Thrill seeker, standing on the top rail of the deck so she could “talk” to the dog next door.
Thoughts on farming January 21, 2010
It’s cold, it’s rainy. I do love winter. But I am thinking about warmer days to come and what to plant this year. Last year was a lot of fun, planting seeds with the kids and clearing out new garden areas. It was sorta experimental, in that we weren’t sure what would grow and how much of each thing to grow. Then there was the sun issue- we weren’t sure if we had enough sunlight for the plants to mature. But it all seemed to work because we had peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and beans. This year, we are planning to focus on certain vegetables that we use a lot in cooking or already eat on a regular basis. We will use a mixture of heirloom seeds and plant starts (like the little potted plants you get a a nursery). We will add some planter boxes to the front yard and hopefully put in some seeds on the side yard. I also plan to add some pots to the back deck that can be moved around with the sun. My other priority is to plant another peach tree in the backyard next to our current peach tree so they can pollinate each other for a greater gain. Oh, on a side note, our apple tree in the front yard is already establishing limbs. It is so cute!
As far as animals go, our plan for raising chickens has been put on hold. I struggle with this one, because it is an ethical issue. Chickens are not allowed unless you own 2 acres or more. Um, we have a third acre. So do I break the stupid law and let my kids watch me? Or do I teach them the importance of following rules? We can’t do anything anyway, since we have not built a chicken coop or really thought too much more about it since we found out the ordinances. However, we could have rabbits here. They would be pets for us, since I am not too keen on gamey rabbit meat. But rabbits are very useful when it comes to feeding the soil with their compost. So having a couple of pet rabbits is a strong possibility for this coming year. And gosh, they are really cute too. Another possibility is beekeeping. Not only do you get honey, but bees pollinate the gardens for a greater yield. I need to do a ton more research on the subject before I make any moves. But I sure like the idea of it.
So right now, we are focusing on making a list of the seeds we need to order for spring sowing. I will post a list when we finalize it. We have also been composting like crazy all winter so that we don’t have to purchase any bags of soil. Later when the weather gets better, we will contruct more plant boxes for the front yard. My hopes are that we are successful this year and can put up some of our produce to eat during the fall and winter. Baby steps. How did the pioneers do it all? It seems overwhelming. But it is a lot of fun for us! And for those who are wondering as they read this- Yes, we know that we are weirdos. No one else around this area does what we do (that I know of anyway). As Dave Ramsey says, “Live like no other so that you can live like no other.” I totally agree.
Snow day January 11, 2010
You see, this is just one of the many reasons northerners make fun of us. I mean, sure we add three more syllables to every word we say and make up words that don’t exist in the English language. But here’s the clencher- southern “snow” days. Around here, snow doesn’t frequent the calendar, so if there is a hint that ice, 32 degree weather, or just a hunch that things could get hairy, school is cancelled and the city pulls out all the stops to create excitement. Many of the counties shut down school a day before the weather system even came. Our county cancelled too, which about made me cry a river, since I just sent the kids BACK to school two days before that. We were all suffering from what my mom always called “too much togetherness.” I used to think that was a really stupid thing, but now I have a full and thorough understanding of the concept. Anyway, the “snow” started Wednesday afternoon and went into the night with a mixture of falling ice. Everything was blanketed in a soft little white cover when we woke up. Unfortunately, snow is really only fun when you can build stuff out of it and when your body can humanly tolerate the temperatures outside. It was about 14 degrees with a wind chil on Thursday morning. So we spent most of the day looking at the snow from the window.
#2 does not have a single ounce of meat on his body and about froze to death after ten minutes out on the deck.
Oooo, go ahead Yanks, just poke fun at us.
That is the wood from the trees that were cut in the side yard.
#1 and #3 really loved it. I think she is still in her pajama pants because she was too excited to even wait for me to officially dress her for the day.
This is about how much Dixie enjoyed the snow. Not so much really.
Backyard campers October 10, 2009
Last night was supposed to be a Cubscout campout in north GA, but due to work and weather and wiped-out parents, it became a backyard campout. I mean, it’s all the same, right?? The boys did all the work while husband mentored. I watched from the upstairs window (in the air conditioner). #1 pitched the tent in the spot they cleared together that afternoon. They started their own fire and made smores. They read folktales by the fire with Husband and then the two of them headed out to the tent where they stayed the night alone. Husband came back inside to sleep on a real mattress. I think a couple of rain showers passed over, but they stayed out there and came in this morning at about 7AM looking for food. Now I think #1 can check off some Cubscout requirements.
Making fire.
Still making fire. It had rained so everything was a little damp.
Brothers in the tent
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Nighty night.
