Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

updating

This will ramble....because....well life has been rambling...

I cant even recall when I last updated....
Rebekah's nose prob.
Dizzy spells are gone....
College is out for Christine for the summer....I have half of the fall forms in....working on the other half
Rebekahs dance recital is Saturday afternoon.....I wonder how long she will give me before she wants her hair cut short again.....they need it in a pony tail for the recital so, I wont let her cut it.
Gymnastics is going good. My kids love it.
Our annual picnic is over.....went really smoothly. I was happy
Rebekah learned to swim, demostrated it by spending 3hrs at a birthday party yesterday IN the water.
Nathan ran laps around the pool.....um ok...
We went to chinatown on friday for a field trip. It was a walking tour and meal. Christine tried a century egg. We have video. But she disabled embedding....check youtube for disneyschooling and then it is under her videos. The tour was alot of fun. And the meal was awesome.
We went to an angel game that night. Firework night. Nathan made a pig out of himself, eating two hot dogs.
I forgot to vote yesterday. Well I didnt know I was supposed to until DH reminded me about 530 or so....and I still managed to forget. Although I didnt really have a clue what it was on and figured it seemed like such a no brainer there must be things tacked on the propositions so prob good I didnt vote since I never read the propositions.
Rebekah's end of the year girlscout party is next week at the beach with tidepools. I have taken the kids there a few times. They enjoyed it. I liked it (not a beach person). Between a beach I am ok with and people I like, it will be fun....although a bit sad....I enjoy the adults at girl scouts.
hmmm what else have we been doing?
Oh yeah. I have been making jam....
I have blackberry and an apricot/peach/nectarine one....I want to make a berry one next (straw/rasp/blue) if my kids dont eat the berries. It is SOOOO easy! So now I make bread and jam....although I havent made the bread in awhile....maybe tomorrow....not sure in what time LOL....tomorrow is gymnastics.
My corn is growing nicely....I see tomatoes on my plants....my hot peppers FINALLY came up....now I have to thin them. Our early scorching heat killed all my radishes...and my mushrooms.
The plants we have out back in containers right now (we have no ground to put them in)
Lemon Cucs (supposed to be good for pickling, my next adventure lol)
oregano (not doing so hot)
Dill
basil
corn
carrots
tomatoes
bell peppers
hot peppers (assorted LOL...1 jalapeno...not sure what else because NOTHING else was growing so we just started throwing all the hot seed in there )
chives
Romanesco (a broc/cauliflower family veg)
and
my blueberry plant (usually takes 3yrs to get a "crop" so nothing yet)

Ok, I am out of time....
Have a nice day!

Sunday, January 13, 2008

A post

Ok I want to blog but, I do not have a heck of alot to say. SOOOOOOO, I will summarize last week for you lol....maybe along the way I will find something interesting to say.

My sinus/congestion/headache thing is almost gone. I still cough at night and am flemmy in the morning. But I am 100% better then last weekend.

Monday:
Christine headed over to friends house to get a hair trim then go to Disneyland. Rebekah had her Jazz dance that afternoon. While she was there, Nathan and I went to the bookstore and used some of my Gift certificate. We started a new routine for the morning. As most know, my house is really slow to wake up. So, while the 2 youngest are beginning to function and eat breakfast etc. instead of the usual mindless noggin or nick, we watch/listen to mostly....an educational (somewhat) dvd. The Leapfrog series or "Between the Lions" or "Electric Company" or similar. Then we watch 1 episode of "Signing time". Ideally, Christine who signs is around for this part....so, questions can be asked and correctly answered. We own 3 of the DVD and currently have 3 episodes, I believe, on DVR. Usually by then end of this hour....they are dressed, fed and functioning. Christine arrived home that evening around 830 (hmm cant recall what dinner was....OH wait, burritos and rice with the left over chicken from Sunday night). Our friends, who were dropping Christine off came in. Their youngest played with Nathan and Rebekah while the rest of us obsessively looked for a home movie of Christine giving herself a concussion. It was never found.....although hours later, the footage of that day was located but, I guess we didnt film the actual sled jump.

Tuesday:
About midway thru Monday, I got a call from IVC, they needed some odd paperwork for this semester. We headed over there about 1230 to take care of that then headed for girlscouts. After girlscouts, we returned home and then at 4 rebekah had another class at the Nature center. While she was in class, Christine, Nathan and I went to sprouts to get dinner which I now cant recall what it was.

