Thursday, May 10, 2012

Cultivating...Nothing So Far

     I suspect in my typical impatient haste, I may have made a mistake in deciding to simply put the seeds directly into the pots that they would've ultimately ended up in, instead of planting them separately into smaller seed trays. I could just be wrong at this point, which would be a relief, considering I spent about $25 on seeds and strawberry plants.
     There are only eleven more days until the due date of our daughter, Tia Paige! So unbelievable, it feels as if I'm holding my breath and can't take another one until she's here. The nursery we've been working on for the past two months is finally done, and it's practically a shrine to all things cute and baby. Thanks to the efforts of Pam and Al, it looks as good as it does; and to my mom, for buying the great crib/changing table combo.
      I've come to the realization that as much as I fear birth, which is a lot, I'd much rather face that fear as soon as possible than be pregnant any longer. I miss the enjoyment of walking and running, and being active. The whole concept of motherhood is still so surreal to me, the responsibility of having to instruct and guide an entire life. It's something I'm looking forward to though, despite the millions of ups and downs it seems to come with.
   

Sunday, May 6, 2012

And Let The Gardening Begin

     I have an addiction to summer projects that scares some people (Chase, I'm looking at you). It's scary how as soon as the snow begins to even remotely melt away, female minds everywhere immediately begin scheming ways to make the men in their lives become free slave labor once again. Don't think I'm not out there myself, insanely driven to get as much done in one day as possible, which is a lot here in Alaska, given that we have sunlight for almost a full 24 hours at some points. No wonder we're all crazy up here. It's either all daylight or all darkness. We never get the chance to mellow out to a normal sunlight schedule.
     Being almost nine months pregnant presents some interesting 'learning opportunities' in how to be a better supervisor, versus doing all the work myself, which I usually end up doing anyways. Poor Chase. He tries to get his over-ambitious woman to relax, but usually all attempts are in vain. My mother created three wonderfully OCD children, and now the damage is too severe to alter. The inability to just 'leave something alone' or 'clean it up later' almost 90 percent of the time is a blessing and a curse, and apparently really amusing to anyone who gets to watch the madness happening. It's only worse being pregnant, because the thrills of nesting overpower me.
     My first project of the thawing season has been gutting out and 'remodeling' the greenhouse in the backyard. It's got some definite floorboard rot happening, but generally, it's safe, and has electricity (ooh, fancy). It took me a few days, but I was able to singlehandedly clear out almost all the junk, dead growth, and random things that just didn't belong. After that I planted some strawberry seedlings, lavender, cilantro, chives, basil, oregano, sugar snap peas, carrots, green beans, lettuce, and spinach. It's been about three or four days so far and the seedlings have gotten slightly bigger with some smaller leaves and growth beginning to show. The seeds themselves haven't made any appearances yet, but I'm giving them another week or so to show up.
     I think that concludes this first entry, an abrupt start to a blog, with not too much of a decent introduction. Come back later for more updates and possible pictures as well.
--Marianna