Learning By The Way

I have looked forward to this spring more than usual, for it is unwrapping my present. Our new house has a yard full of stuff- but I don’t know what until it comes up and I can get somone to identify it for me! So far, we have identified several patches of peonies, 3 forsysthias, irises, tulips, and a lilac bush. (I knew about the rhubarb and roses and rose of sharon from the fall. Many others are yet unidentified).

Saturday, we went to the greenhouse. All of the children picked out something to plant- Moriah got verbana, Elsie dianthus, Toby pansies, Peter marigolds, and Samuel a jalepeno plant. I got a bunch of orange flowers to line the front walk (after all, we do live on ORANGE Street). Mostly pansies, and some interesting specimens called jewel boxes. I think they look like fuzzy caterpillar flowers. We got most of those planted on Saturday.

Yesterday, I planted the vegetables. 6 tomato plants, and 4 peppers. I have zuchinni and cucumber yet to do. Whew! There isn’t much room for vegetables until I can figure out what else we have. I know some of it can be rearranged, but not until next year. Our small patch is thanks to our friend Jon, who knows things, identifying a large patch of green stuff in the flower beds as overgrown grass. It is now our vegetable garden.

Our yard is a beautiful place to be. I am loving spring.

James and I celebrated 11 years of marriage this last Friday. James took the afternoon off, and we went out to paint the town red. He asked me what I wanted to do first, and I said “Let’s go to Church Mouse!” This is our neighborhood thrift store. So we took off on a beautifully sunny spring day, with the top down on the convertible, and drove the several blocks to Main Street. We parked in a municipal lot, so we could check out a few other stores, too.

We ended up going to the Habitat for Humanity Restore first. There I regretted that I have no use for a perfectly huge solid soapstone double sink, and lamented over having no reason to buy gorgeous old wood doors. We bought two sconces to replace the ones in the girl’s room hanging lights (one of the set was a broom casualty). And oh, marvelous and exciting find, an old Singer sewing machine and table for 5.00. We got it mostly for the table. James has installed Moriah’s birthday sewing machine in it, and she loves it. The machine that formerly lived in the table was complete with all attachments- if it still works, I might be able to sell it and make a profit.

Then we visited a vitamin shop that I have been wanting to check out since I noticed its unprepossessing store window (Quantum Health on Main St.) They were having an herb sale. I picked up Mullein, for next time we have a respiratory illness, and Shepherd’s Purse. The Shepherd’s Purse is to make a nauseatingly bad tea to drink in the last weeks before the baby is born. It prevents bleeding remarkably well.

After that, the Church Mouse Thrift Store. Its sewing machine with table for 15 dollars now looks overpriced. I do get a stack of children’s books (1/2 price sale!) 

 While stopping at the grocery store for a snack, we got a phone call from Crystal with a hot tip about an estate sale on Columbia Terrace. So off we went- as estate sales go, it was pretty uninteresting. However, it was here we make the find of the evening. Ta da! An electric pencil sharpener for 50 cents.

We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant, and a beautiful time together.  11 years doesn’t seem so long. I hope for many times that to spend with my love.

We arrived home with our goodies. Samuel immediately began sharpening pencils. Moriah started reading books. But bedtime came to soon- most of the books and pencils must wait. And now, 5 days later, all of the books have been read (except for the complete patents of Nikola Tesla). And every single pencil in our house is stiletto sharp. If there was no eraser, the other side was sharpened as well, making a deadly double sided pencil. I am all for this, as it discourages children from nodding off while doing their workbooks.

Saturday, Samuel sidled up to me and said “Did I say ‘Thank you’ for the pencil sharpener? I really like having it.” You’re welcome, son. I love you.

Eleven years. God, did I say thank you for my beautiful life?  I really like it. Surely I must be the most blessed of women.

Yes, the children are enjoying their long awaited math workbooks. And don’t worry, Samuel found his again. It was under his bed.

 I was a little concerned when I first glanced through the 3A books that it wasn’t going to be a challenge for them. And Moriah especially gets bored if she isn’t being challenged. But while they may not find many things they didn’t already know, there will be a fresh perspective and much needed review of times tables 8 and 9. So I believe it will be good to get a very solid grounding in the basics before we move on. And so far, they are enjoying it immensely.

Samuel ate exactly 100 peas with his supper tonight. He counted.