Some Are Growing, Some Are Not

My potatoes are getting taller and fuller by the day.
And some of the plants have begun to bloom.

But my poor green beans are having a hard time coming up.

My corn has begun coming up;

And so have the watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers and pumpkins.

The tomatoes I purchased from the store have stopped growing and seem to be struggling to stay alive.

But the tomatoes I started indoors are growing like weeds.

I am so looking forward to a full productive garden.

Don't Look Down

Yesterday morning I was up a tree...Trying to cut a very long branch that is stuck in another tree hanging over...

Elizabeth's swing set. (This branch blew down during a wind storm last year.)

I had to quit after working off and on for about an hour, it was just too hard! Hopefully Pat will have time this weekend to finish the job.

A Small Rock Project

Recently I read about a mom, with a toddler, putting rocks in the pots of her house plants so the toddler would not dig in the dirt. I immediately thought of how much nicer my plants would look with rocks showing instead of dirt. The kids and I have been slowly collecting small rocks to add to my small collection of plants.

The rocks are really transforming the look of my plants.

Skirts on a Mission

Recently I read on the blog "I have to Say" a write up about a young missionary named Bella.Bella is collecting skirts to bring with her on an upcoming mission trip to Costa Rica.

Over the weekend I put together 3 skirts;

And mailed them today.

Here a Chick, There a Chick, Everywhere a Chick Chick

The baby chicks have a "HUGH" appetite! Last year the kids helped me grind maize and corn to feed them so we wouldn't have to keep paying for the high priced food at the grain store.

However, we were wearing out our arms grinding. So, Pat rigged up the grinder with a hand drill and now it takes very little time to grind up a bucket full.

And yesterday the chicks were introduced to table scraps when I gave them a watermelon rind.

It was so fun watching them peck at it, they were unsure it was something to eat.

My House Plants

Off and on for the past couple of days we have had a gentle rain.
Yesterday the idea hit me to put my house plants outside for a good drink and shower.

The kids helped me carry the plants to Elizabeth's picnic table.

I don't have too many house plants, just 5; my thumb is far from green but these few plants have managed to live even when I forget to water them.

Moving Day

Many of our baby chicks have grown so much.....They barely had room to move in the small portable pen.

So today we began gathering them up...

And moving them to the large portable pen.

Now they have more space for running and jumping...

And chasing bugs.

The Orchard Once Again

I am so excited each time I walk out to the orchard.Mowing the grass and weeds has opened my eyes to just how large it is.

The trees are no longer hidden in the middle of tall weeds.

I have mowed almost half of the orchard so far. Lately I have been enjoying walking through it early in the morning and late in the evening.

Cooking Class

Elizabeth has been asking more and more to help cook. Usually I am too busy to slow down long enough to have her help.

This morning I decided to get her up early so she could help make cookies.

I usually have more time in the morning than later in the day.

So getting her up early to help cook needs to become a routine.

Yum, the cookies were so good!

Look What's Growing in My Garden!

This is not what I want growing in my garden!He isn't very big but still big enough to make my heart skip a beat each time I see him.

Garden Tomatoes

I am getting behind on planting my garden, especially my tomatoes. Recently while in the grocery store I spotted these plants for $2.99.I have never seen tomatoes planted together in one container, they usually are separated by compartments; but it was easy to divide them;

They are now in the ground and doing well.

The tomatoes I started from seed are coming along nicely;

And looking very healthy.

Cock-A-Doodle-Do

Our one and only rooster, given the name Cock-A-Doodle-Do by Elizabeth, is not a very nice rooster.He attacked Elizabeth when she climbed into the chicken yard to retrieve a couple of eggs.

She wants to sell him now since he is so mean but he is a good rooster to the hens so for now we must keep him.

Vintage Fun

A friend recently gave this vintage Tupperware dish set to Elizabeth.

It originally sold for $11.89

I love how small the pieces are;

Elizabeth has been using the dishes during snack time.

Yellow Flower

Elizabeth has a dance recital/performance at the end of the month. She and her classmates will be a field of flowers and she is to be a yellow flower.To order a yellow leotard was $15.75 plus shipping; I was able to make her one for $5.

The Orchard

Our orchard is really growing; the trees look strong and healthy.

Since we have had some nice rain the grass and weeds are growing well;

So earlier in the week I began mowing the orchard for the chickens.

I love how it is looking; someday I hope to fence the orchard so the chickens will have more space for roaming.

A Bird's Nest

Pat found a bird's nest in the pasture stuck between some cattle panels; it was made with small thorny mesquite branches. I didn't want to throw it away so I stuck it in this Mulberry tree.

Maybe one of the many birds we have will use it one day.