Nostalgia

So putting up pictures of my gardens, specifically the Untamed Back Garden, made me think about what it looked like when we first did it.  As mentioned, we created the pond, waterfall and garden for our wedding, which was on 9-10-11.  The combination of a short engagement period (6 months), a date that was already decided (Roger's proposal included a T-shirt that said "GAME OVER 9-10-11") and the fact that we were not fitting in the "traditional wedding" category with becoming a blended family and already having one of our own left us to realize that the best way to have the wedding that we really wanted... was to do it ourselves in our very own backyard.  There are tons of DIY wedding blogs and posts out there, and at times I feel like I should put ours up too, because we did pretty good, and if we could provide an idea for another couple, or a money-saving tip, that would totally make us happy to feel like we've helped someone else out.  

But that is for another day, when I find that thing called Time.  

Today is for taking a look back at the Back Garden.  We had rented a digger (DIGGER! - sorry - that shout was for Riley, because that's what we do...) and dug it out.  I'm sure the garden itself was my idea, really, I would just have them everywhere if I could, but Roger gets the credit for taking my idea and making it happen.  He is the guy who knows what to do to get things to look like things that they are supposed to be. We added rocks, concrete, a pump.  Most of the rocks we already had, they were from the original front of our house, displaced when the bay window went in.  Parts of the garden went in a little at a time, but mostly I remember working long past when the sun went down, with family and friends hauling in large stones in a wheelbarrow, my sis-in-law Jenna and I laying down the weed blanket and planting plants, Roger's work lights on us, our roommate at the time Nicole refilling everyone's beer mugs as we put together the garden just a few nights before the wedding. I think we were finally done at about 3AM.  The final product was AWESOME.  Mostly because we did it ourselves with the help of our favorite people, and also because it looked nice.  

Hmmm, looking at this is making me really want to tackle those weeds and get it back to something beautiful!

Here's the whole thing with the stage leading up to it.  I did those steps myself one day when Riley took a 4-hour nap and was ridiculously proud of them.  Roger's cousin generously hooked us up with the stage for a discount as Hurricane Irene had just come through and washed away all of our grass seed on our recently dug up yard.  (Another story entirely).  It saved our guests from wallowing in mud at our reception.  

Can't forget to include our "Love Letters" up on the hill.  My idea but Roger's hard work creating the letters out of plywood.  I spray-painted them with Floral Paint and they are still going strong nearly 2 years later.  We haven't taken them down. 

The garden in action.  I can't help but remember that it was positively POURING just miles to the east and north of us... and we had sunshine and big fluffy clouds ALL DAY.  Thanks Grandmom, I knew you'd find a way to be there.  

A New Sheriff In Town..

**Added Garden Pics at the bottom a few hours after original Post!**

A brief Good Morning from the Sheriff...

She has proclaimed she is the Sheriff of Squares.  Squares being the cereal - Cinnamon Toast Crunch, not the shape in general.  That is some fresh-out-of-bed hair if there ever was any.  

Monday.  YMCA classes.  Some office work.  Rog and I had a productive weekend of sorting receipts (so fun. NOT!) and doing quotes and trying to find people's email addresses that were written down on random pieces of paper.  I'm still trying to work in some sort of basic filing system for jobs, invoices, receipts.  We went in the pool, Daddy too.  Homemade solar panels doing their job so far to make the water warmer.  We took a neighborhood walk.  Riley successfully had her first solo trash-pick.  A perfectly good green children's plastic rake, sitting on the curb with some other stuff up the hill from us.  She was so proud.  

The baby mountain goat (when sleeping, not climbing) has been (once again) sleeping through the night.  Which means I don't sleep at all.  At least not well.  Generally by the time I get used to myself sleeping through, then he starts getting up again.  But he has no issue with falling asleep in his chair:

Also, the mountain goat walked clear across the living room today, a little wobbly when he stopped to throw his hands in the air, but he made it all the way to the Mickey airplane toy that was at his heart's desire.  Later I observed him standing up, letting go, walking to the table, letting go again and walking to the other couch and then letting go again and walking back to the first couch.  

Big kids away to the beach this week with the other side of their family.  Looking forward to fun in the sun with their cousins.  

Next week we are down in NC for the 4th of July and to meet up with some Georgia fam.  

