Summer projects

As scribbled by me, on our way to Texas back in May. . .

• Plan 2009-10 school year: Procrastinated until August, but I finally did it.
• —– —–: This is a gift project; progress has been made this summer although not as much as I had hoped. The next step depends on help from someone else, so I’m stuck.
• Maintain gardens: The weeds got the best of me but I did keep my hanging baskets watered and lovely for about 2/3 of the summer.
• Kitchen curtains: DONE! Finally! Yea! Thanks for your help in June, Dad & Mom! The one over the sink only has three “swags” which I think looks better, but I haven’t found my round tuit for altering this one.

• Give away stuff: Girl clothes sent to Elephant’s Child’s Child. Toys and adult clothes (including maternity & nursing <sniff>) taken to local clothing bank, except for the wooden kitchen which is at the thrift shop waiting for a buyer. Baby clothes are still in my sewing room, but one closed bin is better than four overflowing. I’m hoping to find a crisis pregnancy center that can use them.

I also accomplished some things not on the original list–and came to terms with the fact that some things will just have to wait for next summer, such as that new quilt for our bed. For now, I need to focus on that new school year. . .starting bright and (maybe) early tomorrow morning!

Made from Scratch

I know. . .some of you are now rolling on the floor laughing that I brought home a library book called Made from Scratch (by Jenna Woginrich). What can I say–my curiosity got the better of me! At any rate, the book was an entertaining read, even though I already do many things from scratch.

The first couple chapters held the most interest for me, dealing with backyard chickens and gardening. There is currently a request to allow chickens in our town again, and after reading this book I plan to do more research on chickens if the ordinance is changed. We eat a whole lot of eggs, but since leaving Iowa and losing our source of fresh eggs, it’s a meal that is hard for me to choke down. (A lot like going back to store milk after buying from a local dairy, but our yard isn’t big enough to support a cow! ) The vegetable gardening isn’t a new idea for me, but I’ve never tried it before and found some ideas and encouragement that might make a small plot finally happen. I figure I’ll start with tomatoes and see how much marinara I can get.

Most of the chapters dealt with things I already do (cook from scratch) or things I don’t care to try (raise angora rabbits for their fur); the only other topic that interested me was beekeeping. As much as I love to cook with honey, I’m going to stick with supporting local beekeepers. You know why, if you’ve ever seen me freak out in late summer when bees (or are they yellow jackets?) are the uninvited guests at every picnic!

No place like home

We pulled into our own driveway somewhere in the wee hours this morning, tired but oh-so-happy to be home. We’ve enjoyed spending the last 2 weeks visiting friends and family but there’s really no place quite like home. As an added welcome, by this morning’s light I found a surprise outside my dining room window:

Now, I’ve only wanted hollyhocks in my yard since. . .wow, I can’t remember how long. I was still a kid, anyhow. Every year has brought a new reason for not planting them, ranging from forgetfulness to morning sickness to getting ready to move. But what is really funny is that just last week I used my parents’ computer to look up my new growing zone, specifically as pertains to growing hollyhocks! And then I get home and find a previous resident already planted some just for me. (as an aside, I’m sure there are plenty of weeds in the foreground~but my thumb is so brown I haven’t a clue what to pull and what to leave)

I hope to share a few photos of vacation highlights later, but I’m still catching my breath. Two weeks is too long to be away from home in my book, and I don’t even want to THINK about how many miles we put on the van. . .