What we've been up to

There is a big difference between two kids and three. Even though #1 was only gone for just over two weeks this summer, I didn't realize how easy it was just having the two girls around until he came back home. He was very happy to be home and I am glad to have him back. He had so much fun, he brought home a picture album of everything he did in Indiana.

When my parents were here, we got to go pick some peaches. The kids had a blast and we picked a bunch. #1 loved to bite them, she likes to bite everything though. She ate them better than the other kids though.

Mom and Dad brought some fresh Indiana Sweet Corn with them and #2 learned how to shuck corn. She was so excited when she finally got to the corn.

We got to see some rare mammatus clouds. These are pretty cool cloud formations, I enjoy them anyway, you don't tend to see them very often, although I have seen them several times this year.

We found a walking stick. A very cool bug, even if the picture is a bit blurry.

I made #2 some bows to match her dress that Nana made her. I had planned on taking her picture wearing them. She did such a great job keeping them in all through church. However they didn't make it back home, within minutes of getting in the van she ripped them out of her hair and pulled the ribbon off the barrette of one of them. She didn't untie it (it was sewed together), but I think I need to find something other than hot glue to hold them together.

Finally, I got to call the poison control center yet again. I'm sure they know me by name (jk), but I feel that way sometimes. #2 can open any bottle of medicine that she wants, and if she finds one she will. There is absolutely no place in my home that is out of their reach. They can climb anything they want and reach everywhere. After the last time I had to call I went and bought a tool box with a pad lock to keep all the medicines in. It has worked well. Apparently Dad had a bottle in his backpack that the kids found (and opened). I guess I should be thankful that they have never gotten into anything that has made them sick or hurt them, and I am. But, even though they are growing too quickly some days, other days I can't wait until they are a little older and can understand some things better. Like why it's important to stay out of the medicine.

a few words about the garden

Our garden is three 8 foot by 4 foot boxes in the back yard. Sort of non-traditional, because I didn't want a bunch of rows. I want it to be pretty too. I love walking through the vegetable gardens at Deanna Rose because I think they are beautiful. I don't have as much space, so we do what we can. They are not as pretty as I'd like, but I think that takes practice too. Anyway, this year I let #1 and #2 plant one of the boxes all by their selves. We had lettuce and spinach, which are done now. Some watermelons, there are at least two growing, we hope they are good. A tomato plant, a pepper plant, which is being dwarfed by the zinnias, and a few volunteer bean plants that reseeded form last year. One variety is a really fun long been. The beans get about 18 inches long. I've heard them called noodle beans, #2 loves to say that. They have a really sweet flavor and are just fun. They didn't do so hot last year, but the one plant that came up this year is doing excellent. There is also some basil that reseeded, and some miniature pumpkins.

The rest of the garden has tomatoes, peppers, edamame (soybeans--I almost forgot to plant these), green beans, cukes, cilantro, dill, parsley, chives, and some flowers. I also planted a cinderella pumpkin, the vine looks beautiful, but I havent' seen any pumpkins yet. We also have several watermelons growing from last years compost. I let them get overripe before they got picked. So far this year I've picked one underripe one. Eventually we'll figure it out. I think I know what to look for now.

It has been an excellent year for beans. I think they are about done though. I planted the Jade variety, they were really tasty.

I have yet to have a ripe tomato from my garden this year. There are Lots of green ones though, hopefully we won't have to wait too much longer.

Cinderela Pumpkin: i've heard they make tasty pies

Visitors

We have had a large variety of visitors to our yard and garden this year. A few of them i have managed to get a picture of. The Mexican Torch Sunflowers have attracted several butterflies this year. Here is one, I know it's some kind of Swallowtail, but I'm not sure which.



These sunflowers are only about 2 feet tall, some of them shorter. The Goldfinches love them though.

This is a Black Swallowtail caterpillar. They have eaten all the blooms on my parsley, which doesn't bother me because I don't eat the parsley blooms. They will also eat dill and cilantro. I have a few small dill plants that I am hoping they stay away from because I would like to try some pickles again this year. I have a friend that cant' keep wild dill out of her yard, I can't even get it to grow when I plant it. And when it does, it gets eaten. I know I could use something to keep them off, but secretly, I'd like to see one make a chrysalis.

I think this one is a katydid.

Dragonfly

I have also seen a small snake, that quickly found a hole to dive into. I'm glad it was little and fast. More butterflies, a turkey vulture (in the field behind us), and a hummingbird. I hoping the hummingbird will come back, he was too quick.