesting asparagus for this year, the strawberry bed is loaded, the onions and peas are popping up and it will be soon time to move my transplants outdoors. We also have apples on both of our trees this year and the blackberries have a lot of blooms coming out- it's exciting!
Maybe sometime soon I'll post about blowing my chances of winning the "Mother of the Year" award. Have you ever done something as a mother and think, "I can't believe that just happened?!" I'm serious.....if my boys make it to adulthood - it will be a miracle.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Breaking in on the series for a blog on current life!
As much as I've enjoyed sharing our story, I've missed the regular blogging about present life in our house. It's been a happen'in place!
The end of July I went to PA to visit my mom and dad. Mom was having a pretty rough time and I was thankful for the chance to see her again. My advice if you have unspoken words that need to be said....say them. I have no regrets in my relationship with my mother but I wish I had expressed appreciation more. Watching she and dad walk the most difficult path a couple can face has made me so proud of both of them! Watching dad carefully change her leg dressings and make sure she had things in close reach and watching mom continue to live life to the fullest makes me so very grateful that God chose them as my parents. Being in the country and seeing mom's flowers and dad's garden were good for me too.
I got to meet Kaylynn Renae Slagenweit - the first girl grandchild to join the family! Bless her little heart. She's as cute as a button and I even got to keep her Sunday afternoon. She's now already six weeks old - and will be so different at Thanksgiving :o( Makes me wish I lived closer to PA.
Philip attended a week-long program in Fresno, CA on teaching Greek using the communicative approach. He came home fired up and we've all been learning some Greek (particularly the boys) as he shares what he's learned. If you're interested in seeing more what he's doing check out his Facebook page.
Allan got his first loose tooth! I can't believe the thing is still hanging
on....it's been three weeks now and he still has it. Stubborn. BTW - the tooth is under his finger hanging on for dear life.
Stephen has learned how to do a summersault. He also had an incident that involved spurting blood but I still get sick to my stomach thinking about it. Thank the Lord for guardian angels and an RN who "happened" to be standing on my front porch.
Daniel found two kittens under our van in the driveway. They were between 4 and 6 weeks old - very hissy! But they finally got to the point where I could pick them up without them fussing. Daniel on the other hand came in very discouraged the other day saying that he didn't think the kittens liked him. "Mommy, don't they like being thrown in the air?" hmmmmm......We kept them fenced in a little pen in our back yard for a week and then my wonderful father-in-law who loves animals offered to take them. So they have joined the "Brown Farm" in KY. The boys shed many tears but at least they'll be able to see them.
I grabbed a towel the other morning and when I unfolded it found TWO towels. Since Allan's in charge of folding the bath towels I asked him why there were two together. He said, "I can fold them faster that way." And sure enough....there's a whole stack of folded double towels. Interesting.....
We started school again! Whew.....mommy's expectations weren't even in the ballpark of what happened the first week but that's okay. I'd never homeschooled two children before. Since Daniel is in Kindergarten, he needs almost constant direction to finish his work. Allan got used to having a teacher push him last year and so has very little self motivation which will take a little while to get kicked fully into gear. By the end of the week he was doing much better. I'm enjoying helping Daniel learn how to hold a pencil, draw lines and circles and recognize characters of the alphabet. Allan's learning perennial, annual, bi-annual plants, what addends are, how to recognize the subject of a sentence, and have very definate ideas about particular subjects. He loves spelling, reading, science, and math but does not enjoy English, or handwriting.
We're working on having a divider made for between the desks because they enjoy watching each other's classes too much. They don't seem to understand that if they watch their own classes plus their siblings classes, that they're in school double the time. I think when that sinks in , they'll be a little more focused on their own work.
I've been wondering where my Hershey's chocolate syrup has been disappearing - I need wonder no longer!
Corn! :o)
Daniel and I took a trip to Holmes county to pick up some furniture and we had a lovely time! He talked non-stop about everything from the depths of his imagination to reality. "mommy did you know planes should never fly backwards? It's too dangerous. They can't see where they are going. What is that growing in that field? Oh, look a falcon. Why do falcons have such sharp claws mommy? Keep watch for the horse and 'boogies' mom and give me a heads up if you see any more. There's some big horses mommy! Oh, what are those hills (corn shocks)in the field mommy? Do you ever think I'll get to Narnia mommy? When I get there I'm going to kill the white witch! Hiiyaahhhhh puhchuuuuuuu" This went on....and on......and on..... There wasn't anything I had to say! After a bit he said, "Mommy, you need to be quiet so I can take my nap." ummmmmmmmm....okay!
We got to see the Longaberger Offices which was a first for me. Very neat!
I just enjoyed the clotheslines, the horse and "buddies" (we've finally got the word 'buggies' into his vocabulary :o) the lawns and beautiful flowers.
I was also thrilled to find peaches for $12/half bushel - Red Haven no less! Thank the Lord for little blessings!
WELLLLL......I wrote what you just read last week. Since then - Allan has lost his tooth - pulled it himself!
