Gardens & Grandchildren - Tuesday - March 22, 2011

Our daughter Julie called and asked if I would build them a couple of raised beds so she could try and grow some vegetables. They have planted seeds in cups and are hoping to transplant them into the beds. Their veggies include radishes, lettuce, carrots, pumpkins, peppers and even some corn. Obviously, I said yes! It would give me a great opportunity to visit with the grandkids.

Julie, Emily, Samantha and I made a quick trip to Home Depot to get the necessary supplies. Nancy, being the garden guru that she is, had given me a “walk-thru” at the HD here and had laid out the specific details as to what and how much to put in the beds. So we picked up the garden soil, peat moss, lumber and netting (to keep the deer out) and back to their home we travelled.

We proceeded to build two 2’ x 6’ x 12” raised beds. I say we – the granddaughters handed me the nails, screws, hammer, etc. one at a time. It took a little longer this way, but, I could see they were having a ball helping Grandpop build the boxes. They couldn’t wait to “mix-up” the dirt with their hands.

We had the beds almost built, but, it was time to quit working for the day as all four of the grandchildren had swim lessons after dinner. I went with camera in tote and got to see all the kids swimming. Andrew and Daniel swam on the swim team last year. Emily will likely swim on the team this year as well. Even little Samantha, the three year old, would jump off the side of the pool into the water.

Emily

Samantha

Daniel

Andrew

I think Julie and Steve are raising a "school" of children. It's great that they are learning to swim at a young age.

This morning we finished construction of the raised beds.

Laying the weed block.

Mixing the soil.

Bird netting to keep the deer out!

I know the kids favorite part was mixing up all the dirt, fertilizer and peat moss with their hands. They stayed on the side of the boxes with their hands digging as deep as they could mixing up the soil. I think they just love playing in the dirt. Julie laughed and said “maybe we should have built a sandbox.” Maybe next time. I really had a good time with all the “helpers” I had. I just hope they get to reap some benefits of their hard work and the veggies grow. I’m not the green thumb in the family – I just provide the labor!

On another subject, Selling Our House, our real estate agent hosted an “Open House” last Sunday from 1-4 PM. We had five couples visit and while all said it was a beautiful house – no offers or anything close to an offer appeared. One couple said the price was too high for them while the others all had houses or condos to sell before they are in a position to buy. Our home has been listed on the market since last June and even though we know it’s a tough time to sell we still are holding on to the theory that it only takes one to buy it. That can’t come soon enough for me. Nancy keeps repeating, “It will sell when it’s supposed to sell. Everything happens for a reason.” I know, of course, she’s right, but, that doesn’t make it any easier to wait.

Well, while we wait we will just enjoy things.  Like heading to The RV-Dreams Rally in Tennessee.  It is just a couple weeks away and we can't wait to see everyone from last year and meet the new people this year!!  We will just "ENJOY THE JOURNEY!!"