Late June Garden Pictures

Green Beans to pick

One day's harvest of basil and green beans

My squash is blossoming

Our front yard garden and walkway

The basil I transplanted to the front garden is hanging in there.

The squash I transplanted from thinning my vegetable garden is blossoming.

The lettuce and herbs that have sprouted in the planter that got knocked over.

The vines and flowers growing on the side porch.

Bees (like the one in the center blossom) love our flowers.

The DIY Life for Me!

Gardening has led to a renewed interest in all my crafty hobbies.  I've been cooking things with my produce and am looking for more recipes to use the bounty of green beans and squash that has already begun.  I made green bean fries in the oven.  Other than being a little salty because of the extra garlic salt I added, they were really good.  And yesterday I made a potato squash gratin that I wouldn't mind eating every day.  I made watermelon granita with the half a melon Aunt Donna and Uncle Johnny sent home with us from vacation.  And I made peach sorbet (in a couple of Ziploc bags) with the peaches that were more soft than I care for.  I like my peaches firm enough to pull cleanly away from the pit.  Anything softer used to sit in the fridge until it was shriveled and moldy, but now it can become peach sorbet.

I've bought a storage tub to use for my own compost heap.  It's first use will be as a trash can until we can buy the style we like from Walmart.  Someone stole out old garbage can while we were on vacation.  And I've begun to suspect Walmart since the garbage cans were in stock on Monday but not on Wednesday.  I think they've been going around stealing cans to increase demand for garbage cans.  Ingenious!  :)  The $4 storage bin has a lid to keep critters out, so it will give us an OK place to put the trash.  And it doesn't matter if it gets stinky because I'm just going to fill it with newspaper, grass clippings, and vegetable rubbish for my compost heap.

I've started my ABC quilt made from the fabric from Matt's holey plaid boxers.  I think I'm going to try altering a cheap Walmart t-shirt into a shirt with more shape and style.  I've found a pattern for an easy blanket to crochet.  My friend Beth knits and is teaching our friend Susie.  We could start a knitting club.  They are both thrifty, crafty people, so we have a lot in common.  And their garden plots border mine.  Susie asked me the other day if I'd like to go to a one-day class on canning.  Sure!

I've been cleaning and organizing the house.  I've still got a long way to go, but I'm making progress.  I've also been reading a lot of blogs about thriftiness, crafting and green living.  I'm not passionate about saving the planet (I care, but I'm not passionate), but green sites have great ideas for reusing things you already own, which is thrifty.  I'm working up to a big de-cluttering.  I like the idea of streamlining my life by owning less stuff, but I'm a hoarder.  We'll see how it goes.

The other day I told Matt that I keep getting distracted from organizing because of all of the blogs about organization that I've found.  :)  He said that would be in his top 10 quotes that describe me.  Oh how well he knows me!  

An Emotionally Tough Weekend Survived

Most of the time I'm OK, but it's really sad to be reminded that Neil was going to be here and isn't.  While on vacation, I remembered that I had planned to take Neil swimming for the first time while in Tennessee and that I was going to take advantage of the many outlet malls to buy clothes for him.  Then my family went to the Wilmoth family reunion without me.  I had planned to take Neil to meet his extended family, and I couldn't stand to go without him this year.  The reunion began on the day Neil would have been two months old.  I had realized while reading child development books several months ago that he would be two months old by the time we started travelling and that he might have gotten to the "social smile" stage by then.  I was hoping he'd smile at everyone and make a good impression.  Then Sunday was Father's Day.  I had been looking forward to Father's Day more than Mother's Day.  I started thinking about presents for Matt in March.  And when we got home on Sunday, there was a message that Kaitlyn had been born.  I was very happy that she had arrived safely, but it was sad to be reminded that Neil was supposed to have cousins two months older and two months younger than him.  Now the cousins are here, and he isn't.

None of our other travel plans are related to Neil, so I don't expect anything to be quite as tough as this weekend was.  Our July 4th trip to Missouri will be a little tough--going back to where Neil is buried and spending time with Aiden and Kaitlyn--but having one tough trip under my belt will give me confidence that I'll survive again.  The next emotional hurdles I foresee are not having to worry about coordinating Matt's and my fall schedules around a baby, October when he would have been six months old and would have worn the cute lion outfit I got on clearance after last Halloween (and my annual pelvic exam at the OBs office is then), probably Christmas and New Year's because that's when he started moving and I started getting to know him last year, and definitely next April.

