Author Archives: ditty

For the Love of Asparagus

IMG_0543Today we covered the bare ground with salt marsh hay. It smothers weeds and tracks less mud and dirt into the building. Peas, radishes and Swiss chard have sprouted. I cut 1 stalk of asparagus, broke off the woody end, and sliced the softer part for the kids to sample. Guess what! They ate my whole tiny asparagus patch! I think a family of bunnies would have left me at least one stalk. I LOVE IT!

Step by Step: How to Put in a Vegetable Garden

Yesterday morning, I built a fence around our vegetable garden. I put in a couple of rows of asparagus and one row of rhubarb last weekend. I just can’t wait. Therefore, the BIG toto-tiller could not be used. This forced me to use a small hand roto-tiller and I did the whole garden.

Step by Step: How to Put in a Vegetable Garden

      DAY 1

    • Find a sunny spot which you know can be reached with a hose.
    • Have it tilled first. Guess what! I did NOT do this due to my impatience. I planted asparagus and rhubarb. I then had to till the rest of the garden with a small hand tiller. But actually, I enjoyed it as I then “own” the space.

DAY 2

    • I purchased 4′ tall stakes and used string and a stake to mark out pretty straight lines. I then hammered the stakes in approximately 4′ apart. The stakes then measure 3′ up from the soil. Why so short you ask? This is a garden for children to enjoy as well as critters, too. I also put up some bamboo teepees and tied them with purple plastic gloves. Only thing I could find.

      preparinggarden
  • My next step will be to spread salt marsh hay between the rows.
    I will keep you updated and PLEASE get those thumbs GREEN!

TIP: The BEST time to work in the garden is early morning. Start around 7:00 as the light is beautiful, the air fresh, and the sun not so hot.

bambooteepees

Lunch with Two Red-winged Blackbirds

grassytrail

What a great day for a walk! We headed for the bridge by the soccer field where we rested and had a snack of grapes and crackers. We spotted two red-winged blackbirds who were enjoying the day just as much as we were.

 

 

All of a sudden the wind “kicked up” and along our merry way we went.
grassytrailwalkAfter reading two books to the kids while they ate their lunches, I did notice a lot of “sleepy little heads”.

Winnie the Pooh Would Approve

We have been so busy indoors with projects. I built and painted houses (12 to be exact; one for each child). Each child then decorated the roof and windows. We set up a village with cars, roads, and yards. The little ones had a great time pretending and creating.

I can hardly wait for spring and to be outdoors. The very first thing we are going to do is take the longest walk ever. I will pack a picnic and we can walk where it is not too muddy underfoot. We will then find a spot, share chitty-chat and our snack. We will reacquaint ourselves with nature. This is a plan that I think Winnie the Pooh would approve of.

For all your support and participation (as if you can escape my requests) thank-you. After all doesn’t everyone deserve A DITTY DAY?

Discussing Hibernation and other Winter Activities

The year has been pretty amazing. We have finished our website! Let me know what you think of it. I have published two books and I am in the process of publishing a third book which will become the first in a series of books about nature.

During January and February, we will be busy doing stuff. Since it is cold outdoors, it is a perfect time of year to discuss hibernation and create a den for a bear using a paper bag, some twigs, a cut-out of a sleeping bear and cotton balls glued to the bag to simulate snow. How cool is that? The next week we will build houses. This is where people and pets go in the winter to keep warm. In our next project, we will use our already gathered pine cones, spread them with Crisco (can’t use peanut butter anymore) roll them in bird seed, attach a wire or yarn and we have created bird feeders for our feathered friends. One week I will bring in all sorts of scraps of paper, ribbons, yarn, and with the addition of crayons, glue and scissors we will create all sorts of beautiful and one-of-a-kind get well cards. Oh, we read books, get outdoors when we can, write in our journals and do a bit of cooking. Have a wonderful New Year!

For all your support and participation (as if you can escape my requests) thank-you. After all doesn’t everyone deserve A DITTY DAY?