{five things xv}

- one -

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

We love celebrating St. Patrick's Day here at our house.  Bryson has Irish ancestry running through his veins, and Reilly takes her name from that side of the family.  It's rather appropriate that she's the child that ended up with freckles and strawberry highlights.  I myself don't have any Irish blood (at least as far as my exhaustive research on Family Search has shown), but I do come from the land where St. Patrick's Day is a Very Big Deal.  I mean, we even dye the river green every year.

Since most of our family is busy helping with the stake road show tonight, we're having our big dinner tomorrow.   We're having our traditional "uncorned" beef and cabbage, which is a more healthful version of the more common dish from Martha Stewart Living.  (I substitute ginger ale & a little beef broth for the beer in the recipe.)  Served with mashed potatoes, it is seriously yummy.

Then for dessert we're trying out a new recipe for mint-chip ice cream brownies from Our Best Bites, which looks absolutely divine.

In honor of the day, here's an Irish prayer I love:

May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

- two-

We had Reilly's consultation up at Primary Children's Medical Center on Thursday.

It went really well.  The short version of the story is that while her reflux is getting all the way into her left kidney that thankfully there is no damage so far.  Given the severity of her reflux, she falls into the statistical group of which 80% will outgrow the condition within five years.  So at this juncture, she will have to be on several medications and have annual checkups and tests done at Primary Children's until that happens.  If she continues to get infections despite the medication or fails to outgrow the reflux, then we will be looking at surgical options.  Hopefully that won't have to happen, though.

As a side note, can I just say how impressed I was with Primary Children's?  I realize that it is a nationally renowned hospital, but I was really taken with how keyed in to taking care of the whole child they are there.  I am very grateful to have such amazing care for our little girl within relatively close proximity to our home.

- three -

Today I'm 24 weeks along with this pregnancy.

I had about a month where I was feeling really great, but the last couple of weeks have been pretty rough.

I started throwing up again, this time in the mornings (the first 20 weeks it was evenings!), which of course has been super fun.  I've started swelling up considerably already too.  I had to take my wedding band off a few weeks ago.  I wake up with my hands very swollen, and go to bed with my feet and legs all puffy.  So far my blood pressure has been fine, but it's still 25 points above what it normally is.

Apparently my body only likes it when I grow babies in pairs.

I'm glad I have my next doctor's appointment on Monday. 

- four -

Last Saturday we satisfied my garden fever and put the cool weather crops in our raised beds.

I went through our seed stash from previous years to see what might still be viable, and planted all the seeds right into the ground.  Usually I grow our broccoli and cauliflower indoors and transplant out with the warm weather crops, but figured this year was as good as ever to experiment.  If it doesn't work out, it's not too big a deal this year since a smaller garden is probably better for us with the baby coming anyway.

- five -

I've really enjoyed reading all of the celebratory posts in blogdom in honor of the Relief Society's 170th anniversary.

I think my favorite was Misty's tribute over at J & M Ranch.  If you get a chance, you'll have to take a peek.

Some of my favorite thoughts on Relief Society come from Sister Julie B. Beck's address from the 2011 Women's Conference:

The purposes of Relief Society, as determined by the Lord, are to help us increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help those who are in need. That’s why we exist. The outcome is that we will improve women individually and as a whole and prepare for eternal life; that we will build the Lord’s kingdom and homes and wards.
We’re not entertainers. This is the Lord’s business of salvation. That’s the business we’re in. So we teach like the Savior taught, and we teach, and we teach, and we build the Lord’s kingdom. This isn’t about causes or advocacy groups, because we have an advocate. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is our advocate with the Father. And we stand with Him, doing His work, working for His great cause...  This is not a passé, worn-out organization. It is in its ascendancy.

I couldn't agree more.

• • •

Those are my five things for the week!
Best wishes, everyone! Have a wonderful weekend.
♥

Now Bring Us Some Figgy Pudding

It's another Christmas miracle!

Okay, well as far as a miracle goes... probably not so much. But seriously now, ask Bryson what my track record with houseplants is and you'll find that maybe "miracle" isn't too far off the mark after all.

A few years ago I whimsically decided that I really wanted to grow figs. So I did some research and ordered a cute little tree-- a variety that grows quite happily in a large pot-- from my favorite nursery for fruit and other edibles. It arrived shortly thereafter, and ever since it has been my constant companion in my exceptionally cluttered office. (New Year's Resolution #1: Learn to keep office organized.) Now, as I explained earlier on in my post, I am horrible at keeping houseplants alive. Outdoors? Great. No problem. Indoors? Well, let's just say that my green thumb dies a slow and painful death.

