Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Spring And Back Home In Tennessee

It's been awhile so I thought I would post an update and tell you what's been going on.

Mike and I left Florida to come back to Tennessee on Saturday April 11.  Sadly we didn't realize it was the end of a holiday week and it took us much longer to get home.  As usual Mike and I made the trip in one day switching back and forth while driving.  Either way we made it home and the house had no major problems.  Well at least none that Mike could not fix.  we didn't realize it the first day but our pressure gauge on the well broke and the water was leaking from the well which meant our pump was constantly running and it ran our electric down.  On sunday we realized what the problem was.  Luckily we have the same well pump set up at the store so we "borrowed" the part until we could get to the Farm Supply.  The electric also went out a few times when I started the vacuum cleaner.  We thought it was the vacuum but it turns out it was the switch on the batteries.  Mike took the old switch off and will replace it.  BTW, our batteries are in excellent shape.  Mike checked them all and added just a little distilled water.


Of course we called the kids as soon as we got settled back into the house and they wanted to know about Sunday breakfast.  Sorry guys you will have to wait until next sunday since I have no food.  Imagine that…Lisa has no food in the house and pigs must be flying.

The first week back was fairly quiet until the weekend.  Ella, our 10 year old granddaughter, informed us she was moving in for the weekends.  Nicole dropped her off our first friday home.  I believe Ella had about 7 bags with her, lol.  "Her" room now has a bunch of stuff and her posters.  Ella and I went for our first round of yard saling that weekend and we scored:)  We had the back of the Jeep loaded with books, shoes, toys and odds and ends.  I told her "papa is never going to let us go yard saling again, lol"

Of course we are back to our Sunday breakfasts with the kids and we are having a good time.
Mike just had to take a picture of me back in my apron, lol.  Oh my hands are like that as I am imitating the infamous cookie tray picture of me from a few years back.



Next Sunday we may do a Time Capsule.  I know…we are late to that party but we will give it a shot.  Now…what to put in it:)


We got home just in time for my library's books sale….yay.  I missed the one in the fall so I am happy to get back on track this spring.  We had a meeting and I found out that the library will be doing another carnival this summer and I was already volunteered to work it.  We also have The Summer Reading program for the kids coming up.  Ella signed up and I volunteered.  Now back to the Book Sale.  Set up day was crazy.  We had 3 truck loads of books donated.  We didn't have enough tables for all the books so we had to leave boxes of books on the floor.





It was a great sale and a lot of work.



The next weekend Nicole and I did our annual plant day.  We had a great time.  It was a saturday so Nicole dropped Ella off to stay with Mike while her and I went to town.  We now go to our favorite place for our one stop shopping.  They have the best plants at the best prices.

Here is  our Garden place:

Ooh plants everywhere:


Nicole browsing:


Browsing some more:



It's hard to choose:



Another greenhouse full of flowers:



And the main vegetable greenhouse:






After buying our plants we had a very nice lunch and then we went back to the house.  It was a wonderful day and one I look forward to every year:)



The girls and their plants and Ella being a ham, lol:



Of course this past sunday was Mother's Day so Happy Mother's Day everyone:)  Nicole was so nice to think of me and brought me some beautiful flowers.  I love flowers.

Ooh…look how pretty they are:)
Thank you Nicole…I really love them.



And now for yesterday….Mike is back to feeding his fish:) both he and the fish are happy campers, lol.



And after I hardened off my plants I got them all planted yesterday.  Then last night we had a wicked rain storm.  Nicole called to warn me but my plants were already in the ground.  I hope they are OK.  I am only planting my small square foot garden this year and I spread the plants out more than usual.  Here are my plants, as of yesterday:


It always looks so pitiful when things are first planted.  I planted tomatoes, green peppers, lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, bush beans, zucchini, squash and some flowers for companion planting and to attract the bees.


My strawberries look pretty good:


Sadly the deer chomped on my little fruit trees and all of my blueberry bushes…grr!!!   As much as I love the animals…they drive me crazy when it comes to growing things.




That's about it.  We should have a busy summer coming up.  Next month we may take a trip down to Florida to check on things there.


Have a wonderful day:)