Just Another Day in Summer

I haven't written in forever, because I typically steer clear of political posts.  But, I also generally write about the things I see and hear going on around me.  As a result, I have just kept my mouth shut lately!  That's quite a feat for me, indeed.

Flower has spent most of the summer at her dad's house out in South Carolina, but thankfully she will be home in less than a week!  I know she is having fun, but, I prefer having all my little chicks in my coop.  It has given me the opportunity to completely redo her room the way she has been begging for it to be done.  Hot pink, black, white, and music.  Barb Wire Man isn't too keen on the hot pink, but such is the life when you have a 10 year old daughter!

I've been putting a ton of energy into my garden this year, too.  If you've read much of this blog, you know that I'm cheap.  I'm cheap, and I like to make sure I have lots of food in my home all the time.  And it looks like I may be canning a ton of food soon.  This year, I have squash (which is putting out faster than a rabbit), jalapenos, radishes, carrots, beets, okra, cherry tomatoes, large tomatoes, onions, strawberries, green beans, rhubarb, and okra.  Closer to the end of summer I will also put some lettuce in.  Hopefully I'm going to be able to make lots of spaghetti sauce, salsa, some pickles, and some strawberry jam!

I know it is still a ways off, but Barb Wire Man and I are also planning our 10th anniversary!  We have about 2 years, but are planning a vow renewal ceremony.  I'm sure I will write a post on it later, but the long and short of it is, we came to the conclusion that we must spend more time focusing on us.  

That's it for today.  I'm sitting outside in 100 degree weather, watching Little Man play in the kiddie pool, and Barb Wire Man will be home soon.  I'm keeping cool with a delicious beer.  Maybe several delicious beers, but that is beside the point!

Be blessed today!

I Am No Dummy!

Little Man and I have been spending a lot of time at the library lately.  We don't normally do that, mainly because when all the day care kids are here it is hard to get out.  And libraries are supposed to be quiet, and all my kids are...noisy.  Anyhow, I want to instill a love for book in Little Man, and the library is nice and cold.  And it isn't running on my electricity bill.

Anyhow, I checked out a book called Blogging for Dummies, by Susannah Gardner and Shane Birley.  The good news is, I'm not a dummy!  WOOT!  I knew a lot of it already, at least the setting it up, designing it, etc.  Unfortunately, my life would have bee a lot easier if I had had this book when I first started.  I've also learned quite a bit about blogging, though, and some of it quite important. (And just to clarify, for the blogging world, this is just my own opinion of a book I happened to read.  I wasn't compensated in anyway. Hell, they didn't even ask me to but I am anyway!)

Long story short, my blogging friends, go check this book out.  You'll learn some interesting stuff.  Unless you are a know-it-all, in which case you probably aren't even reading my little blog.

I have more tomatoes from my garden!  My life is just so complete now!  It sure is funny how many people you learn are your friends once they found out you have a garden.  Suddenly, I'm everyone's buddy, and really must tell them if I have more tomatoes than I can handle.  Obviously, they have never seen just how many tomatoes I can eat in one day, but I'll keep them in mind.

Back to the grind, I suppose.  Would you be so awesome, and recommend me to your friends?  I'm so close to having 200 followers, and I would really love to see it happen before Friday!  I might even save you some tomatoes for linking me up to you facebook and such!

Have a wonderful day, and be blessed!

Weekend Recap

What a great weekend!  I got a ton accomplished, and had fun with friends and neighbors.  I got our garage cleaned out, which was no small feat.  I'd been asking Barb Wire Man to do it for awhile, but, you know what they say - "If you want something done right, do it yourself."  So I just got out there and did it.  Of course, I would choose a 100 degree day to do it, but still, it got done.

I had stored some of the kids too-small clothing out there for a day when I could take it to our local thrift store.  We only have one in town, and they only accept donations on Thursdays and Fridays.  I brought all the bags of clothes into the house, so come Thursday, I will surly take them to get them out of my way.

I think I need to have a garage sale, too.  I love to go to garage sales.  I hate to actually have one though.  It is so much work, and I have so many better things to do.  But, I may just buckle down and do it.

I also harvested some more tomatoes out of my garden!  SO EXCITED!  I cannot wait until I have more tomatoes than I know what to do with!  I planted some mint in a container this year too, and it is going crazy.  I think I am going to dry it, so I have plenty of mint for tea come winter!

Little Man and I had a blast on Friday when we went to feed the "ducklins"!  They are so used to people that the geese and ducks will walk right up to you.  They would literally pull the bread out of Little Man's hand, which he wasn't too thrilled with.  Once we ran out of bread, they started nipping at our pockets!  I got a little nervous about being surrounded by 30 ducks, and had to pick him up and run to our car!  We even had ducks and geese trying to get in our car!  I won't lie...it was somewhat traumatic!

I don't think I will be adding too many new items to 13 Plum Knitting this week.  Our town is holding a July celebration on the 7th, and I'm teaming up with a friend to have a booth.  They have a craft show, but we will be outside.  She and her husband will be making jerky and salsa, and I will be selling jelly and rolls (and hopefully some of my crafts as well).  For me, that means making a lot more apricot preserves, and a lot of rolls!  Thankfully, that is something I love to do!  If you are close by, you should come to Hereford that day! From the sound of things, there will be tons of food vendors, tons of arts and crafts vendors, and tons of activities for the family!  Let me know if you want more info, and I can surely get that to you!

Better go start that jelly.  Have a wonderful day, and be blessed!