In 1992, I turned 18. Because Pennsylvania's primary was in May, I was able to vote in both the primary and the general election.
I remember how excited I was to be a voter and how seriously I took my responsibility. I can still remember sitting cross legged on the family room floor, the League of Women Voters Voter's Guide spread out before me, pen and paper in hand. I carefully read each candidate's positions and made a list of who I would vote for.
I believe I voted in a car dealership. My friend Taissia accompanied me to the polls. She was still 17, so she was very excited to watch her friend cast her first ballot. I voted for Bill Clinton.
After I graduated from high school, I prepared for college and kept a keen eye on the presidential race. I've always been a political junkie (I was a Jerry Brown supporter at one time). I watched the Democratic National Convention and felt inspired by Clinton and Gore. I even wrote a letter to the editor of the Harrisburg Patriot News, explaining why my ballot would be cast for Clinton and Gore. My parents, though they didn't agree with my political ideology (I'm much more liberal than the rest of my family), proudly cut my letter out of the paper and ran off copies to show to family and friends.
I started college at Penn State's main campus in August. George Bush made a campaign stop on Old Main lawn. I stood next to a man dressed as a chicken and booed loudly, even though I was nowhere near Presiden Bush. My roommate managed to get in the front of the crowd; she held up the Clinton Gore sign she smuggled in. After the rally, we hung it proudly in our room.
Since I coudn't travel home to Hershey to cast my ballot, my parents secured an absentee ballot for me. I sent my roommate out of our room (the ballot said it was to be filled out in secret, after all) and cast my ballot for Bill Clinton and Al Gore. I was energized and engaged, a voter in my first presidential election. I would remember this moment for the rest of my life.
On election night, we gathered in a floormate's room, popcorn and soda in hand. We were ready to ring in a new era. We could literally feel the world changing. As the results came in, we saw hope, we saw potential for our future.
Fast forward to this year. My hair is grayer, my chosen path a life in public service. I saw Barack Obama speak on Old Main lawn. I waited in line for 2 hours to gain a spot near the front. I was inspired by his message of change, his message of hope. He touched me in a way no candidate had done since Bill Clinton and Al Gore reached me as an 18 year old. I once again had hope for my country.
Today, I waited in line for 30 minutes to cast my ballot for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. As I did when I was 18, I cast my ballot for hope and inspiration.
Tonight, I sit here with tears in my eyes and our country again at a crossroads. I can see change coming, change that is so desparately needed. I see a country that will once again unite to take care of its own, to right its ship.
I wonder if there is another 18 year old who has been touched by Barack Obama in the way Bill Clinton reached me. To those newly-energized voters, I offer my congratulations. You voted in your first presidential election. Its a moment in time that will stay with you forever.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
I Am My Own Person
I was talking to someone about my garden this evening. I told this person that I planned on letting the front of the garden go to weeds for the remainder of the summer, now that the onions and the lettuce were done. I am going to just focus on hoeing and weeding the back of the garden, where my tomatoes and the watermelon plant are growing. I also told this person I planned on planting garlic this fall. I love garlic, so I'm excited to have it ready for use in the spring!
After I finish telling this person all of this, she says that since the garden is so much work, I should just plant grass in that area of my yard and be done with it. When I told her I intended to plant my garden again next year, she made some comment about how I wasn't really serious about gardening and that I shouldn't bother.
I AM 1,000 PERCENT SERIOUS ABOUT MY GARDEN!!!!!
I have found gardening to be a great way to relieve stress. I get great joy out of using my own two hands to grown my own food. I get great satisfaction from eating the veggies from my garden.
I can't understand why this person can't just be supportive of my gardening endeavors. This is not an altogether new thing for me. When I was in 5th grade, I somehow got a packet of carrot seeds. I planted the carrot seeds at the edge of our backyard, near the creek that ran behind our house. Needless to say, the carrots did not grow. When I lived in my apartment, I grew tomatoes in a pot. I have always wanted to grow my own food (and make my own cheese, but alas I need a cow for that).
This has become a passion for me. Its a lot of work, but it is very rewarding to me. I am already trying to figure out how to cut down on the weeds for next year. I'm also trying to plan exactly what I want to plant (I'm thinking cucumbers and zucchinis in addition to the tomatoes and onions). And I'm planning on planting my basil and other fresh herbs in small pots that I can keep in the kitchen during the winter. I just love fresh basil and can't imagine going back!
The best thing about every person on this planet is that we are all individuals. I am my own person. I happen to enjoy gardening.
