Gardening

I planted 4 strawberry plants today, tomorrow I am going to find a place for a fifth one. I also dug up and replanted two previous strawberry plants making them on "hills" so that they may grow better. Hopefully that helps. I also planted 1 tomato plant and still have two to plant. I have squash, lavender, kohlrabi and a ton of other stuff still left to plant too! I just can't wait for strawberry shortcake, zucchini bread and butter pickles, and soups made with kohlrabi.

After a while of planting strawberries I started feeling like something was biting me on my fanny, and then decided it was a stick, but no...it kept "biting" finally I decided to reach down my pants and see if I could figure out if something was in there, and I had a wasp in there stinging me! UHG! It still hurts! Oh the pains I go through for my hobbies. haha

I had Lela and Loudine play with Belle just long enough for me to get the whole garden watered. Which only took about five minutes, and in that five minutes,

at which time crazy Pepper dog grabbed Belle's cup ran off with it and didn't come back with it where we could find it for 3 hours! UHG, it's a 15 dollar sippy cup, so glad she decided to finally bring it back. I was not wanting to have to pay to replace it.

As soon as Vince winds down from work, and dinner. Him and I are off to work on moving more dirt for my secondary garden by the barn.

I received a email from my local La Leche League leaders today, they are looking for some fundraiser ideas. To keep our "free" breast feeding support group, which helps women learn to breast feed, the benefits of breastfeeding, help women continue to breastfeed past challenges, all free of charge and endlessly, alive and going, and being

able to pay for it to be renewed so it can continue to be part of the La Leche League foundation. I came up with a few ideas. And we are going to be discussing it in our next meeting, which is next week. If you have any ideas of ways we could raise funds for this group, please share them with me. I will pass them on at the next meeting. I know they have done a lot to help me. I really wish I had found them much sooner, I think with their help I may of been able to get Lela to latch on, and it would of been so much easier then pumping milk every 3 hours for over 2 years! With another baby on the way, I know I would like to have their help and resources for my own self for some more years. I know it's a great foundation and resource for many others as well. Even at our last meeting was new people who had never nursed before and had previous children but are currently pregnant and wanting help to learn to nurse their expecting babies. So I know they are very needed, and want to try to help them stay here.

Memorial 2011

I had the best Memorial day ever this year. The day started out with getting to sleep in since we didn't have meeting this morning. Then we got up and went to the Dollar Tree, I forgot to get the garden signs I wanted there, but was able to get some other needs. In the Dollar Tree's parking lot was plants for sale by a local plant store. I bought more heirloom tomatoes, finally got some yellow pears, and some everbearing strawberries, and a few other things. Then we went across the street to Dillon's AKA Kroger's where I proceeded to buy a lavender plant, and even the breed I was looking for.

Then it was lunch time, we had fish. However, poor Belle was so sick she wanted in my lap the whole time.

Back to another Dillon's after lunch where we bought a kohlrabi plant and a HUGE strawberry plant. And some pancake syrup so I can make dandelion pancakes for the girls soon. The first Dillon's didn't have the brand I wanted. While we were there I read in a organic Country magazine some tips on growing strawberries, just what I needed, now I know I need to go buy some straw, and make little hills to plant the strawberries in.

Got the car washed next so it would be nice and pretty for the Memorial. Went to Leeland's to make a payment on the beautiful dining room set he made us but he wasn't home.

When we got home, Grandma Delores and Grandpa Merlin was home working on Amber and Ben's graduation announcements. So we got to chat with them a little bit. They had brought Lela some sand buckets, and a life jacket for swimming in the lake. Then Amber called with some gardening information which was so sweet.

Then it was time to get ready for the Memorial, Loudine and Krystal got the girls all ready so it was very easy. Got to Memorial about 1 1/2 hours early. But, it was ok, got to talk to a lot of people. And Eldon, Casey and Hunter were able to come too. We had 244 in attendance, but then forgot to take a picture. This is the first year we didn't get a picture at memorial. Belle was so sick though I completely forgot. I would of liked a picture of our first Memorial as a family in Kansas though. But, oh well. Lela said some of the other parents took some pictures of her, so maybe I can get one.

We went to Applebee's down the street from the Kingdom Hall after Memorial with Eldon and the kids as well. It was pretty empty in there lest, about 6 others from our congregation and 2 other families. But, it was really nice. Caleb brought us some coupons to use at Applebee's right before Memorial began so that really helped. But, poor Belle again just wanted to sit on my lap.

When we got home, I gave Belle some fever medication and now she is doing so much better, but it's time for bed.

