Growing

Remember four weeks ago when I said this year was the last time I was going to try starting seeds inside?  Well.

 Knock on wood... they seems to be thriving.  How or why we just couldn't say.  Our tomato plants look good so far.... Ive never come close to this result.

 Our peppers are still small.  But they also look healthy so far.  We wont be planing outside until after May 25th.  We kinda feel like things maybe will work out...

 My herbs are growing...

 The whole tray is looking pretty good!  Dave asked that I try growing a jalapeno plant so that is the plastic wrapped square you see.  We will see how that goes.  Two outta three of the McMaths in this house are NOT jalapeno people... but I have been making Pioneer Woman's salsa almost constantly for the past two months... so our own jalapeno supply might be nice. 

 I'm also trying flowers inside.  The packet said to start them inside.  They all seem to be healthy and happy too.  The middle are the cock's combs that I am super hopeful will work.  

So in the kitchen is our table for growing stuff!  Its a daily thing for our family to gather round and water and see how things are going. 

 Also on the growing table... is a Praying Mantis egg nest thing.  We bought this for a few reasons.  First because Praying Mantis are awesome to have in your garden.  They eat bugs that would like to eat your plants and veggies.  Second we want Nathan to see the life cycle of the insect.  As I mentioned recently I will be homeschooling him next year.  I want him to have lots of real life science fun.  I remember watching our class Caterpillar form its cocoon then transform into a butterfly in second grade. 

The thing is there are probably LOTS of little praying mantis in there.  Like hundreds maybe.  We have friends and neighbors that will be getting a praying mantis so they can watch with their kids how the insect grows... and eats and all of that... then it can protect their garden also.  

I must admit that everyday I check it for signs of this happening I get a little nervous.  

  

 Also happening now that we have thawed the heck out is a lot of planning for all of that grass fixin we need to do. 

Its so lame.  See how pretty our neighbors green grass is?  These are our before photos. :(

the white flag

 I don't mean to sound dramatic... But I can't take this no mo! 

 Rapid City has gone from famine to feast in the moisture department.  Over 40 freaking inches THIS MONTH!  

 I'd wave the white flag...Giving up hope of spring... But I think it would be camouflaged by the white that is everywhere. 

 It's just that I think that this is NEVER GOING TO STOP.  And we have been cooped up in our house together a lot lately... and sometimes that's great... but sometimes I'm ready to scream!  

(One time while visiting family in Michigan last summer Nathan woke up on the wrong side of the bed, which is really rare for him.... There was a big breakfast.. pancakes, bacon, and strawberries... I was still waking up when I hear Nate yell, "I HATE YOU GUYS!"  and he stomps back to is bedroom.  I was surprised to hear my cherub say something like that... I walk out to the dining room and see my mom and Dave both eating breakfast.  I ask, "What was his deal?"  My mom smirks and Dave shrugs and says, "We asked him if he wanted bacon and strawberries."  It was such a disproportionate reaction, it was hilarious..... but that's the way I start feeling after being stuck in the house with these lovely wonderful guys for so ding dang long)

Atleast if we were to have long weekend after long weekend and it was nice out we could be in the yard... throwing the Frisbee.... practicing tee-ball.... working in the dirt.

 I want to plant my garden....

... And see buds on the trees....

come on spring!  

How I clean my Dyson

I have a Dyson.  I love my Dyson with all of the house cleaning part of my heart.  

 When I first got my Dyson Ball I would start humming that line "There's something in the way she moooves" while I was pushing her around furniture and toys.  So I like to keep her clean. This is how I clean my vacuum canister and the cones.  Because the cones get a build up of gunk in there.  Its like an ultra fine powdery dust.... and its icky.  

 First I do the basic filter A cleaning.  

 Sick

 Rinse.  Then set it to dry just like the illustrations show.  NEXT is the part I have made up.  As far as I know Dyson does not have ANY instructions.  This process hasn't harmed my vacuum in anyway.  But try it at your own risk.  There are lots of You-tube videos on the topic..(and I think those people do a crappy job)  

 Separate the cones from the canister.

 Rinse the canister clean.... I use my mrs meyers dish soap for this part.

 Now the cones are tricky... and you can see the dirt in there!

 You will have to remove your 5 screws.  My simple 'woman' tool kit has a screwdriver thinger thing that fits this weird type of screw.( ask your hubby he probably has one)

 Now take this black foamy thing off carefully.  Gently rinse it. set it aside to dry.  

 Now I rinse this top part.

I use a soft rag to clean in those holes.

 Then its time for the cones... there is some serious junk in there

 And in the other end too.  

 Just start rinsing warm water through.  Gently shake while you rinse and you will see big clumps of dirt come out. 

 This is the trickier part to rinse.  I think it takes a good five minutes of rinsing and shaking to get all the dirt out...

 really shake!

 The biggest struggle is rinsing behind the plastic part that doesn't have holes.

 See in the cone the darker shading???  That's more dirt.  KEEP rinsing.

 Finally CLEAN

 CLEAN

 Wipe the silky dust off the screws with a dry towel!  I think that is the riskiest part of this process.  You would never want the screws to get wet and start rusting!  So watch out for that! K? Great!

 Now let everything dry.  I actually dry as much as I can with a clean towel... then let it air dry for a while also. 

 AND DON'T LOOSE THIS PART- You'd be up poo creek!

 To reassemble.... Get your canister.

 Set that foam disk thing back on there.

 Set the cones on there.

 The you have to get that little red part back in there before you screw it together.

 Put your screws back in.  tighten

 Now you are ready to put the cones back on the canister.

 Line up the red thingers.

DONE! 

I have done this four or five times in the two years I've owned my Dyson and I've never had a problem.  Try it at your own risk ;)

The Last of April Snow Photos

During one of the days we were cooped up at home we went outside to play.  I heard a lot of kids complaining it was too cold.  But the wind had stopped, the snow had almost stopped, and the sun came out.  So we went out too!  

 The love that Bonnie has for the snow is not normal in my opinion. She gathers snow clumps on her body, and yet she does not care.  She wants to play.  She wants to stay outside.  She wants to run and romp and spring in the snow F-o-r-e-v-e-r!  

If her man is willing to throw snowballs its EVEN BETTER!  

Even though the ball will disappear when it hits the snowy ground....

She still tries to catch them....

 And when a human goes down all canines want to pounce and lick and keep them down.  Even Anna got in on that action... her main strength in this scenario is she will just start humping your leg... and you will have the darn-est time getting up.  

Our two feet of snow is slowly melting... that is so welcomed for our drought stricken ground.  This is just what the weatherman ordered for our prairies and black hills.  We hear forecasts of rain and snow in the coming week, and we will take it!

I'm just so happy our family makes memories like this!
Also.... I whitewashed Dave ;)