Out Of Outdoor Shape

Ahhhh, the snow be gone and the garden be calling. We have big plans this year, just like every year. The mystery is whether or not those plans will ever come to fruition. Or fruit.

Off to a lazy start

We had morning distractions of the adorable sort

You can see the mess we left last fall. The winter was no help.

After some lite cleanup we saw our first sign of life

Much cleaner, but it took most of the day

I was rebuilding the rock wall along the side of the property to rightfully reclaim what was ours

But rocks be heavy and I am old and fat

It was still a little chilly to be outside so this guy was bundled right

But it wasn't cold enough to keep us from Maryann's on their premiere weekend. We did eat in the car tho... Brr.

Staring At Three Separate Screens

We should be ashamed of ourselves. The three of us spent the entire day in the same room, within feet, and stared at three separate screens. Mine faced east, Laura's southwest, and Yuula's shifted as the child rolls. Apparently more quality family time was not one of our resolutions.

In everyone's defense Yuula had a fever of 102, Laura was squeezing in a rom/com before work, and I had some business to attend to before hopefully having the weekend off. But even as the fever broke and Laura's store closed, we still stared straight ahead. I guess this is one of those super lazy days. And that's fine. I kind of expected them to be coming, but just not quite yet. Laura still has to go in tomorrow and I have a good bit of house rebuilding that needs to be done til we can really earn that big loafing experience. 

I was the lone soul to leave the bedroom today, as it was my duty to refill the expired medications that litter our cabinets. I hoped that by the time I returned from the pharmacy that more medications would not have expired.

The roads were barren, save a handful of plows not plowing and a fistful of cars that had become entrenched in snowbanks and deserted for the greater good. I drove in the single digits, temp and mph, but made it home safe and sound.

Sick and snow days, every man for himself. Maybe that's why my lunch was crackers and cheese and my dinner was lettuce. Being the only well person in the homestead, I am treating today like a true Friday and tying up any loose ends so I lose ends this weekend.

And probably eat more lettuce.

But for now Yuula's fever has spiked again, but she's in good spirits. I think as long as she has her pink unicorn the child is content. But that unicorn takes up a lot of room, and Laura is watching Home Alone 2, for some unknown reason. 

Looks like I'm sleeping on the couch.

For It Will Be Gone By Morning

So we knew there was to be a storm on Monday night. We got our work done early and cleaned up the yard real good. Put things in their place, seating for company, rearranged the decks real nice, even swept the porches and patios. Locked up sheds and cleared walkways of debris. Wow, did it look nice in our yard.

Then there we felt a raindrop.

Inside we go. Time to settle in for some cozy rainstorms while we play with baby and listen to the lull of pitter patter on the patios. Then the pitter patter got loud. Then the winds got heavy. I swear to you some of those skinnier taller gals were bending at 90 degrees. Laura flashed back to her days living midwest and seeking shelter in the basement of which we have none. The first thing that goes is the power.

Not so bad. Next we hear the slamming of hail on the roof and decks.

Then almost immediately, like a bad Asian Simon & Garfunkel cover, the sound of sirens.

Yuula decided to see how candlelight would affect her color drawings.

When the barrage finally let up I went out to survey the damage. Down limbs all over the yard. Rocks washed away by heavy rain. Piles of hail randomly scattered throughout the property. I'm so glad we worked so hard all weekend.

At least a tree didn't fall on our cars. One almost did, but, we had about 15 feet.

Our neighbors were not so lucky.

Neither was the bed of lettuce.

So rather than get upset, we took in the silence (now) and kept our fingers crossed that our power would return before we had to, for the second time this year, throw out all our refrigerator/freezer goods. I think Santa is bringing a generator this year, as long as it fits down the chimney.

And as a direct result of the bad storm and power outage, Yuula ended up in a Walmart bathroom without pants on.

Supposed to get some "severe" weather today. Keep it coming.

Healthy In The House

We had our first CSA load to pick up yesterday. It was a delicious mix of lettuces, radish, beets, sugar snap peas (which were almost gone before we got home), kohlrabi, scallions, garlic vinegar, strawberries, potatoes, zucchini, sage, mint, along with some other things I failed to identify before I left. We'll figure it out.

Yuula helped fill the basket.

Now the task at hand is finding a good recipe that incorporates all of these things and then make that.

Like she's stealing stuff.

Anyone know what this is?

Spring Rejuvenates, A Countdown Ruminates

OH! It felt so good to get outside in the warmth yesterday and get our hands in the dirt. Granted all we did was clean up some of the mess made by winter and plant a few flowers, but it really got our spring to sprung and now I can't wait for this weekend when we're gonna spend two whole days working in the yard. Who'd'a thunk it?

Yuula learns to water plants instead of her pants

just let us

Yuula, can you say clematis?

Laura never could resist a good tulip

her aim's a little off but the intent is there

I love a girl who's not afraid to get her feet dirty

the grill open for business and may have customers every evening

that bandaid is legit

done

The only unknown now is how long will it take for me to give into the heat and shear my woolen coat.

The countdown begins...