Can I say that summer is in full swing, when it is just the first official full week of vacation? Well, I'd like to say that we are off to a good start. I'd like to think our days are free because I hardly scheduled a thing, and for the most part they are, except....the kids have gymnastics and I have one class on Tuesdays, one on Wednesdays and one on Thursdays! And I am teaching an art class on Wednesday afternoons (if there are kids that RSVP). In addition, we will take 2 weeks in the valley for swim lessons. Other than that, our days are free!
Nate took the entire week off after Iron Horse. We were planning a big backpacking trip the following weekend, but it got moved and he still had the week off, so we are living it up. He wanted to go to the valley but I asked him why we would want to go to temps over 100 degrees when we have not really taken full advantage of our beautiful White Mountains in the summer where the high might reach 87? We could go camping and hiking and fishing and I'd only make him work one day (we need to get that swing set finished that we started a month ago!) He wanted to see family so I invited some up to come if they wanted. No one took us up on the offer- except this weekend- and it is good because we have started this week out with a very nasty stomach bug. Here is evidence below of us keeping Mikah hydrated.
The sickes started before we headed out to Durango, they were touch and go all weekend and then Nate had BU all the way home and we tried to not let Mikah puke in her car seat. On Wednesday (the work day) nate and Mikah were sick all day! With the BU. So on Thursday we worked on the play house and the kids played in the yard. Today is Friday and Nate took the bigger kids fishing. I am home with Mikah and her liquid poop while she watches Dora and I hang out with this pile of laundry and other cores that got put off while we were dealing with sickies and trying to have fun home bound.
I had been pinning ideas on pinterest that we could do with the kids. Maes spent Wednesday with a friend and Jake and I made these catapults. We were having so much fun we made bubble snake makers and a home made sprinkler and went on a huge shopping trip to get materials to make our own fun water park.
I'd have to say, being home bound here is not a bad thing. I loved Durango for its parks and down town- you get that nice stuff when there is more money in a town and Liberals (i'm guessing), but I'd have to say, I love my home in the spring and summer. (I love visiting the valley in the winter.) And this is where we spend most of our time, so I am happy it is such a nice place to be. Eventhough I love it when we fix things up around here to make it even more pleasant.
The view out my back window and doors is fantastic. Even the play set/house will look great. We have a bit to go on it and then we need to level the ground some how, but it will be fantastic even before we get all the edgers and wood chips in place. But you know me, I love a project and probably won't rest until those wood chips are in place!
Here is the remnants of our PVC water park. We have lots more pieces and I hope to build it big and fun. It has little sprinklers and valves. It did cost a lot to buy the stuff...i even got pipe cutters, but it will be hours of fun. We will take all the pieces to the valley and build something with visiting cousins!
I noticed a few apples on one of our trees and then I looked at the other tree and noticed a lot more. I need to learn more about fruit trees. We got nothing last year and hope to get some great stuff to bottle this year from these little beauties. It is hard to spot an apple in one tree and in this other tree there are too many to count.
It looks like I've gotten a lot of progress on the garden, but in reality there is a lot of work but I won't plant this year. My father in law insists I get things more level- more than I've been able too. So we are waiting for his expertise when he visits again.
But in the name of progress I should say that our compost and mulch piles are building. We need worms for the compost though.
We have been able to eat a few more berries this year from the straw berry patch.
Last year we would see one that I was sure would be ready the next day only to have the birds get to it, but this year I put up a bird net and we have enjoyed a few more. They are small berries and next year we will dig up this patch due to a weed problem and just put the babies in their own box. We should get more and bigger berries that way.
I was very stressed about getting my garden in this year. I had the cinder sand in when a friend came to check things out. She agreed my boxes should be more level and then saw this weed. We are doing the garden totally chemical free and I just pulled my weeds and figured because you can build this type of garden over grass that the ones I missed would not be a problem. However, this one is this exception. She told me to let them grow big and then hit them with ROUND UP! wow. So I am putting the planting off until next year and will slowly get things ready. It really has been nice to get the weight off my shoulders. I am sicker this pregnancy and my days of working for hours in the yard are limited!
As far as work goes. In addition to buying the wood for the boxes, sealing them with an organic sealant, hauling them to the yard and nate and my dad building them we were able to put in sprinklers. Well, I was not feeling well, so Nate and my dad put in the pipes and I was able to set up the drip system to the berries at least. We have 7 other heads waiting at their beds!