But somehow, the fig has hung in there despite periods of painful neglect. It enjoys plenty of western sunlight in the warmest room in the house, and as long as I remember to water it a couple times a month it keeps on trucking. It is my greatest houseplant success story. Honestly, I have been so incredibly proud simply that I haven't managed to kill this poor little tree-- my hopes for a fig crop on top of everything else were minuscule in comparison.

But this afternoon as I walked into my office, something on my little tree caught my attention. I looked closer and couldn't believe what I saw. Little green figs growing right before my eyes!!! I am so giddy right now, it's ridiculous. Perhaps there is hope for my houseplant ambitions after all.

Fresh figs.
I am already considering the culinary possibilities.
Huzzah!

Hail the Conquering Hero

Success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back to the Garden

Getting back to life as usual after a life-altering event is quite the interesting task. How does one go about the day when you are irrevocably changed?

Me? I headed outside.

For the last couple of days I have spent most of my time in the yard. Mowing the lawn, planting out flower pots, transplanting the pepper & eggplant seedlings to the garden, sowing morning glories by the gazebo trellis.

So far, I have completed the first planting of an 8' x 4' section of the potager. Indeterminate tomatoes (Early Girl, Golden Jubilee, Sweet 100, Yellow Pear, and the semi-determinate Mountain Pride) grow happily along the jute trellis, followed consecutively by jalapeno, Mulato Isleno, and bell peppers. Bride & Hansel eggplants round out the transplants. Also planted today include Copra onions-- a storage variety, two varieties of basil (Mammoth Sweet and Aroma 1--just the thought of its scent takes me to summer!), along with a decorative border of Lemon Gem marigolds and Thai Silk California poppies.

They say that growing peppers alongside marigolds and basil is an excellent pest deterrent. I'm truly hoping this is the case-- for I am totally committed to succeeding at growing bell peppers this year. Every year my mom grows these majestic plants with softball-sized, gorgeous peppers. For the last couple of years, I have been lucky if my plants survive... and typically end up with only a sad, shriveled excuse of a pepper-- or two. Some of it has been pests, and some of it has been a sad lack of tender loving care on my end. Not this year. These babies are growing if it's the last thing I do.

Fresh air, flowers, and sunshine.
If that's not a remedy for a rough week, I don't know what is.

Le Potager

Garden work begins in earnest now.

Over the weekend, Bryson helped me set up my cold frames... and I am so excited! I have been wanting to try four season gardening for quite some time now, and at last we have the hardware to begin the learning process. (For gardening, I have realized, can never be fully learned from books-- only by doing.)

I have always been enamored of the French kitchen gardens-- with their combination of both beauty and practicality, and have wanted one for my very own for quite some time. Over the last couple of years I have been learning everything I can about seasonal planting, extended harvesting, and heirloom plants. This is the year I hope to put thought into action.

The raised beds of my petit potager were constucted with planks of untreated pine, which I choose to preserve with a mixture of organic linseed oil and charcoal. The application can be a little messy, but I prefer it to chemicals that could leech into the soil, and consequentially the vegetables. Besides, messy can be fun, right? We chose to constuct it in a horseshoe shape, with its dimensions being 16 feet along the back, and 12 feet along the sides. All along the back we have constructed trellis supports for climbing plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash. We used to use nylon netting on the metal frames, but have abandoned it this year in favor of simple jute twine.

The little pieces that frame the garden's entrance are devoted to growing day-neutral strawberries, which keep us in the little red jewels all summer long. A four foot by four foot section in the front right corner is dedicated solely to herbs: tarragon, lavender, chives, thyme, mint, sage, parsley, cilantro, rosemary, oregano, and dill. The remainer of the garden changes with the seasons, with plants chosen for their adaptability, taste, and beauty. In a few weeks time the tender plants will be transplanted out-- the heirloom tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant.

Today I begin the process of going through all the seeds tucked away in cold storage and taking inventory. Figuring out what is still viable, and what needs to be ordered. Working on the master plan for how best to stagger plantings this year. But, most of all, just enjoying. C'est la joie de vivre!

Getting Bigger

Success!

Tiny tomato sprouts are gracing our kitchen counter now... completely enrapturing Taylor & Reilly's imaginations. Every day they ask to see their plants. Miniature wisps of vegetation, devotedly reaching for the sunlight.

"Yep, they're getting bigger!" is Taylor's exclamation each time.

They are so proud.
And I am so proud of them.

Mothers and fathers need to plant the seeds of the gospel firmly in the hearts of their children, to create in them a desire to serve and also to know how to serve—seeds of hard work, seeds of courtesy, seeds of thrift.

