I was all set to prepare a "Proud Mommy" post, and then I got the phone call from the school.
I don't wanna be me right now. I'm tired of it, and I wanna quit.
But before I start bemoaning the world, I will share my proud mommy moment. Maybe that will ease the ache in my belly right now.
This morning I was a little late getting up, and realized that the A-man wasn't up and ready for school yet. He had about 15 minutes before the bus would be arriving. As he quickly got ready, he asked me if he could please have $5 to pick up lunch at school. I asked him if he could just go over to my parent's for lunch since neither of us would have a chance to get his lunch made.
He explained to me that he couldn't go out of the school today because R&M were away on a field trip today, so he had to help D carry his tray at lunch. I have never heard of this boy before, so I wondered what he was talking about.
Turns out D is a boy in the A-man's grade that uses a walker. The A-man and his cousin and girlfriend always make sure at least one of them are around during lunch to help this boy gather his lunch tray and carry it to the table for him. How sweet is that? He knew that the girls would be away, so he wanted to make sure he would be there to provide assistance to the boy with the walker.
Such a fine young man, I have there. Even had his Math teacher/Rugby coach tell me this on Friday when I was picking him up after his game. The teacher and I had exchanged a few pleasantries while I was waiting for the A-man to come back from the change room. When the A-man came out, the teacher then commented that he hadn't realized I was the A-man's mom. He then proceeded to tell me that he and the other coach were just talking about how the A-man was such a good student, and a delight to have in class. I guess they are both quite pleased with his efforts on the rugby team, too.
I just felt like beaming. When we got in the car, I told the A-man how proud I was of him and that I was so happy he was doing so well in high school.
Fast forward to early this afternoon, and the phone call I received from S's principal.
S got into a disagreement with a fellow student about where to stand. Apparently the other student was in S's "spot" and felt the need to try to forcibly move the other boy. When the boy didn't comply, S bit the boy - through his sweater - and left an impression on his shoulder. He then proceeded to scratch another student - again leaving marks.
This is getting beyond ridiculous. I'm going to have to start S seeing his phyciatrist again, I guess. End result - he will stay in the office today and all day tomorrow, and he is not welcome at the school on Thursday since the principal will be away that day. S will return to school on Friday, I guess.
I questioned about S not having full time EA support - apparently he hasn't had full support all ths year. I asked if he would be able to get 'emergency' support for the remaining 6 weeks; it doesn't seem likely.
I'm going to have to get on a campaign with some of the higher ups, I guess. Great. Just at a time in the office when my 'personal' time is being reviewed and I really can't spare any time away.
Like I said, I wanna quit being me right now.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
On dying...
Don't really have much time for an update this morning...
We lost a pheasant over the weekend. Hubby and I were out at a friend's 40th birthday dinner when we got a phone call from a very upset S. When Hubby got off the phone, he told me all of the pheasants were dead. That didn't make any sense to me, so I called home to find out what had happened.
When S answered the phone he seemed okay, but when I asked him what happened, he started to cry all over again and told me that one of them "was just laying there dead" when he went out to see them.
After a little while talking with him, I was able to calm S down. He didn't realize that it was a possibility with birds so young, I guess. Once he realized that the hatchery gave us an extra one "just in case," I think he started to feel better. He'd been repeating, "I just wish there had been something I could have done to have helped it."
The A-man went out and covered the bird with a bowl so that the others wouldn't peck at it, and Hubby "buried" it yesterday. We had frost last night, so I was wondering how they would do in their brooding pen; all are fine this morning.
On another sad note, it looks like we are going to have to put our dumb beagle down this week. I am very sad about this, but it is just terrible watching him in such pain. The sad part is that it all came on so quickly. He went to his original home for the weekend - just for his last good-byes there, and I guess we will have this week to cuddle and snuggle him and try and say our good byes. It's going to be tough for S. Just seeing how emotional he got over a bird that we'd had only 4 days was bad - it's going to be tough for a dog we've had most of his life.
We lost a pheasant over the weekend. Hubby and I were out at a friend's 40th birthday dinner when we got a phone call from a very upset S. When Hubby got off the phone, he told me all of the pheasants were dead. That didn't make any sense to me, so I called home to find out what had happened.
