Finally

We finally have the raised beds completed and our Garden 2010 is planted. I must say, the 3 cubic yards of dirt that was delivered didn't seem like that much at the time of order or even when it got dumped out in the driveway, but after several shovel fulls and wheel barrel runs to the backyard, I was exhausted.

The plants were in by May 26th, which I felt was pretty late, but we had some uncooperative weather that kept us from building the beds in the back yard.

It's all good. The weather has been really warm and humid, and the plants like that.

I think this year's garden is my favorite so far.

We have 13 tomato plants (Rutgers, Supersonic, Sweet 100's, Mortgage Lifter, SuperTasty Hybrid, Better Boy, Steak Sandwich hybrid, Orange Oxheart, Brandywine Pink heirloom). We also have 4 pepper plants (red beauty and poblanos) and the rest are herbs.

I hate have to buy fresh herbs in the store as they are always yucky at the time of purchase.
Dried herbs are my last resort, and at that point it's just so depressing.

Basil is probably my favorite herb and I'm growing in pots this year. Happens to be the best it's ever done.

We also have Rosemary, Cilantro, Curled Parsley, Thyme, Oregano, and French Lavender. That last one was just because it smelled so good. I almost bought the Pineapple Sage for that same reason. Absolutely amazing.




Gardens of the Past years:

2009 was a cold summer and it was my first year using the landscape fabric. I was trying to prevent all the helicopters from landing in between the plants to have all these trees growing everywhere. I wasn't feeling well either and I barely had any energy to plant this.

We didn't have a very good crop at all, but we did adopt our dog Ruby and she did very good and cleaning up all the little cherry tomatoes off the ground when they fell.


2008 was nothing like my first year. That was the best. I was starting to really worry what happened, but I knew it was because I was lazy and excited about just getting the plants into the ground. The 2008 garden just looks messy.

I had tons of basil plants and none of them really did much but go to seed. It was sad, and my plans for making tons of pesto were ruined.

The squirrels started nibbling at our green tomatoes and it was becoming a real nuisance. Also the trees were casting more shadows on the garden then in previous years, so I wasn't getting as much sunlight on the plants.

2007 was the first garden. I didn't know anything. I took a shovel to the lawn and just starting ripping everything up. I was the best crop every. I haven't had anything like it since. It was messy and planted way too close together, but later the plants were kinds holding each other up that way as well.

I tried onions, garlic, tomatoes, carots, corn, and found that the corn was very unsuccesful, but the tomatoes totally rocked. All I could think about were the tomatoes.

So much for that...

I wanted to start a food blog, but it's a lot of work. It's bad enough I sometimes forget to take photos of the fabulous dishes I prepare.

I did manage to put a bunch of photos up on shutterfly: http://kirochkaskitchen.shutterfly.com/

I still haven't planted the garden this year. Greg and I are building a raised bed to move the garden to the opposite side of the yard to make room for a brick oven some day (hopefully this summer).

All I know is that time is flying by faster than previously noticed by me. My Zac now surpasses me in height, and I feel old. Oh well, I'm supposed to be old, and he's supposed to be taller than I.

I'm am so happy to see Spring this year. We had such a long bitterly cold winter, where it never got above freezing for 90+ days. Born and raised in California, I never realized how truly marvelous the spring can be. I never used to notice the change of seasons as I don't recall us actually having any in CA.

Garden 2009

Yesterday it was 92 degrees. I am hoping for a really hot summer. Tomatoes like the heat. I'm using landscape fabric this year, as last year was a horrible year for all the "helicopters" that fluttered down and took root amongst the tomatoes. Very annoying.

The wisteria came back and the trumpet vine as well. The roses just won't seem to die. I very much regret planting them as they just seem to ring the dinner bell for Japanese Beetles.

I am not sure if I'll get the chance to build the brick oven this summer. So much to do, and so little time. It would sure be nice to have a full outdoor kitchen with brick oven, and patio area. I just need to make sure I don't build anything that will block the sunlight for the tomatoes.

I hope ligtning takes out my mulberry tree. It's getting too tall.

Cold May

It has been extremely cold for May here, and it does make me think that I'd like a bit of that Global warming, but I know it doesn't really work that way.

The garden has been planted, and I even hired an arborist to trim some trees so that the sunlight would get increased but still the warm weather has not started.

Mother's Day came and went. I think it's all over-rated. Shouldn't every day be Mother's Day or do we treat moms like crap all year and then do something special one day of the year. Oh well.

I am but one little person, and I can't change the world....yet.

Sadness in Bloomington

Last Monday, a 13 year old boy drowned at the YWCA pool. I still ask myself how could this have happened?

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/03/27/news/doc47e815a8643e6919191898.prt

My own son is not a very good swimmer, and he's so fair, that he really blends in with the color of the white pool bottom. I've always worried, that if something should happen, he probably wouldn't be seen as his skin color doesn't provide enough color contrast against the water and the pool, but here it is - a 13 year black boy drowns and is not noticed.????

Who the heck was asleep on the job? How can this happen?

I am so angry when I think about this.

When I go to a pool, I act as a life guard. I watch everyone around me in the water, because I know trouble can be anywhere, and I may have to act in a blink of an eye. I would not wait for that life guard.

I do not want my son to ever go back to the YWCA because of this.

Tired

I am so tired. I feel like a zombie lately. The real reason I'm even typing this is to test my NewsGator subscription. I really don't have much to say.

Oh well.

Must test.

More later.