Weekend :)

Saturday. we have NOTHING on our calendar for three days with the exception of church and a playdate on Monday. This is SO NICE. I have a ton to do around here, so it's even better. I love that it's rainy because then we aren't tempted to be working or playing outside, and will hopefully get everything done in here. I desperately need to make the laundry soap and we are running out of necessities like undies so it's time. The puppy needs a bath. The playroom needs picked up and the kids need new sheets put on their beds. I have tons of laundry to put away. I also want to go through the bigger diapers and get them packed up so that I can bring out the newborn diapers when it's time. I went through the newborn diapers and I have plenty, but I have decided that I would like to have a few more fitteds.... and I bought a couple and then bought a newborn fitted pattern from Pampered Cheeks. The only pampered cheeks diaper that I own is the famous "eggs and bacon" diaper that Marek had some pictures taken in when he was a babe. I've always liked it, and although I would really like to have a newborn Mutts (Muttaquin Baby) Pattern, the Pampered Cheeks is similar and I have been happy with it. I have lots of OBV and also several knit prints that I think I will try to use up and also some microfleece inner fabric (like inside BGOS and BGAIO's) plus my snap press. The only thing I would need to come up with is the inner soaker/absorbant type fabric. But I think that because I have everything else at this point, buying that fabric would still be cheaper than paying $15-35 a diaper to get premade ones. I tried making diapers before but didn't get far. We shall see what happens this time :) At least I have some time.

Last night we took the kids out for supper, which we haven't done in a while. We went to Valley Inn. We've been before and thought the food and service was excellent. This time it wasn't as impressive. The food was good, Evan really enjoyed his, but my Fried Cod was the special and it was WAY overdone. It was so hard on the outside and the breading didn't taste good. I told Evan I thought it was just overcooked and he tasted it and said it was borderline burnt. That made me disappointed but I did have a side of ravioli that was good. Their sauce is a pretty generic meat sauce that wasn't all that impressive, but besides that it was good. Ardyn had a kids burger and a salad and Marek ate a bunch of my food because I knew I would have plenty and he would mostly want fries, which I didn't want but came with my meal. Marek was really tired because he hadn't napped and so towards the end of the meal he started to be cranky and barely be able to keep his eyes open.

Afterwards we went to Target. It was nice and I was happy to see that their towels are on sale again. I need to get 4-6 each of handtowels, washcloths, and bath towels for the homebirth. I have thought it through a lot and decided that I would use our regular towels and such that we have. The towels need to be cleaned and dried on hot and packaged and ready in my homebirth kit, so I decided that before that time comes I will buy a few new of the towels that we have (like one of each color that we use in the bathroom) and wash them and add them to our towel rotation, and then remove the most worn ones from the bathroom.... and wash them up and pack them in the homebirth kit. The only "old towels" that I have are the four dog towels, when I redid the bathroom a couple of years ago I sold all the old towels, rugs, and shower curtain to a friend for her extra bathroom. Some of those towels I had since we moved here 13 years ago, and some I'd had since we got married seven years ago. But they still had life in them, especially for a kids or spare bathroom.

So anyway, because the towels were on sale, I got four bath sheets and four hand towels for $31. I will go back again and do that one more time so that I can pack some old ones in the homebirth kit and put the new into our bathroom rotation. I figure then if there are stains on the homebirth towels that won't come out, then I am not out much. But I am not too worried about it because with peroxide and immediate washing everything should come out. Plus because I am having a waterbirth there won't be as much blood as water :) But that also means I want to be on the "high" side of that 4-6 number because I have read that some people recommend closer to 10-12 towels with a waterbirth. But I guess that also depends on how much you plan on getting in and out of the tub.