Another kid post is coming soon... but I am stuck... birth order? Or next birthday?  Hmmmm, which kid will it be?  

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Addition to my original post... 

I just went out and took some garden pics, which I do periodically to track growth and mostly remember what I had in from year to year.  I decided to share.  Enjoy!

The front pond.  The fountain is clogged again, due to algae, which is what you get when you have a pond in full sun.  The lily pads will continue to grow and help this and also we are going to be shipping in some snails soon.  But first we have do a 50% water change and scrub out some of the offending stuff.  Which isn't all bad... the fish like it and it contributes to the naturalness of it.  But we also like to see our fish!  

My current project.  Well, one of many I should say.  My vision is to have the look of an English cottage garden, without the cottage of course.  I want that semi-wild, continuous bloom look.  It's a slow process.  I haven't chosen all my plants yet and obviously as they are new they will not be fully grown in for a few years.  In the pic is Delphinium, Sage (salvia), Dianthus and some Asylum.  

Work in progress!  Patience!  

My first (and currently only) Square Foot Garden.  Read about Mel Bartholemew's SFG concept here www.squarefootgardening.org.  Cherry Tomatoes, Big Boy Tomatoes, carrots, sweet peppers, scallions.  A second SFG was planned but I never got around to building it.  Next year we will have much more!

The raised bed garden.  Not a true square foot, but it's 3 X 8 so it operates similarly if you want it to.  This year one half is all Riley's sugar snap peas, with pyramid trellises in the middle.  We've been eating peas for weeks now and they are just about done.  Not sure what we'll put on that side when we pull them out.  Cucumbers on the other side in the back and cantaloupe lining the front.  Potato tubs on the left outside corner are also doing quite well this year. 

One of the front gardens... recently pruned so it looks so bare!  But it was very overgrown and full of weeds so it needed it greatly.  Roger actually traded some skills with a landscaper so I didn't have to do it all myself.  So awesome since I was entirely behind!  These plants on all on their 3rd and 4th year.  Sedum, Bleeding Heart, Vinca, Phlox (2 kinds), Butterfly Bush and some lilies in the back. 

 One of my window boxes.  It's actually still alive.  Apparently when I'm pregnant it's way too much trouble to water these things, which don't get rain water unless it's Hurricaning and raining sideways.  And so we've stared at a few years of dead brown sticks sticking out of the containers.  But this mix is doing great so far.  Love it!

And then there's this.... the back waterfall pond and surrounding garden, which has MAJOR potential.  And that's about it.  We built this as pre-wedding prep and got married in front of this pond and garden, back when the Mulberry tree was still there, and so it's sort of special.  But it doesn't hold water well yet and gets grossly overgrown really fast.  It has poison ivy and a wild rosebush that refuse to die.  We have 2 plans:  1) Pull the plants all out, do the pond right, put in a proper part-sun perennial-filled garden or 2) Go after it with the big green digger and turn it into a shed.  The plan for now?  Watch the wild stuff grow and stay away from the poison!  

An Open Letter to Mommy, From RJ

Dear Mommy, 

I know you are busy today. 

 From small errands to basic cleaning to gardening to spelling and math work with my sibs to all of that office work for Daddy's business that just keeps piling up.  

Not to mention the end of the 9 (yes, 9) loads of laundry you and the big kids tackled yesterday, meals for everyone and maybe a shower.  

Well, I just wanted to let you know that today... I want nothing but you.  Not hungry, not tired.  Certainly not enough for a nap.  No way.  Not even when I rub my eyes for 20 minutes.  Not unless you're going to hold me. 

 I don't want to be wrapped, because really you're just tricking me to try to get something done while wearing me.  I'm onto you, tricky woman. 

 I don't want the toys downstairs, I don't want anything in the kitchen (highly unusual, I know) and I don't want my books or my Scout bear that sings to me.  I do love him, but not right now. 

I just love you and want to hold you so tight and cling to your neck and shoulder like a little lovey monkey.  

But of course, when you broke out that box of old toys from the attic, the ones I hadn't seen in a while, it DID keep me busy for a short period of time while you clicked away on the computer, getting done 1/2,000 of what needs to be in the office... until I got tired of those and found access to my beloved wires:

I was just trying to make sure you were connected to the internet... 

Love, 

RJ