back yard garden

Ok last time was my front yard here is my backyard.

raspberry bushes originally planted to keep Jordan from escaping over the fence

ok this bed really doesn't look that great everything is falling over

anyways LtoR:

garlic, cilantro/coriander, thyme, rosemary, sorrel, tarragon, parsley, lemon balm

L to R:

oregano. dill, daffodil, parsley

aloe plant, cherry tomato

strawberry bed with asparagus and echinacea

blueberry bushes (kinda it is really a squirrel buffet)

apple trees  (more squirrel food)

rabbits

momma rabbit under the lilac tree

my actual garden space

this year I only planted tomatoes in this space I have 33 plants

they are much taller now and it looks like a good crop

especially exciting since last year the blight and cold weather took all toms.

compost barrels are hidden under the lilac bushes

now you have seen the edges now lets see what is in the middle

ok that is it for now.  I have another garden space at my neighbors that is full of green beans

and another plot at a farm 12 minutes away

Front yard gardening

I have several gardens this year.  Here are the ones in my front yard.


This is the salad garden:  chiogga beets, european spicy mesclun, salad burnet, arugula, salad bowl(green and red), romaine(cos) and assorted flowers.
                              

Here is my bird bath.  It is surrounded by Yarrow(makes great tea), kale (flowering and regular), red cabbage, borage, and a blue flower.

Next is my strawberry tower.  This was in my brain and my brother helped me build it.  This would work better but the squirrels seem to enjoy sitting in it and digging.

Next is my 2 planters on either side of the garage.  They each hold a sweet potato plant and a habanero plant.

Next is what the neighbors probably call a mess but it is one of my 3 herb gardens.

Left to right

chives, red cabbage, catnip, borage, lovage(6+ feet tall), sweet woodruff, chocolate mint, hyssop, sage

There is another mint bed squeezed in front of the garage this one holds orange mint and clematis

I have some planters one each step and several lining the driveway but no pictures yet.  I only wish my neighbors would cut down their huge annoying and ugly pine tree so that I could use more of my front yard.  I have a full front yard and almost everything is edible but it doesn't look like it would be.

I am one PROUD mama!!!!

Today my little boy graduated primary school.  He is going on to 5th grade and a new school next year. 
The school had an award ceremony today.  My sons (notice plural) both received Eagle pride awards which is for a student who excels in a variety of skills.  They do their best academically, socially, and are kind and compassionate.  I am so proud out of approx 30 winners from the entire school both my boys were winners.

Jeffrey also was a top reader.  He ranked #5 out of all 4th graders.  He read an amazing 234 books in 4 years.  Four of the books were Harry Potter.  Are you impressed ......well..you should be.

They both came home with more awards from their teacher .  Jordan received an extra effort award and perfect attendence for 4th quarter.  He would have got one for the year but we went on a cruise.  Jeffrey also received one for honor roll., one for perfect attendence 4th quarter, and one for citizenship.

I LOVE MY BOYS AND I AM ONE PROUD MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jordan's party

Jordan had an early birthday party so he could invite his school friends.  We had his party at Open Bible play area.  I love that place it is like a secret.  It was a small party he had 4 friend his brother and two cousins.  One boy A. was out of control.  His mom didn't do anything about it either.  The bright part was N. who is one of Jordan's favorite friends.

OK can anyone guess what the cake was?   Anyone?    Really you can't guess!  Take a look

You got it right it is a gluten free spiderman cake.  I have to admit I am getting good at it.

The party was fun.  Now about Jordan's friend N.  He was the most caring 7/8 year old I have met.  My son was buried in the balls because he likes the feel of it but his friend was concerned that the boys were being to loud.  I am almost positive that if Jordan said yes N. would have made everyone be quiet.  Another impressive incident was when 3 boys were playing catch Jordan so they could throw him in the ball pit and A. joined in and upset Jordan.  He was giving him a wedgie.  The other boys let go except A. because they could see Jordan had enough.  N. grabbed A's arm and said "Leave him alone he can only take so much."  I love that little boy.  He protected my son in first grade from a bully and he always acknowledges my son when he sees him in public.   Jordan's aid also showed for the party and N. ran up to him to inform her that Jordan was playing with him.  I hope next year that Jordan gets to keep both Mrs. Cline and N. in his class.

Now lets eat cake!!!!

Banana nut bread jam

Banana Nut Bread Jam


10 ripe bananas, pureed (approximately 3 cups)

1 Tbsp lemon juice

4 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cups toasted walnuts, minced

1 package powdered pectin

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Mix bananas, walnuts, lemon juice and powdered pectin in large pot. Stir while bringing to a full boil. Add sugars all at once. Stirring continuously,

heat until full boil. Boil hard for 1 minute.

Ladle jam into jars leaving a 1/4 inch headspace. Process in a boiling water bath (BWB)

for 10 minutes. Adjust time according to altitude.

Makes about 6 half pints

Once upon a time

Once upon a time there was a lonely squirrel named Scrat.  He was sad and very hungry

He looked left for ?