We also got a pack of pacifiers because the ones that we used for both kids are starting to get funky. The silicone on the pacifiers and the bottle nipples is breaking down and getting sticky. I don't know if that requires replacement (I guess that depends on who you ask) but I'd rather start now and build up then have to replace them all after the baby is here. Several friends and family members have asked if we need anything for this baby. We don't really need much. I would like to get new pacifiers and new bottle nipples. I already bought new components for my breast pump since those were breaking down too. I've been contemplating stroller for a while now. Since there is more difference between Marek and this baby, I don't feel that I need my BabyTrend Sit and Stand Double anymore. It was a very expensive stroller and it is in excellent shape because we only really used it that one summer... and so I am thinking I will sell it and use the cash to buy the single BabyTrend jogging stroller that the carseat (which we just bought used) snaps into. It's $90 at Target. I LOVED having my travel set with Ardyn and the double stroller like that is more of a necessary evil. I have two other double strollers that I like much better (not because they are better strollers as much as because they fit my needs better at this stage than the sit n stand.) AND I have the Uppa Baby G Luxe single umbrella stroller that I adore. I haven't used the BabyTrend Sit n Stand in probably two years. I think it's time to let it go. Especially thinking I can get a nice single stroller that will also accomodate the carseat and has a front swivel wheel :) Part of me thinks that since the baby will be born in fall I might not even NEED a stroller till spring so why worry about it. But then I think about all the places that I will have to take the carseat and not have a stroller to snap it in. I am not sure. But I think I am selling the big baby trend no matter what.

Today we hit max capacity on eggs in the fridge :) I have two potential egg customers so we decided we now have enough laying happening to start selling them. with 6 hens laying I get a dozen eggs every other day :) I am not looking for a profit, but just some money to offset those $16 bags of layer feed :)

I gave the stinky puppy a bath. He has a habit of peeing on his dog bed and they laying in it. Yay. So now he smells sweet and clean... we will see how long it lasts. I also cleaned out another 5 gallon bucket of oxy boost today so I am thinking that I can make a second batch of soap tomorrow (as long as the food processor is clean I might as well) and then I won't have to make soap for TWICE as long. I am wishing I had bought a few extra bars of Fels Naptha... guess I will have to make a run to get some. I do have some Kirks Castile and some zote, so I guess I could try a batch with one of those. I am also considering adding some essential oil to one of these batches. I haven't yet but I think I will. Evan has this thing with his clothes having to "smell" like something to be clean. To be honest, I find the smell of most detergents a bit nauseating, not to mention fabric softeners. I dislike the scents and can immediately smell when the kids clothes or mine have been washed in something. When I get used clothes for the kids I often wash them two or three times before I can get that smell out. But essential oils might not bother me so much, so I might try something. We shall see.

I see the kids going to bed early tonight. No naps and it's already 7pm and I am seeing some symptoms of sleepiness. I have at least one episode of MISSING to catch up on, if not two. I discovered that even though we have free cable, we still have the ability to have on demand for free TV shows, so instead of watching them on my laptop screen I can watch them on the regular TV. So I am not all that sad that bedtime is around the corner. Although I also have the next Diana Gabaldon book to read. I've had it for almost a month and already renewed it from the library and have yet to start it. Mostly because when I read the first one I barely slept for the two days that it took me to finish it, and I ignored my children as much as possible and let the house fall around me... I am not sure that's the best plan and I don't seem to have the control to stop reading. I am worried that once I start I will be out of control.

So instead I will watch Missing and my favorite reruns of Law and Order (because that's what I do and why I like late night on the CW)

Everyone have a great night.

oh Responsibility

What's new? I am doing a whole lot of nothing right now, as my brain is taking up the primary amount of energy. I feel a list making session coming on. less than 1 month until the 20 week ultrasound. Once I figure out that I have a healthy baby swimming around in there, and that we are a gogo for homebirth, I will start working on my homebirth kit, which is sitting in my cart and waiting patiently for the go ahead to make it's trek to my house.

But there are lots of other things that I want to get done. I need to send back the recalled Pack n Play and get a newish model that won't collapse on babe. I need to go through cloth diaper stash and sort and evaluate. I need to make myself some wool dryer balls because mine have become far flung around the house. Sometimes I see a kid with one, sometimes the puppy has one, and they were a diaper trade from another mama and started unwinding quite quickly. I have decided to make mine from roving and hope that I can start that process soon as I have a whole bin of roving around here somewhere. I also need to get myself some newborn snappis ordered.