After I finish telling this person all of this, she says that since the garden is so much work, I should just plant grass in that area of my yard and be done with it. When I told her I intended to plant my garden again next year, she made some comment about how I wasn't really serious about gardening and that I shouldn't bother.
I AM 1,000 PERCENT SERIOUS ABOUT MY GARDEN!!!!!
I have found gardening to be a great way to relieve stress. I get great joy out of using my own two hands to grown my own food. I get great satisfaction from eating the veggies from my garden.
I can't understand why this person can't just be supportive of my gardening endeavors. This is not an altogether new thing for me. When I was in 5th grade, I somehow got a packet of carrot seeds. I planted the carrot seeds at the edge of our backyard, near the creek that ran behind our house. Needless to say, the carrots did not grow. When I lived in my apartment, I grew tomatoes in a pot. I have always wanted to grow my own food (and make my own cheese, but alas I need a cow for that).
This has become a passion for me. Its a lot of work, but it is very rewarding to me. I am already trying to figure out how to cut down on the weeds for next year. I'm also trying to plan exactly what I want to plant (I'm thinking cucumbers and zucchinis in addition to the tomatoes and onions). And I'm planning on planting my basil and other fresh herbs in small pots that I can keep in the kitchen during the winter. I just love fresh basil and can't imagine going back!
The best thing about every person on this planet is that we are all individuals. I am my own person. I happen to enjoy gardening.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Itchy and Scratchy
I managed to pick up a nasty case of poison ivy. Apparently, it is growing in my front flower bed. I weeded the bed with my bare hands (dumb, I know) a week ago. I noticed these bumps, but thought nothing of it. On Thursday, the itching was unbearable and the bumps were starting to look like blisters. Having never had poison before, I consulted with a few people on my softball team and at work, who confirmed my suspicion.
The itching was terrible Thursday night. I finally sought help online. I tried just about everything, until I fell upon the best cure for the itching: a hair dryer. I turn the hair dryer on and aim it at my blisters. It produces this odd feeling of pleasure and pain, then kills the need to itch for hours at a time.
I went to the doctor on Friday, after I discovered the poison had spread to my face, neck and legs. I was given a prescription for some steriod cream and told I would have to get a shot if the cream didn't work. The doctor was not amused with my hair dryer technique and yelled at me for putting rubbing alcohol on my spots, as this will result in giving me excezma. Yum.
I'm hopeful that I've turned a corner, as the spots on my bad arm aren't nearly as bad as they were yesterday. The poison spread again to my chest, but I'm hoping that changing my towels after every shower will stop that.
Needless to say, I can't do any gardening until the poison clears up. I did tie some stakes around my tomato plants (I have 7 with tomatoes on them). I also noticed that my watermelon has little flowers on it. This apparently means that in another month or so, I will have watermelons. Yeah!
The motherload of onions are done. If anyone wants onions, please let me know. I have so many!
The itching was terrible Thursday night. I finally sought help online. I tried just about everything, until I fell upon the best cure for the itching: a hair dryer. I turn the hair dryer on and aim it at my blisters. It produces this odd feeling of pleasure and pain, then kills the need to itch for hours at a time.
I went to the doctor on Friday, after I discovered the poison had spread to my face, neck and legs. I was given a prescription for some steriod cream and told I would have to get a shot if the cream didn't work. The doctor was not amused with my hair dryer technique and yelled at me for putting rubbing alcohol on my spots, as this will result in giving me excezma. Yum.
I'm hopeful that I've turned a corner, as the spots on my bad arm aren't nearly as bad as they were yesterday. The poison spread again to my chest, but I'm hoping that changing my towels after every shower will stop that.
Needless to say, I can't do any gardening until the poison clears up. I did tie some stakes around my tomato plants (I have 7 with tomatoes on them). I also noticed that my watermelon has little flowers on it. This apparently means that in another month or so, I will have watermelons. Yeah!
The motherload of onions are done. If anyone wants onions, please let me know. I have so many!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Localvore
I have become a localvore. For those that are not familiar with the term, a localvore is someone who tries to eat as much food as they possibly can from local sources. I have been buying all of my produce from Harner Farms, a local farmers market that has the best produce around. Its open all week and is about 5 miles from my house. The food they sell is either grown on their farm or grown regionally and brought in for sale.
Today, I purchased a basket of peaches, a basket of string beans, two tomatos and a basket of blueberries for $12. At the grocery store, I would have paid $.99 a pound for peaches that were grown, picked and shipped from Georgia. How can they still be fresh after such a long trip?
