Winter Garden

The winter garden got planted last weekend. This time I tried making the garden with rows and a furrow, then ran a soaker hose down it. Soooooo much easier than trying to connect a bunch of little dripper things, and a 50' section of soaker hose is only seven bucks or so.




We planted some seedlings form the nursery (brocoli and some carrots, and peas) and are trying lettuce, turnips, carrots, beets, and radishes from seeds. No need to write down what is planted where. Heck, there are only four rows with seeds.



And here are the first seedlings popping up. I wonder what kind of vegetable they are. I seem to have, uh, forgot what is where. Makes it so much more interesting really.

Oh, and yes, the ground really is that grey. Clay soil. And that is what it looks like after 8 years of having composting and soil amendments roto-tilled back into it. In it's natural state I think it's called adobe.

Basketball, cat fud, and a new crop of plastic

Today was the girls' last basketball game of the season. Those of you who know us could have figured this out because we took pictures. You know how some parents are really into their kids sports, and video them and yell during the game? We aren't those people.


Getting ready to shoot.


Faster than a camera! (a camera without a flash)


The boy was really well behaved... right up until the point he wasn't. Luckily that was outside while we were getting the team snacks ready. (Note to self - if you are in a kids league with 8 games, and 12 kids on the team...that mean four parents won't have to bring snacks. So be late to the first practice when the sign up sheet is passed around)

Anyway, after the game I went to the Home Despot. $26 for plastic. I know, I know, you thought I figured out a way to grow plastic in my garden but, alas, all I'm really good at growing is weeds (particularly the common mallow... which, btw, is why I know God exists. Because if God didn't exist Satan wouldn't exist, and only Satan could have twisted Gods original creation into this nightmare of a weed. It's like the embodiment of evil in the plant world). This year I'm attempting to keep the weeds out using plastic.

While I was there I got a new 5 gallon bucket with lid. We had a cool 5 gallon bucket with a screw on lid for the cat food, but it was destroyed by raccoons. And ultraviolet light, but the raccoons did most of the damage. Anyhoo, mama bear discovered the replacement cost was $30.... hence the cats new food bucket.






Edit: Well, I always think that explaining the joke makes it not funny, but since my sense of humor is apparently too highbrow ...

Suburban Gothic

So, my question is: Who are the real farmers in my family? We produce so many oranges and lemons they are literally falling off the tree.



Gee, that's kind of sad. Maybe I'm not really a productive farmer, but just lazy.



And here is the before picture so you can see why I roto-till rather than weeding by hand.




Yes, that is a defunct cell phone she is holding... I'm amazed at the depth of the imaginary conversations she has. And yes, I am going to be in trouble when mama bear gets home and sees their shoes after the very top picture.

the bane of my existence

or at least one of them. The "common mallow".

Ughh... it grows like a, uh, weed. Particularly in the garden. So for the last several weeks I've been watching my crop of weeds grow and thinking to myself "Gee, maybe I should weed that, and maybe put the canoe back behind the shed, oh, and dump the water out of the wheelbarrow too". The canoe is there because I was doing work behind the shed.

Oh, alright, it was there because I was going for the trailer trash look.

Anyway, here is the before picture:



And the after:
My poor aching back.

Yes, I know there are a ton of small weeds left, but they easy get taken care of by the rototiller. And I will mow the lawn as soon as the grass dries out a bit.