It was a great day for me though all in all, usually some disaster happens to me on Memorial, so glad none this year. Less Belle being sick, but even she is getting better, poor babe.

Coming Memorial

I went out in the garden today. Planted about 20 Texas sweet onions, my three tomato plants I bought, a Cherokee purple, a white tomato, and a lemon boy. Then I planted cantaloupe seeds, and eggplant seeds. I noticed nothing is happening at all with my zucchini seeds, I am hoping they will come up at some point! The beets they are every where all over the garden. But, it looks like only 2 of the strawberry plants are doing any good. So I think I will go and buy more strawberry plants today or maybe tomorrow if I leave the house in time before Memorial. Other then that the garden is coming along swimmingly. Still loving it! And boy am I getting a tan! I bought some sunblock if only I would remember to put it on. I may actually start to look Mexican and Native American more now. Then my usual pastiness from staying in the house all the time. Oh...to have color back!

Some of my books have been shipped according to my emails. Amazon has sent one of my stitching books, and the used book site has sent my order just today. I can't wait till they get here. I am just really really biting at the bit though to get my new canning books! But, alas they have not been shipped yet, as they are taking their sweet time about it. On another good note Kathy, bought Lela

the Little House enrichment course from Calvert. Then she offered to pay for the kindergarten curriculum from them! Which has been my dream. Then when I read further I see Kansas K12 has added this MVPS program which if I pay just 75 dollars for they will pay for the Calvert program! So hoping we can do that. But, on even better news, when I called to enroll Lela, Lela is too young this year as she has to be 5 by the August 9th, and she won't be till September 9th. I am so happy about that, cause I was not wanting to have a brand new baby at home while trying to home school or even take her to public school when the baby will be brand brand new in August! So I was so happy to hear that. So we will go ahead and just buy the Pre-K program from Calvert and go through that with her this year. In the meantime since MVPS/Calvert is new to Kansas I can take this year to go to the open houses and see how they will work the program out and see if I want to go through the MVPS program, OR just directly through Calvert. The big decision maker on it, will be if MVPS will give me a full 12 months to finish the program like Calvert does on it's own with their ATS program. That will be the deal breaker.

Tomorrow is the Memorial of Christ death. Even though it was a sacrifice on humans (my) behalf, it's always a sad time for me. I remember and think

deeper about the suffering Christ went through before his death. So unfair and inhuman. As he said, they do not know what they are doing. It's still just very sad for me to recall and think about though. But, I am surely grateful for his sacrifice on our behalf, as we surely know this world needs it now more then ever! May God's kingdom rule soon.

The Belles!

Went to La Leche League last night. WOW was it packed! More people then I ever seen at one, the kids were every where. It was nice, as Lela and Belle got to play a lot. There was two other girls Lela's age there. And of course countless Belle's age, two of which were named Belle as well.  Good thing I took snacks, with so many people there, they were all eaten up! I took Dakota bread from the Great Harvest bread store, butter and whipped honey, and a cubed cantaloupe. There was nothing left to bring home. Of course Lela and Belle had their fair share of the goodies as well. Even though we had had a full dinner of my Mediterranean Lemon Chicken, pinenut garlic cous cous, and fattoush salad.

After the La Leche League meeting we went to Leekers, I was able to get three tomato plants for only 1 dollar each. I got a white tomato, which I never heard of before. A lemon boy, which I know is not a heirloom, but I'm not seeing any yellow heirlooms around yet. And another cherokee purple, last one they had left. I also got several packs of seeds for only 15 cents! Eggplant, sunflowers, pumpkin, onions, cantaloupes, all kinds of stuff. Will be planting them soon. I think I will go back and get a pack of watermelon seeds too. Some of them say to start in the house but I really don't have the time, so for 15 cents I'm going to give them a go sowing them directly in the garden and see what happens. The worst that can happen is nothing and I wasted 15 cents, no biggie. So I'm just going to go with it.

Then last night some one told me of another canning book! Called "Put em up!" it looks crazy good. However, I already made my amazon purchase, so I will just get it at the library this year and put it in my Amazon cart for next year. Oh man it looks good though. Beet relish, Cantaloupe preserves, Cantaloupe pickles, Fennel and Onion jam, Heirloom Watermelon Jelly, Squash and Onion relish. WOW This sounds like a amazing book! UHG if only I had known a day earlier it would of soooo been in my cart and on it's way to my house today. Oh well, next year it is first on the list of books to get. Unless I get a major coupon from this order, then I am getting as soon as I get the coupon. Oh I can't wait for my books this year to get here. I bought some Laura Ingals Wilder books as well, for myself and the girls to read. I'm taking them through the Little House series right now. But, the books I ordered were of other writings of Laura's.