Last week, I bought blueberries and cherries. Both were bursting with flavor. I'm excited to try the peaches. They were grown at the farm and look and smell fantastic!
I was telling the nice woman at Harners that I am using the market as a way to supplement what I'm growing in my own garden. She was very interested in hearing about what is growing in my garden. That's the other nice thing about being a localvore - my dollars are supporting the farm and the friendly employees like this woman.
I wonder what I will do in the late fall/winter, when there isn't any local produce to be found. I'm thinking about freezing some of the blueberries. I may also try to buy some extra peaches and can them for use over the winter. I will have to do some research into all of this, since I'm going to find it very hard to go back!
I'm off to pick an onion from my garden for my salad. I had the first onion out of my garden last week. It was yummy - very sweet and full of flavor. I had to buy lettuce at the grocery store, since the heat and dry weather has really stunted the growth of my lettuce. I may have to look into grow a few different varieties that tolerate the heat well next year.
Have a great week and remember: go local! Support your local growers and producers!
Today, I purchased a basket of peaches, a basket of string beans, two tomatos and a basket of blueberries for $12. At the grocery store, I would have paid $.99 a pound for peaches that were grown, picked and shipped from Georgia. How can they still be fresh after such a long trip?
Last week, I bought blueberries and cherries. Both were bursting with flavor. I'm excited to try the peaches. They were grown at the farm and look and smell fantastic!
I was telling the nice woman at Harners that I am using the market as a way to supplement what I'm growing in my own garden. She was very interested in hearing about what is growing in my garden. That's the other nice thing about being a localvore - my dollars are supporting the farm and the friendly employees like this woman.
I wonder what I will do in the late fall/winter, when there isn't any local produce to be found. I'm thinking about freezing some of the blueberries. I may also try to buy some extra peaches and can them for use over the winter. I will have to do some research into all of this, since I'm going to find it very hard to go back!
I'm off to pick an onion from my garden for my salad. I had the first onion out of my garden last week. It was yummy - very sweet and full of flavor. I had to buy lettuce at the grocery store, since the heat and dry weather has really stunted the growth of my lettuce. I may have to look into grow a few different varieties that tolerate the heat well next year.
Have a great week and remember: go local! Support your local growers and producers!
Friday, July 4, 2008
So That's What That Is For....
I've been a bad blogger - sorry!
I was really stressed about my ghetto garden full of weeds. Two weeks ago, I went online and googled how to control weeds in a garden. To my surprise and delight, it recommended using your hoe to rid your garden of the pesky weeds. I'm so happy my mom bought me my hoe!
I spent 4.5 hours hoeing the garden (why does that still make me giggle? Sometimes I can be a 12 year old!). I was so pleased with the outcome - all the ghetto weeds were gone! It really made the excruciating pain I was in for the next two days worth it. I have never spent so much time on my heating pad in all the years I've had it! But, I learned my lesson. I now plan on hoeing once a week to keep the weeds under control and prevent another back breaking session.
I spent 4.5 hours hoeing the garden (why does that still make me giggle? Sometimes I can be a 12 year old!). I was so pleased with the outcome - all the ghetto weeds were gone! It really made the excruciating pain I was in for the next two days worth it. I have never spent so much time on my heating pad in all the years I've had it! But, I learned my lesson. I now plan on hoeing once a week to keep the weeds under control and prevent another back breaking session.
So, the garden is now full of onions, lettuce, chives, tomatoes (3 kinds - grape, lemon yellows and jet something or others) and a watermelon. I planted the watermelon just to see if it will actually grown in our climate. In addition to the garden, I have two pots of basil (one is courtesy of Katie, who dropped 4 plants off to me), a pot of rosemary and a pot of mixed herbs.
I feel like I've been doing so much running around this summer and that I haven't fully been able to enjoy the Oasis. I plan on logging some hours out there tomorrow, if the weather cooperates. I did want to share a picture of the custom sign I had made at Memorial Day. Its very cute!
Lastly, I was at the beach last week with my family. Thank you to Katie for watering the garden while I was away. I didn't have to stress about my plants dying! And because we're so cute, here's a photo of my entire family taken on the front of our beach house.
Happy 4th of July everyone!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Ghetto Garden
Its been a long time since my last post. Sorry - its been a little busy up here.
I did harvest my first lettuce last week. It was yummy! Tonight, I harvested more. I will definitely be sharing with my coworkers, since I have more lettuce right now than I could ever eat. I made a grilled shrimp and asparagus salad with homemade dijon dressing. It was really good.