When S answered the phone he seemed okay, but when I asked him what happened, he started to cry all over again and told me that one of them "was just laying there dead" when he went out to see them.
After a little while talking with him, I was able to calm S down. He didn't realize that it was a possibility with birds so young, I guess. Once he realized that the hatchery gave us an extra one "just in case," I think he started to feel better. He'd been repeating, "I just wish there had been something I could have done to have helped it."
The A-man went out and covered the bird with a bowl so that the others wouldn't peck at it, and Hubby "buried" it yesterday. We had frost last night, so I was wondering how they would do in their brooding pen; all are fine this morning.
On another sad note, it looks like we are going to have to put our dumb beagle down this week. I am very sad about this, but it is just terrible watching him in such pain. The sad part is that it all came on so quickly. He went to his original home for the weekend - just for his last good-byes there, and I guess we will have this week to cuddle and snuggle him and try and say our good byes. It's going to be tough for S. Just seeing how emotional he got over a bird that we'd had only 4 days was bad - it's going to be tough for a dog we've had most of his life.
Friday, May 8, 2009
ARGH!
Last night was reminiscent of days gone by. Days I had hoped to never have to live again.
Yesterday morning around 10.30 I got a phone call from the school. S had an altercation with another student during French and after all was said and done, S tried to bite the student in the hand. BITE! (I still do not understand where that came from!) It was only because the other boy had quickly moved that there wasn’t actual contact. What a can of worms that would have opened had actual contact occurred. (sigh)
I went off to the school to pick S up and take him home for the day. On the way home, I had S record a list of things I needed him to complete while he was at home. He was asked to pick up his room and take all dirty laundry into the laundry room, to wash the dishes from the night before’s supper, he had to finish his mental health project, and he had to check some of the equations on a math sheet he had completed and turned in.
When I got home from work – after picking S up from his weight training course at the Y – I discovered that he had completed only one of the tasks that had been assigned to him. He had taken his laundry downstairs, that was it. (Still, I did pretty good at keeping it together at this point.)
While S and I were driving home from the Y, I explained to him that his punishment for the actions as school would be the loss of television/video game/computer access for the evening. He had told me that he ‘forgot’ to work on his project, so I told him that he would be required to finish that once supper was complete, and the remainder of his evening would involve assisting me with the laundry.
I started getting the laundry sorted and getting the clean things folded and sorted. S was working on his project in the dining room and the A-man was working on the laptop, also in the dining room. The telephone rang, and while I was on the phone, both boys disappeared. I later realized they had gone out to the garage to watch/play with the pheasants.
I directed both boys back to completing their homework. S found a number of opportunities to leave his work station, and after I while I became very upset with him and told him that he needed to buckle down and just finish the work. The assignment wasn’t hard, nor did he need to reinvent the wheel. His project was on ADHD. He had done a speech about the same subject earlier this year. All he really needed to do was take the information from the speech and adjust it to fit within the parameters of the new assignment!
Next thing I know, S is standing outside by the road! He’s pacing the end of the driveway. I still do not know what brought his hasty exit, to tell the truth. I went outside and told him that he wasn’t in trouble, that I wasn’t angry with him, and that he just needed to come in the house and finish his work. He starts going on and on (and ON!) about how it wasn’t fair that he had to work alone on the assignment when everyone else had partners. How the project was boring. How the project was late so what did it matter if he did it anyway… After the tirade went on for a while, I lost my patience.
“You have to do the assignment because it’s part of your school work. If you don’t do your work, you do pass the class. If you don’t pass the class, you aren’t leaving Grade 8. If you don’t pass Grade 8, there is no need for you to attend the Grade 8 end-of-year-trip to Ottawa! So get in there and get the stupid project done! You’ve done the work already! In the time you have wasted moaning and groaning, you could have the thing finished!” He turns heel, and starts to runs back to the end of the driveway.
