Well spring is here, even though Mother Nature seems a bit confused. We had several days where the temps tops in the upper 80's and then a cold rain swept in and had 5 days with no sun, drizzle and temps in the middle 50's.
In spite of the crazy weather, I actually put some of my garden in about mid april. I planted potatos, onions, lettuce, and peas. I saved most of the rest for later when the temps warmed. I guess the peas weren't having any of the weather so they refused to sprout (very rainy weather). I really think they rotted in ground.
May 6th I got busy and planted 300 foot of new peas, 300 foot of lima beans and 300 foot of green beans. I also planted 48 tomato plants. Dad came by and helped me by finishing the tilling while I started planting beans. I never intended to plant 48 tomato plants, but Mrs. Sutton and I came across a great deal on plants at the Mennonite produce auction. We got our plants for 25 cents a 4 pack (regular 1.99 a 4 pack) but had to buy 288 plants. I think they put out about 75 and I took 48 and then she gave the rest to friends and neighbors.
I have been good so far about keeping things hilled up and today Blayne and I put in 25 tomato stakes. It was about all my back could handle after helping last night with his t-ball practice. I also got most of the weeds chopped and am hoping to put the rest of the stakes in tomorrow with Keith's help.
Today is a beautiful spring day with temps in lower 70's so I have been pushing to get laundry done. So far 3 loads washed and hung out. We try hard not to use the dryer in the summer to save on electricity.
I am also working on getting the kids clothes together because after the bus route we go full speed all evening. Blayne has his first t-ball game and Paiton has softball practice. They are both playing in Prairie Home so that is a trip in itself but Blayne's game tonight is in Jamestown, so that is added miles.
I am putting on a roast in the corckpot and peeling potatoes so that supper is almost ready when we walk in the door. I can finish it while Keith helps with the kids and their baths.
Not much to report on the quilting scene, I have had my hands full with the kids sporting events and planting and all things spring. Hopefully I will be able to get in a routine when summer break gets here. With that routine in place maybe I will be back at the sewing machine.
So I am outta here to get a few more things done before the bus route and cleaning.
Have a beautiful day!
Showing posts with label Gardening quilting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gardening quilting. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Dreay Old Day
Well you gotta love Missouri weather. A week ago when we should have spring weather, we were getting into the mid 90's. Hot dry and so humid you could cut it with a knife. Well, in Missouri, the only way to get rid of the humidity is rain. Which is the story of the weekend and the beginning of this week. We have had rain everyday since Friday. And not a rain that downpours (although we have had some of those) but a rain that teases. A drip here a drop there and then maybe a small peek of sunshine. So yeah, I see sunshine. Get all the garden things out and about 5 minutes into it a small shower. I keep weeding, thinking that it will pass, but then heavier, so inside I go. Get things put up and inside and look out and it has quit raining. I just cannot win for losing sometimes. Here are a few pics of the weather lately.
I was able to weed the zucchini and I saw 4 blooms and the teeniest zucchini peeking out. I cannot wait until we have some fried (my favorite). I got about half a row of tomatoes weeded and tied up again. The tomato plants are looking really good this year and I hope we have a bumper crop. I like to can tomato sauce and juice and DH loves homemade salsa. My beans though have not weathered the rainy spring. I planted 2 rows of bush beans and a row of Lima beans. Only about 10 plants in each row sprouted. I went to look for more bean seed and the only thing left is pole beans, so looks like I will be trying that this year. Mom always said bad words about pole beans, but I have seen many rave reviews. So I guess this is mother nature's way of getting me to try them. Many people say they like them better, that they produce more and that they are much easier to pick. Anything up off the ground is a blessing to my already failing back.
The cucumbers are going like gang busters and I am going to try and get them started on a trellis this year. A close friend grow his that way and says you can pick them like bananas. Lettuce, carrots and radishes were a flop this year but hopefully the onions will do good. And I still have beets, turnips and fall peas to try and get in.
Summertime memories are some of the best ones I have. Here are a few pictures of some memories my kids are making.
Well when it rains what do you do but either clean house or sew. I think I will choose to sew. I am still working to complete the elephant baby quilt. I have decided on 9 blocks making it 3 x 3 with two outer borders. There will be 4 elephant blocks and 5 patchwork blocks incorporating the fabrics used on the elephants. I almost have the 5 patchwork blocks completed and am looking forward to getting the top put together and quilted. Hopefully I can get that accomplished today. Here are a few pictures of the patchwork.
DD #2 is supposed to have a softball game tonight, but I am almost sure that it will be rained out. She also has a tournament this weekend and from the forecast if will be in true summer softball fashion. Meaning that it will be mid 90's and humidity nearing 80%, without a leaf wiggling in site. Gotta love the thrills of summer sports.
Well since it is to discouraging to work outside, I had better get back to sewing!
Poof!