There are the things that most moms do, that I will also do eventually, like figure out which ceiling to mount the crib on (three kids in one room is going to get hairy really fast) and find somewhere to cram the baby's clothes. And then there are all those things that come with babies, the bottles (which we rarely use so I think I will only bring down like 5.) and the breastpump, and the boppy, and the swing (which I learned long ago is only necessary in the travel, fold-up size.) And there will be the cosleeper, although I don't see us setting this up until AFTER the birth this time, since we could potentially need the bed and easy access to the bed for delivery (at least placenta that is) and there are baby toys, etc. right now I am thinking more of things that I can do without adding more crap to the house. Like the diaper assessment, dryer balls, homebirth kit, etc.

In the meantime, the garden is half planted, with the cold hardy seeds, the radish varieties are planted, the spinach, the mache, the carrots, lettuce, etc. The weather is still not to be trusted because although it is 80 sometimes in the daytime, we still have at least one night every week or two that is frost-worthy. I badly want to get that all out of the way and watch it GROW but I am trying to be patient as it is still early despite this record strange hot spring.

It's nice enough to be outside today but we are all sitting here in various states of pajamas and underwear. I have taken a bath but I haven't gotten the urge to drag us outside yet. Marek has had terrible allergy problems and the doctor is having us switch him from Claritin to Zyrtec before we go ahead with a prescription nasal spray. In the meantime his is a BEAR and super cranky and mean and screamish all morning as the snot from the night before endlessly drains down his poor face. He hates snot. He throws fits over things as simple as the texture as his kleenex or boogie wipes. I can't wait till this is under control. Because I know he feels miserable and he is making everyone else miserable.

Most of the time I don't even know I am pregnant. I feel normal and I don't feel movement yet unless I am laying down resting or trying to sleep. Marek didn't move during the day, he only moved at night, during practically the entire pregnancy. I believe he had the whole anterior placenta thing, so that may be the case again. All is measuring well though. Today I made my Ultrasound appointment for May 21st, and if baby cooperates we will find out the sex. My biggest fear is that something will be wrong. I never had this fear, but years ago Evan (yes, my own dear husband) put it into my head that we have been blessed with two healthy kids and so it's just the odds that we would have something go wrong. This makes me CRAZY Because I never thought like that but it is the one thing that truly worries me. And since I take lots of medications (even those that are approved in pregnancy) especially for the GERD, Colitis, etc.... that I did not take with the first two, I am worried that my body is cooking a medicinal cocktail that is harmful to the baby. Like, the medicine is okay individualy, but you mix it together and you're asking for it. No one else feels this way (medically) but when every time you see a nurse and she requires you to rattle off all your Rx's and she answers with "You're too young to be taking all that medication" I just want to bitch slap her and ask her if she thinks it would be better to walk around diabetic with colitis and esophageal cancer and not able to care for my kids because I am sick every 5 days. I hate that. And I swear nearly EVERY Nurse says that to me. One in particular that says that whenever I see her. I need to come up with some type of retort about how she says that every six months and I am about to smack the shit out of her. But I have yet to come to any conclusion on how to handle that "rude" comment. And I promise this isn't just pregnant hormones, because I've been getting that for at least 3 years now. Although I do have plenty of pregnant hormones to go around.

I need to put all the screens back on the porch windows. I took them out this winter, both to make them last longer, and so I can hang wreaths on the outside of the porch windows. I asked Evan months ago to carry them up from the basement for me and I decided today that I am just plain tired of waiting so I think today is the day I am going to do it myself.

He, of course, is sleeping because he bartended last night. I am going to try not to get into that, but how annoying is it when you are expected to keep a 4 year old and a 3 year old and a puppy quiet all morning in a 1900 square foot house so that SOMEONE can sleep? It's annoying. And I know my mom did it for YEARS while my dad worked 2nd shift, but my dad was always up before lunch. I can't say that for my husband. And this is where the pregnant hormones come in. I dislike this bar-tending gig very much. Perhaps equally as much as the "my husband is in a band" gig, but they each have their different ins and outs. The money is nice, but that's about all. I think the thing I like the least is the "we close whenever the bar is empty" which means that it could be anywhere from 10pm till 2am, which is frustrating, inconsistent, and just something you "deal with."

I have laundry literally mounding up everywhere. The kind that needs washed AND the kind that needs put away. That's another downside to this "gig." No one but me can do anything. Not laundry, not dishes, not cooking. it's ALLLLLLL me. ALLLLLL the time. Ugh.

