Raised Beds

I have been working really hard on my garden. My husband and I made these raised beds out of reclaimed pallet wood. The hardest part was taking the pallets apart without damaging the boards. Some of the pallets were in better condition.

I'm not quite sure how many raised beds I want. I might stop with the 5 above. I still have my bucket for my carrots and my sandbox herb bed.

I filled the two smaller boxes with a soil/compost blend. I'm growing broccoli. I wasn't successful with my broccoli last year, but I'm eager to try again.

Homeschool "Trip" to Ireland

Taking a make-believe trip with our local homeschool friends is one of my favorite group activities. We've been to Greece, India, and Egypt together. This time we are headed to Ireland.

Each of the kids helped out with presentations on Irish facts, folklore, and celebrations.

The moms helped enrich the experience by having an Irish lunch.

Stew on the left. On the plate going clockwise: potatoes, Latke, apple cake w/ cream, soda bread with Irish butter, a slice of Irish cheese.

We blended a few Irish American traditions into our lesson plan.

Then the kids all marched around the library in a St. Patrick's Day "Parade"

Planets Align

Spring Butterfly

Last spring we were inundated with caterpillars. Sometime in the fall we found a caterpillar and brought it inside. It immediately set it's chrysalis. We waited a few weeks past the time we thought it should have hatched. There were a few times that I looked at that old dried out sack and thought about tossing it. My friend, Tammy, said to hold on to it. That it might hatch in the spring.

Ta-da!!!

BIG GARDENING NEWS

I'm ditching most of my containers and building some raised beds. I live in a townhome so this is kinda a big deal commitment for us. We'll be spending a bit of money on dirt to fill my boxes. I can probably take the boxes I'm building with me when I move, but I don't think I'll be able to take the dirt. Or if I do, certainly not all of it.

My backyard will be much prettier for it, I'm sure. The buckets were becoming an eyesore (they started to breed like rabbits and we were being overrun with them).

I'm writing up my plans now. I'm definitely planting summer squash and pumpkin. I think I'll skip the cucumbers this year. They were fun, but we don't eat enough pickles to make it worth preserving them.

I'd like to grow watermelon for the kids as a summer treat. Last year we got some gorgeous vines but no melons. This year I'm going to try a little harder.

I'd like to do broccoli and green beans. And of course I'll do lots of tomatoes and herbs. I'm moving most of my herbs to pots on the front porch. I might try growing some garlic in my sandbox, won't that be fun?

Back to my boxes, we are going to build them out of pallets using our friend Dave's plans. We'll get started today if the weather cooperates (it's currently rainy and nasty).

So container gardening has been fun but not so very fruitful. I'm moving on to the greener side of the fence...I hope. :)

Ribbon in the Sky

I love this song. This would be number one on my "Top Ten Songs of All Time" chart. No matter what mood I'm in, whenever I hear it, my heart stops in it's tracks and I have to close my eyes and just listen. This would be one of the very rare songs that I don't feel compelled to sing along to. It's the mesmerizing piano and the words that are so beautiful you could cry (beautiful for their simplicity). Truly a timeless masterpiece that won my heart over many years ago.

Admittedly the video is full of 80's cheese, but nevertheless Stevie knows his stuff.

Oh so long for this night I prayed
That a star would guide you my way
To share with me this special day
Where a ribbon's in the sky for our love

If allowed may I touch your hand
And if pleased may I once again
So that you too will understand
There's a ribbon in the sky for our love

This is not a coincidence
And far more than a lucky chance
But what is that was always meant
Is our ribbon in the sky for our love, love

We can't lose with God on our side
We'll find strength in each tear we cry
From now on it will be you and I
And our ribbon in the sky
Ribbon in the sky
A ribbon in the sky for our love

I'm curious. Do you have a song that moves you in the same way?