Monday, May 11, 2009

Time for another Update

Honestly, it seems like I barely blink and another week has gone by. I've meant to post several times in the last couple weeks, but I seem to always get side-tracked.

This week is our last week of extra-curricular classes (orchestra, choir, P.E). In a way I'm glad about this, but in another way I'm not. It will be nice to be able to focus on wrapping up this school year (4 more weeks) without the distraction of running here and there. But the Professor is going to sorely miss his 3-days-a-week of Orchestra. He suggested to the teacher last week that "maybe they could have Summer band class?" lol I'm glad that he's so excited about learning and playing music. And he will continue to have clarinet and piano lessons throughout the summer, so he'll still get to put in lots of practice.

Later this week, my girlfriend from Alaska will be coming into town for a visit. Because she lives on an island, she always has a ton of places she wants to go when she comes here. She loves thrift stores as much as I do, so we'll be hitting all the local and semi-local ones. Plus shopping at the mall, which I myself have not visited since it was given a makeover (including a huge parking garage) a year ago or so. No, I don't do the mall scene much. But they do have a Cinnabon there...yum! That's worth a walk around the mall;)

Our weather has been rainy, with a few days of sunny weather thrown in here and there. We've been doing a lot of yardwork lately, as well as trying to figure out the best place to put this years garden. My hubby is thinking directly behind the house the best place... right where our playstructure is sitting. We've been talking about selling it anyway, and the spot would definitely get lots of sun. But we would have to level the spot a bit, something he says wouldn't be that hard. We do have access to a small tractor, so we may go that route. Meanwhile, I've been offered some railroad ties to use for my raised beds. But some people say not to use them because they're treated with some kind of chemical; others say if the ties are weather-worn the chemicals won't affect anything. I like the idea of free supplies, but the quality of my veggies does matter, so if anyone cares to weigh-in on the subject please do.

I think that's all for now. Have a great Monday~

11 comments:

Nikki said...

I've been wondering where you were, but I figured you were just busy. I'm glad that's all it was.

Have fun with your friend! I always enjoy seeing my out-of-town friends when they come visit. Luckily, I live in the same town as their parents.

My mom used railroad ties for all of her beds at their old house, but she only grew flowers in them. No veggies. I'm sorry that I'm no help.

Mrs. Darling said...

Theres been a huge discussion about the use of railroad ties for veggies on the yahoo homeschool group. They are fine for flowers but a huge no no for veggies. Some have been saying they did it and the veggies were tested and came out with huge amounts of chemicals in them. Some said that when they tore out there railroad ties the county recommended treating the soil for toxinous chemicals before planting it again.

MyKidsMom said...

Mrs.Darling, that's basicly what I've been reading in the discussions on gardening blogs. But I also happen to know that many people in the Northwest are a little overboard on the environmental issues, so I don't always give full weight to what they say. I've also read where people have used them without issues, so I guess the jury is still out on this one. Craigslist has lots of other freebie materials if a person has time to run here and there. But sometimes time is money (as they say) so we'll have to see. Think I can put my wave petunias in yet?

Nikki said...

My garden is done with cinder blocks; would they work for yours? I don't know, that's why I'm asking. I also don't know how expensive they are.

MyKidsMom said...

I wouldn't mind using cinder blocks, but I've heard they're more expensive than wood. I've checked various sources online, and also Craigslist. I may just decide to go with my original garden spot as it's been cleared now, and it would only be a matter of killing the weeds, and putting in new soil. But I worry about my tomatoes having enough sun there. I pretty much plan my garden around my tomatoes,lol. Thanks for the suggestions Nikki.

Mrs. Darling said...

I just block cinder block for 16 cents a stone on craigslist. I thought last time you planted your tomatoes in that garden they did just fine, didnt they? It sure is the easiest way to go - just planting in Gods green earth or brown dirt or..well you get my drift. LOL

Mrs. Darling said...

That should say I bought cinder blocks not that I blocked them!

MyKidsMom said...

No Mrs.Darling, they didn't do well at all. And they didn't get enough sun either. I'm not considering doing a raised garden just for the fun of it, but in hopes of getting a better harvest.

What did you buy cinder block for? Are you now doing a raised bed yourself? lol

Mrs. Darling said...

What do you mean "am I now doing a raised bed?" Honey, I have had raised beds for 15 years! When it comes to gardening there is little this old decrepit woman hasn't done. I have the tennis elbow and carpal tunnel to prove it! Oi!

You certainly have seen my raised strawberry bed. My plan since last year has been to add to that bed. I got stone for just that - to add to my strawberry beds.

But no, I am not going to raised beds for my canning garden. What with all the land I have and at the rate I can and the hugeness of what I need raised beds are too much work to make and keep up. I want to be able to take a tiller out there and plow everything under every year.

MyKidsMom said...

Umm... a simple yes or no would have worked,lol. And I did not mean your strawberries, because technically according to that criteria I have also done raised beds. I'm talking about the veggie garden. I had someone offer some cement blocks to me today, but I'm thinking of just using the old garden area, but moving things around a bit. Tomatoes where the zucchini used to be, ect. This weekend is supposed to be fabulous weather, so the timing should be perfect.

Marva said...

Glad to see you are well! Been missing you. I have an award for you! Blessings!