Wednesday:
Christine headed to the snow with the friends from Monday. We had a pork/pepper dish from Jamie Oliver with Jasmine rice. It was pretty darn good and easy. Discussed what we would do to "tweak" the recipe next time. Ivan and Christine went down to "On Target" to meet up with a group of Shooter, that is just starting. The group is still small so, they did not find them but, I believe they had fun anyway and from what I hear, the place was colder then Running Springs, earlier that day had been. We also took the work van in for a new fuel pump (ouch)

Thursday:
Rebekah went to Grandmas for her usual once a week lesson. Grandma wants her working in a book that is 3rd/4th grade. Rebekah says it is too hard ( I agree) so, Grandma, while disappointed, work with her in another book. I picked her up, we came home for a very brief time and then headed to Christine's bass lesson. While she is at her lesson, we go across the street to a cute little park. We place a blanket and read a few chapters from whatever book we are reading this week. Then they play til it is time to go get Christine. That evening we went back to grandma's for dinner and intellegent conversation. We discuss classic books that we had read and Grandpa told us a bit about his childhood and how he traveled from Russia to Germany to Israel during the war. And also how is dad became an Eastern Orthdox priest despite being agnostic.

Friday:
Christine went to disneyland. In addtion to the normal morning video's rebekah watched "Wishbone" a few times while I was gone. (Daddy was home) We had pinwheel steak and sweet potato fries for dinner. Then headed to Disney ourselves. Where our last ride of the night, Star Tours, scared nathan so bad he peed his pants. He normally refuses to go on that ride because it scares him but decided to go this time. We only discovered this when Ivan went to put him on his shoulders. Beware should you sit in vehicle #1 row 4 2nd seat from the exit door...

Saturday:
Lazy, Lazy day. We finally got our act together and headed to Friedmans to discuss this kitchen of ours. My husband and his dad are perfectly capable of doing it but the drawing/layout part just doesnt get done. Well surfice to say IT MUST....holy cow....to pay someone to do it....um yah....I would be willing to spend that kind of money to have a nice kitchen I loved....but, I just want a kitchen I can function in, that looks nice to be sold. I dont need or want to love it.....I need a kitchen for a flip style house. Anyone know a good handy man to do it? LOL Then we stopped by my dads who lives down the street to make the ornament drop LOL My mom delivered 2 boxes of old ornaments to me on Christmas. She declared one for me, one for my brother. Well considering some were actually my dad's parents. I thought he should have some say so in the matter. My brother didnt much care. We shifted and rearranged the boxes, with some joke along the way (I decorated his house with some of the stuff....because they still live in my childhood house and some of the things always went in the same place EVERY year) I took the ornaments I had expressed that I really wanted years ago (2 of them were in my brothers box WTF?) after clearing it with my dad because, technically they are his. He said eventually they will be the two of you's anyways...I told him but your not dead yet so they are yours. I gave my brother other ornaments that belonged to my grandparents and took the Santa my mom stuck in my brothers box that I had bought her years ago with hard earned money. It was bought the first year I did not live at home. More jokes about all the junk in the garage. And home we went. When we got home, it was really too late to think about, decide and prepare dinner so, we decided to go out. Racked our brains for something and ended up at the Orange County Mining Company. We had a nice meal. I think perhaps once a month, as a family we need to go to a nice dinner. Dress up and use our manners for food.

Sunday:
This is today. My husband and his brother are at the indoor range. Something about David trying one of Ivans pistols (Christine correct me if I am wrong) because he is considering purchasing one. Right now the girls are out walking the dog. I am doing laundry and listening to endless Thomas the Tank engine DVDs. Later, Rebekah has another Archery lesson. Then Christine wants to cook fish for dinner. I did a small amount of gardening too. There are finally brocolli showing! YAH


OH and Christine's new semester starts tomorrow.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Saturday morning journey

to Farmers Market.

I love going to the Farmers market. The bigger the better as far as I am concerned. More things to choose from.
We bought:
2 eggplant....the italian ones....the actual egg shaped ones, although we saw Japanese, Chinese and fairy tales (I have seeds for fairy tales)
2 bags of zucchini
2 bags of blue lake beans
the usual container of apple juice...that everyone is afraid to drink because it tastes good and they want to savor the taste
fresh grapes....green and red...later we saw black too but we already had a ton of grapes
there was a juice vendor we had not seen before...we bought apple peach juice from her....tastes more like a smoothly style drink or a daiquiri then a juice....not think like those tho
Potato bread
banana nut bread
2 tomatoes...because I couldnt decide
and fresh salsa

I think that sums it up.
They actually had fresh organic chickens.....but since right off I didnt have a plan for them I did not buy them

We have a ton of plums from a customer so we kept the fruit to a minimum this time.

There was a vendor there with a pear squash. I was curious but decided against it. It was big and shaped just like a pear (duh) but looked in terms of skin more like a summer squash...but the shape reminded me of a winter squash....but it is too early for winter....
think I will google it to see if it comes up.


OH and my own zuchini is starting to sprout.

EDIT TO ADD: Google did not turn up the squash we saw...it turned up a squash/papaya thing....much smaller then what we saw...
maybe I will be brave next time and give it a whirl

Monday, July 09, 2007

What's new...

Not much....

been reading...or actually Re reading the Harry potter books. I am almost done with 6....could prob finish tonight but I am beat!

