Things are really coming together with the gardens this year. Since we have been in the duplex a while, we have had some time to prepare. We've bought a lot of seeds and little seed starters... we've done a lot of "discussing" where things should go... and we have really cute seedling popping up. (By the way, I really really recommend starting from seed. It is so gratifying and cost effective.)
The two things I am really excited about are the corn and sunflowers. I started these plants in
jiffy seed starters, however they grew so fast we had to rush to get them in the grown. I planted the corn near the fence at the back of the yard. It's kinda framing out my herb garden... which is doing fabulous (does anyone know what to do with chamomile?). Then, I wanted to look out the window and see sunflowers while I was studying/on the computer, so I planted the sunflowers on the side fence. This is probably really confusing if you haven't been to my house, but I will post a picture soon.
The corn has a fun story to it. It is Indian corn! Steven's Grandmother gave it to us the last time we were up there. She just pulled some off of some she had been using as decoration and gave it to us (they grow corn, wheat, soy beans and probably other stuff on the farm). I wanted to grow it for decoration as well. If I have a lot I may be giving it away... so watch out, you may have Indian corn coming your way! (If you want some, let me know) Steven wants to eat it, however, he is the only one who has this desire. I will post on how that goes. I'm excited, I hope the corn comes up vigorously and I that can share the Indian corn growing experience with my kiddos.
The Sunflowers are mammoth sunflowers, and they are suppose to be really big. I'm kinda nervous. This is an example of Fallon just picking up the seeds because the flower on the front was pretty. I was inspired to grow sunflowers by some friends of ours. They actually grew the flowers for their wedding. I have always wanted to do that, however, we got married in December... and that was just a really busy time of my life. Every time I look at their wedding pictures I am in awe... all of the sunflowers look lovely. Sunflowers are suppose to be really really easy to grow, so I am looking forward to a large yield. (My kitchen is decorated in sunflowers, so it will be a very exciting summer)
Keeping with the plant theme, we are also growing beans this year. I'm excited about that because Steven and I love green beans and broccoli (speaking of which, I misplaced my broccoli seeds). We have like eight seedlings popping up to show us their smiling faces... yummy!
So that was a lot about gardens. How about school. I'm soooooooooo excited to be almost done! This past weekend was was parent's weekend and we spent a lot time with Christine and the Padres. I had a blast. I highly recommend the Aggie Mom's boutique. Over the weekend I talked with Christine, I thought that we had five weeks of school left. Turns out it is only 3! I can't believe how fast this semester has flown by... so fast that registration even sprung up on me. I signed up for all my classes this morning. I'm not crazy excited about my schedule (I start early and finish late every day... big gaps in between... and Tuesdays and Thursdays are full full full of classes), however, I'm glad it was the last time I will have to sign up for classes. I may dance across the stage when graduation comes.
And with graduation comes employment... hopefully. I have been blessed to have a couple of leads. I really, really want to intern with someone that could hire me in December. If it works out I might post on that. Even if I don't get a job right away I will be happy just to be done.
This weekend I take my FE exam. I have a test this week, and as it turns out, a writing assignment I wasn't aware of... so it will be a pretty intense week. I should do fine on the FE, it's 8 hours long and Steven said it was plenty of time. I take test well if I have enough time. Plus, even if I don't pass I will still have an extra semester to take it.
Let's see. PCOS. So, the Lord has truly been faithful to me. I am trying so hard to stay on target with food and exercise so that I can overcome my PCOS problems. Seeing the cyst in the ultrasound was such a good motivation. As long as those are there, the possibility of children are not (except the possibility we have in Christ). I don't have my body completely figured out, but I definitely think it is trying to work with me.
I started running again, and was going to actually run in a race last weekend. The race was postponed because of lightning and we didn't make it because we wanted to hang with the Padres. It turned out to be a blessing. I probably didn't need to run, because my shins were really giving me a hard time. I was discouraged. I was trying so hard to exercise and the evil shin splints were haunting me. One day I ran a LOT, and as soon as I got in the door, I slapped two ice packs on both shins. After talking with Steven, I decided that I should swim for a while. Long enough to help my shins heal. Then I can start running... however, this time I will work my way into it a little slower.
I was really surprised how easily swimming came back to me. And equally surprised how horrible my breathing was when I ran. With swimming you are forced to keep your breathing on pace... if you don't, you may drown. After I relaxed I remember how wonderful swimming was, I remember how swimming was such a great time to pray... you can't exactly take a mp3 player underwater with you. I'm really excited!
Well, this has turned into a HUGE post... I'll let you get back to your week now!
As promised last week, here is my "before" picture of the backyard. I'm sure it will look different in the middle of the summer with all the corn and sunflowers growing strong and tall. I love my backyard...
When I started my seeds I didn't have time to label things, so I just decided I would determine what they were after they produced their "true leaves." This isn't that difficult because everything I started I had grown before (minus the sunflowers and corn). So when it came time to plant the sunflowers in the ground I picked up all the plants I thought were sunflowers. They hadn't produced their true leaves yet so I had to guess. All the ones I knew were sunflowers were growing fast, so I felt confident. I happily planted them along the fence. As I watched the other seedlings develop I was confused because I did not see the cucumbers I had planted. Later on in the week as I was checking up on the sunflowers I notice about five plants that had different "true leaves" than the others sunflowers. I was soooo confused! Then this morning, in the car I exclaimed, "They're Cucumbers!"... Steven looked around very confused and said, "where?" Then I explained. I'm not sure what to do now. It may be too late to transplant them... but I may still try. There is plenty of time to start them again if they die... and I have a lot of seeds.
This next picture is of my pentas. These are actually annuals (meaning they are only meant for one season), however, we covered them during the winter and they are growing back beautifully. Butterflies and Humming birds LOVE this plant... so I'm really glad it came through for a second year.
And Finally, this was my Sunday afternoon project... and a good example of a great little garden on a budget. In the background is a Hibiscus. You would probably recognize it if it had some blooms. I found it at a local nursery in the clearance section in the fall. It was seven dollars! I was very happy. Then the Padres got us the little plant that is front and center. It produces little ornamental pepper... Steven really likes it. And the Gerber Daisies are from a dinner I went to. They were used as table decoration, and then given away for FREE after the dinner. So if you calculate in the mulch... this little garden was a grand total of TEN DOLLARS!!!!! Now the picture doesn't do it justice, but it look amazing for a ten dollars. I'm proud.
