m.o.M - mother of Michael

We Went to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo

and I got covered in poo, poo, poo, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Spring Break is actually just Summer Break-in-Training. I'm not so sure about the whole Camp Mom thing for all of summer, but today was a lot of fun - until the very end!

We have a great zoo here in Brevard County. There's a petting zoo, water park, kayaking adventure and a train ride in addition to all the other zooey kind of stuff.

The animals were out in force today and I saw some I've never seen out before!

I guess when you live in the zoo, there isn't much privacy! Someone should tell them that the zoo closes at 5:00!

 

Senor Goat!

 

Rama - llama - ding dong!

Wait! It does get better!

 

 

Simitar-Horned Orynx!

How many zoos have this! A two-hump, eight-legged, one headed camel!

I'd love to know what the lorikeet was whispering in Michael's ear!

 

And this was the very first time I've seen the otters out! Honestly, I thought the whole exhibit was just a hoax.

So after cheeseburgers, train rides, bird feedings and ice cream eatings, I was oh so ready to go home. We had one more section to see - the monkeys. Already cranky and having had my fill of the zoo, off we went down the path of doom. Just as we reached the area where the monkeys were, down it came: Bird poo...all over me.

It's said that's good luck. Please tell me it is! It is, isn't it?

I'm Taking the Bait so Bring it On!

They say it's going to rain so I say "Rain, baby, Rain!"

I'm ready! Three, count 'em, three! 55-gallon rain barrels daisy-chained together ready to harvest rain water from my roof. Beautiful water that I'll use to irrigate my veggies.

Regattas and Rockwalls

Chamber of Commerce weather here! Sorry to all you folks dealing with snow on...March 27th?

It's time for the annual Cub Scouts Raingutter Regatta!

Even the parents got in on the fun!

This year's regatta was especially fun because it was held in conjunction with the Family FunFest at a local park. Snowcones, exhibits and activities galore, but the highlight was the rock climbing wall!

It was a great day out!

What's Eating You?

Another day, another turn around the garden.

Skittering and "thrashing about in the leaves" noises alway get my attention. Usually it's a little lizard chasing down a bug and sometimes it's something chasing down the lizard. Today just wasn't this lizard's day!

Hmmm, suddenly I have a desire for spaghetti for dinner tonight!

This little guy was the find of the day for me.

Hopefully he won't become a lunchtime fatality too!

 

What's Wrong With This Picture?

No! It's not that I grew these lovely little radishes with my own two little hands! (Hint: Look at the last picture!)

I Got Your Tomatos Right Here!

I can't quite figure out the math on this, but my sister (who lives in Virginia) is very concerned about "her" tomato plant (which lives in Florida). She calls me regularly to check up on "her" tomato plant's progress and if she hasn't heard from me, she thinks I haven't called because "her" tomato plant is dead.

Well sister, "your" tomato plant is not dead. "Your" tomato plant which I bought, I hauled in the dirt for, I planted, I water, I fertilize, I whisper sweet nothings to is, in fact, thriving.

 

I'll send you a copy of The Little Red Hen. I like the way it ends!

(Love ya!  - Mean it!)

 

It's Sprung!

Hurray! Hip Hip Hurray! Spring has sprung! And things are sprunging up all over the garden!

 

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. 
-   Margaret Atwood

Squarefoot Garden - Week 4 (almost)

The absolute highlight of each day is to go out to my little veggie patch with my cup of coffee and see what's happened overnight! Each day it seems that something new is peeking out of the ground and now I want to plant more more more!

So to recap, I planted my first seeds on February 21st. With the exception of the tomatos and the herbs, everything else has been from seed!

These are my happy little burgundy beans!

And these, my friends, are my little french breakfast radishes. Coming soon to a salad near me!

If You Squint Your Eyes...

Please keep the people of Japan, Hawaii and our west coast in your thoughts as these horrific details unfold! I don't know if Craft Hope will be doing any fundraising for Doctors Without Borders like they did for Haiti, but that's one of many great sites to work with to help our global community.

 

 

stand on your left foot and tilt your head just right, it looks like a monster, muntant daffodil!

The birds are finally starting to come around to Michael's bird feeder! Yay!

And finally: Today's favorite azalea!

 

But It Doesn't Smell of Chlorine!

After all the years of predawn departures for swim meets, we've embarked upon a new adventure: Baseball.

Lizzy was easy. All she ever wanted to do was swim. This time around life is not so simple. I fear that soccer and basketball are in my future and I'm not so sure how I feel about that. I understand swimming. I get that I can travel hours to watch my kid compete for a sum total of about 1 minute and 47 seconds. Now I'm one of those "other" moms and you know what? That's not a bad thing. Knowledge is freedom. Right? Right?!  Oh, please tell me I'm right!

This is kind of how I felt today:

But seeing this look on my kid's face changed everything and even though I still long for the smell of chlorine, it made it all worthwhile!

Baseball: It's going to be very, very good for me!