The Runt of the Litter

A few of you have been so kind to ask about my garden. Well, let me tell ya.

My good friend and neighbor, Renee, and I set out to do this together. We used the same book, we built the same structures, we even went to the same gardening center (together, on the same day) to buy our plants. We have the same results, right? Oh, no.

Here's hers:

 

And here's mine:

 

It looks just like it did 2 months ago!! Why the difference? Rule #1 -- never, NEVER take a short-cut on your soil. I did.

As I have joked with Renee, it's like we picked two puppies from the same litter. Hers is cute and thriving and house-broken.....and mine is full of worms.

On a better note, the pumpkin seeds that Joshua randomly poked into a random barrel of random soil are doing just smashing! Whew.

 

By the way, thanks Renee, for letting me sneak into your yard and take pictures. You're a GREAT gardener!

Greg pointed out that I didn't mention how many cars competed in the derby race. Very important. Let the record show that it was 11. Thank you and enjoy the following post....

Derby With Dad Day

We spent Father's Day at Greg's favorite place and it just so happened that they were hosting a pine derby race for anyone who might want to participate. We didn't know anything about this hobby before yesterday but it really sounded like fun so we paid our $25 dollars and put our name in. Why not? So Joshua picked out a raw wooden car and he and Dad had fun modifying it, painting it and greasing it up really good. Josh wanted a giant '8' on the hood because.....he's 8 of course! (Contrary to what you may assume, we are really NASCAR ignorant).

 

 

Classic movie, underdog moment: As we show up to register and display our car, kids and their dad's start walking in with their high-tech, specially boxed-up, snobby, experienced cars. We kicked in with the parent pep-talk stuff of "Remember how much fun we had making the car.", "You're a winner to us, no matter what!", and "I love this car so much, do you mind if I keep it forever and give it to your own kids someday?" You know. I think I also told him that the prizes were really stinky. Who wants a deck of race car Old Maid cards?

Well, that #8 car won the 1st heat and - spoiler alert - ended up taking 3rd overall!!

 

 

I think we were both kind of teary! We couldn't have been more proud if he had taken first. It WAS fun spending the time together making that car, I AM keeping it forever and I DO plan on playing alot of Old Maid soon.....

Sorry it's been awhile. Some of you will understand, you see, I've discovered 'The Office'. Not being big tv watchers, we're bringing up the rear with catching on but, thanks to borrowing our neighbors collection, caught on, we have! In a spare half-hour or two (or 8 or 9), we are very busy here and can't be bothered. Gotta go! It's off to season 4.....

Handbook For Indoor Camping

Has it been raining alot? Do you suffer from allergies? Are your parents super dull and won't camp out in the backyard with you? No problem. A well-stocked tent next to the window in the living room is so close to the real thing, you might even need to spray yourself with 'Off'.

 

As shown, all you need is (of course) your sleeping bag & pillow, favorite stuffed buddies, a hanging flashlight, books, handheld games, a ball cap, change purse, post-it notes w/ pen, and (not pictured) a balloon, roll of tape, and empty paper towel roll. If an explanation for any of these things is needed then I guess you don't know much about camping.

 

Must be very sustaining because I know someone who has lived in this tent for 2 weeks now.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

We went to a baseball game for our local pro team a couple weeks ago and it was ok. The organ music, the hotdog smell and the cheers make it fun but, really, the game is not that exciting. There's about 10 minutes between each bat-cracking so you end up spending more time catching up in the conversation with your friends than you do watching the game. An hour goes by and before you know it - you're in the second inning. Yawn

BUT, somewhere in the neighborhood there's a little league game going on and THAT'S fun! I LOVE watching 7 & 8 year-olds play baseball where there is not a dull moment to be had. No, they don't hit the ball and run to third base anymore but they are still the cutest things in the world! Getting a bit of skill and a good grasp of the game now makes this a nail-biting and come-up-out-of-your-seat-screaming (in a good way) type of experience. And they are still so transparent....a strike-out often results in slumped shoulders, chin in the chest, dragging the bat behind while trying not to cry, while getting a second-base hitter might mean jumping up and down on the base and waving to Mom. I bet the Cardinals don't do that, and I say, too bad for the fans that they don't!

 

 

 

If the evening news gets you in knots then turn it off one night and head to a city ballpark. The sun is setting and a cool breeze is blowing, families are together rooting for each other, and the free entertainment is priceless!