Toma (long A)to/Toma (short a)to OR Adventures in Gardening

I'll be the first to admit that I don't really have a green thumb.  It's surprising because MANY people in my family are full blown gardeners that speak in the gardening vernacular...growing, planting, tilling, composting, mulch, cold crop, bed...So, I figured that I need to tap into the gardening genes and utilize my backyard. 

With the late freezes this winter in the south, tomatoes from Florida will be at least triple the cost from last year!  Some may bitch say that I'm a little cheap thrifty, so paying that much for tomatoes won't fit my grocery planning. 

Anyway, to prepare myself and further my knowledge, I took an intense vegetable gardening class and have been reading as much as possible about organic gardening, composting, full sun/partial sun, manure (blech), and water ratios.  I know, I know, boooooorrrrrrriiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnng.  I bit the proverbial bullet and bought six different tomato plants and two tomatillo plants.  I know what you're thinking - salsa and FRESH tomato/basil salad!  Funny, that's what I was thinking! 

I'm actually trying to do the tomatoes and tomatillos in containers instead of a bed.  Mainly because my raised bed isn't finished yet.  My needy husband Someone likes to eat dinner and have clean clothes to wear.  Compromises, compromises. 

I am optimistic because all of the plants have grown in the past week that they've been in their new homes and some already have flowers.  (hoping that's a good sign)  Watch next week for growth updates (definitely exciting blog fodder) and flower status. 

Before their new homes

Only the best for my little tomatoes! (This was before I found some cheaper organic stuff at Houston Garden Center)

All in a row...taken on 3/13 (much bigger already)!

My helper (LOVE the gloves) - so took me twice as long to plant

Stay tuned for the next entry about composting!  Fun stuff indeed!

Things I Never Thought I'd Say on the Phone

"I've got to call you back - Dylan's trying to climb on a llama!"

Three Minutes Unattended...

While Dylan was plunked in front of the tv watching Dinosaur Train I was in the bedroom getting dressed.  I noticed an absence of sound - that eerie quiet that all mothers recognize as TROUBLE - and came out of the room to investigate.
 
I Someone mistakenly left the cable remote within reach of the toddler; the same toddler who crawled for the first time in order to reach a remote.  So, you can imagine his delight upon discovering the remote just sitting there, practically RIGHT next to him, with all those colorful buttons just waiting to be pushed AND mommy out of sight.  I know exactly how he felt - on our first trip to Vegas I was giddy when I realized you could walk ANYWHERE with an alcoholic drink!

Anyway, this is what I saw on the tv when I walked out to the living room.

My two year old evil genius son figured out how to use the split screen feature using the CABLE remote, not even the tv remote.  Here's the kicker:  his electronics guru daddy didn't even know that it had that feature.  AND, daddy was out of town, so I had to figure out how to get it back to normal if I wanted any kind of sanity.  Plus, I wouldn't want to deprive the child of his educational programming. 

It took me twenty minutes (after the twenty minutes I spent on punching every button combo I could think of), the tv manual, two different remotes, and much yelling to finally fix the damn thing.  All the while I'm listening to the toddler wail "moooooooooommmmmyyyyy, where's dinosaurus?  I want to watch them!  MMMMMMMooooooooommmmmmyyyyyy, where's the choo choo train?  I like it!"



  

Conversations with a toddler - #1

"I want a big boy, pink cup."

Don't we all honey, don't we all.

Times, they are a changin'

A bit of a pictorial for you today...apparently we are turning into losers.

New Year's Eve 2007 (some hotel party)

New Year's Eve 2008 (we're out, but now it's only dinner)

New Year's Eve 2009 - you guessed it...Chuck E. Cheese.  Yes, we suck.