December 13th, 2010

As I reach the end of this year, I feel a little bit more retrospective than normal.  This year I’m really trying to think of the things that made me happy this year because I feel it was a pretty good year.  I think alot of it comes from having the project of the vegetable garden.  It was something I loved doing from April through November, which is a big chunk of the year.  It was something the girls loved and we got to play outside together in the dirt.  Being a stay at home mom is rewarding and I feel lucky to have the gig, but I can’t help but watch my brain turn into oatmeal at times.  I’m not the type to pick up books on the formation of icebergs or delve into the life of Andrew Jackson just to exercise my brain.  Even as a child, I didn’t like the learning field trips to the Old Courthouse about historical trials or the process of removing waste at the Metropolitan Sewer District (was a for real field trip in 8th grade, I’d rather sit in science class trying to pass notes than watch poop getting processed).  But gardening interests me and I think saved a couple of brain cells from atrophy this year learning the ins and outs, successes and failures.  Coming up with my 2011 New Years resolutions, 2 at the top of my list are to order specialty seeds from catalogs, then learn how to grow transplants from seeds with lights in our basement and learn the art of canning.  Who knows how either will turn out or if I’ll drive myself crazy with it all, but it’s fun thinking about it because every time I go outside I am faced with this:

It’s just depressing.  My playground is officially closed. But mother nature did throw me a bone.

The rosemary and sage is still usable, despite the blanket of snow.

I know in no time I’ll be taking pictures like this and I’ll be stressing about how in the world I’m going to use or give away these tomatoes, but hopefully canning will come in handy and at times like this I can go downstairs and enjoy a September tomato in January. 

Completely different topic, Sydney had her Winter Party at her school.  I was in charge of snack.

Krispy Kreme snowmen donuts!! And speaking of learning, you get to watch the donuts being made at the store.  That’s some learning I can be happy about.

She made an ornament for our tree and food for Santa’s reindeer.  Good thing, we don’t want Donner to go hungry in our zip code, I hear he gets low blood sugar fairly easily.