State of the Garden and The Garden State

We extended our garden this year with thanks to our new/used tiller.  We had hoped to extend it even more but ran out of time to turn it over for the sod to rot.  So far we have harvested a small amount of snap peas, cilantro, arugula and blueberries.  Nothing huge but its something in our bellies.  For the blueberries, I put up a net to keep birds AND baby girl out (she would pluck it clean, ripe and un-ripe ones)-

Summer planting was a few weeks late due to unexpected travels and lots of rain.  Special thanks to my husband for stepping up (all the while working lots of overtime at his job) and planting when I wasn't able.  He saved our garden.
Little man helped me plant beans.  Here is a new heirloom variety we are trying from Botanical Interests called Calypso Beans.  They are drying beans for soups and such-

I have to admit, it's hard to let a toddler help you do something you need to hurry and complete.  But teaching time and quality time do not come everyday, so I have to prioritize and suck it up.  He asks to help and I want to encourage that quality, not turn it away.
I made him a measuring stick to space the beans-

Here's what we've got going so far.  It has been a rainy season but so far nothing has rotted.... so far.

The heirloom sweet potatoes were shared by the Seaton family in TN.  This is a very old variety that has been passed through many generation of their family.  These boogers get BIG, tubers AND vines.  I am very grateful to them for sharing with us.  I love sweet potatoes.

Another share we are thankful for again, the garlic from Matthew and Maria in Syracuse.  These will be ready to dig soon-

Another new addition for us is asparagus, generously given to us by Jonathan's parents.... along with expert growing instructions-

Other end of the garden-
Tomatoes, blue potatoes,  beets (not doing so well), red bell peppers, pickling cucs and eggplant (doing the best we've ever had eggplant do)-

Now onto The Garden State (a.k.a New Jersey).
We were recently invited by some dear (and super cool) friends to join them on a vacation in lovely Ocean Grove, New Jersey.  This area is very special to our friends and also Jonathan's family.  Jonathan's grandfather used to preach in nearby Asbury Park.  Alot of family vacations and special memories were made in this area.  I enjoy the small vacation town feel and how nice the people in this lovely beach community are.
The lovely strip with shops, food and ice cream.  Peaceful like a vacation should be-

We spent as much time as possible on the beach.  Mrs. A is a beach and water lover (she used to lifeguard here when she was younger).  Her sweet daughter is a water lover too.  My kids loved playing in the sand more than the water.  His friend (Mrs. A's daughter) was kind and played with him on shore too-

Baby girl became somewhat obsessed with her shovel and pail-

Becoming one with the sand-

She enjoyed some water time with daddy-

We headed down to Point Pleasant for some fun activities-

Little man taking his driving job very seriously.... keeping the wheel to the left the whole time.

Shark lover-

Showing them who is top of the food chain-

Fourth of July, Jersey Shore style (on the Point Pleasant boardwalk).  Jonathan mentioned something about guys with blowouts.  He had to explain that was a haircut for guys.... to a mommy with two in diapers in means something completely different.

Back in Ocean Grove, Fourth of July parade-

Isn't little man's friend soooo cute!

With the sirens and marching bands, it was loud at times.  The photographer in the neon green shirt (in the distance) took a picture, laughing, at the kids and their ear protection.
Lifeguard jeep/float-

There was some damage from hurricane Sandy to the boardwalk and stores-

More fun times with great friends.  Dancing-

Red cheeked girls-

Little man's favorite activity, running on the beach at night.  Well... running anywhere is his favorite activity-

Kid-less picture-

We are very thankful to our friends for inviting us along on their vacation!!

House Year TWO In Review

As of spring this year we have been in our house for two years now.  Though work around the house and yard have been steady throughout the year, the difference is not as obvious as our first year's  changes.  Progress is progress though.  It's ok to laugh at me that I still do not have curtains or even pictures/decor hung in some rooms.  I've told you in the past I am an indecisive person at times.  Plus shopping for home goods is not at the top of my daily chores priority list these days (just being honest). Shopping in general is not up there..... I can't even remember the last time I shopped for clothes for myself (and my wardrobe these days shows it :).

So here are the before and after photos.  The before pictures being the house when we purchased it, the after being the current.  Starting with the living room-

Before-

Now-

Before-

Now-

Before-

Now-

Dinning Room.
Before-

Now-

Before-

Now-

Before-

Now-

Hallway/Back Entrance.
Before-

Now-

Kitchen.
Before-

Now-

Downstairs Bath.
Before-

Now-

I did not include any upstairs pictures because there haven't been many updates since last year.  I think the installation of the master bedroom closet is the only update.
That's all for now. :)

Straight From Farm to Mouth (Skip the Table)

It's finally strawberry season here in New England and, boy oh boy, the fruit is lovely this year.  I forced my husband, I mean, I requested we take a break from our crazy Saturday work schedule to go and pick strawberries as a family.  Little man had been asking to go pick berries and we don't get to do alot of fun activities with daddy (hard working guy these days) so we had to work it in.

To the berry patch-

First, baby girl had a quick lesson on how to NOT destroy the plants while trying to pick berries.

Then off she went-

After realizing the 'fruits of the labor', she didn't stop-

This might sound silly but we recently read, Blueberries For Sal, by Roberty McCloskey.  From that story little man understood the concept of picking and saving food for the winter.  He did a good job picking and saving instead of eating them all.  He does like having a job, makes him feel 'big'.-

I like having jobs like this myself  :)

In the meantime, still chowing down-

Look at that tummy-

We managed to get enough picked-

And turned it into good things for the future-
(Every time I pick berries and make jam I think of home.  When I used to pick up strawberries at Scott's roadside stand on the bypass during my lunch break for me and my co-workers at Numark.  It meant summer was really here.)

Though little man did pretty good holding out on eating the berries while picking, strangely enough he doesn't have the same will power towards the sugar snap peas in the garden.  Only a few have actually made it out of the garden to the dinner table.  Baby girl loves them too.

More garden news later.  And still no piggies... probably mid to late July now.  And house news.... we scheduled the basement guys to come fix our leaky basement by installing french drains and get a new sump pump.  Pricey unfortunately but important in caring for our foundation.  On the downside.... probably no central AC installation that I was hoping for this year. :(