Monday Morning

I seem to have thrown out my back this weekend. It happened a few months ago also. Feels like being punched in the lower left of my ribs. I had precious little motivation as it was, but this sealed the deal for nothing but watering this weekend.

Looks like I may have to force the offspring to help this week. It was my intention not to make them do it unwillingly.

They were excited when I came in the house with this. Maybe the sight of our first harvest will entice them a bit.

SADNESS!! It appears that one of the flats of 'pickling cucumbers' was miss marked! Thankfully it was the last flat planted so only three of them in the row.

Unfortunately the cucumbers are not doing well as it is and I was sad to discover that the three healthiest looking plants turned out to be summer squash. My poor husband.

You'll be happy to know the basil is surviving the 90 degree temps.

yay! the canteloupe and watermelon are finally spreading. the yellow wax beans are sprouting and the green beans are growing. The zucchini keeps getting bigger though I see no vegetables. The grass needs weeding so I can plant the dill.

a full shot. Notice my lame attempt to wire the tomatos. It got difficult and sweaty and I was burning so I decided I would start early the next morning. Right. Then my back hurt. Maybe I should just let the tomatoes crawl around the dirt like pumpkins?

Progress

I slept in today and didn't get outside until 7am. It was my goal to get the squash between the corn weeded but only managed 4 plants total.

The difference is pretty obvious. I wish I could apply this sense of satisfaction and ethic to the cluttery areas of my home. Baby steps.

I'm bad and didn't write which day I planted this row. I'm thinking it is not quite two weeks. I realized that more beans would grow between my melon patch so I've been staggering a couple extra rows. Our family enjoys canned beans so a successful crop would be welcome.


I did a longer row of green beans on 6/14 and they are popping through the dirt.

Yellow wax beans planted on 6/17. Nothing yet. I may do one more row if I can get the area ready in time. The extreme heat is almost here and it would kill young plants.

6am-9am

Those are the hours in the morning I spend in the garden. I've stayed later, but regret it for the rest of the day. That feeling like you spent all day swimming and just cannot shake the tired. Three hours in the morning seems about perfect.

I'll be honest though. I find the weeding overwhelming. I have the right side of the garden finished, but in the mean while the corn is pretty much growing in full grown lawn. I've never been good at keeping up.

The kids helped at first but they whine and argue the whole time. Wesley enjoys spraying the squash with soap water (in a failing attept to get the leaf rot under control)

Last few times I've just left before they wake up and leave a note. Only Wesley joins me by his own steam. "I kind of like it, but I am kinda mostly just scared that Daddy will get mad if I don't help."

He commented that he hates the work, but feels proud when he sees stuff growing. He was surprised when I told him I felt the exact same way.

I like watching things grow.

Wont count my pesto before the basil- but planting 40 of these was satisfying. Watching something grow from seed to table is fulfilling. :O)