The Smith Garden has begun!

It’s that time again.  Time to get the garden in shape to begin planting. I can’t believe it is almost March.  And, where was our winter?  I am dreading the bugs!! 

Yesterday, we got it all plowed up.  Then, today Jeff ran the disc over it and we begun digging grass out.  You know, all the fun prep work!

It was the perfect morning to be out playing in the dirt. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take some pictures of our little helper.

Pickin’ the Garden

Hayden is such a great helper when it comes to picking the garden.  He especially likes to throw pick the tomatoes.  He actually calls them apples.  Every fruit/vegetable is an apple right now.  He is really great at driving his tractor out to the garden to run over all the plants pick up the vegetables. 

Then, he brings them to the house after bruising up all the vegetables because he has to make a few laps around the yard first. 

He takes his job very seriously.

Garden update and a couple of recipes!

Yes!  We do have  a garden this year!  We started  a little late, but I think we are going to be ok!  We planted tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper,  jalapeños, cantaloupe, okra, squash, and watermelon.   We have really been able to do a better job keeping our grass/weeds out this year.  Jeff uses his dad’s tiller about once a week between the rows and it keeps it nice and free of weeds!  Everything is starting to take off.  Particularly our squash.   I have been able to pick several this week.  I have also gotten one cherry tomato.  :-)  The flavor of the tomato was good, but the skin was really tough.  Any ideas why? 

Jeff also has a little “pet” tomato project.  A guy at his work brought back several of the tiniest tomatoes you have ever seen (about pea size) from Hawaii and gave some to Jeff.  They care called Hawaiian Currant Tomatoes.   Jeff dried them out and planted the seeds.  Now we have these beauties.

 

We have been working really hard on getting our St. Augustine and Bermuda grass to grow and fill in.  Just in case you are interested, here is a little landscaping comparison for you too! 

Before…

Two months ago…

Two days ago…

I just love that sweet potato vine!  I am a little (ok…A LOT) worried about grasshoppers eating all our plants!  They are already BAD!!!

The Back…Before…

Two months ago…

Two days ago…

Back flower bed…A couple of  months ago…

Two days ago…

Now, time for a couple of recipes!  I have never made squash casserole before but knew I wanted to eat some of our new crop tonight!  I used a combination of two of Paula Deen’s recipes.  Cheesy Squash Casserole and Squash Casserole.  I don’t think Paula Deen ever disappoints and she didn’t this time either as far as I am concerned!  :-)  I have realized that I am getting better at taking recipes and making them my own.  I am learning to take risks.  Small ones, but hey, they are risks.

Here is what I did…

Took about 4 squash and cut them up into pieces.  Diced an onion.  Satueed the squash and onion in a skillet with a little olive oil (about 2-3 tbs) and butter (1 1/2 tbs) until the squash and onion appeared soft. 

Then, I  mixed the squash mixture with 1/2 cup of sour cream, about 3/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese,  about 1/4-1/2 cup of fresh shredded parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic salt (didn’t have garlic powder).  Top the mixture with crushed Ritz crackers.   Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.  Mine made an 8x8 pan.  Yum, Yum, Yum!!

I also made Garlic Chicken.  Jen sent me this recipe a few years ago and I love it! 

Mix one cup herb stuffing mix (I have been using bread crumbs instead because that is what I had in the pantry), one cup of mozzarella, and 1/2 cup fresh shredded parmesan cheese.  Seperately, mix 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of milk.  Dip your chicken in the egg mixture then in the stuffing/bread crumb mixture.   Place in pan.  In a separate bowl mix 3-4 tablespoons of butter with a clove of garlic. Melt and drizzle over chicken.  Bake on 350 for about 30 minutes or until chicken is done.  YUM!! 

I can’t remember if I have shared it or not but another quick and easy chicken recipe is dip chicken in Dijon mustard and then into French Fried Onions.  Bake for about 30 minutes on 350. 

That’s all I got for tonight!  :-)

My body feels like Jell-O

The past two days have been fun-filled days of landscaping.  Pretty sure Jeff and I couldn’t move from our spots on the couch if we wanted to. 

You see…the back porch area under the awning needed something done.  It looked really pitiful.  Pardon all the junk.

 

So, we got some of this.  That is a lot of dirt folks!  And, 144 of those 22 pound stones. 

Yesterday (Wednesday) we started early with dirt work. 

Then, we dug out and leveled where our stones would go.  Then, we started setting stones.

Hayden thought they looked pretty comfy.

This morning, I set out on an adventure.  I pulled this trailer to town and back to pick up our sod by myself.  First time ever to pull a trailer anywhere other than a pasture.  On our winding road.  Took the corners wide.  Didn’t dive into one ditch.  Didn’t hit anything.  I was pretty proud of myself.  I guess my hubby trusted me and probably a good thing my brother in law didn’t know I was pulling his trailer.  He might not have trusted me.  Ha! 

We did a lot more dirt work.

Have you ever used a tamper?  It is the 15 pound thing you stomp the dirt with to pack it down.  I mean, if you would like to make your shoulders and arms burn like never before, go ahead and try it for about 30 minutes. 

Jeff got the capstones on while I made another trip to Home Depot this afternoon. 

And tonight, after Hayden went to bed, we finished up laying the sod in the dark.  Definitely the easiest part of the whole project! 

Now, tomorrow, we have more dirt work and another pallet of grass waiting for us. 

If. we. can. move. 

New Landscaping…

 

We have again, spent our time outside this “weekend”.  With Jeff’s new schedule, our weekend is in the middle of the week!  :-)  We got so much accomplished and really enjoyed our time together after we got our baby boy feeling better!  Monday morning Hayden slept until 10 AM.  I knew this was abnormal but thought it was because he was just worn out from playing and the lack of quality naps the past few days.  Then, that afternoon, Jeff, Hayden (in the jogging stroller), and I went for about a 3 mile walk and Hayden was not feeling so hot when we got back.  He was pretty lethargic and very clingy to his daddy.  He kept moaning and was quite warm to touch.  So, we took his temperature and sure enough it was 101.  We gave him a little Motrin and he seemed to feel better.  Well, he woke up in the night with a “different” cry and running 102.  We decided to take him to the doctor that next morning and sure enough he had a double ear infection.  Tuesday was a pretty rough day for him.   Luckily since then, he has been pretty much back to his old self.   So, we were able to spend the next few days outside doing some work around the house!  Lucky for us, we were able to do most of our “work” while Hayden was taking a nap.

We wanted to put in some new landscaping in front of our house.  So, that we did! 

We did a little dirt work…

We maneuvered these 25 pound stones (120 to be exact).  My legs are screaming right now!  Jeff did way more work than I did.  I am sure he was happy to be able to go to work tonight to get some rest!  Ha!

Swept some dirt…

Looked for bugs…

Found some bugs…

Oh yes…and did a little planting too!

Here is what all we planted…Yuletide Camellia tree, dwarf yaupon holly, dwarf nandina, loropetalum, fushia, impatients, sweet potato vine, hybrid begonia, and melting fire heuchera.  I really felt it hard to find things that took shade or mostly shade.   Now all we need is some mulch and for it all to get to growing!  We are going to put in a  retaining wall in the back  and we ordered two pallets of St. Augustine to fill in in the front and back for next week.  More back breaking labor.  Can’t wait!  ;-) 

I also did a little more painting to these pots! 

Before…                                                                                      After….

Last night we had us a little bonfire!  We had two piles that needed burning. 

While Hayden ate his dinner outside. 

He kind of likes to do that.

We had a great “weekend” and hope that you do too!