Dirt farming

As long as I can remember, my father, a nuclear engineer by trade, always had a garden. In Schenectady it was a big garden with a large variety of vegetables...and tending to it was a family affair. In the suburbs of California, the yard space was limited so he set aside a spot for a few tomato plants but also nurtured the citrus and persimmon trees that he inherited with the home. I remember him talking about retiring to be a "dirt farmer." But even before retirement it was always his hobby. I think he transplanted every Easter lily we ever had into the yard.

He did achieve his retirement goal when mom and he settled into their current home in Florida. It has a big lot that he enjoyed puttering around in. Nurturing flower beds, transplanting more Easter lilies and learning what would thrive in his new tropical home.

That desire to sow and cultivate plants has been passed along to me. When we planned out the landscaping for our backyard 8 years ago, I had them set aside a small plot of dirt for a garden. The first year or two I grew some tomato plants and experimented with what would thrive in my new desert home. But eventually I got busy with a young family and a career.

This year, with the girls being old enough to help, we started it up again. We've got a few tomato plants, a chili pepper, red pepper, basil and yellow squash (and yes, a few weeds). Emily also planted her cabbage from a 3rd grade project. It's been a fun experience with the girls to learn how vegetables are actually grown and we certainly enjoy the tasty crop we've had so far.

Unfortunately my father's health is failing now so he doesn't get to putter around in his own back yard anymore. So to honor him, the dirt farmer, we have officially named our own "PopPop's Garden."

Over, under, pull it tight...

I recently came to the realization that my almost-kindergartner does not know how to tie her shoes. Certainly an important part of this childhood development would be to own a pair of shoes that tie, right? Flip flops, sandals, mary-janes, velcro...this girl has everything but ties. But still the fashionista, a standard pair of white tennis shoes would never do. They'd certainly sit in the closet, being passed up for colorful sandals, flowery flip flops or glittery velcro tennies. So what pair will she be learning to tie on?



A darling pair of size 13 Converse. She is tickled pink (of course).

Another month in review...

Remember a couple posts ago when I said how busy the month of May was? Here's some of it in review...

On the eleventh anniversary of being married in St Matthew's Episcopal Church I made myself official by being confirmed as an Episcopalian at Trinity Cathedral. It was a great morning with over 100 confirmed or received. Thirty-six from our church, St Matthew's.




Emily performed with the entire 3rd grade class (can you spot her in the middle of the back row).



Megan was 'promoted' from pre-school (some self-proclaimed experts have suggested using the term "promoted" instead of "graduated" lest she think she can cruise through life on her pre-school education alone).





Celebrated Mother's Day with a light rail trip down to the ballpark. After every Sunday game, the DBacks let kids run the bases. For Mom's day I got to run with them. :-)






Emily bridged from Brownie to Girl Scout.



And that was just the highlights.

Roll over...

Now play dead...



Good kitty.

Triple digits

We had a wonderful spring season this year. The moderate temperatures lasted well into May. We'd get a glimpse of the mercury creeping up and then things would cool back down. The mood of the Phoenicians was bright and jovial...much like I suspect sunny days bring to folks on the Pacific Northwest coast. We welcomed every extra day as a gift. The past few days has been pay back for the respite...



You're looking at the outside temperature gauge in my car yesterday afternoon. And so it begins...the desert summer hybernation.