Patio Tomatos

This year Max and I decided to grow our tomato's on the patio and we had two different plants. It was fun to plant them, water and watch the plants grow. Here is our first ripe tomato and Max had so much fun watering them and even eating them! The skin was a little tough but, they were hardy and we enjoyed many tomato's from these two little plants. We also attempted growing Rosemary from seed but, one too many over watering episodes made that a bit impossible. We may try again with Rosemary once we are settled in our new home.

Oh sooo Good ....

Our second picking from the raspberry bushes this week. Oh how they tasted SO good on ice cream tonight. Wish you were to have some with us!

Fruit of our Labor ...

We have been working on our garden here in Star Valley for months now. This picture was taken early on when the onions, peas, potatoes, and green beans were just starting to come up. Dad devised our "deer fence" by stringing empty coke cans around the garden as a somewhat distraction for keeping them out. I thought it was quite funny - but it has certainly worked on keeping the larger animals out. All around the garden we have iris and daisy's growing which have been blooming. On the one end of the garden dad has been growing evergreens for a couple of years now and perhaps next summer they will get transplanted in to the yard.

This past week we have been picking the peas. Max has had so much fun going out with the bowls, pulling the peas off and getting them out of their shells. For lunch on Friday we picked fresh peas and pulled up some of the potatoes so we could have baby potatoes and peas for lunch. This week we will be harvesting raspberries. I can't wait. We have about three red ones so far but, they will be coming on here pretty quick.

Max shelling the peas with Grandma Tippets

First Poison Scare ...

Last night Mark and I were out spraying our azalea's with a bug killer. According to one of our neighbors who has the same problem, mites have moved in - well at least to our azaleas! They have turned a light green color and on the underside of the leaves we have little brown spots. So, I found the bug killer spray that you just hook up to your hose and spray away. Do it twice within 14 days and hopefully next spring we still have beautiful azaleas.

Mark had to leave for an Elders Quorum meeting and so I finished up the side and front plants. Of course my number one helper was right there the whole time. I was so careful to keep the bottle away from him and up high enough that he could not reach. Safe, right?

Well, we wind up the hose in the front and then we go around back where the hose was completely pulled out. As I am winding up the hose, Max was around the corner supposedly pulling the hose from the garden so that we do not "hose destroy" are fragile, mite ridden azaleas! I'm calling for him, no answer so I go around the corner to see what is going on. What did I find? Max with the hose end that was recently attached to the bug killer where? Well, of course his mouth! Immediately I scream NOO NOOO NOOOOO! What are you doing? NOOOOO ..... I scoop him up, run him into the house - bumping his head along the way on the edge of the door (yes I panicked) now he is crying and saying, "Mom are you sad?" I get some water in a cup and I am now telling him to rinse and spit - like brushing your teeth! Do NOT swallow!??!! A concept that Max is still learning. I'm afraid that this is not working, so I grab papertowels put them under water and now I am swabbing out his mouth? Have not one clue if this is even right. All the while I am looking at the bottle for "In case this is bug killer is put in your 2 year olds mouth .... do this....!" After a few minutes of extreme panic, I decided not to call Mark, Max is still breathing, not swelling up, not throwing up and now calming down from the bump on his head. I think I must of asked him 50 times before he fell asleep last night, are you feeling ok? The whole I night I kept thinking, should I be taking him in to the emergency room?

Ughh ... what a crazy night. Thankfully, he is fine and I did tell Mark when he got home from his meeting. Max was up and playing in no time but, literally, just when you think you are being safe Max seems to remind me that there is always something to worry about!

Other than, this little scare .... I've been working quite a bit and helping out with upcoming RS Super Saturday. When I have the energy and time, I do enjoy making things from scratch.

Today, I helped provide some food for a funeral in our ward. I was so excited to make the famous green bean caserole with french onions as I made them with my very own canned green beans! I felt very smart that I had learned to can beans this summer and have them available at a moments notice! Everyone should experience some sort of canning in their life. You really can be prepared if you are willing to learn and make a little investment! To date, I have canned tomatoes, green beans, salsa and peaches. My tomatoes are still coming on and I even did more this week.

This weekend is our wards annual chili cookoff .... Mark's FAVORITE activity of the whole year! He is looking to take back his title of "Hotest Chili" with his habanero peppers!

I'll be sure to update this weekend!

Our Little Garden

Since we finally have some garden beds along our house we were able to save some money and finally put some plants and mulch in this past spring. I know we should not be prideful but, I do have to say I am so excited and proud of our little garden! We have three varieties of pepper plants growing and Roma tomatoes as well! It seems like such a miracle to have little seeds grow and produce beautiful fruit. I am grateful for the skills and desire that my parents instilled in me growing up to learn the art of gardening. Now I still consider myself a novice but, I have discovered "Miracle Grow" and boy has it helped! Our azalea's that we bought were a little sad looking after we got them in the ground and infact, I think they were on sale because they were last years plants, not sure but I suspect. We were worried about them but, after applying a little "Miracle Grow" I can honestly say a miracle has occured! They look great. Half of them will bloom both in the spring and in the fall so I am excited to see them again. Half have white flowers on them and the other have a hot pink flower to them.

Our other garden beds were either revamped this Spring or created as well. Mark and I worked our tails off on our retaining wall for the front our house and put all new plants in their as well. Along side of our walk out basement steps we put Rhododendrums (sp?) and Hasta's which are doing great. They have a purple flower on both. We added two cherry tree's to our front yard as well.

All n' all . . . we really have a beautiful yard and Mark keeps our lawn looking just perfect all year round. He takes great pride in mowing, edging and weed-wacking our yard each week. I'm sure next year we will add more plants and trees but, for now we are happy with our accomplishments. Tonight we will have a ceremony as we pick our first red pepper!