I love going new places, finding beautiful spots outdoors. I love the crisp autumn air. I love seeing my children play.
Category: Life
Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew
I picked up this e-book on sale on Amazon recently. I’ve read the original, scanned the changes to the updated version and although I like many aspects of it, I have one huge problem with it.
I like soil. In square foot gardening you no longer have to deal with the texture, drainage, CEC, fertility, OM level, and all that good stuff I learned in two soil classes in college. Instead you just have to know the magic formula for Mel’s mix. Mel’s mix is basically a homemade soil-less sterile potting mixture.
Soil is filled with complex biota. Symbiotic relationships between plants and fungi or bacteria. Earthworms churning and composting the soil. The more you learn about all the intricate relationships in soil the more awesome it is.
And square foot gardening says ignore all that awesomeness and use this sterile stuff instead.
There are situations where the soil might not be condusive for vegetable growth. In this case, go head and use the mix. But realize that now you will need more water, more fertilizer, and your plants will probably not grow as well as if they were in good soil.
But if your soil is decent, work on improving it, not ignoring it. Add compost, grow cover crops, avoid over tilling, give your soil love. And get better, tasteful veggies.
Many people want organic produce from their garden, and the best thing about organic gardening is it is all about developing a sustainable soil system. Because of this, I can’t really see how square foot gardening and organic gardening mix. Square foot gardening is filled with bringing in exterior inputs. Organic gardening is about improving and cycling what you have.
So I would go out and arrange my veggies in nice little squares. I do like the book overall. But I’m also not in a hurry to build raised beds and bring in Mel’s mix.
A Visit from the Family
These cute people came and visited.
We packed a lot into a week (at least a lot for our assortment of small children) including:
- Ikea, a spur of the moment activity because they are re-doing the outside of the apartment and we wanted to get away from the banging. And then we ended up with free breakfast.
- Story time at the library.
- Several parks (including attempting to play volleyball which doesn’t work too well with kids).
- Playing out on the deck with sensory bins and paint. (Little MM tried to eat the paint and was quickly excluded from the activity.)
- Buying a pumpkin at a farm, complete with hay ride.
- An indoor playground
- Riding to the top of Stone Mountain and watching the laser show there. CD even enjoyed the fireworks after he realized the loud sounds didn’t mean much.
- Going to the puppet museum that actually ended up scaring our kids. They did enjoy playing puppets, and PB liked the Sesame Street puppets but there was some scary stuff there too.
- And just talking and enjoying each other.
My little tidbit of late is I say “I can’t do this” too much. They are just destructive words. I usually can just fine, and the Lord is always there helping. I should say “I am doing this, and I can continue to do this, and I can enjoy it.” I want to cultivate a more positive, grateful attitude.
North Georgia Waterfalls
We went up to DeSoto and Helton Creek Falls for a fun fall family hike. The trails were pretty close to each other and short. Each trail had both an upper and lower falls, so we saw four waterfalls in a couple of hours. It was a beautiful way to spend a fall day.
Birthday
PB turned three. Three sounds better than two to me…minus the fact that I have to start paying for him at some places. He loved his birthday, and is still creating happy birthday presents to open. We had a little birthday party in the park with friends, ate his favorite foods including tons of cupcakes and opened presents. I told him we would open presents just as soon as Dad came home. I thought that he would be taking a nap when Joe got off work at 2:00, and then we would open them that evening. He wasn’t sleeping though, so we opened presents about thirty seconds after Joe walked in the door.
I love to play with PB. He is old enough to sit and enjoy activities I think of. We played Cooties today. It took a lot of effort on my part to keep him interested and rule-abiding, but with encouragement (and a bit of rule modification) he played the game all the way through. He is usually very cheerful, except when he is tired and then he can be horrid. (He has a not desirable habit of waking up whenever he hears someone up. I’ll get up at 6:00 or earlier, and this is much too early for him.) A couple of things he needs to work on is eating a better variety of foods, and potty training.
PB favorite activity is to sit in the rocker and listen to songs. He loves listening to music. His second favorite thing to do is play cars. He is getting more creative in his play. Here are some things he did that I found cute:
- Dumping out his boxes used to organize his toys and sorting, stacking and turning them into roads, stepping stones and hats.
- Tackling his brother. And CD is usually okay with it. Sometimes he laughs and laughs. My greatest joy is seeing them make each other laugh.
- Trying to erase the crayons with his chalk eraser…but also coloring a picture with deliberate marks more than scribbles
- Gaining more independence: helping me with laundry, other chores.
- Playing with friends. I love that he is old enough to make friends.
Tidbits
I am enjoying the cooler weather. I forgot how wonderful it is to go outside in a jacket and not be surrounded by mosquitoes.
Last Saturday we attempted to go disc golfing. After the first hole, we were cheerfully informed the course was closed to put down milch. We were bummed at first but played at the playground and decided to go shopping for PB’s birthday. When something doesn’t work out there are often better things to discover. In the parking lot for the store was an event with crafts, firemen, police, free food, and bounce houses. I think it was a fundraiser and safety fair. It was great fun and a bit educational. I did sneak away while Joe was with PB and bought him a few presents.
My favorite thing lately is seeing the kids make each other laugh.
I want to commit to be happy more. It is a choice. I can avoid dwelling on my mistakes or problems, and simply strive to do better. My life is wondrous only as I choose to see it that way.
And conference was wonderful, wasn’t it?
You only get one picture today, but there’s some good ones of our family at the end of this post (kudos to my awesome sister-in-law).
Huntsville Botanical Gardens
I took advantage of the reciprocal admissions program (I love that program), and visited Huntsville Botanical Gardens while visiting my in-laws. The actual gardens didn’t impress me as much as many that I’ve been to. I did visit in a bit of a slump…summer blooms are gone and fall has yet to fully mature.
But these gardens are first on my list of kid-friendly gardens. Not only did they have a dedicated children’s garden (which was large and fun), but scattered throughout all the gardens were kid-friendly places like a model train, fort, and swing set. The kids with us enjoyed ponds and fountains to splash in (it was hot), ball bins, and butterflies in the butterfly house.
Car Painting
We had a very successful art activity one afternoon. PB is obsessed with cars. He doesn’t just ask, “Will you play with me?” It is always, “Will you play cars with me?” So I finally decided to break out the paints (not washable which is why we were out on the balcony, PB sans clothes), and let PB paint using the cars as brushes. Not only did he have a lot of fun, but he created a beautiful painting.
Fun with Cousins
Joe’s brother and his family flew in, and we all went out and visited another sister in Alabama. It was fun. (Minus the car ride. CD hates the car for long car rides. PB can also get a bit squeally.) PB loved playing with his cousins.
Fun at the Space and Rocket Center. Very cool place.
Isn’t this guy cute? He hasn’t been sleeping well at all…and then he cut is first tooth.
Eating sandwiches at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens.
On top of Stone Mountain. PB refused to pose for a picture
Thanks to all my relatives this weekend for a great time!
Fun Times
Don’t worry, we’ve been having fun. Here’s some proof. (I have missed some good pictures because I forget my camera.)
I loved this outfit. And I love this kid.
I didn’t realize it, but Peter had never played with dump trucks and sand at the same time until this. He was in heaven.
We made muffin tin crayons. Super fun for everyone. Peter was having as much fun using them as wheels and blocks as actual crayons.
Liz Braithwaite 