I need to make more laundry soap, which is why laundry is at a standstill. I should have done it long ago, but hey, that's life. I have my ingredients but I just keep procrastinating this time. Not because it's difficult, but because I have to drag out my food processor and I just don't WANNA. *hear my whiney voice* ??

When we got the puppy we started off feeding him 1/2 cup of food twice a day. I asked the vet if this was the correct amount and got the lecture about how if I spent more money on food (Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet) that he would need to eat less because it's a better quality protein and more digestible. That wasn't the answer to my question. I pretty much just explained that he would continue to eat pedigree. I can't afford or justify buying $20+ a bag dog food when my kids don't eat like kings and we go through phases of ramen noodles, tuna fish, and PB&J all week because we don't have cash. So the vet tells me to let him eat however much he wants and keep the food out free choice (like we did with Boyd his entire life) and I said okay, I just didn't want the dog to overeat and make himself sick. So now that we are on "FREE CHOICE" the dog seems to be eating a TON of food. Like sometimes 2-3 cups a day. That's more than Boyd ever ate. Whatever. I don't know what to do. He walks around here with this giant full belly. But hopefully he isn't overdoing it.

My sister just asked me if I wanted to take off and go shopping with her, and have Evan watch the kids. I got to happily explain to her that he is still in bed at noon. Ugh. Hate.

But instead of shopping (not that I have cash to buy anything, but I was just along for the ride and the freedom) I have laundry detergent to make, dishes to wash, meals to cook, kids to take care of, and eventually dance class to drive to. Just another day!

Well, I guess I might as well go make that soap so that as soon as Evan gets out of bed I can get the laundry accessed and sorted. *sigh*

Kidspeak -Aluma wallet

Ardyn - "a heavy truck is no match for the Aluma Wallet. You can get the Aluma Wallet wet and your cards stay dry! Don't you want one mom? Call now and you can get TWO Aluma Wallets and give one to daddy!"

Meagan ~ via blogpress on my iPhone :)

Kidspeak- vacation

The kids just poured a big bag or pretzels (lunch) into a metal toolbox (lunchbox) because they're going on vacation. They waved goodbye as they got on the bus (shut themselves in Ardyn's closet) and now they are at the waterpark (bunk beds)


Meagan ~ via blogpress on my iPhone :)

Kidspeak

Ardyn "apocalypse is a funny word"


Meagan ~ via blogpress on my iPhone :)

Kidspeak- Shifter

marek- "mom why is there shit in my gator?"

Me- "what!? What gator??"

Marek- "my gator that I ride on I the garage!"

Me- "there's no shit in your gator? Shit is a naughty word for poop."

Marek- "oh..... Well what's that red thing on my gator?"

Me- (thinking) "well.... The only red thing I can think about... (thinking) is the SHIFTER."

Marek- "yeah! The shitter!"

Me- "no, SHIFT. SHIFTER."

Marek- "ShiFFFFter! What's it do?"

Meagan ~ via blogpress on my iPhone :)

Kidspeak- love

marek- "mommy I love you! And daddy and sis. And briar bunny and Boyd in heaven. And the chickens. But not the wicked witch."


Meagan ~ via blogpress on my iPhone :)

Saying Goodbye to Boyd the Wonder Beagle.

Today was the saddest, most horrible day I have had in a long long time. Unless you've been through it, I can't even begin to describe it.

About three days ago, Boyd's health started rapidly declining. He stopped eating. He spent most of his  time laying down. He began to have constant coughing spells, which were an increase from those he had been having for several months on a regular basis. He could barely stand and didn't do much moving or walking. He was unsteady on his feet, shaky, and just plain not well. Sometimes he would come over to me and sit and want to be petted and he would "smile" at me with his eyes. But I could tell he was not feeling well. Sometimes he would have spells like this, that would last a day and would then resolve. Sometimes it was weather related (he had bad arthritis and about five years ago we were told he likely had cancer (he had several colon polyps removed and also had some other lumps) and that he would likely not live another year.) Sometimes giving him an anti-inflammatory pill or a shot would help and he would be better the next day, back to his old self, chasing and panting and playing, jumping over the fence, etc. This time I was just waiting and hoping for that recovery, and it never came. He just got more miserable and thinner. he didn't touch his dog food, but eventually I did get him to eat some pork chop, and just this morning a taco salad :)

