At Home in Georgia

Another Busy Week

We're still working toward our garden and chickens.  We've had another busy week.  Carter took yesterday off from work to work on these things.  We borrowed a big truck (boy, are they nice!) and we all headed out to get topsoil, peat moss, railroad ties, fencing, fence posts, a new shovel and rake, wood chips, pine straw, and more.  I felt like a farm girl.  Hee, hee!

It took ALL day running around trying to get everything.  Of course, a few places didn't have what they'd advertised, and one trip in particular was a wasted trip.  Oh, well, it was VERY cold (for here), about 35 degrees, so we didn't really spend a lot of time outside anyway.  Carter set up one of my 4X4 (really more like 3.5X3.5) garden spots, and we have one more to go. 

Today, the children and I decided to do some work outside to help Daddy, who is coaching a golf game tonight and won't be home until late.  He's been realy focused on getting the garden ready for me and he's also really trying to get ready so we can start our chickens this spring instead of next year.  So we spread all the pine straw up by the house and all the wood chips in their two places in the yard.  Those are the things Carter likes to see done.  Cassandra, my 7 year old, has been an enormous help.  She comes alive working outside.  Who'd have thought?  Emma was much more of a help today, and even Garrett helped for a while.  His help is not exactly... ummm... help, so when he's ready to give up, I am too.  :)

The biggest project left for us is figuring out what to do about a chicken coop / hen house.  We'll probably build something simple, I guess.

I did come up with an idea for conserving water, today.  I get so tired of running the dishwasher every day.  We use a lot of bowls (for cereal and for popcorn and for... ice cream!) so we're often out even when the DW isn't full.  And it just seems like we should be able to go longer between running it.  We don't use a lot of paper... although when you're in a severe drough, it seems that using disposable is wiser than running the dishwasher all the time.  Anyway, I set the children to washing, rinsing, and drying their own cups and bowls and spoons.  They think it's cool because they get to wash (no one wants to dry, they all want to play in warm soapy water), and I just fill up the sink part way with hot soapy water and they can do it as soon as they're through and go on to the next thing. And another way to incorporate Garrett into the chore world.

Oh, we're also on a waiting list for $20 rain barrels that attach to the downspouts and are adapted with a spigot at the bottom for hooking up a hose for watering.  That will be important with our garden as well this year, esp. if we have a year as dry as last year.

And that's it... all updated for now!  :)

~Michelle

Ps. In my album is a picture of the front pine straw and you can see just a glimpse of my first garden section on the side, dwarfed by the huge brush pile!

Untitled Comment

07:02, Thursday, February 28, 2008 .. Posted by gabbie427

Sounds like you are one busy girl dear!!!!!! But productive as well!!!

I just wish I had a dishwasher. I keep bringing it up to hubby and he keeps smiling at me. LOL Maybe with our tax return???? I am still praying. lol

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

Untitled Comment

07:11, Thursday, February 28, 2008 .. Posted by micandme

Oh, I DO love my dishwasher! It's such a huge timesaver. I just use it TOO much lately. :)
~Michelle

rain barrels

07:59, Thursday, February 28, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

I think it's a great idea to save water... I don't know what state you're in, so many (like ours) make it ILLEGAL to collect rain water! (But I set 5 gallon buckets out anyway!)
Make sure to check your County laws, just in case, and good luck growing things!

SIlly me... LOL

08:02, Thursday, February 28, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

You're in GA! (My daughter lives there somewhat near Atlanta.) I will be praying for your drought situation there, as I'm no stranger to it!
Maybe you could teach the children a song that is a prayer for rain...
-Illoura