Peach Coglo

Weekending~April 22, 2012

Joining Amanda for weekending . . . .

This weekend was an awesome ending to a wonderful week of Spring Break.

Boy did we ever need Spring Break-all the toing and froing simply wears me out; I embrace my introversion, but it is a hard row to hoe when you hafta be places.

Friday we watched some crazy German pirate movie; I must say though that the dubbing was excellent.

There was laundry and yard work on Saturday, lots of manure, compost and fish fertilizer.  You can guess what I smelled like by the end of the day.  The fish fertilizer was actually the worst.

So now we have grapes, new raspberries, baby bear pumpkins, garlic, spinach, kale, radishes, lettuce, carrots, and tomatillos and three kinds of tomatoes started. We finally learned our lesson and decided to succession sow our lettuce and green leafies.  The blueberries and strawberries have been fertilized so here's hoping we get a crop.

Finally, we received a good soaking rain.  There were dust and pollen clouds here for weeks.  The dirt was like fine sand.  Now the birds and worms and plants are happy.  The mallard couple came back to our temporary backyard pond.  I only hope my little seeds didn't get washed away in the deluge.

The best part of the weekend though was the brick and rock painting by the kiddos.  They really brighten things up and I just enjoy watching them execute their plans even if it does involve squabbling.

I spent a lot of time reading Adventures of Little Bear.  This set was organized a bit like a chapter book.  Everytime I tried to stop reading, Eden would tell me we had more to read.  Still, despite almost falling asleep on her, I enjoyed watching her enjoy a book I loved as a kid even if Maurice Sendak's drawings of Cat fascinated and kind of freaked me out.

We capped off our weekend with a trip to the bowling alley.  I think this activity will be a family favorite.

There was lots of slowing down time which I treasure.  Greg was home so that was even better.  I had time to just look at the kids-really look at them without having to go do this or that or drag someone here or there.  Toing and froing is vastly overrated, but now we are back to it (sigh).  Luckily I have been filled up and I think we can make it to summertime.

How was your weekend?

Birthday Mud

Joining Amanda for Weekending

It's gonna be short and sweet today as I am writing this on the computer in my jacked up basement.

Our weekend is continuing because it's spring break for us.

Friday I broke down and let the kiddos watch Ghostbusters despite the scary parts.  It was funny for me and Greg, and okay for the kids.  Elijah proclaimed that the movie was a bit confusing.  Hmmm.

That means Greg is home more-yay!

Saturday I spent time in my studio-double yay!  Afterwards I went out with some dear friends to celebrate our birthdays-two Aprils and a belated October-triple yay!  They gave me some wonderful knitting gifts.  It's great having friends that have the same yarn addiction.

Sunday was spent outside-doing some garden planning and rototilling.  There was also lots of mud.  I won't go into the part where a certain someone forgot that he was supposed to rinse off all of the mud before boot-scooting through my house.

The day ended with my birthday cake made by Greg, a sweet homemade gift from Elijah, hugs from the kids and dinner prepared by our local Chinese restaurant.  The evening ended with me practicing painting trees in the old sketchbook and figuring out some issues with the painting I am making, and some gratitude that I am starting to get it.

How was your weekend?

 

Moving Earth

Joining Amanda at the habit of being for weekending. . . .

It was a whirlwind, this weekend-too fast, as they all are

Hansel and Gretel was our movie of the week.  It was delightful.  I was surprised to see David Warner and Cloris Leachman.  She was quite entertaining as the witch.  This version did away with the stepmother angle and people kicking the bucket.

Saturday I went to WEBS with some friends.  That place is insane.  I had my project notebook with me; it helped-a little.  I was wayyyy overwhelmed by all of the yarn (discounted too) goodness at this place.  Holy macaroni.  There was all kinds of yarn: Noro, silks, wool, wool blends, pretty much whatever you want.  I got some yarn for projects for myself and for the kiddos' birthdays.   If you go, have your list of projects and necessary gauge information (something I forgot here and there).  I urge you to go if you can, but just make sure you have your lists and a lot of time.

After the yarn mecca, we had dinner in Northampton- a quirky and fun town.

I finished a felted ball; now on to the next one.  I also found some more delightful Easter projects-we'll see.

Sunday was incredible.  We spent most of the day outside, prepping the garden-chopping, raking and moving earth. I did take a minute to go buy some CowPots.  You can probably guess their contents.  I think I want to try them with our watermelon and pumpkins since neither plant likes to be transplanted and our growing season is so short.

