Plants

 I've always wanted to try to grow a garden but have been scared to try.  

Maybe it's because I've spent so much time involved in the feeding and watering of humans over the past few years...or maybe it's because I couldn't handle anything more on my plate...whatever it is...I haven't done it.  

This past Halloween someone put some kind of gourd / squash / pumpkin thingy in our side yard.  It was well enough hidden that I didn't notice until about May - when I was weeding and found some gorgeous yellow flowers that were just too pretty to pull up.  

Good Thing!  

I have to tell you...I'm getting so much joy from caring for this plant and watching it grow.  The kids refer to the plant as our "Gater Garden" (as in the Gourds to be named lATER).  I've been researching the flowers and hand pollinating them as needed (yes, we cover pumpkin sex in homeschool).  We were worried because we had over 20 flowers at one point and they were all male. But this past week, we've noticed some female flowers with the beginnings of fruit.  There are 4 that are definite (fingers crossed they don't get eaten - bunnies were going to town on one of the female flowers earlier) and one definite maybe...We'll see what we get in a couple of months.  I may be inspired to do a more intentional garden next year.  

The success with the Gaters inspired us to do a kitchen experiment in hydroponics.  Basil, rosemary and lemon mint have all rooted and are almost ready for transplant.  Next time I will separate all the species...but I wasn't that smart this time.  I would love a kind of kitchen shelf above my sink with special lights to have an indoor herb garden...I'll have to put that on the list for when we redo our kitchen.  

Chilling with CATS

 My name is Benjamin Watson.  

      Tsietle is a cute gray cat.  PD is a red tabby PD loves catnip socks.  Tsietle likes to sleep in the empty sinks.  Pd grooms Tsietle and when Tsietle wants to go PD hits her.   Wham! Then he hold her down and keeps grooming.  

        Its so much fun to watch.

A Summer of MisAdventure.

 It's a week away from the end of August. 

We shall never have the same summer twice.  For better, for worse and for different - the summer of 2020 is almost over.  

We have baseball back, which adds a much needed layer of comfort to our evenings.  Hearing Joe Castiglione croon sweet nothings just makes me happy.  Even if the Sox suck.  Which they do.  Wicked Bad.  It's okay...as long as I can listen to my game.  

We're back at school full force next week.  Baseball for the Youngers starts the full press, too.  Then we're adding Boy Scouts, dance and youth ministry / sacrament prep.  We won't be bored.  And that's good.  Getting back into the routine with activities is daunting after almost six months of leisurely home life.  

It WILL be good to get back into a solid routine.  We're all expecting things to fall off the rails in the winter with COVID and for things to get cancelled with another surge - but we have almost all our curriculum supplies (the mail is SO.  Freaking.  Slow.  all of the sudden) and we'll be all set.  As much as the social distancing has sucked, we know we can do it and be okay.  That gives me a sense of relief and badassery knowing that we can handle yet another scenario that my over-the-top anxiety couldn't have drummed up until 2020.   

We are doing lots of Creek Time up in Rocky Ridge this summer.  The kids are becoming proficient at catching crayfish and the dam is progressing well.  

I

 

 

New goggles and crayfishing nets from Florida. 

When the crayfish don't bite...you catch toads instead.  Introducing, "George of the Creek". 

Nothing to see here...except for Benjamin

Blogging is Hard

 Socially Distanced Life is becoming more normal.  

Activities are resuming for the kids - baseball, dance, Boy Scouts, Youth Group...I think the resumption of normal activities is hardest on me.  The kids are loving it.  I can't blame them.  They love seeing their friends, being busy, getting back into a routine...I get that.  I SO get that.  

But with all the activities comes more thinking -  more assessing the safety of each situation.  More looking at data.  More reading the positivity rate.  More policies and procedures.  More release forms.  More of wondering, "Am I doing the right things to keep my children safe?"  

It was easier when we didn't have the option to go anywhere.  

I'm glad the kids can do things.  I'm loving seeing them doing what they love.  They blow me away with their abilities and talents. 

I used to hate it when people would say this to me when the kids were babies...but......This too shall change.  

You'd think I'd be used to it by now.  

For a summer that was initially disappointing because we couldn't go on Adventures, we've managed to get a whole lot of adventuring in.  We're continuing with school - albeit at a slower pace.  Kids have all done theatre productions.  The Youngers unexpectedly got to do TWOproductions (they got scholarships!).  We've been able to get down to DC a couple of times.  Junior Ranger Badges from all over the US have been completed and the kids have started to receive their replies from Park Rangers. The kids are all playing "Jedi Academy" with the neighborhood kids any chance they can get.  Watching "Avatar - the Last Airbender" has become the preferred show on Netflix.  

Jim is working his tail off.  He is amazing with how hard he works.  We are so very grateful.  

Life is SO good and we are VERY blessed.  

All of us after "Charlotte's Web".  Caroline was Charlotte and Sam was Mr Zucker.  

Even though it was 95 degrees, Ben wanted to wear this to pay his respects to Rep. John Lewis.  We were able to talk him down to some shorts.  

Boys organized an Uno game on the steps of the Supreme Court while we were waiting to pay respects to John Lewis.  #whenhomeschoolisawesome

In line waiting in front of the Capital Building.  We heard the line was a mile long at one point.  Everyone was super polite and kind.  The Red Cross was handing out water because it was so hot.  Jim and I remarked that a couple years ago, we probably would not have done something like this.  

But it was the right time now.  

Blueberry Sorbet gets a thumbs up from the Nater Tot.