I haven’t written a lot in January, because life has been uneventful, yet happy and busy. So here is a happy picture.
Three Months
It’s been three months now since Peter was born. I’m loving him more every day, and getting used to doing things one handed. He’s growing as much as ever, and started to outgrow some of his 6 month clothes. He’s also started to try to grab things which is really cute because he has no hand eye coordination. I’m getting tired of winter. I really really really want to go outside…and not in the cold and smog. Joe and I did go ice skating. They have an outdoor rink in the park by my house. This is my fourth winter in Logan, and the first time I heard about the ice rink. At least I know about it now. We went, and had lot of fun. I did not fall, at least not on accident. Joe did. But he was also skating much faster then me. I was very cautious.
So at a recent Braithwaite gathering, I took some pictures of Peter and his cousins. They are six and seven weeks in the picture. It’ll be fun for all the cousins to grow up together.
One of these thing is not like the other…
Life isn’t too bad.
Blogging
I started this blog and website as a way to still be involved in horticulture when I am a stay at home mom. But I have discovered several dillemas that is hindering me somewhat.
First a foremost, this is a gardening blog, and I don’t actually have a garden. That means there’s a little less to write about and take pictures of. Someday, I will not be living in a rental and have a yard. Right now, I do have access to a community garden, and I have my wilting house plants. I think I will also start some plants outside on the balcony when there’s not snow outside. (and I’m lucky to have a balcony). But then I will be moving in May or August, which might just ruin the chance I have to do anything next growing season.
Second, I do not have any blog followers. How do you get followers? I’ve been going off of “if you build it they will come,” but I doubt with the huge amount on the internet it will work. I’ve come up with two ideas, that I’m slowly working on. A)Comment on other people’s blogs and follow them. B)List blog in directories. I still don’t know if I will get people here, and with no one reading its little motivation to write. Also I am beginning to realized that there are a lot of gardening blogs out there. It’s hard to wade through them all and find the ones I like.
Lastly, it’s hard to get anything really done with a baby. But he’s cute enough it’s worth it.
Increasing Drainage
I was reading another blog today, and came across the advice to put gravel at the bottom of a planting hole to increase drainage. It makes sense–gravel has better drainage then clay, so put it at the bottom of a hole and its gotta help.
Well several soil classes, and a job at the extension service have taught me differently. It’s doesn’t help at all: it makes it worse. I’m now going to explain the science behind it. If you want to just trust me you can stop reading.
Soil texture refers to the size of soil particles. Clay particles are small, sand particles are large. Usually, across a soil profile there is little difference, or a very gradual difference in soil texture.
Now move into an urban soil. We disrupt it so much, many times there are drastic changes in the soil texture. That drastic change is made when we put gravel at the bottom of a planting hole. When there is a change in soil texture like that, and you procede to put water on it, an interesting thing happens. Say you have a clay soil, and then a layer of gravel. Instead of the water draining into the gravel, it collects in the layer of soil until all the pore space is filled with water. The water collects in the clay, not drains in the gravel. Once it does spill over into the gravel layer, the gravel layer also will collect water until all the pore space is filled with water before spilling out to the next layer of soil.
Confusing?
To get a better idea, imagine a sponge next to anything that isn’t a sponge. You put water on it, and it doesn’t start draining until it is absolutely full. Same concept with soil: the gravel acts as a sponge.
There are ways to get better drainage, and gravel is usually involved. The key is to allow drainage from the gravel layer, usually by a piper or other method. This site has some good illustrations.
Book Review: Temple Square Gardening
I read this book a while ago, and really quite enjoyed it.
I’ll give a little bit of background behind Temple Square. It’s in the center of Salt Lake City, and refers to the area surrounding the Salt Lake Temple belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Most of the gardens are roof top gardens and raised bed areas. They are most known for their annual flower beds. This book is the best that I know of to learn more about annual flower bed design. No longer do you have to place annual flowers randomly in a bed–they have a simple method to make beds look spectacular.
The method first involves the use of a skeleton, taller plants that follow a curve. Next are the accent plants that flesh out the design curve, these are less upright, but still prominent annuals. The bed is then filled with lower ground cover type plants. Finnally, sparkle plants can add a little extra interest.
If you love annual flower beds, or need more information on raised gardens, this is a great book to turn to.
Snowshoeing, Christmas
Winter has come with full force. A couple weeks ago we went snowshoeing up Card canyon with Dillon and Heather. Peter came along and did wonderfully–slept most of the time. It was a nice easy trail, none of the steep slopes and dangerous descents that I’ve been on before. I don’t think Peter would have liked that.
Christmas was wonderful–although I had a massive headache on that day. I received lots of fun presents, and I think everyone liked what I gave them. Favorite presents include a salad shooter from my mom (I don’t have to grate cheese by hand! I hate grating cheese), and a way cute watch from my sister-in-law. I gave Joe a ukulele, and he seems to enjoy it. I bought Peter a new church outfit for Christmas, and here he is all spiffied up with his Dad. 
Very handsome men if you ask me. I’ve putting in a video of Peter playing–he waves at the end. I’m not kidding.
Congratulations
Joe graduated this semester. I’m very happy and proud of him. I know too many people who take way too long to get through school–but my husband is done with his Bachelor’s. We are planning on going to grad school in the summer or fall so Joe can be a physical therapist. All done applying to schools, just waiting to here back.
Joe also has a new job working grave at Icon doing assembly line. Not the most exciting–but he’ll make good money and it will only be for a few months. Peter had his two month shots and did wonderfully. He is also starting to sleep at night better. Only woke up once last night to feed him. He is crying less, smiling more and still growing tons.
Christmas Time is Here
It’s been a great week. We put up our Christmas tree, outdoor lights, and wrapped presents. The next day we had a ton of snow, so its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. On Sunday, Peter was blessed by his Dad. It was a very sweet experience. Afterwards, we packed our apartment with all the relatives. I wasn’t quite sure we could fit everyone, but it worked out pretty well.
Peter is happier and less fussy, which means I have more time on my hands and I’m not so much on edge. He also is sleeping not too bad at night–I’ve gone from getting up three times to getting up twice. The best thing is he recognizes me and smiles at me. I love the fact that he calms down and cheers up for me.
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- If you chance to meet a frown
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- Turn it upside down
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- Blessing Day
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- Candy Tree
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- Chillin Out
Smiles
Peter is smiling at us. In the mornings, after he wakes up and eats, I’ll lay him down on the floor and he kicks and moves his arms and is just as happy as can be. It was where I got the first really good smile from him.
Working…
This is from an article about crazy google interview questions. I figured this out.
You have eight balls all of the same size… …7 of them weigh the same, and one of them weighs slightly more. How can you find the ball that is heavier by using a balance and only two weighings?
Have fun.
So I was thinking this morning, and realized something. The harder you work, the easier things get. For instance–if you study hard for a test, the test is easy. And if you put your laundry away right after it’s done, you don’t have to later iron. Anyway–it made me motivated to do better.
We went up to my Grandparents yesterday and had lots of fun. Peoa is always a fun visit.
This morning, I was feeding Peter at 6:00, hoping he would go back to sleep. Instead he decided to poop a ton. I went to change him–and he went so much it had escaped his diaper. I decided the onsie was a goner, so instead of pulling it over his head and getting poop all over baby, I cut it off. I finally got him cleaned up and in new clothes. He was quite awake by this time, and as I was playing with him he spit up quite a bit all over his new clothes. I decided just to give him a bath. After that and a lot of time with the binky, he did go back asleep.
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