Its so satisfying to be eating food that I grew myself. I love that I cultivated and grew the lettuce that is now filling my stomach. I am going to plant my tomatoes and peppers this weekend so hopefully later this summer I will be able to make a complete salad from my very own garden.
I've been mulching since last week. Its a long and tedious process. I am able to fit 5 bags of mulch in my car at a time. So far I've purchased 10 bags. I have 3 more to put down this week, then I'll be heading back to Lowes for more. I definitely will be getting a load from a landscaping business next year, as it will be a lot easier and probably a lot cheaper. I'm definitely skimping on the 3 inches of mulch you are supposed to put down. Since its my first year, I'm just happy to be getting it down.
I need to spend time weeding my ghetto garden. The weeding has really gotten away from me and I'm now growing weeds and grass amongst my food! I was feeling a tad overwhelmed tonight at all of the work that needs to be done out back, but after I took a little break and calmed myself, I figured I will just have to take everything one day at a time. If my garden doesn't look perfect in the first year, so be it. As long as the food grows and I remember to water, I'll be happy.
I must run. I'm quite tired from all of the work I did tonight. I can definitely say that mowing the lawn, mulching and gardening is a great workout! I will definitely be sore tomorrow, that's for sure.
I will post pictures soon, I promise! Until then, visualize a non-ghetto garden. That's what I'm hoping to get to!
I did harvest my first lettuce last week. It was yummy! Tonight, I harvested more. I will definitely be sharing with my coworkers, since I have more lettuce right now than I could ever eat. I made a grilled shrimp and asparagus salad with homemade dijon dressing. It was really good.
Its so satisfying to be eating food that I grew myself. I love that I cultivated and grew the lettuce that is now filling my stomach. I am going to plant my tomatoes and peppers this weekend so hopefully later this summer I will be able to make a complete salad from my very own garden.
I've been mulching since last week. Its a long and tedious process. I am able to fit 5 bags of mulch in my car at a time. So far I've purchased 10 bags. I have 3 more to put down this week, then I'll be heading back to Lowes for more. I definitely will be getting a load from a landscaping business next year, as it will be a lot easier and probably a lot cheaper. I'm definitely skimping on the 3 inches of mulch you are supposed to put down. Since its my first year, I'm just happy to be getting it down.
I need to spend time weeding my ghetto garden. The weeding has really gotten away from me and I'm now growing weeds and grass amongst my food! I was feeling a tad overwhelmed tonight at all of the work that needs to be done out back, but after I took a little break and calmed myself, I figured I will just have to take everything one day at a time. If my garden doesn't look perfect in the first year, so be it. As long as the food grows and I remember to water, I'll be happy.
I must run. I'm quite tired from all of the work I did tonight. I can definitely say that mowing the lawn, mulching and gardening is a great workout! I will definitely be sore tomorrow, that's for sure.
I will post pictures soon, I promise! Until then, visualize a non-ghetto garden. That's what I'm hoping to get to!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
We will start with the good news: my onions, lettuce and chives are growing like weeds. Some of the lettuce may actually be ready for picking. How can you tell when lettuce is ready? A few heads are huge, so I feel like I could pick some leaves off and make myself a salad. I will have to do some research online about that.
The bad news: I keep hacking my one butterfly bush with the weed wacker by accident. The first time I did it, the bush rebounded nicely (I don't hack the entire thing, just some of the low hanging branches). I'm hoping it rebounds again. And, I promise to hand trim the grass around it from now on!
The ugly: my herbs. I either planted them too early or I got a bum batch. The only herb that is growing is the rosemary. The dill, parsley and basil all bit the dust. I was consulting with a friend over the weekend who suggested that I probably put them in too early, considering we had snow when I was away and some very cold nighttime temperatures throughout the month of May. I am not defeated - the herbs I bought at the Linden Hall Garden Club's plant sale are doing great (of course someone else planted them). I will get more basil and probably some dill and will try again later.
So, this weekend is all about weeding. My garden and my flower beds really need to be weeded in the worst way. I discovered that while I was mowing tonight. Here's a tip: don't try to weed and mow at the same time. Mowing is one of those activities that requires your undivided attention!
I bought a custom made sign at the Memorial Day festival that says "Welcome to the Oasis." I can't wait to hang it! I'm going to get the flowers for the gutter along the trellis this weekend. After I have it planted, I will post an updated picture of the Oasis. It is truly fabulous!
The bad news: I keep hacking my one butterfly bush with the weed wacker by accident. The first time I did it, the bush rebounded nicely (I don't hack the entire thing, just some of the low hanging branches). I'm hoping it rebounds again. And, I promise to hand trim the grass around it from now on!
