I'M A FARMER!

Ladies and gentlemen...our first bountiful harvest of snow peas, minus the 6 we already ate.










Everything is growing right now! This is our first real garden, so I try to just look at it as a big science experiment. If things grow, great. If they don't, then at least they are making the soil better for next year, right? I can't help but get excited when I see the progress though. I've become a bit obsessive about checking to see how it's doing every few hours. And I ALWAYS see something new, usually more weeds to yank out. About a month ago I made the mistake of telling a friend that 2 of our tomato plants looked like they were dying. The friend laughed (loudly) "No one can POSSIBLY kill a tomato plant in Sacramento!" After that, I made it my mission to prove him right. The tomatoes are thriving now, thank you very much. Just a little TLC. Something else is thriving in our garden and I'm not exactly positive what it is, though I have some good guesses. A volunteer plant has popped up in our garden in over 20 places. I pulled most of them out to allow room for what I actually planted there. But in a few places, I'm letting them go. I'm curious.

Here are two that volunteered to live among the tomatoes.

Here's one next to my sad carrots.


The one on the left, I planted. (yellow squash). The two on the right I did NOT. It's just one big squash party.


Here's one trying to flirt with the lettuce.


And oh look! There's a new one right in between the snow peas and green beans. (third wheel)


My theory is that they are cantaloupe or butternut squash. We've eaten our fair share of those and the seeds are probably all over our compost. It could be zucchini though....they all look the same to me in the beginning. I'm secretly hoping for cantaloupe because the ones I planted didn't come up. Go figure. And our family loves melon! If they are zucchini, I'll be doorbell-ditching some at each of your doorsteps. Those plants are no joke. Anybody have any guesses?

Mother's Day

I woke up to the pitter-patter of little feet and Nate’s hushed voice trying to stop Finn from coming into my room ahead of schedule with the home-made card. Then the happy squeal of Selah as Nate got her out of the crib (she always wakes up in the morning with a happy squeal of joy and random high-pitched words. “All done blanket! Bye bye teddy bear! Play room! Finn!”) Then Nate plops down a wonderful breakfast for me in bed, and all of us snuggle together there….me with my bed-head (and a photo to prove it) and Selah scarfs down half my breakfast while Finn gives me a play-by-play of how the breakfast was made. I love being a mother. Especially on Mother’s Day.



To my mamas:

Mom~ Thank you for always being willing to help – for being a total worker bee when you come here. For sharing your organizing tips, for teaching me about sewing and gardening. Thank you for answering when I call (like every day) and for listening to me ramble on about nothing. For driving down here on a moment’s notice sometimes and helping. I love the kind of wife and mother you are. You are always cheerful, selfless and lovely to be around. I hope I grow up to be just like you.

Peg~ Thank you for your devotion to Finn and Selah. I love how you play with them and listen to them. I love where our conversations go and how deeply you feel about things. Thank you for Fridays – for giving me that time away sometimes. Thank you for raising such a good man! I am so blessed to have you as my mother-in-law. I mean, you could have been anyone....(there are horror stories out there you know!) and I am so glad you are you!

Happy Mother’s Day
Love,
Katie

Weekends!

Who doesn't love weekends, really? Though the rain keeps coming back for more this year, the weekends have been warm and sunny, perfect for the outdoors. Last weekend was no exception. I had signed up for the American River Half Marathon a while back, and it sort of snuck up on me. I was not that prepared for it. (wait....that's what I said last time.....ugh... I always cram training in for these things!) But I went to the event with a couple of teachers that work with Nate, so it turned out to be really fun (I wasn't a loner like last time.) AND the race went along the beautiful American River Parkway, really close to our house and Nate and the kids showed up along the way on the bike and trailor several times to cheer me on. One time they even handed me my Gatorade. What a sweet family, huh? So supportive.






On Sunday, we decided to go on a hike. We hadn't really done that around here yet, but apparently there are oodles of hikes nearby. We went for an easy walk that the kids could do, with a 50ft waterfall to look forward to - Codfish Falls. It was perfect for our little family, and my useless legs.


The view was awesome the whole time.


Even this view....


I cannot confirm nor deny that any of our beloved state flowers may have been plucked from their natural surroundings during our hike. (It wasn't me)








Selah would have jumped right into the the fast flowing stream if we had let her. It's really fun to see her excited about the water. (That makes one kid.)






Finn made a friend at the waterfall. This butterfly wouldn't leave him alone!






Many more sunny weekends ahead! Yay!