The Killer Green Thumb

On the south side of the Milkbarn we had a strip of dirt that we thought would be perfect for a garden.

Now, before I go any further let me tell you about my gardening.

I'm terrible. 

Like the worst.

I liken it to singing on key or walking down the street while on your cell phone. 

Two things I honestly cannot do.

Ask Clay.

Last year I killed 3 potted herb plants.

Potted!!!

Honestly, kind of a disgrace given my Mom would grow ivy plants

 from the roots in a glass sitting on the kitchen countertop.

So, we started out small but used our neighbors tractor to haul the dirt over from the actual garden plot we have on the property.

We bought some starts at Lowes and seeds as well.

Tomatoes 

(Mr. Stripey! And a couple others that seemed on the boring side)

Serrano chile, cilantro, basil, thai basil, mint, nasturtiams and I know there is something else.

Later, Farmer Collins cleared out the huge garden plot and 

I planted some sunflowers.

Secretly, I just want a flower garden and that's all.

Every time I think about landscaping I just want to have an unruly yard of flowers and grass to run on. 

I think it's because landscaping requires planning and research.

So tired just thinking about that...

I just want to throw things together like a salad. 

I also spotted a bougainvillea at Lowe's. 

I haven't seen one ever here in Colorado and it reminds me of this giant tree we had outside of our tiny house when Lucy was a baby.

Nostalgia won!

I potted it in a galvanized bucket.

Have you seen the price of garden pots?

Plus, I will have to bring this in during the winter.

I hope I don't kill it.

Ivy trying to climb everything, I'll have to get a trellis for it once we paint the house (siding looks so shabby right now)

So last year I cut back around this tree and guess what??

A snowball bush erupted!!!!

The snowballs make me 

so 

H A P P Y !

If I can't have hydrangeas, this is a close second.

Guardian Bunny: St. Peter Rabbit.

We also cut back around the well house last spring and these wild rose bushes bloomed.

 They are incredibly fragrant.

And if I fail at gardening, my summer red, white and blue twinkle lights will make everything alright. 

Taking a walk in our neighborhood last Sunday and found this patch of blue irises. 

If this requires digging and dropping bulbs, I am so on it.

I can handle that!

These are plans I can handle.

I picked up glasses on Pearl Street for myself last week.

Sigh.

Not ready to wear them yet but I am tired of misreading everything after 2 pm. 

Anyway, I am a sucker for stone houses.

Look at this one tucked away.

I should just collect houses already. I have a problem.

Luckily I don't have millions of dollars.

So dang lucky.

Speaking of problems, while the kids are up in Alaska I decided to just tackle everything possible with the time I have. 

I moved us into our master suite. 

I'll try and do a post on that when we finish the bathroom. 

Oh gosh, we're down to one bathroom again.

That is not good.

Crap.

My Mother's Day gift from the kids...

time seems to be flying.

How come it seemed so slow when they were babies and now I'm trying to chase it down?

We've got 5 more days until the kids come home.

 We (well, we all know it's Clay and Hunter by now) are tearing up the boys room. 

I thought I'd be all rested and leisurely sewing cute clothes but the bell tolls for the Milkbarn and we are still as busy as ever.

So, instead of sewing I turned my new closet into a little store.

*fashion/organizational/nerd alert!

Next up: the much awaited boys bedroom