I'm already planning out what I need to add to the garden next year too. haha I am still going to add a green tomato plant to this years garden, and 4 more strawberry plants. Next year I want leeks, asparagus, more onions, more strawberries, and probably every thing I put out this year and MORE! haha I've decided I want a fig tree too so I can make my favorite garlic fig sauce that Trader Joe's used to sell, but I think I will hold off on the tree till I get my own home. 

Pod Is Here!

Even though I'm sick as a dog, coughing a lung up. I was able to go and water the garden. It's looking so good. However, the day I planted the beet seeds we had tornadoes, so the beets are coming up all over the garden, except in the rows I actually planted them in! hahaha I have decided I need at least 4 more tomato plants, and 4 more strawberry plants as well. Just don't want any less then that. I found a new canning book on Amazon I HAVE to have. Canning for a New Generation: Bold, Fresh Flavors for the Modern Pantry. The recipes sound delightful, and different and new. I can't wait to try some. I also found The Farmer's Wife Canning and Preserving Cookbook: Over 250 Blue-Ribbon recipes. I LOVE The Farmer's Wife stuff, still get a subscription to Country Woman magazine, which I think is what The Farmer's Wife is now called. So I will be having a ton of fun once harvest time comes.

Our POD finally came and we need to have it unpacked by Friday so we can stop paying monthly for it! But, it's a big job. Hopefully we will get it done soon. I've been working on it a little here and there. But, the majority of stuff I either can't lift, or with this illness just don't have the energy to do it. Between pregnancy, diabetes, and being sick, I feel like a slug.

One thing for sure though is illness can't keep you from dreaming. Spring has sprung on the prairie and I'm ready for a picnic! So, I'm going to dream and plan our picnic. I'm hoping the weekend after Memorial we can go to the zoo maybe with another family or two and have a picnic.

I know Vince will want deviled eggs with out a doubt. I want my Marinated Three Bean Salad. Maybe a potato, pasta salad or quinoa zucchini salad-I'm thinking seasoned with onion, garlic, and marinated in a lemon vinaigrette or maybe some fattoush salad dressing. Fresh fruit-grapes, or strawberries would be easy. But, watermelon would be divine! But, what oh what to have for the main course? Hawaiian chicken salad with sliced avocados? Zucchini Quiche? A simple store bought rotisserie chicken? Will have to give it more thought. But, I'm sure I will come up with something.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

I am thinking...about the harvest from my garden in the coming months.

I am thankful for...my family, a wonderful husband, healthy children, loving parents.

I am remembering...Christ sacrifice on our behalf.

I am hoping...that we continue to be able to make it financially a little while longer.

I am creating...embroidered kitchen towels.

On my mind...gardens, spring, babies.

Noticing that...it's beautiful outside!

From the kitchen...fried dandelion greens with garlic and onion.

One of my favorite things...fresh fruits and veggies.


What I am reading...Prairie Girl's Guide to Life

Picture for thought I am sharing...

Spent more time in the garden this afternoon. I planted beets, and a tomato. I had hopes of planting some Texas Sweet onions, zucchini and sugar baby pumpkins but didn't have time to get to it. There's always tomorrow though.

I was able to take some photos. Belle loves going out to the garden.

Dad's on a kayaking trip but when he gets back I'm going to ask him about adding another plot by the barn. Cause I just have to have more strawberries that's all there is to it! I'm also contemplating planting the asparagus along with some onions, to keep the myriad of bunnies around here from eating up all the asparagus, in the ditch near the gate to the drive way.

I'm hoping to find some old windows to make some cold boxes for growing lettuce as well. That would be so cool to be able to have lettuce year around. We all love lettuce, especially Lela! I have some high hopes of being able to plant some romaine lettuce, our favorite. Have to love a good Caesar, Greek, or our new favorite Fattoush salad! mmmm It's going to taste awesome with lettuce from our own garden! If it turns out well next year we may do our own cabbage too. I want to put out kohlrabi next year too, and collard greens. mmm mmm.

My mouth has been watering for roasted beets, and beet greens! Mmmm, can't wait. And for pumpkin butter, pear butter, mulberry jam, tomato jam, pickled zucchini, fresh watermelon, fresh strawberries for strawberry shortcake oh I could go on and on! It's going to be a fun summer come time to harvest!

Doodles

Just some jottings of things I want to be sure to include in my doodle embroidery on Lela and I's song book covers.