At this point, I didn’t care anymore. He was being a complete and total ASS, and I didn’t really want to have to deal with him, or talk to him, any longer. I went in to the house and continued what I had been doing. After a few minutes he comes back in to the house. I quietly told him what needed to be finished. He didn’t speak. After a few more minutes, with S still in the foyer, I calmly repeated the request and told him he needed to come upstairs and get finished. Next thing I know, I hear the front door open and close. I knew he didn’t go outside, but I didn’t react at this point. I waited a moment, then started to make my way across the living room to the foyer. At this point, he did actually go outside. By now, I was FURIOUS. He was acting like a complete and total jerk, and I’d had enough!
I went to the foyer and locked the front door. He wanted to be a jerk, he could just cool off outside until Hubby got home from his meeting in about 10 or 15 minutes. I heard S try the front door. Next thing I knew, he was coming in the side door off the patio. I told him to sit down and finish the project. He tells me, “I was going to lay down on the road, you know!”
Okay, so now he’s going to try and play THAT card again!?! Yeah, I didn’t buy it. I was just about lost my mind at this point. I told him that he was acting like a complete idiot and that he could STOP THAT right now. I wasn’t going to hear anymore nonsense like that… etc., etc.
I went down to grab another load of laundry and told him that I would call the school in the morning to request my money back for his trip. I wasn’t going to take the trip with him, and since he wasn’t going to be passing, he wouldn’t be needing to go anyway. I made sure I stayed downstairs at this point because I was so angry with him I was shaking!
A few yells back from S, and a few choice words, I’m sure, I hear him sitting at the table, pounding away on the laptop. After about 15 minutes, he came into the laundry room holding a sheet that simply said “DONE” on it. I guess this was his way of telling me that he wasn’t speaking to me. (I really didn’t care!)
I told him, “Fine. Now go brush your teeth and get into bed.” He seemed somewhat disappointed in the fact that I wasn’t upset about him not speaking. Suddenly his wee face crumples up and he says, “So, can I now go to Ottawa?”
Such hot and cold with that boy! He drives me absolutely inSANE! I love him with my whole heart, and I will fight to the ends of the earth for him, but GAWD! He ticks me off like no tomorrow!! If he actually put in half as much real effort in to completing his work as he does in avoiding it, he'd still be a straight A student!
I've gotta sign off now; I'm getting angry all over again just putting this all in to words again!
Yesterday morning around 10.30 I got a phone call from the school. S had an altercation with another student during French and after all was said and done, S tried to bite the student in the hand. BITE! (I still do not understand where that came from!) It was only because the other boy had quickly moved that there wasn’t actual contact. What a can of worms that would have opened had actual contact occurred. (sigh)
I went off to the school to pick S up and take him home for the day. On the way home, I had S record a list of things I needed him to complete while he was at home. He was asked to pick up his room and take all dirty laundry into the laundry room, to wash the dishes from the night before’s supper, he had to finish his mental health project, and he had to check some of the equations on a math sheet he had completed and turned in.
When I got home from work – after picking S up from his weight training course at the Y – I discovered that he had completed only one of the tasks that had been assigned to him. He had taken his laundry downstairs, that was it. (Still, I did pretty good at keeping it together at this point.)
While S and I were driving home from the Y, I explained to him that his punishment for the actions as school would be the loss of television/video game/computer access for the evening. He had told me that he ‘forgot’ to work on his project, so I told him that he would be required to finish that once supper was complete, and the remainder of his evening would involve assisting me with the laundry.
I started getting the laundry sorted and getting the clean things folded and sorted. S was working on his project in the dining room and the A-man was working on the laptop, also in the dining room. The telephone rang, and while I was on the phone, both boys disappeared. I later realized they had gone out to the garage to watch/play with the pheasants.
I directed both boys back to completing their homework. S found a number of opportunities to leave his work station, and after I while I became very upset with him and told him that he needed to buckle down and just finish the work. The assignment wasn’t hard, nor did he need to reinvent the wheel. His project was on ADHD. He had done a speech about the same subject earlier this year. All he really needed to do was take the information from the speech and adjust it to fit within the parameters of the new assignment!
