Some pics of life.

We had a couple of nice (sunny and 50F) days here in Fife this weekend.  It was super to spend some time outside and not be thinking the whole time about how much I want to go inside! 

We do not live in an area that is really known for snow, but this winter, there have been only a few days where we did not have snow on the ground.  The daytime temps have been such that the ground thaws.  The result has been MUD.  Mud is everywhere.  The yard may never recover...  Driving to our parking area has created terrible ruts and the few times we have driven around to the back of the house (usually when we are returning from the grocery store) has made a muddy mess of the side yard.  I won't even begin to describe the yard by the back porch.  Just imagine, 2 dogs, no grass, no gutters on the house and tons of precipitation.  Gross!

In the garden...

There isn't a lot going on in the garden right now.  I have some onions and garlic in the ground and a little bit of lettuce that is struggling along.  We chose to not finish the cold frame, so the lettuce has not been covered all winter.  I'm wondering if it will take off when the days begin warming up...

I have, however, been making some seriously big plans!  I told you about my one-member CSA.  I have made an initial seed order.  I still have 5 beds to dig before I can plant anything, though.  I had to scrap a few of my ideas for the garden (like peanuts and popcorn) because they would occupy space I need for making sure I have produce available for a CSA share.  May 15th (the first share date) is going to be here quickly, and in order to be sure I have something to harvest by then, I have to get things planted at the exact right time.  So, I have been working on my garden calendar.  I have been putting planting and harvest dates in, with the hopes that it will help me stay on track.  I am using this really cool garden planning program to help me, as well.

Here is what my 2011 garden plan includes:
Spinach, peas, cabbage, carrots, onions, lettuce, potatoes, melons, bush beans, pole beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, brussels sprouts, winter squash, summer squash, pumpkins, garlic, radishes, kale, tomatillos and butterbeans.  There will also be herbs: cilantro, sage, thyme, rosemary, lavender, parsley, mint, oregano, and dill.

Oh, and I have decided to call my little business Farm Mama!  I was thinking about trying out selling at the Goochland Farmer's Market this summer.  The future of the market is up in the air right now, though, so we will see what happens with that.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

For today, Thursday, January 20, 2011

When I grow up I want to be a farmer!

Those of you who know me personally will know that I am in school.  Well actually, I am not taking a class this semester, but plan to continue as finances allow (we are committed to living without debt).  Anyway, I am studying Sustainable Agriculture at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.  It is a great program and I am learning so much.

Theo's OT

I wrote an e-mail to a friend who had asked some questions about Theo and the reasons he is having Occupational Therapy.  I realized it was a pretty coherent description of what is going on with him.  Since I am really just learning about all of this, it has been difficult for me to explain fully to folks who ask. It is making so much sense to me the more I learn, though, so I'll try to explain it the best way I know how...

Finally figuring out the boy!

Theo has been killing me slowly for 2 solid years now. I had a miserable pregnancy, a semi-violent fast birth, he cried 4-8 hours out of the day for the first 10 months (when he started walking he cried less, but still had a couple days a week of crying 2-4 hours), I was suffering from PPD that I dismissed for almost a year as sleep deprivation, and the child still (at 19 months old) doesn't sleep. 

Some goings on

Back in 2008, I made a 2nd birthday quilt for Eden.  It was made especially for her big girl bed.  Since Theo is 19 months old, I thought it was about time I started on his quilt!  I am planning a classic car themed quilt.  So far I have 3 appliques finished for it.  We have a VW Microbus, a VW Thing and a 1940 Ford truck.  I am currently working on a Model A.  Still to come are a 1960 Corvette and a 1970 Buick GS.  So far it has been really fun to work on.

This morning has been nice and quiet.  We told Eden there would be no TV until her room was clean.  She has chosen to not clean her room and just forfeit her TV time today.  At first I was annoyed (because the state of her room is atrocious), but the kids are playing so sweetly that I just closed the door and we will get to her room later.

Hope your day is wonderful!

Working hard on breathing life into this neglected blog.

I want this blog to be a reflection of my whole life.  A glimpse into who I am as a woman, our family's successes and failures, our hopes and dreams and how we plan to achieve those.

I have recently read the 1932 journal of my great-great-great aunt.  She lived here at Hunter's Grove and wrote nearly daily.  She recorded things like the weather, radio programs she had enjoyed that day, the status of the animals, what was growing in the garden and wether or not anyone had visited.  I hope to have the discipline to blog about topics of interest, but also to document the more mundane goings-on here at Hunter's Grove.

I am changing a few things here...

Hopefully there will be good things to come... and maybe I will actually post now and then!!