Thursday, October 4, 2012

Fall Garden

We've been anxious to get a garden going again at the new house since we moved a year and a half ago.  We've missed a couple of good planting seasons but finally hammered down the details with Mammaw and made plans for our first raised beds and first fall garden.  We've only done the spring-time, in-the-ground variety before.

Step 1: Build boxes for the garden.  We went with 2 beds that are 3x6' each.




Step 2: Draw up some plans (and perhaps do some extra coloring meanwhile) with Mammaw


Step 3: Unload over 30 bags of organic soil from Pots and Mammaw's farm (and climb on top if you're under 5 :))


Step 4: Lay down ground cover



Step 5: Fill the boxes with soil




Step 5.5: Take some cute pics



Step 6: Sow the seed in rows.  We planted kale, carrots, broccoli, lettuce, fennel, spinach, butternut squash, grape tomatoes and tons of herbs.  (The broccoli and most herbs were planted from small plantings instead of seed.)




And here's the end of September update (2 weeks old)...

Grape tomatoes:


Butternut squash:


Lettuce, fennel and spinach (fennel and spinach are only barely sprouting at this point):


Kale, broccoli and carrots:



Thank you SO much, Mammaw for all of your help and supplies!  We love tending our garden and are so grateful for your expertise and time spent with us.  Can't wait for the harvest!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Labor Day in the 'Nooga

We rarely have opportunities in the fall to travel much because of football, but several factors fell into place for us to head up to Chattanooga for Labor Day and we jumped at it!  As always, it was so comfortable, easy and fun to be there!

Snuggle bug on the way...first time she has really been great on a long ride!


First day of college football!  Gehr was in heaven :)


It was so much fun playing and eating with the Coopers, Owens and Carpenters :).  We so love and miss them in our daily lives!  And missed the Clantons that night while they got ready for Hudson's birthday party :(










Off for a hike at beautiful Rainbow Falls the next day...















And later, we had so much fun going to Hudson's party, visiting with the Clantons and seeing their new place, hanging out at the Carpenters for awhile, and then ending up with some adult time at the Owens.  So nice to refill our Chattanooga-friend-time tanks! :)



Finishing up with some sweet snuggling...so thankful for y'all, Coopers.  We love you and can't wait to see you again soon!  Thanks for having us!


On our way home Monday, we had a great visit with B's friend from childhood and his family and then got to see Bebe and the Pouloses in Marietta.  What a blessed and special weekend!  Wish we would've gotten more pics Monday...just have this cute one with Bebe :)


And yeh...a good long nap on the way home.  We all had so much fun :)