I love dirt!

I have never been more excited about dirt! I can't wait for my kitchen scraps to turn into a pile of luscious nutrient rich dirt! I started a compost about 2 1/2 months ago. I know, a compost pile in the city? Well with some research I found out how. I took a plastic garbage can-about 12 gallon size-from my Mom's house. She was not using it and I asked her if I could have it. I did not just steal it. (not like the old days anyway, ha ha!) I drilled a bunch of holes in the can-which was sooo much fun! If you ever get a chance to drill holes into something-do it! It is a great feeling. I place the garbage can on about 4 bricks to allow circulation under the can. I added a 3" layer of dirt from my huge wood chip dirt pile. Then I started collecting my kitchen scraps. Charlie and Joey volunteered to be your "Vanna White".

One day I was planting a new bush and there were several earthworms in the dirt. I thought-hey I have a better home for you. And I gently placed them into the compost bin. I think they are in worm heaven. Joey and Charlie added their worm cousins to the bin. When the worms would wiggle Charlie would squeal with glee! They were in the fridge-leftover from a fishing day. I would say that these worms have been saved from the mouths of fish!

My favorite thing to compost? Oh, it's so hard to choose. Hmmm...I love putting egg shells into the compost. It gives me an excuse to crush them a little bit. I also love putting in coffee grounds, vegetable peelings, and torn up egg cartons. I keep a large empty coffee can on my counter and it is filled up with scraps about once a day. After I put about 3" of kitchen scraps in the bin, I will add a 3" layer of shredded paper and then 3" of grass clippings or brush. Once in a while I will tip the bin over and roll it around a bit-to mix it all up.

So, I am hoping soon I will see all this "work" will pay off, and I will be rewarded with beautiful dirt. What to do in the winter, when the compost may freeze? I will have to do a bit of research on that.

Treasuring memories

"It's good to have an end to journey toward; but it's the journey that matters in the end". -Ursula K. LeGuin








Scanning in old photos of Jeff and his family has brought a smile to my face. In these pictures, Jeff is about the same age as our youngest. I wonder what it is like now, as Jeff's mom, to look back at these photos. Does she remember the sounds he made? Teaching him everything? The stages? Now as a grandma, do memories come flooding back? How will we remember these days?



















Four Generations!

Charlie looks just like his Daddy!








What memories are we making? The baby shower for our first baby. The sticky kisses. Eating a cherry picked with love by your toddler. (Even if you don't want it, you eat it anyway) Cuddling before bed. Reading just one more book. Just one more hug. Tractor rides. Homemade birthday cakes. Witnessing so many firsts. Through picture taking, filling out baby books, collecting scribbles and art projects, video taping, scrapbooking, digital backups, I think we do a pretty good job at recording these precious moments.

"Celebrate what you want to see more of." -Tom Peters

Jeff and his baby brother Randy!

Video

Another Video!

Happy Fathers Day!

Hello Dad! I uploaded some videos for your enjoyment. I searched through our older videos and found a few that are priceless! Love you!

Busy times ahead!

Our family in entering into a busy few months! Summer always flys by and we sure pack it with stuff!

I am working at Autumn Hill a little bit. I hope to work more in July if I can get a babysitter. We continue to work on planting perennials and keeping the lawn watered. (I will post some pix) We also hired a company to finish painting the trim on our house! Jeff and I play volleyball Monday nights and Jeff plays softball on Wednesday nights. I am in a book club and a bible study, and just joined the Mom's club! The book that I am reading for the club is Blue Like Jazz. I am also reading "How to talk so kids will listen & listen so kids will talk", "Love and Logic Magic", and "Superfoods"! I am also a FlyBaby-trying to organize my life so that I can be busy without going insane. (www.flylady.com)

I have Joey signed up for Sandlot Sports the end of this month and Museum Explorers. I told Joey that he is going to have a chance to milk a goat, so for the last few nights I tuck him in and say" goodnight, I will see you in the morning", and he says "then I get to milk a goat?". Both the boys are in swim lessons this summer too. Oh what fun they will have!

Tonight we have a wedding reception, tomorrow we have a wedding, and Sunday Laura (my stepsis) and her daughter Megan will be in town. (For a week) The we are going to the circus!

We also plan on going camping and fishing. Jeff will be going to New Orleans for a week in July for a work conference. He will also be going to the races at Elkhart Lake. Perhaps we will squeeze in a trip to see Uncle Randy and Chanda in Pennsylvania. That is all for now!

Attempts

Video attempt! This is a cute-longer-video of the boys. Enjoy!