Today marks the second day in a row of 90 degree heat. And the fourth day in a row of temperatures above my comfort zone of 75 degrees. Last evening Craig said, "I think it is officially summer." No, I didn't shoot him. I will admit the thought could have briefly flitted through my mind. In 5 days they say we will have a little cool down. 79 degrees. UHG!!!!! If this is any indication of the summer to come I think I should just check out right now!!
Do to another sinus infection I have gotten very little sleep for the past week. I can't sleep in my bed. So I am sleeping in a recliner. And since on a perfect night in my own bed I get very little sleep....well...you can imagine. So needless to say I have been up at the crack of dawn.....literally.....for the past several mornings. It is so cool and peaceful in the garden at that time of day. See......and you thought this would be a negative rant, didn't you? There is a robin couple working on a family in the neighbors evergreen tree that partially overhangs our back fence. They picked a good spot. A couple flits from where they have taken up housekeeping and they can get a cool drink of water from our bird bath. Though we decked out the cherry trees in their late spring finest (tule), there are still a few cherries unprotected for them to munch on. So they have quite a nice little set up back there. I look forward to hearing the little cheeps of baby robins!
I planted the garden on June 1st. My dad always swore by a June 1st planting date. And so often I would ignore that and get to replant drowned gardens a few times. This year I could have planted on May 1st. But hind sight is always best. Things appear slow coming up even with this heat. That might be because I tend to plant deeper than the instructions say. What the heck is a 'scant 1/8th inch????' But Liam was really tickled last night to see his radishes had made an appearance. And the beets and bok choy are also up. Waiting on the green beans, dry beans, cucumbers and swiss chard. Tomorrow nights dinner will host a salad made from lettuce growing in the huge tire in the garden. The tomato plants in the tallest raised bed are doing amazing! They are so lush and green. I think this is my favorite time of summer if I could possibly have a favorite time of that god forsaken season. The weeds haven't started to overtake the beds yet, I can pick a cherry or two or three while I water near the cherry trees and everything is still new and green.....nothing is showing the tiredness you see later in the summer.
I have discovered that as much as I want to just sit down with my box of Kleenex, getting outside and moving actually seems to clear my sinuses a little. That is the only reason anything is planted or watered. A few mornings ago, at 7:32, I went out front to weed and prune. Two hours later I was able to breath out of both nostrils and the rose bushes were looking great and weeds were all in the yard debris bin. I came back in the house and almost immediately my nose stuffed up again. So that is how things have been going for the past week or so.
I make my own laundry soap. I have been for a little over a year I think. And two weeks ago I made a fresh batch.
Do to another sinus infection I have gotten very little sleep for the past week. I can't sleep in my bed. So I am sleeping in a recliner. And since on a perfect night in my own bed I get very little sleep....well...you can imagine. So needless to say I have been up at the crack of dawn.....literally.....for the past several mornings. It is so cool and peaceful in the garden at that time of day. See......and you thought this would be a negative rant, didn't you? There is a robin couple working on a family in the neighbors evergreen tree that partially overhangs our back fence. They picked a good spot. A couple flits from where they have taken up housekeeping and they can get a cool drink of water from our bird bath. Though we decked out the cherry trees in their late spring finest (tule), there are still a few cherries unprotected for them to munch on. So they have quite a nice little set up back there. I look forward to hearing the little cheeps of baby robins!
I planted the garden on June 1st. My dad always swore by a June 1st planting date. And so often I would ignore that and get to replant drowned gardens a few times. This year I could have planted on May 1st. But hind sight is always best. Things appear slow coming up even with this heat. That might be because I tend to plant deeper than the instructions say. What the heck is a 'scant 1/8th inch????' But Liam was really tickled last night to see his radishes had made an appearance. And the beets and bok choy are also up. Waiting on the green beans, dry beans, cucumbers and swiss chard. Tomorrow nights dinner will host a salad made from lettuce growing in the huge tire in the garden. The tomato plants in the tallest raised bed are doing amazing! They are so lush and green. I think this is my favorite time of summer if I could possibly have a favorite time of that god forsaken season. The weeds haven't started to overtake the beds yet, I can pick a cherry or two or three while I water near the cherry trees and everything is still new and green.....nothing is showing the tiredness you see later in the summer.
I have discovered that as much as I want to just sit down with my box of Kleenex, getting outside and moving actually seems to clear my sinuses a little. That is the only reason anything is planted or watered. A few mornings ago, at 7:32, I went out front to weed and prune. Two hours later I was able to breath out of both nostrils and the rose bushes were looking great and weeds were all in the yard debris bin. I came back in the house and almost immediately my nose stuffed up again. So that is how things have been going for the past week or so.
