Getting My Hands Dirty

I love working in my garden. I love watching the minute changes in the plants, day by day. I like all the things I notice each morning, that I hadn't noticed before. I enjoy the warm sun on my body, while my muscles are aching from all my hard work. Sometimes, I am able to get lost in that small space, and let the stresses of my life slip away for just a little bit. It's peaceful and relaxing, and yet a LOT of work.

I've talked about WHAT I am doing to feed the plants, but I haven't fully explained it. So I will lay it out here, and then I will have it for next year, and you might get ideas for your own little patch of peaceful garden. I tried really hard to make good choices for my soil blend. I mixed and blended and thought that was groovy. At this point, I suspect that the ratios were wrong, as I see more bark in the soil than dirt. The ratio was 2:1 and I blended 2:1... Oh well. I don't have time to stress on that right now. I followed the directions I was given. Next year, I will made better educated guesses on what I need to amend with. Here is the 2 types of soil I started with back on 3-10-13:




This blend is working decently, but I should have added in 20 pounds of Rabbit or Chicken Manure. It would have really helped. Since then, I got a few more bags of various "all in 1" type soils, since I had more containers and I ran out of good dirt. One was by Miracle Grow, and the other was a moisture control blend, that helps the plants retain moisture without getting over watered. You can be sure some of that will be in next years blend too, all through!

The soils are groovy, but they do not have enough nutrients on their own. The plants would grow, but they would not THRIVE. I need an abundant garden, so I have to boost the soil with nutrients. I am actually doing this several ways. Once every 2 weeks, I take 4 batches of coffee grounds and the shells from several eggs, and I crush them up REALLY GOOD. Then I take the mixture out, and scoop it out equally onto 5 plants (4 tomatoes and 1 bell pepper). Every Monday, I crush up 5 TUMS tablets into powder, and spread that equally between the same 5 plants. Every 4 days, I give the same 5 plants a tsp of Epsom Salts. The dosage on the Epsom Salts works right now, but will increase soon because of their size. So far, I also used Miracle Grow plant fertilizer, when the 5 plants were failing to thrive a few weeks back, the one time. I will be using that about once every 2 weeks also, unless the Manure works out for me better.

Yesterday, I picked up 2 buckets of free horse Manure. Most of it is already dry, and the lady looked at me crazy when I told her I wanted the older dryer bits instead of the most fresh. I gathered it all, but really wanted the dry stuff. It had been sitting longer, and would have less "hot" time. {Ok yea, I might have been stupid, as I now have it out in compost bins and need it to get hot.} Anyways, I blogged about that yesterday. I made the Manure tea. Tomorrow, the tea will be done sitting, and I can strain, dilute, and use it on anything that doesn't produce product underground. In my planting containers, it might be hard to keep it to certain plants, but slow drip irrigation with soda bottles might make that more possible. I will be applying the tea every week on Wednesdays.

After making the Manure Tea, I realized I had a TON of manure left over, so I started researching. Soon I was scooping grass clippings out of the green waste barrel, and adding them to the poo, mixing and dampening and added a few handfuls of my soil blend in too to help add microbes. I put lids on them and set them in the sun. I will add our bucket of kitchen compost to the bins and stir them daily. within a month, I should have SUPER SOIL *grin* I am seriously considering using one of the green waste buckets for composting, those grass clippings were HOT!

I don't KNOW what I am doing, I am learning on the fly, and making adjustments often. I hope that it all works, I am actually desperate that it all work, as my grocery bill could use the break, and our dinner plates could use the variety.

Meanwhile... I need more dirt.

May Morning Musings

This morning has been quiet and fun. I woke up at 6 am to the 2 youngest crawling in bed with me, and took care of their morning requests, while they drifted back to sleep. Since my mind was already spinning with ideas and thoughts for the day, I went out and filled my coffee mug. I had thought ahead last night, and set it to turn on at 6:00 am, By the time I "found" it, it was warm and ready for me. I am always a little happier when I can bypass the microwave.

I poked my morning things, checked on my stats, and approved a comment. Ahh! I had no idea how much a kind comment on one of my posts can warm my heart! <3 I poked my morning games as I listened to the stirrings of the house. The dogs were patrolling the yard for invading birds and squirrels and coming in to report to the sleeping master. The bathroom was a cacophony of destruction from the playful antics of the 3 kittens. Giggles, mumbles and half-hearted cries of protest would escape the small slumbering forms around me. At 8 am, it was time to feed the kittens, and we had them fed in the kitchen before allowing them their play and roam time. Somehow, that turns into hiding kitten sleeping time, and none can be found for hours. Patience, focus, and remembering the rules is exceptionally hard when there is a fluffy kitten playing peek-a-boo when you are only 4 and 2. I had to coax the stripey one out, I am working on human desensitization with him, and I had to scoop and remove the other 2 kittens from stealing his food.... They were all surprised, him the most, because of once the big fast hands weren't after him. *grin* It's all about making friends.