Next thing I know, S is standing outside by the road! He’s pacing the end of the driveway. I still do not know what brought his hasty exit, to tell the truth. I went outside and told him that he wasn’t in trouble, that I wasn’t angry with him, and that he just needed to come in the house and finish his work. He starts going on and on (and ON!) about how it wasn’t fair that he had to work alone on the assignment when everyone else had partners. How the project was boring. How the project was late so what did it matter if he did it anyway… After the tirade went on for a while, I lost my patience.
“You have to do the assignment because it’s part of your school work. If you don’t do your work, you do pass the class. If you don’t pass the class, you aren’t leaving Grade 8. If you don’t pass Grade 8, there is no need for you to attend the Grade 8 end-of-year-trip to Ottawa! So get in there and get the stupid project done! You’ve done the work already! In the time you have wasted moaning and groaning, you could have the thing finished!” He turns heel, and starts to runs back to the end of the driveway.
At this point, I didn’t care anymore. He was being a complete and total ASS, and I didn’t really want to have to deal with him, or talk to him, any longer. I went in to the house and continued what I had been doing. After a few minutes he comes back in to the house. I quietly told him what needed to be finished. He didn’t speak. After a few more minutes, with S still in the foyer, I calmly repeated the request and told him he needed to come upstairs and get finished. Next thing I know, I hear the front door open and close. I knew he didn’t go outside, but I didn’t react at this point. I waited a moment, then started to make my way across the living room to the foyer. At this point, he did actually go outside. By now, I was FURIOUS. He was acting like a complete and total jerk, and I’d had enough!
I went to the foyer and locked the front door. He wanted to be a jerk, he could just cool off outside until Hubby got home from his meeting in about 10 or 15 minutes. I heard S try the front door. Next thing I knew, he was coming in the side door off the patio. I told him to sit down and finish the project. He tells me, “I was going to lay down on the road, you know!”
Okay, so now he’s going to try and play THAT card again!?! Yeah, I didn’t buy it. I was just about lost my mind at this point. I told him that he was acting like a complete idiot and that he could STOP THAT right now. I wasn’t going to hear anymore nonsense like that… etc., etc.
I went down to grab another load of laundry and told him that I would call the school in the morning to request my money back for his trip. I wasn’t going to take the trip with him, and since he wasn’t going to be passing, he wouldn’t be needing to go anyway. I made sure I stayed downstairs at this point because I was so angry with him I was shaking!
A few yells back from S, and a few choice words, I’m sure, I hear him sitting at the table, pounding away on the laptop. After about 15 minutes, he came into the laundry room holding a sheet that simply said “DONE” on it. I guess this was his way of telling me that he wasn’t speaking to me. (I really didn’t care!)
I told him, “Fine. Now go brush your teeth and get into bed.” He seemed somewhat disappointed in the fact that I wasn’t upset about him not speaking. Suddenly his wee face crumples up and he says, “So, can I now go to Ottawa?”
Such hot and cold with that boy! He drives me absolutely inSANE! I love him with my whole heart, and I will fight to the ends of the earth for him, but GAWD! He ticks me off like no tomorrow!! If he actually put in half as much real effort in to completing his work as he does in avoiding it, he'd still be a straight A student!
I've gotta sign off now; I'm getting angry all over again just putting this all in to words again!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Coop finished!
Well, we worked until late in to the night last night, but we got the chicken coop done! I was the lucky person that got to catch the chickens from their brooding pen, and Hubby placed them in the boxes for transport to the new homes. They were softer than I imagined, and lighter than they looked.
“The girls” weren’t very happy about my hands coming at them, but not one tried to peck me! A couple squawked pretty good when I finally got hold of them, but for the most part they were pretty docile. The next step was introducing them to their new home.
As a family – me carrying one box, Hubby with the second – we all trudged back to the newly finished coop. We went inside, and opened the boxes. The girls were all huddled together, but all were quiet. The boys each helped empty a box. The A-man was quite hesitant about trying to pick them up, but after he got a couple done, he was better. S just wanted to keep holding them. I don’t think the chickens would have liked that much.
We stood and watched them poke around their new home for a little while, and then before we went to bed, Hubby and I went to make sure they had adjusted. All of the girls were cuddled together and sleeping when we went back, so I guess they were feeling comfortable. I’m a little worried that we may have put their roosts up a bit too high for them, but maybe after they grow a bit more they will be able to get up there. Hubby still has to finish the ventilation areas, but at least they are all in and comfy cozy with lots of new space for them to run around.
