Spring Seeds

 Most of our snow has melted recently.  We are enjoying sunlight until well after 7 pm, and recently a few nice-ish days.  I've had visitors checking in several times a day to see if I've filled my feeder.

The yard is a mud pit which makes the in and out, in and out, in and out of the dogs even more annoying.   Bonnie is a sad thing when I tell her she can't go back outside 5 minutes later. 

Since its springy and I have this awesome app telling me I should start my seeds I decided to get on that this morning.

If you have a iPhone and are going to do a garden you should look into it! You tell the app where you live, what you want to grow and it sets up a planner telling you when its safe to plant outside depending on the vegetable, and when to start seeds inside!  Hot Dog!  Isn't that smart??

So, this is my last shot at starting seeds inside.  If this flops I'm not doing it ever again.  Last year Bonnie knocked down my healthy 3 or 4 week tomatoes..... We tried one year in New Mexico with no luck.  If this doesn't work I'll just buy the dang plants at the greenhouse!  I'm trying this potting mix this year.  *fingers crossed*  

The directions said to put it in a container and water it until was moist... I didn't seem to have an appropriate vessel, so I used a kitchen bowl.  I didn't want to use the bucket we use for mopping and washing the car.... I think I need to look into some gardening gear.  

Once the soil is moist then you fill the cups half way.

 I thought it was smart of me to label the cups BEFORE I sprinkled the seeds in so I wouldn't forget which ones had what.  Ask me how I knew that would be an issue for me.....

I had the seeds ready 

Nate helped.  He sprinkled the seeds.

He follows directions really well and was happy to be part of starting the garden.

 Some of the seeds were really tiny!

  Good thing we had a magnifier!

 After we covered the seeds with dirt Nate misted the tops.  The veggies were done. 

 I got a tray set up for some flowers and Nate told me we were going to need a LOT of dirt!

 "Like a bag THIS big Mom!"

 " THIS HUGE!"

The flower seeds were tiny, so I put them in the cups and covered them up...

 .....While Nate and Bonnie ran around the house like crazies until Nate wiped out and was hollering....

 "I can't get up! No Bon! I can't get up!"  But then he got up and they started running around again.  

 The seeds are sowed.... we will see what happens!

Spring Clean-2

My first flowers are coming up on my shamrock!

 The weather still isn't very spring like.  Its been COLD... but the forecast today is a high of 43 which is a big improvement from the past few days. 

My cleaning arsenal.  

 I cleaned almost all day yesterday!  I was still in my pjs sweating and cleaning at four when Dave got home.   But he didn't dare comment that I was still in my jammies since I was covered in dust and obviously hadn't been sitting on the sofa watching soaps all day.  Smart man.

before

after

I did straighten up the coat closet.  It wasn't really messy, just it's normal Dave and Nate just toss crap in there state.  But I did straighten up our scarf/mitten baskets and tidy up.  Hopefully soon I'll be able to take the 5 winter coats out and the mitten baskets out and make room for outdoor toys like bubbles, water guns,  chalk, and Frisbees.  

I did cover the closet shelf, which felt productive!  

So with the living room and entryway done I decided to start in the kitchen!  I told you yesterday that I cleaned the dishwasher first, which was gross but a quick job.  Then I decided to start the fridge which was terrible and I knew it.  I'm sorry if you have eaten here and telling you this grosses you out.... But I don't think I cleaned the fridge when we moved in... Probably because I knew I was going to have to clean the fridge at the townhouse and I ain't cleaning two fridges in one month...But lately I've been noticing stuff like this.....

   

And I've been wondering if that's been here since we moved in.  NOW WAIT.  If your gagging please..... its not like my fridge is even on the same scale of nasty as the crap I see on hoarders....

So I spent hours seriously cleaning the fridge... like the way I would to pass a housing inspection.  So now I know its realllly clean.  

I vacuumed underneath which was a jackpot of crazy dust. Pulled out the fridge and sucked up the dust bunnies underneath... mopped the dusty floor under there too!

 My attachment got clogged and that says something because I have a Dyson ....even if there was part of a mini flashlight in the tool via Nathan.

Considering it took hours to do the fridge I didn't get much else done.  I cleaned the stove-top and I dusted the cabinets.  The ridges were really dusty all of a sudden, it was bazaar.....but they are clean now!

I also cleaned this mess!  PTL

I want to wipe down the cabinet shelves and inside the drawers this week.  I would like to remove the old lady shelf paper.  Because you know its like..... someone else's shelf paper and that kinda creeps me out.

   

Here is how Martha says to clean your fridge.... I do it the same way of course!(but I used Bon ami on my glass shelves because the grime was so bad... and it hasn't scratched yet!  LOL (that's Bon Ami's catch phrase)(Martha uses Bon ami!))