Got up early this morning to take the oldest to camp. She is off on a mast ship for a week. They are doing marine biology, astronomy, and learning how to sail the ship....and many more things too but, I am tired...

Oh goody my cell phone just rang....and now I am listening to a telemarketer from Wyndham hotels....or something....geez he needs some practice.

Vlad won the home run derby tonight....do you care? I thought it was neat. Cant say I "care"

Ok I am done listening to the guy....darn cell phone cut off....ok not really....

Visited a used book store on sunday...now I have MORE things to read....

Had a icky dinner at applebees....ok not really, mine was fine. Ivans and Christines was apparently awful. I didnt want a taste.

Went to Costco saturday WHOOO HOOO not really. I will let you know when I figure out how the heck I spent what I did.

Rebekah has a Hula class tomorrow rofl should be cute.

Christine started swing dance last Thursday. There were 2 other girls there we knew. Christine had a good time and enjoyed getting to know one of the girls. They also had fun people watching. From those that had a few drinks before, to those that had no clue what deodarant is to those who were overly paranoid about smelling and marinaded in things to make them smell better.

My veggies still are attracting bugs....I am trying to get rid of them but not too much luck. The heat looks like it is wiping out my peas :( they are more of a spring or fall veggie anyway and I have more seeds to try again, if they go. I am not giving up but just in case.

I think my computer needs to be rebooted. I keep hearing IM messages but then I dont have any that I can see. Hope no one thinks I am ignoring them lol

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Self restrant

I just had to use self restrant during a quick, last minute trip to office depot.

Poor planning and I ran out of Steno books for work. So, I had to run out and get more.

Did I tell you my, from seeds, bell peppers aren't growing? I am totally bummed and plan on going back to the nursery where I got my tomato plants next week to get a plant....giving the seeds just a little extra time, just in case.

OK, so office depot is right next door to ACE hardware....I thought, let me look to see if they have bell pepper plants. They had LOADS of basil (and so do I....want some anyone?)and 2 pepper plants but, they were Jalapeno. AND ONE already has 3 peppers on it.....

But, unless I threw the kid's wading pool away or the bikes or the BBQ, I dont have the space for one more pot....and while I have 2 pots that dont seem to be growing, one is the kids (Christines) cat nip, the other is for my pepper. I cant replace the catnip, it isnt mine and I really want bell peppers, they are far more useful then Jalapenos....

So, after pricing pots (yes I went inside) I finally used my self restrant and left the poor, lonely Jalapenos, already fruiting too, there.....

Of course, I am blogging this instead of adding the columns for sales tax like I am supposed to be doing so, that is bad self restrant....

Back to work

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Obsessed

yes I am obsessed....

with what you ask??

gardening....

I have no yard but oh so enjoy it.....many moons ago, I dug up a large area behind my dads garage for my garden. Bush beans, broccoli, corn and hmmm carrots or radishes....although I don't care for radishes when planting size wise they work pretty good....and I know lots of people that like them.

A few years back we attempted a small container garden without too much luck....a few beans....but mostly we grew white flies.

OK I actually have been craving gardening again......been staring at the old containers and finally....a bit late in the season....I did it

Currently growing carrots, bush peas, tomatoes, and basil. Waiting for Catnip to spout. Will be planting bush beans (color trio variety), and green peppers.....
I have seeds for a few more things that Rebekah insisted we have but really lack the container space.
The carrots are a long trio of color variety....I have since learned not a good choice....hard to grow long carrots in less then ideal soil. The peas should do good as they currently look really hardy. I left the basil planting to DH and well, it has issues....he way over planted....we have ground cover, not basil plants....I tried thinning....by moving some but those moved died....but those still in the container look good. The tomatoes are two types, a 8oz tomato and a small cherry....I have read the catnip is almost weed like and is a member of the mint family....should be interesting.
I joined an email list for container gardening. I bought a container blueberry but, they wont send it to me til end of next winter (because of our zone). I also learned how to container garden corn....and pineapple...which sounds like fun.

I currently am waiting for a mini cantaloupe that is supposed to do good in containers and lemon cukes....although I don't like cukes too much, I thought we could have fun pickling them.

OH and the one that makes DH think I have flipped my lid. I ordered mushroom kits....white button and portabella.

I have also located a container avocado and nectarine....but no room for them...yes I am showing restraint.

Rebekah wants to grow cauliflower too.....I found a good container seeds for cauliflower but they were out of it...prob a good thing.

I also have broccoli seeds and radish seeds that Rebekah insisted we needed.....no where to put them tho'

Oh and I learned about SWCs....self watering containers....the authentic ones are a fortune to buy but you can make your own and sometimes buys small knock offs...(same concept, different design...but not really very big) which is what I have the catnip in and plan to put the green pepper in.

I also hear that Jalapenos are good bug repellant plants....maybe I will NEED to have some of those

HA HA HA HA