Garden Update

I have been working endlessly on homework

and needed a break and so

I am blogging!

How is that for procrastination???

Today was the first day since my surgery

that I crossed the protective fence made

to keep Padme out and worked in my garden.

The first thing I did was pick strawberries.

We had to start completely over this year

because Padme got into our strawberry

patch last year and demolished the whole bed.

Each plant is loaded with fruit.

So far we have been picking a large bowl

full of strawberries every other day.

It is the first thing my granddaughter

Tatianna asks about when she comes over.

"Do you have any strawberries for me today?"

I grow sunflowers every 3 years and harvest their seeds.

They add such grandeur to the garden.

This variety will grow over 6 feet tall.

Our tomatoes plants are covered

in blossoms as well as young tomatoes.

Beets!

We enjoy the beet greens as well as the beets.

They taste very much like spinach,

but a bit saltier.

Carrots and beets are well on their way.

Our spinach is about done for the season.
We have already picked from it several times.

I actually planted 3 kinds of potatoes this year:

Red Potatoes

White Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

I am just so fascinated at our artichock plants

that I had to share more pictures with you.



There is just something wonderful
about being to grow your own food.





Did I mention that between our 2 plants
we now have 32 artichokes.



I used to be worried about how we
were going to share 1 aritchoke and now
I am wondering what to do with 32.



Thank goodness I only planted 2 plants.

We harvested our first artichoke last week

and I gave it to a dear friend and fellow

gardener who said it was absolutely

DELICIOUS.

I have also planted:

Herbs

Squash

Garlic

Onions

and peppers

I noticed that some of my onions started

to flower, also referred to bolting.

Does anyone know what causes it?

They are not large enough to pick,

yet as I understand once

they have bolted they will no

longer continue to grow.

44 And Counting

KENDRICK

is by far my most motivated scout!

It is his goal to earn more Merit Badges

than his three older brothers and

receive his Eagle at a younger age.

His AIM is:

54+ Merit Badges

Eagle before 14

Since he is still only 12

he is well on his way!

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

Girls Day at the Zoo

Over the weekend, my eldest daughter invited her younger sisters to join her and her children at the zoo. I was also invited but ended up literally chained to my desk and computer trying to complete my College Algebra assignment. :(

I wish there were more pictures but I am grateful that

Shantell was able to snap a few before my batteries died.

Mary Mary Quite Contrary...

How does your garden grow?

Did I ever mention that my first

name is really Mary?

Honest it is, but please

don't ever call me by

my first name.

We counted them this morning,

there are 19 Artichokes!!!

We are looking forward to a bountiful
harvest of grapes.

If we can keep Padme from reaching up

into the trees and eating our peaches

and apricots I should be able

to do some canning this year.

All of the pictures were taken by Kendrick.

He promised to take pictures of the rest

of the gardens later this week.

Sweet Sixteen

Happy Birthday Shantell!

We Love You!

Our Scouter

Over the weekend, Kendrick went on a Merit Badge Marathon.

He spent all day Friday and Saturday working with counselors

and his cousin on the following badges:

Hiking

Tracking

Path Finding and

Carpentry

When he finally got home he was so exhausted that he

fell asleep on my bed while I was on the computer

doing my homework.

As he lay there totally out he started talking in his sleep.

You would not believe what he said....

"Would you please help me

with a Merit Badge?"

Kendrick is a true scouter, he eats, drinks

and sleeps and even dreams Scouting.

By the way the Path Finding, Tracking, and Carpentry

Merit Badges were brought back in celebration of

The Boy Scouts of America's

100th Birthday.

They will offer them only until December of this year.

What an amazing opportunity for these young men.

Notice the Lanyard around his neck.

He is never without one.

Not Out of the Woods Yet!

My doctor informed me yesterday that I am not healing as I should be and that I have formed a pocket of fluid (infection) around the surgery site. NOT GOOD! I have been trying to be good and take it easy, but life just keeps happening. Whats a mother to do? The doctor has put me on some big gun antibiotics and given me three weeks to heal, and if not, well back to the operating room again.

National Honor Society

Shantell is the 5th Petty to be

inducted into the National Honor Society

at Sabino High School.

Keep up the excellent work Shantell.

We love you!

HE IS HERE!

Our grandson is here! He made his appearance in the wee hours of this morning after a very long labor. He is so precious and is already bringing great joy to everyone. What a wonderful gift grandchildren are.

WOW!

This is my artichoke plant.

It is absolutely overwhelming and

it takes up a major portion of this garden.

As I went to admire it today,

I noticed something in the middle.

It is our very first artichoke.

I am amazed at it's beauty...




and am wondering how we are all going to share
just one artichoke.

Tomorrow is the Big Day

Grand baby number 5 will be

arriving tomorrow!

We couldn't be more excited!