This year's garden

Here is a quick post on my gardening experience so far this summer.
I dug ditches this year hoping that I could water by flooding the garden - not working for me.  We tried a drip system last year that did okay, but I went back to sprinklers this year.  It is easier to tell if it is working.  I put in some more strawberries this year, a new raspberry bush (chickens killed mine last year), I started a corner for herbs, and planted a variety of vegetables that we like.

Broccoli looks great! This is the biggest I've ever had!

Comfery is doing great too!  I am using it in my mint tea and green smoothies.

Onions look happy, but the beans to the right look sad.

Tomatoes are very sick looking.  I've had great tomato plants in the past, but this is the second year they look sickly.

Another look at my sad beans.  (I have a bigger patch in another location that is doing better)

I tried to grow strawberries and a blueberry in containers, but we (the kids helped) killed them. I think we over watered.

Now that we are done with schooling for the year, we can spend more time outside in the garden.  Yesterday all five kids and I went out to weed the corn and beans I have.  They did great and had a fun time, and I lost only four bean plants.  They are begging to go weed again.

14 Plus Babies in My House

Yesterday I brought home 11 little chicks.  I love their little peeps from their corner in my kitchen.  They are buff Orpington.  My kids are begging to hold them and help take care of them.  They will be replacing my current hens this fall.
Just this morning the mama cat, that I have been trying to keep outside because she is very, very fat, came inside when the kids opened the door.  Her time has come and she had her first kitten on the floor in the doorway to my room.  She has since moved to an empty box in my closet and had two more.
Now the cat and kittens will not be staying in my house long.  When she is done, I will be moving her to a safe place outside probably in with my chickens (she did fine there last time).  A mama cat and baby chicks in the same house is NOT a good combination!  Especially since this mama cat has been know to bring in wild birds, baby rabbits, mice, and prairie dogs for her kittens.
Typically I try to keep animals outside.  My lovely children create enough messes in the house.  I do not need animals in my home creating more.  The chicks will be moved out in a few weeks when they have enough feathers to keep them warm at night.  Only cats are allowed in as a way to help keep mice out or catch one.

The baby chicks

Hannah watching chicks

Boys holding chicks

Mama cat in her hiding spot

Birthdays!!!

Hannah - March 11th

It is hard to believe, but my baby is one already.

  She started walking a few weeks ago.  

She is more laid back than the last two.  She is content to watch what the others are doing. 

 Although she does enjoy quietly exploring the house, and rearranging things for me.

 Just like a normal child she finds great delight in a box rather than her own toys.

Josiah - JoJo - March 15

 Josiah turned 5 this year.  

He is my funny one.

 He likes to get his work done quickly and go play with his legos. 

On his birthday we went to Legoland. 

 He has a special bond with Beth and is always willing to help her.  

Abigail and Robert - March 19th

Abby and Robert turned seven this year!

  Abby is little mother to everyone.  

She is full of questions.

and competitive.

She is adventurous.  

 She loves pretty things and dressing up.  

She loves to "marry" her brothers.  

This past November she was a flower girl for a friend.

Robert is my other "laid back" child. 

 He enjoys building things.  

He can stay focused on a project.

He acts and looks alot like my dad.

Psalms 127:3

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

It's fun having the birthdays so close.  Poor Beth feels left out in March.  This year we went to visit my aunt in California during birthdays.  I will try to blog about our trip in another post.

Birthday Girl

Today Beth turns three.  She is such a special blessing to our family.  When I was pregnant with her someone at church asked me "What's wrong with you?" because I was having so many children.  Beth was our first home birth.  My husband calls her 100% home grown!  Her birth was my easiest.  

 She is a little mama with so many baby dolls I lost count.  Anytime we see a baby doll at a yard sale she wants to get it to add to her collection.

She loves to take care of baby Hannah.

and dressing up with the older kids

She has the lightest colored hair of all my children, and is finally getting enough hair to do something with it, but usually takes it out soon after I put it in.

 This is the aunt that she gets her hair from.  

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETHY!!