mary, mary, quite contrary . . .

how does your garden grow?

really, i'd like to know - any tips are most welcome!

we have sprouts! and pumpkin flowers! and itty, bitty tomatoes!

about a month ago, i was e-mailed that my spot on the waitlist for a community garden put me next in line for an open plot . . . as these lists were known to be long, i accepted the plot {2x the size i wanted, and the farthest garden i had applied for} in hopes that being in the system was the way to go.

the plot looked like this:


during the next week, i got it to look like this:

at which time i was told that another plot had become available, this time in full sun. it looked like this:

so rather than clear 100 sq.ft. of compost and have a plot in the shade, i took the second plot:

in the second plot, i found 2 canvas tarp-type things 20'x4' in size {rolled up in the photo above}, raspberry seedlings, onions, garlic, strawberries, and potatoes . . . all in all, it seemed like it could work.

after planting lettuce and corn, i received notice in the mail that my name had come up for a smaller plot in a garden closer to myself- so i went to check it out . . . and it looked like this:

being the third plot i would be clearing, i turned it down {thinking i was ready to plant at the second plot}

optimistically, i purchased some veggie starts and began turning over a section of my garden to plant them . . .

well, all i seemed to turn up was plastic - as in garbage bag-type plastic . . . about 50-75 sq. ft. of it . . . no end and no beginning . . .so i called the garden office to see if they had given my other plot away . . . LUCKY ME! . . . they hadn't : ) and lucky me in another way- my father-in-law, who arrived the day i switched gardens, was excited about helping me clear and plant the new plot!

here are some progress photos . . .

and my baby flowers + tomatoes!

can't wait for beans + basil + broccoli + carrots + beets + lettuce + squash + tomatoes + cucumbers + pumpkins oh my!

{though i'm still hesitant as one of the tomato plants has spots . . . sigh . . . we shall see}

mid-years resolutions . . .

recently, someone i 'know' online mentioned that she was making mid-years resolutions . . . although she might have different reasons for making them than i have, it sounds like a great idea! {especially as i never felt like i was starting my new year with a fresh start}

so here goes nothing . . .

embrace_family, friends, health, experiences, possibilities . . . as times have gone to an unfamiliar place, sometimes it is hard to have faith and stay positive. this year has been a doozy- turning 3-0, my aunt was diagnosed with cancer, unemployment . . . on the bright side, thus far, well, i'm still thirty, but my aunt has finished chemo {we hope}, and i've started my own business. let's hope everything is falling into place with whatever path is out there for me.

maintain_health/fitness, relationships, environment . . . as in the usual exercise and healthy eating . . . as well as connections with friends and family- which are especially dear being so very far away from many of them . . . and hopefully, for my honey's sake, improve my laundery skills at home {really, i'm pretty bad!}

live_without worrying about a plan, money, who i am, what i've missed or could have done . . . knowing things work out in the end and trust in that {in reality, this has been true for the duration of my life . . . i think it's a good strategy, for now . . . if only i can have such faith!}


while these 3 words are just that, 3 words, they encompass a realm of tangents that i think are steps in a direction to being happier with myself and who i want to become for my family!