Black Thumb Betty-Update

I am happy (oh so happy!) to report that so far (fingers crossed WHILE knocking on wood) all of my plants are still alive (well, unless you count that hanging basket.......).

Here are some photos I took yesterday morning:

Pepper plants still, uh pepperin'...well, not really pepperin yet but they have grown a lot!

Photo: WHY WON'T YOU TURN?!? I turn you the right way before I upload you and *poof* you are sideways again.....you must also be approaching three years old like my toddler....anyhoo....zucchini plant is the one on the RIGHT and is doing preeeeetty well (some hungry animal is trying to get the guy on the end..er, bottom there). On the left are the cucumber plants and they are taking off!! (in the good way, of course)

Photo: my blog readers (I think I have readers other than mom...Hi, mom!) do NOT want to stand on their head to look at this basil. so, knock it off!! So, here is the basil.....I did some moving around last weekend (more to come on that) and had this empty white pot so I planted a couple more basil seeds (more spread out this time) because a) we love basil and b) I am just excited the first ones grew at all?? who knows....

and, lo and behold, look who decided to join the party!!! CILANTRO!!! We had a few days of slightly cooler weather and my little cilantro seeds got excited and FINALLY started sprouting!! However, knowing it was about to get HOT again, I decided to see if these dudes (you don't call your plants dudes? well, you should...they are very hip) would grow in my window sill and, by golly, they have!! They have shot up 2 inches in the past week?! Go, buddy, go!!

Speaking of something else that has really grown.....my son. he has grown TWO AND A HALF INCHES since the end of March. 

SERIOUSLY. 

That tells me two things (lots of things around here tell me two things...) a) those "growing pains" we thought he was having in the middle of the night were more than likely definitely (I am so confident, eh?) growing pains and b) my baby isn't a baby anymore :..( off to cry in my cilantro pots now....

ok...*sniff* I am back. If you are wondering why I have everything so close together, etc. Mostly it is because I didn't honestly know if anything would grow....so I over seeded...whoops!! Husband and I have been discussing making some raised beds for me to do my gardening in but haven't ironed out any details so when we do, I will maybe be replanting some things....my concern is that re-planting them will kill them...thoughts? suggestions? If anything, I really need to plant them in some 5 gallon buckets but, I think Husband would like something that looks a little nicer than that so who knows. We shall see! All I know is that they are growing!! 

Photo Life

Last week in (a few) pictures....

um, Husband, you may need a new caddy...this one might be too slow for the job...

Finn made this for me at school <3

Ever seen a cactus in bloom? That flower will only last a day or maybe two at the most and then it is gone. Such a beautiful thing to get to see.....fun fact: Husband got this cactus from someone at school when he was in the second grade...AGE 7!! and his grandma kept it alive for 20 of the past 21 years and then she gave it to me because I am absolutely in love with them....the cactii...well, and my family too but you know what I mean)  

Whew!

Goodness! Is it Thursday already?? My how the time flies! Although looking back I can't really pinpoint a bazillion things we have done but the past week sure has felt busy!! so, let's see...what have we been up to?

*Friday night I attended Husband's ten year high school reunion. Because I moved my senior year, I did not attend my own ten year reunion, ahem, several years ago (yes, I am the oldest one in our house unless you count my treasures..) so I really had no idea what to expect but we had a great time and I got to hear some funny stories about Husband growing up. Always entertaining!!

*Saturday Husband joined us on our normal shopping trip but this time we made a stop at Sam's! It was husband's idea and man, am I glad we did! We only bought things that we would absolutely use in a normal period of time but I am SO glad that he suggested we go there. As a momma who is always trying to stretch every dollar, I was super excited to be able to stock up on lots of items we use on a daily basis...especially meat items. We are carnivores in my house. We eat meat at pretty much every meal and it can get pretty expensive so i was super happy to be able to buy chicken, tenderloin, beef, lunch meat, heck, even some STEAKS (!!-which would normally be a splurge but husband deserves a steak when he wants one (as I said a quiet prayer or two that I wouldn't ruin it like I have done in the past :/ ) etc that can be used in the coming week or frozen for a later date. Saved a TON of money in the long run which, I will admit, makes this momma VERY happy!

* Saturday afternoon we had TWO birthday parties...back to back. We made it through 75% of the second one before having a giant melt down and having to sneak out the back. I will be the first to admit that I am not a perfect parent and my baby is not, in fact, one of those kids who is perfect 100% of the time. I am very blessed and he is very, very well behaved but just like his momma....when you get tired/hot/hungry...good Lord, y'all better watch out! Hey, what can I say....he comes by it honest!

* Sunday we held an impromptu dinner for Husband's parents and grandparents. I made turkey breast tenderloins, homemade mashed potatoes, oven roasted vegetables, salad, crescent rolls, cookies, and ice cream sundaes for dessert. My cooking prayers for the evening were answered and everything turned out great (whew-I always worry how my cooking will turn out and even more so when it is for his family). I feel like any time I get asked how I cooked something that means it was a success!

*Monday night I remade the stroganoff recipe but with egg noodles this time and it was tasty!

*Tuesday night Husband had a friend over for dinner and I said another kitchen prayer and made steaks and chicken on the grill along with more homemade mashed potatoes (Granny would be so proud!) and roasted vegetables, crescent rolls, etc with fruit and ice cream for dessert. I don't like to pat myself on the back much (I really don't!) but the guys were VERY happy with their steaks and neither of the rib eyes ended up looking like beef jerky! Whew again!

*Wednesday night we rode in the golf cart with Husband while he played 9 holes with his aunt, uncle, and mom.

*Tonight my normal Thursday night Girl's Night got canceled so, I kid you not, I am not doing anything!! haha Actually, that isn't true...I have a new homemade pasta recipe to try (gonna make a big pot and freeze it for future meals) and also, a chocolate chip recipe (I have about 10 recipes for chocolate chip cookies but have yet to find THE ONE) to try......and do some dishes. We are very exciting around these parts ;)

Hope everyone has had a terrific week! <3