So Much Garden Work

 It's really nice starting from a clean slate but I also feel like it's a lot of work! I was awarded a Lawns to Legumes grant - it's for $350 and I'm super excited! The area where I'll be putting in natives is right under the two new windows next to the door. This area gets so much water drainage and I need plants to suck up the water and not flood my yard! The stairs onto the new patio area - that area is also basically a pond in the spring, so we need to do something about it, my best idea is to do a permeable patio surface so instead of doing a concrete patio, the patio is going to be mostly pavers however, we'll have 2-4 inches of gravel between each paver to let the water go into the ground instead of sitting on top. Also, towards the lawn corner of the patio, I can dig out a french drain where the water can pool and be released back into the ground. 

So much work but I can't wait for it to be finished so we can finally enjoy our new backyard!

Started Seeds

 This winter seems so long. I'm not sure if it's because the snow started early or if it's because it just doesn't seem to stop!

Hot peppers and lavender are started. Now is the time to get the veggies and fruits started that LOVE the heat and sun. Our zone 4 doesn't have a long enough season for the pepper plants to get really good fruit on them so if we give them a good 8-10 week boost, we should have some good peppers by the end of August!

Now is also the time to get "woody" herbs like lavender, thyme, and sage started. They also need the extra time so the plants can use the energy to put into the leaves instead of growing by the end of the season.

At the school garden this spring, we're not going to do an extended season because the plants can get so finicky in the beds AND you have to check them almost 2-3x per day. No, thank you! Instead we're going to introduce the extended season by putting up plastic to warm the beds and melt the snow!

I'm ready for spring!

Adventures to Come!

Passport photo = Check

We're heading out on adventures this summer and I'M SO EXCITED. I think the kids are going to see an ocean or maybe a sea. And eat all the food. And be in a place where the native language isn't English.

Also. Happy Valentine's Day!

 

The Daily Star Wars Battle in Photos

 

Ski Day!

 

We've had the weirdest weather lately! And SO MUCH SNOW. On Wednesday we went skiing with friends and had so much fun! We'll have to do it again!

Congrats to North Loop Motorsports!

It was so exciting a few weekends ago! CJ and I went down to Austin, Texas for the last WRL race of the season. This was needed to be there to clinch the GP2 National Championship, which they did!

The team ended up with a double win AND the championship after an VERY exciting last hour of each race. Saturday's finish was completed by Davis and CJ finished the race on Sunday - he brought the 6 second lead up to about 20 seconds with a yellow. Oh, man. Sunday was so exciting, I had to pee 2 times in the last 15 minutes, I was so nervous. 

They did a great job and I can't wait to see what they do next year. 2023 should be a much lighter race schedule, which means that CJ will get to work on his own track car and his own Lotus, but we'll also have kids in sports next summer, so it'll be busy no matter what.

Way to go, North Loop!

 

I'm The Garden Lady

 

Earlier this year, in the spring, I started volunteering with the Garden Committee at the school by our house. I finally was able to get a routine going, I was able to keep the house clean, get all the kids gathered together and actually had a handle on life, which seems pretty odd after living through a pandemic where nothing was together. 

The ladies that I volunteer with are fantastic and one is done after this spring. I'm going to volunteer myself to be garden chair because now I actually have time and it's something that I want to do. I really like how satisfying it is teaching the kids something about plants. 

In any case, last week one full grade actually got to go on a field trip to the local Arboretum and the kids all planted garlic cloves. This is interesting because garlic is supposed to be planted in the fall AND in the ground. Our garden is closed down and it's done for the season - we planted our garlic in the beds already. And there's snow on the ground!

The teachers asked if we could get the grow lights out so of course I said yes. I decided to organize the cart and get the little cloves under the lights. I have them timed for about 8 hours per day. I'll move that up to 10 hours per day either tomorrow or Wednesday, I think. I'm going to send the kids home with their sprouted garlic cloves the day before they leave for Winter Break. I found some bags and then I'll tie them up with some nice ribbon so it looks like a little gift for their parents. And instructions are also always handy when it comes to plants!

Como Conservatory

I LOVE the Como Zoo & Conservatory in the winter time. Especially the Conservatory.

I love the plants, the flower show they have, the humidity levels. The smell of the Spice room. It's amazing. And such a reprieve from the snow and cold outside. 

Last year we saw mini pumpkins on a stick and so even though I don't have a green house, I put them in pots and the plants are growing - slowly but surely! This year the marigolds and chrysanthemums are GORGEOUS. I really like these Fireball Marigolds and I may have to hunt down some seeds!

So many mums to look at.

And ornamental cabbages and kales. 

And houseplants. And aloes. And everything.

 

Dog Wash Is In Use

It's officially winter. The boots are in use. Snow is on the ground!

 

Addition is Almost Done

Half the trim was installed yesterday. Today the plumbers and electricians are here. Siding was dropped off in the driveway yesterday and so they should be here today. 

No more window above my kitchen sink! Although now our kitchen looks super crappy compared to the new portion. At some point we'll have to do something about it. I really want an undermount sink to be able to scrub and clean really well but also - I'm in love with butcher block, with an undermount sink that might not be possible because I really don't want mold or water damage. I may have to do some research and figure out something new to dream about. 

I still need to touch up some stain on the shelf and add a coat of polycrylic to prevent water damage and save the stain. And then do trim touch ups and fill in some nail holes. I still need to do some detail touch up in the basement from last year so I'm just going to do it all at the same time. With the kids in school, I can plan to dedicate a day to just doing this so I'm pretty excited.

We're so close to done! I'm so happy!