After the house was up, and my hunny was off on his way to work, I put together the plan I had been working towards. I pulled out the bin of middle sized interlocking blocks for the kids to play with. I pulled out the specialty pieces and put together a few of the trees and things. By the time I had discovered all of the vehicle bottoms, I had 3 kids all around the table, building and exchanging parts and one wandering around with her favorite Puppy piece.

I went out and Ladybug came and inspected the garden with me. She exclaimed over the one cherry tomato turning yellow, and thought about what that might mean. We noted the differences in the leaves of the plants that we were having trouble with, how the old growth looked pale or crumpled, and how the new growth was dark green and healthy. We estimated how much good growth there was, and counted flowers on various plants. I added Epsom salt, coffee grounds and crushed egg shells to the soil (in addition to yesterday's crushed antacid tablets).

Now I have the hose watering the yard for me. Yup, I locked into the on position, and set it on a stand as an instant mister and yard watering devise. The leaky spots water other areas, and one is filling the paddling pool. By Wednesday, the ground should be perfect for setting up the campground. The kids are getting excited; they cannot focus on anything else because of it. That reminds me, I need to go turn off the water in the front yard. I am sure the baby tree and full front section is good and watered by now.

We have more projects to do, more plans to think up, more lists to write, and tasks to mark off. I expect that this week will be hard work, and yet worth every moment. I think the best part is that camping has no reception, so even if they did smuggle electronics, I have the WiFi password, and all the chargers. HEHEHEHEHE (Yea, I know it's in our backyard. We are going to have fun. Consider it a dry run for later.)

I need more dirt for my garden....

Lessons in Life, Learned through Kittens

You learn so many things when you are sharing your home with various pets, and so do the children. We have a very busy house here, between the children and the pets. Since we took in the 3 abandoned kittens, it has been even more so. The children think it's odd, but I make them tend to all of the regular pets' needs before they are even allowed to go peek in at the kittens. They have to understand that 3 mouths is more work... and they won't understand that by forgetting to care for their pets while there are babies in the house.

The whole crew is learning patience. During the day, the kittens are busy napping, recharging their little bodies from their explorations and romps with each other. It's taken until about 4:30 for the little furballs to start creeping out the door that I left cracked open about 2 hours before. My excited little ones could barely contain themselves for the first 20 minutes, because i made everyone sit in the living room, and wait for the kittens to come out. I explained why to the older kids earlier today, and I remind them when they do something that I had told them not to do.

Grey female, slept in the water dish.

You see, cats are very smart creatures. Even if these kittens had never seen a little box before, they KNOW deep down what it is for. Within 36 hours of being here, we are about 12 hours mess free. They know to keep where they sleep clean, and to bury their business. Now that I know they all prefer the sand, I can crack the bathroom door, and let them explore out from there. It's their safe place, and their potty place, so they will run there for all their needs. We closed off the bedrooms, since there are too many hiding places in there, and we don't want that yet. They have spent the last 2 days listening to the sounds of the house, they have been introduced to the dogs, and to all of the children. We know which children need 100% supervision, and which ones can be sure to calm little frayed nerves.

One of the rules I gave the kids was that the kittens were to explore their way out their selves. No picking them up and cuddling them somewhere else. No digging them out to see them. Stay calm, quiet and slow. These little creatures are still in fight or flight mode, especially while they are exploring new territory. They don't know where to hide, and if they can't feel safe, they will strike out with teeth and claw. The stripey one is the most easily spooked, while the grey and black ones are still hissing, but half heartedly. They love the cuddles and pets, and have already been heard starting their motor boxes (purring).

Some of the questions the kids have asked are easy to answer, like "What do they eat?" or "Why is it purring?". Other questions are much harder to answer, like "Why are the kittens scared of us? We saved them" and "What breed of cat are they?" or my favorite "How come all the babies are so very different? Did they have different daddies?" Oh boy!

Stripey male, getting some cuddle time.