I'm up way too late right now after a pretty productive day, including blogging a much happier post about my vacation.  Plenty of rest and consistent medication are necessary for my emotional and physical well-being.  So off to bed.

A Busy Week for Me and My Garden

Last week we were on vacation in Sevierville, Tennessee.  We have no pictures of our trip to Dollywood because the camera would have been a pain to keep up with, but we do have photos of a few other activities.

On Tuesday, we went to an educational activity center called Wonder Works.  Some of the most fun activities--dancing for two different camera systems that alter the images--weren't photographed, but the bubble lab gave us some great photos.  And we like the picture of me in the space suit.  More photos are on my Picasa site.

On Friday night Matt and I went to dinner with Ashley.  Sevierville is the hometown of Dolly Parton; a statue of her is in front of the courthouse.  Ashley is a big fan of Dolly Parton, so we went to the courthouse to have our pictures taken with Dolly.  Then we ate at an Asian buffet with sushi and hibachi.  Then we went to the world's largest "as seen on TV" store.  I think they figure "largest" by store size and not number of "as seen on TV" items.  We didn't buy any TV items (I counted at least 11 that I already own), but we got an octopus and a hedgehog for our unusual stuffed animal collection.  After we got back to the condo, Ashley, Grandma and I put on face masks.  It was hard to keep from smiling and making the mask slide down our faces.

On Saturday afternoon, we went to Knoxville to shop at used bookstores.  The best was McKay, which is a used book, movie and music superstore.  We thought we were in the wrong parking lot when we arrived because it was so busy.  We've never seen a bookstore so big or popular.  We also went to a used music and movie store that had fun refrigerator magnets and toys.  Matt got a set of four literary finger puppets, including Virginia Woolf and Charles Dickens.  He uses such things to decorate his office at school and as show and tell for his classes.

We stopped at Carpe Librum (love the name!) and didn't buy anything, but they had a big piece of paper in the bathroom on which people had written favorite restaurants.  We asked the people working at the store about the restaurants and chose King Tut's.  They had told us the food is delicious and it's an experience.  They weren't joking.  We arrived at the tiny Egyptian restaurant after parking in an empty lot and discovered it was almost full because of an engagement party being held there.  We were seated by Moe, the owner.  He took our drink orders and filled two vases with Matt's Dr Pepper and my water.  He handed us menus, saying "I highly recommend the Greek salad and an Egyptian sampler to share."  We browsed the menu anyway and saw that by the Greek salad it says something like "Moe highly recommends it." :)  So we followed his recommendations and had a super meal.  I think we'd eat there every day if we could.  The Greek salad was covered with feta cheese and herbs.  The hummus and grape leaves and falafel and all the things I didn't recognize were yummy.  Moe took a music request from the groom-to-be and blared reggae-style Christmas music, which everyone sang along to even if they, like Moe, only knew the fa-la-las of Deck the Halls.  The groom was also allowed to wear the pharaoh headdress while slow dancing to the Christmas music with his fiancee.  Matt wore the headdress later, and I took his picture.  The walls are covered with bumper stickers, colorful lights and a stoplight.  Moe offered to do a magic trick if all three of the guys next to us ordered dessert, but one guy was too full.  I almost bought him dessert just so I could see the magic trick.  We got baklava for dessert, and left happy.

On Saturday, we checked out of the condo and stopped in Knoxville again on the way home.  We ate Indian food and went to two Big Lots (a.k.a. The Happiest Place on Earth).  After we had gotten home and unpacked a little, Matt took me to the garden.  It had grown wildly.  I no longer have rows to walk down because of how big the plants were.  My green peas were twice as tall and blossoming.  My green bean plants were growing at least one tiny bean (below and slightly to the right of the flower).  The green onions are almost big enough to use.  I picked enough basil to make pesto sauce for supper.  I've got to go to the garden again tomorrow to pick more for my pasta salad.  We're having friends over tomorrow for a supper of pasta salad with chicken, tomato, basil and feta and some watermelon granita for dessert.

The Herbs of My Labors

While Grandma was staying with us on Saturday night, we made a trip out to the garden to show her.  It had made major progress since last Sunday.  Most notably, the green beans are flowering, the green peas have doubled in height, and the basil was big enough for me to pick some.  I've got some fresh mozzarella.  All I need is tomatoes.  By the time I get a chance to go to the garden again I may have some green beans, green onions, parsley and more basil--all less than 2 months after planting!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Very well, thank you.  And I have pictures!