I was able to weed the zucchini and I saw 4 blooms and the teeniest zucchini peeking out. I cannot wait until we have some fried (my favorite). I got about half a row of tomatoes weeded and tied up again. The tomato plants are looking really good this year and I hope we have a bumper crop. I like to can tomato sauce and juice and DH loves homemade salsa. My beans though have not weathered the rainy spring. I planted 2 rows of bush beans and a row of Lima beans. Only about 10 plants in each row sprouted. I went to look for more bean seed and the only thing left is pole beans, so looks like I will be trying that this year. Mom always said bad words about pole beans, but I have seen many rave reviews. So I guess this is mother nature's way of getting me to try them. Many people say they like them better, that they produce more and that they are much easier to pick. Anything up off the ground is a blessing to my already failing back.
The cucumbers are going like gang busters and I am going to try and get them started on a trellis this year. A close friend grow his that way and says you can pick them like bananas. Lettuce, carrots and radishes were a flop this year but hopefully the onions will do good. And I still have beets, turnips and fall peas to try and get in.
Summertime memories are some of the best ones I have. Here are a few pictures of some memories my kids are making.
Well when it rains what do you do but either clean house or sew. I think I will choose to sew. I am still working to complete the elephant baby quilt. I have decided on 9 blocks making it 3 x 3 with two outer borders. There will be 4 elephant blocks and 5 patchwork blocks incorporating the fabrics used on the elephants. I almost have the 5 patchwork blocks completed and am looking forward to getting the top put together and quilted. Hopefully I can get that accomplished today. Here are a few pictures of the patchwork.
DD #2 is supposed to have a softball game tonight, but I am almost sure that it will be rained out. She also has a tournament this weekend and from the forecast if will be in true summer softball fashion. Meaning that it will be mid 90's and humidity nearing 80%, without a leaf wiggling in site. Gotta love the thrills of summer sports.
Well since it is to discouraging to work outside, I had better get back to sewing!
Poof!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
I see the sun!
Was wondering if the sun was going to show it's face around here anymore at all. Seems like weeks since we have seen it. But thanks to God's graces, I see it bright and shining today.
Every year I plant a garden and can the extra vegetables for use later in the winter. I usually plant a pretty good size one, because Mom and Dad also love the fresh veggies. I went out yesterday to look and see if I need to provide the tomato plants with snorkels and promptly sunk in my yard up to one ankle. We have had so much rain and I knew not to venture in the garden but even the yard is at it's max now. The tomato plants look like they have weathered the heavy rains, but the beans and peas have not sprouted and I am concerned that they are rotting in the ground. Only time will tell.
Well with all the rain, I worked yesterday on getting laundry caught up and searching for fabric for my commissioned baby quilts. I never thought that finding the perfect fabric would be so hard. The first quilt was requested to have elephants. I definately wanted something cute, but for a boy, also.
This is what I came up with and will use the bright red and bright blue as coordinating fabrics.
I also had time to work on a personal quilt that has been in progress for over a month now. I saw this pattern made up in a quilt and decided to try and make my own pattern for it. I was shocked to see that I can still draft things using graph paper. After making the center blocks, I started and finished the next "row" of blocks yesterday. I still have 24 more blocks to make as this one is for my bed. I showed DH last night and he was impressed and excited, until I told him that I was considering sending the completed top out to be quilted. He was kind shocked since I do most of my quilting on my home machine. I will have to think about it but shudder at the idea of quilting a king size on my little machine.
Here is a sneak peek at the center.
And after the outside 8 blocks were added last night.
Today will be less exciting in the quilting world as my real life calls me to do other things, but hope you have many happy stitches today.
POOF!
Every year I plant a garden and can the extra vegetables for use later in the winter. I usually plant a pretty good size one, because Mom and Dad also love the fresh veggies. I went out yesterday to look and see if I need to provide the tomato plants with snorkels and promptly sunk in my yard up to one ankle. We have had so much rain and I knew not to venture in the garden but even the yard is at it's max now. The tomato plants look like they have weathered the heavy rains, but the beans and peas have not sprouted and I am concerned that they are rotting in the ground. Only time will tell.
Well with all the rain, I worked yesterday on getting laundry caught up and searching for fabric for my commissioned baby quilts. I never thought that finding the perfect fabric would be so hard. The first quilt was requested to have elephants. I definately wanted something cute, but for a boy, also.
This is what I came up with and will use the bright red and bright blue as coordinating fabrics.
I also had time to work on a personal quilt that has been in progress for over a month now. I saw this pattern made up in a quilt and decided to try and make my own pattern for it. I was shocked to see that I can still draft things using graph paper. After making the center blocks, I started and finished the next "row" of blocks yesterday. I still have 24 more blocks to make as this one is for my bed. I showed DH last night and he was impressed and excited, until I told him that I was considering sending the completed top out to be quilted. He was kind shocked since I do most of my quilting on my home machine. I will have to think about it but shudder at the idea of quilting a king size on my little machine.
Here is a sneak peek at the center.
And after the outside 8 blocks were added last night.
Today will be less exciting in the quilting world as my real life calls me to do other things, but hope you have many happy stitches today.
POOF!
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