Tag: family

Posted on

Summer fix ups and recreation

Opening the pool is a big deal when May comes. Along with uncovering the flowers and plants around it, adding more flowers and bringing out the pool floaties, as we call them. I have to fix a part of the deck rail that a storm damaged in the winter, and then the cleaning of the pool begins. After the liner is clean and the water we keep in it during the winter is crystal clear, we of course add more water which is going to cost a mint…as well as ordering everything we need to maintain the pool will, as I ran out of a lot of items last fall since it was still warm enough the first part of October to swim. I’m so looking forward to doing these improvements and having pool parties for the kids and of course my husband and I relaxing in the evenings on the pool deck. I love the Summer.

So here I am, waiting impatiently for May to come. Not only to open the pool, but to start gardening and doing all the Summer recreations we do. It’s a tradition that the whole family does every year, even the kids that have moved away and have husbands and my grand kids come. After we are finished with the repair work, cleaning and getting the gardens ready, we have a big cook out. Everyone jumps in the pool at the same time before we eat, and all in all…it’s a wonderful time for me to sit and watch my whole family together enjoying our first get together of the Summer!

I let my youngest son cheat a little and jump in first when no one is looking. 😉

Posted on

Seed shopping

Today it seemed almost like Spring outside. I even went out for awhile in just a sweatshirt and for me, that is saying a lot, considering I am always cold unless it is in the heat of the deep summer. After I had been outside for awhile, I went with my husband to do errands and drop some papers off to my doctor that needed to be signed. While we were running errands, and because it felt so good to be out and about without my neck and back hurting so much, I went to Dollar General store. I only needed a wash bucket and old style mop. But I couldn’t help looking at all the garden items they had.

Bless my husband’s heart. He is not a patient person when it comes to waiting for me to shop. He is the kind of person who goes into the store, gets what he wants and needs and leaves. Takes all of maybe ten minutes and that is pushing it. Today he was patient, since he has been at me to get outside or do something so I’m won’t become a hermit. (His words)

I found a HUGH display of seeds that were 3 for 1.00. In the past…a few years ago, I used to get them there 10 or 1.00. They always came up, and the herbs, veggies and flowers were hardy and grew very well. What a jump in price, though. Goes to show what this world is coming to. Not only is it hard to buy groceries at the supermarket and afford to feed our family a healthy meal, but it’s getting to the point of even growing our own produce and feeding our livestock, is hard and expensive. It really is distressing. I try to save all my seeds from what I grow, but sometimes it’s just not enough. Have to keep on going on though.

Posted on

Traditions and Easter Baskets

No matter how old my kids are, they still expect the Easter Bunnie do come and give them fully decked out Easter Baskets. I will admit right now, that I do indeed believe in the Easter Bunnie, Santa, Elves, the Tooth Fairy, and what ever so called “imagined” persona there is for the holidays. I really enjoyed my childhood and growing up, and my Mom went all out “playing” these special “people” and “animals” with great imagination. She put the magic and wonder into out lives and I have made sure to carry that on to my family when my first child was born. persona’s

We have traditions in our family that even my daughter who is married, and has my two grand kids who are 9 and 13, carry on and has added her own spin on our old traditions. To me, it doesn’t matter how old my kids are or the fact they are nearly ready to go out on their own, I still celebrate holidays with the traditions that  has been in the family all these years. Once of which areEaster Gifts. I love buying special gifts that no one has noticed in the store or online, yet I know each person would love. I want to out do myself this year and make Easter the best we’ve had. Some of the kids will be leaving for collage or their own places soon, and well…it sort of is bittersweet.

This year, I want to give each of them their life long Easter Baskets that are tradition, but I also want to surprise them with specialEaster Basket Gifts, and have a note that is attached that says, their names and also, something like…”Happy Easter, from The Easter Bunnie.” Then I might put some paw finger prints on it to make like the Bunnie wrote and handled the note. Yes, this year will be loaded with tradition, but also with something new added, thanks to online shopping!

Posted on

Grand daughters garden plans

My grand daughter who is nine called me this evening. My daughter had called earlier to ask me if I would be home so KK could ride the school bus to my house after school. She had to take my grandson to the dentist before school was out and didn’t want to take KK out of school early.  Of course it was fine by me, but I didn’t want KK riding the bus, her aunt and uncle ride home, as they were staying after school (at the high school) for computer lab and wouldn’t be able to make sure the bus driver stopped at our house. Plus this bus has a long route and doesn’t get the kids home until a lot later, so I’m going to go to the school when the kids are let out to pick her up.

Well, when my grand daughter called she told me that she had drawn out plans for her garden here. I wasn’t really surprised, since even when she was really young…not even in school yet…she would sort seed packets into the right categories, and knew the difference between annuals and perennials, and the herbs that could be eaten and the ones that couldn’t be. She knew which flowers and herbs could heal which ailment and actually she was pretty impressive with the way she caught on to all of what I told her at such an early age.

Now that she is nine, KK knows about root systems, various was to use herbs for healing, and which ones are to make tea out of, and the herbs that go with what foods to make them tasty. Not to mention the ones that are for decoration since they are poisonous. I’ve taught her how to make ointments for both people and animals. And the list goes on. In the winter she studies seed magazines, my books and all the garden magazines I get and had to her for the winter to read.  I can’t wait to see her garden plans tomorrow. She is so excited. I might just take her into town when I pick her up for school and get her some seedling trays and some packs of seeds to start. I’m looking forward to this!