Inch By Inch, Row By Row

Our garden has been planted! As soon as they lifted the water ban (which was in place for almost two years) we decided that it was time to head to Russell's to purchase our seedlings for this year's garden. We planted a little over a week ago, and though it has been chilly and rainy the plants seem to be happy in their new homes. This year we will be growing: lettuce, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, pumpkins, potatoes, peas, carrots and sunflowers (the last three being planted from seeds). xo

Sunday

Fresh squeezed orange juice with Sunday breakfast. Helping serve communion at church (the girls did a stellar job). More unpacking. Putting the finishing touches on the craft cabinet (welcome back Math Gnomes!). Making sure that the cat traps are indeed still working, and checking on the progress of the carrots in the garden. It was a splendid Sunday from start to finish! xo

Yesterday And Today

Yesterday the girls set up our "summer table" and spent a good deal of time on the porch reading and knitting. Setting this spot up last year was one of our favorite things, and we all felt that it must be continued this year (and each summer as well). With the renovations taking place this summer I think this spot is going to be even more essential than it already was. 

In the evening, after dinner, the four of us spent some time tending the garden. 

Support was given to the peas and to this sweet Morning Glory that we were surprised to find growing in one of the garden beds. 

 The gnomes finally made it their spots in the garden beds, too. 

The day ended with the girls and Gretchen snuggled together in their "new" room. They've clearly missed sharing a bed, and there's talk that once they're back in their usual room that they'll be pushing their beds together again. 

 Today. 7:38am. The storage container arrives. 

 This will house most of our belongings for the duration of the renovations. 

By 7:48am the container was in it's spot in our driveway and the empty truck was on it's way back to the lot. 

 Mid-day. 

 "Mama, we have our own dance floor!" 

Awaiting the addition of the larger furniture.  

 We did our first Camp Google experiment today. 

 The girls wondered what the eggs would do when different amounts of salt were dissolved in the water. It was decided that the only glass where the amount would change would be the middle one. 

It was fun to see the different results, though we all agreed that seeing the eggs at three different levels (like shown above) was our most favorite! 

Couches tipped on their sides + a table cloth = one super cool tent!

We're happy to have the boxes in the container and the house one step closer to being brought back to its usual gorgeous state! Thank you to everyone who helped us as we got ready for the renovations to begin. We are especially grateful to those who: loaned us bins and boxes, helped us pack, shared their knowledge, wisdom and suggestions with us, who are providing construction free shelter to our sweet guinea pig, and to those who have offered us places to escape to when we need a break from living in a construction zone. We are so blessed and so grateful to all of you and truly cannot thank each of you enough! xo

Our Garden

This past Saturday was absolutely gorgeous and completely perfect for planting our garden. With rain forcast for Sunday we knew that we had to get the seedlings and seeds in the ground then so that they'd be able to take root and really make our garden beds their home for the season. 

Emma planted the tomato plants. 

And Grace was all about the peppers. 

While Grace was finishing up planting the peppers, Emma got to work on the lettuce. 

It was decided that we'd attempt carrots again this year with the hope that they would get mistaken for weeds this time around! 

We don't do much from seed as we just don't have the space in our house (or the ability to keep them warm enough) to start them ahead of time. However, we will plant seeds when they can directly go in the ground as is the case with carrots, peas and sunflowers. 

The girls plant the pea seeds. They're going in a wee bit later than we'd have liked but with how funky the weather's been lately we figured better late(r) than never. 

Emma planting sunflower seeds. 

Grace plants her sunflower seeds.

There are still a few more seedlings that we need to buy (squash, zucchini) and we have yet to plant potatoes in the coffee bean sacks (like we did last year) but they're on the agenda too. Once the gardens are complete we'll put the garden gnomes in which is pretty much like putting the cherry on top of the sundae for this Waldorf family! 

While we were busy planting the mail arrived, and in the mail was this very sweet birthday/thank-you gift from my dear friend Patricia (and lovingly made by my super talented artist friend Heather). It was an absolute treat to be gifted this print which totally makes me think of Grace, Emma and I! Thank you, Patricia and Heather, for this absolutely wonderful gift! It's currently on our nature table until I can find the perfect frame and wall for it to hang on! I just adore it (and you both)! xo