Busy busy

We had a busy Memorial Day weekend.

Got the house cleaned-ish on Saturday morning. Did some laundry. Left for the cottage for one night. Maddy got to spend time with her cousins Hannah and Nate. The three of them are 6 months apart in age. Quite fun to see the three of them play so nicely together. The men-folk got the dock in and did some errands and chores around the house. I was a lazy bum and did very little other than pick rocks and watch Maddy.

We got home on Sunday night and we were all exhausted. Slept in until 9am on Monday morning. It was already 70 degrees out! We got a headstart on the day ahead: spreading 7 1/2 yards of woodchips, planting the veg. garden, and weeding. It was a GLORIOUS day.

My folks, Julie, and Haddy & William came up from Madison for the day. Mom and I went to the greenhouse to get our annuals. Dad and Joe did wood-chips. Julie was in charge of the kids and assisted with going to the park, playing at the house, and doing some crafts.

But that wasn't all. We ended up with a house-ful by the end of the day: Jodi, Jed, Stacey, Dean & baby Joey came over to plant the vegetable garden; and Caroline, Zak, Teresa, Jason and Gavin came over to eat and entertain us and be entertained.

It was a busy busy weekend. It was certainly difficult coming into work this morning. Oy...I'm a beat....

:)

We're ok

It's amazing how much one's body and mind can recover from such loss as we've experienced lately. That's not to say we're 100%, but we're ok.

Every once in a while, Maddy will look at me with such emotion and say how sad she is that the baby died. There's been a lot of hugging and a lot of downtime for the three of us as a family. Maddy's taken to sleeping on the floor and wanting us to sleep with her. We do what we can, but it's been a bit frustrating, especially if we have work to do. I've ordered some books to hopefully assist her (and us) in this phase.

We'll be honoring Steven's life this coming Saturday. It will be a small gathering in Oconto.

We're ok. Spring is here. The seeds have been started for the vegetable garden and have begun to sprout under the grow-lights in the basement. We're planning the patio. Joe's dug a trench between the house and garage.

It's all going to be ok. :)

Gardens & the HILL

Lupine & Iris


Clematis


Sweet and sweeter


Preparations for the HILL - BEFORE (1)


BEFORE (2)
'

and...

AFTER (1)


AFTER (2)

The Veggie Garden 2007

25 feet by 12 feet.

We (Stacey, Jodi, Joe and I) planted:

• Squash (two kinds)
• Onions
• Beans (pole & bush)
• Cucumbers (two kinds)
• Lettuce (two kinds)
• Peas
• Carrots
• Herbs
• Peppers (3 kinds)
• Broccoli
• Spinach (2 kinds)
• Celery
• Tomatoes (3 kinds)
• Potatoes

"So, what's new in your world, Karen?"

• Had my nieces for the weekend. Oi. Not that they were awful - not at all. Maddy enjoyed having them visit, and Samantha and Alison were not exactly happy to be leaving Sunday afternoon. There were some really nice moments that I'll treasure. That said, S & A are not my children and, well, taught dear sweet M some things I'd rather not have her learn (Like saying "I don't like you" instead of "I'm frustrated!").
  
• I lost my voice - literally. Turns out coughing and sinus drainage isn't good for the vocal chords. Go figure. Of course, dear husband was "so sorry" to hear that I was to be on vocal rest for a bit. ha ha
• My 25' x 12' garden has been tilled and the potatoes have been planted. The rest (onions, squash, beans, broccoli, spinach, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, carrots, herbs, and peppers) the next few weeks.
• A new section has been tilled in the way back for the "native" garden.
• A new section has been tilled at the side for the "vertical" garden.

YEAH! I love springtime.

of weather, naps, and UUs...

As promised, spring time isn't quite ready to stay. We have flurries and a high of only 30 today. It is Wisconsin, you know. 7 years ago, it was freezing cold at the end of May. I was nervous that the ground would still be frozen for our outside wedding. T.S. Eliot was right. April is the cruelest month, teasing us with the possibilities of full-blown spring.

Despite Ma Nature's joke, Stacey, Jodi & I have planned the vegetable garden. Last year's was indeed a learning experience.

I've been in a very tired state the past month. A lot of this has to do with the new med I'm on to treat a mild anxiety disorder I've recently been diagnosed with. It's very mild but the worrying and the anxiety I've felt over the littlest things was driving me (and my family) nuts. My doctor prescribed meds and possibly a therapist to hopefully relieve some of this damn "working mommy guilt" I've been feeling. Unfortunately, I haven't been to the fitness center a whole lot the past month. I've been taking that time for napping. I know I need to get back into the routine, but it's been a bit hard. *sigh*

The best news is that we did indeed get to the GB Unitarian Universalist fellowship as I said we would! Last weekend, Joe, Maddy, myself and Jodi checked it out. It's a new fellowship (comparatively anyway) and has about 60 adult members. I loved it. I think what I miss most of all in a church is the community fellowship. We're planning on going again this Sunday.

Be well. :)

some garden pictures!

(For more pictures, check my flickr account!)

Daisies! I love daisies!













Do you see the spaghetti squash?

















The monstrosity that is our vegetable garden in July!