We gave it our best effort … The Boy tried, he really did. I tried too … And the camp, well, the camp gave it their best shot I suppose, but in the end, we came to a “mutual agreement” that their summer camp wasn’t the best fit for the Boy & we went our separate ways in the middle of the week last week. Apparently running from the counselors toward the street in the middle of a public park didn’t go over so well. I don’t blame them – it’s a safety issue & if anything had happened to The Boy, you bet your sweet patootie, I’d be flipping over tables and lining up the lawyers!
So we gathered our things (minus one swimsuit, one pair of flip-flops and some pricey goggles,) and left. I was relived & slightly happy, because now I get to have him all to myself this summer. I was also kind of sad for him because … well, because he was starting to really like camp, just beginning to make friends, and it made me cry to think that he isn’t going to have a “normal” childhood and do “normal” kid stuff like go to summer camp. I knew that already, (the not having a normal childhood part,) but I feel like I forget it all the time. And the whole kicked-out-of-camp thing made me realize that it’s never going to be the kind of carefree life that everyone else has … and I’m totally ok with that, but sometimes it makes me a little sad for The Boy.
Anyway, I won’t dwell on that because hey – I have 8 weeks of awesome MamaLove SummerCamp planned! (I actually only have the next 4 days planned, but don’t fret, all those things I’ve been pinning on Pinterest are going to come in handy over the next 8 weeks.) Swim Play Dates, Beach Days, Library Outings, Cooking Club, A Fairy Garden … this summer is going to be one to remember!
And I will do my best to document it, but I’ve made a conscious decision to be as “hands-free” with The Boy as I can. I’ve pretty much chucked out 90% of social media, but that is a story for another day …
I cannot believe it’s been over 30 days since my last blog entry! That’s simply unacceptable. It’s a good thing I’m not getting paid to do this 🙂
Seriously, June was a busy month, (and that’s a good thing!) I started working again … freelance & from home for the most part. I make my own hours and can still make certain that my family is the NUMBER ONE priority. So far, it’s been really great, very lucrative & exciting. The Husband is super supportive & that is really the secret to my success.
Why did I get a job? Because I have home improvement projects that I want to get done & I don’t want to put a burden on our household finances. Next up: A fence between us and the neighbors to the east. Fences make good neighbors. I hope they get on the ball with us & get this accomplished before the end of summer. I’ve already had 2 conversations with this guy & he strikes me as a “Guy’s Guy.” Translation: He doesn’t want to discuss fences with the Fairly Good Mother. He wants to talk fences with The MAN of the HOUSE. ~Insert EyeRoll Here~
So, I’m busy & making money for fences and gardens and drapes and entertainment centers … but at what cost? No cost to the family – they’re good, well fed with delicious organic treats from my garden, but you know something’s got to give. Well then, what suffers? Writing. Blogging. Cooking. I’m seeking to find that balance. It took me a minute to work back in the exercise, but that is a necessary thing! I can’t deal with myself if I’m feeling bloated and creaky. Pilates is my savior. I love it. And thankfully, it feels like July will be less hectic and so I’m glad that I have a chance to catch up.
Here’s what it looked like just 3 weeks ago when I fully intended to write a blog post updating you as to the condition of this garden:
the fairly good garden | June 2013
Seriously – that was taken ONE MONTH after I planted the dang thing! I’ve reaped the LARGEST zucchini I have ever seen from this beautiful bountiful garden. I’ve eaten the sweetest strawberries, I’ve made pesto with my basil, I’ve made salad with my salad mix … and I just clipped off a brand spankin’ ruby red Habanero Chili and I cultivated a little baby artichoke, but I feel like it was the runt of the ‘choke family & so it did not get eaten.
prolly should have cut this guy when it looked like this, but I wanted to see if it would get bigger … (that’s what she said.)and these weren’t even the largest of the zucchinis!gardening is fun!
Things that are not going so well in the garden (*PLEASE, Tips, Tricks & Suggestions are ENCOURAGED!)
I have a Very Hungry Caterpillar roaming around the garden … Or perhaps there are two. I’ve met two of them and moved them to another area of the yard. They have wreaked havoc though! I used something that was non-toxic, all organic & totally safe – it was literally like pepper and $h!t or something … I cannot remember the name. It was a powder and I used it all in two applications.
HOLY Zucchini & Squash Leaves, People! I know for sure that Adam & Eve must have used these leaves as primitive undergarments. These are the LARGEST Freaking Leaves I’ve ever seen! And they’re prickly as f^ck. Seriously, get your damn gloves on before you go trimming them up! They crowd all the other veggies in my garden. I trimmed about 20% of the leaves back with no clear repercussions. Still got a massive zuke off that thing.
Cilantro is gone. It took off when the temperatures soared here last month & I’m sad because I was planning on making a kick-ass salsa with my tomatillos, tomatoes, chili peppers & cilantro. It went to flower, I cut it back (probably stupidly.) and 1 out of 2 of my plants is straight up dead.
Arugula went to seed. Also a victim of the 100+ temps here & I read that I should stop watering it and let the seed pods dry out then cultivate them for next season. Sound right?
Basil is stunted & I don’t know why. I snap off the tops when it starts to flower. Again, I think that the heat + the Very Hungry Caterpillar has something to do with it.
The strawberries aren’t producing as much as I thought. Same with my cucumber plant.
I think I over-planted … Oops! Live and Learn.
So there you have it, my dear friends … That’s what’s happening right now. I will snap more pics. I’m waiting for my tomatoes. Patiently. And the only one I saw had a nice little caterpillar hole in the bottom which made me want to put on my magnifying glasses & go on a Caterpillar hunt!
Oh, one last thing … what was for dinner tonight? Well, I have to share because it was so good … Another awesome find from Oh She Glows! Veggie Spring Rolls (vegan-dish.) It was light, it was easy & it was so delicious! I licked the last of the peanut sauce off the blades of my food processor & no, I’m not joking. My dear friend had made this during her visit in April & I have been meaning to make it ever since then. So good. And perfect for not wanting to cook in 100 degree weather. And yes, I used my basil … but no, sadly, I had to purchase the cilantro.
the fairly good mother 