I ordered a much needed Willow tree, and came a few steps further in deciding what stays and what goes, and which plant goes where.  I do enjoy this Spring ritual.  Speaking of which, the Vernal Equinox is only a day away.

We took about an hour away for the kiddos' Meditation First Communion program.  We all enjoyed the hour even though we had to stop our gardening to go.

Then Greg grilled some burgers and we had our first picnic dinner outside.  It was a chilly one, but it felt great.  We probably looked a bit strange plunked in the middle of our front yard, but oh well.

There was even a little bit of time left over for some Shaun the Sheep and Fat Albert viewing.

Here's to weekends.  How was yours?

The Flower Show

We have been visiting Elizabeth Park a lot lately.  It turns out they have an annual flower show and sale.  I am glad we caught it this year.  It smelled like heaven in the greenhouse.  I wish I could magic that smell into this post, but oh well.  I hope you enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Tuesday!

A Day Off

A little one had fitful/no sleep all last night which meant I had fitful/no sleep all last night.  To top it off today was be-at-school-at-7:45am-day.  We have appointments and Curriculum Night at school tonight.  You know what's coming.  :-)  Taking a quick break today to recover and prepare.  I'll be back tomorrow for Photographic Friday.  I was planning to share the art festival today, but instead here's a little postcard from our recent backyard digs.   I'll share Artwalk next week when things have hopefully calmed a bit.  Thanks for hanging in there.  Have a great Thursday!

 

Weekending ~ September 18, 2011

It's time for Weekending with Amanda at the habit of being.  If you like, join  in and share your weekend.

This was another one of those full weekends.  Alas, another opportunity to practice appreciation, mindfulness, and patience.

I was super excited to have two of my pieces accepted for a local Artwalk festival.  I met some different and generous artists.  I hung out with some friends who were sweet enough to spend part of their Saturday at the festival.  It's always fun looking at art with my friend Julie; there are always some interesting pieces to enjoy

My parents sent me a lovely flower arrangement-so sweet

Greg took all four kidlets (thanks for the delightful word Amanda) to Helena's dance class.  That is a brave man.  The children behave well, but I really have a difficult time with all of the energy and noise that gets bottled up in the teeny waiting area-from all of the adults mind you, not the children

After that, the whole family went back to Artwalk and made some tiles for a community art project.  The tiles will be the border for a quilt by Ed Johnetta Miller.  That will be sweet

Then we went on our separate ways, Greg and the kids to a birthday party and me to CT Pride to support a friend.  That was a fun time

Then because everyone was so darn tired, there was Chinese food for dinner.  Nobody was cooking anything.   The kiddos rewatched Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves!  Greg and I kept nodding out

Even with all of the activity and running about it was still a good and exciting Saturday

Sunday we didn't go nearly as many places, but it was still a full day-such is Fall (notice the attempt to adjust my 'tude)

The morning was slow.  I went off on a search for more canning jars and lids.  I have learned the hard way that a body can never have too many.  I am trying to plan ahead for Christmas; those jars are great for Christmas bark and other goodies.  Somehow I can never find them after September

I achieved my goal and managed to can five more pints of whole tomatoes for a total of nine.  The smell of cooking tomatoes is just heavenly.  We have done quite well considering the ill-timed rain we had at the beginning and end of the season.  There are more tomatoes ripening around the house and a lot green ones on the vine still.  Yes we have done well given the late blight and recent hurricane

Now we are eyeing our store of apples and pears-hmmm

Then late in the afternoon it was time for Elijah's tennis and Doran's soccer.  I figure I can handle this schedule for a few more weeks; both sports end the week of Halloween.  I like for the children to have as much free time as possible.  However, they still want to participate in a few activities.  I figure one activity each for the older children is not too much or too little-for now

We enjoyed grilled hamburgers and a bonfire for dinner and then 'poof'' the weekend was over.

 

How was your weekend?

 

 

Fall is Coming

We are already having some cooler nights and days.  The trees have just a hint of turning-already!  The Rose of Sharon is losing her flowers.  Sigh, and here I sit trying to embrace this change.  Why embrace it?  Because it's inevitable, there is nothing I can do to stop summer from slipping away.  Here goes.  :)

Garden Tool

Fairy World after a Rain

There is something so magical in the air after a good rain (or two or three like we had yesterday).  It seems that  if you look hard enough, you can see fairies scampering around and sliding through raindrops down gladiolus leaves. 

Ms. Point and Shoot and I went out yesterday to do some exploring.  The rain must have helped because we are somewhat friendly now.  Well, at least we are no longer tussling with each other like a couple of cats in a back alley.  Happy Tuesday!

 

It's Hot . . . so We Water