Yesterday Evan and I decided that it was time to call the vet, and we knew that it was likely his time to be put down. We had decided 5 years ago that he was old enough that we weren't going to put him through cancer treatments. We just wanted to live as long as his quality of life would allow. We knew this day was coming, but it wasn't easy. I was doing okay until I actually called to make the appointment. Then I just started crying uncontrollably and pretty much continued on and off throughout the afternoon and evening. Last night I was crying in bed and feeling terrible and not sleeping. I wanted to be near him. I went outside and put a sleeping bag on the ground and lay down with him. He put his head in my lap and despite his labored breathing, I felt him relax and enjoy the attention. I decided to bring him inside to lay in bed with me, like he used to do when he was a puppy, and I put a blanket down and he lay next to me. For the next hour he went through cycles of heavy breathing and coughing, and every ten minutes he would have a coughing fit and would struggle to stand and once the fit was over he would collapse onto the bed in a heap. I felt terrible for him. It was then that I knew that his time had come, and that he was in pain and needed to see the vet. I also knew that there was practically no chance that he would come back from the vet alive. It was a horrible feeling. I felt like I had failed him. I felt like I was his owner and I was never supposed to end his life. I cried and I petted him and I rubbed his ears. I rubbed his belly and massaged his legs through coughing fits. I tried to make him comfortable. And eventually I knew that he wanted to be on his own, and in his dog bed, so I carried him back outside for the night.

Today we took the kids to grandma's and Evan brought Boyd and picked me up and we went to the vet. Doc Smith said immediately that the cough he was having was signature of congestive heart failure, and that fluid was leaking into his lungs and also that his abdomen was filled with fluid. He had a lump under his chest. He didn't fight and the only time he walked was when a young girl came into the waiting room and he tried to walk to meet her. It broke my heart. Paula and Doc were wonderful. Paula is always so caring and I know that she practically feels your pain with each animal issue you have. Boyd didn't struggle when I carried him in and didn't fight or whine or panic when I put him on the table. He didn't fight when Doc shaved a spot in his leg and he didn't even flinch when the needle went into his leg. This was so unlike him, but he was so peaceful and he looked at us so knowingly, like he knew what was coming and he wasn't scared or upset or worried. Evan and I petted his head and I rubbed his ears. I just cried and cried. His eyes were saying everything to me. Telling me not to worry, that everything was okay. Fifteen years of looking at those eyes and you learn a lot about what a dog is thinking. He lay down easily and Paula gently lay him on his side. I petted him until doc confirmed that he was gone, and then petted him some more. He looked so happy, and peaceful. He didn't struggle to breathe anymore and there was no more coughing or shaking. Paula carried him out to the car for us and we wrapped him in the same sleeping bag that we had cuddled with the night before. I stayed in the car and cried while Evan went inside and took care of everything. I felt some relief that it was done, and peace that he had looked so sweet and so rested.... but so much sadness and grief that it was overwhelming. He was my first "baby" and now I had let him go.

I cried all the way home. Evan buried him at the farm. I didn't think I could be there. He said words that I wanted said, and wrapped him in his sleeping bag. I thought I was doing okay until I got home and saw the front gate open. I had that sickening feeling that you get when you know someone left the gate open and your dog got out. And then I realized that Boyd was never coming back and would never get out again. It was a terrible realization and I started crying all over again. All night I would cry over silly things like seeing his picture, or remembering times we had and things we did. I went outside to let the chickens out for a while and shooed one away from Boyd's full dog food bowl, telling it to get away from Boyd's food. Then I broke down all over again, realizing that he wasn't going to be eating it so what did it matter anymore? Looking at his doghouse, or his crate on the porch with his dog bed and his "babies" inside it. These things are just heartbreaking.

Ardyn cried and Marek has asked me a few times where Boyd is. As soon as Evan came home Marek asked "dadddy did you bury Boyd?" Oy. Ardyn found a picture of a dog in a coloring book and colored it. She also added her own drawings of a halo and wings to the dog. She gave it to me and said "look Mommy, Boyd's an angel!" Heartbreaking. over and over again.

