Starting our #Garden / #VeggiePatch

This past weekend was a long weekend in Canada, celebrating Victoria Day. My man and I had an event to attend on Saturday so the kids were at their dad’s on a non-regular access weekend. On Sunday, I took advantage of the kids being gone and my man working a wedding, so I got down and dirty in the garden. This is the first full summer in our new home and the previous owner had done nothing in the garden for decades, literally. Last summer, a friend of a friend beat and sliced his way through the jungle, clearing out all the greenery and rose bushes that attacked him (ouch!). This summer, I’m starting a raised veggie patch.

Area before I started:

 

Insert wooden borders that were leftover from when an old fence was removed from the property…and 24 of these:

And, voila!

 

The only thing that was frustrating was that there wasn’t enough pressure in my rain barrel to get water from it, so I’ll have to figure that one out. Also went with the BFF yesterday to pick up some more plants that I haven’t started seedlings for already…and look what ended up sprouting amongst my plants: the rare Starbucks flower. This order was DEFINITELY mine!

Can’t wait to get out there to plant our seedlings with the kids this week!

#WordlessWednesday – Flowers

From my daughter and my man while we were all walking to the park after school yesterday. I’ll let you decide which is from whom.

Our First Attempt at #Gardening

Last week, the kids and I planted some seeds in peat pods to start germinating our garden in our new home. The peat pods before doing anything with them:

Then we added water, as per the directions.

      (22 degrees Celsius and my son still wants to wear his mittens!)

The pods would start to float so my daughter would carefully push them down so they wouldn’t float away:

 

Then we started planting the seeds.

           

Our final product…we did it! We planted a bunch of veggies in one greenhouse, flowers in another. We have more seeds coming soon too so there will be more greenhouses.

Then we planted lavendar and basil in a planter for our porch too. The lavendar is in the middle circle drawn in the dirt, surrounded by basil. We’ll see if it works that way:

So exciting that only a couple of days later, the seeds in the peat pods are already starting to sprout. If only my son would agree with me as to where to put the mini greenhouses…they seem to have a passport around our dining room and living room with him moving them where ever he wants to.

Valentine’s Day Scrooge

I’ll admit it. I’m a bit of a Valentine’s Day Scrooge. Please don’t assume that because I’m no longer married, that’s the reason I’m a Valentine’s Day Scrooge.  I am partnered with a wonderful man.  I just don’t understand Valentine’s Day, and here are some of the questions that run through my head every year:

• Why are we expected to pay more attention to our significant others on one specific day of the year?  Shouldn’t we be making those we love our priority all the time? Personally, I spoil my kids on Valentine’s Day.
• Why does society view buying flowers, chocolate, jewellery, and dinner and a show for women as a demonstration of a man’s love for her?
• Why does it usually rest on the man’s shoulders to prove his love? Are women “not allowed” to be the one to spoil her man?
• What about same-sex couples? Is there an acceptable “standard” as to who is the one to demonstrate their love?
• Why do we prioritize relationships over being single? Why is it “better” to be married than single?
• Why do we forget about the BIGGEST and MOST IMPORTANT relationship we will always have…the one with ourselves?
• Biggest question of all…why does everything cost so much more??!!!!

Having said all that, I will admit that I look forward to the day AFTER Valentine’s Day…to break my New Year’s Resolutions with all the chocolate that’s on sale.