First Day of School

The first day of Pre-K3 has finally arrived! Elizabeth did great and didn’t cry when I was there or when I left. She may have cried after…but she was much more interested in playing with puzzles!

(Oops, please excuse the mess in the kitchen!)

With her backpack on!

Putting her backpack away in her locker. She’s got a top locker, but can still reach it easily. She didn’t want help putting it in there, either! She wanted to do it all!!

I pick her up at 11:50, so I’m anxious to hear how her first day went!

Projects & Progress

Since it’s been so darn hot outside, we’ve been trying to get some things finished up in the house.


Taking out more linoleum in the kitchen…


My little pirate! She loves that sword from Zachary’s party so much! We’ve all had our turn at being the pirate and chasing the others around the house with it.


I also took out the carpet in the “formal” living room. Before…


And after. Elizabeth loves having a big empty room to run around in. She’s also taken this opportunity to get out her train set and put it all together. It works much better on the hard floor. We had it set up on the carpet before and things didn’t always want to fit very well.


She also took the opportunity to just run. And run and run and run…in circles. Lots of them. I can’t believe she didn’t fall down in dizziness. She really loves this open room!


The people we bought the house from had a wood burning stove in the living room. We have long since taken that out, but the pipes were still hooked up in the attic. We were able to take those pipes out and close the hole in the ceiling.

Travis also finished taking out all of the electrical out of the wall that divides our two living spaces. We are now ready to call the guy to come out and remove the wall, set the posts, and install the beams in the attic!

The bad thing is that it’s so, so hot! My dear husband has come down from the attic soaked from head to toe. You can really only work in there until about 11 a.m. After that, it’s best just to wait until the evening, it’s so miserable up there!


I have made some progress in the kitchen. This area is the last of the linoleum and I’ll be so happy when it’s gone. My arms will be happy, too. My sore arms are also the reason why I’ve been “pacing” myself on this last small area. I figure if I do a small area every few days, I’ll knock this out without killing myself in the process.

Besides, there are appliances to move and I’m not looking forward to doing that. I’m not ready to see what lives behind my stove. Yuck.


The lot next to ours has finally sold, so Travis had no way to get trailers in and out of our driveway. (It was much too small and narrow.)

Last week, Travis bought more pipe to add on to our existing driveway and Monday, the county came out and put them in. Yay! This really is so much better than what it was. We still have to get more gravel to widen our drive, but this already looks good!

Elizabeth & I were able to buy her some new clothes and shoes for school today, so she’s all set! Hmm, just thought about it, but she can only wear “street” clothes for a couple of years before she has to wear a uniform to school. I’m looking forward to that! Sure will make school clothes shopping easier!

Lately

Yes, I am well aware that I’ve been slacking off. Hey! It’s hot and I've been busy!

We only have bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, and okra left in the garden. Everything else has withered in the heat. I still receive a few orders for these things, so that’s good.

Before the tomatoes decided they’d had enough, we did a taste test of a few of the varieties we had planted. Next year we’ll have a little better idea of what to plant for taste.

At the end of June, Elizabeth took swimming lessons!

She hated them for the most part and cried every day. (The class was 10 days long.)

Toward the end of the second week, she’d only pout and cry for about half of the class…then she was happy. She may not have liked it very well, but she does know how to swim!

In July, we took a trip to the Waco Zoo with my cousin, Karen, and her boys, Alex and Zach.

The zoo had a couple of different play grounds. It was pretty hot, but the zoo had nice shade for the most part and we weren’t miserable.

 

We also made a trip to the beach on Matagorda Island! This was Elizabeth’s first time to the Gulf. She saw the Atlantic as a 5 month-old, so this was her first “real” time!

She was a little scared to get in the water or play in the sand, but as soon as we got in the water, she did, too! We had a fun afternoon with Uncle James and Melanie.

I’ve also started a new project in the house…tearing out old carpet! This was before…right when we bought the house.