My garden plot on June 6

Purple hull peas in front of green beans












Squash and zucchini

Tomatoes

Watermelon above, green peas at right.  I planted these less than two weeks ago.












I still haven't thinned the garden yet.  The squash and zucchini are growing like crazy and need some room on their little hills.  I may wait a little longer on the green beans and peas.  They're just so lovely, and they don't seem too crowded yet.  By the time I get back from vacation, they and the tomatoes will probably need to be thinned.  The area I hoped to clear to transplant what I thin out is just too overgrown for me to clear.  Maybe I'll bring them home and put them in front of the house if the seeds I've planted in the front garden haven't sprouted yet.  The plants I'm growing indoors are coming with me on vacation.  I don't want them to die, and I don't feel right about asking someone to come into my house every morning to water my plants.  I'll probably ask someone to stop by to water the front garden a few times.

I'm already excited about next year's garden.  I've been thinking about starting seeds next March or April to transplant into the garden.  I'll get produce faster if the garden starts from plants rather than seeds.  And today I saw something online about starting plants in toilet paper tubes that have been cut in half instead of buying special cups to start the seeds.  The tubes can be planted with the seedlings.  The cardboard is biodegradable and the tube supposedly hinders pests.  I've already got soil and some left-over seeds to use next year, and I'm sure I can save up plenty of toilet paper tubes, so I'll just have to buy a few more seeds.  Next year's garden will be super cheap.  I may try out toilet paper tubes with herbs after I get back from vacation.  The seeds I've planted in the front yard garden haven't sprouted yet.  If they haven't come up by the time we get back, they probably aren't going to sprout.  I'm not sure most of the herbs I transplanted to the front garden are going to survive because their root systems weren't developed well enough.  The tube would take care of that problem, too.

I've been finding a lot of nifty information and free stuff online that I may share a bit of on my blog.  One nifty thing I saw at the church potluck yesterday was a portable picnic table that folds into the size of a guitar case. Very cool!  I may put that on my Amazon wish list.

Free Lemon, Lime, Orange Samples

I found a free sample online for the lime powder I bought today at the salvage grocery store: http://truelemon.com/products/free-samples.html.  I didn't know that they also make orange powder, but now I'll get to try it.  I love free stuff.  I've been signing up for samples so that I get fun mail and not just bills and junk mail.  It's like getting presents.

And now that I'm past my 6-week check up I shouldn't get any more formula samples that I signed up for in April.  I should ask Kristin if she wants some of the formula for Aiden or if the Gibbs want it for Julie and Maddie.  But I'm keeping the Juicy Juice sippy cup.

Newness and Renewal: A Saturday Adventure

I woke up early today and decided to try new things and go on an adventure.  So after watering my plants and starting a load of laundry, I went to the farmer's market.  There were only three sellers when I was there, but I may have been a little early.  I bought some lettuce, strawberries, snow peas, green onions, and broccoli.  I've tasted all but the green onions now and only regret the broccoli, which is a little bitter and spicy.

My next destination was a salvage grocery store called Dents & Dings.  On the way I stopped at Walmart to return the over-the-counter medications I had bought for Neil even though the pediatrician's nurse said I could/should wait to see what we needed.  I think the meds are the last of the returns.  I was only a little sad and only started crying about an hour later when I was leaving Kroger.  I was thinking about how I bought the drugs ahead of time even though Walmart is close by because I didn't like the thought of him being in pain or discomfort any longer than necessary.  I had apologized to him several times about planning to circumcise him because it would hurt.  I'm pretty sure he never experienced pain, which brings a tiny bit of comfort.  Even though it's a little selfish, I'd much rather be comforting him than comforting myself right now.  I find I cry a little every day recently.  A few weeks ago, I used to save up for a few days for a big painful cry.  I think I'm making progress.

There were no tears at Dents & Dings.  I found out about the store from a coupon in the weekly paper mailed to people who don't subscribe to the local newspaper.  I found some nifty things there.  They had two cans of the discontinued soup that Matt likes.  I also found packets of lime powder (real lime juice that's dehydrated).  I had lemon packets of the same brand.  I've got some of the lime in my water right now and am enjoying it thoroughly. And I got four packages of raspberry almond M&Ms.  I got some on clearance at Target at few weeks ago and am hooked.  Matt likes them, too.  These packages were only $0.95!  Hurray!    The store was good enough that I'll probably go back every few months to see what new stuff they get in.

