Our abundance

A bit of history---

Our first vegetable garden in this home was 2 summers ago. We had a small traditional row garden. It was a lovely weedpatch with a salad mix of small tomatoes, green pepper and squash plants. We only harvested tomatoes-- not an over abundance-- and very late in the season-- I think I got my first tomato around the end of August. I continued my habit of buying local produce from little roadside stands.


Last year we started to experiment with our squarefoot garden. I read about the lack of weeds and was immediately drawn to try it. We had a 4foot by 4foot square. My garden was fickle. It was a slow wait as each tomato turned red and each one was savored. I had 4 tomato plants- 2 with large tomatoes and 2 with grape size tomatoes. Our cucmbers never produced a single cucumber. We had a few green peppers, a few egg plants. We also had very few weeds-- that was the goal. So I felt we had limited success. I continued my habit of buying local tomatoes and things from little roadside stands.



This spring my 4foot by 4foot garden became my spring and fall garden. I planted spinach and sugar snap peas in the spring. I harvested some spinach before it went to seed. I really had a wonderful harvest of s.n.peas. Wow, on a whim I bought the pack for $1.00 in Big Lots. They were sweet and delicious.

We expanded the summer garden to a 4foot by 8foot rectangle. I figured that I needed to plant a few more tomato plants so I could enjoy some fried tomatoes this year. I started some seeds in the house in the early spring. I planted 3 kinds of tomatoes-- Small, medium and large. There were ten plants altogether. I also started a few green peppers and some flowers. None of the flowers made it. When we planted the garden outside, I put in a few cucumbers, one zuchini, one yellow squash, one cantelope, and a few marigolds to keep away the bugs-- in addition to the tomatoes and green peppers.

This is a great size garden. We have enjoyed squash and zuchini for dinner on a regular basis. I have plenty of cucs-- aren't they just great sliced in sour cream-- mmmm!! Tomatoes--- well they are a' plenty. The sweeties and fourth of July's are keepers-- I will grow them again. But those beefsteaks-- ugh! they are history, not worth the time and effort.


Oh yeah --- this year I haven't stopped at one roadside stand yet =D

First day of school

Summer is gone. Well, the free days are gone. Back to the organized days of schoolwork. We started the '09-'10 school year today.

We are just putting our 'toe in the water' today. We will do 2 subjects only. This week we will slowly work our way in... toes today, knees tomorrow, full bodies by Wednesday. Next week we will be ready to dive in from the high diving board.

We took our school pictures this morning on the swing set. Daddy's patch of small sunflowers was a great background.

'T' wanted me to take a picture of him ripping his book in half or sticking out his tongue. He is in 8th grade this year. Can you tell? :) I conned him into smiling for one. It may be close to getting those braces off. Orthodontist appointment is on Thurs, so we will know soon. God has blessed 'T' with such a wonderful brain. He rarely needs help with his schoolwork. He is doing Algebra this year. He is really thrilled to be doing US History - he loves History but the US History is his favorite. He knows a lot more than me.

'W' is in 6th grade. Wow! Time sure flies.

He needs to go to the Orthodontist too. Time for him to get braces.

He was trying to smile for this picture but the bees that were pollinating the sunflowers had him a bit worried.

'W' loves to read-- like all of my boys. He is a good speller and has a great imagination. He is really interested in getting his own blog this year.

My baby is 9 years old and in 4th grade. (He doesn't mind me calling him my baby-- I asked him and he said,"I am your baby.......... just don't call me a baby in public.") The dentist told us he can start at the orthodontist also. Whew-- I hope they have a family discount plan!

'A' loves to read. He probably read a hundred or more books this summer. He likes all subjects but not really math. ;) ( His Math book was the only one that had a big 4 on it)

We are thankful to the Lord for strong minds and obedient hearts. This is an exciting day. The start to a great year!

Busy busy week

In and among the everyday mommy chores that need to happen on a regular basis- i.e. feed the family, wash the clothes, clean/vacuum/etc. I have a few extra "to do's" on my list this week: I need to finish organizing books on our bookcases, move A&W back into their newly painted room, and get our school room ready for some learning.

This week is our last week of freedom. We (mostly I) plan to start school year '09-'10 next week. Once we start school, TWA know that I am a mad woman about days off -- we don't take too many. I love to be done with the school year by Mother's day in May-- it is my little gift to myself --- but the boys love to be done then, too.

Once again-- I was too ambitious in my summer project list-- I still have too many things on the list. Well-- maybe it wasn't too ambitious- just possibly I was too lazy. So to prompt me to get busy on this room- I think I will post a picture of the room.

Yes-- stay tuned-- for the ready for school photo that I will post when I finish cleaning it up.

Wow-- a new record for me !!!

I went to Happy Harry's (Walgreen's) on Saturday. I knew that there were a few items in the circular that I needed. Walgreen's had a "spend $25.00 get $5.00 off" coupon out. As I was shopping, I saw that there were a lot of items on sale that I also had coupons for. I then began to use two carts-- well their carts are small. I realized making 2 purchases would be beneficial. I could go through a litany of deals here but to cut to the chase. I got 32 items--- for $2.46!!!!!

Writing it all down

Here it is.
Finally-- I have read a ton of blogs. There are so many topics I love to read about. Couponing-- decorating-- thriftiness-- decorating while being thrifty-- homeschooling--gardening-- etc. etc. etc.

This blog will have a bit everything.

It is time for me to put it down on paper, well, on computer paper, well not really.

Actually-- my brain is not remembering like it used to, so I want to blog so I can remember it all.