Tuesday, July 2, 2013

July 2, 2013 - Playing Catch Up

I am still here. Life is going on like normal. Well, sort of.

David came home from his deployment after only 5 weeks due to an injury during training. I am so glad to have him home but he is really upset that he is not with his team. But I don't really care. David is home!  :)  He is having surgery this month and he could deploy again this fall.

His early return through all my plans out the window. I did not plant as much as I normally do since the boys and I don't really eat a lot when he is gone. So I have empty planter beds just waiting for the late summer planting for this fall. The flowers are growing wild and crazy - the way I like them. I know it drives David nuts but I don't really want to tame them.

So today I am going to play catch up. Lots of pictures to show everyone what my garden looks like today. Weeds and All.

The Front Yard and Rock Garden:



 



 


 



Monday, May 6, 2013

6 May 2013

Our weather has been crazy today. We started out with a slow rain that we need so very much and now we have high winds and sunshine. It isn't a great gardening day. I am stuck inside making bread and cleaning house. Not what I want to do on a Spring Day.

I do have a couple of flowers that are trying to brighten up my day!






 
 
 

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Light Pole

We have a plain light pole in our front yard. It really bothered me to have a metal pole just sitting in the yard. I came up with a plan to add a little interest to the pole and to hopefully make it a little more attractive. I found a pot at Lowe's and had David cut the bottom out for me. It slid over the pole and looks great. 
 
The empty pot just waiting for some potting soil and flowers.




Unfortunately, we had a freeze after I filled it with flowers. I tried to cover it but our winds were just too much. So I have to replant a few of the flowers, but I don't really mind. I just like having another place to have flowers.
I still have to paint the light fixture but I think it already looks better!
 

Saturday, May 4, 2013

New Dog House

David leaves on the 11th, unless the Air Force changes its mind. Again. So we are trying to finish all the little projects he needed to get done this year. The most important project for me was the dog house. I can not go anywhere while he is gone without a dog house.

It was a family project and took all weekend to complete. I LOVE it. David even agreed to let me paint it purple!

Alex helping Daddy with the drill.




David being silly. 


It is huge, but we have a Great Dane, a Golden Retriever, and a Poodle. It took four people to lift it over the fence and get in place. The Dogs love it and I think it is great! 

Friday, May 3, 2013

Freezes and a Proud Mommy

Last night we were 27 degrees.
In May.
In Southern New Mexico.
 
 
Everything was covered and hopefully I didn't loose very many plants. We should be in the upper 40's or the 50's  at night, so every perennial I own has already come up. It just needs to warm up and stay warm. According to the three weather sites I check, we should be finished with freezes. I hope they are right.
 
 
 
Now a little proud Mommy moment. Dallas made Abbit again (A's and B's Because I Tried). He has made Abbit in both English and Spanish all year. Every class he has taken since Kindergarten has been taught in English and Spanish. Twice the homework but he has thrived in the program.
 
He has decided that he wants to be a 'Normal' kid next year. No dual language program. Less homework and more fun time. I am worried that it will be too easy for him, but the school says it will work with him. I just want him to be happy.

Now I am off to work in the garden. Everything has to be uncovered and I have a lot of plants to get into the ground. I hope everyone has a great weekend!


Monday, April 8, 2013

Winter Greens - Harvest Monday

All winter we have had wonderful greens. I have had this box covered all and the spinach and lettuce have loved their little grow house. I took their cover off last week and ended up having to put it back on for the last three nights. Hopefully we have seen our last freeze and I will be able to toss the cover into the storage building.

 
We love cooked mixed greens with a little bacon, onion and garlic. I need to plant a new bed of greens since this one will grow something new this spring. I am still playing with my garden plan but I will hopefully have the plan finished soon - If school and life will let me.
 
Go over to Daphne's Dandelions to see what everyone else is harvesting!

Friday, April 5, 2013

Spring Flowers

Our weather has been crazy. One day it s 80 degrees and then next day we are 35.  Our poor plants don't know what to do. Thankfully I was able to get a few pictures of my Spring flowers before the wind destroyed them. I love the first flowers of the year!
 
 
Peach tree just starting to bloom.
 
