The Summer Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend. Aside from my 5 year old having this green snot nose thing and my 12 year old having a sore throat and fluish issues and me not feeling well on Friday we all were able to get out and enjoy the weather. The boys missed church today due to not feeling well but I was feeling much better by last night.

We were able to get a lot done this weekend.

Saturday, I ran to the garden center and bought my lettuce, spinach and broccoli and got them planted today. They are supposed to be cold crops but Rhode Island had unseasonably high temperatures (read 88 degrees in April) today so the cold crops did nothing but wilt when I planted them. My peas are doing absolutely nothing. No tiny sprouts at all.

My perennial gardens are doing very well. This is one of my favorite plants that my brother in law Kevin gave me. It's called European Ginger and the leaves are a lovely heart shaped.

My red Bleeding Heart is just starting to grow. Last year this plant was massive and stunning with all of its blooms. It was over 3 feet across.

We cleaned out my small pond that is just off the deck and divided and moved some of the hostas that I don't like. The deer make salad out of these anyway and chew them down to nothing so I wasn't really losing anything. We dug out the whole clump and threw it along the property line where the deer path is. I've planted several hostas along this path and the deer seem to appreciate the snack and then leave the rest of my gardens alone.

My Azaleas are in full bloom and a gorgeous shade of raspberry.

Our big pond is up and running along with both waterfalls. We have already seen many frogs and each year are blessed by two absolutely huge bull frogs who serenade us to sleep at night. The sound from the waterfall and the bullfrogs carries right into our bedroom window.

We love the symphony.

AHHHHHH and the springtime Koi mating dance. It happens every April when my Koi dance around each other, and rub against one another in their springtime romance. We leave the water a little green to give them some privacy. Okay-no we don't-it's green every spring. The Koi feed on all the algae so we aren't in any hurry to kill it off.

Our dog Stewie love the weather but doesn't ever stop playing. We filled up the kiddy pool to cool him off. He had a great time.

Morgan and her BFF Gab kept cool by using a lovely paper umbrella. Sweet girls.

Morgan had a soccer game on Saturday and scored a goal! So very proud of her.

Warming up in line for the game.

We started free ranging our chickens but the hawks have been everywhere so they can only be out with supervision or else a nice chicken dinner for the hawks. Our dog Stewie can care less about them and we are working with him on herding them and keeping the birds on our property. He's doing well so far but does like to give them a bit of a chase...that is until the mean Rooster starts chasing him.

The girls hanging out by by my favorite adirondack chair.

Fat bottom girls you make the rockin' world go round.

We are heading to the zoo tomorrow to meet some friends and then maybe a picnic and nature walk. The weather is supposed to be glorious again so we'll take advantage of the weather while we can. We'll save our bookwork for the rainy days.