Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Tired, But a Good Tired

Got a lot done as far as inside chores went this morning, and then worked outside in the garden most of the afternoon.

The first raised bed of the year is planted and snuggled under a cold frame as we speak.  Our temps are still hovering around the 40s during the day.  If the sun is out it feels great but if not it's darn chilly.

I transplanted seven 4' long rows of lettuce, two 4' long rows of spinach, a row of arugula and some kale.  Had enough room left in the bed to plant one row of Swiss chard seeds.  From some reason the chard I planted inside didn't germinate.  If this row I planted today is a no-show, I'll know it's the seeds.

We still have some raised beds that are around 15 years old and need the wood replaced (before I plant in them this year) so we're working on getting new ones made.

Last year using the hoops and Abribon over the beds worked very well to produce worm-free broccoli and Brussels sprouts (hooray!) but we had a lot of trouble keeping it fastened down on the sides and ends.  This winter we came up with a new idea for trying to keep those *%^&#! cabbage moths out of our brassicas, so construction on those was started today also.  More on that later.

I complained this past weekend that our stash of blueberries in the freezer was long gone so a dear friend gifted me with half a gallon of them today from her freezer.  What a treat!  I have a blueberry pie in the oven right now.  (Smells pretty good, huh?)

Still have dishes to do, a shower to take and some relaxing to do before bedtime.  Sure does feel good to be working in the garden . . . even though it is a bit of a late start this year.

18 comments:

LindaCO said...

That's a lot of lettuce! Gift blueberries deserve pie status!! Hope you have ice cream to go with it.

tpals said...

If we could average out our weather it would be very nice for both of us! We hit the 90s today even though it was below freezing this past weekend.

Tombstone Livestock said...

Such a busy bee .... enjoy being outdoors. Bugs got all my broccoli, also a lot of my mints in pots. Picked a handful or sugar and snow peas this morning.

Sparkless said...

You must be so happy to get out in that garden after last year's gardening hiatus. I'd tell you not to over do it but I know you won't listen to me so enjoy being "good tired."

Sue said...

Blueberry pie---WONDEROUS STUFF!!!!! Lucky you! And, I can expect you to be here with a slice around what time????
LOL -oh, I wish.
Enjoy!

Lisa said...

You sound so happy to be out in your garden - finally - this year! That is a dear friend to share her blueberries. I'd have to really think about sharing my blackberries in the freezer as that's all I've got - but ya'know, Mama Pea, I'd let them go for a dear friend too.

Cat Eye Cottage said...

It's so interesting that you are just planting lettuce and my lettuce run is at its end. It's hanging on, but it is starting to get too hot here, a high of 88 today. Sounds like you have a productive day. I love days like that! Have fun!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

You just reminded me I thawed zucchini....I best get muffins made today.

Susan said...

I, too, ran out of blueberries this year. How could that happen? 'Cause I decided to can them. Duh. This year, it's frozen berries or bust. I love spending the day in the garden. That kind of tired is the best. Now, if only I had someone to do the inside chores for me...a Mr. Mom?

Mama Pea said...

LindaCO - Ha! It may not be a lot of lettuce the way they look today! Let's just hope it's only temporary transplant shock!

DEFINITELY had vanilla ice cream to go with the pie. For sure!

Mama Pea said...

tpals - That is just not right! From freezing a couple of days ago to the 90s?? What's wrong with that picture?

Mama Pea said...

Tombstone Livestock - You're picking peas and I'm working on where to place the trellises in the field garden for them this year! BUT . . . I think summer may have arrived. It's 73° in the shade right now at 3:15 p.m.! Wa-hoo!

Mama Pea said...

Sparkless - Just to illustrate how time flies when you're having fun, it was 2011 that I had my gardening hiatus, not last year. (Hope I don't have to do that again soon, I missed it so much.) Just came in from planting a 4 x 8' bed of onions. Two more to go to fulfill our quota of onions for the year.

Mama Pea said...

Sue - The way we both love pie, we really should work out something . . . maybe if we both moved to a central spot much closer together? (What a move that would be since we'd both have to take all our garden soil!)

Mama Pea said...

Lisa - We've found we have plenty of raspberries and plenty of strawberries, but not near enough blueberries. So guess who is getting and planting 6 more blueberry bushes this weekend??

Mama Pea said...

The Weekend Homesteader - Isn't it hard to believe that we all live in the same United States of America when we have SUCH different climates and gardening challenges?

Mama Pea said...

Kristina - Mmmm, zucchini muffins, zucchini bread. Love it all, 'cept my daughter makes much better zucchini bread than I do. (Maybe that's not so bad since I'd be glad to let her make it all!)

Mama Pea said...

Susan - Well, canned blueberries are wonderful on oatmeal or yogurt, but I do admit I always find a gazillion ways to use all of our frozen ones.

If you find an "inside" helper for the summer, ask him/her if he/she has a brother or sister who loves to cook. That's what I miss in the summer when I'm outside all the time . . . someone in my kitchen to create wonderful meals with all the fresh garden produce!