Weekend Update

Our forecast for this weekend was Rain, Rain, Rain.  And gratefully, we got quite a bit of it!  But amid all the showers we were actually able to squeeze in a bit of fun.  Friday night, after our take-out pizza, mowing the lawn and planting just a few more tomatoes, Heath built a nice little fire and we roasted marshmallows and had smores!

The kids loved it!  

And as proof of any good camp fire, by the end of the evening were all covered in sticky marshmallows and dirt.

At one point D, who as usual had no shoes on, stepped in a hot, half melted mallow that T had dropped on the ground.  It was a great night, and I'm so glad that long days are finally here.  

Another thing we were lucky enough to get done between rain showers was plant a tree. We've been looking everywhere for a Cameo apple tree, with no luck.  But Heath found this Gala and we thought we would give it a try.

As you can see we have very, very, very rocky soil!  But apparently that doesn't bother trees so much.

Heath did a great job planting our tree.  I know it looks like it's leaning, it was just really windy yesterday.  He also staked and watered the tree and it looked great today after nearly a day and a half of long soaking rain.  

After moving into our house, the kids soon discovered a tire that had once been used as a tire swing laying under the deck.  Since their discovery they have been dragging it around the yard by its tattered remains of a rope, begging Heath to hang it up.  So after buying some new rope and finding just the right limb, the kids now have their very own tire swing!  And they couldn't be happier!

D told us that he was "going to catch the chickens" and made several attempts at roping the chickens.

The chickens are doing great!  They are now 7 weeks old and still growing.  We have been letting them free range daily and they seem quite happy.  

They love to get out to peck and scratch and look for yummy things to eat.  We are right on schedule with our healthy, happy, curious chickens and can't wait for some eggs come September.  

After two days of rain the bees were happy for the cloud break to get out of the hive.

Planting the Garden

For the last two weeks, little by little, we have been working on planting the garden.  We have finally got the majority of it in.  

I think we've got a pretty good balance on what we've planted.  We planted potatoes (russets and yukon golds), tomatoes (early girl, roma, beef steak and manitoba), peas, green beans, carrots, beets, cucumbers, corn, yellow straight-neck squash, zucchini, acorn squash, pumpkins, cabbage, broccoli, rhubarb, an heirloom melon that has been in Heath's family for a long time, and of course our strawberries and asparagus.  

As usual, we had lots and lots of help!

And you can't live in Idaho with out some delicious potatoes!

Heath's dad switched to raised beds a few years ago.  Not needing his seeder any more, he generously gave it to us and it made light work for planting all those seeds.