what's going on?

I thought it was time to just do a daily life kind of blog post and not an opinion piece.  Although I love to voice my opinion!

So I'm going to try to break it down into categories if I can.

Home:  I've been trying to stay home as much as I can.  Home is my sanctuary.  The last few months my job has been very stressful and very overwhelming.  This may seen  funny to some people,  considering I only work part time (20 hours), but it's the type of work I do.
So we haven't been running around on the off days and we've mostly been staying put in the evenings.

Work:  Where do I start?  For the longest time I worked my 20 hours in 2 days.  In April it changed to 20 hours in 4 days.   Then circumstances arose that have made the last few months with my client very hard to deal with.  I'm hoping that we have peaked at the worst of it and that we are going to get calm again.  This week has been the first good week in months.  I would love to cut back to 10 hours a week, but I just don't see that happening right now because staffing needs are so great.

Garden:  I've identified another mistake I've been making since we moved here.  It could be contributing to my poor gardening skills:  I've been storing my shredded leaves under a couple of pine trees.  (palm to forehead)  Have I been screwing up the PH?  maybe.
Otherwise, I'm happier with the garden than I've been since I moved here and built it.  It has been a struggle to spend enough time out there.  I still don't, but I've spent more than normal and the results show.
 *We expanded one bed and built another one.  Now all of the available space in that area is used.
 *We have been collecting cardboard and lining the paths and putting down straw, so weeds are less.  * It has been a dry summer here in this part of Maine and I water each day, but I know it's not enough and I have even begun to water less because if the dryness continues I don't want my well to draw down.
 *We did plant a row of high bush blueberries & the raspberry row we planted last year gave us tons of pickings!
 *summer squash seems to be a bust again this year.  There are just not enough bees in the middle of the woods.  I've planted a lot more flowers, but it's not enough.  So I either have to be a bee keeper or pollinate the plants myself.  I don't see either one happening in the near future so I will just buy my squash from the farmer down the road.
 * I've grown some greens to feed the chickens, but I've been shopping the farmers market to feed me!

Family:  Our family is expanding!  Grand baby #7 will be coming along in February! Joe & Luke will be welcoming a new brother or sister.
  AND our daughter and son in law are buying a piece of land 2 miles from my house, on my road, and I am beyond happy about this!  I can walk there & back!!!  I can get skinny?????  hahaha, that won't happen because my daughter will feed me when I get there!

Anyway.....that is a little glimpse into my world.  Have a restful weekend!

Day#30 I made it!!!!!

yup, it's finally hot in maine!!!!!!  depending on where you are, of course!  yesterday and today were in the upper 80's at my house and inland, but lower along the coast.

i bought this pool at marden's for the awesome price of $15.  it's supposed to be for the boys, but i told jeff to fill it up on friday and we enjoyed lazing in it yesterday and today when the afternoon got too hot.  we are surrounded by lakes, but i just want peace and quiet and privacy.

well, i think after blogging every day for 30 days, writing a blog a couple times a week should be easy? i'm hoping that this summer is not a busy one.  i want to take time to rest and relax and breathe.

Day #24 firefly vs lightening bug

in new jersey we called them lightening bugs

you know, i'm not sure what mainers call them.

anyways.......

in new jersey there were TONS!!!!!  they put on quite a show.  and they always light up a bit as they were rising up out of the grass.

here in maine they light up for quite a while as they fly sideways.

in new jersey the kids would catch a bunch and put them in a peanut butter jar (plastic)  then they would throw it up high and let it hit the ground.  all of the bugs would light at once and stay lit.

when i was a kid we only had glass jars so we would put grass and twigs in it and catch a bunch and poke holes in the lid and keep it in our rooms overnight.

i have not yet taught my grandsons to catch them yet.  i have to wait until they are old enough to be awake when it gets dark out.

there you have it!  my observations on fireflies/lightening bugs

Day 21 summer solstice

This morning in ellsworth maine the sun rose at 4:48 a.m.  and it will set this evening at 8:22 p.m.
this makes the longest day of the year 15 hours and 34 minutes long.

it is a sunny day with a bit of a breeze.  mosquitos and black flies are not bad at all, but the deer flies are pestering.

we did some errands this morning.

finally made it to the farmers market and bought lettuce, swiss chard, and spinach.  in this part of the country that is what is currently available locally grown (he had some bok choy & rhubarb also)

got new phones!  hubby is not only figuring out the texting keyboard, but also touch screen.

picked up some groceries.  with these prices i may just finally lose some weight!!!

crafting stuff for the summer--mostly some decorations (banners & such) for baby charlies dedication/ethans 2nd birthday.  we will be having a combo celebration.....

,,,,,,,,,,and we are having a home dedication!!!!

the theme is patriotic--lots of ideas on pinterest

here is one project

frames from the dollar tree--spray painted & the rest i found on pinterest and printed off.  i made two of the one in the middle because i really love it!

happy first day of summer!!!!

oh, and the high temperature for today is 72* after a low around 50*