Me-a woman in bonnet with flowery dress, bird in tree singing, grass, butterflies, flowers, sun, clouds, doe. Name on inside cover with flowers, and butterflies.

Lela-tree, birds flying, sun, flowers, butterflies, Russian doll girl, hedgehog, mushrooms, grass, name. Hedgehog & mouse tea party, with cupcakes and tea?

Book, I'm using for inspiration-Doodle Stitching

I'll be adding more ideas when I get the book I'm sure, I'm searching google now looking at what others have been inspired to make due to reading Doodle Stitching, trying to get some basic ideas in my head. I bought the felt already. It took me forever to pick the color felt for myself, I really wanted red! But, I also wanted sophistication and the red felt wasn't giving it, it was too flat, and just something lacking-I wanted similar to the red of our leather Bibles, but there wasn't anything like that there. So I bought a textured sandy/tree bark brown colored fabric. I thought it would work with the woodsy outdoorsy girl in the country singing theme I was going to go for in my embroidery of it. I bought Lela pink and blue felt. Not sure which I will use for which, yet, but kind of leaning towards the blue for the song book, and maybe pink for the study book.

Oh, oh I love this rainbow, I'm thinking Bible Cover for Lela! Rainbow

Yesterday we went to Ah-So. It was my dad's favorite Korean restaurant when I was growing up. The food was still good. However, I was a little sad they had taken Lollipop chicken off the menu. It was always what dad ordered for me. I had planned on ordering it for the girls. The owner said it got to just be too much work. She's older now and been there for decades. And I do know lollipop chicken is a ton of work! Grandma used to make it for me on special occasions and always say what a pain it was! lol And just take me to Ah-So to get it most the time! lol Still was sad to hear of it's passing! haha Belle loved the Mandus though and ended up eating all the Mandus that came to the table! haha All SIX! What was funny though is the owner of Ah-So thought Vince and I were only in our teens. That was funny! She said we looked too young to have children! Funny, funny. However, nothing will ever top when we went to Red Lobster before we had the girls, and they brought Vince a children's menu and crayons. I still laugh about that to this day! haha I mean.....young but......under 10? hahaha Any way, another irony was her son just moved to Jamaica, Queens and is working at Jamaica hospital. How ironic! He just moved there 6 months ago. Apparently he really likes it, and says the people are friendly there. So glad he is liking it. They are such a good nice family. When I was growing up I guess she was soooooo busy with doing all the work in the restaurant she probably doesn't remember me. However, Rick Ming seems to always remember me no matter how old I get. Of course that was dad's favorite Cantonese restaurant and we ate there twice a week my whole life! Even after dad and Rick Ming got in a argument one day, Rick still always seated me at his families table-hey it was good food, the small tiff wasn't keeping me away! Any way, even if Ming's and Ah-So have changed their menus I'm still glad to see they are still open in this economy and seems the locals are still supporting their business. I love the family restaurants so much more then chain fast food!

On a happy menu note, when we went to the drive in the other night, I had Vince stop by Taco Grande, to get some food to take. There used to be Taco Grandes all over Kansas, but now they are down to only two! Neither close to where I live. So sad as that was dad's favorite Mexican fast food when I was little. When I was little I always got the bambino (a baby hamburger bun-about the size of White Castle, with taco meat, cheese, lettuce, and tomato). When I was 12 they took the bambino off the menu. I was so upset cause that was my favorite kids meal option! Well, surprise, surprise, surprise after 20 plus years of missing from the menu they brought it back. I was so happy. The only thing is, Lela and Belle like them so much they can eat at least 3 each! lol I was never able to eat more then one when I was their age! hahaha But, yippee it's back!

Haywire

I've been meaning and meaning to update every one, but my browser went haywire and I had to figure out a new browser to be able to get into blogger once again.

Lots of things have happened since my last update.

Vince and the girls got to go to their first drive in movie the first Friday of March. We seen Tangled, and Gnomeo and Juliet. Every one loved it. We were able to go again last Friday as well. We seen Rango and it was so cute. And very good message as well.

March 20th, 2011 was our 10th anniversary.

The Saturday before our anniversary started out on a sad note as it was Sister Mildred Voght's memorial. I have known her since I was 7 years old. She has always been so good to me. When my grandma died she hosted a dinner for my family at her own home. So we had to go. We ended up being late cause it was at a new KH Vince and I had never went to. But, finally made it there. The closing song was of course one of our new ones and was really hard not to cry. However, of course it ended on a good note as we got to see many friends I haven't seen in years. And some of my friends I grew up with parents, so I was able to get their new phone numbers and hopefully will be able to renew our friendships and get reaquanted once again.