The ugly: my herbs. I either planted them too early or I got a bum batch. The only herb that is growing is the rosemary. The dill, parsley and basil all bit the dust. I was consulting with a friend over the weekend who suggested that I probably put them in too early, considering we had snow when I was away and some very cold nighttime temperatures throughout the month of May. I am not defeated - the herbs I bought at the Linden Hall Garden Club's plant sale are doing great (of course someone else planted them). I will get more basil and probably some dill and will try again later.
So, this weekend is all about weeding. My garden and my flower beds really need to be weeded in the worst way. I discovered that while I was mowing tonight. Here's a tip: don't try to weed and mow at the same time. Mowing is one of those activities that requires your undivided attention!
I bought a custom made sign at the Memorial Day festival that says "Welcome to the Oasis." I can't wait to hang it! I'm going to get the flowers for the gutter along the trellis this weekend. After I have it planted, I will post an updated picture of the Oasis. It is truly fabulous!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Temperature Changes and Snow in May
This past week I was in Hershey for a conference. Before I left, I mowed the lawn and tended to all of my plants, veggies and herbs. I felt confident that things would be okay while I was gone, particularly since the forecast called for rain.
Imagine my shock when I woke up Monday morning and heard the temperature in State College was 35 degrees! I was so worried that my plants and herbs were stressed. I met up with our maintenance guys for lunch that day and they told me that Western Ferguson Township had snow. Snow?! in May?! Only in State College....
Thankfully, I returned home and all was well. My grass was ready to be cut and the flower beds definitely needed to be weeded, but other than that, everything seemed to have fared pretty well.
There are some new additions to the Oasis and the garden. I attended the Linden Hall Garden Club's Plant Sale before leaving town. What a hoot! The ladies bring any and every kind of plant imaginable from their homes and auction them off. Bidding starts at $.25. I made out like a bandit - for $9, I came home with a house plant (which I keep forgetting to water), two planters in cute hanging metal buckets that had peonies and other cute plants in them and a pot of herbs. I was so excited! The ladies will be selling pies at Memorial Day. I will definitely be contributing a few pies again this year as a way of saying thank you.
I also scored a new addition for the garden. Bruce, the chair of our parks and rec committee and a really great guy, stopped by and dropped off two chive plants that he dug out for me. They are great! The one is absolutely huge. I'm so excited to see them flower.
I have to say that gardening has been a huge learning experience for me. My onions were looking a little sad a few weeks ago. I mentioned this to one of my elected officials, who happens to grow the biggest onions in Boalsburg. He advised that the onions love water and hate weeds. A few days later, after some weeding, some watering and a lot of rain, the onions had perked right back up. Its nice to have some many people to lean on with my questions.
I'm off to Erie on Tuesday, back on Thursday. Here's hoping there is no snow in the forecast! I was going to put my tomatoes and peppers in this weekend, but I think I'll hold off another week to give the soil temperature time to rise. Tomatoes and peppers are really tempermental and like a warm soil (pretend I know what I'm talking about, okay?).
Have a happy Memorial Day! I will be in Boalsburg at our festival. When your town is the birthplace of Memorial Day, you really don't get the weekend to yourself. I don't mind, though, as I like to watch what happens in town. People on Main Street start sprucing up their porches and everyone seems to be throwing parties. Its nice to live in a place that takes so much pride in its heritage.
Imagine my shock when I woke up Monday morning and heard the temperature in State College was 35 degrees! I was so worried that my plants and herbs were stressed. I met up with our maintenance guys for lunch that day and they told me that Western Ferguson Township had snow. Snow?! in May?! Only in State College....
Thankfully, I returned home and all was well. My grass was ready to be cut and the flower beds definitely needed to be weeded, but other than that, everything seemed to have fared pretty well.
There are some new additions to the Oasis and the garden. I attended the Linden Hall Garden Club's Plant Sale before leaving town. What a hoot! The ladies bring any and every kind of plant imaginable from their homes and auction them off. Bidding starts at $.25. I made out like a bandit - for $9, I came home with a house plant (which I keep forgetting to water), two planters in cute hanging metal buckets that had peonies and other cute plants in them and a pot of herbs. I was so excited! The ladies will be selling pies at Memorial Day. I will definitely be contributing a few pies again this year as a way of saying thank you.
I also scored a new addition for the garden. Bruce, the chair of our parks and rec committee and a really great guy, stopped by and dropped off two chive plants that he dug out for me. They are great! The one is absolutely huge. I'm so excited to see them flower.
