July: Now We Get Started...

The grands went home to Tulsa yesterday morning (driving to the airport at 5:15 am was lovely), and we had the town fireworks last night (got home with the kids at 11:30pm) so I think July 2 officially qualifies as our longest day of the year. Screw the sun and all of that astronomical nonsense!
While they were here, Mom and I went and got 6 new chairs to go with the table we already have for outside, and found a nice outdoor seating set. Ordered that online to get the free delivery and CT tax (at the end of June it was lower than the NY tax, but as of July 1, I think it's all comparable).
The seating set should be here this week at some point, I hope.
Got the rest of the seedlings planted. I think we ended up with a couple of pea vines, four beet seedlings, and a bunch of healthy looking zinnias. Flowers went out front around the dogwood and in the bare spot by the grill, and the vegetables went in the garden. We'll see if any of that actually works!
Drama Queen's room is officially cleaned out, though there is still a pile of "saved" school work and artwork that needs to find a home. We'll go get the big expandable art folders this week.
The Boy's room is next for mass cleanout, and I have to go through my own clothes upstairs for giveaway and toss piles. Might turn some of them into soft rag ties for the tomato plants...
The Boy is hellbent on earning money this summer, so I have given him a list of chores and projects for which he can get paid. Hopefully that means I get plenty of extra help painting the bathroom when we get a decent (not roast-o-matic or rainy damp) day for it.
Raining today, hoping to start c25k and some South Beach tomorrow...

Father's Day

The rest of the garden is cleaned out and mostly planted. Rainman added more peppers, and there is room for whatever needs to be transplanted from the seedling box. I think we'll have to wait until August to try the spinach and beets -- those sprouted but keeled over in the hot weather we had right after they popped up.
The grands are coming on Tues to stay for about 10 days, and even though I have to work for 5 of those, I'm hoping to get a good jump on things while they are here.
The Boy is sporting a new buzz for summer (temporarily with a mohawk top, but that's going for go soon). Drama Queen is looking forward to swimming lessons, and I need to see about signing her up for dance class camp and/or art camp, depending on the times available.
Big Bertha's going to get a lot of miles on her this summer...

Garden done...

Rainman has always been in charge of the garden, but I've stolen that this year. Last weekend the Drama Queen and I spent about two hours at the Home Depot, getting everything we needed to tackle the vegetable garden and get flowers planted. I cleaned out about 4/5 of the garden, put down landscaping fabric, and planted regular and heirloom tomatoes, three colors of sweet peppers, basil and oregano. We planted seeds for peas and beets and baby-leaf spinach, as well as zinnias and sweet peas. They are coming up nicely in the seed-starter box. Rainman cleaned out the last bit of the garden and threw in some spindly looking corn he wanted to try and his usual hot peppers. We planted the pink and purple and yellow flowers DQ picked out, replaced the dead rhododendron in the front, and Miracle-Gro'd everything.
Watering every day has been therapeutic. Hopefully the landscape fabric will be the magical cure to weed frustration and hopefully lead to more veggies from the garden.
Also cleaned off the cement driveway/patio area between the back door, garage and garden/yard. I'd like to convince Rainman to buy a better table and chair set for out there as what we have now is a sad mishmash of pieces, none of which match anything.
We'll see.

2011... Another Summer's Goals:

Lather, rinse, repeat...
Well, obviously we have a clutter pattern in the house, as I have the same areas for major cleanout goals this year again: computer desk, dining room and closet, attic and basement.
Goal: Throw Shit Out.

I have curtains to hang in the master bedroom, and the kitchen drawers and cabinets need a good cleaning as well. Painting project this year is the upstairs bathroom, and if we get beyond that it will be a miracle.

Time is going to be harder to manage this year, though -- the kids are not doing full day camp, but are doing some partial-day activities around town. Lots more schlepping this year. I'm putting in my 3 days of summer work getting certified as a mentor teacher the first week we have off, and then I'm not doing anything but managing the summer reading website after that.

And of course there's the South Beach/c25k to be managed as well.