When we told the kids that the vet had put Boyd to sleep, they asked to see him and say goodbye. We uncovered him and put the kids up in the back of the Durango with Boyd, on his blanket. They petted him and I petted him again and Ardyn and I each kissed his soft ears, just like I always have. It felt good to say goodbye again. I felt guilty that I hadn't carried his body outside myself. I felt guilty that I wasn't going to be there to bury him. But I knew that Evan would do everything just right.

Tonight I am so very sad, and my headache from crying is immense. I hope that each day gets easier and that we can find another dog to raise and love as our own.

We Love You Boyd!

RIP Boyd Atticus. We loved you very very much. You were an amazing dog, you listened, you cared, you were there for us always. It was so hard to let you go.

Kidspeak- Dizzy

Marek was spinning around and around and around while driving his car in a circle.

When he stopped spinning he said,

"The house is tipping!!!!!!!"

LOL

Kidspeak- My Name Is

Overheard from the playroom:

Ardyn: "My Name is Liana. Like Li but with Ana at the end. Liana.

I am Liana. You can be 'Mr. Cheese Sauce'."

Sprouting

This has been a fun week. I haven't been feeling quite myself, but I can't complain of any real problems. I just get crampy and tired if I am on my feet the past two days so I am pretty much hanging out in my bedroom, watching TV and playing with the kids, reading books and magazines, etc. The kids are playing really well, and although they are doing a good job of making a mess big enough that I will likely never clean it up.... that's okay. At least they are behaving.

I've been trying to do things that will require little to no movement. I am not nauseous (except on rare occasions after I eat) so compared to previous pregnancies this is really great. But with both pregnancies I had thyroid problems in early pregnancy. With Ardyn's pregnancy they let me take synthroid, but the previous (with Marek) I was just told to "suffer" while they took blood every single week in Peoria to make sure it didn't get too out of control. I have a fairly good inkling that the strangeness I am feeling is a combo of the third month of pregnancy, crazy wild hormones (including the progesterone supplements that I have to take twice a day until I reach 10 weeks) and perhaps a bit of thyroid problems. I have gained one pound. So I am not complaining. As long as you don't come to visit me and expect to find me dressed, with my hair done, or a place to sit. There are also no spoons. But life's good.

I've been spending my time on Pinterest :) and just today finally got my laptop out instead of just using my phone. I wanted to organize my pinboards alphabetically and clean a few up, so I did that.

I've been working on starting seeds in my seed starter, which I haven't done for YEARS so I am happy to be back in that swing. When I was in high school I started to get very interested in landscaping and gardening. While living at Mom and Dad's, a neighboring farmer and good family friend told my dad that he had something for me. It was a HUGE Galvanized seed starting unit that had been in his barn and he just wanted it out and to get the space back. It's got four shelves and uses both 4 foot bulbs and regular lightbulb style bulbs on different tiers. My parents are obviously really cool parents because they allowed me, and helped me, to drag the thing home and put it in their basement and thats where I used their electricity to grow all kinds of plants, like the one year that I grew something crazy like three entire flats of tri-colored geraniums. For a while I collected various types of geraniums and searched greenhouses for new varieties and cool hybrids. I had scented, and bug repelling and all kinds of them.

When I moved to Wyanet the seed starter came too, but hasn't got used much here. The kids and I have got 5 flats started so far, for a staggering selection of chards, salad greens, lettuces, and flowering annuals and a few perennials. The goal is to not buy plants for the garden or the flowerboxes this year.... with the exception of the accent plants (spikes, asparagus ferns, etc) for the containers. So far it's been a fun experience for the kids. They love helping to fill the jiffy pots with jiffy mix and also watching peat pellets expand. Everything is germinating nicely.

I also decided to start some indoor vermicomposting in addition to the outdoor composter. That way we can compost all year long and have more rapidly developing compost. I will compost the yard waste and chicken and bunny poo outside, and compost the kitchen scraps inside. I decided to go ahead with this after I discovered these really nice and inexpensive directions for a do-it-yourself worm composter...

Source: growingthehomegarden.com via Meagan on Pinterest

So I started that project and the worms are on order :) I had already read "Let It Rot" back in the days when I started composting (maybe Ardyn was 9 months old?) and then a couple of years later I had gotten REALLY Lucky to find a book on my wishlist "Worms Eat My Garbage" - for 50 cents at the local library booksale. I read all of that but then this morning I went ahead and read it again because I wanted to make sure I was prepared for what I was about to start.