I have to say that gardening has been a huge learning experience for me. My onions were looking a little sad a few weeks ago. I mentioned this to one of my elected officials, who happens to grow the biggest onions in Boalsburg. He advised that the onions love water and hate weeds. A few days later, after some weeding, some watering and a lot of rain, the onions had perked right back up. Its nice to have some many people to lean on with my questions.
I'm off to Erie on Tuesday, back on Thursday. Here's hoping there is no snow in the forecast! I was going to put my tomatoes and peppers in this weekend, but I think I'll hold off another week to give the soil temperature time to rise. Tomatoes and peppers are really tempermental and like a warm soil (pretend I know what I'm talking about, okay?).
Have a happy Memorial Day! I will be in Boalsburg at our festival. When your town is the birthplace of Memorial Day, you really don't get the weekend to yourself. I don't mind, though, as I like to watch what happens in town. People on Main Street start sprucing up their porches and everyone seems to be throwing parties. Its nice to live in a place that takes so much pride in its heritage.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Spring Time
Ahh, spring is finally here. Its such a new experience to be enjoying spring from the comfort of my own home. I really noticed when things started to bloom and was very excited to watch my spring flowers come up. Some of it was the thrill of the unknown - since I didn't plant these flowers, I had no idea what was actually going to come up. Some of it was the excitement at the end of winter. And a lot it was being able to watch my very own ecosystem bloom in front of my eyes.
Tonight, I mowed the lawn, trimmed and raked out the flowerbeds in the back. I grilled chicken and veggie kabobs and asparagus. Katie came for dinner and we ate in the Oasis. It was an awesome night. Tonight is one of those great State College nights - the daytime temperature was about 75, which means the night time temperature should be about 45. I'm sitting on my front porch for a change of pace, listening to the sounds of the peepers calling for their mates and the traffic on the bypass. It almost perfectly captures State College - we're in the country, yet we still have the hustle and bustle of a small city.
Don't get me wrong - its a heck of a lot of work having a house. The yard alone could keep me busy for days. But, I'm learning that I need to keep myself very organized. I'm lucky to only have one night meeting this week. So, tonight I'm focused on the yard. Tomorrow, I will clean. If I've played my cards right, I shouldn't need to mow again until after I return home from my conference in Hershey next week.
Its a new way of life for me. There is so much more responsibility than when I lived in an apartment. I want my house to look nice; I want my friends to want to hang out in the Oasis. I want to be able to enjoy the fruits of all of my hard work. This house was the biggest dream I ever dreamed and it came true. So, now I'm going to do my best to enjoy every minute of it; to discover the little things and to take time to appreciate the rebirth and renewal of the spring season.
Tonight, I mowed the lawn, trimmed and raked out the flowerbeds in the back. I grilled chicken and veggie kabobs and asparagus. Katie came for dinner and we ate in the Oasis. It was an awesome night. Tonight is one of those great State College nights - the daytime temperature was about 75, which means the night time temperature should be about 45. I'm sitting on my front porch for a change of pace, listening to the sounds of the peepers calling for their mates and the traffic on the bypass. It almost perfectly captures State College - we're in the country, yet we still have the hustle and bustle of a small city.
Don't get me wrong - its a heck of a lot of work having a house. The yard alone could keep me busy for days. But, I'm learning that I need to keep myself very organized. I'm lucky to only have one night meeting this week. So, tonight I'm focused on the yard. Tomorrow, I will clean. If I've played my cards right, I shouldn't need to mow again until after I return home from my conference in Hershey next week.
Its a new way of life for me. There is so much more responsibility than when I lived in an apartment. I want my house to look nice; I want my friends to want to hang out in the Oasis. I want to be able to enjoy the fruits of all of my hard work. This house was the biggest dream I ever dreamed and it came true. So, now I'm going to do my best to enjoy every minute of it; to discover the little things and to take time to appreciate the rebirth and renewal of the spring season.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Planting Fool
I planted onions, two kinds of lettuce, dill, parsley, rosemary and basil last Friday. Here are some lessons I learned:
1. One pack of onions is not one plant, it is many tiny plants. Buying two packs doubles the amount of tiny plants. I will have the mother load of onions in about 60 days if they grow. Duke has offered onion recipes, but if anyone wants onions, let me know. I have two rows planted, which equals about 40 heads.
2. Gardening is hard work! My hamstrings were killing me for two days afterward. I'm either getting old or the weights I've been lifting at the gym are not doing me any good.
