A Strawberry Almost

I posted the other day about our one lone tomato that we were able to harvest this year. We also have not had a single strawberry. I planted 25 strawberry plants. 17 of them survived the night. After that the plants seemed healthy and happy. They were soon covered with blossoms. Every day we checked for tiny little green strawberries. Eventually we started to see the tiny green berries. Then the next day, no berry. As soon as the little green berries were about 1/2 inch long, they were stolen. There were so many blossoms though that I thought it wouldn't be a problem. They will grow and soon we will have berries. As the weeks went on though it was the same thing. Nice blossoms, tiny green berries, and then nothing. Unlike the tomatoes that stayed on the vine until they started to turn red, the strawberries were gone as soon as they started to grow.

Friday I came home and parked at the end of the driveway. I saw a bird in the middle of the strawberry patch. He was working and working on something. Every once in a while I saw a bit of red pop up and then out of the bird's reach. I went out to check to see what the bird was working on. Imagine my surprise when I saw one beautiful large red half eaten strawberry still on the vine. Somehow this guy had survived long enough to grow and turn red. I'm so sorry I forgot to take a picture of it. I didn't want the bird to think he could eat out of my garden so I picked the strawberry and threw it out in the yard far away from the garden. I'm sure the bird came back to finish his treat.

Next year I am putting a net over my strawberry patch. I am planting marigolds all around my tomatoes. I'm going to fertilize everything this fall so maybe something else will grow in my garden beds. Maybe next year I will actually get something out of my garden for me. I guess this year is my learning curve. Hopefully next year will yield a few decent crops.

Updates on baby Sean

Just wanted to share updates on this little miracle baby. He is now up to four pounds at seven weeks old. Here is the link to updates and pictures.

http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/07/a-baby-sean-update-with-pictures-to.html

The Most Expensive Tomato Ever

We bought a house last fall.  I spent the whole winter looking forward to my first real garden in years.  I planned what I was going to plant.  I drew pictures of how I would lay it out.  I ordered seeds.  When it was warm enough I started bugging my husband to build the frames for my two raised garden beds.  Then we filled the beds with dirt.  Since it was still pretty chilly most of the time I only planted carrots.  The books all say that carrots can grow in February.  I was so happy when about a month later I saw the little 1/4 inch tall carrot plants.  Then another month went by and they were about 1/2 inch tall.  Now it's been four months and my struggling little carrots are about four inches tall now.  I pulled on today to see what the carrot part looked like.  It's there.  It's about 1/8 of an inch long but it does look like a carrot.  Maybe in another four or five months there will actually be carrots big enough to eat.

I started seeds indoors, but most of them did not grow right or at all.  When it got warm enough I planted these tiny plants in the garden beds.  They didn't look like they were going to do well so I went out and bought some plants.  Then I ordered some more plants online.  I put in 25 strawberry plants that said they would bear in June.  I was so pleased when I saw the first blossoms on the 18 plants that survived the first week.  Pretty soon there were tiny little green strawberries replacing the blossoms.  Then there was nothing.  Something had eaten all of the tiny little green berries.  About the same time I started seeing blossoms on the tomato plants.  Now these were all Amish heirloom plants that I had ordered because I knew they would be so hardy.  The tomatoes have all be growing very well.  One day I saw a beautiful green tomato on the Amish Paste Tomato plant.  I watched it every day.  One day it was starting to turn red.  I thought it needed a couple more days before it would be ready to pick.  The next day I went to check on it.  It was gone.  There would be others I told myself.  I had a dozen or so tiny little cherry tomatoes.  Some of them had a bit of yellow on them.  Some even started to have red streaks.  I watched as they slowly ripened so I could pick them.  One by one, just as they were about ready to pick, they disappeared.  Yesterday I found one little cherry tomato that was red and ready to pick.  I brought it in the house and washed it.  One quick chomp and it was gone.  But oh it tasted so good.  I grew that tomato.

So let's see now, I spend $50 to 60 for wood to build the frames.  Then we spent $120 for the dirt to fill the frames.  I spent about $35 on seeds that I ordered and another $20 for the little trays to plant the seeds in.  The plants that I ordered online came to about $60.00.  Then there was the $45 I spent at the plant store.  Add in all the time that my son and spent working in the garden.  Wow, how do you account for that.  And the water we used to water the garden during this drought. 