And this is after I got it all cleaned up. Under the carpet was the original tile. That all had to be scraped up, the adhesive had to be soaked in wet towels to soften and then that had to be scraped up. Then I scrubbed the floor with a brush to get as much of the old adhesive off as I could.

Not a fun job! Now I’m working in the kitchen peeling the linoleum up. The original tile was in there, too…same stinkin’ process as above!

The only upside to all of this scrubbing is that my arms are nice and toned! Hehe.

Well, I say the only upside. There were two…Elizabeth wanted to mop the floor for me! She moped as long as I was taking pictures…once I stopped, she said, “Take pictures, Momma!”

When I wouldn’t take anymore she then told me, “Ok, you do it!” and handed me the mop! What a DIVA!

Throw in a couple of family reunions, work, a few days Elizabeth spent with Nana and Grandpa, and a whole bunch of watering the grass and that about sums up our last couple of months!

Keeping my fingers crossed that TS Don bring us some rain!

The Garden Fly at Farmers Market

We were back for another day of Market today. It was a pretty warm day with a slight breeze. The slight breeze was good, too much wind and I’m always afraid my umbrella would fly away!

We had two tables again today, yes, I know…movin’ on up in the world! They weren’t both full, but I like how I can spread everything out a little.

We had a ton of cherry and salad tomatoes today. And I didn’t come home with a single basket!

Actually, all I did come home with was 1 onion, 2 bell peppers, 1 calabaza, and a hand full of slicing tomatoes!

Oh, and Elizabeth. I brought her home, too! She was a very good girl today and we had a good time at Market. On the way home she asked if we were on our way to Market again. Nope, not today, but we will be going back Saturday for the 3rd time this week!

Elizabeth bagged up a pint of tomatoes, walked around to the front of the table, asked me to weigh them, took the bag back, and walked back around the table to her chair. She then opened the bag and proceeded to eat her “purchase”! I told Travis that that was the only pint we didn’t sell, but I can’t complain when my little girl eats cherry tomatoes as a snack! I might have helped myself to a few, too!

Other than being hot, we had a great day at Market and we’re hoping for an even better day Saturday!

Perfect Roast Chicken

There’s a new recipe up on The Garden Fly! Ina Garten’s Perfect Roast Chicken.

The Garden Fly was at Farmers Market yesterday. We had a decent day and took loads of cherry tomatoes!

Elizabeth helped me sort all of the cherry tomatoes into boxes. She really liked just eating them better!

Our booth at Market yesterday. This was the first time I’ve brought two tables, we had so much produce!

I might be crazy, but we’re going to Market again tomorrow! This doesn’t give me much of a break…I have lots of picking to do today to get ready!

The Garden Fly at Farmers Market

The Garden Fly has been to Market a few times this year. These pictures were taken last Saturday, but we were also at Market today.

Travis, manning the table while I take a few shots.

Last Saturday, Market had 10 vendors! We had a great turnout and a gorgeous day!

I drive by Market some days when I’m not selling and it really is a sight-all of the canopies in the parking lot!

We had a pretty decent day at Market today. It was a little cool, overcast, and sprinkled on and off throughout the morning. The traffic could have been better, but given the weather, it was okay.

This was Day 2 of having packaged herbs. People are impressed that I have fresh herbs, which is good! Now, if only people would buy them! I did sell a few packages and I think as people get used to me having them, they’ll start to buy.

I’m also thinking I need to get some recipe cards to go with the herbs so people have something they can try. That may really get people interested and excited.

Anyone have some good (fairly easy) recipes that use fresh herbs? I’m happy to try them out for Market!

This Guy

Today is Matt’s 23rd birthday (well, for a few more minutes…). Getting old, Brother!

I wish I could put into words how much I love my “little” brother. He’s an awesome uncle to Elizabeth. She’s loves talking about Uncle Matt. When he’s around, she wants all of his attention.

He’s also turned out to be one of my best friends. I know I can call anytime and he’s willing to talk for a few minutes. He’s my personal assistant when it comes to helping me with “guy” stuff-especially gifts for Travis!