We decided that Saturday evening we would go bowling with the friends in our congregation. But, I was sick the weekend before and so was Belle so we weren't able to give much notice so not many were able to come. Especially cause a Kingdom Hall build had just began on that weekend. But, the folks who showed up had fun and it was a fun time. The Woods family are very sweet and it was nice to get to know them better, they have a son Lela's age and a daughter about 2 years old. We took a cheesecake factory sampler cheesecake, a cherry dump cake, and cream cheese mints. We all had a ton of fun and have to go again. The poor little boy who was Lela's age cried when it was over. He wanted to keep bowling! :) His little sister was very happy to just keep eating cake though! hahaha And so was Belle! Julia the 2 year old girl would eat a bite of cake and feed Belle a bite of cake. They will get along swimmingly! hahaha  Every one had a good time!

Sunday we went to meeting, Belle seen Julia at the meeting, and lit up! She no doubt remembered she was the one who fed her cake! hahaha After meeting we decided to go to Le Monde (a Meditarrenean restuarant). Was such yummy yummy food! Vince got a awesome lamb shank! However, the children's meals were not meditarrenean in the least, same ole, same ol'. I refused to pay 5 dollars for a 4 year old to get chicken nuggets. So Lela got the appetizers we ordered for her meal a vegetarian plate, with hummus, fattoush salad, artichoke hearts, and tabouli. We also got the meditarrenean chicken wings. When they came, they gave Lela her line of the day! She seen them and said, give me the chicken wings with out the grass please! hahaha We about died laughing. And then explained to her it was parsley NOT grass! hahaha

It was a lovely day though, 80 degrees. We came home and took a family dip in the hot tub and just had a relaxing fun day outside. Lela dug in the sand on the beach, and jumped on the "jumpaline" (Lela's name for the trampoline!). And spent a good day with the kids. While we were outside, I kept thinking wow it's so warm and nice too bad we didn't invite some friends over for a BBQ! But, it was really a lovely day just with the family. So much fun. And I can't believe 10 years have went by already!

That Sunday we went out for a anniversary dinner to Le Monde's it was soooooo yummy! I had the gyro, fattoush salad and the vegetarian appetizer. Every thing was delicious especially the baba ganoush! Vince had the lamb shank, it was HUGE like Fred Flintstone or something! Belle and Lela enjoyed the french pastry shop biscuits that the restaurant serves and the Mediterranean chicken. Mom gave us a 15 percent off coupon which really helped a lot. Now I'm hooked on their fattoush salad dressing, and hummus. It's soooo good. They don't make their baba ganoush daily though. Which I crave theirs so much, I wish they did.

The rest of the week was warm, sunny, albeit very windy. We were able to spend a lot of time in the hot tub, which was really nice!

The weekend after that I was invited to a sisters home for a small sister get together. I took peach dump cake and they ate it all up saying how yummy it was and wanting the recipe. We watched a DVD of Harry Connick Jr. and really got to know each other well. It was a sweet nice gathering. Will have to do it again. A really ironic thing happened though. A sister I met on a plan trip years ago was also invited and she recognized me. How funny!

Last Saturday Vince had to get the car worked on so I went to Michael's and had a really good time looking at books. There is so many I want to buy now! lol I can't wait to get them. Lots of new embroidery books. Loved them all. I was also able to go through the clearance and buy every one gifts for 5 and 10 cents! Woo whoo! I am so going to make us some book covers for our song and book study books! I found the cutest pattern for them in Cute Baby Stuff book, and have to get it now!

Yesterday we went to a few stores and bought strawberries two from a local seed store, and 10 from walmart. The Walmart ones are supposed to be ever bearing. But, they don't look very healthy, so I'm hoping for the best with them. The ones from the feed store look awesome, and already have tiny berries! I also purchased onions-Vidalias and Texas Sweets, and tomatoes to plant. So far, I have bought 3 heirloom tomato plants, a Cherokee purple, another purple one and beef steak. I want a few more, certainly would like a yellow one, probably yellow pears. I wish I knew the type that a man in Branson grew one year, they were the tastiest tomatoes EVER! I think I need dad to make me a second garden! I need more room! I think next weekend I will ask him if he can make a second plot. The girls had to much fun helping. Belle ate a ton of dirt! And was covered from head to toe in dirt. And Lela had a lot of fun helping plant and water as well. I hope it's a successful garden! We will go shopping this next week for more! I need a grow light though so next year I can start things from seeds. And save a lot of money!