 
 
 

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Turtle Rescue

For some reason a lot of people think that taking a turtle out of the wild and putting it in a cage is "rescuing" it. I promise you, the  turtle crossing the road did not need to be rescued. He was just fine. His new "owners" then think that turtle care is easy. They throw it a cricket and think everything will be just fine. It does not work that way.

They need special lighting, special heating, special cages, and special food.  They were not meant to be in a little aquarium. They need space to roam and dig and hunt and swim.  Basically they need to be a turtle. So come winter, when they should be getting ready to hibernate, the poor turtles are starved down, have vitamin deficiencies, and many other medical problems. They are too weak to be released. That is when I get them. After the fun has worn off and the animal is about to die.

This year I have four box turtles. All of them were "RESCUED" from the wild. I still don't understand that.

One is very small, probably only three years old, and was kept in a shoe box on some one's desk. They gave him lettuce to eat and sometimes water to drink. (Box turtles don't like lettuce.) He  was so weak when I first got him that I was afraid he would die.  He wouldn't open his eyes. He wouldn't walk around his new box. He just sat there.

Eating a Strawberry and Meal Worm Salad.
I have had him for about four months. He is still very underweight and is not a great eater, but I am sure that I will be able to release him in a couple of months.

Number two and three are both pretty healthy. They were underweight and dehydrated by the time I got them. They are both looking great after a soak and a few good meals. They will have no problem returning to the wild.


 
Turtle Four is my special baby. I thought I was going to loose him several times. He came to me 4 months after he was taken from the wild. He was so sick. I spent three months working on his eye infections. Every time I thought he was better they came back. One eye was so infected that I could not get the puss cap out of his eye. Finally I was able to remove a dried down cap of puss the size of a pencil eraser. He now has his vision back and is a mean little thing. He tries to bite me every day and will chase me if given the chance.
I will miss him. He has been such a challenge and I love his spirit.
 
I know they are just four little turtles and saving them will not change the world, but for them, the world is a better place. Once spring is here and the nights are warm, my four little rescues will get returned to the wild. I will take them to a place that is far from people and has everything a little turtle could ever want. I will undo what other people did to them. They will be free once more. 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

57 Days.......

That is all I have until David is gone for the rest of the year.

57 Days.

Our time is going way to fast. It just hit me today that he will really be gone. I will have the boys, and the house, and the garden all to myself for the rest of the year. He *Might* be home for Christmas but I am not holding my breath. Everyone is having deployment problems right now. Why would we be any different?

So, as of today, I am putting my big girl panties on. I am making my To DO lists and getting things done. I don't have anymore time - I can not live in denial any more.

57 Days........



Monday, February 18, 2013

Harvest Monday - February 18, 2013

I am so excited to get to participate in Harvest Monday. Be sure to go to  Daphne's Dandelions to see what others are harvesting!
 
Alex helped me pull a few carrots for our Pot Roast this week. Some of our carrots are still pretty small but it is great to have anything from the garden in February. 
 


4.78 oz.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Snowstorm and Birds

Our snow started at 7:30 and within a few minutes we were white. I love the snow and everyone knows that we need the moisture. The little birds that visit my yard every morning did not let the snow stop them from eating breakfast. It is hard to tell in these photos, but they all have red breasts and tails. I don't know what kind they are but they are very pretty. I have decided that I need a better camera and a bird ID book. 

 


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Christmas Cactus


When I walked into the kitchen today I was greeted by this beautiful flower. It was a welcomed surprise. I am a little confused though....I am pretty sure when I bought this plant two years ago it had red flowers.  I am not complaining. I will take any flower I can get in February!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Hello Again....

I can not believe that it is already February. It feels like I just pulled out the last of the plants and spread out the mulch. We are starting to get ready for spring. The onions are growing under their lights and the plan for the garden is ready. It should be a great year for us.

We are going to have a few struggles this year. David will deploy in April. I am not looking forward to it but I know this is just part of our life. He should be home before Christmas so it isn't all bad. Dallas still wants to play sports (football and baseball) and his practice/game schedule will be challenging for me to handle alone. Alex is sweet, wonderful Alex. He is 3 now and loves to 'help' Mommy. We have lost a few plants this winter due to his over helpfulness.

I did successfully grow Carrots, Spinach, and Lettuce this winter and will post pictures of them soon. I should be able to harvest Carrots this week - So I will get to do a Harvest Monday soon!

It is great to be back on my blog and I hope to catch up with everyone soon!