Thursday, May 23rd

The other day, I tried again to find that safe place I had stashed my seeds from a previous year. I poked around for about 3 minutes and had my hands on them! WOOHOO!! I am very excited. I still have 2 rainbow varieties on hand, and a ton of things I want to plant. Here is EVERYTHING I have for the garden on hand right now. Laid out like this, it looks like a TON. You can see now why I have been saying I need more dirt??

My need for more dirt has been heard. I just have to wait until about 4 pm. He found my Topsy Turvy thingy I bought for a dollar at a yard sale, and is very curious about if it works. Meanwhile, I am still keeping myself busy with fertilizers, plant care (did you know the strawberries want to be fed like the Tomatoes do?? and they need to be "mown"?),kitten wrangling, and child chasing. My days are very busy. Getting this much typed can take hours! *Grin*

Ok, so last night, while tending my plants, I realized that my 10yo's Tomato plant needed a root box. It needs deeper soil, and more room for it's roots. So I took a broken down drawer and put it to work. I stole dirt from the potato pond and then fertilized it. It needs more dirt, as do the potatoes. I notice that the other Tomato plant also needs help, the 5 gallon bucket is NOT going to be large enough for it's needs. I have bigger buckets, I just have to adapt them for easy automatic watering. These plants are thirsty, and the summer heat isn't even here yet.



The drawer was missing it's bottom, and doesn't go to any dresser I own. I think it arrived with the train table, but had no cubby to hold it. I trenched a line away from the carrot tops and settled the drawer gently into it. The plant is just barely small enough to still do this with out hurting the branches. I think I can put a strawberry plant or 2 in in the front of the box with the tomato, and re-purpose the strawberry spot for another seedling. I can only play musical plants in this set up a little bit longer, I don't like shocking them.

The composting is moving along. Last night I strained the Manure Tea, and bottled it. I only need about 1-2 ounces of the Manure Tea to make 1 liter of fertilizer. I can use it on about 1/2 of my crops. 1 liter slow drip feeds 1 tomato plant, or can be used to water all 12 for my strawberry plants. The left over material from the Tea was split between the 2 compost bins and mixed in well. That was a messy process, and of course I cleaned up everything and every where I worked. The rinse water from it all went to feed the Rose bushes in the back yard.

We have had some gusty winds, and the cabana got flipped. The sun damage from last summer and the pressures of meeting the swing set leaves us needing a new cover for it. It was already on the needs list, but I can see that I am either going to be crafting a solution soon, or breaking down and getting it anyways. We need that 10 feet of shade, the sun is strong already.

A few days ago, our rabbit got injured. When we took him to the vet, what was needed to save him was not affordable, so we had to put him down. The kids are grieving his death, each in their own ways. I've cleaned up and put away all of the rabbit supplies, and tucked the cage and hutch off to the side for now. They overheard Daddy mention a new bunny later, and they are content to think on that.

The kittens here helps cushion the emotional blow. I have let the kittens out for the day, and they are scampering around while the children aren't paying attention. They quietly slip off into hiding anytime a little one comes near, or if they see feet wandering around. Their personalities are emerging. The grey little girl is a cuddler. She loves to be snuggled and petted when she is drowsy. The little black one is the first one to accept some of the humans. I saw him just today sitting and saying Hi to my Ladybug today, and letting her pet him. He will wander and explore the house, and get rather brave around those big wolf creatures. Of course, if the dog moves, he is spooked and bouncing around. The striped one is a great hider. He has a LOT of patience, and will make a great hunter. He is insistent in his beginning cuddles, pushing his head into my neck. All 3 are so sweet and cute, I can understand why my children beg to keep all 3. They need homes soon, they are almost ready.

I need to go get my day moving. I have a lot of deep cleaning and organizing to do! I need to find something to keep me busy until I have more dirt to work with. *wink* Have a Great day!!