I still have some herbs that I will be able to pick and dry for the winter.  Not basil though.  The basil just does not seem to want to grow.  And the basil plants that I bought disappeared the day after I planted them.  Neither does the lettuce.  Now that is something I thought would grow anywhere.   I have a nice size bean plant but no beans on it.  My green peppers look exactly the same as they did the day I planted them.  Well, except for the holes that have been nibbled in the leaves. 

I think my garden this year is pretty much gonna be a bust.  This fall I will fertilize the soil well before winter comes.  Maybe that will help for next year.  I'm also going to invest in some marigolds and other plants to deter animal next year.  Oh well, such is my experience as a first year gardener.

So let's add it up:
Wood for the frames:   $60.00
Dirt to fill the frames:  $120.00
Seeds, and plants:          $160.00
1 tiny cherry tomato:     PRICELESS

Updates on Baby Sean

For updates on Baby Sean check out this post.

http://www.hybridrastamama.com/2012/07/baby-sean-is-growing-adorable-photos.html#more

I am copying a post about Baby Sean, born on June 10, 2012.  He needs help and I know some of you will be able to help him.  Here is the post from Hybrid Rasta Mama:

On June 10th 2012, Baby Sean was born. He is truly a miracle baby and both he and his family need our help.

From 2001 until June 2011, I was fortunate enough to have five of the most caring, uplifting, generous and supportive people caring for my grandmother who suffered from dementia. This family literally fell into our lives and because of their selflessness, my grandmother lived 94 wonderful years. Without the care and support she received, I doubt that my daughter would have had the opportunity to spend two years with a great-grandmother who loved her, even when she did not have a clue who she was.

Caroline was my grandmother’s main caretaker but her entire family (husband Tony and their three young children) did everything that my family could not. They bathed her, they cleaned up her bathroom accidents, they fed her nourishing foods, they told her stories, they took her to concerts, they took her camping, they took her to family events, and the list goes on. They lived with her 24 hours per day, 7 days per week with no time off. They embraced her and together, they become an expanded family.

After my grandmother passed away in June 2011, I not only mourned her death but I mourned the loss of my extended family. Although I knew we would keep in touch, it would still be different.

Fast forward to the end of May 2012. Caroline had been experiencing a headache that defied words. She decided to go to the hospital, knowing that something serious was going on. A short while after her arrival, she learned that she was 26 weeks pregnant and in a major health crisis. That headache was the result of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Both Caroline and her unborn baby were in serious trouble.

Caroline was put on hospital bed rest where a fabulous team of doctors and nurses did all they could to keep Caroline’s baby where he should be…in his warm, watery womb. Unfortunately, Caroline’s placenta was too thick, her baby was not getting nourishment, and his life was in danger. After his heart kept stopping, Caroline underwent an emergency C-section to save both her baby’s life as well as hers.  

15 days after walking into the hospital for a headache, Caroline gave birth to a 1 pound 10 ounce baby boy she and her husband named Sean Feleti Jeremiah Mokofisi.

Baby Sean is a miracle. He is a fighter. And he has a long road ahead of him. However, Baby Sean is already breathing well on his own, a miracle and something pretty rare for a baby only 28 weeks gestational age. He has had some significant health challenges since his birth but has fought through them with the help of a wonderful and talented team of doctors.

Baby Sean is not able to be held or breastfeed but Caroline is pumping milk and the hospital has been very supportive of her through this. They are also open to supplementing with donor milk, knowing how crucial breastmilk is to a premature baby.

Caroline has had some health challenges as she recovers from not only the C-section but the preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. However, she is expected to be released from the hospital soon. Baby Sean is not so fortunate. His stay will be quite lengthy.

This is where YOU come in.

Caroline and her family were already at a financial disadvantage before this incredible journey began. They work hard, they are generous people – giving to those even less fortunate than they are. They give everything they have to care for their children and give them the best life possible. But the economic cards have been stacked against them and the financial impact of such a lengthy and complex hospital stay for both Caroline and Baby Sean will be devastating to them.