Labor Day happenings September 7, 2009
I’m sure there are plenty of families basking in the Florida sun right now, but we are on a staycation at the Miller Homestead. #1 is playing with all the neighbors on bikes, #2 is sick with fever putting together a puzzle, and #3 is very busy following me around and making little messes. It has been an eventful weekend already.
Friday night, we had some neighbors over for dinner. Their daughter is #2′s newest love interest, and also happens to be in his kindergarten class this year. #1 went to a neighbor’s swim party that same night and didn’t return until 9PM. (I guess this is the start of waiting up for our kid to get home…)
Saturday, husband worked under the crawl space of our house, reinforcing the beams in the foyer. Soon he will be able to lay the floors in there. The dining room floors are done and look fantastic. So check! Two rooms done and two more to go (the foyer and front office).
Looking into the dining room from the kitchen doorway
Looking into the dining room from the foyer
Last Sunday we joined the church we have been attending all summer. This was a very big decision for us! I, personally, have not been a formal “member” of a church since we lived in Lousiana. Yesterday, I sang a solo in front of the whole early service congregation and during the invitation, #1 walked up front and asked to be baptized. When the pastor talked to him after the service, he commented on how well #1 knew his stuff. So he will be baptized next Sunday morning. We are so excited! Then when we got home from church we noticed that #2 was burning up with fever.
Today, #2 woke up with a little bit of fever, but not as much as yesterday. He’s seems to be fine now, and husband bought him a new puzzle to work on. On another note, this is the third day we have not had air conditioner downstairs. However, it really hasn’t been a big deal because the weather has been crispy cool. Windows have been open since Thursday morning. But the air conditioner guy came over this morning, armed with twisties and duct tape, ready to fix the problem. Turns out, the motor in the fan is caput, so he will bring another one by tomorrow and install it. Whew! Thank goodness this didn’t happen in the middle of July. We are expecting this ac to die soon, considering it is about 22 yrs old.
We’ve also spent most of this morning working on the yard. Husband just pruned the peach tree. I’m really hoping this thing will actually produce something other than yellow golfballs. They don’t make for good eating… And I transplanted the blueberry bushes to the front yard so they would get the sun they are desperately crying for. All the fruit trees and bushes got some plant food spikes for added nutrition. This is the time of year where I start getting excited about the upcoming weather, and all the things I want to plant in the spring. I will start making sketches and lists. We never had a chance to take out the trees this summer. It will have to wait for the when the money comes. But it is the next project on the que after finishing the the floors. After the trees are taken down, we will begin saving for a complete gutter and siding overhaul. Yay! Now doesn’t that sound fun?!
Pruning the peach tree in the backyard
Husband with his new pruning weapon. And I should mention how ridiculusly predatory the mosquitoes are in our backyard!
New location for the two blueberry bushes- now next to the fig and apple tree
Pillow Talk June 13, 2009
Whew! What a busy week it was. Last night, I finished up a calligraphy job so that I would have some time this weekend to get crafty. I purchased some fabric online a couple of weeks ago so that I could make some new pillows for the living room. (This is what poor people do when they want a make-over.) Anyway, after pricing the pillows I wanted at $65 a pop, I decided to make them.
There are going to be two white ones and two aqua ones- and then a white lumbar pillow for the chair.
I could only finish three today because I busted the needle on my sewing machine trying to sew that thick piping on.
Oh, there was also another little project that I did on a whim. I was picking up junk material in the backyard- since the kids love dragging demo leftovers all over the place. I found pieces of fence from an old project and brought it in, sanded it a little on the surface and then painted some words on it.
I was trying to think of a word that would apply to everyone in the house. "Fresh" milk was my first choice, but hey, our milk is from the grocery- not the backyard cow. I am planning to hang this over the french doors in the kitchen that lead to the back deck.
Running June 4, 2009
Game face
#1 likes to run. ( I know, it rhymes.) But he really does. After school he would sometimes run laps around the backyard on his own accord, burning some energy up. Then he started to ask if he could run with husband, who was at first reluctant. He thought #1 might not be able to keep up or would complain the whole time, but no. #1 loves to run. And he is one of the fastest kids in his grade. This is the second year in a row that he has participated in the Peachtree Jr Road Race, a 3K fun run for kids starting at age 7 and up to 12. We are thinking about getting him into a track club soon.
At the start of the race wearing last year's Peachtree shirt.
We have about 10 pictures that look just like this one. I don't know how many kids run in this race, but husband says it is very crowded.
Can you see his little face in the crowd?Husband watched them start and then ran down to the finish line.Worn out after the run, but got a bag full of goodies
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