Gone and Close-Your-Eyes-Kind-of-Good

So within 24 hours of writing the last post, the watermelon was cut down in its prime. By me.

It was an accident. In fact I was trying to help it grow by removing nonproductive vines (a practice advised in one of my gardening books). Unfortunately, what I took for a "non-producer" was actually the vine the lone watermelon was attached to. There's gotta be an old adage for that - something along the lines of "check twice, pull once."

Thus ends our adventures in melon growing - at least for this year.

On a happier green thumb note - the tomatoes are doing great. At least the ones that haven't succombed to rot or that attack of a yet to be identfied animal. I think I've eaten at least one pound in fresh tomatoes this week - with just a wee sprinkle of salt. They are so good it's impossible to keep your eyes open when taking the first bite.

Sole Survivor

I had just about given up on it.

It had become too depressing.

First there was the excitement of seeing a new one forming. The kids got all excited each time.

And then...

Rot set in. Yellowing our little baby melons and causing them to fall off the vine. I even started half praying/half suggesting to God that even one watermelon would be great.

All that careful tending and watering gone to waste. And (despite our recent heat wave) we have a shorter window of growing season time.

So I ignored the plant and gave it up for lost. I was even about to pull it up but decided to take one last hopeful look before turning it into yard waste.

And I saw God had answered my prayer, as frivolous as it was, with this:

Yeah God!

But seriously...Thank you Jesus for answering our prayers even when they seem silly or frivolous in the grand scheme of things. I know growing one watermelon for an already well fed family isn't on the same level and ending world hunger but thank You for the joy it has brought it. You are amazing in how carefully You have wrought Your creation. It is a privilege to witness it in our daily lives. In Your name, Amen.

Snapshot of Gardening

dianthus, lavendar, pink daisies in bloom ... lovely

6 tomato plants, two cucumber, 5 basil, 1 parsley, one cantalope - this last one massacred by Luke and a plastic snow shovel, we'll see if it regenerates

major weeding due to major bindweed infestion along with many other stubborn weed varieties

annual selections mostly in - zinnia, ageratum and others I currently forget the name of

loving new perenniel addition ...irish moss...hoping this will be easily divided and transplanted among other plants

first harvest of rhubarb for strawberry rhubarb crisp

cilantro up and alreading bolting

lettuce and spinach doing well (planted from seed)

two blueberry bushes doing well, one regrowing after I broke off a branch, the other we may lose (apparantly it didn't like being plucked out of the ground in the winter ...Brie thought it was a weed...sigh)

more plants to go in...zucchini, watermelon, potatoes, carrots, beans, snow peas, peppers, herb assortment, another sowing of lettuce/spinach seeds

raspberry canes prolifigating

black currant bushes loving their new assignment on the east side of the house

Exhaustion - in a good way

Lots of gardening this weekend...I've started a new blog which will act as our gardening journal and be focused on all the health/evironmental stuff God keeps revealing to me. Click over here: http://undoingthejourney.blogspot.com/ if you're interested.

Odds 'n Ends

Brianna - is two weeks into her swim lessons. At first she greatly resisted wanting to attend and participate. She comes by it honestly enough - I can remember many times when Dad or Mom would let me know of an activity or outing I was expected to partake in, and for whatever reason I decided I wouldn't like it. Once I got into it, though, 99% of the time I ended up enjoying myself. And so is Brie. She was excited to share that she learned how to float doing the "chicken," "soldier," and "eagle." That's our girl!


Reese - had his first teeth cleaning at a dentist appointment with me. He did very well, not only in the dentist chair, but in having to wait while I had my teeth done. He also enjoys participating in the weekly story time at the library - gets right in there answering questions and following directions to the "action" portion of the program. I'm looking forward to see what school is like for him in a few years...



Luke - continues to absorb everything his older sister and brother do like a sponge. I keep telling him to stop taking so many notes! Of course, he can take all the notes he wants about potty training - we're still not close with Reese. He is such a cuddle bug - he'll come right up to us and give us hugs during play time without any coaxing. I'm praying that will continue throughout his life.




Dave & I - continue to look forward to growing our garden this year - we're thinking of trying luffa, not only can you use it as a sponge in a dried form, but you also can eat it when it's fresh. I'm so glad Dave convinced me to try this gardening thing out, though he may regret it slightly as I'm hoping to dedicate our entire front yard to growing produce! LOL

It's so amazing to see how different God has created each one of our children - watching what each child naturally gravitates toward without any prompting from us. I guess this shouldn't be so surprising, since He does create each one of us uniquely. Perhaps, I am more in awe with witnessing the work He is doing in them apart from any obvious input or influence from us!

(The above pictures were taken outside in late December - Brianna is giving the snow penguin a kiss, Reese is patting the snow girl and Luke is hanging out in the wagon)