The Wee Garden

I have wanted to put a little garden in for a few years now. Seems as though I was always working on the plants and weeds and rocks and filling low areas rather than doing a garden. Earlier this spring I told Little Buddy that we could plant a few cucumber plants this year, maybe we could even have a little garden. So when Cop Dad asked me what I wanted to do for Mother's Day, I told him I wanted to work in the yard as a little family project and make a garden. We started with nothing more than 2 old railroad ties. I thought we could recycle them and cut them both in half. Then dig out the sod from the area that all four halves of the railroad ties would make. Then we could fill with some good dirt and raise the level a little higher than our actual yard (which gets standing water in many spots). Well the sawing of the railroad ties was a real chore. Then we created a square and measured out the spot to remove the grass. Then we took all that perfectly good sod/grass and laid it out in a very low spot in our yard to fill it in. Then we were off to Menards. We picked up beans, sugar snap peas, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries, LOTS of top soil, some really good garden soil to mix with the top soil, and chicken wire. They were out of cucumber so I just picked that up today at Home Depot this morning. I bought plants. They were cheap. One year I will start from seed but with a baby and toddler, this year would have to be plants which are sooooo much easier.

It went pretty well, though Cop Dad had a hard time ripping out perfectly good grass in our little yard. He was also very hesitant about laying the sod strips/chunks in the low area where we always have water and no grass grows. I did my best to convince him that the sod would do fine and anything would be better than the small pond that we get in that spot regularly. Where the dog likes to dig and jump around . . . . . when it's muddy . . . . . of course.

Our garden is so tiny but the work involved, wow! Little Buddy was so excited. Cop Dad was being a bit of a grump, until I sent him these texts when I was waiting in the car with the kids. "Quit whining!" "Make the most of the day!" "We love you!"

That was all it took. He snapped out of it. He said, "Man, why am I so crabby?" I said, "I have no idea but it's kind of a buzz kill, can you cheer up so we can all have a good day together as a family?" After all it was Mother's Day and his mood and attitude affects each of us, no matter how much I let it roll off.

So, we got everything done and Cop Dad was acting very proud of our garden. Yeah! Little Buddy was really excited too. He just wanted to walk in the dirt and dump things in the garden. Oh no! So we had to lay some ground rules. Think he gets it now. He wanted to see the garden last night after it was dark out and was getting ready for bed. Too cute!

I know the garden is small but this is good for now. We'll see how it goes. We can always expand later. I also got breakfast from Panera and a nice card and iTunes gift card too.

Bake Of The Day: Old Fashioned Brownies

This recipe used to be on the back of the Diamond Walnuts a very long time ago. They don't even have the recipe on their website. Too bad! It sure is a keeper. My mom and I have the recipe copied down from back in the 80's/90's. I have improved it by covering the top with chopped walnuts AND chocolate chips. My mother just does the walnuts and does not like the chips on top. I think it adds a different texture (I'm totally a texture person) and even more chocolate flavor to an already extraordinary brownie. What kind of brownies do you make? Are you even a brownie person? Or is there some other goodie that you bake often. I almost never buy cookies or candy etc. But we always have ingredients in the house to make something. That is how it was when I grew up and I do the same thing. This way, you have to work for it AND you know what goes into it AND you don't waste the calories on some sub-par bakery item from the grocery store. BTW, this recipe uses real EVERYTHING: butter, eggs, flour, baking chocolate, etc. Cop Dad never objects and Little Buddy calls them "Bownies." Tee! Hee!

Old-Fashioned Brownies (Diamond Walnuts)
3-1 oz squares unsweetened Bakers Chocolate
1 stick salted butter
(melt these 2 ingredients together and set aside)
(I usually throw them in a pyrex measuring cup and microwave for 5+ minutes on 30 percent power)
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup flour
(mix these 5 together)
(then add the melted chocolate and butter)

Pour in a greased 9x9 pan. Top with 1/4 cup chopped walnuts and chocolate chips. Bake for 40 minutes in a 325 degree oven. Check middle with toothpick.

Drive By Blogging

Just some useless tidbits from what's going on in my world. **Warning: May need some toothpicks for your eyes :)

· We FINALLY got our new driveway this week. I have taken before and after pics which I will post soon. I just love before and after pics of almost any type. I just stink at remembering to take them. Never imagined that asphalt could make a family this happy :)

· Little Buddy got his new custom made bed from "the grandmas" (grandma B does woodworking for a hobby). It is awesome. Though I am still a bit worried about the vapors from all the stain and polyurethane that we are all breathing in. Really beautiful bed but really strong smelling. Hope this passes soon!

· Trying to start solids with Little Munchkin but I don't think she's ready yet. She keeps pushing it out her mouth. I sure know she wants it though as she is like a hungry baby bird with her mouth open wide for the spoon but out it comes. She must be getting some though as her diapers have certainly changed. Sorry, TMI.

· Not too happy that my least favorite aunt has been showing up these days. I mean, already? At only 4 months PP too. Boo!

· Been having plenty of playdates with friends. Hooray! Feels wonderful to be able to just open the back door and let the kids run wild in the sunshine and fresh air and explore the back yard. Now if I could just get them to stop trampling on my nicer plants. Ooh, and also loving the mom chat :)

· Little Buddy is in the 98th percentile for height AND weight! Wow! Not sure how he got that big? Cop Dad swears it's cause he got over 2 years of breastmilk. I tend to think it's because of all the GMO's and hormones in meat, etc. Oh, and both of us are by no means thin and lanky people (though I wish). He resembles the kindergarteners that walk past our house on their way to and from school in the middle of the day.

· Stressing about potty training. When will he want to to do this? He can do the pee but has no interest cause there are way too many other things going on. Then I am so busy with baby that it's very hard to keep making him sit down every 30 minutes and try. Ugh! I wish I could be a better mom in the potty training area.

· Little Munchkin is now becoming more flexible with being able to go a little longer between naps and being able to not scream and be frantic in a store, car, etc. She's a very easy baby, I cannot complain. I am very excited for her to crawl and sit up and eat solids on a more regular basis. Then we will be a little more free to go to a restaurant or go on a date, etc.

· Dying to work in the yard! The "grandmas" have agreed to come over one of these days and play with the kids while I work in the yard and then I can nurse Little Munchkin and put her down for naps as needed. Cannot wait!

*"grandmas": We have a pair of grandmas (Cop Dad's mom and partner). I think I touched on this wayyyyyyy back when I first started my blog. Two, "together," wink and all. Yes indeedy. Just in case you were wondering. Not my ideal, but it is what it is. They love us and the kids and would do anything to be involved and help out. So . . .

I Had A Mind Once . . . . .

Quote Of The Day (With Picture)

(Taken by MV at Silver Lake 04.14.10, Warrenville, IL)

Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. ~John Muir

How Do I Find New Blogs?

I am looking for some new blogs to read and I have no way to find them besides looking at other peoples blog lists. Then I tried blog searches on Google but that doesn't work too well. I like to have a mix of moms and cops wives and crunchy, earthy people, funny people and nature and art lovers. I don't really have that much in common with many sahm's as I am not living in the woods using wool diapers that I knitted myself, I also am not staying at home for any Biblical reason (not that there's anything wrong with that). Like I said, I like a good mix in my list. How does one find all the different bloggers? I have also tried pressing on some of the words on my profile and that doesn't really necessarily bring up what I'm looking for. Any ideas? Oh, and I am very, VERY, down-to-earth so the "Perfect Mommy" blogs are not my thing either. Appreciate any suggestions.

The Woman's Remote