trading food for flowers

i don't have a garden this year. it makes me sad. i wish the boys were pulling peas from it right now and popping them into their mouths. i wish i was making a batch of fresh salsa with my overhaul of jalapenos.

i did plant some flowers to try to feel a little better. most of which died while we were away. a few strong ones survived and they make me smile every time i see them. they're beautiful but not like a happy, healthy garden.

i love gardening. i love digging into the cool wet soil. i love watching plants grow and mature. i love the smell of the earth as you water and weed. i love feeling even a teency bit self efficient.

i'll have a garden next year. no excuses.

with help from our garden

we have had tomatoes and jalapenos coming out our ears over here so i finally decided to make some salsa last night. my favorite salsa EVER can be found here. but it's something i rarely have unless my mom makes it. matt doesn't go for the chunks of "non salsa" items. i do. boy i do! but in an effort to keep the hubby happy i tend to keep it simple.

so here is what i made last night.

for a small batch::
3 large tomatoes
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 garlic clove, diced
3 tbsp diced onion
2 fresh jalapenos, diced
1 medium can diced green chiles

because matt doesn't like chunks i blend my salsa completely. you do not have to. you may also substitute any of the fresh ingredients for canned or vise versa. i prefer to have part canned tomatoes and part fresh, it just seems to have better flavor that way.

{like my fancy repurposed jars? i never throw away my spaggeti sauce jars anymore.}

i am dreading our last batch of fresh salsa because that will mean our garden is done producing for the year. but on the other hand, that also means lots and lots of soup. yum.

always learning

today i learned:::

toothpaste makes a wonderful toilet seat polish.

a mother should never paint her fingernails a dark color...it causes for all day concern from their very observant children. "oh mom. lots of boo boos."

the blonde one and i have twin lips.

necklaces with elephants on them will turn into a toy within five minutes of the first wear.

"curls aren't pretty" to little boys named gage. apparently he does not approve of today's hairstyle.

the youngest of my children seems to think he comes from a long line of billy goats. :::ga-ar-ar-ar-ar-ettt(you have to say that in your best goat voice) i am your mother. i'm human, have two legs with goofy feet and ten wiggly toes. we weren't made to climb on every available surface...one day you'll believe me.

three year olds repeat EVERYTHING they hear.

one year olds do not like to be sat upon by three year olds.

every mom is entitled to at least two days a week to feel like a complete basket case.

right?

lessons in gardening

our trip out to the garden yesterday yielded one large cucumber, handfuls of spinach and juicy peas {most of which were gone before i could blink} and enough jalapenos for a fresh batch of salsa.

this has been our first year with a garden and i love it. i am already planning plots for next year. let's just say we are going to need more room for peas!

one lesson in gardening was learned yesterday.

and that is the lesson that very hungry caterpillars are much cuter to seven year olds in children's books when they are eating someone else's plants.

and two very hungry caterpillars are cute to not one soul.

especially not the souls of my poor tomato plants.

very hungry caterpillar picture