The day of gardening is finally here!

We're putting in a gaarrden. We're putting in a gaarrden. We're putting in a GARDEN!
TODAY!
Finally. Finally. Finally.
Though, I'm kind of glad we didn't do it sooner (read: couldn't afford to do it sooner) because the weather here has been really really odd (I have a piano student mother who says it's caused by the radiation coming our way from Japan.....but then again, she's on the crazy side) and the weather has gone from sunny and 90 degrees to overcast and 50 degrees and I know a few people who had planted already and lost some, if not all, of their garden due to the extremely unpredictable weather (ps, I just spent about 3 minutes trying to figure out what word I was trying to put there...it was unpredictable but my silly mom-brain had no clue).

So, it's our first ever garden. We built ("we" is a very loose term) a small raised bed (4 feet by 4 feet) and will be planting a variety of peppers, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes and onions. I'm pretty nervous. What if I kill everything? What if I am supposed to be pruning something somewhere and I don't know it? What if I'm supposed to be picking something at some point and I don't realize it and it goes to waste? What if I plant them too close? What if, what if, what if!

I guess I just have to do it. And learn from it. Man, there are A LOT of things in life like that......

Ok, off to get my hands dirty =) Have a great Monday!

Playing outside is fun when you're a grownup

Today has been a fun day of outside "chores." I never understood why my mom and dad always liked working outside (which is why I always moaned and groaned every weekend when it was time to work outside) but now I get it. I totally get it.

1. It's nice to be outside. The sounds of the birds, the sweet breeze, the warm sun....
2. It's such a great feeling knowing you're doing something that is making your house/yard look better
3. You get to burn calories! Yes!!!!
4. You wear out the children so they go to bed on time =)

The fruits of our labor:

Flowers!!!!

I planted snapdragons (they aren't blooming just yet), pansies, petunias, lavender and ranunculus (my favorites!). I have to find somewhere to put the extras, that will be my mission the next few days.

Landscaping here we come!

We also carved out a little spot in our front yard for some landscaping, but wouldn't you know it, plants are expensive! So, we've started and that's a good thing....now just to find a rich uncle to pay for the plants =)

The weather is so nice here lately, spending time outside is all we want to do around here. What's the weather like where you are? Are you getting any fun outside "chores" done?

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Thrifty Thursday: Planting seeds!

It's no secret, I l.o.v.e. flowers. Every spring I plant my own little flower garden and spend the whole summer trying to keep them alive (disclaimer: I am great at keeping flowers alive, it's the 3 year old and the 1 year old and the welsh corgi that have a hard time with it). I've never had much luck with seeds but this year, I am determined to have luck with seeds.

So, being the cheapskate that I am, last week I bought a .20cent pack of marigold seeds. I've been waiting all week for the boys in the house to finish eating the eggs in the fridge so I could use the egg carton to plant the seeds and today is the day people. Today is the day. (so excited!)

I had to do some research to make sure I was going about this right, after all, I've never done it right before..... Some useful information:

1. Cover the container with plastic until the seeds germinate
2. Water from the bottom, less chance of over-watering. Let the seeds take what they need.
3. Pay attention to the package, it will tell you how deep to plant the seeds
4. Plant 2-3 seeds in each container to make sure at least one of them is successful

 Alright, I think I'm ready, wish me luck!



Are you planting anything this Spring? Flowers are first for me, the veggie garden is coming later in the month (our first one! hooray!!)

Have a great day!