Then, deep in their hearts, your sons and daughters need to have planted the more valuable seeds of spirituality—the seeds of cleanliness, the seeds of love, the seeds of virtue, the seeds of courage.

-David B. Haight, “Planting Gospel Seeds of Spirituality,” Ensign, Jan 1973, 74

Planting Seeds

Since it would appear that Spring is on its way to the Intermountain West, the kids and I decided to start some seeds yesterday.

Taylor has been learning about the plant life cycle in preschool, so he was especially excited about the entire process. Both he and Reilly were excellent helpers. Taylor poured the water to puff up our little peat pots, and both he and Reilly helped me carefully plant the seeds at the appropriate depth.

For this opening horticultural round we started two varieties of tomato-- Principe Borghese (for melt-in-your-mouth sun dried tomatoes) and Oregon Star (for lovely sauce, salsa, and the like.) We will also be growing a bunch of heirloom varieties, but will order those as plants for simplicity's sake. Also in the batch were bell peppers (Kaleidoscope Mix), hot peppers (Mulato Isleno), and eggplant (Hansel and Bride).

Here's to good eatin' in a few months' time!

Hope Springs Eternal

It may be snowing this afternoon, but I have sunshine in my heart.
Spring is just around the corner, and I have the photographic evidence to prove it.



Welcome back, my lovelies!

Promises of Spring

January is a very special time for the garden-obsessed populace.

January?

Oh yes.
You see, at this time every year our mail box is inundated with seed catalogs from across the nation. Glorious, life-giving promises of bounteous harvests to come.


I get giddy just thinking about the possibilities.
What will we carry over from last year? What seeds are still viable in our cold storage? What will our budget allow for this time around?

Those Principe Borghese tomatoes were heavenly dried. Definitely a keeper.
The acorn squash were wonderful, but perhaps we should try for a larger butternut harvest this year instead?
Taylor definitely wants to grow more potatoes... strange, because he refuses to eat them. But again, he refuses to eat most things.
And then there are the greens.
Should I add a French Nicoise blend along with my tried and true Italian Saladini mix?
We most definitely need to raise some okra for pickles this year.
Ooh, and don't get me started on my herb garden.

This year I finally want to get my cold frames up and running.
With a little planning and finesse we could have the capability of extending our growing season indefinitely.

Oh, the prospects!!!!!!!


If your interest in gardening has been piqued like mine always is this time each year, here are a few awesome places to start:

My favorite seed companies include Territorial and Seeds of Change. Territorial's catalog also has great growing instructions, so you don't need an additional library of literature on how to space, plant, & grow their seeds.

If you're looking for fruit, I absolutely adore and have never been disappointed with Raintree Nursery-- something I cannot say for the more popular Stark Brothers, although they are pretty good too.

Four-Season Harvest by Eliot Coleman is my Bible when it comes to all things garden-related. It completely changed my outlook on gardening in general, and living seasonally in particular. I highly, highly recommend this read.

If organic produce is important to you like it is to me, you will also enjoy The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control. There's a lot of great information in there, not just about insects and plant diseases but also basic growing info as well. I find it indispensable.



There is something inherently spiritual about gardening. Bringing new life into being, nurturing it, and letting it nourish you & your loved ones in return-- body & soul.

Ahhhhhhhhhh.
The promises of spring are already beginning to warm my soul.

The Enemy

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I promised in the last post to tell the sad tale of Reilly's jack-o-lantern demise... And as you can see, it suffered a drawn out and tortuous death... by squirrel.

The current archenemy of my garden is a ground squirrel that has shacked up underneath the concrete steps leading to our front porch. We have been dealing with him on and off for the past two years now. He is currently living on a steady diet of tulip bulbs and now, tragically, Reilly's prized pumpkin that we picked from Grandma & Grandpa's pumpkin patch. We have tried all sorts of humane ways of extracting him... and when that did not work, sadly, we tried all sorts of inhumane ways of ridding ourselves of him. This squirrel is indestructible.

I am trying to be patient, but when your little girl becomes crestfallen over the loss of her Halloween pumpkin the desire for vindication quickly becomes an obsession. I really don't want to hurt the little bugger-- he's actually really cute. But messing with my family has been the final straw. This squirrel has officially been served his eviction notice.

You Say Carrot, I Say... Hotdog?

Me: Taylor! Come and see what Mommy pulled out of the garden!!!

Taylor: A hotdog!!!!

Ah, remember that wonderful old fashioned Indian Summer weather when the leaves begin to turn and the hotdog harvest is in full force?

 I think Taylor knows the difference between a carrot and a hotdog now.

I think.