Spring Clean

 It isn't too 'spring' like over here yet.  

our south dakota spring

But since its nearly April and since I'm going to take my time this year I decided to started my spring cleaning anyways.  Before I had Nathan I would spring clean the whole dang house in a week.  Just totally bang it all out!  I don't think I can do that anymore.(and stay sane)  My goal is to have every room done within 30 days.  So I started on March 23rd, and I want to be finished by April 20th or so.  I think it's doable and relaxed.  

On Saturday I couldn't take the dirty carpet anymore and I just started clearing everything out so we could shampoo the carpets.  We still want to replace the carpet someday, but it definitely helped!  And hopefully I relayed to Dave that he is NEVER allowed to give three boys popsicles inside this house and let them roam around freely ever again.  The carpet gets really rough with the dogs' muddy feet as it is!   

 Nate got in on the cleaning action too.  Cleaning his desk was way fun for him, and it was getting grubby.... I think there was jelly on it??? I hope it was jelly!  

 While the carpet was drying I went through the living room and entryway cabinets....purged the junk, dusted and reorganized.  Dusted the living room lamps thoroughly ... washed the living room curtains, dusted the pictures in the living room and cleaned their glass.  Since the baseboards have been painted very recently, I consider the living room DONE!  If I go through the coat closet today then the entryway will be done too!  

I did THIS today

Are you spring cleaning yet?  

Do you have one of THESE?  I love ours!  Worth every penny!

**Cleaning Fun Fact** 

Did you know you are supposed to pass over high traffic areas of your carpet 8 times!

Entryway areas 12 times!

All areas deserve at least 4 passes!

Think about this friends!  Before I read this I think I barely passed over everything twice at the most!  YUCKY!

Our Snowy Spring

I'm not sure whats happening around here, but lately it seems the weekends are always snowy! 

Last week it was really nice out.  In the 60's friends!  Birds were flying north.

 we started thinking about gardening.....

We cleaned out our front beds... and started thinking...

and plotting....

...and finally figured out how to turn on the garden soaker that was in the front....

Then..... the chance of rain.... turned into to maybe snow... then the snow took over our blue sunny skies....

And it didn't feel warm and sunny anymore   It snowed last weekend.  Great big wet snowflakes.  

Since most of our winter had snow forecasts missing us, this was a nice treat.  

During the week of the warm temps they had already put fire bans in place.  Its just been so dry.  We needed some moisture!  

And to think we were grilling just days earlier.

And we had been planning to get Bonnie shaved....

This past week was cold..... this weekend again looks like it will be snowy.  I would like spring rains.... but we will take any moisture we can get!

Thoughts

I really think its funny that when asking Nate to stand for a photo this is how he wants to pose..... 

Lots going on around here lately.  Nathan is doing really well with the skate lessons.  I will post a video later.  David already posted it on facebook, but since I'm fasting from facebook I'll post it here.... soon.

We have lots of stuff we are stewing over as far as our yard.  We need to plant mucho grass and keeping the dogs out of new grass(how??).... and putting in a raised bed.... finding dirt(where??)... deciding on chicken or goat poo  for the garden(neighbor does goat).... I want to put hostas in the shady corner.... and we have lots of grass to fix!  Did I mention we have lots of grass to fix.  Last summer sucked!! Beyond having two dogs it was so dry and the yard was dying when we finally closed on the house and we just couldn't get it back the way we hoped... it had started entering its dormant phase too dang soon........ and we removed this big ol shrub thing and it left a big dirt patch also... like hugenormous.....  This spring will be alotta work!

 Our family has also been seriously considering homeschooling next year.  By seriously I mean we've been talking about it since October.  I've read so many books and blogs and articles on the topic, I'm sold.  Its tough making a big decision like this though.  Right now Dave and my good friend Kristen talk me back into the idea often since they are both super 'yes' votes(so is Nate)....I still chicken out every other day about it since the pressure would be on me to succeed.  Plus I'm not sure how denim jumpers would look on me.... just kidding.   

My big issue is that I really will have a tough time with the criticism.  The "what about socialization" would probably make me want to cry.  The non supportive comments I've already got from the few people I've spoken with have already hurt my feelings.  I'm working on it.  The decision won't end up being about the comments or input I've received, but on what Dave and I think is best for Nathan.   

Since its warm and sunny today we are all taking advantage..... Anna's laying in the still brown grass, Nate is playing outside in the yard, I've been sewing, and Bonnie is watching out the window for anyone that might walk by.   We are grilling tonight!  Life on copperlane is good!! 

Want to come visit?  You can help water the grass....