Once Caroline is released from the hospital, she will have to travel 45 minutes each direction to see her baby daily. The cost of gasoline is going to make this near impossible. On top of that, Caroline needs to begin preparing for Baby Sean’s arrival home and literally does not have the resources to purchase the most basic of baby supplies let alone some of the special supplies a premature baby with Sean’s health needs might require.

Today we are reaching out to you. Could you donate $1 – just ONE DOLLAR – to help Baby Sean? Your donation will go towards clothes, cloth diapers, a car seat, and other premature baby essentials. In addition, it will help this beautiful family make the daily trip to bond with and bring breastmilk to their precious son.

If you aren’t able to donate, perhaps you know someone who could. In lieu of a donation, we are asking for help in spreading the word.

We know that in these tough economic times, it is difficult to know when to give and what cause deserves our hard earned dollar. This baby needs our help now! Imagine if this was your baby and all you needed was a little financial cushion so you could start your baby’s life out right?

Caroline, Tony, their entire family and Baby Sean are already deeply grateful, humbled, and moved to tears by the mere fact that we are raising funds to assist them in their greatest hour of need. So thank you for your help. It literally will make a world of difference in this family and child’s lives.

HOW TO HELP

To donate to the Help Baby Sean fund, please click the DONATE button below. You will be taken to Paypal where you can donate even if you do not have a Paypal account.

Together, we WILL be able to help Baby Sean and his family get off to the best start possible. Again, thank you and many, many blessings for your generosity!

Please do what you can to help Baby Sean and his family.  If you can repost this urgent need.

We really have a kitchen again.

I can't believe it, we really have a kitchen again.  We have a sink with running water.  The dishwasher works.  The stove is working.  We have a window that opens.  We even have cabinets up on the walls.  All I can say is thank you to my wonderful talented husband and the two friends who helped him do all the work.  All that he has left to do is to hang the range hood and then add baseboards and a bit of trim work. We also have a small piece of wallpaper to add. I can start unpacking boxes and putting things away as soon as I get over this dreaded summer cold.  Hopefully within the next few days I will have my home back in one piece again with no boxes standing around.   I hope to never eat another microwave meal again. 

We still have a few minor issues to clear up for the inspectors. but none of them effect the main floor of the house.  They are mostly in the basement and finishing off the window on the outside.  So here are pictures for you to admire.

 New window is all trimmed out and looking good. 

 The range hood will go where the wire is hanging out of the wall.  And the pantry is already fully stocked.

 Need to fill in the wallpaper here above the basement door.

 Sink has a small sink for food trash with a garbage disposal attached to it.  Then there is a dedicated filter water faucet on the far right.

 Fancy, smacy refrigerator.  I've never seen a Sub-Zero refrigerator before.

 I love the vinyl sheets on the refrigerator door.  I have them covered with encouraging quotes and music lyrics.  And they are dry erase so you can change them whenever you want.

It's beginning to look like a Kitchen

After a few weeks of not having a kitchen and living in total chaos it is finally starting to come together.  We finally got the first two sets of cabinets in and their countertops set in place.  The new refrigerator is in place as well.  Tomorrow the inspector will come tomorrow to inspect the window.  If she passes it we will be able to drywall the last wall and really finish putting it back together.  I really hope she passes it tomorrow.  This will be her third time here.  We have done everything she asked us to do so hopefully.....

This has been an experience.  And not a painfree one.  On Saturday I tried to help my husband move a cabinet in from the back porch as it was starting to rain.  We got all the way into the kitchen when I dropped it on my toe.  That threw me off balance and I ended up flat on my back on the floor.  Since my knees don't work very well it was hard to get back up.  I finally figured out what to do and my husband was able to help me up.  For a while I thought we were going to have to call a tow truck to get me up.

The really great thing is that I will be able to cook dinner on the stove tonight.  We will not have to eat microwave or bar b que.

Just a note to let you know we passed the building inspection.  We can now finish the drywall and put the rest of the kitchen together.  By the end of next week I should have at least a working kitchen if not a finished kitchen.