He looked right

Then he saw something.  Is it an acorn?  Is it a friend?

Scrat doesn't care he is so happy

Scrat and his best friend, hamburger lived happily for many months.  Scrat still believed that he was missing out on something.  One day he saw a new and strange object. 

 He sniffed it

He licked it

Scrat knew then that he was in squirrel heaven.

THANKYOU GRANDMA FOR MY ACORN

Swimming at Starved Rock

We decided for Easter we would go hiking at a local state park  Starved Rock State Park  is about 2 hours from our house and then we were going to my brothers for the night.

The boys climbed the giant steps

We did some fake running

the boys and wall-e found some sand

we found some wildflowers

then we found a great canyon with a waterfall

this is me dropping the camera and running because Jordan fell in

It just turns into more drama after that.  There was no way out of the pond and I was to far away.  The first guy to help slipped and fell in so his friend bent to help him and he fell in.  If you are keeping count there is 2 grown men, Jordan and Wall-e in a very cold pond with no way out.  I am now at the top and Jordan is screaming and the two men can't swim.  A third man takes off his coat and bends over to grab a hand and slips right in.  Unfortunately his keys fell out of his pocket and went for a swim also.  I couldn't catch anyones attention  so they sunk.  The father put Jordan on his back and swam out the other end with him.  The people at the top grabbed a tree branch and pulled Jordan out.  The two men who couldn't swim inched their way around to see if they could get pulled up the cavern also.

At this point my son is screaming I killed my best friend and I realized wall-e   went in also.  So still in the water is walle and the only keys to a families car.  The family has 5 kids and the father has a cut on his head.  I empty my pockets and jump in.   I search for walle-e and the key.  The water is freezing and very mucky.  As I am diving underneath to find the keys I can hear Jordan yelling Mom is dead so my dog, Patty decided to check on me and fell in herself.  In the water is a dog with a leash attached sitting on my head and me treading water with jeans, sweater, and tennis shoes. Finally I get the dog to swim to a log and a 5th guy comes down the hill to save the dog.  I give up at this point but my legs are so cold that I don't have the strength to walk up the wall while holding on to the tree branch so there is no way I am getting out.  I crawl along the ledge that is barely big enough and make it up the other side.

At this point you would think our drama would be done but you are wrong.  Jordan won't walk out so we had to carry him.  Luckily I had clothes in the car so I was able to change him but no shoes.  The father of the family decided that since they couldn't drive their car they were going to pack up and leave.  We ended up giving his wife and 4 girls a ride home to Plainfield and the 1st 2 guys and their wife gave  the father and his son a ride.

My brother was able to run to the store after church and get a new walle for us.  A really good thing since Jordan was still crying that he killed his best friend.

 

Happy Easter we only ruined 3 families day at the park

P.S. Jordan was never close to drowning.  His head never went under water he managed to stay on the water shelf

It is a BLUE day!

Today is Autism awareness day and everyone is supposed to wear blue.  This has mainly been formed by Autism Speaks which I am not fond of, but any awareness for autism is good in my opinion.

Autism speaks is way to big and they only believe in medical and genetics.    The top  officers make 6 figures which I find ridiculous.  It is almost as if Autism is the new Cancer as far as a money maker for officers.  As a mom who has used biomedical and seen extreme improvements I really believe this should be funded more.  How much does it really cost a parent to take their child off of dairy for a week.  You will know whether this will improve constipation or not within 3 days.

I put my money behind TACA which is volunteer and parent run and all money goes towards educating parents.

Generation rescue is another really good one.  This is Jenny McCarthy and Jim careys charity.  They give grants to families to start them on the biomedical journey.  Each grant is 2500 and covers a DAN doc and necessary supplements and testing for 6 months. 

My other favorite is Lend 4 Health.  Tori Tuncan is an amazing woman.  She started a lending blog for people like me.  I received a loan to get Jordan a Dan doc and I have already paid it back.  The 5th of every month is cinco de linco where it is requested that you loan $5 to a child.  These are interest free loans and they have all been paid back.  Autism treatment is expensive and insurance covers none of it so help out after all it is just a loan.

Tonight the Empire state building will be lit blue.

Kefir

I learned all about kefir grains at the westin price conference in the fall.  I finally ordered some and they finally came.

The grain came in a baggie with maybe 10 grains and some starter milk.  The grains look like very tiny cauliflower with the consistency of tapioca.

add the grains to a quart jar and fill with milk.  Let this sit for 24 hours and strain.  Please make sure that no metal touches the grains it will kill them.  The first couple of time I had to wait more than one day because I didn't have enough grains but now it is done in a day.

I like it plain but you can add fruit to it and make it like a smoothie.  I have added maple syrup or honey also but today it is just kefir and frozen raspberries.

If anyone would like some grains I have a bunch to share just let me know

If you wait a few days until the whey separates then you have kefir cheese.  This can be used on a salad and the whey can be used to ferment vegetable or the liquid is good in soup or anywhere water is used.  I have also heard that it makes a great face wash.