what is THIS?

Just when I thought I should probably get out there and plant something...

It's coming down hard, too!

Just finished loading the video and in the 4 minutes that took, the dog's tracks are already covered up out there.  I'm sure it will be gone by sunrise- for tonight though, it feels perfect for reading a good book!  

Not really an excuse...

...but a reason that I haven't had as much time to blog and do crafty things so far this winter -

Cub Scouts!

(faces are blurred out, but trust me they were all laughing as hard as Loch!)

Now wait, it gets better.... ok now you can laugh...

Yes, that's two Den Leader uniforms, one for me, one for hubby!  Are we crazy?  Maybe, but we are having fun, learning a lot, the boys are fantastic and let's face it, it was going to happen sooner or later.

I am finding out however, that it's really like a part time job, planning the Den Meetings so that those hungry minds and busy hands don't fall idle!  There is no end to their energy, I'm hoping I can soak up some of their excess.  Our den has 4 boys, 5 if you count Finn, since he always tags along and he's our honorary Cub this year.  He will be in the den with the other boys in less than a year.  He's kind of our mascot!

Here is Finn getting a feel for one of the squad cars when we toured one of the police precincts here.  He couldn't contain his excitement :)

Dinner after... and haha I'm not in this photo!

We just spent the past few weeks preparing for the Pinewood Derby.  This was the first time I had ever experienced a derby and it was a lot of fun watching the boys create their cars, they learned many skills and were so proud!  I think every one of our Cubs won at least one heat of the race, and they really did put their own work into the cars.

The lineup from many different packs... some were obviously made by 30 or 40-something "Cub Scouts"...

Like the Army Jeep, maybe - did the dad really think that would pass for something an 8 year old made?

The Cubs voting for "Best in Show"

Here's one of the races Loch won, his car is the green one -

Sorry for those of you who only have girls or lack interest in this subject, but I know grandma wants to see photos, we have to keep her happy!

This brings me to my next dilemma.  With all the talk I do of being over scheduled and having no time for the things I love to do, I have been entertaining the idea of scrapping the Master Gardener thing.  I know it sounds crazy, since I'm a GARDENER, but honestly over the past year it has really put a lot of pressure on me with all the different projects and has actually drastically decreased the amount of time I get to spend in my own garden!  Maybe the time has come for my community service to center around my own little 1/4 acre "family-community"!  Growing food and growing boys is what we do in this house, so it would make sense to toss the Master Gardener stuff in favor of spending more time with my boys taking an active part in their lives and being able to have a little more breathing room for the things I'd love to do, like expanding the garden.  For those unfamiliar with the Master Gardener gig, it involves a lot of community service, working in the University trial gardens testing seed, visiting schools, growing plants for plant sales, etc.  All really awesome stuff, but when there are only so many hours in a day and you are attempting to grow and preserve the majority of your family's vegetable needs, there just isn't any time to work in your own garden!  So whaddaya think, am I crazy?  No one ever accused me of sanity before so I can take it...

It's here!

Yay!

The Baker Creek catalog arrived just in time, considering I have spent the better part of the last week stuck inside.  First Finn was sick, now Loch... it's amazing that hubby and I haven't gotten it.  Looks like the nasty norovirus, blech!

Along with finally getting some time (no choice!) to go through my seeds and catalogs, I've been able to get some random small chores done inside.  You know, the ones that get tossed aside easily but when they are done, it makes a world of difference!

Like... cleaning my desk.  My mind feels less cluttered now, too.

 Cleaning the freezer, isn't January the month for inventory?  This appears to apply to gardeners' kitchens as well as retail!  We are doing well still, as evidenced by the frequently appearing stir fry this time of year.  Still oodles of peppers and snow & snap peas to go through, but the canned tomatoes have dwindled down to 2 quarts.

I finally got the "canning closet" organized this morning.  I've just been stuffing clean jars, lids and rings in there as we used up stash, but it was getting pretty dangerous every time I opened the door.  My "Big Dummy" moment came when I organized the bottom 2 shelves, which contain my seed starting stuff, and it actually fit... I thought "wow- how did that happen?".  It didn't, LOL... I realized later that about 95% of my stuff was missing and that I threw the stuff in the shed last year and thought to myself that I'd get to it later.  

Yep, much later.... as in not until it was time to start again!  Below is what I found in the shed, all sliding off the shelves.  I zoomed in because I'm too embarrassed to show you all the junk all over the floor I will have to clean up before I can get to my seed flats!

I know I have a few weeks yet before I should start stuff, but now that the "seed has been planted" haha, I'm finding it hard not to start dragging out the lights, shelves, etc.  Yet I KNOW that I will be complaining about the mess and garish lighting very soon... still can't help myself... isn't this the very definition of having an addiction?  :)

I know it's not very mom-like of me, but why oh why do I have to be inside with a bottle of bleach on a holster and it's 70º outside?!!  I'm sure Thing 1 will recover just in time for the rain moving in tonight LOL...

