Grow baby, Grow!

I am writing this post mostly for my own sake. I have tried a garden journal in the past but it's so much easier for me to link and post photos so things don't get misplaced.

I started my tomato seeds (Kentucky Beefsteak, Red Chico (a roma), Longkeeper, and Fox Cherry), California Wonder Bell peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, and Impatiens about 2 weeks ago. I started some in a really cool seed starter greenhouse type thingy from H*me D*pot for about $20 (yes, it's reusable!!!) -- (in the above photo), some in organic peat pots (bottom pic.), and some in a cardboard egg carton bottom (the middle pic.-- this one has Impatiens in it -- they have barely started growing...it takes about 15-20 days for germination). The Impatiens and peppers should have been started a bit sooner but ah well...life happens! So far I have some really great starters of tomatoes!! I'm thinking I may have so much that I may have to sell some of my starters. But then again, if I keep them and plant all then I could sell the surplus of veggies? Hmm...I'm thinking a road side stand in which we rake in all sorts of dough from our organic veggies grown from heirloom seeds (yes, really, heirloom...from Baker Creek). Well maybe not all sorts of dough, but enough to pay for our gardening efforts? By the way, heirloom seeds can be harvested from plants, fruits and veggies and used again next year. Read Saving Seeds. It is a wonderful source of information!


Here are the following links that I have found very helpful for starting your garden from seeds.
Find what gardening zone you are in
Gardener's Supply Company
When to Start your Seeds (Gardener Supply Co.)
Free Printable Grid Paper (for planning your garden)
Starting Seeds Inside
Making Seed Starting Pots from Newspaper (haven't done this yet, but I think I may give it a whirl today)

What nobody tells you about living in a 100-year old farmhouse before you move in...

I just happened upon this post on this blog. It is oh, so true! Check it out!

I have to add that while it has it's quirks, our 1880's farm house is a true blessing and I would consider it my dream house...full of character and love!

Be sure to check out Suzanne's blog...she has some yummy recipes!

Time flies when you're....

...living life! So much has been happening lately. We've gone through a stomach bug and my mom was sick with it and then got Bronchitis so that was about a month of life not being very normal!

I've been busy attempting to get my new seedlings going. I bought some through Baker Creek...an awesome catalog. Now if I can just get those little things to do what I want them to do! That would be growing into lots of little seedlings to fill my garden and save the family some money this year! I also hope to save seeds from the plants this summer so I can use them again next year! Hoping to save even more money!

I've been trying to get the scrapbooks caught up, but no such luck. I have completed a digital book on Kodak for Abby so I'm hoping after her 1st birthday (soon!) that I can finish it and have it done! The only bummer is that before I show it to the kiddos (mainly Eli) I need to finish Eli's baby book! He would be very upset! Oops!

My art classes have been going really well. Busy, but well. I have 27 students (32 if you include my own children that participate) put into 5 classes. We have a blast learning about an artist and doing a few activities to go with them! I'm thinking of writing an e-book and selling it! Yeah, right! What year?!

I've also been getting things going on my crafting again and I hope to have my Etsy shop up and running soon.

Eli is potty trained...thank the Lord it was easy! I am a firm believer in waiting until they are absolutely ready! I think the 2nd morning his pull ups (which he only wears at night) were totally dry and he's been dry in the morning ever since. I think he was totally trained in about 5 days! Yay!! But, sniff, sniff, for me...only one baby left in the house! My kiddos keep asking when we are going to have another one. Let's just say I'm not planning on it any time soon!

I have been busy keeping up with coupons and stocking up with sales. I order coupons from The Coupon Clippers or print them from coupons.com, coolsavings.com. I also read MoneySavingMom -- she has tips for deals for stores, where to print coupons, get free samples, etc. I consider this part of my job as an at-home mom. Stocking up with sales and coupons is my unofficial hobby!

We have been homeschooling through a Christian school that's about 45 minutes away. Since we will have a kindergartener next fall that will bring our homeschool student total to 5 and therefore raise the costs of homeschool tuition through this school. We drastically need to cut financial corners this coming year so we have decided to find the same curriculum (most of it used) through certain websites and word of mouth. As far as my calculations go I think we'll be spending about 1/3 on curriculum this year compared to the school. So that has consumed my time as well, but it will be well worth it!

Anyway...all this to say...this is why the last post was in February! LOL! Phew! Now I feel like everyone is caught up!