And Stephen got stitches again! He fell on the concrete steps leading up to our house. So three stitches later - he's growing back together. When we arrived back from the hospital and Daniel asked him, "Stephen did you cry?" Stephen said, "No, me screamed." Truer words have not been spoken.
So there's just a few snippets! And the next installment of "Our Story" will be out hopefully by Saturday evening barring any more ER trips, or garden coming in. Blessings!
The end of July I went to PA to visit my mom and dad. Mom was having a pretty rough time and I was thankful for the chance to see her again. My advice if you have unspoken words that need to be said....say them. I have no regrets in my relationship with my mother but I wish I had expressed appreciation more. Watching she and dad walk the most difficult path a couple can face has made me so proud of both of them! Watching dad carefully change her leg dressings and make sure she had things in close reach and watching mom continue to live life to the fullest makes me so very grateful that God chose them as my parents. Being in the country and seeing mom's flowers and dad's garden were good for me too.
I got to meet Kaylynn Renae Slagenweit - the first girl grandchild to join the family! Bless her little heart. She's as cute as a button and I even got to keep her Sunday afternoon. She's now already six weeks old - and will be so different at Thanksgiving :o( Makes me wish I lived closer to PA.
Philip attended a week-long program in Fresno, CA on teaching Greek using the communicative approach. He came home fired up and we've all been learning some Greek (particularly the boys) as he shares what he's learned. If you're interested in seeing more what he's doing check out his Facebook page.
Allan got his first loose tooth! I can't believe the thing is still hanging
on....it's been three weeks now and he still has it. Stubborn. BTW - the tooth is under his finger hanging on for dear life.
Stephen has learned how to do a summersault. He also had an incident that involved spurting blood but I still get sick to my stomach thinking about it. Thank the Lord for guardian angels and an RN who "happened" to be standing on my front porch.
Daniel found two kittens under our van in the driveway. They were between 4 and 6 weeks old - very hissy! But they finally got to the point where I could pick them up without them fussing. Daniel on the other hand came in very discouraged the other day saying that he didn't think the kittens liked him. "Mommy, don't they like being thrown in the air?" hmmmmm......We kept them fenced in a little pen in our back yard for a week and then my wonderful father-in-law who loves animals offered to take them. So they have joined the "Brown Farm" in KY. The boys shed many tears but at least they'll be able to see them.
I grabbed a towel the other morning and when I unfolded it found TWO towels. Since Allan's in charge of folding the bath towels I asked him why there were two together. He said, "I can fold them faster that way." And sure enough....there's a whole stack of folded double towels. Interesting.....
We started school again! Whew.....mommy's expectations weren't even in the ballpark of what happened the first week but that's okay. I'd never homeschooled two children before. Since Daniel is in Kindergarten, he needs almost constant direction to finish his work. Allan got used to having a teacher push him last year and so has very little self motivation which will take a little while to get kicked fully into gear. By the end of the week he was doing much better. I'm enjoying helping Daniel learn how to hold a pencil, draw lines and circles and recognize characters of the alphabet. Allan's learning perennial, annual, bi-annual plants, what addends are, how to recognize the subject of a sentence, and have very definate ideas about particular subjects. He loves spelling, reading, science, and math but does not enjoy English, or handwriting.
We're working on having a divider made for between the desks because they enjoy watching each other's classes too much. They don't seem to understand that if they watch their own classes plus their siblings classes, that they're in school double the time. I think when that sinks in , they'll be a little more focused on their own work.
I've been wondering where my Hershey's chocolate syrup has been disappearing - I need wonder no longer!
Corn! :o)
Daniel and I took a trip to Holmes county to pick up some furniture and we had a lovely time! He talked non-stop about everything from the depths of his imagination to reality. "mommy did you know planes should never fly backwards? It's too dangerous. They can't see where they are going. What is that growing in that field? Oh, look a falcon. Why do falcons have such sharp claws mommy? Keep watch for the horse and 'boogies' mom and give me a heads up if you see any more. There's some big horses mommy! Oh, what are those hills (corn shocks)in the field mommy? Do you ever think I'll get to Narnia mommy? When I get there I'm going to kill the white witch! Hiiyaahhhhh puhchuuuuuuu" This went on....and on......and on..... There wasn't anything I had to say! After a bit he said, "Mommy, you need to be quiet so I can take my nap." ummmmmmmmm....okay!
We got to see the Longaberger Offices which was a first for me. Very neat!
I just enjoyed the clotheslines, the horse and "buddies" (we've finally got the word 'buggies' into his vocabulary :o) the lawns and beautiful flowers.
I was also thrilled to find peaches for $12/half bushel - Red Haven no less! Thank the Lord for little blessings!
WELLLLL......I wrote what you just read last week. Since then - Allan has lost his tooth - pulled it himself!
And Stephen got stitches again! He fell on the concrete steps leading up to our house. So three stitches later - he's growing back together. When we arrived back from the hospital and Daniel asked him, "Stephen did you cry?" Stephen said, "No, me screamed." Truer words have not been spoken.
So there's just a few snippets! And the next installment of "Our Story" will be out hopefully by Saturday evening barring any more ER trips, or garden coming in. Blessings!
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