Garden Update

Last week I put out the first of my tomatoes and peppers (and basil):

• 3 Roma tomatoes
• 1 Poblano pepper
• 2 Anaheim peppers
• 1 Sweet Basil
  

I currently have blooms all of them! As always, my family is racing to see who gets to eat the first tomato! I say I'm gonna win!!! : )

Yesterday, I planted some flowers around the garden:

• Marigolds to attract the pests away from the plants
• Assorted marigolds and daisies to attract polinators

Hahaha... we'll see if that works... planting flowers to both shoo away and attract bugs!

David planted his loofah sponge and Elizabeth planted her birdhouse gourd assortment. Hopefully that will be a fun project for them to watch grow. I let them pick out of the catalog & that's what they came up with!

This morning I planted beans - pinto and black - into the garden, and started some more seeds in peat pots. We need to do some work to the fence around the garden, so I really don't want to plant the other stuff out there yet. The chickens have started scratching. There's no point in planting just to have it scratched up.

The guineas, at least one of them, has started laying. The guinea book says that the hen will find a secluded spot to hide her nest of eggs. Well, our birds never have read that book. We find another egg almost every day, never in the same spot (not even the same general area!), and only once was it hidden. I left the hidden one for a few days to see if she'd start a hidden nest. Nope. We ate the first few, then I lost track of what day the new eggs appeared. I think I'm going to try collecting them together in a nest box for the guinea and see if she will eventually start coming there to lay... but I kinda doubt she'll do that.

Guinea Eggs

Other things going on outside and in the garden:

Jalapenos in the "nursery"

Radishes & Carrots

Onions... probably about time to eat some green ones

I hope that's Key Lime Lettuce

Arugula looking much better after the goat attack

Rainbow Swiss Chard

I didn't plant this, but isn't it pretty?

Hollyhocks & Larkspur coming up, inspired by Georgia O'Keefe

Standing Cypress Seedlings

Blackie, the one who ate so many things in the garden

Raspberry Autumn Sage is blooming.

Review: How Should a Christian Live? from The Word of Promise: Next Generation

When I first agreed to review this book, I thought it might be something I could use, but the age range is pretty far off from my kids, so I'll just do the review and then offer it to you! See giveaway details below...

From the Word of Promise: Next Generation comes this book, How Should a Christian Live? devotional & journal. Included with the book is a CD featuring MP3 readings of the scripture that goes along with the lesson.

I think this book is geared for the pre-teen/tween/early teen set as the lessons are very short and pretty simple to understand. There are 12 sessions and within each session the lesson is broken down into 5 even smaller pieces: Get It, Grab It, Hold It, Live It, and Give It. There are also word games & puzzles intermingled.

I think this would be a good study for a young person who is just starting out in their walk with Christ or just starting out in their own personal time with Him. The short length of the sections and chapters make it seem like studying further is actually doable.

The MP3 recordings are very well done. It is a dramatic reading of the scripture, complete with sound effects and background music. The voices are also young adults who may be familiar to the youth.

How Should a Christian Live? is available at Amazon.com and Christian Book Distributors.

If you would like this copy of How Should a Christian Live? for your young person, please leave a comment. I will mail this book anywhere in the USA.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Tiny Talk Tuesday

When David was almost 1-year old, I would lay down on the couch with him every afternoon and read to him. I figured it might as well be something that would entertain me as well, so I started reading him the Eddie books by Carolyn Haywood. My sister helped me collect a good stash of Haywood's books from library sales and I enjoyed reading them to him. When a recent read-aloud that Sonlight suggested didn't suit David's interest, I pulled out Eddie and the Fire Engine, which was written in 1949. He didn't remember the books from his babyhood, and he has enjoyed hearing the story.

(yes, this is typical)

All that to preface this week's Tiny Talk! Last night while reading, David heard a new usage for a word.
David: What does 'swell' mean?
Mom, thinking of a word he would understand: It means 'cool'.
David: Well, then - Mom, I think you're pretty swell.

