How Does Your Garden Grow?

Well... it was yesterday's really... We had a busy busy weekend and had zero energy to cook dinner.... So we packed a picnic and walked to the mausoleum next to our apartment building and spread out the quilt Amy Hopkin's made for our wedding... and ate dinner composed of bread, cheese, hard boiled eggs, banana's, peaches, and sour candy we got from a festival this weekend (more pictures to come on that this week). It was wonderful to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather we've been having. I try to enjoy the small moments in life... I really do. It's easy to get bogged down in the everyday and things that aren't happening that you can forget the things & people that are important. Happy Sunday picnic ya'll!

Once upon a time several months back, my fairy godmother Amy gave me some plants. I was so ecstatic to have them, but terrified they would die within a week of bringing them home. Keeping plants alive and thriving is a tricky business... it's no laughing matter in my family with my father having the ability to heal and nurture a plant just by looking at it. I so wanted him to be proud of his daughter... and be excited that I finally have plants. He used to tease me about it saying "Why don't you have any plants? They're so good for you. I can't believe that MY daughter doesn't have any plants!!!" So D and I carried them into the apartment and set them out on the balcony. I had to replant several of them into different containers and make sure they had holes in the bottom. There were days of careful watering... I was fearful of overwatering them and giving them "root rot". Some days I would walk out and find my tomato plants wilting... I would put my hands on my hips and exclaim in a super hero like style , "Never fear!!!! I shall water you!!!!" and leap and bound to the sink with my handy dandy watering can to revive my thirsty plants! So I've amassed quite a collection now, and am finally getting to harvest the fruits and veggies! Take a looksee....

My tomatoes!!!! There are so many now... and some of them are finally starting to change color! I have so many ideas for what to do with them!

Fresh parsley & dill with some chives mixed in. I've put this in everything lately! It's so nice to have fresh herbs on hand!

This is the latest addition... PEPPERMINT!!! I adore mojito's and recently we haven't been able to find mint at the commissary at ALL. and since Globus is a ways away... we've had to do without. No bueno. So at the K-town freshmarket the other day I bought some mint of my own so we'll have on hand! Although Dad informed me it's a perennial.... bummer dude.

Green beans!!!!! I am so excited to saute these in olive oil with a smidge of garlic and cooking sherry. YUM!

Strawberries!!!!! Although I was REALLY worried when they were only getting about as big as my thumbnail... after consulting with the expert (aka Dad) I found out that there are different varieties of strawberries... and apparently this variety doesn't get very big... but they are still DELICIOUS!!!

Oregano! I have yet to use any... but there's definitely some italian on the future menu at this house! I have missed having fresh herbs... it makes me home sick for my house in Garland where Dad would have 4 kinds of basil, 3 kinds of mint, 2 kinds of thyme, oregano, rosemary, and chives.... So I'm desperately trying to build my own herb garden!

First Harvest!!!!! I was super excited! I want to eat all of the strawberries right now.... but since they're D's fav, I had better not. I am seriously in shock that I'm actually able to pull this off from my balcony.... although I think my neighbors below us hate me for the little stream of water that pees off our drainage pipe onto their balconies.... oops. But this has been such a sucessful adventure I am psyched to try more stuff next year!!! I'm hoping I can get some rosemary going before the winter hits... as oregano and rosemary can last all year round... We'll see. But for now, here's to you Dad... to all of the plant knowledge you've taught me over the years... I now "get it" and I want to grow up and be just like you!!!

Today my mother would have been 55 years old. I can only imagine what she would look like... but I can see her smile. I would have made her a coconut cake and we would sit and eat it over coffee. I would have shown her the wedding pictures that I recently received from our photographer. My heart aches that we will only be able to do this in my memory now, although I have coffee with her daily... I just can't see her. These days the wisdom she has imparted on my in her lifetime becomes more and more apparent. I have also become much more like her than I ever imagined I could. Mother you are my life, even in death. I still hope and pray everyday that I can grow up to be as good of a wife, mother, & friend as you were to me and those around you. I miss you every day.... and there is never a moment where you are far from my thoughts. Happy Birthday Mother! Hope your eating cake today in heaven baked by angels!

There is a great deal going on.... Dinner with Crystal on Weds... Photoshop and photography with Jen and Megan... Plus, pillows with Paula and maybe another trip to IKEA? Oh! and paint!!! I HAVE to get paint this week! Lots of projects going on.... so I'm working hard. Hopefully there will be some progress pics by the end of this week! Hope everyone has a wonderful monday! Miss and love you!!!!