Or to use a phrase from Duck Dynasty ..... Happy, happy, happy.
Happy stuff to talk about for a few. Take you into Friday!
Well the third year with my raised beds are FINALLY working.
First year, and I can read, but rarely follow written instructions, I planted like three times too much stuff and way too close together. In the end couldn't tell where one plant started and another ended. Not a good result with production. Next year I got the stuff in late, didn't fertilize the soil, and it was like 105-110 for two weeks straight. Everything lived and grew, and grew. Nothing flowered and produced.
This year I followed directions on spacing. Bought manure and compost (I can't get my compost bin to work darn it) to fertilize the soil. Got stuff in earlier.
I'd post pics of all my different tomatoes, 6 kinds of peppers, and eggplants, but alas Flickr is down for maintenance :).
Tomorrow heading to see mom. Health keeps getting better.
Oh the rest below the fold.
My grandmother was a "master canner." My family until really my parents have always owned some land (acres at least) and grown stuff. Some rich folks in that mix, but we always farmed the land with our own hands. My grandmother had about an acre of apple trees (among other things -- grandfather liked to chop down trees and plane the wood in his workshop to make stuff -- he was a master woodworker).
Grandmother on my mom's side used to can, I kid you not apple sauce she mixed with red hots. Yeah those little candies. It wasn't something for the "kids," it was eaten by all. It was FUCKING AMAZING. Imagine a pork chop, some fresh green beans, potatoes, and red hot apple sauce!
Mom this weekend is going to teach me how to do it. Can "old school" start to finish. I am making salsa.
And best of all I get to see my niece Katie (she is 4). I don't have any kids myself (I am 43), and well I am the "cool uncle." I see her pretty often, but usually only for a few hours here or there each time. This weekend I'll get three full days with her. That usually only happens at Christmas.
I just finished putting together my Katie "to go pack" for the trip. Got the newest version of Cut the Rope on my Android tablet. We'll play that. My 10 different color Sharpie markers and a pad of high quality paper. We're going to draw stuff.
And this may sound strange, but first time I will be with her at my parents house. My grandfathers house. The house my great grandfather built.
My parents have not kept up the yard. And it isn't like a "royal garden." But even almost two decades after my grandmother passed away it is still kind of stunning. Flowers everywhere. Benches you can sit on. Bird feeders. Bird baths. Secret hiding places. Maybe even a little pond and a small waterfall :).
Can't wait to take off our shoes and run around with her.
So happy, happy, happy. I can't wait until tomorrow at 9 AM when my brother picks me up (why waste gas) and we head east across Southern Illinois.