Garden Tutorial

Here's my take on "how to" have a nice landscape and lawn:

Step 1 - Get yourself a family member with killer garden / landscape skills.  Mine happens to be Ed/G.  He has mad skills when it comes to all things outdoor.  He has an eye for landscape and he is some kind of plant whisperer.  AND - he is incredibly generous with his time and plant materials!    

Step 2 - Marry a man who works his @$$ off around the house.  Derek has developed a pretty amazing eye for landscape too....plus he has just enough obsessive compulsion to work until things get done -
p e r f e c t l y.  

 

 

Step 3 - Be grateful.  Repeatedly offer water/lemonade/alcoholic beverages to your laboring gardeners.  Tell them 'Thank You!'  Feed them well.  Let them know how much you appreciate them.

Thank you guys!

Missouri Botanical Gardens

One of my Leave List wishes was a morning at the Botanical Gardens.

We ventured out last Wednesday morning (because of the free admission on Wednesday mornings) and readied ourselves for the fun. 

Let me preface this trip with saying that I had been in a funk...my return to work growing closer...Cole challenging me with sass and 'tude....financial woes of a leave without full pay...and oppressive heat that held us hostage inside the house with the shades drawn...

It was a VERY hot morning.  Temps in the 90s with 1,000,000% humidity - I am only slightly exaggerating.

However, the gardens were lovely.

Really lovely.

We arrived early to try to beat the heat - which meant a rushed morning.

We walked a lot to try to see it all and make it to the Japanese garden for one of my favorite sights, the koi.

Oh, the peaceful Japanese garden...The really hot, steamy Japanese garden.

All was going well enough.

Until...

Cole looked down and saw "boo-boos" (blisters) on his feet from his new shoes. (this happened as we arrived ON the bridge to view the koi)

Oh, the horror.

The screams.

The tears.

The drama.

The improvisation. 

The carseat hanging out of the bottom of the stroller.

The wrap that saved the day.

The hot, hot hike out of the gardens pushing/wearing somewhere around 65 extra pounds of human.

The white knuckles.

The a/c pumping ride home for naps.

We crossed it off of my leave list.

Moving on....

RRR

 

We are officially recyclers again.  Cole is loving it and wants to recycle EVERYTHING!  I hope to improve our "green" skills and decrease our impact on the planet so that these two lovely kiddos of mine can enjoy healthy living with their kiddos and kiddos' kiddos...and so on.

Missed Moments: Rooster Hill Farm

I think it was a weekend in late September or early October that I decided I needed to begin to "live" the autumn season I love so much.

Derek enlisted Ed to help with some landscape beginnings. Our yard has been a blank slate waiting for some inspiration and time. Ed, as usual, is our garden guru with his knowledge, vision, and plant-starts abounding! While the big boys began working in the yard Cole and I went for a morning drive to Rooster Hill Farm in Fults, Illinois.

It was a perfect trip for a little fall inspiration. Cole and I got to see some of the countryside around us and visit the roosters! The gift shop was adorable and we got some of Na's birthday shopping done.

All in all, a good way to welcom fall!

Sunset phone call to Daddy

An evening last week when Daddy was away helping Oma & Opa, Cole and I sat on the new deck and enjoyed the sunset.  We missed Daddy so we had to call him.  Cole told him that we were "watching the sun go down on the new deck" and of course that we missed him and loved him very much. 
Life may be challenging and throwing us some curve balls - but we are trying to find joy in each day.


Cole, you make that so much easier.  I love you, Buddy.

Konarcik Park

On the recommendation of our neighbors, Mr. Greg & Mrs. Jen, Cole and I ventured out to check out Konarcik Park. 

Jackpot!  

Cole enjoyed one of the playgrounds and I enjoyed the scenery.

The park is in the country with a track and a few playgrounds tucked in the woods.  

Perfect!

I see many trips to the park in our future!

ConGRADuations, Uncle Adam!

We were so proud to spend the weekend with Uncle Adam and the family to celebrate Adam's graduation.  Uncle Adam was Salutatorian of his graduating class, such an accomplishment!

We did not end up with great seats to see Uncle Adam's speech.  Our fault, we waited until last minute to head to graduation, knowing that Cole would not want to sit any longer than necessary.

Cole didn't make it too long in the crowded gym.  Luckily, there was a playground just outside.  Derek took Cole out while I watched Adam do his thing.....his Gandhi quote made me extra proud!  

Be still my heart to come out to find this.  Cole found a friend, whom he held hands with, up the steps and down the slide.  Over and over again.

Sheryl had a wonderful celebration for Adam with friends and family after the ceremony.  After we ate cake it was time for all of us to hit the sack!

Saturday morning we headed down to the lake to do some fishing.  First thing when fishing is to gather worms.  Cole got confused on this one....noticing that the worms wanted to get out, he took the liberty to free them.  Daddy & Grandpa's hard work digging worms - - got thrown away, literally.  After we found a few more worms, we headed down.

Another successful Crappie day.  Cole loved it.  This time he was a little more brave, touching the fish a time or two.  What a happy day and great weekend!

Congrats again, Uncle Adam!  We couldn't be more proud and we hope you love your college years!....but not too much!  ;)