For the scared question, I turned it around a few different ways. First I took a picture of a child or 2, from the view of the kittens, at the child's feet. At first, the child would laugh, surprised by the sight of their HUGE body. I explained that baby cats are very small, and very low to the ground. I explained that this is what they see when we come near, and the faster we move, the scarier it is. I asked how they would feel if a 50 foot giant was rushing across the room and reaching for them. One sweet child's eyes widened as she ducked at the idea. "Well, that's how those baby kittens feel! If you knew that you have sharp nails, and sharp teeth, what would you do to that giant hand scooping you up?" I asked. I could see understanding click, as she told me that she would bite and kick and scratch to get away.

Then I added another thought to the mix, "Now, these kittens are about a month old. They were born somewhere, where their mother nursed them, and where they were already exploring and knew every person and smell. They got caught, put in a box, and then left in the hot sun for an unknown amount of time. I am sure they thought it was forever. Then someone came, and lots of voices and smells and hands and NO MOM. They have food, and love, and shelter, but they don't know us." Little blue eyes looked up at me and said "We're Strangers!!!" Yes. Bingo. WE are the strangers.

So we talked about how those kittens felt, and how we needed to show them that we are good strangers. That we would get them used to all kinds of cool new things, and then, when the kittens are bigger, we will find their forever homes. This news, of course, leads to squeals of protest, and big alligator tears "Momma, not the ____ one!! It's my favorite and I love it!" I now know how my own mother felt at least 50 times in my 18+ years in her home. LOL How she feels even today, when she saw the post on FB. So far, I have stood very firm on not allowing them to name the tiny kittens. I know they have names all picked out, but that's not how we name them either. They cannot be named unless they are staying, and I cannot rationalize 3 cats in this house. They can have their first name given to them by their forever homes, so there is no confusion later when they end up with a different name.

Looking back over the years, I can remember so many cute, fluffy kittens, scared and looking for love. I would love them, cuddle them, feed them, play with them. That little ball of fluff would be my best and only friend, and we had grand adventures, long talks, wonderful naps in a warm patch of sunshine. I remember getting a free kitten from around the neighborhood when I was about 9 or 10. I knew I couldn't have a kitten, but I was SURE that THIS tiny kitten could be very quiet and hide well. I took it home and made it a home hidden in my cupboard. I was so crushed when my mom found it, and I had to give it back and was in trouble too.

In fact, I had a flashback to that memory, when we got home from the store with this box of half dead abandoned kittens. As we pulled up into the drive, my 10 year old daughter thought the best way to get the kittens past Daddy, was to hide them in their room. Perhaps this is some instinctive desire, going all the way back to the cave days, when some little child just HAD to save that poor saber tooth and hide it in her bed of animal skins. I don't know, but I told them that hiding the kittens would be a bad path to take. They quietly slipped the kittens into the house and got them water and food while I brought in the groceries and talked to the intimidating Daddy.

It wasn't any easier than when I would try to talk to my mom (on the inside), but I got through it. You see, there is a right way and a wrong way to handle situations. As a kid, it was easy enough to find the wrong way to do things, even with the right intentions. Even as an adult, finding the right way is hard. It is one of those things that I want my own kids to know, how to see the big picture, and how to navigate unknown waters. Hiding the kittens would have been the worst way possible, where open honesty and a plan goes a long way. Being the mommy goes a long way too. *Grin*

Black Male, discovering the rabbit during supervised "out" time.

Finding peaceful moments and TKD progress

The weather here has been beautiful. The daily displays of the different types of clouds stacking up against the foothills leads to many fun imaginings while we drive about town, or wait for _____ to start. That's a great benefit to learning to get places a bit early, instead of "On time". Instead of the stress and pressures and last minute thoughts still racing through my head, I am able to start _____ with my full attention. Today was one of those days. I got us to Co Op 15 minutes early, and I got these 2 pictures while I waited for everyone to show up.





Yesterday, 4 of my children had belt testing in Taekwondo. They have been working hard to memorize their forms and combinations, and to strengthen their body to be able to perform the exercises cleanly. My son, who just turned 4, was allowed to take his first belt test. He has been struggling on MANY levels to do well in Taekwondo, but it is VERY hard for him. Of the 4 kids, I am only worried that he didn't pass. The older 3 passed, I am pretty certain, and one I am so excited for, yet cannot say a word until it is announced in class. *GRIN*


Here is a video of my tiny 6 year old at her belt test. If that doesn't work, copy and paste this link into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZO4MImBXOA

I hope you have a great weekend! :)