My Little Forest of Success

Here are my first ever from seed tomato starts. I have started them from seed right into the garden before, but they are usually too late to actually produce more than a few fruits before the frost hits. So I started some from seed indoors this year to see if I could get a small jump on the season... and it worked! I am not sure why I am finding such thrill in this success... but I am loving watching them pop through the soil. In the neighboring egg carton I planted peppers (which I haven't done from seed before) and pumpkins, which I always do from seed, but I have to plant them at my dads because of lack of space, so I wanted to start them here and get them good and established before I planted them there outdoors. Anyway... gardening is doing good. I have transplanted a bunch of stuff into the garden and am doing more trellised cucumbers and squash. My peas and radishes are popping up all over their shared bed... there are lettuce starts everywhere.

Another garden success this year! My currents are blooming and the reds are already fruiting a bit (early Junes). :) This is really exciting because last year we only got about a cup of fruit. This year I am expecting quite a bit more. YAY!

And what do garden babies do while mama is working?

Nap in the yard anyone?

Planting...

Each year I get an urge.

I feel as though it is an urge to push during labor. You know it is going to be hard, but you absolutely have to do it... and by the time the work really sets in, you are feeling better, energized and like you are really working on something truly amazing.

That is the way planting feels to me. I planted peas, cilantro, and radishes yesterday. I cleaned out a huge chunk of my garden and freed the rest of the rock boarder from the grass pathway. I carried three loads of weeds to the yard waste bin, keeping aside the dandelions for the worm bin I am making.

I found hundreds of little starts. Pushing their heads up and ready to be heard... Fennel, garlic, dahlias.

I found hundreds of flowers... Currents, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are all flowering and putting their love out there.

I found transplants... chives, salad brunette, oregano, and raspberries, which need to be put into better use and a better area in the garden. Some will be given away because I just don't have the room.

I finalized the plan for the sunflower house in the corner of the yard.

I started dreaming of a chicken coop in the other corner (which will work well and is well protected) and researching having 5 chicks come to live with us pretty soon.

The spring weather has been wet. Terribly wet. Even as I was dreaming and planting in my garden I was getting rained on. By the time I got back inside the top of Logan's car seat was soaked, as was my back, and my knees and hands.

But I felt more alive than I have in weeks. There is something about it... it is like a direct connection to the Earth. Like the soil comes up and meets me to create. It is a huge part of my life and I am so excited to be started.

Baby steps and small victories

So yesterday I got rid of the last of the freecycle stuff. My deck is nearly cleared off. :) (Except for the stuff I want there) YAY! And I put the last of the dvd's into a book. See how nice it looks? All of the right hand shelf, the entire bottom shelf and then the Star Wars movies that are still out were next to the DVD player. Now all nice and tucked away. WOW... I can't believe I didn't do this before.

Top basket is Logans dipes and wipes. Bottom basket is baby toys. Both have been in the middle of the floor for the last two months. ;) Now nice and tucked away. CD's are next (that big book on the bottom with no words on the label are for them.)

Nap Time

What a marvolous thing.

Beauty of Spring

I love these little flowers. They are called Vinca, or Periwinkle. My grandmother used to have these all over the back of her yard. Every year they would grow under the Thimbleberries and behind the Rasberry plants, and I would walk on them to get to the berries by the time June rolled around, but from April till June these little beauties would be covering the ground going down the hill behind her house. I loved them. Even as a kid I knew they were special. These are in my yard now.

Mika - Grace Kelly

This is my new power song. I LOVE it... lol... like Arosmith meets Queen. ;)

Tiny White Flowers

When I first saw these sweet flowers in my garden two years ago I was shocked and upset, but only because I had pulled most of this grasslike foliage out of my garden a month before. So I was really excited to see them come back up this year, once again numerous and prolific. They are so sweet! I have no idea what they are called, but I love them and have looked forward to them all winter.

Chicken Nuggets Ala Val

I have talked before about my obsession with making food like the fast food places without the junk right? Well here is part 2 of that post. Chicken Nuggets. I almost have the recipe right now... Potato Chicken Nuggets

2 lg chicken breasts

2 cups Betty Crocker Potatobuds

(they are just freeze dried potatoes)

3 Tbs Butter (melted)

1/4 c Parmesan Cheese

1 tea Black Pepper

2 beaten Eggs

Cut chicken breast into cubes. Mix the Potatobuds, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper together. Mix in melted butter. Dip the chicken peices into the beaten egg and drop into potato mixture. Place on a broil pan in a 400* oven until golden brown.

Make sure you have dip... this one I made is just Mayonaise, a splash of lemon juice, and mild curry powder. It was good. :)

I added Alexia organic fries on the side to complete the illusion.

Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad


1 package Farfalle (bowtie)
or tri colored Rotini pasta

5 Tbs of Pesto

1 cup of Cherry Tomatoes (sliced in half)

1 can of whole olives

2 oz chopped fresh Basil leaves

1 lb of fresh Mozzerella sliced into 1/4 rounds
or 3/4 lb of marinated fresh Mozzerella balls

Cook pasta just a bit underdone, let cold water run over the pasta until completely cool. Add other ingredients. Grate parmesan cheese over the whole thing top with a few bits of basil or perhaps a leaf or two. Makes a whole meal with a good green salad on the side.

Enjoy!

Oh the tulips....

My husband and baby

Erik took this picture of Don on his new cell phone... and then emailed it to him. I didn't even know you could DO that. lol! But they sure are cute. Jennica's arm on the left.