This morning I went and picked up the pheasants. They are the tiniest little things I have ever seen! I couldn’t believe how small the box was that they came in. Anyway, I had adjusted the brooding pen to fit such little beings by blocking off half of it. I put them under their little heat lamp, made sure they knew where the water was before I had to leave for work. I took a few pictures of them and will post them up as soon as I have a chance. S will be thrilled to have a chance to see these little creatures. They are so little they don’t realize they shouldn’t want to be picked up yet. They just cuddle down into your hand and maybe let out a little “cheep” every now and then. We are going to have a blast watching these ones grow!
“The girls” weren’t very happy about my hands coming at them, but not one tried to peck me! A couple squawked pretty good when I finally got hold of them, but for the most part they were pretty docile. The next step was introducing them to their new home.
As a family – me carrying one box, Hubby with the second – we all trudged back to the newly finished coop. We went inside, and opened the boxes. The girls were all huddled together, but all were quiet. The boys each helped empty a box. The A-man was quite hesitant about trying to pick them up, but after he got a couple done, he was better. S just wanted to keep holding them. I don’t think the chickens would have liked that much.
We stood and watched them poke around their new home for a little while, and then before we went to bed, Hubby and I went to make sure they had adjusted. All of the girls were cuddled together and sleeping when we went back, so I guess they were feeling comfortable. I’m a little worried that we may have put their roosts up a bit too high for them, but maybe after they grow a bit more they will be able to get up there. Hubby still has to finish the ventilation areas, but at least they are all in and comfy cozy with lots of new space for them to run around.
This morning I went and picked up the pheasants. They are the tiniest little things I have ever seen! I couldn’t believe how small the box was that they came in. Anyway, I had adjusted the brooding pen to fit such little beings by blocking off half of it. I put them under their little heat lamp, made sure they knew where the water was before I had to leave for work. I took a few pictures of them and will post them up as soon as I have a chance. S will be thrilled to have a chance to see these little creatures. They are so little they don’t realize they shouldn’t want to be picked up yet. They just cuddle down into your hand and maybe let out a little “cheep” every now and then. We are going to have a blast watching these ones grow!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Busy weekend!
We had a very busy, but very productive weekend!
Friday was S’s birthday. I left work just before noon and did a few errands. When I got home I did a bit of straightening around the house – with the boys help since it was a PA day – and around 4pm, S’s friends started to arrive. He had invited three boys, and all of them were able to make it, which was very nice.
We went to a movie, and then when we came back I made a few pizzas and the boys all retired to the TV room to do whatever it is that 14 year old boys when they are having a ‘party.’ Hubby and I went to bed around 11:30, and I didn’t hear a thing from the party below. The A-man told me that he heard them up until about 1 am, but since my bedroom is directly above the boy’s TV room, I can’t quite understand how he heard them when I did not.
Anyway, in the morning I made a big breakfast and the boys played on the trampoline and played some baseball. Shortly after lunch, the party was officially over. The wind had started to die down, so I was able to get some more work done in the gardens.
Last weekend I had totally cleaned out my one garden by the hot tub – my night time garden. It was so overgrown with the zebra grass and lambs ear that I had planted, I decided it was best to just clear it right out and start all over again. (For the record, there will be no more zebra grass or lambs ear planted in that section again.) On Saturday I was able to get the topsoil dug out of the area that will be pathway, and then laid about 3 inches of woodchips for the walkway. After getting that done, I was able to get my white irises back in the ground, and start to figure out what else I want planted in this area.
Hubby and my Dad had been working on the chicken coop for most of the day, and just as I was finishing in that garden, my Mom came to get Dad to head over to the cottage for the rest of the weekend. I went back to the coop to help Hubby with figuring out where we were going to put the roosts (3) for “the girls” and to also determine where the nesting boxes (5) were going to be built. Hubby and I got the roosts all in place and the frame for the nesting boxes finished. Then we had dinner and went to visit some friends for a bit.
