Jamaica Mon

The high school I went to / teach at recently started up a steel drum band. Well it happens I have a little steel drum to start training Blaine on so he'll be ready to join in 2024. ;) Plus the college I graduated from has the 3rd oldest steel drum band in the country. So no pressure on the kid or anything.....

P.S. Steel drums were actually invented in Trinidad if you were wondering! They were invented in the mid-1900's, making the instrument one of the newest if not THE newest instrument out there!

Blaine's Epic Potty Pause

*may be TMI so I'm warning you*

So I've read lots about EC and know that potty pauses can happen from time to time for various reasons. Luckily we've never experienced any until last week. I had to be on an antibiotic for 5 days due to a UTI (my first ever and it wasn't fun). Even though what they gave me was safe for breast-feeding, I had read that side-effects to antibiotics could include diarrhea in the baby. AND DID IT EVER. Blaine did a lot of pooping and almost always in his diap. Earlier in the week the poop seemed normal but for some reason went into diap and not into potty. As the week went on it got runnier and runnier. One day I think he pooped in 7 diapers and had the biggest diaper rash. Frustrating!

To top the week off, Nick was home for only 48 hours between week-long trips and he spent about 20 hours laying on the bathroom floor and 20 hours laying on the couch. He either had food poisoning or the stomach flu. Gah. Needless to say me and baby spent the weekend at my parents trying to stay clear of it.

Good news: we are still healthy and Blaine wore the same diaper from 7 AM until he went to bed tonight! Dry all day! YIPEE!!!!!! Here's to a new week and no more potty pauses. :)

PEAS TO THE EXTREME: how low can you go?

Following a few of your comments about peas, I thought I'd follow it up with a bit of research. I've always known peas can tolerate frosts and freezes, in fact the year before last we had frost on June 3rd (!!), so most of our garden goes in either in cold frames or polytunnels if we want it planted before June. But I was unsure how how low the temps could get with the peas still surviving.

This is a very interesting read!

AS LOW AS 10 DEGREES IF COVERED BY SNOW!! WOW!!

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/vegetable/how-low-of-a-temperature-can-peas-stand.htm

Family Tradition: St. Patrick's Day

This is a tradition of my husband's grandpa: planting peas on St. Patrick's Day. Snow, sun, rain, or hail, the peas must get planted!! Nick's grandpa died a few years ago but would be soooo proud to see Nick continuing the tradition and introducing it to a new generation!

Outdoor Fun

My last post wouldn't let me add pics so here they are in a separate entry. Who knew a broom could be so entertaining? And don't worry, I was right there watching to make sure Blaine didn't eat and choke on the hail. :)

Video: MOM'S IN TROUBLE!

Let's just call this video: "Mom Is Dead Meat".



And I said "holy freak" so don't think I was swearing around young Blaine. Largest hail I've seen here in awhile! The hail on the deck doesn't do it justice; the stuff in the yard was much bigger! I didn't mean to sound so overly dramatic, it is just that Nick has a very expensive truck. ;)


In other news, I went tonight to bell choir for an hour and a half and my babysitters reported that BLAINE TOOK HIS FIRST UNASSISTED STEPS!! I guess he took 2 steps and walked from holding onto my dad's leg to my mom. I believe it! He's been improving his balance exponentially lately and can even stand alone without holding onto anything for up to 30 seconds now.

Germination Station

Well got my germination station rocking and rolling now!! So far I've started marigolds, zinnias, lobelia, tons of varieties of tomatoes, broccoli, califlower, and some herbs. I use a heating pad on "medium" and that puts the temp about 85 degrees. The most intense things I have to germinate are of course my giant pumpkins. One seed I am starting this year is the 1161 Rodonis. A SINGLE 1161 RODONIS HAS AUCTIONED THIS WINTER FOR OVER $500. I received it free but it still puts the pressure on my ability to germinate the thing. I will do practice germinations before starting my pumpkins towards the end of April.

In other news, Blaine has been loving playing outside in this incredible weather we've been having (60's and 70's). Cold is on its way though with snow forecasted for later this week. :(