Happenings

Hey Kids!  I figured I would stop in for a little, hello-how-you-doing-I-can't-hear-you-cause-this-is-a-blog-so-I'll-only-talk-about-me. (NOTE: I actually could hear you, if you would leave a comment.  Then this conversation wouldn't be so one-sided and therefore boring.  Just sayin'...)

There are lots of things going on!  I finished my first semester of nursing school, and I passed all my classes.  This means I'm MOVING ON!  Yay!  One semester down, 5 to go...  My clinicals for this semester were at a nursing home.  We were each assigned a patient to do the nursing cares for during the week we were there, and I got THE BEST patient.  And no, I'm no biased. Everyone in my group told me that, even my instructor.  It was all a very positive experience and I loved it!  Yay nursing!

I am now working as many hours as possible which feels like a lot, but is still considerably less than 40.  However, shortly I will be working NONE of the hours because I will be out of town.  Where am I going?  I'm so glad you asked.

First, we're meeting up with my siblings and parents in Hilton Head Island, SC.  The vacation destination of my childhood.  Also... my happy place.  It will be beyond fantastic.  There will be swimming and beaching and game winning playing and ALL the good food.  I heard a rumor it might even rain tacos one night we're there.  If that's not exciting, I don't know what it.

Real Life with the Taylors: Vegetables and the Garage

Earlier this summer I was visiting family, and a few of them mentioned they enjoyed reading my blog.  Alyssa said "I really admire people that find the time to do things like that."  I assured her that the reason I do have time is because I don't clean my house or walk my dogs.  I shared this conversation with Cheri later, and was explaining to her that people only see the things that get done... not the 1,000,001 things that I don't do.  I don't have a clean house (like, ever), and I don't workout very often either.  Well we don't know that!  Just let us keep believing it! Was her simple, reassuring reply.  I could just show you all of the productive things that I do, and let you guys think I do ALL the things .  But I don't want you to think that!!!  Because I don't do it all, and I'm not pulled together at all.  I'm a mess, People!

garden tour in Honduras

The weather around here has finally warmed up (at least for now) and I am just itching to get into my garden.  I haven't really started any seeds or anything though, because I was starting to feel hopeless that spring would ever really come.

To hold me (and all of us) over until we get to experience the thrill of those seeds sprouting (seriously...such a rush) I'll take you on the garden tour in Honduras.

This tour was on a Sunday afternoon.  I didn't know the Spanish word for garden, so I had to try a few kids before one (Lisbeth) understood what I was asking and excitedly began the tour. 

Review and Preview

Amazing how time just gets away from you.  One minute you're enjoying your summer, blogging somewhat regularly, feeling sorta sane and rested.  Then you take a trip, start one too many projects, bite off more than you can chew (me?  no... never), and get kicked in the butt by obscenely hot weather for weeks, and the next thing you know, its the middle of August, school is starting soon (not that you care), and you have a whole summer you haven't told your faithful readers about!

Sorry.  I know you all have been sitting eagerly at your computers, day after day, just waiting to see more dumb pictures of my dog or my latest recipe.

Let's catch up, shall we?  Here are a few summer highlights.

Garden Tour & Birthday Flower

Sometimes...when I make my plans of what I would like to get done in a set amount of time...I plan too much.

And by sometimes I mean all of the time.

And by too much I mean way to much.

Raspberries, Herbs, and Other Exciting Things

A few weeks ago when I planted my garden, I did another little project using these little buckets I got at Ikea.  I think the pictures are pretty self-explanatory, so here you go.

Stages

My dogs are going through a stage where they are constantly barking to be let in or out.  As soon as they go out, they want back in.  They walk in the door and sit there and look out the door for something to bark at.

This & That

The measure of a good "this & that" post is the number of labels you can legitimately assign to it, right?  Let's see how good I am.

There's lots of stuff going on around here.  The most exciting is a secret project I am working on that I can't wait to finish and show you.  I'll give you a hint: it involves my sewing machine.  I'm super, super excited about it.  But don't get excited... its really not that exciting.  I get excited about little things.

Garden Roundup

I never got around to telling you how my garden finished out last season.  Since I'm sure you've all been dying of curiosity, here is a summary.

A Peck of Pickled Peppers

As the gardening season winds down, I periodically feel waves of panic that I need to be preserving what I can from the garden.   The only thing that really produced a preservable amount this year was my peppers.  I went out a couple of weeks ago and picked what was ready.

2011 Garden Tour

I figured that since the summer is mostly over, it was about time I gave you a tour of my garden this year!  Well, to be honest, this is the first time that all parts of it have been presentable enough to show off.  So here we go!

photo challenge day 28: flowers

photo challenge day 11: something blue

A brief re-cap for those just joining us: I am participating in this 30 day photo challenge.  I blame it on Kim and Chelsea.

Today's "assignment" is "something blue."

photo challenge day 5: from a high angle

As soon as I saw today's photo assignment, I knew just where to take a photo from a high angle-- the kitchen sink!  Isn't that where you usually go to get a good view?  Ok, maybe not.  The roof would be a better choice and that's what I was going to do, but it's stinking hot outside and shingles wouldn't exactly cool me down.  So I hopped up onto the sink.

clouds

Today my photo assignment was "clouds."  Here's how things looked around noon today:

Snapshots of my life right now

It's been a while since I've blogged.  Life has been kinda busy lately, and to be honest-- I would rather be in the garden than on the computer.

Another Near-Death Mum Experience

I am doing some in-depth scientific research to see how hardy mums really are.  I really put 'em through the ringer and see if they can take it.  It's totally on purpose. (Sarcasm)

Building a Raised Bed

I wouldn't call myself a "tree-hugger," but I do like to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Wasting anything just kills me.  If I can use it for something, I try to.

Seedlings!!

I started some seeds a few weeks ago.  I did my cool season veggies, since they can be ready to face the elements before some of the more high-maintenance foods.

Garden Plans

Holy jam!  Its the middle of February already!  Where did the time go?  It's seed starting season, and I need to get busy.