May 2017

Since we'll be moving into the addition sometime this summer, I've been trying to finish some projects that have languished in the spare room.  Hannah's picnic blanket was first on my list.  

 Thomas turned 1 month old on May 1.   

Phillip found a huge snakeskin in the garden.  Jonas appreciated it more than I did.  

We had a late birthday dinner for Jennifer and Jason.  Both of them had April birthdays but we had to work the celebration in a little late.

The kids played the jellybean game.  Lilly chose very carefully. She got a good flavor every time.

The other players were not so fortunate. 

These two got ready for summer!

The addition is taking shape.  

May Gardens

 Corn and Okra

This year we're trying "the three sisters" technique.  We planted white half runner beans and kershaw melons among the corn.  Later we'll plant pumpkins.  The theory is that the corn provides a place for the beans to run.  The bean vines make the corn stalks stronger and add nitrogen to the soil.  The melon vines are a natural mulch for the corn and the beans. We're interested to see how it works out.

Bush beans

I prefer them to white half runners because they're easier to pick and easier to prepare.  

 Sage, cilantro, basil, and parsley

 We pulled up the sugar snap peas and planted cantaloupe.

 Potatoes

The corn isn't looking good.  Phillip researched it and it looks like it has something called Stewart's Wilt. This year he planted a different variety of corn and his research said that this one was susceptible to this bacterial disease.  We'll see how the crop does.

 The onion bed with several volunteer tomatoes

 Sweet peppers

These buckets are planted with squash.

 This one is planted with cucumbers.  The plan is for the vines to run up the old bed frame.

 Tomatoes

 Strawberries

We added a new bed this year.  The corner of it is barely visible at the top right of the picture.  We're still picking a few but the season is almost over.

 Lavender

I thought we lost the lavender when we moved it from the big bed but it seems to be coming up well. There's a random garlic plant growing in the back, and Phillip planted a fig bush in the middle.

 Blueberries

All the bushes have at least one blueberry.  We're trying to prepare for the onslaught of birds when they ripen.

 This is the estabalished fig bush. 

 This fig bush was planted in the fall.  Phillip planted 3 and this one is doing best.  

Phillip built a nice arbor for the grape vines.  

Scuppernongs

Muscadines

April 2017

Our family began this month by welcoming a new arrival.  

Thomas Nathaniel Worley was born April 1.  Thomas is our 9th grandchild.  

We celebrated Rachel's birthday on April 2. 

April is filled with family birthdays.  Jonas turned 6 on April 12.  We had fun celebrating with him.

Easter Pictures

Lilly and Lucy

Catherine

Jason, Abram and Jonas

Michael, Hannah, and Thomas

All of Mama's peonies bloomed beautifully this year.  Last year they didn't bloom at all so we especially enjoyed these flowers.

The carport build-in is progressing. 

Jonas started karate lessons, a birthday gift from his mom and dad.

It was Lucy's turn for a sleepover.  She wanted to bake banana bread, so that's what we baked.  We used her Aunt Jaclyn's recipe and made a delicious loaf.

March 2017

This Bible belonged to my mom.  It's the one I carry to church but I don't use it for my Bible study at home.  Recently our pastor began a sermon series in Genesis, and I noticed that Mom had written several dates on the beginning page.  At first I couldn't figure out what they meant, and then I realized that those were dates she had begun reading through her Bible. This Bible is a treasure to me, not only because it is God's Word but because there's so much of Mama in it.

Hannah had a Where the Wild Things Are themed baby shower.  This cake was perfect, and delicious.  We ate it up.

 

 It was a fun day and she got some very nice gifts for baby Thomas.

Jonas, Lilly, Lucy, and Catherine wore their Wild Thing crowns.

After such a warm February we had a March snowfall.  

Lilly helped her grandpa plant potatoes.

For a long time, Phillip has talked about taking a pottery class.  He finally got the opportunity and has found that he really likes it.

And he made some lovely things.

February 2017

Vintage February Calendar

My banana bread stuck in the pan

  Getting ready for Thomas to arrive in April.  Phillip painted the crib.  

Abram

Catherine

January 2017

My mom loved calendars.  Every year she bought several and she kept almost every one.  A few years ago I discovered that I could find the past year whose dates coincided with the current year and reuse some of Mom's calendars.  This year it is 1995's calendar.  It brings back sweet memories.

Jonas had his sleepover this month. We dug out our old game of Kerplunk.  Jonas wasn't a fan after he realized that the one with the most marbles was not the winner, but it was fun playing with him.

We were able to spend a couple of days in Virginia helping with Catherine.   She is thriving and growing. 

 Our washer sprung a "flood the laundry room" sized leak.  We used every towel we had to stop the flood.  Since I use my steam mop, we don't own a regular mop.  Maybe I need to keep one for times like this.  Phillip was able to fix it but it was a mess!

Abram spent a day with us. He is growing up so fast and becoming  quite a climber.  

Hannah's last day of work was January 30.  Her co-workers gave her a very nice baby shower.  She's going to continue working  PRN, filling in when they need her until the baby is born.