Definition understood. Compliment accepted!
Now I wonder how such a sweet little boy ends up looking so grumpy in photos?

Elizabeth: Look, Movher, I made a E!!!

And she did! All by herself she made that E!!! I am so proud! She is 3-years old! For 2 days, she has called me "Movher"... for the last day every time she said it I've asked her to call me Mama or Mommy. For some reason, I don't really care for being called Mother.

Sneak preview to the first birthday photos that I'll try to get up by tomorrow, which is when Rebekah turns 1-year old!!! My, how it flies...

Easter Celebrations! and Dad's Birthday!

Our Easter celebrations began at Thursday School a few days before Easter.

On Friday, we dyed Easter eggs. This was Elizabeth's first year to participate.

After Rebekah's First Birthday Party, we had another Easter Egg Hunt at our house with Dad's family & some friends.

Grandpa thought it was funny
that the chickens were hunting eggs too!

We celebrated Easter along with Dad's birthday on Sunday at Grandpa's house.

Cute, huh?

After this final egg hunt, we all took a good nap, then we further celebrated Dad's birthday with a picnic at the pond & some fishing. The bluebonnets were blooming... the kids were happy... and I forgot to take my camera with us again.

I would like to say thank you to Grana and Uncle Bubba for sharing these photos with me!

One Year Already

Tonight when I was awakened in the night by your cry, I did not roll over and groan. I did not think, "cry it out." Instead, I thought, "This is not going to last much longer." I was motivated to go to you.

I held you in my arms and rocked as you nursed back to sleep. You were totally relaxed. Totally trusting me. But no longer totally dependent on me.

You move around the house with ease, albeit on all fours. You joyfully follow your brother and sister and absolutely love it when they follow you. You light up with fascination when you realize that something happened because you pushed a button.

You love to be outside, to crawl through the grass, to watch the animals, to watch your family. You love the wind blowing in your face and hair. You love to eat scrambled eggs, pancakes, cereal, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, crackers, bread, puffs, yogurt, bananas, blueberries. You love to feed yourself. You love to eat the crumbs from under the kids' table... especially dessert crumbs! You have 4 teeth - two are center bottom, but the top two are off center.

You say Mama and Dada, Dadid, and just yesterday I realized something was trying to sound like Elizabeth. I wish I could remember what it was, but I'm sure I'll be hearing it again soon. You say byebye with an adorable little wave.

You crawl across me and anyone else on the floor like we're a speed bump that doesn't really slow you down. You are so comfortable in your home. You are happy. You are loved.

Saturday we will celebrate you with a birthday party. Next Wednesday you will be one year old. It was gone in the blink of an eye. The only regret I have for you is that you will not have the privilege of knowing first hand how much Grandma and Papa loved you.

I know the coming years will fly by. Who will you become? I can't wait to get to know you, to teach you, to love on you even more. You are more precious to me than you'll ever know. And no matter what happens, I hope you'll always remember our song:

Mama loves Rebekah, Mama loves Rebekah, Mama loves Rebekah, I love you!
I love you, girl! Love you, girl! I love you, girl! Love you, girl!
Mama loves Rebekah, Mama loves Rebekah, Mama loves Rebekah, I love you!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

David unloading the dishwasher:
Knives are like little swords.
Spoons are like little catapults.
And forks are like little spears.

I walked in from the store holding the little pink hat. Elizabeth gasped, wide-eyed, and said excitedly, "Mom! Do you have a pink hat???? Is it for me?!?!?!?"
Pink hat from Dollar Tree: $1
Elizabeth's reaction: priceless

Elizabeth walked up to me the other day and said, "Mommy, I want to go to Lowe's."

I told the kids I decided to make carrot cake for Rebekah's first birthday party and I'll make chocolate chip cake for Dad's. They both replied, "I want Dad's cake." I think they're afraid carrot cake might be healthy!