3. Four inches apart is actually a lot closer than you think.
After my planting frenzy on Friday, my parents came up bright and early on Sunday to help with the rest of the yard. My mom was a raking and weeding fiend, which was a huge help. They brought my new lawn mower up so I could finally mow the ghetto lawn. I was so embarassed by my tall grass!
The new lawn mower is self propelled, which theoretically means it will be easier and faster for me to mow the lawn. Um, not so much when the grass rivals that found in a meadow. Oh and here's a tip: don't engage the self propelled thing when you are turning. Bad things will happen! (In my case, it was spinning around with the lawn mower a few times - awesome sight for the neighbors, I'm sure.)
After the yard was mowed and everything was suitably weeded and raked, we headed to Lowes. My mom decided I needed a hoe, a wheelbarrow, some shurbs, impatients, some other kind of flower and a gas grill. I thought my dad was going to shoot her as we were trying to fit everything into his SUV. Oh and can I just admit that I had a good chuckle carrying the hoe all over Lowes? In my head I kept thinking, "I'm the ho with the hoe, bitches!"
After we made it back to Boalsburg in one piece (and miraculously didn't manage to have anything fall out of the back of the SUV on 322), my mom and I started digging holes for the shrubs. My dad supervised from the Oasis, as we decided we had stressed him out enough for one day. My mom was doing the digging and just couldn't believe the amount of rocks we found. Um, meet Mount Nittany and Tussey Mountain. I'm pretty sure that the rocks in the soil are the result of Boalsburg once being a part of this mountain range.
Once everything was planted, my parents headed for home. A few days later, temperatures dipped down into the mid 30s. Fearing for my new children (the food growing in the garden), I set about moving my pots inside, covering the basil I planted in the garden with a bed sheet (conviently anchored by the rocks we dug out of my yard) and covering the impatients. I decided the best way to cover them would be to use blue plastic cups. It looked like I had some raging kegger and all the cups wound up in my flower bed!!
The Oasis is a very enjoyable experience now that all of the furniture is here. The gas grill is a welcomed addition. I now have the desire to grill everything in sight. I stocked up on meats yesterday at the grocery store and plan to make some kabobs tomorrow night for dinner. I'm saving the drunk chicken for when Laura and Court visit in June.
I'll post some pictures later, after my camera decides to cooperate.
1. One pack of onions is not one plant, it is many tiny plants. Buying two packs doubles the amount of tiny plants. I will have the mother load of onions in about 60 days if they grow. Duke has offered onion recipes, but if anyone wants onions, let me know. I have two rows planted, which equals about 40 heads.
2. Gardening is hard work! My hamstrings were killing me for two days afterward. I'm either getting old or the weights I've been lifting at the gym are not doing me any good.
3. Four inches apart is actually a lot closer than you think.
After my planting frenzy on Friday, my parents came up bright and early on Sunday to help with the rest of the yard. My mom was a raking and weeding fiend, which was a huge help. They brought my new lawn mower up so I could finally mow the ghetto lawn. I was so embarassed by my tall grass!
The new lawn mower is self propelled, which theoretically means it will be easier and faster for me to mow the lawn. Um, not so much when the grass rivals that found in a meadow. Oh and here's a tip: don't engage the self propelled thing when you are turning. Bad things will happen! (In my case, it was spinning around with the lawn mower a few times - awesome sight for the neighbors, I'm sure.)
After the yard was mowed and everything was suitably weeded and raked, we headed to Lowes. My mom decided I needed a hoe, a wheelbarrow, some shurbs, impatients, some other kind of flower and a gas grill. I thought my dad was going to shoot her as we were trying to fit everything into his SUV. Oh and can I just admit that I had a good chuckle carrying the hoe all over Lowes? In my head I kept thinking, "I'm the ho with the hoe, bitches!"
After we made it back to Boalsburg in one piece (and miraculously didn't manage to have anything fall out of the back of the SUV on 322), my mom and I started digging holes for the shrubs. My dad supervised from the Oasis, as we decided we had stressed him out enough for one day. My mom was doing the digging and just couldn't believe the amount of rocks we found. Um, meet Mount Nittany and Tussey Mountain. I'm pretty sure that the rocks in the soil are the result of Boalsburg once being a part of this mountain range.
Once everything was planted, my parents headed for home. A few days later, temperatures dipped down into the mid 30s. Fearing for my new children (the food growing in the garden), I set about moving my pots inside, covering the basil I planted in the garden with a bed sheet (conviently anchored by the rocks we dug out of my yard) and covering the impatients. I decided the best way to cover them would be to use blue plastic cups. It looked like I had some raging kegger and all the cups wound up in my flower bed!!