It's just part of getting older...

It's that time of year again, the time where hubby waits until the last minute to tell me he needs all new uniform patches, this on what was supposed to be "my day", a day of nothing scheduled except my own list of things to do.

He moves from young guy to old(er), more experienced, more learned (hopefully), and more senior (citizen)!  In the Navy you can't hide, your status is proclaimed for all to see by your insignia going from red to gold for 12 years of successive honorable service (means you didn't get in trouble) LOL.  If anyone wants to count along that's one hash mark for every 4 years of service for a grand total of 12 years active duty.  Not really very long actually, but another year closer to retirement.

If I have any pre 2000's Navy veteran readers out there and this photo gave you pause, you aren't alone- I too come from the "old skool" where you would not earn gold chevrons at the 12 year mark, alas the New Navy is like the New Math we have to learn to help our kids.  Good Conduct Awards are also given every 3 years instead of every 4 like it used to be, which I find ridiculous...how hard could it possibly be to be "good" for 3 years?!  I'm starting to sound like my dad, the "old salt"  :)

Even though I'm a a bit of a traditionalist, let's be honest, this uniform is completely ridiculous.  Yep, it looks good in the movies and in photos, but it only gets worn once a year usually, for inspection, and if you've ever worn it you know how little would actually get done if you were wearing it to perform any type of real work.  It's heavy, raw wool, has these ridiculous inside out pleats that need to be ironed, and it's impossible to get on or off.  I don't even have words for the pants... better not be in a hurry to go anywhere in these!

Front:  yes that's 14 buttons!

The Navy isn't done yet with their comfortable design... this is the back LOL!

See?  Only good for photos and cheesy movies with Mickey Rooney!

The torture of finger pricking medals/ribbons pinning, sewing and ironing this uniform is now 30 minutes past and I can put it in the back of my mind for another year.  Anyway, love to blog about my progress on my "list" today, but I have to run because I think I may actually get all my items checked off today!  By the way... props to hubby because this is the uniform he was issued back in boot camp and IT STILL FITS!  :)  Our bank account thanks you!

Free Kindle Download!

Super quick post to those with Kindles - free download today "The Art of Saving Heirloom Seeds"!

A repeat! The "Seed Binder"...

Some of you remember my seed storage/garden planning system of using a binder I posted about last year.  Since mentioning it again the other day I've had a few requests to know more about it so I'll repost the link below.  


Some things worth mentioning - if you decide this type of storage is for you, purchase the big, repeat LARGE binder with the industrial strength D-rings!  These are only available in office supply stores, they are commonly used for large items like catalogs and such.  I've wasted money twice on the "regular variety large ones" and they fell apart and ruined pages every time it was opened.  Since blowing the big bucks (about $15 I think) on this big one a couple of years ago that problem was solved, and there's always room for more it seems.  Also, unleash your inner teenage girl and decorate it!  I love cutting out photos from the Baker Creek catalog to put all over the cover and spine.  Kind of like an adult version of a tween Trapper Keeper LOL!  Part of the reason this works well for me is that I keep it on my bookshelf right by the couch, so it's pretty temperature and humidity steady, I wouldn't keep it in a shed or garage, for instance.  


In an ideal situation of course I would prefer a sealed vault with air and temperature controls, but for my tiny space and matching tiny budget, this has worked pretty fabulously for about 4 years now.


Okay, for those that wanted to know more about it, read the Seed Binder post here!


Warm, in the 60's today, but rain moving in this afternoon through the weekend, looks like a catalog & planning weekend here...

Dodging responsibility!

I have a ton of things I'm supposed to be doing... and someday I'll update you on the madness, but for today - I'm not doing a darned thing on that list.


That's because other than the fact that my yard and garden are a complete mess in the photo below, look at that sun!  It's been raining for days, but it's now clearing up, the kids are at school, and it's already 62º here at 9:30 a.m.

I'm going to head out there and clean a few beds up and plant something, anything!  Heck, with the weather we haven't been having this winter, I may throw caution to the wind along with some zinnia seed!  Ha, more likely spinach and greens, but if the mood strikes it might be a fun experiment this year.


Still no Baker Creek, but thankfully I have a stash and I'm sure I can find something in there!


Now the hard part is trying not to think about what I'm pushing aside in order to go out and play in the garden, but I keep reminding myself that it IS what I love to do most, and I need to get back in touch with it, the weather has been so warm this year I wouldn't be surprised to find a thriving little community of Squash Bugs wintered over out there having set up their own commune, I better go...!  Unless you are the school nurse and my kid is throwing up money, don't call LOL!