CRITTERS

Big Daddy took the girls swimming yesterday. I used this delightful opportunity to go commune with nature (i.e., weed the garden) without the "help" of the cherubs.

So, there I was, merrily getting covered in nature, pulling out handfuls of weeds, responding to the repeated calls of "Hi, Mom!" and "Whatcha doin', Mom?" from my girls in the pool. I pulled a clump of weeds adjacent to an onion plant, and saw in the resulting hole in the dirt what looked like the carcass of a beetle or something. I was curious, so I poked it. To my horror, the "beetle carcass" flipped over, spread out its legs, and revealed itself to be an enormous spider (note, I'm not a big fan of being surprised by unexpected critters, and I am not a big fan of spiders, especially big, hairy ones like the one that was now poised to strike if I moved a muscle).

Fortunately for you, my readers, Big Daddy was in reach of a camera to document my dilemma. Here I am, after first recoiling in terror from the vicious beast.

My first course of action was to try to get the spider out of the garden so I could continue weeding. Now, there was no way in creation that I was going to go near that thing with any part of my body, so I began grabbing gardening tools and tossing them at the spider. But, Spidey the Fearless didn't budge. After availing myself of all nearby gardening implements and several small rocks, I started to wonder if spraying it with Deep Woods Off from a safe distance would be effective. Then, the most unnerving thing of all happened ...

The spider began burrowing into the ground, right next to a yellow onion plant!!! I am mortified to think that there could be more of those big, hairy, creepy critters living right below the surface of my garden's soil, waiting to attack me when I pull out a weed. Yikes!

Needless to say, that little clump of weeds near the yellow onion plant is staying right where God put it. And I'll be wearing my gardening gloves from now on. And I'll be gardening standing up, despite the obvious opportunities that gives Big Daddy to take pictures of my back side sticking up in the air. Which he will.

STINKIN' COMPUTER!

Yeah, so my computer crashed. I spent the last five days feeling like I was missing an appendage. It's not like I live right around the corner from all my friends and family - I'm out in the middle of nowhere, you know.

Then, today, the computer techie called with bad news. My computer was officially dead. He's salvaging what he can from our old hard drive, and I'm typing to you from our new computer. Big Daddy's business and my sanity depend daily on the internet.

More postings to come ...

ANATOMY OF A TANTRUM

It was close to naptime for Cakes. She had been playing in the front yard with Aunt Tracy and Bean, but she got irritated with them and ambled over to the garden where I was picking weeds. She insisted on sitting in my lap in the 90 degree weather, and then started getting annoyed when I reached around her to pull the weeds. That led to stomping on the carrots, which brought about a "don't do that," from me, and the screaming began.

Big Daddy, upon hearing the ruckus in the back yard, came out with a camera to document my increasing frustration, and finally the trip back to the house for a bath and a nap.

MY FIRST MEME

Okay, so being new to blogging, I've never done a "meme" before. To be honest, I'm not even sure how to pronounce the word (I'm going with the French pronunciation and saying "mem," by the way, because my mother is a high school French teacher). So, here's the deal ...

Jessie from Muthering Heights tagged me with this Meme. Essentially, participants tag the authors of blogs they love to read! The rules are to tag bloggers who make your day, make you laugh and smile, and/or leave uplifting comments on your blog. You then include a link to this post, and ask each person you tag to do the same!

So, everyone who is listed is officially tagged (sorry if anyone I inadvertently leave out ....):

Ree - My friend Kimmy introduced me to your blog, because she's basically you. She's also my husband in female form, but that really has nothing to do with this meme. Anyway, I never miss your posts, because you make me laugh out loud and your chocolate cake recipe has become a semi-weekly staple in my household.

Jessie - Your interest in badgers and the way you separate small pieces of candy makes me feel a great, crazy kinship with you. Plus, we each have two little girls who are close in age to each other. And we aggressively showcase our gardens (such as they are) on the web. And, it's hard to find fellow vegetarians here in the South, so it's nice to meet ones on the web who occasionally post quick, easy, and yummy recipes (hint, hint, post more quick, easy, and yummy recipes!).

Kellan - Any woman who is 5'2" and then gains 95 pounds while pregnant with identical twins is an instant hero of mine. Plus, your blog makes me laugh out loud on a regular basis. And, you always make me feel appreciated for stopping by.

Linda - I think you're very brave for leaving everything and heading out to a new place to start a new life. I love reading the everyday happenings on your ranch, and I have learned more about horses from you than I ever knew (or cared to know ... i.e. cleaning of the sheaths, aack!).

Natasha - You're another one of my crazy blog buddies who likes to organize their candies. I love those posts on your son (sleeping on the floor, grabbing his ... er, boys in the middle of the cabin kitchen ....). Your blog was one of the first I added to my blog roll!

Kathryn - I found you on the Pioneer Woman. Just the very name of your blog got me interested in reading it. You make me laugh out loud every time (and you make me simultaneously want boys and thank God that I don't have any boys).

"June Cleaver" - I was hooked the first time I saw your delightful illustrations!!! You have another one of those laugh-out-loud-until-I-lose-control-of-my-saliva-and-drool blogs.

Tanya - You inspired me to blog in the first place. And, now I get to talk to you on the phone every day and read your blog that takes forever to download on my computer.

Wright - Haikus and photos of baby's feet. What more could you want in a blog?

Julia - I floss every day, too!!! Another laugh out loud blog that makes me snort in the middle of the night while trying to avoid waking my sleeping cherubs.

Kara - Snakes and tornadoes and a house full of girls. Sounds familiar ...

Holly - When I saw your Mother's Day photo, I called Tanya to make her go look at it! Too funny!

Okay, everybody! Tag, you're it!!!

THEY'RE GROWING UP

I don't usually like to think about my girls growing up. I get a little lump in my throat every time I have to pack away clothes that are too small.

But, then there are days like this when my cherubs being a little bigger definitely has it's advantages ....

IT'S NOT THAT HOT 'N' HUMID ...

... So, here are some more pictures of our humble gardens. There's Big Daddy, surveying the watering of the corn garden with his enormous, industrial-strength, tripod sprinkler. Big Daddy used to water our little, suburban, .2-acre lawn with this. "If a little bit's good, a whole lot more's better."



And, neighbor Doug saunters over to assist Big Daddy in the watering surveillance.



Check out the size of our squash and cucumber plants! They're doing the best out of all the veggies, I think.



Here is one of several yellow squashes (or, is "squash" one of those words that is both plural and singular - like "deer" and "fish"?).




And look at the size of this zucchini! Can you believe I didn't even notice it until today?



I will have to show you our tomatoes and beans when I'm finished weeding them. It's a bit embarrassing to show you how woefully neglectful I've been of the weeds.


Oh, and that Ichiban eggplant? Grilled with balsamic vinegar and EVOO - thanks Mama Changa!

OUR FIRST CROP!

Okay, so it's just one Ichiban eggplant, and it's about the size of a banana.


But the rest of the plants are coming along wonderfully! When it's not so stinkin' hot 'n' humid outside, I'll take some more photos. (Lots of apostrophes ...)

And so, the question of the day: What do I prepare for my family with my lone Ichiban?