Happy Mother's Day!

(these are from my recent CSA box!)

To all the grandma's, moms and friends who read my blog, thank you.

And I hope you have a wonderful day with your families.

We just finished Aidan's last karate class. (Kitty Grandma bought him classes for a birthday present.) The last night they let the parents come and watch, so here are a few photo's we took. Sadly they do not let the children wear karate uniforms. (Sad for me b/c they look so cute in them!) But Aidan had lots of fun and we are decided what class should be next.

I don't agree

with people who say money can't buy happiness.


I mean look at this picture.



Every year I look forward to the Friends School plant sale, and every year I haul my cart away convinced that whoever penned that phrase must not have been a gardener.



If you live in the Cities area - you should go. And the trip is made even better if you are accompanied by a helpful little boy who kindly let me use his wagon. If you ask, and bribe him with a vanilla cone from McDonalds- he might let you use it too.





Sunday is Mother's Day, (this is a subtle hint) and as I am the mom I would just like James and Aidan to buy me some dirt and let me play with my new plants all day. (Oh- and haul in some rocks from down the street for a little border, and hang a few things in the trees for me, and finish the bead board, and get the hoses out, and..........)

Anybody read Peter Rabbit?

This is one of my favorite times of year. I love walking around the house every morning and evening, checking out all the flowers and trees, and excitedly pointing out all the new plants to Aidan. One of my favorite gardens has really been faltering this year. Stinking cold weather. Or so I thought.

I also love to hang my bedspreads out on the deck this time of year, and even though our deck is under a huge shade tree, I have never had problems with any birds..... you know what I mean. Except this year. Lots and lots of white splotches all over the deck, I find new ones all the time. The nice things is - the birds must feel comfortable, and we have been serenaded all spring. Last week I found one of their homes - apparently my wreath looked like the perfect place for a nest. I feel heartless taking it down, but if the mess on the deck continues......

So - the nest is right above my favorite garden. And as I was examining the nest, I found the source of my garden problems. Two of them. (Or at least two that I was able to see.)

They have completely devastated my entire bed. No kidding. I am so irritated I wanted to wring their necks. And if you would have been here, you would have been extremely entertained by our family as James, Aidan and I chased them around with buckets, cement blocks and blow guns. Yeah - all I have to say is that when the market totally collapses and we have to live off the land, we are definitely going to be vegetarians. Maybe not by choice, because I have to admit that we were outsmarted and outrun by a bunch of baby rabbits.

After we wasted a good hour hunting rabbits I decided to head to our local nursery and pick up some animal repellent, which James kindly sprinkled on all my gardens. What a waste of $20.00!!!!! Maybe we need a dog or a cat. Or maybe I will have to take over the blow gun! Let me just tell you- the rabbits are not going to win.

Some blogs I love

I keep addding more blogs to my list of favorites - there are so many amazingly talented people out there it is hard not to find more to love. Here are a few of my recent favorites.

I am really in love with this blog these days, and she in turn has led me to a whole host of others! Check out her great post on potting benches..... guess who is going to stop at the thrift store tomorrow?

This blog is published by/for the CSA I now belong too. I am looking forward to trying some of their recipes, because face it, I have absolutely no idea what to make with sorrel, ramps and parsnips. But you can bet we are going to be healthy.

And what about this one....... Yum! I am so excited for summer and fresh produce!

My biggest problem is, I keep spending time on the computer looking for recipes, when I should bein the kitchen making the recipes. Althoug I did try two new recipes this weekend that are both worth repeating. Maybe you should try them too!

Baked eggs and Rhubarb coffee cake - both should be on your menu for the weekend.

I'm so tardy........

I haven't blogged in awhile- my apologies.

You see, I've been busy.

No, not really doing anything productive, I have gone to two plays in the past week, enjoyed dinner out, sold a bunch of bags, and someone finally talked me into reading the Twilight series, so on sunny days you can find me on the deck. I am almost embarrassed to say I am reading them - everyone I know is reading them - and that fact alone usually would make me not want to read them. But I am - I was sucked right in, and I have #3 waiting for me to read later tonight.

I did enjoy participating in a little local art sale last weekend. I'm posting a few pictures. It was small, but we had lots of the right kind of people, both sellers and buyers, which is all you need for a successful day. (Plus a great venue. Thanks Ali and Sherry.) I did quite well - as a matter of fact I am having a little moral struggle right now. Save the money - or buy the kitchen chairs. I won't bore you with my entire list of pro's and con's, but lets just say the money is safely deposited at the moment. (While I wait for our next dinner guest to come crashing to the floor, which actually would be good, then James would realize the peril we are in as we sit at the table!) I may have to swing through Anthro for some Mother's Day gifts, and if they should so happen to be marked down again, I will take that as my green light. I'll be sure to keep you posted!

I have a few more blog posts to write while I have the chance- so check back tomorrow! (I know- you can hardly wait!) Tomorrow is also the day I pick up my first CSA box. I am so excited to see what I will have! I will have to tell you all about it.

Got rhubarb?

My neighbor gave me a huge box full this week - perfect timing as I was going to buy some plants this year. He told me I shouldn't harvest any this year or the next, which I assume is the reason that all the other rhubarb I planted all these years didn't make it. I was always harvesting it as soon as the ruby stalks were ready.

I have a bunch sitting in my fridge too, waiting to be made into this cake.

Sunday.

Sunday I should have some time..... Mmmm.