Sunday morning – what a beauty day! I started to divide some big clumps of daffodils that I have. The clump is just so big and tight that none of the bulbs were getting a chance. I was able to relocate bulbs to three separate areas as well as leaving some in the original spot. Next I got to working on the biggest compost bin. Raked all the top stuff to one side and starting shoveling out the wonderful compost. Got 4 wheelbarrow fulls of it! Spread that all around my lily garden and my tea garden – which I had totally gutted and started to replant last weekend - plus put a bunch of compost in the night time garden area. While I was working on the compost, I put the boys to work in cleaning up the scrub back by the veggie garden. S used the big clippers to cut down the wild raspberry canes and whatever other things may have sprouted up, and the A-man raked everything back to be level with the large compost bin.
After cleaning out most of the compost, raking up the pine needles from the main garden area and cleaning up the pathways a bit, I got to work on replenishing the pathways with wood chips. I like to lay the chips in/around the gardens that are ‘done’ so that I can see the full effect of the improvement. After a while, the small of my back was screaming at me that it was time to shift to something else, so I decided to get the rotatiller out for the veggie garden area.
Just as I was about to begin the third strip with the tiller, Jazzy and her Mom stopped by to get Hubby to retrieve a homework file from Jazzy’s crashing computer. I went in to make some tea for L and I. As I was putting the kettle on, my in-laws stopped by to visit the birthday boy. After a brief visit, everyone cleared out, and I was able to get back to work on the veggie area.
By the time I was finished, I had planted two full rows of onion sets – Spanish and Red onions, and green onions – a partial row of green leaf lettuce completed with spinach in the last quarter, and a partial row of red leaf lettuce, again completed with some spinach. I planted two small rows of radishes for Hubby (ick!) and will do a second planting of both radishes and lettuces next weekend. I’ll probably put the kohl rabi and swiss chard in next weekend, too. Once the spinach is done for the season, I’m planning on putting a zucchini plant in that area.
As I was tilling I found some cut up potatoes, so I will have to be careful to get all of those out of that area, because I don’t think I’ll be putting potatoes in that section of the garden this year.
I change my veggie garden layout all the time – don’t like to put the same things in the same areas every year, so I change the direction of my rows, or change how I arrange my sections. My veggie garden is always based on my mood when I start it for the season. This year is all long rows, I think. Maybe the row will have different veggies in it, but that’s how I’m working it so far.
Once I finished in the garden, I realized that it was after 5 and I should get some groceries for the week. I took a little break and worked on my gazing ball a bit then went to get some food for the family. When I got back from shopping, Hubby and the A-man were just finishing in the coop. Hubby felt the final steps to saying “It’s done” was to get the doors on, and the ventilation areas cut out. My Mom and Dad stopped by just as we were finishing our dinner - Dad got the doors hung, and tonight Hubby and the A-man will put the shingles on the roof and cut out the vent areas. “The girls” may get moved into their new home tonight, but more likely it will be tomorrow. Just in time for the pheasant chicks to take over the brooding pen on Wednesday!
Needless to say, I did not have a hard time falling asleep last night! I helped the A-man with completing a pamphlet layout for a project, and after he’d printed it, we all had a hot tub and went to bed.
The yard is slowly taking shape. The trick – as always – will be in keeping it that way!
Friday was S’s birthday. I left work just before noon and did a few errands. When I got home I did a bit of straightening around the house – with the boys help since it was a PA day – and around 4pm, S’s friends started to arrive. He had invited three boys, and all of them were able to make it, which was very nice.
We went to a movie, and then when we came back I made a few pizzas and the boys all retired to the TV room to do whatever it is that 14 year old boys when they are having a ‘party.’ Hubby and I went to bed around 11:30, and I didn’t hear a thing from the party below. The A-man told me that he heard them up until about 1 am, but since my bedroom is directly above the boy’s TV room, I can’t quite understand how he heard them when I did not.
Anyway, in the morning I made a big breakfast and the boys played on the trampoline and played some baseball. Shortly after lunch, the party was officially over. The wind had started to die down, so I was able to get some more work done in the gardens.
