Out with the Old.

Week 1. As is evident by the past year's worth of blog I didn't keep up very well. I am resolving this year a number of things.

1. continue classes at the university. (I am determined to finish my degree this time around I have one more year to go therefore, this will remain number one until I am finished.) I have a straight A average at this time and joined the Golden Key

International Honor Society this past year.

2. 52 weeks of Organization. I found a blog toward the end of the year which helps encourage those of us domestically challenged to take it slow and steady. Picking one area a week makes it seem like a doable task. After spending the last month decluttering while preparing for the holidays I really like the simpler lifestyle along with being able to see the top of my tables and counters. I will keep this up and hopefully report each week. With any luck I will have my car in the garage by the end of the year. I started a little early since I was off work the last couple of days. I started in Flori's room but have not finished because we ran out of boxes and I believe we could use an extend-a-shelf which I have ordered. I moved to a smaller area to help me feel like I accomplished something. I was able to purge and even have empty spaces now.

3. This brings me to my last resolution to blog about my accomplishments and set backs throughout the year in an effort to learn and grow from them. My garden was a complete failure last year due to the heat and rats. I tried, to no avail, to produce a hardy crop of anything. With any luck I will be able to report a better outcome this year.

Raising Meat Rabbits

Raising Meat Rabbits

Trying to decided if I want to make meat rabbits a part of my sustainable lifestyle. I will be spending time reading and possibly building a properly secure hutch. Poultry is out due to my city ordinances even though I would like to try chickens. My sister has been selling me eggs and they are so much better than store bought, I can never go back.

Weather is finally turning, I hope.

The days are getting longer 2 weeks ago snow now days in the 70's and 80's. My fingers have been itching to get into the dirt. 3 trays of veggies have been started indoors and cool weather plants stayed toasty in the make shift green house. Inside ar lettuce, arugula, carrots, peas, radishes, and brocolli.

Coffee-mate party a big hit. We enjoyed coffee made fresh one cup at a time along with Vanilla Carmel and Hazelnut Coffee-mate. It was a treat for the entire office and hopefully I have converted a few new coffee drinkers to the time and money saving tricks for a delicious cup of coffee.

Busy year past and yet to come

The garden did very well until the middle of the summer when it just got too hot for far to long. The tomatoes lost their blossoms and the peppers never grew much less flower. The corn, green beans and squash did OK but not great. I am willing to try again this year and plans are already in the works for next years planting. Some seeds have been purchased and others saved from last years successes.
School continues to go well for myself and both kids. We are enjoying learning new things and I hope to continue to implement new ideas for saving and sharing.

One month later the garden is comming along nicely:
Before I left on vacation I planted some "surprise" melons. I am not sure what they are since they were actually growing in with the thyme I bought at HD. A couple more tomato plants and the rest were seeds. I asked DH to water them if we did not have rain at least every 3rd day. Unfortunately, he did not do it. The lima beans, cilantro, 2 red peppers, and carrots are all that came up. I replanted with some spinach, lettuce, radishes, hot peppers and green onions in hopes of a late round. This is one of the old beds which contains tomatoes from my dad, watermelon, cantaloupe, and celery. I planted the last of the eggplant seeds since they have not come up in any of the other beds yet and yellow wax beans I got on clearance.

The lettuce is just about done. I will let at least one of each kind go to seed in hopes of starting them myself next year. The bush beans are both lima and green beans and are doing well. The pole beans however have been attacked by the Japanese Bettles. I also have one tomato and 6 zucchini planted among the lettuce.

The corn in the self-watering bin started out great but has slowed down. Probably to wet, I am considering removeing the plastic to allow for more evaporation. In the tire is 3 more tomatoes from Dad. I didn't really need that many but I couldn't deliberately let them die. The brown planter contains my mint (Whoo Hoo! Mojitos all around).

The corn in the ground started much slower. When we left June 16, 2010 the biggest were about knee how. They are now waist high on June 25, 2010. I read about a 3 sisters garden like the Indians planted. Before we left I added 2-3 pole beans around each corn stalk and 2 zucchini in the spaces. I also have 2 new blueberry bushes here which I hope will force me to move this garden next year.

There are 2 tomatoes in the green self-watering container and one in the barrel. They are all doing well so far.

The herb garden along the back of the house is growing well. I have cilantro, spinach, garlic chives, basil, thyme, oregano, sage, green onions, lettuce, and more cilantro.

Wow I can't believe it has been almost a year since I have had a chance to blog. So many things have happened. I decided when I turned 45 to make this the year of me. I spent the last 20 being wife and mother and not doing anything for myself. I decided the first step would be to return to college to finish my degree which I abandoned when I became pregnant. I took 3 classes per semester. It was tough but I did very well and look forward to the next school year.
I believe I also defeated the rats which took up residence in my back yard last year and ate everything I tried to grow. So far I this summer I have lettuce, spinach, green beans, lima beans, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, green and yellow zucchini, broccoli, egg plant, red peppers, hot peppers, corn, tomatoes, onions, radishes, and carrots. I also added 2 peach trees, 2 blueberry bushes, black raspberries, and a strawberry fountain to the yard along with they usual mix of herbs.
I really have not done much shopping lately except a few things here and there which were free or close to it. My coupon book has suffered from lack of attention while I attended classes and I just have not had the energy to get it back in order. I try to keep up with the websites which help me find the deals but lately we have been living off the land and the over stock I have.

Herb garden with green onions, sage, oregano, basil, cilantro, garlic chives, spinach, and lettuce. I just added thyme over the weekend. Something was eating my lettuce. I found one cabbage worn which I smushed then used the pop-up hamper to protect it for a little while. It has come back and no longer needs my protection as of yesterday.Tomatoes in the self watering container I made:



Another self watering container with corn, tomatoes in the tire and my mint in the brown planter.
Last years boxes with dirt and compost. Lettuce, beans both pole and bush, and zucchini.
The box has celery, tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, and red peppers
The homemade strawberry fountain.