May the 4th and All that Jazz

Our wonderful neighbor came by on Friday evening and used a huge tiller to till up the new garden spot.  Bright and early Saturday morning, we headed to the local farm supply store for starter plants and seeds.  I broke out my 20 year old boots.

Hoein' ain't easy. *insert pimp joke* We spent more time than we should have removing clods of grass.  Eventually we got it done.  Green beans, corn, carrots, broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, and basil (because I LOVE PESTO).  I forgot onions, lettuce, and cabbage.  I blame it on my overexcitement of finally having a real garden after years of trying different container ideas.

Sunday, I remembered that I am 36 years old.  Bending over repeatedly planting seeds and digging in the dirt for hours in the 80F degree heat is not as fun the day after doing it.

Please let there be fruit (and veggies) from my efforts. May the Force be with me.

Let's Review Those Elusive Goals

*sigh*

Another year is coming to a close.  Every year I say the same thing... how?  How did we get from January to December in the blink of an eye?  A couple of years ago I set myself 52 goals for the year.  That did not go very well.  I think I was a bit too ambitious.  This year I decided to make it a little smaller, more attainable.  Thirty.  Not too big, not too small.

Here is what I started with:

1. (a). Read 25 books.
    (b). Ten of those 25 - Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles
2. See 5 movies in the theater.
3. Save $500.
4. Back up all photos to disc.
5. Visit a National Park.
6. Visit a State Park.
7. Thirty days without soda.
8. Start a compost.
9. Create a living will and last will.
10. Build a fenced area for dog.
11. Eat supper at the dinner table at least once a week.
12. Begin selling crafts online.
13. Rent a dumpster/clean out basement.
14. Clean out garage and carport.
15. Paint bedroom.
16. Landscape yard.
17. Get the chimney cleaned.
18. Buy new towels!
19. Refurb the bathroom.
20. Read to Rowan everyday before nap time.
21. Stop biting my nails!!!
22. Plant a garden.
23. Send out Christmas cards.
24. Begin an exercise program.
25. Eat less red meat.
26. Focus on losing inches, not lbs.
27. Photo a Day project!
28. Finish my first knitting project with the Knook.
29. Learn to knit with knitting needles.
30. Watch 15 unseen movies on Netflix.

... ... ... Welp, I did make an effort!

I did manage to read 23 books this year.  None of which were part of the Vampire Chronicles.  I'm still kind of counting that one as a win.  I did back up the majority of our photos to disc, but ran out of discs.  So that one is about 75% done.  Several of the other goals require money to accomplish and we had that unexpected job change early in the year that put quite a damper on projects and vacations.

2013 threw us a lot of curveballs.  I plan to consciously make 2014 a better year.  I'm going to start that compost, turn the large dog kennel into some type of greenhouse for herbs, have a successful garden!, and take a little time to stick our feet in the sand.  Yes, the new year is going to be great.  I'm going to make sure of it!

Tiny Garden Success

Remember that cute little okra from the other day?  Turns out it wasn't okra.  It was a bloom!  It was awfully pretty too, but I thought I'd have time to go back the next day and snap a quick photo.  When I returned the next day, it was all closed up and fell away when I touch it.  Instead there was a tiny little okra bud.

Aw... it's so cute! (said as if you were talking to a weetle baby)


We've got little okras everywhere!  I'm so giddy.  But I'm terribly worried.  It's October and the temperatures are starting to show it.  Last night, the temperature fell to the high 40's (Fahrenheit)  This mornings temperatures were 25 degrees colder than yesterday morning.  Yikes!  I'm scared for my little okra babies!  I'm trying to find the right spot in the house to move them indoors where they'll be able to get plenty of sunlight.  Crossing my fingers and toes that I don't traumatize them!

Everything else in this years garden attempt failed.  I'm desperate to make these okra pods grow like there is no tomorrow!!