Last week I finished my seed order from SandHill Preservation and I had yet to get that mailed, so I finished that up this morning too. I am extremely excited about growing heirloom tomatoes this year. I grew one variety last year because I started late and found a plant or two locally, but this year I hope that I can get them all started from seed and have several varieties. I watched a special on P Allen Smith last summer where went to Tomatofest where there was a tomato tasting and people came to a party to taste test heirloom tomatoes. I wrote down the winning varieties and will be trying at least two of them in the garden this year :)

Source: tomatofest.com via Meagan on Pinterest

I am itching to get outside. But I can't just yet, so I am using this lazy lounge time to prepare and plan :) It's working.

I am slowly (SLOWLY) Working on laundry. It has been not too bad, but up and down the steps and carrying big hampers is a bit much. I did three loads last night, and need to get started again today. The hampers are filling up faster than I can keep up!

I have a red plastic planter that I want to add our house number or something to, but I have yet to decide if I am going to attempt to paint on the planter (which probably won't last long with the plastic) or if I will just use the cricut and cut out letters from outdoor vinyl. The outdoor vinyl works wonderful on the mailbox (also plastic) and I did that more than two years ago and it's holding... so I am leaning that way. But I don't have any white vinyl laying around. I got the idea from this tiered planter, but I don't really want the tiered one I don't believe, so I will just make one big planter to put on the ledge by my front door, next to my red and white watering can with the ivy in it.

Source: positivelysplendid.com via Meagan on Pinterest

The best thing about summer is that we spend so much time outside and with the animals that I don't have so much to do inside the house. It's not trashed so easily :) The only time we come in is to bathe and sleep! Sometimes we even nap in the yard and hose off in the sink outside.

I also have about 12 cans saved and in the basement, ready to do this project.... to allow for some more space for planting on the fence. I bought the paint and just have to poke my drain and hanging holes and wait for a nice day to paint them. That should be fun :)

Source: debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com via Meagan on Pinterest

I am probably going to have plants coming out of my ears this spring, so all the extra planting space that I can get will be useful :) Plus these can be out of chicken and bunny reach if necessary.... which will be nice.

I am wondering if I can cram a cold frame (*from the windows we recycled and saved from our front porch) and a rain barrel, and maybe a living wreath into the spring as well? I recently came across and read "The Year Round Vegetable Gardener" and I absolutely devoured it. I read parts of it over and over and it inspired me greatly. I was so so sad when fall came and our lettuce and spinach and chard supply came to an end, and this year, that is SO not happening. :) I don't know if it will be cold frames or hoop houses or what yet, but I have ideas for both.

If I NEED to, I can even do this for my tomatoes this year....

Source: purplearea.blogspot.com via Meagan on Pinterest

Cover 5-gallon buckets with burlap and twine.... No More Redneck tomato planters :)

Well, this concludes my brain dump for the afternoon. Soon it will be naptime!

Kidspeak- joker wedding

Overheard from the playroom

Marek- "Batman and Robin are going to the junkyard."
Ardyn- "good, then the Joker can come to Barbie's wedding!"


Meagan ~ via blogpress on my iPhone :)

Frustration= Motherhood Maternity

I just placed a LARGE order at Motherhood Maternity. I haven't been pregnant in the summer for 5 years and when I was, I was wearing a different size and working full time... At a job that didn't allow jeans, capris, or shorts.

Motherhood recently had a good sale of BOGO 50% off and some redline items were BOGO free. I got a couple of tshirts, two pair or Capri pants, one pair of shorts, and two packages of underwear. I placed the order yesterday. The order hasn't shipped and the total was near $200. Today I received an email that stated there was now free shipping on orders over $75.

I called their customer service immediately and explained that my order hasn't shipped yet an was placed yesterday and was told they can not credit my order the $6 shipping. Wow. I have never ever run into a company that behaves that way.

If there were several competitors for maternity clothes I would cancel my entire order and shop elsewhere. Idiots.


Meagan ~ via blogpress on my iPhone :)

Kidspeak- long ago

Marek "when I was a little boy... Long ago..."


Meagan ~ via blogpress on my iPhone :)

Kidspeak- limes

Ardyn, 1:22 am: "Mom, what will Key Lime Cove smell like?!? Limes??"