Take a Gander at that!

 

Part of the renovation required that a few bushes needed to be moved.  While we had the backhoe seemed the best time to move them.  

Bushes and trees are not something I'm willing to waste.  So.  We transplanted them.  

We opted to plant them around the goose pond.

While we were transplanting them, we decided that the geese would like an expanded and deeper pond. 

Instead of the two weeks of digging by shovel that it took Duncan last year, it was twenty  minutes by backhoe.  

Now it is a daily task to keep the bushes alive.  This first year after transplanting is crucial to their survival.

The new and expanded pond was refilled and the boys decided to enjoy it before the geese soiled it.

It may have been a good idea to keep the geese in the corral until the boys were through.  

The boys didn't seem to mind though.

In fact they all seemed to enjoy their water play.

I believe it's because the bushes added a delightful and irresistible ambiance to the pond.

The geese gave their inspection and seal of approval on the pond and left in search of a snack.

The boys lingered in the pond.

ApriJune Suminter

I firmly believe in looking for a better perspective.. a bright side of things... so... 

If it were April this weather would be delightful... better than what we saw in April.  

If we lived in the southern hemisphere we would be entering winter and this weather wouldn't give us any qualms.  

If we ever are upset about dry and hot days... HA HA HA.. not here... but let's say IF we were.. we could remember the middle of June 2020 when it kept snowing and raining and hovering in the 40's.  

Since the weather here is less than ideally suited for gardening... or of me ever hoping of being warm!  

Since I may have planted an overabundance of seeds in my eagerness of our garden project in the spring.

Since the weather teases every few days and pretends to be spring and then winter returns to mock and point and laugh at my pitiful attempts to produce plants and greenery and shade and beauty on our few acres of life, Patrick and Jim spent a few hours in the barn (out of the rain and cold) and built these charming "take that Wyoming Wacky Weather!" cold frames.  

I feel like my garden may one day become like Mr. MacGregor's delightful space.  I suppose I need to keep an eye out for bunnies. 

 I certainly need to create a scarecrow out of a blue jacket and little shoes.  

Multi-tasking

I've been realising that I don't have enough time.  Or that I'm not using my time wisely.  Or that I've taken on too much... no that's not it.  Regardless, I've been lamenting that I don't find time to exercise anymore.  I was so good.  Never missed a day... a good workout where I broke into a sweat and felt gross and fantastic afterwards!  But somehow... some things crept in and took over the workout time.

Another thing I've realised that I don't seem to have time for, is the yard.  I was all in a dither a few years ago to finally be buying a house that had a large yard.  I was pumped at what a great fun place I was going to create.  Fast forward three and half years... I have created.... a jungle.  Unfortunately not one where exotic flora and fauna invite exotic birds and monkeys.  Instead it is a jungle of tall grasses and weeds that entwine themselves around bicycles and swing sets and invite mosquito's and all manner of other insects. It's far too daunting to call it a Saturday project.  It's more like an every Saturday of the summer and evening and well... it's a large yard and it's a large jungle.  It's overwhelming. 

So, in keeping with trying to do it all... I'm forcing myself to get out there and work in the jungle everyday.  I was exercising for 45 minutes to an hour, so I should be able to give the yard that much time.  And the added benefit is I get to cross off two things on my to do list with one task!

Now to find a way to type with my toes while I wash the dishes....

Green Thumbs and Guillotines

I announced that I wouldn't be planting my regular garden this year.  I learned my lesson last year.  I just can't keep up with it and everything else...  not that I profess to be keeping up with much, I assure you.  So this year after evaluating what I had going on in my life with a babe, and other kidlets, (Caleb would like a new term... doesn't think he qualifies as a kidlet anymore!.. kidleteen? maybe not, it sounds like guillotine... )  I decided to only plant tomatoes and beets.  My rationale?  we eat fresh beets like they are going out of style so I know they won't be wasted...  they take very little babysitting in a garden...  Miles would have nothing to do when he gets up early in July through September if he couldn't go out to harvest the daily beets!

The tomatoes are another no brainer.  We pick and use fresh and what we don't need that day, goes in the freezer as is.  When the growing season is finally over and we're sufficiently afraid to open the door of the freezer because an avalanche of tomatoes will rain down on us, we can salsa and spaghetti sauce for a week.  The End.


Or so I thought.
Last Saturday....

 Sarah, and her trusty dirt scratching friends, prepared ALL of my garden beds.  She presented a very different garden design.  Each child wanted JUST one thing more....  

Pumpkins, please?...  

Green Peppers, please??

What about Zucchini for zucchini cookies?

Just a few spinach plants, please???

You'll need onions for the salsa.

We'll take care of everything, you won't even have to touch them.

Why do I hear myself agreeing???  

Do they not remember scorching hot, long, miserable days of weeding? 

Lazy Summer Days

I determined to do something worthwhile today. Yesterday Sarah and I spent far too many hours looking for baby pictures for the name that baby game and then had to sit on the couch with my feet up since they swell anytime I sit at this computer desk. So I read and napped and played clue with the kids and essentially had nothing to show for my day, except fat feet!

This morning we were up bright and early. I ran the laundry and made breakfast and we hustled about getting our morning chores done. Then we sat down for a rousing game of 'Life'. As lunch approached Sarah was invited to a friends and Caleb had a babysitting job to go to, so it was just me and the boys for the afternoon. We had lunch and I remembered the load of laundry. As I hung it on the line the boys joined me outside and we meandered on over to check on the chickens. We decided to move a few bricks... After only 20 bricks between the three of us at high noon we decided to look for some shade. I determined that the lilac bush needed weeding desperately and since it was shady it fit the bill. We all started out together but the boys petered out and went in to watch 'Make way for Ducklings'. When they returned to find out what had happened to me, since I never made it in to join them.... look what we discovered was in our backyard. It's been there all along hiding under the branches of the apple tree. It just needed to be discovered (and weeded). And a few items we found around the yard that had heretofore not found a use or home were just what was needed!


The checkerboard was well used throughout the afternoon and we love our little shady spot, nook, hideout. It does need a name though...

When Sarah and Caleb returned they were suitably impressed with our discovery. Sarah found it charming. Caleb banged his head on an overhead tree branch and went back inside. I think it idyllic.... who knew we didn't need a big back yard after all... just a little nook. We spent over 5 hours out there before we finally came in for bed tonight! As for having something to show for my day... this wasn't really what I set out to do... but I guess that's how the phrase 'lazy days of summer' got coined!