The Oasis is a very enjoyable experience now that all of the furniture is here. The gas grill is a welcomed addition. I now have the desire to grill everything in sight. I stocked up on meats yesterday at the grocery store and plan to make some kabobs tomorrow night for dinner. I'm saving the drunk chicken for when Laura and Court visit in June.
I'll post some pictures later, after my camera decides to cooperate.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Live from the Oasis
I am live blogging from the Oasis (the back patio, for those playing the home version of this blog). Its nice to be able to sit outside, enjoying the sounds of my neighbors and the fresh night air. It looks like a full moon tonight, so that makes it even better. About the only one not happy about this is the Gato, who is staring forlornly out the back door, hoping I will forget he is an indoor cat and let him out for a bit. Sorry, Gato.
I don't have a lot of photos of the Oasis before, but I thought I would post one that I did find. This was taken last August, before I moved in. Today, I dug out my fire pit (thanks Framptons!), the chairs I bought at Lowes last year and the brand new copper party tub (who needs a cabana boy, when you have a copper tub to hold your drinks? (oh, wait....) I also hung the cool sun mom bought me at the Emporium of Cheap and Fun Stuff (its has a real name, I just have no clue what it actually is) when I was home at Easter. I have furniture to pick up from Wal Mart. Once I do that and get the trellis planted, the Oasis will be complete.
I'm debating what to plant in the trellis. Do I want pansies? Do pansies live all summer or are they more of a spring plant? I was also considering sunflowers? Decisions, decisions.
My goals for this weekend (besides tailgating at the Blue White game) is to get my butt to Lowes and get a wheelbarrow so I can then rake the errant leaves out of my flower beds. I also would like to get my herbs and some onions at Taits and get them in the ground (the soil report from Dave is that there are very few rocks, so it sounds like its ready to go). We have leaf pick up starting on the 28th and since I know the leaves are either composted at Taits or in the mountain, I feel confident putting the leaves I don't need for my compost bin at the curb for collection.
On a funny note, I took two composting classes while employed at PROP, yet I am pretty confident I don't know what I'm doing with the compost bin. It will be trial and error. Thankfully, Carl is the compost man and Patti is the composting guru, so they can give me some tips.
I must run. Its almost time for my tomato sandwich and homemade fries! Enjoy the nice weather!
I don't have a lot of photos of the Oasis before, but I thought I would post one that I did find. This was taken last August, before I moved in. Today, I dug out my fire pit (thanks Framptons!), the chairs I bought at Lowes last year and the brand new copper party tub (who needs a cabana boy, when you have a copper tub to hold your drinks? (oh, wait....) I also hung the cool sun mom bought me at the Emporium of Cheap and Fun Stuff (its has a real name, I just have no clue what it actually is) when I was home at Easter. I have furniture to pick up from Wal Mart. Once I do that and get the trellis planted, the Oasis will be complete.
I'm debating what to plant in the trellis. Do I want pansies? Do pansies live all summer or are they more of a spring plant? I was also considering sunflowers? Decisions, decisions.
My goals for this weekend (besides tailgating at the Blue White game) is to get my butt to Lowes and get a wheelbarrow so I can then rake the errant leaves out of my flower beds. I also would like to get my herbs and some onions at Taits and get them in the ground (the soil report from Dave is that there are very few rocks, so it sounds like its ready to go). We have leaf pick up starting on the 28th and since I know the leaves are either composted at Taits or in the mountain, I feel confident putting the leaves I don't need for my compost bin at the curb for collection.
On a funny note, I took two composting classes while employed at PROP, yet I am pretty confident I don't know what I'm doing with the compost bin. It will be trial and error. Thankfully, Carl is the compost man and Patti is the composting guru, so they can give me some tips.
I must run. Its almost time for my tomato sandwich and homemade fries! Enjoy the nice weather!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Welcome
Hello all! Welcome to the Naive Gardener. I am a new homeowner and this summer I will also become a first time gardener. I'm excited to grow my own food and transform my backyard into my oasis.
Join me on my journey from neophyte gardner to mistress of the backyard. I hope you enjoy the ride and will share your best gardening tips with me.
The garden has been rota-tilled (thanks, Dave!), so I'm ready to roll. Stay tuned for more updates as I start my onions, garlic and herbs this weekend.
Join me on my journey from neophyte gardner to mistress of the backyard. I hope you enjoy the ride and will share your best gardening tips with me.
The garden has been rota-tilled (thanks, Dave!), so I'm ready to roll. Stay tuned for more updates as I start my onions, garlic and herbs this weekend.
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