I have stopped during the past 5 or 6 days at least a dozen times to try to post an update on the goings on here, but one thing after another seems to come up. Mostly outside things like playing in the water hose, checking on the status of our "crops" as the boys call them and eating al fresco each evening. Ah, its heaven I tell you.
My grandmother Shirley celebrated her 70th (plus or minus a few *wink*) birthday on Sunday. And Grammer, if I had all the money in the world, I would fly you here to Virginia and make you strawberry shortcake using your very own recipe (which happened to have been featured on the Crafty Crow last week)and our strawberries. That is of the robins leave any for us to enjoy...they seem to have developed a taste for them. Then we would sit down, just the two of us, at a table set with Aunt Grace's silver plate in the middle of our garden. And we'd talk until midnight. That is if we could both stay awake that long. You might make it longer than me these days Grammer. I would tell her how much the boys are loving the garden we have constructed on the East side of the yard. About our plans to increase the garden area each year until we have about half as much yard as we do right now. You could tell me about growing up in Indiana on the dairy farm and about doing chores with her father in your overhauls. How does that sound to you Grammer?
Well, since I DON'T have all the money in the world, I have an idea. Want to join me on a walk through the garden in photos? And you don't mind if a few blogging friends come along, do you?
The recycled bifold doors are working perfectly in the raised beds. Above is bed #2 that holds the summer veggies.
After we put Ian and Zane on the bus at 7:30, Wyatt and I comence to watering. And we continue to water, and water, and water until he is soaked to the bone and we have to go in to dry off. We're going to be in a heap load of trouble if water prices go the way of gas prices.
We have to check on the eggplant flowers to see if there are any babies yet. Nope, not yet. But the flowers sure are pretty to look at until there are.
But we have baby peppers already.
and peas which are are eaten raw, right off the vine. We haven't had one yet make it to the dinner table.
And if you remember Grammer, Ian was so smitten by the fig he tried at the organic CSA farm last year, we decided to let him plant his own tree to take care of. He has ben tending to it so sweetly, even talking to it. I have been half afraid that it wouldn't produce anything the first year and he would be disappointed. But while Wyatt and I were watering on Monday I spied the first little fig. I couldn't wait until he was home from school to show him. To say he was elated is an understatement!! Do you see it?
The cantalopes are starting to vine.
and the watermelons too.
We found a baby zucchini this morning. Wyatt was so excited. I can't wait to eat him grilled with a little olive oil and parmesan. Yummy!
And you can't leave without seeing the baby Roma tomatoes. Zane has big plans for these to be used in homemade pizza sauce.
I sure wish you could see it all in person...and I know you do too. Happy Birthday Grammer, I love you. And I hope this tides you over until we are able to visit you (and the rest of the family later this summer). This yellow calla lily from the front flower bed is for you.
