Garden Preview 2013

Hi!  I have so much to share with you!  Especially about our garden this year.  But I only have about five minutes.  So I will give you the much shortened version, with more details to (hopefully!) come.

We are expanding our garden this year! Last year was a bit haphazard because Baby John was such a newborn.  This year, both Chris and I want to really focus on it.  We want to run it like a mini farm.  We recently watched a Ted Talk by this guy who plants gardens on people's lawns in South LA. He said, "Growing your own food is like growing your own money."  We agree. And who wouldn't benefit from a few extra dollars?  Especially edible ones.  :-)

So right now, Chris and the boys are outside working on the garden... I just came in (I'm supposed to be starting dinner).  Chris got fence, dug a trench, put in posts, and put up the fence to make our garden 50% bigger this year.  I cut circles of fence to make our potato containers (which will be grown outside the garden).

In addition to the backyard garden, we want to beautify our front garden.  After talking it over with my aunt, who is a master gardener, we decided on a butterfly bush, some blueberry bushes, and some other grasses, shrubs and perennials to fill out the space.  It has been ugly for too long.  :-) (And Chris is super excited about the blueberries!)  He also picked up a grape vine.  And Benjamin bought a kiwi plant.  Who knew you could grow those in PA!?  We are looking forward to getting our hands dirty and filling our baskets with produce this summer!

I will plan to make regular posts to let you know how it is growing!

Of course, please understand if 'regular' is interpreted loosely... I do have four kids, cook traditional foods, homeschool, clean (sometimes), launder, cloth diaper, sew and garden.  :-)

Sam's Schoolwork

Today Sam was practicing numbers.
"7D7, 8D8, and 9D9"
(77, 88, 99)

:-)

Hanging laundry

It was Ben's idea to hang the laundry outside for me today!

Baby John

Sweet baby John. Some things he's subjected to on a regular basis.

Wearing an old, hand-me-down jacket from the nineties, pink mittens, and a crazy hat from Uncle Dave.

Getting dragged to Target when he's so tired that he was asleep in the car, slept in the back of the cart the whole time we were there (and slept in the car on the way home)!

Ellie's Third Birthday

Decorating Ellie's Cake with Grammy

It was Ellie's third birthday last week. Here are some picture highlights.

New Hair bows from Aunt Beth (and Uncle Mike and baby Jack-Jack)

Blowing out the candles at Grammy's

New outfit from Grammy

Presents!

More Presents!

New Coat from Aunt Martha

We also had a nice party with Grandma, PapPap and Great PapPap Good.  But, I was cooking and things and not taking pictures!  Sorry!  We had a great time at that party too.  :-) 

Taco Soup!

This evening I consider dinner to be a huge win. And we haven't even eaten yet! We are in serious need of a grocery run because last week was really crazy and I was away for a few days. This past weekend I just did not feel like going to the store. So, I didn't. As a result dinner time at the Good household has been sketchy at best this week.

As I looked through the sparse landscape that was our cabinets and fridge, an idea started taking shape. We would have to have soup, as that is the ultimate food stretching tool. We had some leftover ground beef. And some potatoes. Oh, and I'll stick the rest of the half eaten salsa in there.... that's when I knew-

Taco soup.

A few veggies rounded this soup quite nicely.

TACO SOUP

1 quart chicken broth
1/2 lb ground beef or shredded chicken
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, cut up
Celery, if you have it
1 cup peas
1 cup corn
1/2 TBS taco seasoning
2-3 potatoes, diced
1 jar salsa
Salt and pepper to taste
Shredded cheese for on top

Put everything except the cheese in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cook until potatoes are done, about 30 minutes. Serve with shredded cheese and cornbread.

This soup was a huge hit. All of it was gone and there was even fighting for seconds. I will definitely be making this again, and in a much bigger quantity. :-)

An Unusual Sight

Well, hello old friend (the bottom of my sink). It's been awhile since we've seen each other. :-P