Back in the swing of things

Well, I have successfully survived my first year of graduate school.  All in one piece.  Wow, is mid-life learning ever different from learning as an 18-23 year old!  The brain just doesn't function quite the same as it used to.

I am taking the summer off from school so gardening has a priority status once again.  :)

The biggest change that I have made this year is transitioning to an all non-GMO seed garden.  The seed saver in me had a tough time throwing away all of the old seed that I had.  Can you believe that I had seeds back from 2008?  While I have ordered seed from other Safe Seed Pledge companies in the past with good results, I ordered all of my seed from Baker Creek Seeds this year.  No particular reason other than I was one stop shopping for the sake of time at that moment.  I take that back...I did get a package of Seeds of Change yellow pear tomato seeds at the local Menards.  Oops.

Here are my towers of drying, recycled containers after I washed and santitized them.  I used nearly every one of them transplanting just tomatoes and peppers.

This is my indoor seed starting set up in my potting shed.  I am going to have to rob my sewing/craft room of its shelving in order to keep my seedlings under florescent lights as I continue to transplant and pot up seedlings.  I think I will be running out of room!

 

I transplanted tomatoes and peppers on Sunday.  I was a bit worried because the peppers totally wilted on me initially but were fine by the next day.  Whew!  The tomatoes got transplanted up to their first set of leaves...not their first true leaves, but the seed leaves.  They will grow extra roots this way.  The amount of growth in them in just a couple of days has been amazing.  I feel like a mother hen checking the progress in the shed every day, sometimes multiple times a day.  Each time, something new is sprouting, needs watered, or just admired.  :)  There is nothing quite like gardening to soothe the soul. 

I am looking forward to documenting this year's garden adventures again...at least until the fall semester starts up again...

New Beginnings

Ever since I graduated from college, I have wanted to attend graduate school to receive my master's degree. Throughout my career as a nurse, I have had many roles, each with its own specialty degree offering.  They all sounded tempting, but none of them stuck with me as something for the long term.  I have finally taken my plunge and after much, much, much research, (did I mention that I really researched this decision?), I have chosen my program and my school.
Anyone that knows me really well knows that I agonize over decision making.  I rarely make spur of the moment decisions.  Everything is researched to the nth degree.  We don't even buy household items without me checking ratings first.  My DH has laughingly adapted to this.  Thankfully.  Even after all that planning and researching, I continue to second guess the decision.  There is probably some syndrome name for me.  Yes, I think it mirrors perfectionism.  :)
I am starting with just one class since it has been over two decades since I graduated from college.  I need to get my feet wet first.
Excited and scared to death.  Just the beginning of a new journey for me.  Moving right along....  :)

Box Elder Madness

Awhile back we had groupings of box elders.  I haven't ever seen them like this before.  Not sure why some look different that the usual box elder bugs.

 

Tomatoes!!

Busy picking day today!  There is canning in my future.

Fungi

I saw this while picking tomatoes.  Fungi are fascinating to me.  I think all of our recent rains after all of the drought has caused them to sprout.

 

Fun picture of the underside

 

 

Out with the door...in with the window

Another post of improvements.  This time on the house...not the garden.

Jackhammering out the old concrete steps.

The concrete was totally solid...

Removing the old door

Open air access

The new window.  No more drafty old door.

First tomatoes

Look what I found in the garden tonight!  The first tomatoes of the season!  Minus a couple that were eaten directly off the plant.  There is just something about eating a tomato in its element.  Yum!


The red tomatoes are Juliet.  The yellows are Yellow Pear.  Somewhere the pear part was left off....
The Zucchini is Costata Romanesco.

Update....the yellow tomatoes are now gone.  As well as more reds.  They are so good!  ;)