My Garden

When we moved to our current home, I had this brilliant idea that I was going to start a garden.

 I really don't know anything about gardening.

Not only that,  but I do not like the feel of dirt on my hands or in my fingernails.

I do not like bugs and I particularly do not like spiders. Have I mentioned the ugly, ugly, huge, hairy spiders we have here?  They are ugly!  Oh wait, I already said that...but they really, really are!

So why did I start a garden?  I had read all of Gene Stratton-Porter novels and became inspired.  I don't live in the Limberlost but I could embrace nature here.  Maybe I would make my own teas, use some herbs for healing purposes and I would can!  I was going to fill my pantry up with wonderful salsa and whatever else I could come up with.

Now.....after all my dreaming, lets laugh!  

My first step was to figure out where to even begin.  I bought this book and it is by far the best book I have found.  It gives simple, step by step instructions on square foot gardening.   James built me some boxes and we filled it with Mel's mix.   He tells you the ingredients you need and how much.  

That sounds simple.

Next was planting.  Hey, no problem.  He tells you everything you need to know and how many square feet per plant.  It's easy, simple and quick.  With his system there really isn't much need for watering or weeding.  That sounded perfect for me.

It all sounded perfect I tell you.

Until.... I realized I don't think that Mr. Bartholomew ever tried to garden in the area I live.

Of course when the hubs and I decided to move we had to pick an area that was next to impossible to grow anything.

This was my sad, sad garden at the end of last year.  It was taken over by weeds.

  Having it in my yard actually depressed me.  I was at a loss.  I didn't know what to do.  

 

This is my garden a couple weeks ago..I'm so proud.  

It's not perfect but it's getting so much better.

Here is a picture I took today.  I'm hoping everything grows for me.

What I did....

1.  I'm not for putting chemicals on my lawn but I finally faced the fact that it was going to take something strong.   Earlier in April I went out and put my first coat of  Roundup all over the white rocks.  I did this again in May.  I'm probably just going to have to suck it up and do this every year.   As they started to die, it became easier for me to pull and clean up the weeds.  By the way, most these weeds are impossible to pull.  They are so strong!

2.  My next step was to put organic preen down all over the rocks and in the raised beds.  This is suppose to help prevent new weeds.  Hopefully it will help a little but I do see quite a few new weeds coming through so I'll just have to keep pulling.  This is suppose to be done every 4-6 weeks.

3.  After I got things planted, I added mulch on top.  Mulch is suppose to help keep moisture in which we need here since we live in a dry climate.

4.  As Jame's aunt says, "accept imperfection."  My garden area will never be perfect but hopefully I can get some things to grow.  

Thanks to Jame's aunt for all the tips and advice.  I've basically followed her instructions.  :)  So far I think it's looking great.  Maybe I have a little farm girl in me after all! 

Edible Play Dough

 Edible Play Dough

1 Cup Peanut Butter

1 Cup nonfat dry milk

2/3 Cup powdered sugar

1 Cup loose coconut (optional)

Place peanut butter in a bowl and work in dry milk with fingers.  Add powdered sugar and coconut and work in with fingers.  the texture should be like play dough.  If it's too dry, add peanut butter.  If it's too sticky, add dry milk.  This can keep well in a plastic bag for a week.

I cut this recipe in half for Emma.

Party Hats - Sneak Peak

I have been working on crocheting some party hats for a  summer birthday bash.

Here is a sneak peak at them for the family.  :)

  Because they aren't finished, it is hard to get good pictures yet but hopefully you get the idea.

 

 You can find the instructions here.

 

Building of Our Gnome Forest

My sister painted these cute little mushrooms for me!

I'm just loving them.

She started something!  We are looking forward to adding things to them to make a gnome forest.

James cut out some trees for me to paint.

Of course I had him cut out some for my sister also.

We are in the process of ordering milk paint, felt, wooden pegs and thread to make other fun items for it.

It is going to be so cute!

Our soon to be apple orchard.

 

Thanks to my sister for sharing this  blog

with me!    

Individual trees to scatter about the forest. 

Laminated Cards

 My sister made up these awesome laminated cards for me when her oldest was a little one.  Her oldest is now in drivers training so it was a few years back.  :)

I have been carrying them around for years waiting to put them to good use.

I dug them out yesterday and found the recipe for the creepy slime.

What a neat idea to type your recipes out, laminate them and put them on a metal ring.

 Some of the recipes include silly puddy, different games to play, charcoal rock garden,  bubbles and granola.

All great ideas for little ones and what a great way to keep them handy so you have the recipes on hand.  

Creepy Slime

I made some creepy slime for Emma today.

She loved playing with it.

1 Cup cornstarch

1/2 Cup cold water

food coloring

Mix in a bowl.  Put your hand in and it slowly creeps.  Pound it on the table and it is solid.

Oh So Busy

We have been oh so very busy these days.  

A bit of traveling, visiting with friends and family, spring cleaning, organizing and crafting has just made me to busy to blog much. 

Here are some photos to hold you over until my next post.