Inch by Inch, Row by Row

I planted my very first garden. Justin has done it a few times, and mom always gardened, but I've never before had much interest. I'm starting small, just a little 4'x8' bed. Texas Edible Landscapes, aka our friend John, made the box for me. At his advice I added lava sand, rock phosphate, cotton burr compost and organic fertilizer. Justin and his G-Dad helped me plant yesterday and set up the drip irrigation. I planted tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, and some herbs.

Jonas planted watermelon and cantaloupe:

and Betty planted green beans.

Everything is covered up now; it may frost tonight. Poor little baby plants look small out in the cold and wind. I hope the little buggers don't die yet; that would just be depressing.


Wish me luck.

...

It's twins!

June Carter Cash had her babies. Twins, a boy and a girl.

She's boarding for Christmas, so sadly they were not born here and will spend their first week away. But they're at a good home. Go here for pictures.

Snake in the Pantry

You've heard of Snakes on a Plane, but now I bring you....

Snake in the Pantry.

I kid you not.

Sunday night, I was getting ready for a bedtime snack of waffles (I know). I pulled out the waffle iron and then.....gasp:

See it? Look closer:


It was coiled up behind the waffle iron, on the knife sharpener. Scared the pee out of me.

I did what any self-respecting, capable and competent adult woman would do.

"Honey, there's a snake in the pantry. You have to get it out."

Y'all, my husband is a brave man. He really is. But....not so much in the snake department. Justin was, shall we say, a bit apprehensive about fetching the snake for me. My mother-in-law was there, and she also was completely useless. (I love you guys, I really do. Even if you are useless when there's a SNAKE IN THE PANTRY.)

I should clarify. Justin was willing to get the snake, but not in a manner that I was willing to endorse. He was all ready to get the hoe and start chopping, but I put my foot down. I will not, WILL NOT clean up snake blood from all over the inside of my pantry. I WILL NOT have hoe chops and blood stains on my new wood floor.

Hubby was less than enthusiastic about my proposal of BBQ tongs, so I was on my own.

Let me tell you, I got that bad boy. I was already in my bathrobe (see "bedtime" above), so I added boots and the one leather gardening glove that I could find:

(disclaimer: This picture is a reenactment, taken after the fact. Note the carefree laugh.)

I pinned him once with the tongs, but he wiggled out. He then proceeded to crawl all over the pantry, in and out of drawers, eventually settling in the corner behind the crock pot. When Justin pulled out the crock pot (with a ten foot pole), he coiled and hissed at us. Eventually I managed to pin him down with a drawer that I yanked out on his head and grabbed him with two pairs of tongs and threw him in the trash can. He was jumping around in there like crazy, trying to climb out, while I ran across the kitchen with the can, trying not to fall down in my cowboy boots. I kept knocking him back down with the tongs, and yelling "Open the door! Get out of my way! Open the door!" I threw the whole can out the back door, where the kitty Tiger took him down with relish.

Looking back, we probably could have killed it with a hoe without too much bloodshed. Maybe we'll try that next time.

...

oh no you didn't

Yes, that's a mouse hole.


I don't know what else to say.

...

Kitty in my pocket

yes, that's a bathrobe. don't judge me.

Here kitty kitty

Thanks to The Kramers for the newest additions to Hyde Family Farm. We're hoping these will help with the rodent and reptile situation. (We saw another mouse on Saturday and picked up these kitties that afternoon). They will be barncats, not housecats. I'm gonna need some willpower on that one, though, 'cause gosh, they're cute. I had three orange cats forever at home (Alfred, P-Sang, and GG, may they rest in peace), so I was excited to get orange ones again.

Name suggestions, anyone? Jonas' idea was Anyone, No one, and Someone.

Pesky Varmints

Which would you rather have in your yard: rats or snakes?????


This is not a game. Apparently that's the decision I'm up against. Mom says that if we keep killing the rat snakes, we're going to have a rat problem. This author agrees with her and much prefers the snake. The crazy fool actually put one in his attic as a mousetrap! The snake is not poisonous and barely even breaks the skin if it bites, or so they say. Rats, on the other hand, break the skin and carry disease.



Please vote in the poll to your right. And pray for spiritual discernment the next time I see a serpent.

...

chicken express

Look what mama did

I just killed a snake.

No, YOU shut up!

Pick your jaw up off the floor. Here it is:




I know, right???

We came in late from Mamaw's house. Daddy's out working tonight. Duke was barking his fool head off, and growling. I went to see what the ruckus was about, and lo and behold, this monster. Well, ok, a chicken snake. But still.

(It is a chicken snake, right? If anybody knows anything about snakes, let me know.)

I pulled on my cowboy boots over my capris and found the hoe in the garage (had to ask Jonas where Daddy keeps it). It took me about 35 chops before I hit the darn thing. Oooh, the way they move is so scary. ::::shudder::::

I'd better do some target practice with the hoe.

On a brighter note, while the kids were camped out at Debbie's, I found the very earrings I've always wanted:



(Debbie, if you're reading this, I really did run the errands I told you about when I asked you to babysit. It's just....well, this cute little boutique was right next door, and....um, thanks for watching the kids. Happy Mother's Day.)

Free taco to anyone who notices what's missing in the above picture. Or catches the quote from Corduroy.



In case you're wondering what I do all day around here.

Wouldn't want to leave Daddy out. Here's the snake he killed yesterday:



Yep, that's right, two snakes in two days. Right in the backyard. We have a bit of a situation.

Justin graduates tomorrow. Round of applause, please.

OK, well, welcome to my blog. Thanks for stopping by. I'll try to make it worth your while. Goodnight.