Earlier this week I was shredding and preparing the umpteenth lot of Summer Squash to put up in the freezer and had my daughter helping me to wash them while I was in the kitchen shredding. Between washings she was running off to do other stuff, so I called to her - "I need a squash washer! Where's my squash washer?" My dog (Sasha) came running in so happy with her little tail going like mad and that crazy 'smile' on her face - just delighted to be included! I felt so tenderly for the poor little thing - confusing her name - SASHA - with SQUASH WASHER - that I offered her a piece. She wasn't interested. She has a new nickname now though!
I've learned alot about home gardening this year. I knew only the meagerest amounts from the small gardens growing up and I thought I was pretty handy, but I was taught many lessons this season:
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Those row spacing / plant spacing guidelines on the seed package are there for a reason. 'They' are not just trying to waste your limited garden space.
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Small children can get lost in squash jungles - and 3 rows is WAY too many.
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Crawling between the rows under the okra to pull weeds is a great way to stay cool - and hide from the kids for a little while - on a hot day.
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Don't plant the peas too close to the 3 rows of squash jungle. The squash is merciless to smaller plants and trellises.
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You can never have too many tomato stakes.
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Do what the Mennonite man said and get EVERYTHING in no later than Labor Day, no matter what.
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Even a few bean plants are incredibly productive!
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Ditto with the cucumbers.
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Green Peppers don't like me. They dislike imposing squash jungles even more. Jalapenos might like me - they are still conferencing about it.
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Gourds sure do make loooooonnnnnnggg runners!!
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Corn like more water than you would think.
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Preparing stuff to put up in the deep freezer takes alot longer than expected.
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Squash of all varieties appear to be astringent - my hands are always shriveled and gross after cutting them up.
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I don't like carrots, and they don't like me.
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Once the broccoli finally comes around, it is the most lovely shade of blue-green!
Can you believe it's almost school time again? The summer went by very quickly! I've got most of our supplies bought so far. Still need to do the sneaker and clothes thing. One of the worst items needed is the $120 TI-83 Graphing Calculator that my son needs for 10th grade. What is up with that? We used to actually DO our math with PAPER and PENCILS back when I was in school. I'm trying to win one cheap on eBay, but they are in heavy demand.
I did win something I've been wanting for a while on eBay this week that I am very excited about - a knitting machine! I'm a little ashamed to admit it. It makes me feel a bit like a traitor to hand knitting. I will still do hand knitting of course, and so far I still fall on the side of the argument that machine knitting is not "real" knitting. That said though, I found some beautiful things on the web this week that were done on a machine with hand-manipulated stitches. I might be swayed to some degree. Again though - at this point I would still say it's not "real" knitting, but is a different form of knitted craft that I don't quite have a name for yet.
You'll be delighted to know, I'm sure, that my pee sticks came in the mail yesterday and I tested negative for both protein and glucose. Is that TMI? Ah well. Weight is good, BP is excellent. I'm hearing alot more fat jokes around here than I would like from both the kids and the hubby. They all insist that they wouldn't tease me if they didn't love me and that I have a thin skin. I think they underestimate hormonal fluctuations and that if they know what's good for them they won't make fat jokes to a lady who's often carrying sharp pointy sticks, scissors, or other sharp instruments.
I'm at 22 weeks now. Officially my due date is December 9. With every prior pregnancy though, I have always been adjusted up a week, so I'm thinking I'm going to be lucky to make it through Thanksgiving dinner without making it unforgettable for everyone there.
My daughter is finally excited. (She didn't believe us at first) She is always hugging and talking to Vince and saying she wants him here NOW! It's refreshing! Now if I can only get my 15 y/o on board!
As I said before, I'm nesting already because I know there is going to be so much to do with the business, Christmas, etc. around the when Vincent arrives. This week I instituted a new household policy to my band of merry slobs - RAOC or "Random Act of Cleanliness": No matter how small or how large, do SOMETHING every single day to make our home a more pleasant place to live. We've seen small progress thus far. No-one is waving pompoms and writing cheers at this point, but I'm hoping it will come.
Gee whiz have I rambled on!! I must be off! I've got bagoodles of yarn that needs to start through the dyeing process, and 50 billion pounds of squash, gourds, green beans and cucumbers that need to be put up in the deep freeze today sitting on the kitchen counter calling to me.
Have a great weekend. I'll be back with a 22 week belly shot soon! That tattoo is now on my side instead of on my front!
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