I make my own laundry soap. I have been for a little over a year I think. And two weeks ago I made a fresh batch.
Don't you just love the way I staged this picture? Anyway, these are the three ingredients. Add the bar of Fels-Naptha, grated, to a pot of water, heat and stir until dissolved. While that is taking place I will put some hot tap water into a 5 gallon bucket and stir in 1 cup of each of the powders. I stir that until they dissolve then add the Fels-Naptha water. And then I add hot tap water by the pitcher full, stirring between each, until the bucket is full. I then get Craig to carry it into the laundry room and stir it off and on for the next day. It will keep trying to jell up and that is okay but I like mine a little more loose. I use 2/3 of a cup for each large load and the bucket lasts me a little over 6 months. It really works out to just a few cents a load. And when I feel that things might be looking a bit dingy I start adding a scoop of Dollar Tree's oxyclean. Now I confess, I do love a scented laundry soap. I love me some chemical scents when it comes to that. But especially when you use the oxyclean, the laundry does have a very pleasant smell. Of course, once you hang it on the line all bets are off. I am not one that likes the smell of line dried clothes unless you used a lavender scented fabric softener. So here is what the finished product looks like.
With this heat and since the bird bath is in the sun all day, I will periodically put ice into it. I am pretty sure the birds do not feel refreshed after having to blow on their water before drinking it! So yesterday I got ready to head out with my pitcher of ice and Liam asked if he could do it to help me.
So here he is, braving the 92 degree heat, wearing my flippies, to cool off the birds water. There is a baby lupine growing right where he walks to get near the bird bath. I should probably move it!
Yesterday I asked Liam what he wanted for dinner....spaghetti or home made hanaburgers on the grill. "Hanaburgers, hanagburgers!!!!! He shouts, jumping up and down. And he was so excited and happy that he washed the patio table and then carried everything out to it. He 'helped' his dad with the newspaper to start the briquettes and he sat out there through the smoke and all talking the whole time. He also pointed out that it is such a nice table and umbrella and we NEVER eat dinner outside. Guilt trip king here! Craig searched and searched for our lighters or matches and only found the water proof camping matches. So Liam spent the rest of the evening after dinner trying to convince us to let him have just one of those matches and a sink full of water. Looking back, I am not sure why we didn't.
Yesterday I asked Liam what he wanted for dinner....spaghetti or home made hanaburgers on the grill. "Hanaburgers, hanagburgers!!!!! He shouts, jumping up and down. And he was so excited and happy that he washed the patio table and then carried everything out to it. He 'helped' his dad with the newspaper to start the briquettes and he sat out there through the smoke and all talking the whole time. He also pointed out that it is such a nice table and umbrella and we NEVER eat dinner outside. Guilt trip king here! Craig searched and searched for our lighters or matches and only found the water proof camping matches. So Liam spent the rest of the evening after dinner trying to convince us to let him have just one of those matches and a sink full of water. Looking back, I am not sure why we didn't.
And here we are. Dinner on the patio. Joined by Bomb Guy, Sheepie and Finchie. I also made homemade fries, which Liam adores, fries are his favorite food group. And I had a grilled organic Zucchini instead of fries. Not yet from my garden....but can't wait for them!! Iced Tea was everyone's drink of choice and in the back ground Craig had put on 80's country music. You could not have asked for a nicer dinner!!!
I will leave you with a Liamism. Last Tuesday I was feeling so miserable. Not able to breath and eat at the same time I wasn't eating and had no energy to cook. It is amazing just how much energy is required to breath in that situation. Anyway....Craig took Liam into Lebanon to play at the McDonalds play station. It is three stories high! And get some lunch. While they were gone Craig calls me to see if I want him to bring me anything home. Before he hangs up I here Liam ask to talk to me. Craig say okay but make it quick. Liam gets on the phone and in such a sweet little voice he says "Mommy?" Yes honey, I say. "Before daddy takes the phone from me I just want to tell you that I love you so much". My heart melted. I almost forgot how miserable I was! I love you so much too baby!!!
I will leave you with a Liamism. Last Tuesday I was feeling so miserable. Not able to breath and eat at the same time I wasn't eating and had no energy to cook. It is amazing just how much energy is required to breath in that situation. Anyway....Craig took Liam into Lebanon to play at the McDonalds play station. It is three stories high! And get some lunch. While they were gone Craig calls me to see if I want him to bring me anything home. Before he hangs up I here Liam ask to talk to me. Craig say okay but make it quick. Liam gets on the phone and in such a sweet little voice he says "Mommy?" Yes honey, I say. "Before daddy takes the phone from me I just want to tell you that I love you so much". My heart melted. I almost forgot how miserable I was! I love you so much too baby!!!