Last weekend I had totally cleaned out my one garden by the hot tub – my night time garden. It was so overgrown with the zebra grass and lambs ear that I had planted, I decided it was best to just clear it right out and start all over again. (For the record, there will be no more zebra grass or lambs ear planted in that section again.) On Saturday I was able to get the topsoil dug out of the area that will be pathway, and then laid about 3 inches of woodchips for the walkway. After getting that done, I was able to get my white irises back in the ground, and start to figure out what else I want planted in this area.
Hubby and my Dad had been working on the chicken coop for most of the day, and just as I was finishing in that garden, my Mom came to get Dad to head over to the cottage for the rest of the weekend. I went back to the coop to help Hubby with figuring out where we were going to put the roosts (3) for “the girls” and to also determine where the nesting boxes (5) were going to be built. Hubby and I got the roosts all in place and the frame for the nesting boxes finished. Then we had dinner and went to visit some friends for a bit.
Sunday morning – what a beauty day! I started to divide some big clumps of daffodils that I have. The clump is just so big and tight that none of the bulbs were getting a chance. I was able to relocate bulbs to three separate areas as well as leaving some in the original spot. Next I got to working on the biggest compost bin. Raked all the top stuff to one side and starting shoveling out the wonderful compost. Got 4 wheelbarrow fulls of it! Spread that all around my lily garden and my tea garden – which I had totally gutted and started to replant last weekend - plus put a bunch of compost in the night time garden area. While I was working on the compost, I put the boys to work in cleaning up the scrub back by the veggie garden. S used the big clippers to cut down the wild raspberry canes and whatever other things may have sprouted up, and the A-man raked everything back to be level with the large compost bin.
After cleaning out most of the compost, raking up the pine needles from the main garden area and cleaning up the pathways a bit, I got to work on replenishing the pathways with wood chips. I like to lay the chips in/around the gardens that are ‘done’ so that I can see the full effect of the improvement. After a while, the small of my back was screaming at me that it was time to shift to something else, so I decided to get the rotatiller out for the veggie garden area.
Just as I was about to begin the third strip with the tiller, Jazzy and her Mom stopped by to get Hubby to retrieve a homework file from Jazzy’s crashing computer. I went in to make some tea for L and I. As I was putting the kettle on, my in-laws stopped by to visit the birthday boy. After a brief visit, everyone cleared out, and I was able to get back to work on the veggie area.
By the time I was finished, I had planted two full rows of onion sets – Spanish and Red onions, and green onions – a partial row of green leaf lettuce completed with spinach in the last quarter, and a partial row of red leaf lettuce, again completed with some spinach. I planted two small rows of radishes for Hubby (ick!) and will do a second planting of both radishes and lettuces next weekend. I’ll probably put the kohl rabi and swiss chard in next weekend, too. Once the spinach is done for the season, I’m planning on putting a zucchini plant in that area.
As I was tilling I found some cut up potatoes, so I will have to be careful to get all of those out of that area, because I don’t think I’ll be putting potatoes in that section of the garden this year.
I change my veggie garden layout all the time – don’t like to put the same things in the same areas every year, so I change the direction of my rows, or change how I arrange my sections. My veggie garden is always based on my mood when I start it for the season. This year is all long rows, I think. Maybe the row will have different veggies in it, but that’s how I’m working it so far.
Once I finished in the garden, I realized that it was after 5 and I should get some groceries for the week. I took a little break and worked on my gazing ball a bit then went to get some food for the family. When I got back from shopping, Hubby and the A-man were just finishing in the coop. Hubby felt the final steps to saying “It’s done” was to get the doors on, and the ventilation areas cut out. My Mom and Dad stopped by just as we were finishing our dinner - Dad got the doors hung, and tonight Hubby and the A-man will put the shingles on the roof and cut out the vent areas. “The girls” may get moved into their new home tonight, but more likely it will be tomorrow. Just in time for the pheasant chicks to take over the brooding pen on Wednesday!
Needless to say, I did not have a hard time falling asleep last night! I helped the A-man with completing a pamphlet layout for a project, and after he’d printed it, we all had a hot tub and went to bed.
The yard is slowly taking shape. The trick – as always – will be in keeping it that way!
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