It's been Ages!

Every week or so I think I haven't written in oh ages ... I should write something! And then something undoubtedly happens, usually Guiny wakes up from her nap much earlier then expected or I realize that I have more important things to do ... or even worse I can't think of a thing to write! Honestly though the biggest problem is it's been so long I have to many things to write.

So I just need to pick a starting point and .... go!

The Garden ...
 It's so close to completed that it's almost embarrassing that it isn't. Today the garden is getting a lovely drink from the clouds and me a good excuse to stay inside (P.S. I'm writing this on a Thursday but it probably won't get published till later so don't be confused about the rain reference)

So what have I got growing in my garden? Let's see; kale, red cabbage, kholrabi, runner beans, broad beans, green beans, salad radishes as well as Chinese radishes, carrots (Parisian, purple and petite), tomatoes (lemon boy, red and yellow grape, plum and possibly Cherokee purple), bell peppers, Chinese eggplant, cucumber, red and white potatoes, cantaloupe, spaghetti, acorn and butternut squash, red Kuri pumpkin, onions, green onions, chives, garlic, snow peas, strawberries, spinach and chard (hopefully), pac choy (unfortunately it all bolted), lettuce, zucchini, sunflowers, nasturtiums, chamomile, verbena, poppies (hopefully), lemon tree, orange tree and apple tree (which will hopefully bloom this year), mint, thyme, sage, rosemary, lemon balm, basil, oh and a pineapple. Also I'll be planting gourds soon and  a wild/cut flower patch, soon as it stops raining.

I put hopefully after things that I planted but haven't started growing yet.... I'm really starting to loose faith in the chard and spinach it's been weeks now, and nothing.

After all last weeks rain though my small red radishes were huge and a few had started to split and so radishes are the first real harvest of the year. Some went for pretty little tea party delights (mint cream cheese on crackers with sliced cucumber and radish), some were shared some are going in the fridge for salad and the rest are being pickled. I have to say radishes are one of the most most rewarding vegetables to grow.

Also I've discovered that our driveway is lined in blackberry bushes which are absolutely packed with blossoms! There are also some mulberry bushes nearby, wild roses, honey suckle, and lots of wild mint. It's mid may and everything growing

*Note since I wrote this its been about a week and a half (due to blogger hating me and the internet being terrible). The garden fence is now finished my kohlrabi is looking even more bulbous and happy and my strawberries, cucumbers and broad beans are all starting to produce.

Green fever despite the Snow!

o I know it's really cold out and the ground is covered in the icky white. But I can't help but start dreaming of the green springy goodness! We're staying here another year and that means I get to have a semi proper garden rather then just pots. I've got seeds from last year, some extras and those saved from the garden and a few new packets from lowes, but the real goodies will be arriving mail order  from Baker Creek heirloom seeds and those I am super excited about! 

You might be wondering why I'm bothering with seeds so early in the year. It's true a lot of non gardeny people don't realize how early it all starts. Some cold weather plants go out weeks before the last frost and others need to be started in doors about 6-8 weeks ahead of time. Other things like garlic and poppies actually need to be planted out anytime from November-January so they can stratify (fancy word for the day).

Another thing that's got me dreaming green is this lovely book I got for Christmas!

So on this cold snowy day I'm sitting wrapped up in a big plaid scarf, drinking coffee and planning my garden so that when this snow melts I'll know where I want to stick those garlic bulbs. It's going to be an amazing spring and summer, I am very excited!

As a side note, anyone who gardens should learn to save seeds, it's free plants for next year and years to come and really not that difficult!

New Year, New Sleep

My biggest new years resolution was to get Guiny sleeping by herself. I'm not normally a big new years resolution kind of person, but this was a must happen for this year and I am feeling very resolute about it. 

When I was pregnant I never thought we would do co-sleeping but I wasn't very intentional and it just kind of happened. Co-sleeping can be a great thing but it can also make change very difficult. When I first started thinking about it I had no idea what to do, I talked to other people, my mom, my husband, (myself), I prayed and did a lot of research. I read a lot of stuff where people said just let them cry and that just didn't settle well. 

After a while and with the new year just a week away I sat down and made a plan. I figured I could adjust the plan if necessary but I needed somewhere to start. So Monday it began with morning nap time in the crib, I had decided to stay in the room and act like I was sleeping that was the worst idea ever. I think I cried more then she did, and it didn't last very long. Day two I decided, i would stay in the kitchen coming back every so often to console her. That worked better for me but it seemed to upset her even more to be put back after. So day three I put her in the crib with her monkey and her rabbit and left her there she complained strongly for while, then talked a bit, nocked on the window etc and was generally pretty brave for the first half hour, after that she melted and it was all tears. Thursday wasn't golden but perhaps ... chocolate? She cried very loudly for half an hour and then fell asleep. And then today, today she cried for 10 minutes and slept the rest of her hour in peace.

So although it has been incredibly difficult and she probably won't be completely sleeping by herself for another month or two, I'm very happy to say we made it through day one and two and three and four and five and things are looking up!

Bath Time with Babies

It's fascinating I think, how bath time is a different situation with every baby. When Guiny was really little we didn't do a lot of baths, one she was so little and slippery it made me nervous, two our house was not the coziest and the idea of taking a bath me cold. Three it just really didn't seem necessary.

 

Later we did start doing baths a bit more often and she really loved splashing around and in the summer we had a little kitty pool for her to play in. Then while we were in China I had to just take her in the shower with me because bath tubs are unbelievably rare thing there. The weird part is when we got back, she was terrified to get in the water, it was like trying to give a cat a bath. That was back in September and she is just now starting to enjoy baths again and let me wash her hair, she's actually had two baths in the past week which has got to be some kind of record.

I know some peoples kids love bath time, for some it's relaxing others stimulating. What's your experience has anyone had a baby who hates bath time?

Fresh, Local, Seasonal, Produce

I love growing my own food, or. buying local and fresh when I can. There is a produce stand and a small local market just down the road from our knew house and it's a nice little walk to buy some fresh vegetables. The beats actually came from the new Fresh Market in Rehobeth, but they were too pretty not to add.