I then went to Kroger to buy some of the things they've got on sale.  I also got a quarter of a watermelon and two peaches.  I love summer produce.  On the way home I stopped at Jeff's Food Mart, which we pass regularly but have never entered.  There's not much there, but they have deli meats and make sandwiches and a few other breakfast and lunch foods.  I bought a little turkey meat, mostly because I was the only person in the tiny store and the owner was watching me expectantly.  I just had a sandwich, and the turkey is good.  It reminds me of the meat we used to get at "The Store" when we lived in Ellsinore.

When I got home, I discovered that in less than three hours I had soaked through my panties and girdle despite the tampon.  Obviously, regular absorbency wasn't enough.  So I treated the stains and threw my clothes in the washing machine and headed out again to Walmart to buy more absorbent ones.  I got a package with regular, super and super plus just in case.  It's good to know that my reproductive system is recovering from pregnancy.  I kind of wondered a few days ago if I was ovulating when I felt like one ovary was grinding and creaking.  I'm old and it's out of practice. :)

While I was out, I decided to get a hair cut.  The style is the same, but it's at least two inches shorter.  I think it looks good.  The shape is better than it has been in a long time.  The stylist used the thinning shears a little, too, to lighten it even more.  It feels good, shorn in a good way.   It was a little freaky when I ran my fingers through my hair and they were covered with long hair.  But after I shower and rewash it, I shouldn't keep shedding.  I may actually try styling it to see if less weight makes my hair less flat.

At the register, there was a coupon for 20% off at Maurice's clothing store, so I stopped by.  I didn't find anything, but while I was at the shopping center I thought I'd walk down to Cato.  I never made it.  I got sucked into a sale at JC Penney's.  Everything was 15% off, even sale prices and clearance.  So I used my birthday money to get shorts that fit well right now (I have some that are a little too tight) and a couple of shirts.  One of the shirts is grey and silver and makes me feel like a rock star, probably not a very glamorous rock star because it's just a t-shirt, but a rock star none the less.

As I sit here with a new haircut and new clothes, digesting the turkey sandwich and fresh produce I bought this morning and blogging about today's adventures, I feel pretty optimistic.  After a shower, I should feel even better and then I may clean a little before napping.  After a nap, I may feel exceptionally awesome while making quiche for supper and dessert for the church potluck tomorrow.  By bedtime, I may feel so terrifically satisfied with my day that I sleep soundly.  And who knows what tomorrow may bring.

Six Week Checkup: Check!

Today was my six-week postpartum check up.  My blood pressure was still high, but no body blamed me for feeling stressed.  It was actually more than a check-in than a check-up.  I think they didn't want me to have to stay there any longer than necessary, which is nice of them.  The doctor made sure we understood what happened with the umbilical cord.  We remembered and were able to tell him: check.  He made sure that my depression is being adequately treated and that I haven't had an urge to hurt myself or others.  Plenty of drugs and no self-mutilation: check.  I have since realized that he didn't actually check to see if my uterus had returned to normal size or that my tears had healed properly.  I think I'm fine, but he didn't ask.

He told me to keep taking vitamins, which I did before I was pregnant.  I still have prenatal vitamins, so I'll continue to take those.  He also told us that he recommends that we not try to get pregnant for at least a year.  He said he knew we wouldn't wait that long, so he urged us not to try for at least six months.  After realizing how much better my body feels and works when I'm pregnant, I had planned to get pregnant sooner.  But he told us that pregnancy takes a lot out of you and that if you don't allow yourself to get built back up, there are higher risks of pre-term labor and growth restriction.  I feel like I've been compared to depleted soil that needs to lie fallow for a season or two.  We'll wait longer than I've been planning to because it's better for the next baby.  But we can't afford to wait too long.  I'm 30.  And there's a point where the age of the mother causes more risks than not allowing the body to replenish.  I'm not yet at that age, but I feel like my egg supply is getting old.

Knowing that I've got six months or so before getting pregnant is affecting my outlook.  I've got time ahead to live a life not focused on babies.  I've got time to get healthy, lose weight, save money, and develop good habits. My friends Beth and Susie are putting great effort into frugal and healthy living, so I've got a support group.  I'll try to get Matt to help me plan for long-term success in accomplishing my goals and maintaining my progress.  I've been kind of a bum for the last month, but I've started cooking more and I'm ready to get the house clean before Grandma comes to stay with us on the way to vacation.

I had been dreading seeing the doctor again (even though he's really nice and hugged me again today), so I feel really relieved to have it behind me.  The relief alone is enough to make me look forward to the future.