I know it won’t happen much anymore since Cheyenne moved, but I loved his pit stops at our house when he was on his way to see her or on his way back home. I like that when he’s here and Elizabeth is taking a nap, he’s happy to be taking a nap, too! (Ahem, maybe I nap, too…)

I don’t really think about it much, but I’ve realized over the few minutes I’m writing this, that I’m so thankful to have such a great brother. I’m really blessed. Life would be much different and not nearly as fun without him.

Happy Birthday, Brother! I love you, Matt!

A Few Things…

Ok, so I’ve been a teensy bit busy! I’ll try to do a better job of keeping up around here, even if they are just short posts and a few pictures.

The gardens are huge and have really been producing now for 4 weeks. In this time, I’ve canned green beans, pickled (yes, dill pickles!), and made 26 pints of peach jam. I’ve also got a sink of green beans washed and will can those in a bit.

This is part of the garden at O Road. We didn’t have enough space at our house, so we’re gardening at my in-laws, too!

Here, we’ve got red potatoes, black-eyed peas, cream peas, purple hull peas, 5 varieties of squash & zucchini, okra, sweet corn, cantaloupe, watermelon, cushaw/calabaza, dill & basil.

At our house, we have tomatoes (about 20 varieties), peppers (about 10 varieties), green beans (2 varieties), more squash, more zucchini, cucumbers, and English peas. We also had onions, but they’re out of the ground now. I’m sure I took pictures of our garden at P Road, but can’t find them now…

I’ve never taken pictures of Elizabeth on the potty. Never. I’m sure when she’s older she would have preferred that I kept it that way, but this was just too good not to document!

She’s reading Travis’ Biodiesel magazine! Reading all about fuels of the future!

“Leave me alone, Momma, I’m reading.”

Last Sunday, we drove down to Padre Island to meet and visit with Cheyenne’s family. Her uncle’s house is on a canal and has a swimming pool. Elizabeth was in heaven!

She looked so cute and couldn’t get enough of the water! We had many sets of eyes on her, don’t worry!

We had a nice time meeting everyone. And congratulations to Cheyenne who is one weekend away from being completely finished with school! Yay!

I’ve also been trying to keep up with my flower beds. I planted hydrangeas last year and the work to keep them alive has paid off! I have one pink hydrangea blooming this year and it is completely gorgeous!

I also have two blue hydrangeas, but the cold weather in February really set them back. I’m just glad they budded out and are alive! They’ll be ready to give us a show next year!

The biggest project I’ve been working on since January is the launch of my new business, The Garden Fly. Visit the site, tell me what you think!

I grow the vegetables, take orders, and deliver to homes and businesses. If I still have produce to sell once I’ve filled my orders, I take the rest to Farmers Market to sell there. I’ve been to Market twice since it opened and have nearly sold out of what I’ve taken.

So far, the garden season has gotten off to a good start. Now to keep advertising and getting the word out!

I also post recipes on The Garden Fly. Two have already been posted on this blog, but I just put a new one up today: Spiced Calabaza! Different, but good!

We received 1.3” of rain today! Thank goodness! We’ve been able to keep the gardens watered, but our yard was really needing it!

Now, I’m off to can more green beans!

Three

Our little girl is three today! I can’t believe that these years have gone so quickly! Travis had to leave to go out of town this afternoon, but we had a fun birthday morning!

Before I get to pictures of this morning, here is a look back!

Our family, the day Elizabeth was born.

One year old! Daddy had to buy her the HUGE ball!

Two…with an attitude!

Three! Being silly after French toast with chocolate chips on top for breakfast.

Just after some fake pouting…

She helped me make her birthday dirt cake and by the end, was covered in Oreo dust. So…the clothes had to come off to get cleaned up!

Opening gifts outside…it was a fairly nice, breezy morning.

“I’m Three!”

We gave her a glove, balls…

…a tee…

…and a bat! Everything you need for back yard t-ball!

Daddy helping hold the bat.

SWING, batter, batter!

Blowing out the candles!

Happy Birthday, Big Girl!! Daddy & I love you!