Stomach Bugs and a Growing Garden

Over the weekend we caught whatever horrible stomach bug is going around.  It ruined both my birthday and Mother's Day (not really ruined but made parts of it less fun . . . much less fun).

 

 

This is a scene from Monday morning and really shows what we did all day.  Couch time with books, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and a barf bowl next to poor D, who was still at it until lunch time.  Horrible, horrible, horrible.  So sorry for little cousin H that picked it up from the girls.  I hope she doesn't spread it to anyone else. 

 

On a better note though, things outside are still growing and the little rain we received last week is helping.  More is forecasted for tomorrow so I hope we get something.



Baby M checking out the strawberries and green onions a few weeks ago.

One tomato plant is out front in a pot and has produced four tomatoes so far.  These two in the back yard were planted much later. They have a couple small ones growing and a few flowers showing promise.

 Sunflowers that the girls planted are all starting to bloom

So proud of how big the green onions have gotten.  Any time I've grown them before they never got as big as store bought.  These are huge and tasty.

The pot of herbs are flourishing-- sage, chives, thyme and parsley.  Next time I need some cilantro and basil.

Strawberries are bearing the occasional fruit and the radish plant from the OC Fair Centennial Farm trip has gotten so big.

Our limes are coming along.  There are already some little ones growing and still more blooms.  Yay!

Down on the Farm

After hearing about the OC Fair Centennial Farm Discovery Days this morning, I made an impromptu decision to head there with the girls.  We had fun.  They have all the farm animals including calves, kids, chicks and adorable piglets.

I think only horses and turkeys were missing.  M mooed when she saw the cows and tried bleating at the sheep.  She really like the animals.  D and T planted radish seeds that they brought home and we put in our garden. 

The farm also had a produce bin for people to take the fresh picked fruits and veggies in lieu of donation.  The kids could then walk around the farm and find where they were grown.  They had huge, gorgeous heads of lettuce that I wanted to get, but didn't have a bag for.  Unfortunately I couldn't handle it with the stroller and the kids.  I really wish I had been able to though.  It looked so tasty.  Instead we settled on a leaf of swiss chard and a radish.  The girls and I munched on the swiss chard while we walked around to find where it was growing.  They thought it was bitter but ate it anyway.  We tried the radish at home because I needed to wash and cut it.  They were much more willing to eat it because they saw how and where it grew.

It was a fun morning.  If I had a chance to do it again, I would definitely bring a bag for produce, go earlier (arrive at 9 instead of 10) when there are fewer school groups and not forget my hat. 

Gardening

 

We have a very sad, pathetic garden at my mother's house.  My brother, the girls and I take care of it.  My brother is busy with work and other engagements elsewhere most of the time.  Although he had an awesome, abundant garden two years ago, he just doesn't have time for it these days.  

The girls and I are always here, but we don't get a lot done.  Most of the time the girls aren't interested in checking on it every evening.  When we do go down to check on it, I am always holding Baby M, which limits what I can do.  I often spend some time admonishing the girls not to step on the plants, or directing them were to plant new seeds.  Sometimes the girls will dig up a weed or two.  Most of the time though, we wait for the automatic sprinklers to come on so the girls can get wet.  That is what gardening is with two 3 year olds and an 8 month old. 

The yellow squash is doing pretty well now that the critters have started to leave them alone.  No fruit is growing yet though, just flowers for now.

The tomato plants, which were looking beautiful for awhile there, were attacked by tomato bugs (tomato hornworms) while the girls and I were out of town.  The picture below is of the aftermath where I found 7 fatty ones chomping away.  For next year's garden, I need to plant marigolds or dill with the tomatoes and get some wasps according to the farmer's almanac. 

 

Currently, there are only two things growing that we can actually eat.  One pepper plant has a single pepper on it, although the plant itself has been devoured by something (a rabbit possibly or pack rat).  I also stuck a leek cutting from the kitchen into the ground a week or two ago and it is doing beautifully.  I did the same with a celery cutting and hope it will also be a success.

 

Although not much is happening in the garden, I am still glad that we have it.  It is a good activity for the girls to learn about where food comes from and for them to get dirty.  Hopefully as they all grow older, we will be able to have a large and productive garden together.