Back from Hiatus!

Well hello there!!! It's almost summertime! My favorite time of year. (Second to my favorite, favorite time of year - fall.)
I have decided to start blogging again, mostly because my new found passion needs some advertising and I need a way to keep organized! Oh, by the way, this passion is gardening! Although, I should really call it "gardening". My dad has the knowledge, expertise, and vision (thank you horticulture degree and farmer background). He lacks the childish (almost naive) enthusiasm and time (thank you real-world).

I will give you a little background:
Last year I decided to garden so I started a little late but built 3 raised beds, bought some loam from a local nursery. My mom and I screened it and my long-suffering bestest helped me build the beds and gave some realistic support criticisms. She did drive me to Home Depot (wayyyy better than Lowes) in her SUV as ours was unavailable for some reason on Saturday morning, early. I used vegetable starts for most of my veggies. But direct seeded carrots, peas, onions and of course potatoes.

Then convention came along, then camping, then friends, them more conventions and my cousins from Ireland and somehow the garden was sort of...neglected. My parents stepped in as they could but I realized a few things.

With all the experience I gained last year, I have set out to be more productive this summer. I don't lack ambition, but perhaps...focus?

In April, my dad took our potatoes and laid them all out in the sun in the garage to spout tubers. We ONLY eat Yukon Golds around here...
A month ago I fertilized my beds which my dad QUICKLY sowed to potatoes. ALL. MY. BEDS.

So, I ordered more soil, bought some wood and most importantly...STARTED PLANNING. I did some research, found tons of awesome sites. (My favorite being this one: http://thefoodproject.org/sites/default/files/GrowingGuide2010.pdf ) I focused, refocused, and reminded myself to focus again on what was realistic for both my time and my family's need.

One rainy evening, an old dumb truck rumbled into the yard and my dad guided its driver to my newly constructed beds. My dad and Davey (thank you) shoveled and shoveled. I generally inspected, approved, encouraged, questioned, bossed, made sure my orange crocks got supper muddy, and even managed to fertilized the soil amid my busy delegating duties. That evening we planted peas, beans, carrots, and onions. By "we" I mean I tore open the package and my dear father worked his magic.

Two days later my mom and I visited our local nursery and purchased the veggies on my post-research garden plan. I planted. Watered. Sighed. The beginning of a long impatient wait!!!

All done filling. Left is planted with seeds of peas, beans and carrots. (Yes, it was raining)

Beet seeds. Oddest seeds you have ever seen!

Square foot gardening! <3

One of many lists. This might qualify as the Master Master List.

Pretending I'm sophisticated!

That last picture is a decent representation of my must-haves in the garden. Gloves -get yourself a pair of Atlas Nitrile garden gloves - you won't regret it!, (orange) Crocks, hand cultivator (yes, I just googled that to see if that's what it's called. I call it a mini-sprong. Donegal roots...) You can also see my Master Master List on the left there! :)


It's Memorial Day Weekend - What are your plans? I am going yard saling in the morning! (Yes, I really am!) Just wait till you see what I am going to be doing with my finds!


I am also going to plant my tomatoes!!! I have a plan of action to combat last year's failures.


What's growing in your garden?

Happy Birthday Sarah Brooke

HAPPY NINETEENTH BIRTHDAY, BROOKE!!!

Paris - Day Three

Paris - Day Two

Day two was Sunday. We got on the metro and rode it out of the outskirts of the city to one of the most special meetings I have been in.

Our meeting hosts. Sylvan and Louise. Louise is from Canada. 

                                    

Front of the Notre Dame.

Inside. (Sans flash)

Back of the Notre Dame.

Window gawking. A super sweet printing press.

Paris - Day One

Paris. It was good, stressful, delicious, rainy, annoying, beautiful, and not tourist-oriented.

Top of the list. We were a 5 minute walk! 

Just a Ferrari.

Entrance to tunnel where Princess Di was killed.

Memorial on the bridge above the tunnel.

The fashions of Paris...

Lanterns everywhere!

The Louvre is enormous!!!

In this little grocery store, there was an adorable French boy who wanted to know if we spoke English and then did anything he could to help us out. He even cut slices of an apple to let us find our favorite one. He was a-typical...

Friday

We had stopped yesterday in a bustling little town with lots of cute stores, but the Causeway was calling our name and we didn’t get to explore it all. We decided to go back “first thing” this morning. I should mention that we are becoming just like the locals; staying up late and getting up (too) late! We left Coleraine, with Starbucks (!!!!!) in one hand and some super exciting purchases in the other! We set off down the country through beautiful sun showers; we didn’t see any rainbows. Our destination was Bangor, County Down. My mom’s cousin and her husband; James and Isobel Graham. They live in the cutest little bay town outside Belfast. We arrived and after a brief cup of coffee we set off for the Mountains of Mourn. These mountains are very dramatic; sweeping down sharply into the sea. It’s a crazy contrast. The beaches are also very rugged and covered in beautiful stones. We had an amazing meal at a lodge, all the food we've had here has been amazing. I need to start a diet...sometime soon. We spent the evening chatting and laughing; the way friends do. 

Scrabble Tower