New Skills

With lots of time on our hands we have been doing a few things we have wanted to do or planned to do one day and just never got around to it. For example, I have wanted a raised vegetable bed for several years, but just been too lazy or maybe just didn't care quite enough to actually do it. Well, for some reason since we have been home all this time I have been motivated to do some of the things that have been on my list for years and our raised vegetable garden was one of those things. I am really happy with our gardens and so glad we finally have not one but two raised gardens, and now I am actually thinking of where I can put more. My older daughter commented to me the other day that she loved seeing all the things that people were doing while staying home. It is rather interesting. 

Bethany has also been trying out a few new things and one of them really took me by surprise. Several months ago I asked Bethany and Tess if they would like to learn how to knit as I saw a place that was giving lessons this summer and it sounded kind of fun. I also think I wanted them to learn as I kind of wish I had when I was young, but never did. Well, Tess said yes and Bethany had no interest at all. So, when the other day Bethany got off her vest and said she had learned how to knit I was kind of surprised and asked how that happened. Nobody in this house has any idea how to knit or crochet. She said she found a video and watched it and since she did not have knitting needles she just took the smore sticks we had and broke them and used those. Well, she had made something and I have no idea if it is correct as I know absolutely nothing about knitting, but she is having fun doing it and it looks like she might be doing it right. Maybe I will get her some real needles one day soon. 

We also got two of our new jump ropes the other day - still waiting for the other two to arrive. Bella has been practicing and practicing. 

Fly Away

Today was the day we let the butterflies go. We had fun observing them for several days, but it was time to let them fly. We took them out on the front porch and let them go and most of them flew away immediately. One did light on Bethany's finger before he flew to his freedom. 

What We Are Reading

We have read quite a few books lately so I will only name a few. We read The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser and it was another book about gardens. We really liked this book a lot. The Vanderbeeker kids decided to plant a garden in an old run down area next to a church when their neighbor has a stroke and they want to do something that will cheer him up and help heal him. The area is in horrible condition and they meet lots of obstacles, but they are determined. It is a sweet story and I think I liked it because of the garden and I love garden stories this time of year. They kids also enjoy a good garden story and especially since we are in the process of planting our next garden. And we loved the way the kids cared so much about their older neighbor. It is definitely a book worth reading. 

We also read Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher and enjoyed it. This book was about Elizabeth Ann that lives with her aunt and has been over protected all of her life and can hardly do a thing for herself. She is sent to another relative when her aunt gets sick and there things are totally different for Elizabeth Ann. She is expected to do for herself and to actually become useful and help do things on the farm. Elizabeth Ann slowly becomes a different child and has to face up to a lot of fears that she has. It was a nice read. The kids enjoyed, but I don't think as much as some we have read lately. The closer to the end we got the more they enjoyed, though. 

We are also now reading Among The Pond People by Clara Dillingham Pierson. The kids love this as it is about nature and animals. We have not finished this book but will be done in a few days. 

Also, on Thursday I got to see my new granddaughter. My daughter brought her over and we sat on the front porch and visited for an hour or so. I had only seen baby Kennedy one time since she was born over 5 weeks ago since we are all pretty much staying home as our governor has told us to do. It was such a nice visit and I am so glad I got to see Kennedy. It's hard practicing social distancing when you have a brand new granddaughter. I will say it was definitely a cold, rainy day for a visit, though. 

Butterflies!

Yesterday, when we got up, we had butterflies. I was surprised as I was thinking maybe this weekend, but we now have 5 healthy butterflies and one that is not doing too well as he had trouble getting out of his chrysalis and has some issues with his wings and legs. We still have a few more we are waiting for. Everyone has really enjoyed watching them. 

We also got started on our garden bed, though we are pretty late. Better late than not at all, I guess. Andrew build the wooden frame and will be making the second one tomorrow as it rained all day long today. Now we need dirt and fertilizer and I need tomato plants. Everything else we are planting we have seeds for - though, again, I'm afraid we are a little late starting. I guess we will see what happens.

Spring

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

We have been digging our garden and planting our tomato plants and all kinds of flowers. Tomorrow we will plant our radishes and cucumbers. The kids take turns digging and helping to place the plants and also scattering the flower seeds. They now say they are gardeners. 

Mark-My-Time

I meant to post our reading time for the month of March. Our Mark-My-Time says we read for 24 hours and 10 minutes for the month. I think that is down from February, but not too bad. We read quite a few books that I'm not going to list and we have started the book The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnette. I'm pretty sure just about everyone has read this book so there is no point in me giving a synopsis, but the kids are thoroughly enjoying it and I enjoy reading it to them around this time every year. It doesn't seem to matter how many times we have read this book they still ask for it every spring when we start talking about flowers and gardens and beautiful weather. This year I think Piper is actually understanding it much better and loving it. 

We are planning on planting our garden in the next week or two and the kids are drawing plans for the garden and planning what they want to plant. We have bought a lot of flower seeds and a few vegetables. I am hoping to have a little bit larger garden than last year. 

A few random pictures from our weekend.