Green things

Last week, we had temperatures in the 80's so of course, this past weekend, it was back to the 40's.  It is April, after all.  While it was warm, I got a lot of yardwork done; picking up the leaves that were stuck against the fence, digging leaves out of bushes, weeding, that sort of thing.  I also cleaned out the area around my shed.  Two years ago, when my oldest graduated, we threw a bunch of stuff into that space and put up some fence pieces to hide it from the open house guests.  And then we promptly forgot about the junk.  So that area is all cleaned out and ready for different junk.  Hahaha! 

My seedlings are growing like... well,... weeds which both tickles me, and makes me a little afraid.  I'm pretty sure I started my squash plants way too early and of course, they're doing very well.  I can't plant these things until June, at the earliest.  And look at 'em!  They won't last in my house that long.

And look at my cucumber.  Its already developing tendrils.  (That sounds like a disease doesn't it?)

The basil plants are doing well, and are just the right size for this time of year.  When the time is right, they'll go out into the yard.  I'm  going to plant them in the flower border because I'm not going to have enough room in my tiny garden for them.  No one will notice anyway.  I've grown basil every year and usually let it go to flower/seed because I don't know what to do with it.  But my friend Lori told me about the wonders of pesto and all the ways you can use it (as a facial!  and a cleaning product!)  (Those two things are lies, by the way - just made it up.)  But really, pesto freezes so I'll be making some of that to have on hand next year when the bread baking begins again.  And of course, its good over pasta. 

I'm also growing some Moonflowers.  They bloom in the evening and stay open all night.  They almost look like they're glowing.  Here in Michigan, they're considered annuals, but I planted one a few years ago and its come back every year.  A couple of years ago, I read an article about "White Gardens" in which every plant grown is white.  Sounded really boring to me, but the pictures were gorgeous.  So it is one of my mini-goals to plant at least an area of the garden that is all white.  So the 5 moon flowers that I'm growing will go there.  Wherever "there" is.  Haven't figured that out yet...

Anyway, this is what they look like so far:

These are also "tendrilizing" so that makes me a little nervous. 

And then there are the 24 tomato plants that are growing in my window sill.  24 tomato plants!!!  How many tomatoes does a person need?? And does the word "tomatoes" have an e?  Don't know for sure.  Too lazy to look it up. 

You poor people!  Having to look at pictures of my seedlings, like they're my children or something.  Just humor me.  Smile and nod and say "Oh, aren't they cute!"  or "My how they're growing!" 

And then when I show you the end products, you'll be wishing you lived closer so I could share!  : )

Progress:

And in other news...

Goal #1:  I ran 1.5 miles twice last week, and I've walked a few days as well.  This race I'm running is in about 2 weeks so I'm not feeling too bad about it.  I don't care at all about my time, just want to run the whole thing.  So this week my goal is to run farther than 1.5 miles.  And as stupid as this sounds, one of my biggest issues with running is that my ear buds for my ipod won't stay in my ears when I run.  So I'm constantly pushing them back in while I run and then I get frustrated and ticked off and look for reasons to just go back home. 

Goal #2: Uh... This month, my goal is just to pay the extra stuff that my kid's activities are requiring.  The oldest needs a college housing deposit by May 1st, the middle one needs the balance of her Africa trip paid by May 15, the youngest needs his mission trip balance paid in May as well.  Feeling mighty poor.  I just paid the taxes too which doesn't help that feeling.  But I'm thankful that we have money to be able to do these things, and that my kids are healthy and able to participate. 

Happy

Have you ever been to an art fair?  Around here, you can find one somewhere just about every weekend during the summer.  Etsy.com is like an online art fair where people make stuff and you can buy it.  And just like a regular art fair, some of the stuff people make is a little iffy.  Someone started a website called Regretsy, which makes fun of the iffy stuff on Etsy.  Check it out some time.  Keep in mind, though, that some of the stuff they post is not for the easily offended.